Stardate 61170.46, Delta Quadrant.

[captainchakotay]

Captain's Log, Stardate 61170.46

Crewman Celes and I have been planetside on the Fen Domar homeworld for nearly two standard weeks. While the Crewman is an...interesting...companion, I'm impatient to make some progress on our actual rescue plan, and preferably sooner rather than later.
::hovers thumb over padd, debating

Comments

[celes_tal]

::has just finished icky duty of scraping...well, kinda dinner...off...kinda grill::

::dumps fried fruit...that makes a lot of sense...on big bark leaf, stepping around small fire::

::clears throat, watching captainchakotay jab away at padd as though his life were dependent on it::

Sir. Grub is ready.

[captainchakotay]

::blinks, looking up from log::

::shuts padd down, dropping it and reaching out to take offering::

::sniffs discreetly...something off, not that....::

::pauses, staring at meal in hand::

Celes, what happened to the plates?

[celes_tal]

*feels eyes widen*

...

They're not as durable as the books would lead you to believe, Sir.

[captainchakotay]

::swallows::

I...see.

[celes_tal]

::quickly shifts gaze to feet::

::fidgets, looking up again::

If you don't want that, I'm sure we can find a flexy we don't need, it would make an almost clean substitute...

...Sir...?

[captainchakotay]

No, no, this is...fine. I assume you scanned it for toxins first...?

::relaxes a little at affirmative sound::

::pokes at fruit concoction...fork, at least, still available::

::nods to fire::

I suggest you take some for yourself.

[celes_tal]

Um...yes.

::shuffles back over to fire, scooping own portion onto other leaf::

::turns back, scoping out possible seating and finally moving to perch on log a few feet from superior officer::

[captainchakotay]

::stirs fruit cubes around on leaf::

::finally gives up and pops a piece into mouth, unable to ignore nervously waiting Bajoran::

::chews, considering::

Not bad...tastes almost like...

[celes_tal]

::jumps slightly, nodding hopefully::

Kava, Sir.

[captainchakotay]

Kava? Yes, that could be it.

Have you been hiding your culinary talents from us all, Crewman? We could use you in the kitchen.

::tacks smile on, realizing statement could easily be mis-interpreted::

[celes_tal]

::blushes::

::shakes head, looking down at own portion while poking at it with fork::

I don't think any area is spared from the curse I seem to have. Believe me, you're better off with Neelix in charge.

::laughs a little in memory::

Kava was the one dish my grandmother managed to teach me how to prepare.

[captainchakotay]

::chuckles as well, moving to find second helping::

She still had better luck than my grandmother, then.

[celes_tal]

::relaxes...something done right, for once::

That can't be true.

Tom was always telling me about the working dinners you had...just the food, I mean.

[captainchakotay]

::takes seat on log as well, shaking head::

::stares ahead thoughtfully::

I'll let you in on a secret, Celes.

Paris was usually too busy running his mouth to pay attention to where the food filling it came from. A replicator hides a thousand failings.

[celes_tal]

I suppose for some people it does.

::chews to fill awkward silence, finally speaking only after forced to swallow::

Well...I won't tell him. But next time you should let To...the Commander cook. He does a mean penne pasta.

[captainchakotay]

::nods::

I'll keep that in mind.