Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in PreSim - Event Horizon Station - Time Off For Good Behaviour

Posted by Civilian Char’les Harv (Officer’s Mess Chef) in PreSim - Event Horizon Station - Time Off For Good Behaviour

Posted by Commander Shedda Mal’athar (Executive Officer) in PreSim - Event Horizon Station - Time Off For Good Behaviour
Posted by… suppressed (24) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
That was absolutely NOT what Shedda wanted to hear. She wanted Alex to say it was a joke or there was something in it he was allergic to, or Harv was going to give her food poisoning for pissing him off over something that Shedda wasn’t even aware of.

Shedda had dated plenty. She’d just never found anyone that was interested in knowing her and not an ‘Orion Woman’. Oh! Oh crap, did she miss her inhibitor? She thought back… No and even if she did, she had the ability to control it. She should get checked by Hudson anyway.

First, curiosity got the better of her and she lifted the box lid again to look at the cake. Maybe it was a remote detonator? No, Harv would never ruin his food that way. He had too much pride in his work for that.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

“Tyrisian chocolate souffle between layers of Terran raspberry cake with a mirror glaze of dark chocolate from Hiand VII. Hope you like it.” Harv said from the doorway of the kitchen.

Harv - Chef

Shedda looked up and met his gaze. She very carefully closed the lid and, taking it with her, walked over to the counter. She leaned against it where it was closest to the kitchen doors. I’ve been told I am picky, but that doesn’t seem to be an issue for you,” she said poking fun at herself. Albeit badly. “So I’m sure I will. Thank you.” Her fingers tapped the edge of the box gently. “It’s beautiful. It will be a shame to cut it.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv looked at her a moment and then said “Well, you don’t really have to. When you decide to eat it, set the box on something a little smaller than the base. Then just push down on the sides and the box will unfold and the cake will- if I did it right- split into four pieces and fall on its own plate made from the sides of the box.” He shrugged a bit uncomfortably and then said “I had to get one’a the Engineers to help with that, though. You wanna ten tired cake made outta cremé freche, I’m your guy. Anything that isn’t edible though, I’m kinda at a loss.”

Harv - Chef

She absolutely did not have a fluttery feeling in her stomach and her heart was not trying to race. She swore if Alex and Harv were pulling a prank on her, she’d knock them both on their @sses. She debated whether to just ask Harv if Alex had put him up to this, but then if Alex wasn’t yanking her chain, she’d really insult Harv. “Well I can piece together broken pottery, but I always burn eggs, so,” she shrugged.

Shedda stared back at him for a moment. Well what was life without a little risk. “You know, it’d be a shame if you didn’t get to see if this all works out the way you hoped. When you’re done here, why don’t you stop by and share it with me.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv looked at her for a long moment and then said “Well, I can’t tonight. There is a that birthday party for Ens. Vecks. And I won’t be done till a little after the dinner rush tomorrow. But, um…” and he swallowed very hard and very noticeably, “… well, uh… maybe if you haven’t eaten by then that is… maybe I could…uh… bring something for us- or just you, just you is good too- um… something to have for dinner?” It was just barely noticeable that the chef’s hands were shaking.

Harv - Chef

Shedda was going to kill Alex. Now she’d made Harv uncomfortable and put him in an odd position, and she’d made a fool of herself. She should have made that deal with Alex. Harv didn’t want to have dinner with her, he wanted to just give her food and leave it at that. She could be watching Alex squirm over an unwanted date right now. “You don’t have to bring me food, Harv. I just,” Shedda took a slightly nervous breath, choosing her words carefully. She didn’t want to insult him, but she didn’t want to make him feel pressured. “thought you put so much effort into it, it would be nice to share. You probably tried it while you made it though.” She carefully picked up the box. “Thank you for the cake. It was sweet of you.” She refrained from saying the invitation was still open. She didn’t want to make him feel even more uncomfortable than she’d made him already. “I’ll get out of your way. You have that party. Thanks again.” Shedda turned from the counter feeling like a complete idiot, but tried to save some pride by not looking like she felt like it.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

“Oh… yeah… okay, then…” Harv said softly while staring at the floor and then he shrugged a little. “Yeah, I should… um… sure, Commander. See ya.” and he sighed heavily and walked into the kitchen, the door swinging quietly shut behind him.

