A workout and a cookout (are we done here?)

Posted on Tue Jan 2nd, 2018 @ 4:58am by

Mission: Mission 5 - Liberation
Location: Deck-19 cargo container near the Fusion Reactor Control
Timeline: MD??
1590 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Braden had taken to spending hid free time alone as the crew was now all that friendly for the most part. He had found this empty cargo container and set up a sort of gym in there. He had a small grill as well as he often cooked and ate here after a work out. He kept everything in a storage crate by the doors when not in use. Today he had gone to the freezer to deliver veggies and gotten a couple steaks from his section of the storage unit. He got a couple potatoes and some corn, at least that was what the food resembled, it had not been grown on Earth by any means. He set everything up on arrival. As the grill warmed her loosened up with some exercises. After twenty minutes he put the veggies in foil and placed them in the red hot coals. He put the steaks on and went back to his workout. He was doing chin ups on a bar facing away from the door. He was in gym shorts and sneakers his 'uniform' neatly folded on a chair near the storage crate.

The gentle sizzle of the steaks and the sound of Braden's breathing was punctuated by the noise of a couple of heavy boots. And then: "What... in the hell... even is this monstrosity??" demanded Draia Theroh. By default, she had slipped back into her natural Cardassian language, but her Universal Translator helpfully offered the sentiment to Braden MacCloud in Federation Standard too. Clad in her magenta jumpsuit, Draia slapped her hands down on her hips as she took in the sight of this... she couldn't even recognize what it was supposed to be? A torture box, Draia wondered, a homeless shelter?

Braden lifted and then let go spinning around to face the door as he drifted to the floor almost seeming to defy gravity for a few seconds. He bent his knees as he landed and made eye contact as he straighten up, his smile confident. "Just what monstrosity are you talking about Draia? The crate is mine and listed on the cargo manifest as personal belongings. The gym equipment is after all my personal stuff as is this grill. Have you never cooked outside?" Braden laughed as he walked over to the grill and checked the steaks. He pointed to the hood above the grill "The hood collects the smoke and purifies the air so I don't trip any sensors. Does that answer your questions?" he glanced at her past the grill "or where you referring to me as being the monster?"

Despite the tour Braden was offering Draia of his cargo container, Draia's eyes stayed with Braden. Her gaze followed him, followed the way his body moved. Clearly, he was being intentional in moving his body in a way that demanded attention. "No... no..." Draia said. She attempted to answer his question, but she was struggling to clarify her thoughts. "No, there's nothing monstrous about you." Draia cleared her throat and she took a step back. "No, what I'm wondering," she asked, "Is why it's crowding my fusion reactors?"

Braden looked around the mostly empty cargo bay and shrugged "Draia? I am clearly not crowding anyone here. I picked this cargo container because it was empty. The cargo bay doesn't move so how would I be crowding you?" Braden tilted his head "I have enough food for two if you are hinting? You don't even have to eat with me, you can take it back to your own office if you like." Braden was not sure what she really wanted as he could not see how he could be crowding her work area now after like what, five months? Braden walked toward her and got the folding table he used down here. "I am not real good with subtle Draia so if something is bothering you just tell me." He pointed with his chin "if you want to join me here grab both folding chairs."

Her eyeridges rose up her forehead in a quizzical expression directed at Braden and Braden alone. "I don't know you well enough to be bothered by you," Draia asserted. On cautious steps, she moved forward. She eyed the grill and the blessed, blessed heat it was giving off. She raised her palms towards it. "What makes you think I'm bothered?" she asked.

"You said this cargo bay was infringing on your workstation.. This bay doesn't move and never has so something about me.. Or the food had gotten your attention? Since you just said it is not me, has to be the food." Braden set up the table as he spoke. "Since it was the food you are welcome to join me or I can pack iy to go if you would rather eat elsewhere?" She did seem uncomfortable to him but she was Cardassian and he really did not know much about their body language. Well unless they were fighting him anyway, he knew their fighting style well from training against holo fighters as a marine.

Narrowing her eyes on Braden, Draia looked him up and down appraisingly. Her eyes lingered on the exposed flesh, but that wasn't what was in her thoughts. "You talk to much," Draia said, making that decision about him, "you ask stacked questions, and you make too many assumptions about me." She stepped closer. "I'll take a steak," she said.

Braden laughed "I have been told that before. I guess I am just impatient to get information." As he spoke he put a steak on a plate and stepped around her just barely not touching, then placed it on the table. He returned to the grill to get the side dish. Despite being a bit uneasy himself he passed her a few times rather close not allowing himself to be intimidated. He put the foil packet next to her steak on another plate with the potato and other veggies. He put the same on his side of the table. He was enjoying the game even though he was not totally sure what it was. "Please sit and begin, I have a few chores to do here at the grill." He turned off the grill and cleaned the grill with a swift practiced ease. Everything not kept went into a small trash can beside the grill. By doing it this way it would be cool enough to put away by the time he finished eating. He was very efficient and wasted no motion.

In a plainly teasing tone of voice, Draia said to him, "An appropriate host doesn't perform menial labour in front of the guests." She had sat herself down at the table and took in the scent of the steak. When she spoke, she tapped the side of her knife against the plate to emphasize her point.

Braden now that he was not moving seemed to withdraw into himself a little. Even knowing she was teasing he felt ill at ease. Movement always made him feel more confident but being still made him feel vulnerable. "I admit quite freely I am a poor host. Although if I had expected genteel company I would have set the table more properly." His expression seemed to return as he spoke "with a tablecloth and proper utensils. Cleaning the grill thing though?" He raised his hands "that is just gonna happen anyway." He went back to cutting his steak into mouth size bites. After he swallowed the first bite he savored the taste "I don't know how Tran does it but he finds edible meat in every port!" Braden smiled coyly "although the sea salt I used is from my own stash."

In what was perhaps Draia's first expression of affection, she snickered when he said he was going to proceed with cleaning the grill even if it wasn't prescribed by cultural etiquette. Taking her first real bite of the steak, Draia had to admit, "It's more than edible. Definitely much more than that." Shrugging helplessly, she explained, "My mother was in the military," and she quoted her, "Table manners portend promotions," in a deeper voice. Draia took another bite of the steak, and she asked, "What does genteel mean? I don't think it's translating..."

Braden seemed to be pulling something from his memory as he replied Genteel: gen·teel, it is an adjective meaning belonging or suited to polite society. Well-bred or refined, polite, elegant, or stylish. In the way I used it, I would think it would be affectedly or pretentiously polite as the applicable definition. As you mentioned the sort of proper military protocol you mother might use. Now see my parents were archaeologist and we lived in remote areas most of my childhood. My kid brother and me learned to cook and do camp chores at a young age. That allowed out parents to spend some time with us in the later evening. My Mom would make a fuss when we had someone visit though and we would use tablecloths and the better camping eatery." Braden smiled thinking of how his mom would go on when some other science group would stop by or a government official. "I am pleased you find the food to your liking, my thanks for the compliment." Braden went back to eating. He ate mid sized bites but he had meat, potatoes, and broccoli on each bite.

OFF:

Braden MacCloud
Chief Science
S.S. Mary Rose

Draia Theroh
Engineering Chief
S.S. Mary Rose