Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

Posted by Fleet Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic

Posted by Civilian Sair Songz (Counselor) in Deck 4 Garden- A Picnic
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Sair reached behind her and patted the case. “I play and sing, though I would not say my instrumental skills are exceptional.”

“Well you certainly didn’t get any skills from me,” Kel said.

Sair chuckled as she broke up a sandwich for Koro into some smaller pieces. “Yes, you were banned from singing at the hospital for good reason.” She was entirely teasing and it was clear Kel knew this. “What do you play?” Sair asked Cochrane.

~Sair & Family

Cochrane smiled around a bite and held up a finger. After chewing and swallowing, he said “Oh, I dabble with a few things. Guitar, bass, piano… a few others. But my favorite is the cello. That I try to play as often as I can.” He picked up another hite, but looked at Kel and said “So? Any embarrassing stories from when our illustrious Counselor was a wee baby?” and he chuckled as he ate.

Cochrane, CO

“Well, this counselling thing is new, but stories? So, so many,” Kel said with a conspiratorial grin. Sair just groaned and focused on her plate of food, shaking her head.

“One of my favourites is how when she was about four years old, she’d follow me about the hospital. Her father tended to watch her during the day when he wasn’t in rehearsals but sometimes she just wanted to be near me and I didn’t have the heart on those days to leave her in childcare. So with permission and some special arrangements, I brought her along. She spent time in the children’s playroom in a different wing, but when she was on my ward, she’d follow me around with her stuffed akae in tow. She wasn’t allowed in the patient rooms for obvious reason, but one day I had a code and told her stay at the nurses’ station. So I go off and deal with that, and when I come back, she’s gone. I’m panicking, trying to figure out where my child has disappeared to when I hear her tiny little voice coming from one of the rooms. The patient was sleeping, having been too tired to eat their last meal, so we left it there for them in case they were hungry when they woke up. I stand at the doorway to see my child sitting on the person’s bed, nibbling away on some cold vegetables, chatting to her akae as if the stuffed animal was the patient.” Kel broke into a grin. “I was mortified, but then the patient open’s one eye, turns their head towards me and gives a tiny smile before closing their eyes and pretending to be asleep again. I didn’t have the heart to take her out of there, so I let them be for a little while longer, though when my attending found out, they couldn’t decide whether to yell at me or laugh. They did both but though we kept a closer eye on Sair, she was out little mascot running about the wards bringing a little light to people having a hard time of it. Not much has change,” Kel said fondly.

“I don’t go running about with a stuffed animal anymore,” Sair said dryly.

“Have you tried it?” Kel teased.

Sair couldn’t help but grin even as she exhaled in exasperation and ruffled Koro’s hair.

~Sair & Family

Cochrane looked at Koro and said “Swapping a stuffed one for a live one then, are we?” and he smiled. “I like it. Fortunately for you, or maybe not so much? We have a fantastic school and childcare suite. And as far as I know, we haven’t lost any or sent them home with the wrong parents, so… kudos to us.” and he chuckled.

Cochrane, CO

Sair laughed, and it felt unexpected to do so much of it just now. But it was nice. “Well, I think Koro is settled enough that he would do well with some time spent with other children. Besides, you can’t stay forever, so it would be good to transition him to getting used to other carers.”

“I’m here as long as you need me,” Kel said seriously.
“Sure, but I know a man who already misses you terribly.”
“He’ll live. I’m worth missing.”

Cochrane just smiled and shook his head.

Sair just laughed again. She picked up the plate with the small round spiced pastries. “Here, try one? I have no idea how Human tastebuds will find it, but I sure am curious.” The pastry was flaky and rich, and the filling was chunky with a bit of heat, earthiness and a sharp contrasting flavour that was hard to pinpoint an equivalent. But there was something else in there was was both at once gummy and chewy mixed in. It all blended together, but the chewy thing tended to stick to ones teeth for a moment.

Cochrane chewed and smiled. “I like it! It reminds of an Earth pastry call baklava, but more herbal. And the heat is good. Won’t blow your head off, but its definitely there.”

Meanwhile, Koro quietly snuggled up to his mother, leaning n her while he ate. Sair just wrapped an arm around him, as she picked up a pastry for herself.

~Sair & Family

Cochrane looked at Kel and said “So how long do you intend to stay on board?”

Cochrane, CO

“Oh a couple weeks or so. Depends. I’m trusting my motherly instincts on this one,” Kel said lightly.

“Uh huh,” Sair said as she carefully reached for the container with drinks. “Help yourself to water or lemonade.”

“Is that that sweet and sour drink?” her mother asked. Sair nodded and Kel shuddered. “Detestable stuff.”

Alex cooked an eyebrow at her and said “Easy, there. My ship, my rules. And on my ship we don’t yuck someone else’s yum.” and he smiled. “You are on a ship with almost two thousand other individuals representing well over a hundred different species and double that cultures and religious beliefs. Negative statements about things like food, drink, or even color can lead to arguments and even physical altercations. So on most Federation vessels the rule is if you don’t like it, don’t eat it. But never make a comment unless its a positive one.” and popped the last bit of his pastry in his mouth.

Kel focused on Alex again. “Anyway, I’ll stay as long as I’m needed and not overstaying my welcome. To be honest, I haven’t had a proper vacation in a very long time and in my books, being here is just that.”

~Sair & Family

Cochrane nodded and swallowed. “Well, you are welcome as long as you’d like. But please keep in mind that the longer you stay, the greater the odds are that we get called to do something. And if that happens, we can’t stop to accommodate travel arrangements.” and he wiped his fingers on a napkin and chuckled. “Not saying you are not welcome. I just don’t want to get stuck here linger than you want.” and he laughed.

Cochrane, CO