one more day in paradise (forward-dated to sunday)

[chakotay]

When; February 9th
Rating; let's say PG-13 for the half-Klingon being in the same room as the omnipotent being. There might be an honor issue in here somewhere
Characters; Chakotay, Kathryn Janeway, B'Elanna Torres, Harry Kim, Pavel Chekov, Hikaru Sulu, and Q. Yes, even Q
Summary; Chakotay decided that it would be nice for both crews to get together and talk / bond. And Q would've turned up to party crash anyway.
Log;


They were all going to meet at Chekov's little cottage in the woods for this get-together and Chakotay hoped it would be a success, if not a smashing one. He was well aware that it might be a slightly more volatile situation than any of them really wanted simply because Q would be there -- and he knew Q would've been there even if he hadn't been invited -- but he had to hope that everyone would be able to keep their tempers in check and Q would take what he'd said about respect to heart. Maybe then they would be able to enjoy this dinner without hostilities.

Chakotay had done a good part of the cooking. Anyone else was welcome to have cooked or brought something -- no dishes by the captain please -- but he was ready and willing to bring the majority. Cooking was something he was used to and he'd come to like it, especially in this place. It meant he could provide something interesting and it took up a good part of the time he might otherwise spend working in the labs or just being bored. Or trying to meditate or contact his spirit guide. That had been hit or miss lately and he had a feeling that had more to do with the City itself and less with him in general.

But none of that mattered. What mattered was this dinner and how everyone would take it. Hopefully it would all work out. With the food all set out now they just had to wait for everyone else.

Comments

[directives]

She does her best to look appalled, hands on her hips, mouth slightly agape. It's all an act, of course. She was a walking disaster zone when it came to the preparation of food and she knew it. Perhaps they exaggerated the joke a bit, but it was funny when you thought about it. She could do complex calculations in her head and manually realign the deflector dish, but she couldn't boil water.

[chakotay]

Her expression brings a soft laugh from him. Instead of responding verbally, he moves the spoon closer to her, a clear offer for her to taste the stew without needing to do anything, not even hold the spoon. At this point, he's just glad they can joke around at all, especially about her inability to cook.

[directives]

She may not need to hold the spoon, but she does so anyway, gently taking it from his fingers so she can spoon the contents into her own mouth. Deliberately, she pretends to be unsure of the taste for a second or two, but soon breaks into an approving grin, handing the spoon back to him.

"Not bad, Com— Chakotay."

[chakotay]

The lid goes back on the pot at that point and he smiles as she hands him the spoon again. He hadn't really been that worried -- she'd eaten his cooking several times before -- but it's always nice to have that affirmation. He raises his eyebrows at her almost slip, before offering a teasing grin in response.

"Good catch." He wouldn't want to have to reprimand anyone for using rank during an off-duty gathering, even in jest. "But I'm glad you still approve of my cooking."

[directives]

"If I didn't, you'd be bumping elbows with Tom in the rank department." And Harry, but Tom had been demoted, whereas Harry was still working on moving his way up the proverbial ladder.

[chakotay]

Chakotay raises his eyebrows in mock disbelief. "You'd demote me all the way down to ensign just for my cooking?" And Tom thought he'd had it bad.

[directives]

"Maybe. I'd have to throw Neelix in the brig for a while for his leola root stew first."

She laughs at that, because if there's one thing they don't miss about Voyager, it's the food. The availability of real food in this place makes living in it a little less awful. Just a little. She'd go back to replicator rations and things grown in the hydroponics bay in a heartbeat if it meant getting back to her ship.

[chakotay]

He can't help laughing with her. In spite of how badly they want to get back to Voyager and their crew, they definitely do not miss anything with leola root.

"Don't tell me that or I'll have Neelix keep making that stew just to keep myself out of the brig."