Harv - Chef

Shedda glanced back and smiled. “See ya, Chef.”

He might have briefly when she stopped for coffee the next morning, but she didn’t stay to eat, which wasn’t too unusual. She didn’t eat every morning.

She avoided lunch out of pure embarrassment. She missed dinner, maybe hoping he would actually show up and share the cake with her. She told herself she was being stupid, and owed Alex something embarrassing.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

=/\= XO to the Conference Room for Mission Briefing. =/\= the computer said at seven thirty that evening. She then received a file showinng a nebula cluster around a red giant. Scant data came with it, so that was probably what their next mission would entail.

Cochrane, CO

Well that was just as well. Shedda stood from where she was reading. She glanced over the file and transferred it to a PaDD. She moved into her bedroom, shedding her casual wear and slipping back into her uniform. She attached her combadge as she stepped into her boots. She picked up the PaDD on her way out the door, with a last glance at the still boxed cake. Just as well.

At the lift she stepped on, glancing over the file as she did, “Deck 1.” The lift took off. A moment later she stepped off and turned down the short corridor and stepped into the conference room.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

There was no one there.

But what was there were two places settings, three trays covered with silver domed warmers, and two glasses of something with ice. Before she could react, the door slid open and Harv walked in. “Whaddya mean the chicken is undercooked?!” he barked, and then stopped short and looked at Shedda, his eyes going wide in surprise. “Commander? What are you doi-” and his questions was cut off by the vid screen activating.

Harv - Chef

Shedda stopped and a sense of utter dread coursed through her as Harv walked in. He was as surprised as she was. As soon as she heard the vid screen activate she knew what Alex had done.

“Since you both are too nervous to do it yourselves, I am using my prerogative as Commanding Officer to do it for you.” Alex said. “Dinner. The two of you. Sit down, eat, get to know one another. That’s an order. Cochrane out. ” that was all.

Cochrane, CO

Shedda stared at the screen and had a strong urge to go rip the bulkheads down around Alex’s door and drag him out. What she would do after that she wasn’t sure. Her face flushed an almost dusky purple. She wasn’t sure if she felt shaky from low blood sugar or anger at Alex. It wasn’t going to help anything if she broke her PaDD. One breath and a count to ten. She turned to look at Harv, but was at a loss of what to say.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv stared at the vid screen for several heartbeats… which wasn’t all that long considering how fast his heart was pounding. His eyes narrowed and his jaw set. “That arrogant piece of sh-” and he caught himself. He looked at Shedda and said “Look. I don’t know what he expects or is thinking… or if he even is thinking… but I know you don’t wanna be here. Go ahead and go. We’ll just say dinner was fine and that was that. If we fight it, he’ll just dig in like a Halfillinñan tick. I’ll clear this up. Have a good evening, She-, er, Commander.” He turned away from her and began to pick up the dishes and set them aside.

Harv - Chef

Shedda looked taken aback by his vehemence. Something sharp twisted in her gut. The man really did hate her. He couldn’t even use her name. It shouldn’t hurt that her effort to at least make peace with the man had gone unnoticed. It shouldn’t remind her of all those failed dates at the Academy, but it did.

