Dinner at the 'Kid's Table'

Posted on Mon Jan 14th, 2019 @ 9:51am by Lieutenant Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova & Commander Brielle Jayde & Lieutenant Michael Harris

Mission: Side Stories
Location: Counselor's Quarters
Timeline: A random evening

Millie smiled as she bustled around the small kitchen in her quarters. She pulled the pan of slow-roasting ham out of the oven, setting it up on the counter. The black bread was already cooling on the counter, the vegetables were already sitting in a bowl on the table, and things were almost ready for the guests to arrive. She'd arranged for Edra and Henry to have some time together on the holodeck, so she knew it would be just junior Senior staff present.

Edruj made her way from her quarters to the Counselor's quarters. She carried a bottle of wine and a small container of gaht. The Klingon had been taught at the Academy that when invited to a human's home one should not go empty handed. She rang the chime filled with trepidation about yet another social situation.

Millie answered the door, wiping her hands on her apron. "Lieutenant! Glad you could make it!" She reached out, took the bowl from the Klingon's hands, and lifted the lid...only to let out a squeal of surprise and quickly closed the lid again. "Forgive me, Lieutenant," she said, laughing a little nervously, "but I'm not familiar with Klingon cuisine. Is it...supposed to still be moving?"

"Gaht is best served cold and alive. However, it is an acquired taste. I have prepared mine to be a little on the spicy side." Edruj spoke with a smile and walked inside. "It pairs well with blood wine." She added.

Millie waved the Klingon officer in past the doorway. "Please, come in. Make yourself at home!" She placed the bowl of gaht on the table with the other dishes she had made. "The others should be here shortly!"

Brie was...running late. Or she thought she was. Granted, she also had two little ones in tow as all of her normal babysitters were busy and Razot was on the night shift. But, she was at least there, right? She let Ossan press the chime as she tried to get Aysel to calm down.

Millie stepped to the door. "Brielle, please come in!" She cooed at the baby. "Would you like me to take her for a moment?"

Ossan ran in and Brie shook her head. "Long as he has somewhere to run, I can handle her. Besides, you're doing the cooking, right? Might take you up on the offer later though."

The Counselor smiled. "Well please, come in and make yourselves at home!" She stepped in, ruffling Ossan's hair before scooping the boy up into her arms.

Ossan laughed as he was scooped up. "Higher!" His voice came as a squeal as Brie stepped inside. "Ossan Erik, I've told you. Daddy might be strong enough to life you up high but you're getting too big to expect everyone else to do it."

"The boy is fine!" Millie laughed as she lifted the boy up onto her shoulder and giving him a tickle on the ankles. "But please, make yourselves at home. I'm not sure how many others are coming...but the Captain and First Officer are indisposed for the evening." She smiled.

Watching Ossan, Brie nodded and took Aysel over to one of the chairs and sat down, glad to be off her feet. "You going to help Millie with the food, buddy?" She ask of Ossan, who nodded but didn't seem to want to get down.

Edruj sat and watched the interactions around her. She was content being a people watcher. It was the scientist with her. She sipped her blood wine as she simply observed.

Millie smiled, half-balancing the boy on her hip. She turned over her shoulder. "Edruj, could you give me a hand with this dish?" she asked, pointing to the ham cooling on the counter. "Carving may take two hands...and someone--" she laughed, Ossan clinging to her and playing with the Counselor's long hair, "isn't exactly going to let me put him down."

Edruj smiled "Of course Counselor." She began to slice the ham in neat and even slices. The memories of her home came flooding to her. For there Klingons would simply heat this meant, not carve it. "Counselor is this typical of the Mercutio? I mean dinners and parties. This is very unlike any vessel I have known."

Millie returned the smile, sitting young Ossan up on her shoulders. "I am not sure about other vessels in Starfleet, since this is the first vessel I've been assigned to. I find that good company and good food tends to create good conversation. And since..." She paused, catching herself. "Well, I enjoy the company."

Ossan tried to reach at the food that was being finished up and Brie smirked from her seat. "He sits on the counter whenever we are cooking, so he thinks he can help here too." Aysel started to fuss and she got up to walk around with her. "As for your question, Edruj? We have a lot of unique things on this ship, and it makes it fun."

"It is interesting the differences in how people explore space. For example in the Empire there would be no children on a starship, and all functions on the ship are spartan. A ship is for battle, for glory, not a home." Edruj spoke as she carved the food. She glanced at Ossan but was unsure how to address the child. As with most Klingons Edruj was awkward around children.

"There are some who choose to keep their children with them, and there are others who have their children stay at home." Millie grabbed a sliver of ham from the platter, giving it to the boy on her shoulders. "It is often the choice of the family, and where they determine 'home' to be. Until my last trip back to Earth, I myself didn't have anywhere else to call home except wherever I was stationed."

"Couldn't leave my family behind anywhere. The two are probably going to grow up in the stars." Brie smiled and came over, looking over the food as she carried Aysel around. "Ossan, what do you tell Millie for the ham?"

Mouth already full of ham, Ossan frowned. "Tank ooo," he said and kept eating. Brie shook her head. "Toddler talk, it is what it is, best you'll probably get." She noticed Ossan looking at Edruj and chuckled. "He's learning that although my husband, Razot, looks Ferengi, he's part Klingon, just got rid of the features a long time ago. This little one," she nodded to Aysel, "will have those features likely come out as she gets older, though she got the smaller version of the Ferengi ears."

Edruj took note of comment about a Ferengi/Klingon hybrid and she planned to seek the person out for a chat later on. It was rare that Klingons mated inter-species but not unheard of. However, a Ferengi now that was unheard of. "I would like to speak with your husband at some point if I may. It would be rather interesting to see how he grew up given the differences between Ferengi and Klingon culture."

Brie smiled. "If you can catch him outside of work. It's hard for him to get much time away except for dinner and bed. But, life of an engineer, right?" she shrugged. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind talking if he gets a chance though." Ossan pointed to Aysel, "Widdle siser! She cute!"

Edruj nodded in acknowledgement of what Brie had said. It was when the child spoke that Edruj cocked an eyebrow. She was always caught off guard by children. "Dinner I believe it is said is served." She bellowed.

Millie smiled, going around the table and fixing Ossan a small plate. She knew she would have plenty of time to eat herself, and that small children turned into mini-Klingons if not fed quickly. "Brie? Would Ossan eat the gagh?"

Edruj knew of the squeamishness that humans had for the live food. However, they failed to understand the nutritional value of gagh. "Most children would not. However, it is my opinion that all children should. Gagh contains the highest amount of protein of any food known to science."

"Um...maybe? I don't think he's ever tried it, or even seen it. We really don't do Klingon food at home." Brie shifted Aysel around and went over towards Ossan, who squealed. "Gagh!!"

Brie smirked. "It wiggles, Ossan." He started wiggling, seemingly not phased.

Millie laughed. "Wiggling food it is!" Holding onto the wiggling toddler, she fixed him a plate--complete with gagh--and set him at a seat at a small table ready for the children.

Edruj smiled broadly as the child took to eating the Klingon dish. "He has a warrior's heart and will bring honor to his family." She motioned toward the child as she spoke.

"He's also half Bajoran, not Klingon. This little one," Brie nodded to the sleeping one in her arms, "is the quarter Klingon. But, Ossan will try anything at least once."

Ossan bounced over to the table and sat at some weird angle that adults would never try before poking the wiggling gagh with his finger. "Wiggles!"

Millie smiled. Inwardly, she was glad to be back on the ship. She had missed these dinners, as well as the chance to spend time with the people she had grown to consider friends--both old and new.