Intentional Run-ins

Posted on 02/07/2022 @ 9:48pm by Captain Cara Letsul & Rear Admiral Thomas Rice
Edited on on 03/02/2022 @ 4:11pm

2,869 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Mini Mission: When The Cat's Away
Location: Rice Quarters
Timeline: 1700 MD001: 01/03/2397

On:

Tom had been prepping all afternoon, ever since his meeting with the Counselor earlier. He wasn't sure why he was putting so much work into dinner, but he enjoyed cooking. There was no way he was putting out a half-baked meal. He pulled out a bottle of his best pinot noir as he looked to the table. He had a lightly grilled fillet, coupled with a sauteed jumbo shrimp, and a side of garlic parmesan noodles and roasted baby carrots.

Whenever he started cooking he found himself at peace, it was easy to get lost in the technique as he fixed, and prepped each dish. He pulled out two glasses he started to set the table. "Computer, play Sweetness by the Sensual Chill Saxophone Band, circa 2018k, Earth," Tom couldn't help but find himself dancing along to the music as the sounds of the saxophone filled the room. He picked up a few of the dirty dishes as he made his way to the sink.

Lost in the moment, he had failed to notice the door chime. Standing there, he found himself rocking his hips back and forth as the saxophone solo started. Turning rather fast, he looked up dropping a bowl on the ground, "Commander," Tom blushed, "I mean, Cara.. I," he looked to the door, "I didn't hear, I mean. Come in," he smiled, "I guess you're already in."

Cara had a soft smile and moved further inside. She had been enjoying watching Tom's impromptu dance, "Yes I am already inside, sorry to have startled you." Cara answered, "I got the sense you were in the 'zone' so let myself in." she went quiet for a moment, to crouch down and pick up the bowl he had dropped, "I do tend to dance whilst I do my dishes." looking up towards him before she handed the bowl to him.

Cara stood back up, taking a deep breath inhaling the scents that were in the air. "It smells divine, and looks wonderful, Tom"

Tom smiled, he could feel some heat in his cheeks but oh well, "I quite enjoyed cooking it. And, it's not the first time I have been accused of being in the zone. I enjoy this, and it's comfortable here," he added. "Although I didn't realize I was dancing, that's rather embarrassing."

He reached out taking the dropped bowl from Cara, "please have a seat, let me just take care of this."

Cara gave a nod to Tom releasing the bowl and then gracefully took a seat at the table, making certain to settle the skirt of her purple dress comfortably. "Thank you." she smiled, watching as he moved. She could feel the peace radiating out from Tom, along with his slight shyness. "Besides nothing wrong with dancing, you have a natural rhythm and grace."

Tom bowed his head and blushed, "I've been told that," he laughed, "never been one to really dance in front of people." He was a rather shy person despite what people thought of him, "I suppose if given the right circumstances that dancing wouldn't be out of the question." He gestured to the table, "but first we need to eat this food, then dance."

Cara wasn't expecting this turn of events, and she was pleasantly surprised it showing and she smiled softly. "That would be lovely" Cara replied as she went to sit down at the table. She took a moment to take in the savory scents once more, just closing her eyes as it wafted up. Then Cara opened her eyes once more.

"I am filled with great excitement at taking my first bite." picking up her fork after Tom sits down. "Now just to figure out which to choose first to try." Cara's eyes meeting Tom's.

Tom gestured to the plate, "I'd try the shrimp, personally." Tom pulled her chair out just a bit as he pointed to the seat, "after you," he smiled. After Cara was seated Tom took a seat across the table from her. "I gotta say it's been a while since I've had company, let alone got to cook for someone. I've missed it."

"I do know that, our jobs do tend to make a lot of evenings where we eat alone, with music in the background. Or we are staring at the view screen trying to puzzle out a solution to keep a station running. Or solve a difficulty that someone is having at work." she speared the shrimp with her fork and lifted it to her mouth and took an exploratory taste.

Her eyes immediately closed as Cara savored the morsel she took. It was delicious, it was her habit to do what she did. As to her, it was a sublime moment when something so filled with flavor met her taste buds. "Ohhh Tom, this is wonderful" she moaned out, opening up her eyes once more. Then she put the last bit of that shrimp into her mouth. Her eyes smiled while Cara chewed.

"Come by more often," Tom hinted, "I will cook more often if there are people to cook for." Tom dug his fork into his pasta and twirled it around as he scooped up a bit of the garlic pasta. "Mother always said that all her kids needed to learn the art of cooking, and I was the only one to really pay attention, I guess."

