Dinner and Captains catching up

Posted on 28 Mar 2022 @ 10:07pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Lieutenant JG Harper Matthews

Mission: R&R - Styx Outpost
Location: Haistro's quarters
Timeline: R&R day 1
2430 words - 4.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Keiben had been working like a mad man to make his and Mel's quarters look like some semblance of a home and lived in since they had returned from the time of the T'Kon and Iconian Empires. So much history and knowledge they had accumulated filled in so many gaps and questions the scientists and archaeologists had about that time. He had done a fair job of it as well. He had managed to salvage a fair few of his effects and Mel's as well from Copernicus, plants, wall art, and if anything it softened the gothic architecture of the Cardassian Station just enough to make it feel homely.

On this occasion, he had sent Mel to the Promenade to retrieve some bottles of genuine Bajoran Spring Wine from Niska's bar, The Ferryman, while he set the table and had started to cook some real Arcassan Steak from Ba'ku which had come into Jaas'rah's shop on the promenade. He also thought it best to cook himself rather than subject his guests to Mel's inability to produce food fit for Humanoid consumption, hence she had gone to collect the wine! He was placing a large ceramic bowl of salad, also of Ba'ku origin, on the table when the staccato shrill chime sounded.

"Come in, it's open!"

“Captain,” Jon said with genuine happiness as he did like the man. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. This is Harper Mathews. My security chief and significant other.”

He could sense she wasn’t expecting that but the man was full Betaziod and would have known before they stepped through the door. Perhaps saying it out loud would reassure her that he considered this far more than a rebound relationship which she clearly had some fears.

"A pleasure Harper... You mad women! You obviously don't know this guy very well yet!" Keiben had dropped all formality knowing that the young women would likely be feeling a little intimidated being surrounded by Betazoids. "Come on in, make yourselves at home and help yourselves to drinks from the replicator... Mel should be back shortly. I sent her out to get some real Bajoran Spring Wine from the promenade!"

Harper laughed a little nervously at the comment, she half knew what she was getting herself in for but what she didn't account for was a series of Betazoid events. Everywhere she looked she felt like she saw a telepath. "Thank you, Captain." She said almost clinging to Jon's arm. All parts of her were trying to shield her mind as best she could, but she looked at Jon as he had a bottle of wine behind his back. "We could have picked that up for you." She belatedly offered.

“He sent me out so I wouldn’t cook,” the Trills voice rang out behind them she had managed to sneak in behind them. “Oh I sussed it halfway there mister.” She walked in and placed the bottles on the table.

“One more,” Jon said offering the bottle of red in his hand out to her. “That’s for dinner and this,” he put forward another package and handed it to her, “Is to congratulate you on your wedding.”

Mel raised an eyebrow, “You can come again.”

She opened it to find two books. Actual books.

“They will need some translating of course. I’ve asked Aiden to work on that, taking scans of the pages for you. I found them at the crossroads. One is local area history among their people. I thought perhaps it could come in handy. The others ….”

“Herbology,” Mel said excitedly flicking through some pages seeing the alien plants. “Thank you this might also come in very handy.”

Jon nodded. He had looked up the captain's wife’s medical achievements. And also conferred with his brother.

“Let’s get everyone some drinks,” Mel smiled at Keiben. “I have to be useful somehow if my cooking doesn’t pass muster.”

"It passes muster... It's the medical ramifications that accompany your cooking that bothers me, dear!"
Keiben added very tongue in cheek as he turned back to the four steaks that had started to turn a nice color and a smell that would make anyone mouth water.

"So, my intel officer tells me you got yourself kidnapped... Isn't that twice in just a few months or does that witch doctor not count!"

Harper cringed a little at the mention of it. She still felt bad it happened under her watch. Yes, they did get them back but still not exactly a fine feather in her cap. "He'll follow anyone with sweets." She ended up saying before her filter engaged.

