The Way To The Captain's Heart

Posted on Tue Jul 30th, 2019 @ 6:49pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & K'Lok Maarg

Mission: War and Peacekeeping
Location: Mess Hall - Kaarg's Kitchen
Timeline: Backpost

Abigail made her way through the ship to the mess hall. She had heard that the chef had made it aboard before they had departed the Starbase and she finally had some time free to meet with him. It was as she walked into the near empty mess, she stopped, accosted by the most heavenly aromas bringing a smile to her face as she headed directly toward the kitchen, pausing at the doorway and peering in curiously. "What ever it is, it smells divine," she offered with a smile.

Kaarg looked up, his Klingon weapons and spine arour still in place. If it wasn't for the chef's hat and apron, he could have been mistaken for someone about to lay waste to the area, rather than pulling a pie out of an oven. For once, the Klingon Opera was on at a reasonable level, meaning that Kaarg could shout, rather than use sign language to communicate. "What are you doing in my kitchen?" he bellowed above the 'music'. He then decided to be a bit more diplomatic (he WAS technically an ambassador, after all). "Sorry Commander, I've had people traipsing in here all day! I'm trying to work!" It didn't sound very apologetic...

Raising an eyebrow, Abigail tipped her head to one side ever so slightly. "You might be five times my size, but I can still have you out an airlock quicker than you can blink," she said with an easy grin as she took a few steps into his sacred domain. "I'm Commander Abigail Laurens, Commanding Officer. My apologies for not getting to you sooner, it's been hectic with the launch. I just wanted to check in and see if you needed anything to get settled, but it seems you have everything well under control."

Kaarg grinned, appreciating the bravado. "I've worked in worse kitchens," he said, turning down the music to acceptable chatting levels. "By the fact that we're not spread across the system, I'll assume the launch went well." He took a knife, flipping it an catching it with practiced ease before slicing the pie. " Care to try? Steak and Ale. Thought I'd give these ovens a run for their money and I need a guinea pig."

"Sure, I haven't had lunch yet," Abigail moved into the kitchen, taking the plate and fork he handed her, breaking a piece off and biting into it, her eyes widening with appreciation. "That..." she said covering her mouth with her hand to hide the fact that she had started to speak with a mouthful. "That is incredible!"

The Klingon chef gave a florrid bow, "I'm glad it passes inspection, Commander." To finish it off, he placed some roast cubed potatoes with a light herb covering and some green beans in garlic butter, on her plate." As you've not eaten, you may as well eat well. Can't have you go Captaining on an empty stomach."

Taking the plate, Abigail sank onto a stool in the corner, spearing a cube of potato with her fork. "I have to admit, I was curious to find out that our new chef was going to be a Klingon Ambassador," she said before taking her first bite. "That's quite a... well... quite a career change isn't it?"

"I was a chef first," Kaarg said, his face becoming sombre for a moment as he said, "well, I was a General, then... Things happened. After that, I was a bar tender and realised I loved tending bar and cooking. When things were resolved, the High Council decided that I'd be an ideal Ambassador. That was my reward. Probably because of my winning charm. They are not, at all, having a joke at my expense!"

Abigail grinned as she kept eating. "No, I'm sure it's all totally above board and there's definitely no joke there at all," she said with a laugh. "But clearly this is your calling, this is amazing. Tell me, what can you do with chocolate?"

The Klingon laughed. "The first CO I served with introduced me to chocolate. She was fixated on the stuff. The best question is; what would you like me to do with it?"

"Surprise me," Abigail replied with a grin. "I've never found a chocolate that I didn't like," she laughed as she speared more of the potatoes. "Chocolate is definitely one of my most unhealthy weaknesses, though the number of chai lattes I consume probably comes a close second."

Kaarg looked thoughtful. "Lets see." He started heating up some milk and melting some high quality dark chocolate. He then gathered the ingredients needed for a chai latte. He then pulled chilled strawberries from a cold store, which he deftly chopped into slices. Each slice was then dipped in the pan of heated dark chocolate before being quickly cooled so the dark coating solidified. Finally, he mixed the latte, slicing into the strawberries before placing them to ring the rim of the tall glass coffee cup he used like butresses of a tower. The final touch; a fine sprinkling of chocolate flakes and a sprig of mint. "Et voila," He said, his voice oddly gentle as he placed the cup before the Captain.

"Oh, now you're just showing off," Abigail replied with a laugh, plucking away one of the chocolate covered pieces of strawberry and popping it in her mouth. "But I'm certainly not going to complain," she said as she finished chewing. "You can make lunch for me any day, it sure beats the replicators!"

"It had damned well netter beat what you get out of those machines!" he said, his gruffness returning in an instant, "or I'm no chef!" He grinned then, before saying, "you keep me stocked in fresh ingredients and I'll keep you well fed, deal?"

"Congratulations my friend," Abigail said with a grin as she set her empty cup down and stood up. "You just made it to the top of the supplies priority list. Engineering can wait, food like this is definitely more important." She paused for a moment, before she looked up at him. "But seriously, if you need anything, just let me know. My door is always open for all of my crew. Though I suppose I should get back to it now. No rest for the wicked and all that."

Kaarg nodded, "Likewise. You need anything, I'm not going anywhere, I hope."

"Keep cooking like that and I'll make sure you don't," Abigail said with a grin. "Let me know what time dinner's on," she called back over her shoulder as she headed out of the kitchen.

"Will do!" The Klingon called back before turning the music back up.