Cara got a contemplative expression in her eyes. "I could do so, we will have to plan some time to do so in the future. I used to have meals with Fer... " she stopped. It just didn't seem proper to even mention someone she used to be involved with.

"Cara," Tom picked up on something, "it's ok to talk about one's past. The past shaped who we are and those experiences are an important part of what makes us who we are. Besides I think at our age, we both have had a few meals with other people by now." He sipped his wine.

Cara smiled slightly. "I just felt like it would be bad form to bring up someone I used to be with." picking up her own wine and taking a drink. "I am finding you easy to talk to." a contemplative expression crosses her face as she looked into his eyes. "Which may make you.. a bit dangerous, truth be told." lifting her glass towards Tom, the contemplative expression fading away to one of a teasing nature. Cara took another sip of her drink, setting the glass down, to resume eating.

"Some have told me I should have gone into Counseling," he openly laughed, "but I don't think I have the personality for that. I am too direct and forward. I think it's the years in security," he thought for a moment. He shrugged, "who knows." He sipped his wine. "Besides, I've been told I was dangerous before, but never for being too easy to talk too." He smirked.

"Ah you were, or shall I say, still are in security but in a much larger scale." Cara giving a shrug. "Being a Commodore even an Admiral tends to put things into perspective. Its a whole other ball of wax." another contemplative look. "Maybe I am finding it easier to talk with you due to you being a commodore. And I having been one at one time, before I was made an admiral. "A few bites more, Cara savoring the flavors once again. She could tell Tom loved cooking, it could be told just by the taste of it. "This is so good!" she exclaimed, "Could be highly addicting." giving a light laugh.

Tom tipped his wine glass to her as he commented, "I gotta say, I think you are the first-ever volunteer for a demotion that I have ever heard of. It's a bold, brave, and," he paused, "a rather odd move. But, I think this new position suits you well. Lord knows this station could use all the help it can get." He took a bite from the plate in front of him, "food can be rather addictive, been a human curse for years."

"Yes the ongoing search for things that are tasty." Cara quipped, "I know it was an odd move for me to get a demotion but, it felt right." she motioned to the food Tom had prepared, "I have eaten food that has been cooked by acclaimed chefs top of the line. However, you could tell the difference if they are... humble and enjoying their artwork or if they are just caught up in their hubris. Emotions go into food a person makes, and this tastes like you love what you are doing. The loving touch of your mother, who had taught you this art." lifting her own glass towards Tom.

"If you only knew the truth," Tom let out a rare laugh, "my mother was a cold, heartless, unforgiving woman. She told us to cook as a defense mechanism. If we could care for ourselves then we were less likely to return home. She was brutally honest, had zero compassion, and didn't trust a soul."

"Oof okay then I am mistaken on that one." Cara's eyes widening. "Okay what is your dad like?" she could only just barely imagine having a mother like that, her mother wasn't like that at all.

"My father is an odd one, he cares deeply however it's hard to express yourself when you married to someone so..." he paused, "controlling." Tom smirked, "he's not a push over don't get me wrong, but he tends to let mother rule the roost as they say."

Cara nodded in understanding. "I have seen others in that sort of situation. You love someone so much that you also have the hope that they would change, but also are willing to put up with much just to keep the peace. I do hope that he does exert some words of wisdom to rein her in somewhat. Perhaps he has, but probably hasn't in the presence of you and your siblings." Cara mused. "I at times wonder what makes a person become like that, putting out the aspect of being cold, heartless, and unforgiving unless something had happened in their lives that caused them to be that way. Sometimes it is their upbringing, sometimes it is a loss of someone to which causes them to want to connect on a personal level and have a distance. Other times it is a problem of feeling the worth of one's self."

Tom nodded in agreement, "I wish I understood her, I bet my siblings all wish they understood her. I am not sure what makes her the way she is, not to say that she doesn't love us but she has a real hard time expressing love. I think her form of love is discipline, and the stronger your discipline the more she loved you."

Cara had started in on her pasta, swirling it about her fork, and raised it to her mouth pausing before she took a bite. "There are mothers like that, and if you end up becoming a good man or woman who doesn't make trouble then it does make them happy. Okay I need to put away my counselor's hat." this time putting her forkful of noodles in her mouth. "I seem to just like figuring out why a person is acting the way they are. I do know though that I won't figure out the puzzle but still I try." giving a little shrug and cut off a piece of the fish tasting it.