She knew what Alex was thinking. She’d told him he was wrong and he didn’t believe her. “I’m sorry Chef. I’ll talk to him. There is no lying to him. He’s watching the security feeds to make sure we stay. I don’t know what he’s up to. Just… just leave everything. The Captain has already taken enough of your time on an association you don’t want. Go enjoy your evening.” Well, that settled the question on if she was being stupid about saving the cake. She was stupid, he wasn’t planning on accepting her invitation. She stepped toward him, taking the dish he was holding. “I’ll take care of it. It’s the least I can do.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv froze in the middle of picking up a plate. Slowly his head turned and he looked at her. “I don’t want the association?! I’m the one who keeps shooting down anything someone does to try and ask you to dinner?! Holy crap lady… you got some stones on ya, that’s for sure.” He started gathering up the dishes with more than a little frustration. “I make you a cake. Made your favorite dish from your home. Even went outta my way to find out what your Dad puts in it. Nice guy. He told me you were oblivious to things like that, ya know. Hell, I even invited you into my kitchen! And what did I get for my troubles? Nothing. You didn’t even have the goddamn common courtesy to tell me you weren’t interested. Just let me keep makin’ a fool outta myself. Just… just great. But don’t worry about it. I got the message. Loud and clear. I won’t do anything else. No, Ma’am… I will leave you be for sure. And you can tell that Captain of yours he’s on my s#!+ list. Settin’ me up like this…” and he slammed the plates onto a cart on the far side of the room and began to gather up the rest of the meal.

Harv - Chef

Each statement was like a stab to her gut. He just told her to leave? She didn’t offer to go, she didn’t even move toward the door. She hated the golden sheen that covered her eyes in a watery haze. She was NOT her mother. She didn’t play games like that. She was just oblivious about it. She supposed she could get mad at him. What did he want, let her in the kitchen and fall into bed with him? Well no thank you, that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted her heart to be seen not her body. She stepped back like he’d slapped her.

“Shooting down who? No one asks me out. There is no one saying, ‘Hey Shedda let’s have dinner, just us, or want to go with me to the crew movie night, or there is this great holo program. or anything like that. No I get, ‘Hey Shedda why don’t you forget your pheromone suppressant for 24 hours and we’ll make a night of it.’” Idiots didn’t know she didn’t need it. “I don’t invite anyone to my quarters,” her voice was quiet and barely steady. “But I did you. You turned me down with an offer of dinner for one. I saved that cake, hoping.” She moved quietly to the door. “My father is an amazing man. For the record, since I wasn’t clear, and I am sorry for that, the chili was amazing. You have no idea how much I needed it that day.” Shedda shook her head and pressed the control to open the door.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

He turned and looked at her, arms crossed on his chest. He was quiet for a moment, but when he did speak, his voice was… not calm… but mostly flat. “You never stopped to think maybe I was nervous to ask you? You never bothered to think about why I was doing those things? And just for you, by the way. When have you EVER seen me work so hard on a gods-forsaken box, huh?” His eyes never left her, but he shook his head. “The answer is never, by the way.” He dropped his arms and turned around, slowly gathering up the final bits of the dinnerware. “I guess being an Orion is about as hard as dealing with ‘em.” He paused and turned around. “And for the record, I could give two shits about your pheromone inhibitor. I wasn’t looking for that. I wanted to know you better, is all.” and he started clearing plates.

Harv - Chef

“I never said you were looking for that. As for dealing with Orions, I don’t know. The only one I know is my father.” Shedda sighed, “No, I didn’t think you were nervous. You never hesitated to insult me or put me in my place. You’ve made it quite clear from the beginning you do not like me. It never occured to me that you wouldn’t speak your mind.” She sighed again. “No I didn’t think all those things were you trying to ask me out, Harv. I thought they were peace offerings. Two people trying to get along. Not until you told me about the box. Why do you think I asked you to come share it with me?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv paused again. He looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes for a second. “Well… I’ve met a few.” He opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at her. “It didn’t go well.” he said with a soft chuckle.

“I’d heard a rumor to that effect,” she said wryly. Murder and escape and exile would fit ‘not going well’.

Turning to fully face her, he leaned against the table. “Ok, look. Let’s try this again. Comman-… Shedda… I’d really like to have dinner with you. Would you please join me?” and he gestured to the table.

Harv - Chef

“I’d like that.” Shedda moved away from the door and towards the table. She passed the cart he had pushed into the wall and gently guided it toward the table. “So what exactly did the captain order and what story did he tell you?”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv pulled her chair for her and let her be seated and then began reorganizing the settings. “He told me that his mom was coming and if I wanted a signed copy of her new book, I needed to make a dinner she would remember. So I did… shoulda known something was up. He said she really liked Terran chicken and Vulcans are vegetarian.” He shook his head and then looked at Shedda. “That guy can lie his ass off when he wants to, huh?” and he chuckled.

