Posted by Lieutenant Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in Mess Hall - Open Thread

Posted by Commander Maxwell Harkness (Executive Officer) in Mess Hall - Open Thread

Posted by Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist) in Mess Hall - Open Thread
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[snip]

At this, Bowman turned to face the others. “Thank you, Commander!” he said, before turning back to the empty table to push the chair back in and retrieve his tray. He brought it with him over to an empty seat at the larger table – though not the one next to Cadet Bennet’s tail, as he did not want to risk encroaching on her personal space. Rhese lightly set his tray onto the table, before softly plopping himself into the chair he’d selected. “The food? I haven’t had a chance to sample anything before now,” Rhese admitted. “Though I did find that even the replicators at the Academy seemed to have some very… unique… ideas on how a salmon should taste,” Bowman admitted. He’d actually made it a point to sample the salmon from several different replicators, in order to find his favorite – though indeed, replicated salmon could in no way compare to the real thing. “The closest approximation I could find was over at Club 602. While it could never compare to the real deal, it was able to craft a fairly convincing resemblance,” Rhese volunteered. Many (though certainly not all) of the people who had spent any time at the Academy knew of Club 602 – it had become something of a phenomenon as far as hang-outs or ‘local dives’ were concerned. Rhese looked to the others at the table to see if anyone else had been familiar with the venue, before taking his first bite of the salmon on his plate.

Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)

Catt was releaved more that she might avoid becoming the center of attention.

“Catt Bennet. “, She introduced herself omitting the usual honorific since as a cadet they were peers.

Cadet. Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger

Bowman nodded to the Caitian cadet and spoke softly, in an almost hushed tone: “Pleasure to meet you, cadet Bennet! I’m Rhese Bowman, science section,” he said. He then took his first bite of the salmon. It tasted… acceptable, if he was being forgiving. “Hmm,” he thought as he continued to chew, “I’m going to have to take a look at the replicator profile and see if I can make some adjustments to the programming.“

Korczak entered the Lounge carrying a small black insulated bag. Dressed in civilian clothes, he looked even more forgettable than normal. Looking around for a place to sit, he spied the Commander and a few Cadets seated and talking. Making his way over to the large table, he looked at the assembly and said “Pardon. But it seems that there is a shortage of seats. Would anyone mind if I join?” he asked politely. He especially made a point of looking at Cadet Bennet as he spoke, as he did not wish to make her uncomfortable. He knew their session had not gone as smoothly as it could have, but the reviews he had received from the new CSO seemed to indicate she was settling in now.

Korczak, CNS

Catt made a great effort not to tence up as the councilor approached. Things had indeed not gone well during their interview. She was extremely discomforted by his presence. She took a bite of the tuna surprise. The surprise being that anyone would mistake her dish as edible she surmised. Her reaction to the food hopefully disguised her reaction to the councilor. He had asked to join them. He was looking at her though when he asked. She couldn’t avoid a response, nor given that with her hearing she could single out anyone in the mess hall could she pretend not to hear him. To do so would be dishonest. Her honesty and inability to not explain thing completely was the crux of why the interview had gone badly.

“Sir.” she whisper spoke fairly softly. I must apologize for having caused you distress earlier. It is perhaps one of the faults of my species culture that we believe in complete disclosure of facts. It is a further failing on my part that I did not enact that disclosure in a less alarming manner. “, and she took a deep breath closed her eyes and opened them again. ” I am honored and releved that you are willing to be in my company. Sir.”

Korczak nodded in acknowledgement and sat down. With a nod to the XO and look around the table, a small smile curved one corner of his mouth and he set the insulated bag on the table.

Bowman looked up to the man after he’d spoken, having immediately recognized the unusual accent(s), and he then began to hurriedly chew and finish his bite of the salmon by swallowing, before saying “I certainly don’t.” Rhese had enjoyed his talk with the Counselor earlier in the day, and had found him an interesting man. He looked to the others at the table before looking around to the other, mostly empty tables in the room, and then wondered if the man had been making a joke.

Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)

Simon thought to himself that it had been some time since he had actually visted the mess hall to eat, his time on patrol often made him eat on the job. It was good to get some free time, and he was surprised at how busy the mess hall was on this day. It had been also been a while and he noticed some new faces among the group.

He recognized the counselor that he had visited a couple of weeks ago, and he had briefly met the XO when he was first assigned. Though now Nijix was now assigned as the chief, he wasn’t that surprised that he hadn’t seen the Commander more recently.

He walked over to the replicator and asked for “Chicken thighs, skinned with potatoes, leeks, carrots and onions.” As the tray materialized in front of him, he took the meal and headed over to the rest of the group.

“Room for one more? When large crowds start gathering, something almost always happens.” Starr said, adding in the statement more jokingly than the question.