Cara went quiet to concentrate on the food, it was tasting quite good, and she was just enjoying it, taking her time. On occasion she'd glance up at Tom, just filled with sheer delight. She got down to the last couple of bites, having saved the roasted carrots for last. She took a bite or two then she said, "If I could try to describe this as a painting, this would be a masterpiece."

"Cooking is rather easy if you have patience," Tom replied, "I guess that could be said about a great number of things in life, really. Patience is the keep to many things, you can't rush cooking or life. Things will happen in due time if you give it the time to work out." He sipped his wine, "ok, enough wine." He smirked.

"Is the winemaking you far more philosophical than what you want to be?" Cara giving a light laugh. "It is good wine." she looked at her plate which was now empty, "Good food, good company, good wine. Creates a zest for life, and sends the doldrums away. I could call you, Doctor Rice now." her smile broadening to a grin.

"I'll have you know, there are many layers to Thomas Rice not just philosophy. Most of them just take a bit more wine before they will appear," he picked up his glass as he took a sip. "For instance, I enjoy people watching on the Promenade, especially at night. Seeing all the travelers reading too their destination. It's interesting to see how people let their hair down and relax after they take the uniform off."

"I see, you are a watcher as well." Cara finished up the last of her wine and placed the glass down. She looked at her glass it reminded her about another place and another time. She looked up from it and asked, "Have you ever had a drink called Grog?" she knew it was a random question but, she wanted to find out if Thomas had ever had it.

"It would depend on what you refer to as Grog," Tom smiled, "many different variations and versions. None of that watered-down rum bull crap, that's not Grog."

"I didn't have watered down swill I had my first taste of grog from the XO on the King George V, Commander Lupe Fernandez. I hadn't eaten before I went to a meeting with him, in his office and well... it hit my head rather quickly. Made me a bit tipsy. I managed to not embarrass myself but he was rather concerned when he realized I hadn't had anything to eat. It was dark Jamaican rum he made it with. It was quite tasty."

Tom wasn't entirely sure where this was going, how did things end up on grog. "I've had some good ones, and I have had some terrible ones," he looked at Cara, "but you'll never see me turn down an offer for rum."

Cara caught Tom's confusion. "Sorry, that was a random subject to be brought up, but I do like rum as well." she gave him a contemplative look then remarked. "Look Tom, I don't know where this is going and I don't really want to lead you on either."

"I gotta say I wasn't sure where this was going either," Tom stood up, "what do you think of a trip around the Promenade," he smiled, "a little sightseeing, shopping, and maybe dessert?"

"That sounds like a great plan." Cara rising up from her chair. "So clean up the dishes and then we head on out? Sorry habits die hard as to cleaning up after a meal." Giving a shrug, and picking up the dishes that she used, "Recycler or actually washing the dishes?"

"The important stuff has already been cleaned the rest can be recycled," Tom nodded to the replicator. Tom gathered up the remaining dishes as he walked over to the device. It would be nice to get out and have some nice company to enjoy his evening with.

"Shopping-wise, where shall we go? And what will you be wanting for dessert? They do have some great places to get dessert from. And they are non replicated. There is an ice cream shop 32 Below that has fantastic ice creams and other frosty desserts. Faux has some really good pub desserts at the Admiral on Deck. I have eaten a few of them." she gave a shrug. "Couldn't help myself, the man cooks rather well."

"There is another place I like to frequent, it's called The Big Easy Bistro. It is where Niska's place used to be. The owners are rather lovely. And their dessert menu is truly magnifique! They are from New Orleans."

"There is a little place that serves banana's foster," Tom looked at her judging her reaction, "probably some of the best I have ever had." He grabbed a jacket and he walked with Cara to the door, "shopping wise, let's see what strikes our fashion. I was told I need to be impulsive and just see what happens," he openly laughed.

Placing a finger on her lips Cara pondered for a moment. "Now who had said this?" a twinkle in her eyes. "You may end up being more impulsive than I am." Cara gave a light laugh. "And Bananas Foster! Ohh.. that sounds so delicious. I'm game, I do like that dessert." she paused to look at Tom, "I have no idea what I'd be shopping for but as you said, who knows what we will find."

---

Commander Cara Letsul
Poseidon Operations Commander
Chief Counselor

Commodore Thomas Rice
Sector Commander

 

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