Commander Toryn Raga - Culinary Debate ((repost))
Rameses
((ooc: Bingo for me. Forgot the entirety of the sim title. xD))
((Ready Room, Deck 3, USS Ronin - Lolagi IV))
Seeing the smile on Karrod’s face as the man seemed to stare off a little lost in his thoughts, he took the moment to sip from his mug and savor the beverage in hand while his dear friend and Captain considered things.
Niac: I think it's a brilliant idea, Toryn...so much so I worry we're going to put on ten kilos apiece once the crew starts picking entrees. Before Niac I had heard rumors of a few CO's doing something like this across fleet history. Apparently one early Captain had an entire grill built into his quarters on a Constitution class. Always seemed ridiculous to me then...a waste of resources and effort when the replicator was right there. Now...now I think I understand why they did it. What they hoped to do. And it doesn't have as much to do with food as I thought.
He chuckled slightly. Even with his metabolism he had on occasion added to his mass thanks to his mate’s cooking.
Raga: Agreed. There is also a historical precedent. If I recall the snippet about Earth’s nautical past, even old sailing vessels had a captain’s mess where they ate regular meals with their officers and crew. A fine tradition. If you’re concerned about being overwhelmed I can wait to set it up until after leave.
The Al-Leyan’s glowing eyes stared at the Trill patiently from over the brim of his mug. He knew this would give them both extra paddwork but to him at least that was vastly outweighed by the benefits of it.
Niac: Post it today...maybe the brave ones will help us test out the idea, work out the kinks. And we should make sure we're always inviting junior officers, people who are new to the ship, visiting guests...anyone who would benefit from some time with us that doesn't come with orders and regulations. Speaking of, we should consider a few...suggestions. Firstly...ranks. Everyone sitting at that table is an equal, everyone can speak their minds freely. No sense of getting people together to talk if they're too terrified to mention what's really on their minds. Any other ideas?
Toryn smirked slightly and set his mug back onto Karrod’s desk so he could get up and retrieve one of the four padds he’d handed over to him. A quick skim and he found the one with his idea and sat back down. If there were going to be revisions there was no reason to add another padd to the pile. He crossed his leg over the other knee and tapped at the device.
Raga: Noted and a good call. Considering our pips even when not being worn have an inherent base level of intimidation to junior officers and crew. Do you want to set a time limit for the meals or just let things conclude at their natural pace?
Niac: Much as this will annoy Rostil...and it will a lot...I think letting things meander on for a few hours has a greater chance of getting the kind of conversations going that we really want to encourage. Everyone, even some of the senior staff, will be...a little tense. Bit of good food and a drink or two later and I suspect we'll get more...unfiltered opinions out of them.
His digits tapped at the padd’s LCARs as he made notations and nodded slightly. With the two of them present there should be enough responsibility on hand to ensure that everyone gets back to bed in a timely manner. That being said, a gathering of their crew numbering more than two wasn’t called a Roniningan for nothing.
Raga: That’s fair. Next question, how much of your private reserve do you want to use for this? Mister Morrow’s side project, well aside, having the option could help with morale as well, as long as we don’t let Roxanne or Thessalonia have more than one. ::he said dryly::
Niac: I'll certainly provide...for the good of the crew, of course...but let it be known that if someone would like to bring a bottle of their own, no questions will be asked about its origins. I will simply assume it appeared aboard the ship one day and they were keeping it safe & sound.
Raga: Pets? I know not all are as well behaved as Sylara is, but if we’re going for a casual gathering do we want to give the crew the option to bring their pets along if they want? With the understanding that if they’re unruly they should probably just wait and bring food back to their quarters. What do they call it, a kitty bag?
Niac: I really have to get that 'Human Idioms for Starfleet Officers' seminar scheduled before you offend a Caitian. Doggy bag, Mr. Raga. Or if you prefer the Trill term, slug sack. ::He blinked, an echo of Rostil's hearty laugh in his mind:: Actually forget that last one.
Raga: Right. Doggy bag. Probably best not to ask why they originally carried their pets in food containers.
While they conversed, Toryn tapped away at the padd, drafting the announcement to post along with the accompanying sign up based on both of their ideas.
Niac: But yes, if the crew has pets they want to bring along they're welcome to, I trust their judgment and, even if their pets are a bit of a handful I am told ::he gestured towards his abdomen:: that no family dinner is truly complete without a bit of chaos.
Raga: A bit of chaos would be a perfect name for the crew’s autobiography.
The smirk on Karrod’s face suddenly filled him with dread when he realized the gaze levelled at him had amusement behind it.
Niac: So...what are you making? And should I have a medical team standing by?
Raga: What? Me? Why would I make something? You’re the Captain. ::he said pointedly::
Not only did that smirk deepen but his friend leaned back in his chair as if he was the cat that had just eaten the Seiuri.
Niac: Hey this was your idea...besides, the whole point is that we all contribute something of ourselves...that's part of the conversation. Part of why we're getting around a table together. So, what can you cook that won't kill us all?
Toryn’s hand raised slightly in protest, hesitated a moment, then slowly lowered. He had a point.
Raga: That’s fair. And we do have a few recipes back home that are only a couple million scoville. ::he smirked:: Luckily for you, I have a few recipes already that I’ve trimmed back on the ingredients or added seasonings that mitigate the danger for those with simple palettes.
Did he just take a teasing jab as someone with a former galaxy renowned chef’s memories? Yes, yes he did. Especially since Al-Leyan’s had an atrocious sense of taste, hence why everything was seasoned to either liquify the insides of those not of his species, or induce immediate diabetic shock in most.
Niac: Response
Raga: Pardon me. I should have said, delicate constitutions instead. ::he chuckled:: I looked it up once out of curiosity and the average spice in our food is in the range of about eighteen million on your scoville scale. ::smiling:: There are some Mint Sazaberry tarts that I’ve found are popular among prior shipmates. It’s heavy on the mint enough to balance the tart of the berries. No matter what I bring, I recommend antacids should be available. And some neutral beverages for people to wash down the sweetness.
Niac: Response
Raga: So, how many courses and dishes has Rostil been screaming at you since I brought this idea up? ::he chuckled::
Niac: Response
Raga: Oh no. We’ll let someone else make the rhombuses. Can’t have you burning down the galley before the inaugural dinner.
Those glowing eyes settled on him pointedly, but his smirk remained.
Niac: Response
[tags/tbc]
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Commander Toryn Raga
First Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
Writer ID: A239410TR0
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Toryn_Raga