Some comfort

Posted on Sun Jun 7th, 2020 @ 10:13am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone

Mission: In the Family
Location: In front of the turbolift
Timeline: following "Grouchy"
1246 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Mason all but collided with the turbolift doors that had closed in front of him. His hesitation caused him to be too late and he slammed his fist into the metal door in frustration. "Why," he muttered, "why does he lead me on like that!" Idly, he pressed the controls to call the lift back, though he had no idea where Kevan was going now.

He took a deep breath and shook his head. No, he wasn't going to follow, what good would that do?

"You look like you could use a drink," The voice was soft spoken, almost melodic. It belonged to an Andorian with pale blue skin and bright white hair framing her face, "everything alright Chief?" The woman was dressed in operations yellow and had a Petty Officer's rank on her collar.

"That depends on how you define alright," Mason answered as he turned to face the woman. "I could use a drink sure ma'am, but I'm on duty and I really don't want to get into trouble with the boss. I think I'm in enough trouble as it is."

"Doesn't have to be alcoholic," She gave a smile, "I don't believe we officially met, though you might've stepped on or off my transporter pad." She extended a hand, which was slightly warm to the touch and surprisingly soft, "Petty Officer 2nd Class Avira Zh'kenarh, Transporter specialist," she gave a polite bow of the head, "you may call me Avi, though." she added with a wink.

"Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone," the former marine replied, "investigations officer. My friends call me Mase most of the time." He wasn't quite sure what the wink was about but he assumed it was because she might think he wouldn't be able to pronounce her name. "Avi it is, though I've got no troubles pronouncing your full name," he added, "I used to be in linguistics... a radioman for the Corps."

"Oh, I'm quite sure you'd have some issues pronouncing my full name, I mean you know us Andorians. I didn't even tell you my full name yet." Avira added with a smile before looking at the turbolift, "were you going anywhere in particular or did you just feel like standing in front of a turbo-lift for a bit?"

"Nah I was waiting for the thing to come back. It closed right before me, my colleague," he deliberately didn't say 'friend' now, "he didn't wait for me. We ah... had a disagreement." Even if argument might've been more accurate. "What is your full name then?"

"Chiyaviraghlin zh'Kenarh, but there's really no need with such formalities, Avi will do just fine" Avira smiled before pressing the button to summon the turbo-lift, "Sounds like you need some comfort food," The two antennae on her head perked up as she thought of something nice to eat, "Andorian mud pie, how does that sound?"

"Is that anything like Earth mud cake?" The Human asked curiously, "I already summoned it back, Kevan's probably taking it to the opposite end of the ship just to spite me. I'm sure they won't mind me taking my break now and skip it later." He shrugged. "I'm always open to trying new dishes," he added brightly, "tell me more about this pie?"

"One of my mothers used to make the best mud pie, would freshly bake chocolate cookie crumbs for the bottom and layer the other ingredients on top of it. So flavourful. Perfect comfort food." Avi looked at the doors of the turbolift as they parted and she stepped inside, "mess hall." She ordered the lift, eager to get to the dining area.

"I wish I had anything my mom used to make," Mason answered, "I don't remember my mom...but my sister made a mean apple pie when I was little." He followed her inside, leaning idly against the wall. "Do you have any siblings? I have four sisters, all older than me."

"Only child," Avi her shoulders slumped slightly, she knew it wasn't the choice of her parents but with the loss of two of her parents it had been difficult times for those that were left behind, "more pie for me," she made a conscious effort to perk up, get herself away from the dark thoughts swimming in her head.

Noticing the slump, he gave her an encouraging smile. "Four sisters isn't everything," he tried, "especially not if you're the baby of the lot. Or your oldest sister ends up replacing your mom... I'm proud of them, no question there. My oldest sister raised us all your see..." He paused. "So this pie... It seems your favourite... Do you bake them yourself too?" He knew some people did like baking.

"I'm really terrible at baking. I can barely programme a replicator to create a decent cake," Avi didn't really know what to say about that, "luckily there's a lot of free use recipes on LCARS, so I don't have to starve." They stepped into a relatively quiet mess hall and she made a beeline for the replimat in the far wall. "Two portions of Andorian mud-pies with winterberries, please." She then turned to Mason, "Anything to drink to go with that?"

"Coffee," Mason prompted, praying inwardly he wouldn't get into trouble for taking his break now. "Unless you have a different recommendation? And for the record, my ex was the chef, not me. But I fill a mean bubble bath..." He grinned. "My ex loved his bubble baths."

"Damn, and here I thought I had snagged myself a good little kitchen helper," She took the order of two mud pies, a coffee and an Andorian citrus drink with her to a table by the window, "The citrus drink contrasts the heavy chocolate really rather nicely." She pushed it in his direction, "you can have a taste, if you like." Her antennae arching forward in anticipation, she hadn't met a whole lot of non-Andorians that liked the taste of the drink.

Carefully, Mason sipped the offered drink. "I find orange goes well with chocolate," he said as he let the taste of the drink sink in. "But this is something different. Not wholly unpleasant but takes getting used to. What kind of fruit is this?" He pushed the glass back towards her while taking a scoopful of the pie. He closed his eyes a moment. "Ohh this is heaven!"

There was a moment where Avi wondered what he meant with that, trying to remember what she had learned on Human culture and idioms. It finally clicked and she smiled widely, "see, told you it was the perfect comfort food." She started to eat her own pie as well, "Hm.. this is better than I remembered it being from a replicator." She leaned in, "Now you realise of course that you need to share some juicy gossip with me over this mud pie." She nodded as if to emphasise her point, "as is tradition."

"Hmmm gossip..." He leaned in a fraction. "What would you like to hear?" He grinned, taking another forkful of pie. "There's loads of things flying around the ship.... There's an ensign from science dating an enlisted guy from engineering... And I heard this linguist got thrown from engineering. Saw him bounce the halls the other day, weird guy."

:: OFF ::

Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone (NPC)
Security Investigations Officer
(Played by Savin)

&

Petty Officer 2nd Class Avira Zh'kenarh (NPC)
Transporter Specialist
(Played by Taeler Santu)

USS Athena