Lieutenant JG Amelia Semara - Playing with Fire

[Max]

(( Moonlit Mariner, aboard The Indulgence of Chocolate-Coated Jama'haron ))

With a plasma flare announced at one of the workstations, the kitchen staff apparently decided action wasn't needed until Amelia set them into motion.  Or maybe it was just the fact that they were most used to being screamed at by the barbel-adorned head chef who couldn't be bothered to be present for these exercises.  Someone needed to give them a break.  Unfortunately, today would not be that day.

Finally, the shutoff was shut off, and people were away from the workstation.  Amelia pressed the button to activate the forcefield subsection to isolate it, venting and cooling the air until no fire could exist, ending the emergency.  The alarms seemed satisfied with the sequence of actions and fell quiet, but it was hardly a chain of events to be happy with.

Semara: Well, that was an interestin' start...  

The ensign leaned in, clearly interested in Amelia's self assessment.

Semara: :: A chuckle. Then a lower whisper. :: I think onion girl is just cryin' because of the onions, but I ain't totally sure.  

He followed her subtly pointing out each of the characters in the little emergency ballet that just unfolded.

Semara: At least our Bolian line chef over there seems happy.  I guess I got my work cut out...

Kendrick: ::at Amelia::  You could do worse. In my experience, if someone enjoys being useful in a crisis, half the work is already done.

Amelia offered a little smile.  At least the man had done something - and hadn't done too much.  In actuality, Amelia had to remember to appreciate that he hadn't forged ahead with using equipment he wasn't familiar with.  A wrong action was just as bad or worse as inaction when playing with fire.

Semara: True enough.  I oughta be countin' my blessin's...

She was still appraising the Bolian, considering how to best put the unintentional fire deputy to work when she caught Kendrick's emotional movement turn completely orthogonal to the task at hand.  Turning to look, she grinned a little at his sudden impulse to raid the fridge.

It was a reminder of how caught up she was with this training - and with Ras - that it took another person to realize she was in one of her happy places: a kitchen filled with food.  And that everyone needed a moment for the buzzy cactus-prickles of adrenaline to subside before moving on.  She couldn't help a little huff of equal parts amusement and self-annoyance at watching him raid the larders.

One particular container caught his attention.

Kendrick: ::mild curiosity:: Huh.

The contents were whipped into fluffy effervescence.  A note somewhere between mint and seaweed married with caramel-like-pomegranate danced in Amelia's nose.  Doubtless it was some lingering aftereffect of experiencing Statler's point of view that she noticed the scent before the faint luminance of the purple flecks in the muted green.

Semara: Whaddya say, Ensign - to boldly go? :: A little smirk. ::

That was her advice after the last time he took a spoonful of something?  She was going to be a terrible influence on the lower decks, wasn't she?  To his credit, and with Amelia's grinning approval, the man took a spoon and braved the unknown.

Kendrick: Not bad. Actually… surprisingly good.

Good enough for another spoonful, even!  He offered the mousse up for sampling.  Amelia's eyes must have been fixed on it, or a jealous part in her lips must have betrayed her interest.

Kendrick: Want to try? 

Semara: :: A half-offended tilt to her chin. :: Obviously!

She was at least going to use a fresh spoon, however.  With Kendrick's intrepidity with food, who knew what he had in his mouth last?  She neatly formed a swirl of untouched, delicate mousse, flipped it upside down, and deposited it on her tongue.

A little hum buzzed through closed lips as she processed the delicate weave of bitterness and salt against the way something menthol-adjacent opened up the sinuses with a delightful sweetness.  It was certainly strange, but Kendrick was right.  It was surprisingly good.

Semara: :: Waving spoon in playful accusation :: You're a brave man with food, you know that? :: A smile. :: I appreciate that.

Alas, playtime was over.  By the way he was surveying the scene, it was time to plot the next disasterpiece.  Amelia casually leaned one hip against the countertop, letting him lean in to deliver the plan.

