The Thonés - Running Water

[Alyndra Syrex]

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

 

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: As with a partner of any kind, communication is still super important - helps prevent misunderstandings based on assumptions. I have made that mistake before myself on more than one occasion. ::a beat:: As to your point about Vulcans contradicting themselves… well, that seems to be a fault of pretty much any species with emotions, whether or not they try to suppress or control them. Anyway. I've gone on too long now, sorry.

 

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.

 

Beck: What, was it an ultimatum?

 

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?

 

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.

 

Evinrude: ::Eyebrows raised, he tried to recover gracefully.:: Believe me, there were several members of the admissions board that would agree. One in particular...

 

Beck let out a snort.

 

oO At the dinner table? Really? Oo

Beck: And why is that, perchance?

 

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

 

Beck: While it was probably not the best thing to do immediately after graduating, it's not the first time someone has needed some additional time to sort things out - doubt it'll be the last time, either. And obviously, they got over it, or else he wouldn't be here now. The fact he decided to return tells me he actually is committed to it.

Evinrude: That's how I've found peace with my decision - I'm here now, things worked out. I made a concerted effort to show them my dedication, and I guess it was persuasive enough! ::He smiled, his tone attempting to bookend the topic.::

 

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.

 

The two men in front of her seemed to disapprove. Not that Robin particularly cared. There was only one person she cared about, and they were sitting right next to her.

Beck: Baking a cake and joining Starfleet are not the same thing - but going with your metaphor, it sounds to me like he put the cake on ice, rather than just leaving it to rot. It might have a little freezer burn, but at least so far, it looks like it still ended up pretty tasty-looking.

Robin cringed in disgust. Frozen food? Especially cake? The only frozen cake they’d tolerate was a Swedish (Earth) delicacy known as KAFFEREP. Baked by the well-known chef known only under the anonymous alias of IKEA.

 

 

Evinrude: ::After taking a moment to chew and swallow a bite of the main course.:: I don't see it as letting my skills decay. ::He sighed, and continued, trying hard to explain himself clearly.:: Starfleet wouldn't have wanted me then, in my previous state of...listlessness. I like to think that the original, ah, cake I was crafting took a different turn halfway through the recipe.

 

Different turn?!

 

Robin was disgusted. Baking a cake was an art, to stop and decide to turn it into a jam sandwich halfway through the labour of making it was giving her the thought of hurling. However that would be far to insulting to her mother.

 

Robin: ::Contained Rage:: I suppose you are entitled to your opinion.

 

Beck pushed his empty plate away, using his napkin to clean the sides of his mouth.

Beck: This conversation is starting to affect my appetite. ::to Zevya:: The food is delicious, but the opinions are growing bitter. Not a reflection on the Chef.

 

Evinrude: We can...turn the conversation away from my past, yeah? I didn't expect it to bring us here.

 

At that moment, Madame Thoné reappeared from the kitchen, her cart well in tow.

 

Thoné: How did your palette experience the meal?  

 

Evinrude: Zeyva, honestly, this was impressive.

 

Zeyva patted Evinrude on the shoulder. Although slightly harder than she perhaps intended on account of the unexpected and UNAUTHORISED use of her first name.

 

Thoné: I’m glad your cream was whipped, my dear.

 

Zeyva headed back into the kitchen to finalise the preparations of dessert.

Beck: Change of subject. When you're not doing whatever it is you do, what do you like to do to unwind? Personally, I am a big fan of the holodeck - there's an endless supply of potential adventures or entertainments to engage the mind. And I don't have the time for it I used to, but I do like writing holoadventures myself.

 

Evinrude: I found a lot of solace in the holodeck, especially growing up on starships and starbases. As a kid, teenager...it let me explore more than just the standard-pattern corridors of the Galaxy class I lived aboard.

 

Beck: Response

 

Evinrude: Well, from the perspective of someone who used to create them...I'm aware of the temptation. But, kind of like me choosing to...pick a different path in life for a while, before returning to Starfleet...the experiences we live in the holodeck color and modify our real-world perspectives.

 

Robin thought back to reading her food in Starfleet history book that she’d had as a child, curled up in her room back on the nestworld of Klowacha. There was a lieutenant described with similar symptoms of holo-deck addiction. Mister... Broccoli?

 

Robin: ::Looking at Om-Zora:: Anything to add sweetie?

 

Beck: Response

 

Om-Zora: ::slightly slurred:: Lovely answers, all of you. But I politely decline talkin’ about myself. My interests are no one’s business but mine. Wrong bird if you wanna talk to someone who likes sharin’. 

 

oO Oh for the love of chocolatey milk, Om-Zora’s drunk. Oo

 

Robin: it would be nice though, right? I mean, I hardly care for the topic Neverrude and Becky are engaged in. I wish to hear your voice more.

 

Beck/Evinrude: Response

Om-Zora: I mean, with one exception in the room, we’re only colleagues. It’s not like y’need to know about me on a personal level. ‘nd I’d prefer you didn’t.

 

Robin patted Om-Zora on the wing.

Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

Om-Zora: If it pleases you, then fine. What made you choose your jobs? What kind of people are you? Anything to distract me from the head swimming. And damn, is there any water around here? I… definitely need some.

 

Robin: ::shouting:: Mother, tepid water please.

 

Thoné: BARMAN!!!!!!!

 

A skinny looking barman came rushing from the kitchen with a jug of water and a few clean glasses.

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

Robin: Please drink up sour cakes.

 

Robin took the glass, reaching out her wing for the barman to fill it with water, before she held it to Om-Zoras beak.

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

A shy droplet of water snuck past Om-Zoras beak, running down his neck. Robin smiled catching it with her finger.

 

Robin: Better?

 

Om-Zora/Beck/Evinrude: Response

 

 

 

 

 

Tags / TBC

 

 

 

Zeyva Thoné

Federation Representative for Culinary Affairs

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

 

//

 

Lieutenant Robin Thoné

Science Officer

USS Ronin (NCC-34523)

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