Posted by Cadet Aili McMorran (Scientist) in Side Sim - The Long Awaited Dinner

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Tandra Mika (Incoming Chief Medical Officer) in Side Sim - The Long Awaited Dinner

Posted by Cadet Aili McMorran (Scientist) in Side Sim - The Long Awaited Dinner
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Not the first thing you’d think of, huh? Well, that pine smell fits you perfectly,” Tandra said, grinning, lowering her voice. Her heart began beating faster as Aili drew nearer, her face turning red once again. But blushing didn’t matter much now, and she honestly wished she wasn’t such an easy blusher. Leaning in toward Aili, she whispered, “Not to mention I really like it.”

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Aili noticed Tandra’s obvious blush and thought it profoundly cute, the display of vulnerability bolstering her confidence in a roundabout manner. Her lips curling into an angular smirk, Aili leaned yet slightly further. “Oh? I’m glad. I hope you’ll be smelling it plenty.” Having delivered her line, Aili rapidly retreated, pushing her chair out and bringing herself to her feet. Smelling? That’s not a very attractive word! Oh well. The cadet pressed her hands together. “Would you like your appetiser?”, she passionately asked.

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

Tandra grinned, thinking Oh, me too. “Oh, yeesss,” she replied. Honestly, at this point, she wasn’t sure if Aili were talking about the food or something else. Either way, Tandra was quite excited. Leaning back as Aili did, she sat back in her chair. Though her nerves had not calmed, Tandra felt the date was going pretty well. Certainly Aili seemed into it, and that was always good.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Aili registered Tandra’s affirmation with a wide grin. As was typical for her, the cadet had prepared each aspect of the evening with meticulous detail. She was deeply reassured that Tandra, and Aili herself, seemed to be relaxing into the situation. Turning to the replicator, she addressed the machine. “Two small soup plates, warm.” The device powered up with a burr and with a flash of light, two deep plates appeared in its alcove. Aili transferred them to the work surface, setting them down side by side. “What’s your favourite food then Tandra?” she asked without looking back. “If I’d thought to ask you yesterday I could have been serving it up right now…” As she spoke, she spooned something out of one of the pots onto each plate before scattering the red and green ingredients which sat on a small chopping board over their tops.

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

“Meatloaf and mashed potatoes,” Mika answered, trying to see what it was Aili was preparing. “And that’s fine, I don’t mind the wait.” she said, and meant it. If the Replicator went up in smoke, and that meant she could spend more time with Aili, she’d be all for it.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

“Aha! I can get behind that.” Her excitement was exaggerated if she were honest, meatloaf wasn’t a particular favourite of hers. Potato was always good in her books though. Aili lifted to place mats, flapped them open, and placed them before each of their seats at the table. She gently placed a set of cutlery at the side of each, leaning deliberately closely over Tandra’s shoulder as she put the other woman’s in place. Finally, she lifted the two concave plates and places one on each place before retaking her seat. A small portion of warm risotto rice mixed with pinkish red smoked salmon formed a ball in the centre of each, topped with a sprinkling of cool salmon and mixed fresh herbs. “Smoked salmon risotto topped with real fresh herbs. I grow them by the window through there”, she gestured to the sleeping area, “although… it’s not like the window is helping!”

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

“Real herbs, huh? No wonder it smells so good! I can’t wait,” she said. She had relaxed now, and seemed much more like her normal self. Looking at the window, she said, “Well, yeah, I wouldn’t think so. Unless we park under a sun just so you can grow a plant,” she said and smiled.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

A polite chuckle was offered by Aili. “If you can smell anything over the salmon then yer nose is better than mine! Tuck in. Oh! How silly of me. A drink for you? Anything you want. This will just be from the replicator”. Damn damn damn. She had kept everything in its proper place until that point. Still, she reckoned, Tandra was someone who seemed to like things done properly at work but didn’t seem the fussy sort in her personal life. Aili stood with her fingers pressed against the table, vaguely revealing her anticipation as she awaited a request.

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

True to Aili’s interpretation, in her work life, Mika was quite particular. Notes should be thorough. Doses kept track of. Cabinets neat. Things done in a timely fashion. She always made sure her work at least, was done to her expectations. Truly, as a department head, she’d likely be rather strict. Yet in her more casual home life, she understood that unpredictable things popped up and mistakes happened. She was not the type to freak out over something little. Or even something big, usually. “How about a nice, cold, white wine, to go with dinner?” She said, to answer Aili’s request. “Synthehol wine may not compare to the real stuff, but I think it’ll go quite nicely with the food.”

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor

Aili responded simply, “Right you are.” Swivelling to face the replicator, she went to speak before cutting herself off, electing instead to input the request by hand. Wine was not her forte but Tandra didn’t need to know that. A quick search for a white to accompany salmon naturally resulted in a seemingly endless list of candidates. After choosing one at random, yet making sure to specify that it should be cool, and waiting for it to synthesise, she presented it to Tandra. “That should go well!”, she blurted as if she had any clue. She wielded her fork, gesturing with it for Tandra to join her in beginning their meal. “I hope you like it. I always find it challenging to cook for someone who’s tastes I don’t know.” She paused. “At least that I don’t yet know… It’d be easier to just ask what you’d like from the hole in the wall after you arrived of course but that’d be too easy on me.” She poked her head in the direction of her cooking area. And she winked. She winked? Dear lord Aili, was all she could think to herself. That wasn’t like her at all. She wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t enjoy it though.

Cadet Aili McMorran - Science

Mika accepted the glass of wine, placing it on the table. “It’s challenging, but worth it. Even if I don’t end up liking it, it’s a chance to show me some food that you like. And, of course, your cooking skills,” she said, grinning. Mika was no cook, there was no going about that. Replicators were a blessing to her. All she had to say was, A hot plate of Meatloaf and potatoes, please and it appeared for her, just as specified.

~ Cadet Tandra Mika, Doctor