Dinner Time

Posted on Tue Dec 22nd, 2020 @ 11:00pm by Lieutenant Anna S. Thesia M.D. & Lieutenant Jessica Holland

Mission: Healing of Minds
Location: Mess Hall

Anna briefly considered going home to her quarters to eat a quiet dinner after a long day in sickbay. But she needed some time to unwind, and she was a social animal after all. So the mess hall it was. There was no special food on offer as the chef was enjoying some leave as well, so Anna picked a some bread and cheeses from the replicator, along with some synthale, and looked for a seat. There were a few empty tables, but where was the fun in that? No, instead she approached a table that already had one occupant, a Trill in a gold uniform. "Heya", she greeted. "Is this seat taken?"

Jessica looked up from her roast beef sandwich and at the attractive female in medical teal. She looked at all the empty chairs and back at the female. "Hiya. Just mine. Help yourself." She said in way of greeting.

Anna took a seat and placed her tray on the table, freeing her hand to extend it in greeting. "I'm Anna S. Thesia, I just arrived here two days ago", she said as a means of introducing herself, using her full anglicised name because it came closest to her true name, which nobody could pronounce.

Jessica extended her own hand in greeting, "Jessica Holland. Newly arrived. Thought it best to get something to eat. Transferred in from the Valkyrie. It's a pleasure to meet you Anna."

"Yes, I can definitely get behind the idea of getting food", Anna agreed, putting various types of cheese on small slices of bread, each bit having a different flavour. "How did you get a human name, if you don't mind me asking? Mine is because the Orion name can't be pronounced by anyone. Well, mostly anyone."

"Nope, don't mind." Jessica replied as she took another bite of her sandwich. "My parents are human." She explained. "Let me back up." She giggled. "No one is for certain who my birth parents were. I was found only a few days old on the steps of the orphanage. When the Hollands first saw me, I was only a couple of weeks old. They adopted me and gave me a human name. Why don't you like it?"

"It's cheesy", Anna grinned, considering how the Netherlands, and particularly Holland, was known for their great cheeses. "And as you can see, I like cheese, so it's all good." For emphasis, and because she was hungry, she popped some into her mouth.

Jessica grinned, "I like you Anna. I like your sense of humor. It's unique." She looked at Anna's plate, "I can tell. My favorite is mild cheddar. Don't like the sharp kind."

Anna started singing. "Sweet dreams are made of cheese, who am I to diss a brie? I cheddar the world and a feta cheese, everybody's looking for stilton."

"Some cheese wants to bleu, too. Some cheese wants to be buchette d'Anjou. Some cheese wanted to be cubed. Some cheese wants to be braided by you."

Sweet dreams are made of cheese. Colby or chevre, if you please. I ferment the milk and then I squeeze. Everybody needs penicillium."

Anna knew she had to stop or everybody would be staring. So she finished it off with popping another piece in her mouth, silenced by the chewing.

Jessica stared at Anna as she finished singing, then started clapping. "That was fantastic!!!!!! I am so impressed. That was really good and the singing wasn't bad either." She said with a grin.

Anna blushed. "Thank you. I'm glad you don't think I'm nuts, because at worse, I'm quackers."

Jessica giggled, "Wow. You turn even a darker green. So cool. And that pun was really fowl."

Snickering, she replied, "Would not be a good time to introduce myself as the resident duck-tor?"

"YOU?" You're the doctor? This is sooooo great!" Jessica exclaimed.

Anna cocked her head to the side and gave Jessica a surprised look. Why was her enthusiasm a little suspicious? What kind of doctor did she think she was? "Uhm, why?" she wondered.

"Why?" Jessica repeated, "Because you have a great sense of humor, you make me laugh, you are easy to talk to. You aren't some stiff old stick in the mud. That's why."

"You must not have met the right doctors", Anna concluded. "No, I try to be welcoming and and make going to sickbay as much of a positive experience as possible." She took a sip from her ale. "So are you a frequent flyer, so I'll be seeing a lot of you?"

Jessica shrugged. "Don't know. They knew what they were doing medically but they lack personal warmth, all business, "Get on the biobed, tell me what happened, roll up your sleeve." She said in a fair imitation of a crusty old doctor. "Yes, you'll see more of me. I'm always getting hurt. Not because I'm a klutz, I'm not but I push myself to extremes."

"So you're working in security, then?" Anna assumed. "A fighter?" She put her hand on Jessica's upper arm and felt her muscles. "Feels like you are."

"Huh uh," Jessica gulped as another piece of her sandwich disappeared. "Security and I'm a fighter." She acknowledged as Anna felt her arm.

"Glad I don't have to", Anna said. "I'm not good at it. But I'll do my best to make sure you'll be in good shape to keep doing what you're enjoying." She smirked. "Just don't punch me in the face when you're startled, or some such."

Jessica looked at her a confused look on her face, ''Punch you? I would never do that Anna. I promise you and I have every confidence you will keep me in one piece and in fighting shape."

"Good", Anna said. "There was this security officer who was so jumpy, when I touched her shoulder from behind to get her attention, she spun around and broke my nose before realising who I was. Not a fun experience for either of us."

"Ohhhhhh!" I'm so sorry! I bet it wasn't." Jessica exclaimed with a smile, "You have such a pretty nose too." She observed.

"I put it back in place straight away, so it wouldn't grow back crooked", Anna smirked. "She was very sorry, and apologised with copious amounts of tea, and roast duck dinner."

"Sounds like the way to your heart is through your stomach." Jessica observed. "I'll need to keep that in mind."

"It's between the fourth and fifth rib, right through here", Anna joked, indicating where her heart was. "Though, again, I'd rather not be stabbed. Very annoying mess, that." She had a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Really? That's interesting. I'll file that away. never know when I might need it." Jessica bantered back.

"Always good for security officers to know some anatomy", Anna smirked. "I should teach classes, way to incapacitate certain species. Do you think that'd be popular?"

Jessica nodded her head enthusiastically. "And how! I'll sign up for that class right now."

"I might need an assistant for demonstration", Anna suggested. "If you're not afraid to get up close and personal."

"Not afraid at all." Jessica replied. "Just say the word and I'll help you."

"Great", Anna was excited. "Got a way to contribute to the defence of the ship after all. Never had that chance before." She smiled at Jessica. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

"You better be." Jessica teased, "Cause if you aren't, well payback will be hell." She promised.

Anna finished her meal. "I believe you." And she did. "Did I mention I don't like broken bones?"

"Just now and I'll remember that." She smiled.

"So, are you doing anything tonight?" Anna asked.

"Besides eating my sandwich? No why? What do you have in mind?" Jessica asked.

"Trade you some tea for a little experiment?" Anna offered. "It's harmless, I promise." She finished her dinner, which she considered perfect timing.

Jessica crossed her arms. "Precisely what kind of experiment Anna?"

"Preparation for the class", Anna said. "I'd like to test something. This is a spur of the moment idea, I've never done anything like this. But if I'm going to do it, I want it to be worthwhile, not a waste of time."

"Quit dodging the question Anna. Exactly what kind experiment do you want to put on Anna?" Jessica demanded looking at her new friend.

"How best to demonstrate, of course", Anna said. "Without the need to use a hologram. Come on, it'll be fun."

"Uh huh. Fun for who?" Jessica countered but nonetheless got up to follow Anna.

"You're not afraid of your doctor, are you?" Anna laughed on her way out of the mess hall.

"Afraid no. Sceptical of, most definitely." Jessica replied as the pair exited the mess hall.

-TBC-