Home Pt 2
Posted on Fri Mar 26th, 2021 @ 1:20am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Bajor
As the path wound round the ridge he watched for the demarcation line where he knew the pathwork had become his work and not that of the local municipality. There was a distinct difference in not only the texture of the path but the bordering flowers as well. He remembered how he had worked to get their genetics just right, his little Rhenoras.
Just as he crossed that line and spotted the first blooms, the last light from the setting sun broke from the horizon. It cast a moment of bright light through the trees before fading in a brilliant burst of colors. He paused to stare for a moment, marveling to himself at how good it was to be back home again. Once the moment had gone, he turned towards the cabin, a good ¼ kilometer away, lofted his bag and carried on down the path.
The sound of footsteps outside heralded that someone was approaching. Only one person was due to arrive and she longed for the presence of him. Rising she padded over to the door and pulled it open, revealing the last visage of the setting sun silhouetting her husband.
“ I did it again… I’m sorry” she started, eyes asking for a forgiveness that only he could provide. Her head dipped a little in embarrassment and she stepped aside, letting him into their cottage and out of the cool evening.
The table setting was impressive, the wine chilled and the candles casting a warm glow over the timber top. The shoe was on the other foot this time and she felt the need to repay the favour for the number of times Remal had looked after her when she needed it. The room was romantic and relaxed.
Once inside and the door was shut, he dropped his bag in the entry, turned and wrapped his large arms around his wife. After hesitating for a moment to peer into her eyes he planted a long lasting kiss upon her lips. As they kissed he brought his hands down to her bottom, closed tight and lifted, bringing her up off the floor.
Everything else fell away. The ship, the crew, the worries, everything he was, his very essence, poured from his heart through his wet lips and into her soul. He could taste the wine upon her breath, but also feel her heart beating upon his chest. Her tongue entered his mouth briefly, and upon removal their lips finally separated. He smiled broadly as he lowered her gently back to the floor, but did not let her go. "You always did enjoy making me chase you."
“One of my more endearing qualities?” She teased him by standing on her toes and kissing him again. “You keep on chasing…” She led the way to the table and pulled a chair out before pouring a glass of wine and vanishing into the kitchen.
"Well now. You've been busy." He was looking around at the placements and the burning candles, even the well constructed fire burning in the hearth. As he saddled up to the table his first instinct was to sip the Springwine she had poured out for him. His urge subsided however when a familiar note struck his nose. He allowed a smile to split his face knowing she had put some effort into her presentation.
“Up to your standards?” She smiled at his reaction, placing a small platter of local delicacies in the centre of the table between them.
"Your efforts are always well beyond my standards and you know it." He reached for a bite off the tray, "Local you say? Best kind that." Placing the bite in his mouth he chewed slowly, enjoying every bite, every morsel.
“ I thought so” She joined him at the table, enjoying watching him savour the delicacies on the plate before him. A few samples found their way to her plate as she took her time in eating them, mixing the combination of flavour and wine to fully enjoy the experience. The fact they were on Bajor, together again on their homeworld was enough to make her almost giddy with delight. She desperately needed a break - even if it was for only a few days.
As the platter dwindled she rose again, heading to the kitchen where the tantalizing smell of cooking food emerged. Rhenora was the first to admit she was no gourmet chef but she was getting better in the kitchen. Sizzles and popping could be heard, along with the odd slosh of a sauce swirling a little too close to the rim of a saucepan.
He had been busy stuffing his gourd with sample after sample of the local cuisine, rounding out eat morsel with a cleansing of his pallet with wine. But as the food disappeared and she rose to go to the kitchen once more, he couldn’t help but question with a mouth full. “Wha’ the’es moor?” His only response was the swish of her cute little backside as it slipped behind the cabinets into the kitchen area.
Of course there was more and he could only be amused at her effort and just roll with it. This woman knew the way to his heart. Food, the primary way for a woman to win a man. Feed him, keep him fat and he would never leave. It was a story from the very dawn of time. Man brings home food, woman cooks and serves it, man drags woman by the hair to the bedroom and ugga bugga… or something like that. The details were a bit sketchy afterall.
10 minutes later several covered plates emerged, the silver cloths concealing the efforts underneath. Here and there a whiff escaped and teased at the nose but apart from that - mystery was the name of the game.
With a reveal that would have made any cooking contestant proud she removed the dinner cloth, unveiling the creation underneath. A selection of local vegetables, roasted to perfection accompanied freshly baked bread and a small portion of protein drizzled in a red wine sauce. It smelt devine and Rhenora was proud of her efforts to actually pull it all off without too much of a hitch. All would be well - unless Remal saw the state of the kitchen.
His eyes bulged, both at the display and at the amount of food. “Well, you’ve been busy. How long did you say you were here before I arrived?” He asked as she sat the platters upon the table before him. “Smells devine.” He helped himself to a spot of bread and a serving of vegetables and the wine drizzled protein. Then wasting no time he dug in. The bite hit his mouth with an explosion of flavour, some of which he recognized, some he didn’t. It had been a while since he last sampled the local cuisine, not to mention her cooking of said delicacies.
"An hour or two" she replied with a cheeky smile. "You were tied up with appointments so I thought I'd get a head start. I hope it was okay"
“I’ve gotten used to you going on without me.” He gave her an eye squint that spoke volumes. “And yes, I was keeping rather busy with appointments.”
"That hasn't gotten old has it? Not half" she knew she was predictable in that regard. She was always in a hurry to go and do something, unable to sit still for long.
“Not by a long shot. In fact, it’s your predictably unpredictable nature that keeps me on my old toes. Makes things interesting you see. I like a good treasure hunt, see, and not to sound cheesy, but you are the best treasure I could have found at the end of a good hunt.” Smarmy, smile and all, he rested his mouth upon his hands as he stared into her eyes.
"Charmer as always" she retorted in good nature before vanishing to the kitchen again.
Dinner was followed by a simple dessert of fruit, cheese and chocolate, accompanied by another glass of wine matched to the food. Rhenora was comfortably full and was enjoying simply watching her husband. Seeing his reaction to the evening she had prepared for him.
Food gone, he rose and patted his full belly. There was nothing about it, he was most definitely full. Eyeing the seating by the fire, he instinctively knew he was ready for a little cuddle time and maybe even a bout of bear like hibernation.
They moved to the couch by the fire with the remnants of the fruit platter, basking in the warmth of the crackling flames. She rested a hand on his thigh, a simple touch that meant so much and yet so little at the same time. Rising she kissed him, gently at first then with a hunger she hadn't realised she had missed. There would be time for rest later.