Harv - Chef

Shedda let him seat her, though it felt formal and a little weird. She shook her head agreeing with him, “Apparently, and I swear he is more meddlesome than the old grandfathers in my village.” She would have helped but she was afraid to start an argument all over again. “He told me we had a mission briefing. I should have known when it was the computer and not him on the comm.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv made quick work of the settings and then took a seat across from her. He set his hands palm-down on the table and then froze, his brow furrowing. He was quiet a moment and then looked at Shedda. “I just realized I haven’t actually sat down for a meal with anybody in… well… I can’t remember the last time actually.”

Harv - Chef

“Too busy feeding everyone else. I’m well aware of the lines to get into the mess to eat. How early you get there and how late you stay.” Shedda said reaching for a glass, “You know we have the enlisted mess and the lounge. In a pinch there are, horror of horrors, replicators, and if we are desperate - emergency rations. You are allowed to take time off.” She sipped. “Well my meals with someone consists of the captain… which I am seriously reconsidering now.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv shook his head slightly and said “Why’s that? Don’t like where they ended you up?” and he gestured around them and laughed softly. He started to uncover the food. “Earth dishes but with Vulcan flavor pallettes, so they are spicy. Chicken Tikka Masala with Vulcan garlic and red chili flake. Roasted Vulcan sprouts with the classic Vulcan spice combination of t’nic, queshar, hoa’dre, and Vulcan cinnamon. And finally flan with caramel.” and he began serving her.

Harv - Chef

“I didn’t say that.” Shedda said quietly but earnestly. “Why? Because he’s being a meddlesome pain in the neck that needs to mess with his own life and not other people’s.” That probably sounded bad and she didn’t mean it that way. “Even if he is right, he’ll be insufferable to deal with now.” Shedda looked at the dishes, and she admitted it smelled mouth watering. Everything Harv made was. The only problem was that Shedda had no tolerance for spice. She really was going to kill Alex. She’d eat it, enjoy it, and hope that her stomach didn’t decide to expel the food before Harv left. This was going to end in a nightmare.

“Don’t worry, by the way.” Harv said with a rare slight smile. “The flan has Cardassian vanilla in it. It’ll neutralize the spices before you get any kind of upset stomach or something.” He sat down and looked at her. “Coincidental side effect of it also tasting really good.”

She was really going to have to look into Harv having some sort of telepathy. It was uncanny how he seemed to know what she was thinking.

“It smells delicious Harv. I know this wasn’t the scenario you had in mind when cooking, but thank you all the same.” She didn’t touch the food until Harv had his own. She took careful bites of each thing, trying them and their flavors. It was good, there was no doubt about that. “I’m curious, do you do anything that is not cooking? You must, but except for a very small few hours in the middle of the night you are always in the mess.”

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

He served himself and then poured them drinks. “I sleep.” he said with a soft chuckle. “Seriously, though… I like to read. Mostly histories and ethics. And I do research for… uh… well, it’s stupid. Just a per project of sorts.” and he hid his face as he took a drink. “What about you? When you are t being set up by Cochrane, what do you like to do?”

Harv - Chef

“Oh, now I’m curious, and I doubt it’s stupid.” She didn’t press though. She smirked at the joke, but her eyes were a bit sad. She imagined her free time would be so different now. Maava wasn’t hers, but she still felt like she was. The love and attachment didn’t disappear just because things didn’t work out.

“Oh, volley ball, martial arts, and I’ll deny it of you repeat it, but creative writing,” Shedda said.

Cmdr. Mal’athar, XO

Harv looked sat her for a moment and then said “Id like to read some of it sometime.” His tone was sincere with no hint of amusement. “And I’ll let you read my project. It’s a cookbook; but its the last meals of famous… and some infamous… individuals throughout the Federation and beyond. Many of them I’ve had to recreate on my own.”

Harv - Chef