Madame Zeyva Thoné - Rotted Sponge

[Alyndra Syrex]

((Zeyva’s Kitchen, Clean Hall Lounge, Deck 6, USS Ronin))

 

 

The cart stalled to next to the table. After a suitable amount of time, allowing the aroma to properly simmer in her guests, Zeyva started to carve the hogfish. Dishing up each plate with veggies, potato and a generous portion of hogfish (and sauce, obviously).

Om-Zora: Thank you, Zeyva.

 

Robin was slightly surprised, yet grateful to Om-Zora, as she felt his hand sneak over to hers. She returned the affection. She leaned to accept her plate as Zeyva placed it in front of her. A rouse of course, so that she could turn her beak to Om-Zora’s ear hole and whisper.

 

Robin: ::Whispering:: I knew you cared. Let your guard down more often

 

Zeyva had finished serving the hogfish, and a plate of wonders laid in front of every patron. Grasping the cart, she pushed it back into the kitchen area.

Beck: C'est magnifique.

Evinrude: ::Nodding with a "not bad" look to his face.:: Oui, très bon...

Om-Zora: We met in the science labs. I was attempting to sort out how to “carbon date” a fossil that isn’t carbon-based. Something of a souvenir from the time in my career that I spent on a Vulcan science ship. 

 

Robin: Ironic, as in the past few weeks he’s become my rock.

 

Robin chuckled to herself.

 

Beck: Carbon dating led to carbird dating, huh?

Evinrude: That's...actually very sweet. ::He turned to Quentin.:: Not your joke. That was...unpalatable.

 

Om-Zora: We didn’t really figure out how to do that. But she was… helpful.

 

 

Robin: Thank you, you were helpful too.

Robin squeezed Om-Zora’s hand. Knowing full well what he meant by “helpful”.

Robin: Thank you, you were helpful too.

Beck: You guys are so cute, I think I might throw up.

Om-Zora: Throwing up at dinner? That kind of behavior is only appropriate if you have a baby with you. Or, I suppose, as practice for having one, you may just be planning to pre-chew Evinrude’s food and share. I can’t fault you for proper avian etiquette. Congratulations.

 

Robin: So tell me, Commander Beck, Mister Evinrude. Why is it that my mother is insistent you’re a couple?

 

Beck: Beats me. Rumors run like wildfire 'round these parts, though apart from having coffee together one morning, I don't particularly recall being out and about together. Maybe she thinks I'm someone else. While I do find Tess charming, I don't really see it.

Evinrude: Honestly? I have no idea. She...seemed to want to do something nice for me? As "reward" for helping with the Clean Hall, here. ::He paused a moment, considering, and turned to Quentin with a shrug and a smile.:: You've been a good mentor to me, Commander. And a friend. I think...she confused that for attraction? Sorry to disappoint buddy, but I don't see my feelings being anything but platonic.

 

Robin laughed slightly.

 

Robin: You don’t see that huh? Or at least enough to dispel the rumours. It honestly sounds like an academy mantra, “Oh my partner serves on another ship”.

 

Beck: Every relationship is different, and I imagine there are more than a few out there who do use that as a cover to hide who they might actually be seeing. I would say, though, that 'partner' doesn't quite cover it.

 

Evinrude: Not to mention, hiding who you're seeing on a ship like this feels...to me...prudent? Rumors can do serious harm in a...sealed environment. ::He chuckled, continuing.:: And, if I were seeing a superior officer, I think I'd want to keep that hidden.

 

Robin squinted

Robin: So, you are seeing each other? I’m confused.

Beck: Have you ever heard the Vulcan term t'hy'la?

 

Robin hadn’t. But her mother shouting from the kitchen seemed to know. She always did make it a point to be well travelled.

 

Thoné: It means to be in a deep relationship, dear.

Beck: That is one translation, yes, but is very rough. It can mean lover, but it also means friend, brother or sister… basically, it is a word they use to describe a deep bond that is something different from a typical friendship.

 

Evinrude: Is it always used for connections with a romantic edge? Or can it be for a platonic connection as well?

Om-Zora: Yes, Doctor. Give us your knowledge.

 

Robin began to shake her tailfeathers into the seat, Om-Zora’s phrasing had reminded her of an old cartoon she enjoyed as a hatchling.

 

“Chef, Chef, give us please. Food Food for us tweens. We’ve Pruned, We’ve Primed, We’re Ready to Dine. Chef, Chef, give us please.”

Beck: It's kind of hard to explain without oversimplification. And it's also something Vulcans generally don't discuss with non-Vulcans, as it implies deep emotion.

 

Evinrude: So, one's...t'hy'la. Are you...bound for life, so to speak? Like a traditional earth marriage?

 

Beck took a swig of the wine from his glass. Robin frowned, an inelegant technique and quite wasteful for the quality of the refreshment.

Beck: I don't think there is any obligation considered, as it would be possible to have that kind of connection with more than one person, but, at least from my experience, it is something Vulcans do consider quite sacred.

Om-Zora: Indeed. I would hope your Vulcan partner is fine with you sharing something sacred, then. I always found the Vulcans around me got a little… uncomfortable when I found things out and asked about it, and they weren’t always comfortable with the sharing, either. With some exceptions. They are fascinating people in how much they can contradict themselves at times.

 

Robin squeezed Om-Zoras hand again.

 

Robin: Well said babe

Beck: Response

 

Evinrude: No, I'm serious...thanks for sharing. ::Tess smiled, a genuine gesture.::

Om-Zora: What about you, Neverrude, as I’ve heard Zeyva call you before, you seemed ready to say something about your feelings earlier. Why don’t you do that?

 

Evinrude: ::With a grin, he shook his head, speaking quietly at first, with a glance at Zeyva bustling away.:: Why does she call me that? ::He shrugged.:: Anyway, I was...well, I was going to elaborate on distance. In relationships. ::He took a long pull of wine, finishing his glass.:: It's feeling more distant by the lightyear, to be honest, but my last relationship ended because I chose Starfleet.

 

oO Mother may call you Neverrude, but you have an apt for attitude Oo

 

Robin sipped her wine, letting it sit in her mouth for a moment before she swallowed, savouring every molecule of it’s fermented flavour.

Om-Zora/Beck: Response

 

Evinrude: Nothing like that, I-- ::He nodded, appreciating the fresh pour.:: Thank you! I...yeah, nothing like that. She didn't straight up say, "Me or Starfleet." She just...well, my new path in life didn't fit with her goals. We talked through that, several times...and she ended things.

 

Robin: Did that send a sourness into your opinion of her flavour?

 

Om-Zora/Beck: Response

 

Evinrude: I don't blame her. What I do feel guilty about, though, is leaving behind the projects we were working on. We, along with some friends, made holo-novels. ::He glanced at Beck.:: I actually took a...gap year, after the Academy, and it turned into a few years. Starfleet...didn't like that.

 

Robin turned her beak up at this news.

 

Robin: Neither would I had I been them.

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

Robin: It shows a lack of commitment. I wouldn’t like that.

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

Robin took another long sip of her wine, looking Mister Evinrude in the eye whilst savouring the flavours.

 

Robin: Not a criticism, but if I made a commitment to bake a cake, I wouldn’t leave it to rot after it left the oven.

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

 

 

 

Tags / TBC

 

 

 

Zeyva Thoné

Federation Representative for Culinary Affairs

Proprietor of the “Clean Hall” (USS Ronin (NCC-34523))

R240107AS3