"I like her!" Kei said with a beaming smile waving a spatula in Harper's general direction. "Don't worry Harper... It's part of the fun of Starfleet. Ask any of my officers and they all get a nervous twitch when I mention away missions now!"

And he could already see Mel visualizing the last away mission that ended with Copernicus crashing headlong into a mountain as it tried to flee a planet riddled with vicious monsters.

"The witch doctor, that was bizarre," Jon answered. "The other species on that planet literally pulled me through the ground into tunnels. The drug barons. They were just sadist louts with some agonisers. But yes I do enjoy sweets," he flashed Harper a grin.

Harper smiled at Keiben's comment, it put her a little more at ease but only a little. Her relationship with Jon had been a whirlwind and all of a sudden she was in another Captain's quarters having dinner. Sometimes she had to pinch herself, she was just an Ensign making her way in the Starfleet world and already there she was... a wee one pipper with those of four.

"Well sometimes you remind me of Hansel and Gretel... they liked sweets too and almost got cooked and eaten alive by a witch." Harper shrugged at Jon. "If you want to be eaten by witches I can introduce you to some of my mothers friends. I'm sure they'd gobble you up and save me the trouble of pulling you out of the fire." she nudged his arm playfully.

"I'm not afraid. You haven't met my mother yet," Jon retorted. "No doubt we would both end up in the fire there and have to rescue ourselves."

"Grandma's only a little scary," Eddie laughed.

"Betaziod mothers ehh," Jon said to Keiben. He was the only one here who really understood.

"They pale in comparison to Betazoid sisters!" he said over his shoulder at the same time realizing that he should really find the time to sit down with Ileyana while Andromeda was in the dock... He'd never hear the end of it otherwise. Finally turning back to the group but this time two plates, one in either hand which he moved and placed in front of either guest before retiring the next to plates. All of them held a steak for each. "Help yourself to everything else. It's all fresh and handmade!"

"My sister must be pretty tame then. I mean perhaps years of not being able to get a word in around my mother is part of it," Jon mused. Maybe it was because they were hybrid, he wondered walking to the table. Humans were perhaps naturally quieter?

"This looks wonderful," Jon said smiling at the hunk of meat. He sat down and reached for some salad and bread. "If Eddie my son was here, you would have to eat fast," he joked shooting a smile at Harper.

Harper laughed a little at Jon's comment. "Yes I think I lost a fingertip when we were last at your quarters." she joked. "But this does look lovely Keiben, thank you for cooking for us," she added.

"My Daughter is sometimes like that but I've put it down to she prefers Keiben preparing dinner to me," Mel quipped. "Talking of," She turned to her husband, "She's "hanging" with this Minka again. Do we need to keep an eye on that one? She's 10 years older nearly. I keep trying to encourage her to be friends with the counselor's sons but it seems she cannot stand the oldest. Teenagers."

In a way Harper missed her teenage years. She was more carefree and Australia's Gold Coast was a great place to grow up. She missed the water more though, simulated or holographic was never the same.

"Minka is a good kid, a little bit of a wild child but she is a genius and dedicated to Starfleet... I'd say she's just the right person to be mentoring Charlie... even if she isn't aware she's doing it!" Keiben said to his wife, just glad they had been able to work past their difficulties from a few weeks ago. He pushed it aside though, shielding it from being read by Jon even if Mel's new abilities made it impossible for him to shield it from her.

“I’m more worried about her mentoring her in out-of-shift activities. Boys, partying, alcohol,” Mel said. “Please tuck in,” she smiled at their guests.

Harper nodded at the instruction that they could eat. She always had manners in these situations and waited until others did something first before she got stuck into a meal or similar activity. "Boys can be a nice distraction," Harper said not really thinking before she spoke. "Most of them aren't that bright at that age anyway. Had them wrapped around my finger when I was a teenager," she added as her mind cast back to her teenage parties that did often involve boys and alcohol. She was smart about it though, didn't do too much to get a bad name for herself, always was one step ahead of the boys as she often hung out with them being a tomboy herself.