Kendrick: Next drill. ::gesturing subtly toward the prep area:: Simulated fire suppression failure. Small grease fire on the stove. No alarms this time. ::another small bite of the mouss:: See who actually remembers where the extinguishers are… and who tries to throw water on it.

No alarms?  Given the prior inaction, this would definitely be interesting.

It was a conundrum worthy of scooping another helping of strange mousse into her mouth when he offered.

Kendrick: Also gives our heroic Bolian here another opportunity to save the day.

Semara: :: A snort. :: Right.  As long as he doesn't try throwin' water on it...

Grease fires were infamously strange and stubborn beasts, a must-know for any cook or baker.  Then again, maybe they'd be lucky.  These were people who lived in the kitchen.  If anyone would know about it, they should, right?

Semara: Alright then.  Here goes nothin'.  At your leisure, Ensign. :: A little smile. ::

Kendrick: Response

Amelia, knowing what to look for, found the simulated grease fire almost as soon as it started.  There was enough commotion and cooking and everything else going on that a small one could easily go unnoticed - mistaken for something burning in the oven or a normally-contained open flame on a range.

Seeing where it was, Amelia shot Kendrick a look of "thanks for that one."  Moments later, a shrill shriek announced someone else saw the fire too.  It was onion girl, who only just got back to cutting her onions.

Onion Girl: Fire!  :: Panicking :: Fire!

Either she had completely forgotten they were running drills, or was now massively overcorrecting for her prior mistakes, because now she was running.

With a knife.

Semara: :: Raised voice :: Stop!  :: beat :: Stooooop!

She didn't stop.  In fact, she was coming this-a-way quite fast and pointy-end-first.  Amelia's first thought was to shove Kendrick out of the way.

Kendrick: Response

Next, Amelia groped for the largest cutting board in arm's reach.  She side-stepped to keep her body mostly out of the way, and blocked the woman's path with it, as if it were some sort of miniature improvised shield protecting from the unintentional weapon.

The woman stopped, eldritch kitchen horrors pouring out of the haunted girl's dilated black pupils as she finally turned to meet Amelia's gaze.  One hand still holding the makeshift shield, Amelia gently took hold of the knife-wielding hand, feeling it shaking under her touch, the woman's fingers like a vice-grip on the handle.

Semara: Easy, now.  Breathe for me, darlin'.  It's okay.

Kendrick: Response

Somewhere in the background, there was the unmistakable sound of a fire extinguisher (which was, apparently, appropriately maintained) being liberally applied to the grease fire.  That just left the knife.  Amelia set down the shield, carefully keeping her hand on the knife-hand as she moved.  With a hand free now, she slowly entered the woman's space.  Onion girl was totally frozen now, the realization of what nearly happened dawning on her as her eyes went to the rather large knife in her hand.

She recoiled from it, but Amelia knew empathically what was coming.  Amelia's control hand gripped, keeping the knife where it was in the girl's hand when it slackened in horror, probably saving the woman's foot in the process.  Then, slowly, she moved the whole assembly to a nearby countertop and set it down and guided the woman safely away from the sharp object.  Next thing Amelia knew, onion girl was in her arms, sobbing.

Semara: :: Low, soothing tones. :: Okay, it's okay.  You're okay.  No one's hurt.  I've got you darlin'.

She quickly checked the kitchen.  The hero Bolian had once again saved the day - at this rate, he'd have the whole kitchen staff carrying him on his shoulders by dessert time.  Speaking of... Amelia shot Kendrick a look, inviting him over to help.

Semara: How 'bout we get you some a' that special mousse as a treat, and send you home.  I think that's enough onions for one day, don't you?

Honestly, chopping onions was one of the silliest things in Amelia's opinion anyway.  It was one of the few vegetables she basically always replicated because not even she could tell the difference after they were cooked, and chopping took so much more time.  She doubted even the Antedian proprietor would know the difference.

Kendrick: Response

Tag / TBC...

---------- ○● ----------

Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Magnolia Semara

Science Officer - Special Projects

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0