Cadet Simon Starr. Security

Catt smiled up at Cadet Starr. She didn’t say anything to him but she straightened in her seat so that her tail wasn’t hanging over the chair next to her. This required some undignified placement of said tail that she had so far avoided. But to be impolite was the greatest sin in a Caitan’s eyes.

Cadet. Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

Not wanting to appear rude for the effort the Caitan had made, Starr took the seat at the table freed by Catt. “Thanks… um… Sorry, I don’t think we’ve become acquainted yet” he said as he noted the kind gesture.

“So, how is everyone?” he asked, out of the cadets currently here, he knew he had been here for a couple of weeks longer than both of them. He had seen them around but not had an opportunity to introduce himself. “Oh, I’m Starr by the way” he said, addressing Bowman and Bennet simultaneously. He looked towards the XO and Counselor. “Sir, sir” he said with a nod towards each one out of respect. “So, your both science cadets” he said, motioning to the cadets’ uniforms as he said so. “A pleasure to meet you both” he said in a distinct southern British accent, and while waiting for someone else to speak, to a bite out of his chicken.

• Cadet Simon Starr, Security

Rhese finished the bite of salmon he’d been chewing as Starr spoke, and only then noticed the Sciences insignia on cadet Bennet’s uniform. His eyes widened with delight. “Oh, we’ll be working together, Bennet!” Rhese said – and though he’d probably done so somewhat louder than the Caitian would have liked, it still hadn’t been overly loud or boisterous, by human standards. He couldn’t help his enthusiasm, though. It’d be an amazing opportunity to learn more about her people – “IF she feels comfortable talking about it,” Bowman interjected to himself. He certainly would not press the issue. He turned his gaze, then, to Starr. “I’m Rhese Bowman, good to meet you.” He liked Starr’s accent, too, though still found Korczak’s more… intriguing. “I’m doing great; just got myself settled in today,” Bowman added, in response to Starr’s first query. Rhese then turned his attention back to his plate for a moment, and decided to sample the replicated vegetable medley by taking a bite.

Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)

Catt tilted her head and looked at Cadet Starr. “Pleased to meet you Starr. I am Catt. Well it’s what I am called by those who can not pronounce my name. The danger of being adopted by a human five year old as a friend. Undignified but it fits me.”, she replied with a smile. She was fairly sure she had properly matched the informality of the introduction . There was no need of a modifier for rank or position. And she sneezed as she realised she was over thinking what humans called a simple hello. It would of signaled another Caitan that she was amused or tence. In this case a bit of both she mused.

Cadet. Catt Bennet. Sciences. USS Challenger.

“Nice to meet you Cadet,” Max said towards Starr. “We were just discussing our thoughts on replicator food. Mr. Bowman here was telling us about this cafe he had found back at the Academy that was able to turn out a pretty decent dish.”

Max pushed his own tray away from him, the one downside of being stationed on a ship, instead of on a starbase or planet. You just didn’t get as much fresh food. Not to mention something seemed off about that replicator today.

As he looked around the table he was happy to see the cadets freely talking. It seemed like half the time you got a table of junior officers who clammed up whenever a senior officer joined them.

Cmdr. Harkness - XO

Seeing the conversation continue, Korczak nonchalantly opened the insulated bag before him. Almost immediately, the aroma of fresh cooked potatoes, fruit, sausages, cabbage, and fish wafted across the table and drew more than one look form the tables around them. Equally nonchalantly, the always reserved and oft forgotten Counselor began removing small covered plates, the contents hidden in the steam inside the transparent lids. Opening one, a small cloud of steam issued forth to reveal a selection of small round pastries bulging with stuffings of various ingredients. Without looking up or paying attention to the looks, he sat out six plates and arranged them in a half-circle before him. Pointing from one to the next, he said “Potato. Sauerkraut. Salmon. Sausage. Cheese. Apple and sour cream. Perogis. Made by my mother.” and he then looked up, the small smile still present. “Replicators are near the recycler for a reason… the quality is similar. Please, everyone. Enjoy. There is much to much for me to eat alone, and they do not keep.” he said, his odd accent giving a strange but not unfriendly sound to the words.

Korczak, CNS

Rhese’s curiosity was definitely piqued now, and his nose could not help but be drawn straight to the salmon which Korczak had just revealed. “Wha.. what kind of salmon is that, if I may ask, sir?” Bowman asked, his mouth already virtually drooling. It certainly smelled wonderful! Rhese couldn’t help but be taken back to the kitchen at home – once more today – in his mind, as this was a very familiar and reminiscent scent. Bowman wondered if perhaps Korczak had only known to bring the salmon specifically because of his mentioning it earlier in the day during his psychological exam, or if it was just a delightful cosmic coincidence of some kind. “Thank you, Commander Korczak! This is very kind of you,” Bowman said, before helping himself to a sample of the salmon, a small piece of cheese, and a slice of apple.

Cadet Rhese Bowman (Scientist)