Madame Zeyva Thoné - Starters are Served

[Alyndra Syrex]

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

 

Zeyva clicked on her heels as the two lovers sat next to each other. She knew she was a good match-maker. Now for the food to seal the deal.

Beck: So… what's on the menu, Chef?

 

Thoné: To start, a selection of Cardassian Quale Eggs, harmonised with the essence of Sweated Bajoran Moba Fruit. For Mains, I shall pair your wine with a roasted hogfish on a bed of Lemon-Soaked Terran Potatoes and assorted vegetables. Finally for dessert, Vanilla Ice cream with sprinkles.

 

Robin: Sounds beautiful as always, mother.

Om-Zora: Response

 

Evinrude: I'm afraid the broiler isn't ready yet, trouble adapting the fuel supply safely. But we've got some solid equipment installed, surely enough for such an...accomplished chef.

 

Zeyva’s beak curled.

 

Thoné: Well, that’s bitter lemon man. But a chef never blames their equipment, only their ingredients and customers.

Beck: Okay, then… do you have any specialties? I am a bit of a foodie myself, so I'm willing to try something I've never had before.

 

Robin smacked her wing against her face in astonishment.

Robin: You… You shouldn’t have said that, sir.

 

Robin's reaction was met with an equal opposing reaction from Zeyva herself.

 

Thoné: Ah a foodie! Finally, someone on the ship who makes sense! You’ll have to come back, alone. Yes?

 

Om-Zora: Response

 

Zeyva smiled, heading into the back to get some ingredients to make a start on the dinner. She didn’t want to disturb the lovebirds after all.

Beck: So… what's the occasion? I've never been pranked into a dinner before…

Evinrude: Wait...pranked? ::Tess smiled, ignorant to the circumstances.:: Do tell...

Robin: ::Bluntly:: She thinks you two are gooey lava cakes for each other.

Evinrude: ::Looking more confused, but still smiling.:: Oh, no no, Quentin and I are...acquainted. We shared a rather...intense experience on Bajor, some time ago.

Robin: Oh, a holiday? A Lover's retreat?

Om-Zora: I don’t think they’d call it that.

Beck: Quite the opposite, actually. I don't want to get too deep into it, but we had to deal with… let's say mortal enemies.

 

Evinrude: ::Quietly, loud enough that everyone could hear but clearly to himself.:: Immortal enemy, more like.

 

oO Oh damn, not that kind of intense experience Oo

 

Robin: Ah, my apologies.

 

Om-Zora: I wouldn’t apologize. Beck certainly has a reputation. It’s an easy mistake. And they are… a handsome couple now that they’re here. By human standards, anyway.

 

Evinrude: ::He narrowed his eyes, smiling at the bird-persons, and smoothly deflected.:: And what about yourselves, hm?

 

Robin gazed at Om-Zora, putting her wing around their back.

 

Robin: Yeah, we’re an item. He’s my little sour-cake.

 

Robin kissed Om-Zora gently on the head.

 

Om-Zora: Thank you.

Beck: Like mother, like daughter, mm? Sour-cake, lemon man…

 

Robin pulled off a manoeuvre she didn’t know was possible. Half of her beak was amused, as she’d never made the connection before. The other half of her beak tasted the sour comparison to the one her mother had surgically implanted in her.

Evinrude: Does Zeyva approve of this...flavor combination?

 

Before Robin could ask if Lieutenant Evinrude's mother approved of his face (albeit a little more diplomatically), her mother reappeared. Her sparkling dress was nearly blinding her.

 

Thoné: I hope you’re ready!

Om-Zora: Well, typically, I don’t like drinking for a first outing. But I suppose the point of this is dinner. So pour me one. ::a beat, realizing a distinct lack of politeness on his part:: Please.

 

Zeyva smiled.

 

Thoné: That’s right Om-Zora. It’s a digestive to complement the meal, a human tradition, but one I’ve come to appreciate.

 

Zeyva poured an appropriate portion of the wine into the doctor's glass, before presenting him with the bottle. Label first, of course. The doctor continued pouring the glasses as she headed back over to the workbench to finish preparing the starters.

Beck: A toast?

 

Robin raised her glass. Of course, typically for a toast, the drink would have spiced toast in it, but she understood the sentiment.

Beck: To… new friends. And to finding a way to navigate the… unexpected.

 

Robin smiled, slowly sipping at her wine, allowing it to sit in her beak before swallowing.

 

Evinrude: Hear hear! I'm glad we found the time.

 

Robin pondered. She’d only recently come aboard the Ronin. She hoped not all of their missions were so… deadly.

Om-Zora: Response

Beck: While I do consider Tess to be someone I can trust to the end, I'll have to dispel the idea that we are anything but friends. Not that he's a bad looking guy - far from it - but my tastes tend to run a little more… pointy-eared. ::a beat:: Or furrier. ::a beat:: Look, I dated a Caitian for a while.

 

oO He keeps saying he’s not interested in Tess, but then he calls him attractive and spouts his dating history? Oo

 

Humans, so many contradictions. Although having worked with a Caitian on Jupiter station, her previous assignment, Robin understood that they could be very attractive. If a little sharp.

 

She continued sipping at her wine. Gently holding onto Om-Zora from underneath the table.

Om-Zora: Response

Beck: Om-Zora, you're Science, right? Working with V'Len?

Om-Zora: Response

Robin: What do you do, Mister Ever-rude?

 

Evinrude: Operations? ::Tess took another sip of wine, a rather long one.:: I have to admit, it's...odd, operating without a permanent department head.

 

Robin smiled slightly. From the smells across the kitchen, she could tell that mother was nearly done with the quail.

 

Robin: What about Commander O’Connor? Or is HCO different from Operations?

 

Om-Zora/Beck: Response

 

Evinrude: ::With a small, genuine smile.:: Honestly, I have enjoyed the remodel of the Lounge. It makes me feel...like I'm helping out the crew, in a direct way.

 

The lieutenant turned, looking directly into the kitchen.

 

Evinrude: ::Firm, yet pleasant.:: I don't want this place to fail. I want my crewmates to feel comfortable here. With...everything going on, the ship needs more warm places. To gather.

 

Robin: Well, I know that mother is happy with you. So you’ve done something right.

 

Om-Zora/Evinrude/Beck: Response

 

Just as the conversation seemed to simmer, Zeyva arrived with a large plate of smaller plates.

 

Thoné: I hope you’re hungry!

 

Om-Zora/Evinrude/Beck: Response

 

One by one, Madame Thoné placed a plate of eloquently seasoned and precisely cooked Cardassian Quale eggs, with the Bajoran moba fruit sauce artfully laid onto each plate.  

 

Robin: Thank you, Mother. It looks delicious.

Thoné: Of course it does. I made it dear.

 

Robin prepared herself to eat, unwrapping her eating tools, selecting the appropriate Klowahkan tasing fork to pick a piece of the food from her plate, before using the metallic beak to mush it into a small paste that she dropped onto her tongue.

 

She squirmed in delight. She may have been a federation scientist, but according to her DNA, she was a Klowahkan first.

Om-Zora/Evinrude/Beck: Response

 

Tags / TBC

 

 

Zeyva Thoné

Federation Representative for Culinary Affairs

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

R240107AS3