At that moment the metallic clicking chirp of the Cardassian internal comm system announced an incoming communication.

"Lieutenant Is'san to Captain Haistro. Forgive the intrusion sir"

"Excuse me!" the Captain said as he tapped his com badge. "Go ahead, Lieutenant!"

"Lieutenant Yoshida had informed us that the Copernicus is now ready to return to active duty and the old USS Yosemite is now being taken in for her complete refit... Starfleet has given you permission to rename the vessel as she will essentially be one of a kind within the fleet!"

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Please do pass along my thanks to Hiro and Drydock Operations!" And the line finally went quiet again. "My apologies but we now have something to toast!"

Keiben raised his glass along with the others in the room. "To the fleet newest Medical Ship Commanding Officer!" he said looking pointedly at his wife.

Harper picked up her glass and looked quite surprised at the sudden announcement. She then looked at Jon and nudged him, "She gets dinner cooked for her and a promotion. That's some set of relationship goals." she said then looked away playfully. "Congratulations Mel," she added warmly.

"Thank you but I'm not good at promotions," she joked at her husband. "Drinking and toasting, however," she beamed at her guests and clinked her glass to there's.

"Do I get to rename the ship? It doesn't sound medical like at all."

"You get to select from a list Starfleet Medical has sent... I'll drop by the Infirmary with the list soon!" the full Betazoid Captain took a long draught of his spring wine before tucking into the steak once more.

Mel scrunched up her nose. "A Starfleet medical vetted list. I'm sure that will be fun to read through. I will look forward to that dear."

She turned to their guests. "So how did you two end up getting together? Sorry I don't get enough gossip on this station. Even with a 14 year old daughter .... I'm working on training Keiben up there but he came a cropper with one of our officers recently. Men ehh Harper they don't have the finesse."

Harper laughed at Mel's comment, "How right you are." she grinned. "As for how we 'got together'... we were in the gym 'comparing techniques' and well things went in another direction than we anticipated. One thing led to another, one person was on top of one another and that was still on the gym mat. Things got a little more 'heated' after that." she told the two of them honestly. She hope Jon wouldn't mind, he seemed the kind of person that would be proud of that. She didn't know why she thought that.

"It was a little different for Mel and I" Keiben interject, "We've known each other for years and I know she only wants me around to lower the risk of food poisoning... The only person I know that can burn water that comes out of a replicator!"

"Yes and Keiben's only married me to have me bake him emergency weapons," Mel chuckled. "So far out. Waiting for resupplies. If we get in trouble I'm this stations only hope."

"For mass production of homemade biogenic weapons... She calls it cooking!" Keiben whispered loudly barely smothering the smile that was spreading across his features.

"Oh no my darling. I call it culinary chemistry," Mel stated. "More wine."

"I vote more wine." Harper injected into the conversation. She could feel her cheeks getting a bit flushed from the alcohol, but she was taking it easy. She didn't want to embarrass Jon. "So, how long is years?" she asked trying to fish for some more information.

"He was a fresh faced Ensign when my first husband was still alive. We were friends for a long time after that. He was always supportive and kind. I always knew he would end up Captain," Mel said proudly at her new husband.

"That's sweet. I think it's always a good sign if you are friends and get on well with each other." Harper replied looking over at Jon. The affection in her eyes poured out for him and she got lost in her gaze for a moment. "Sometimes we are just lucky with whom we fall for."

"Least I remind you. Still not met my mother," Jon teased. "Lets drink to that," he said raising his glass.

Harper smiled and raised her glass a little before taking a drink. It had been a nice night so far, and meeting Jon's friends had been quite enjoyable.

OFF:

Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda

Mel D'BrooNi Haistro
NPC Jon Reynolds

Captain Kaiben Haistro
Commanding Officer - Deep Space 21

Ensign Harper Matthews
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Andromeda