OneWord: Discovery

[no_ordinarylife]

It never failed to amaze him as he took his customary nighttime tour of the ship. During the quiet hours with the lights down low, he passed random crewmen in the corridors. Different species, genders, and customs were represented here. A slice of the Federation. All had come together to do one thing.

Explore.

Comments

Couldn't resist....

[cadet_amara]

This particular night the Captain would be greeted with some rather unusual and interesting smells wafting down the corridor. Interesting, as in spicy and mouth-wateringly delicious smelling. These particular aromas could really only mean one thing: A certain ensign had insomnia and had somehow taken over the mess hall.

I'm glad you couldn't!

[no_ordinarylife]

He stopped dead in his tracks and lifted up his nose like a hound sniffing the wind. Out of place smells and sounds were often the precursors to malfunctioning equipment on a starship and for a second, he was wholly on alert. With recognition came a smile. He relaxed and followed the smell to its origin despite the lateness of the hour.

[cadet_amara]

The mess hall looked like a bomb went off. Pots and pans were everywhere, and every burner in the place had some sort of dish on it, cooking away. However, it smelled like no starship gallery had likely ever smelled before. In a word: AMAZING.

The culprit was busily chopping something, occasionally stopping to stir the nearest pot. She also looked a mess, wearing a splattered apron as the badge of her hard work. Without even glancing up, she knew who had just come into what was currently her domain.

"You stick your hand somewhere it doesn't belong it'll likely be chopped off." She warned, glancing over her shoulder. Never mind that he was the Captain of this ship, and that she was not technically authorized to be here, and don't even think about asking her where she got those spices and fresh ingredients this far out. For a second, he was a kid who might sneak a taste and ruin her work, and she was not about to have that!

[no_ordinarylife]

He'd gone to bat for her on many occasions with the mess officer and his chief of supply. As crazy as the galley looked now, he knew it would be spick and span by the time she was done. And the smell WAS amazing. His dormant stomach was now growling, awakened by the promise of something truly special.

He held up both hands at the warning and smirked. "No promises I won't snitch something when you're not looking. What are you cooking? I could smell it two decks down."

[cadet_amara]

"Indian. So I'm not at all surprised you can smell it. It took me forever to get my hands on some of these spices and I intend to use them." She handed him a plate of something that looked fried and delicious to pacify him for the time being. That was her strategy: keep him distracted so he wouldn't go sticking his fingers in unfinished dishes.

"It'll likely smell like this for a while. Your ship needs a spice kitchen." She teased, turning back to the large simmering pot on the stove and adding the vegetable she was chopping. "Chef wasn't terribly pleased, but I told him he could serve the leftovers and take the credit, so be sure to praise him for his delicious creations tomorrow."

She certainly seemed to be making enough to feed the entire ship!

[no_ordinarylife]

Say no to her food? Yeah, that wasn't gunna happen. He accepted the plate she put in his hands and found himself a place to perch at the counter where he could set it down and watch at the same time. "I'll do that."

Despite the incredible amount of food she was cooking, he had no doubt it would all be gone by the time he got off duty. "Assuming there's any left."

*Pops up again after a super long time...*

[cadet_amara]

She looked over her shoulder to give him a smile before turning back to her work. Although she allowed the ship's cook to take the credit, she loved watching everyone enjoy her cooking, and secretly took pride in it.

"I'll make sure to set some aside for you." She promised. "And I'll label it "the Captain's plate". Anyone who dares to eat it will be immediately court-martialed. Coming between Jim Kirk and his dinner is a serious offense, after all."

Glancing over her shoulder again, her eyes sparkled in amusement. Flying and cooking were when Amara was always happiest. Though most people never saw her in the kitchen.

"Wait until you see dessert."

Hey! :D Great to have you back! How you doing?

[no_ordinarylife]

Some of his fondest memories of her are in the kitchen. He's just special that way, one of the few who get to see her in her other element.

He looks up sharply in disbelief. "You made dessert?" he asked around a mouthful of food.

Hanging in there! I decided to work on a masters while doing my job so CRAZY stressed! You?

[cadet_amara]

She flashed him a grin over her shoulder, so amused by his disbelief she ignored his talking with his mouth full.

"Did you really think I wouldn't make dessert? And I thought you knew me so well, Kirk."

She nodded towards the refrigeration unit to indicate where he could find the little bites of deliciousness. "Cookies, cake, or fudge. Take your pick. Though I highly recommend the fudge. If you ever had dreamsicles as a kid, it tastes just like that but better. And I made an extra batch of double chocolate chip cookies for you. Captain's privilege and all."

[no_ordinarylife]

((That WOULD be a crazy level of stress. Kudos to you though for going after what you want. I've always wanted to go for a masters but haven't been willing to dedicate the time. I'm doing okay! Lots of ups and downs with the kids lately but that's life, right? :) ))

The amazed disbelief doesn't fall from his face. Eventually he remembers to swallow. Cookies, cake, AND fudge? He's going to have to spread her cooking out over the course of a week just to try everything on offer. "This is a conspiracy," he declares with a straight face but still teasing. "You're secretly trying to stuff me. If I eat an entire batch of cookies, Bones is going to lose his shit."

[cadet_amara]

"You are absolutely right. It is a conspiracy." She agreed, keeping a straight face as she said it. "A fat Captain is a happy Captain, you know. I set aside a box just for you, of course. You know sometimes I think you keep me around for the food."

She had been supplying him with baked goods since the Academy, after all. Not that she minded, of course, he always appreciated it and she was more than willing to share!

"And don't worry about McCoy. I've got talent for charming cranky doctors, and a bourbon pecan pie with his name on it."

She wasn't terribly social, but she knew what treats to give what members of the crew. Holiday part hay menus had become epic since she joined his ship!

"So what brings you to my kitchen at this late hour anyway? Shouldn't you be off doing official and important things?"

Ok, so it wasn't really her kitchen, but it was close enough.

(OOC: Yeah I for real question my sanity sometimes, and it took my 12 years to finally force myself to do it, but.... I'm hoping it'll pay off when I'm done? If nothing else, my pay will increase so there's that at least...)