Dinner for all - Part 1 of 2

Posted on 15 Dec 2022 @ 7:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Raviran Dattek-Winters & Captain Bane Plase & Captain Erik Larsen & Lieutenant Maralen Seitha & Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast & Lieutenant Commander Elodin Devan MD & Lieutenant JG Christina Hartley & Lieutenant Albert Spangler & Lieutenant JG Kin'Fuji Hartley MD

5,893 words; about a 29 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Hartley Quarters

ON:

Christina smiled as she finished setting the last of the plates on the dining table they had. It was one Christina had created, one that was smaller when not needed as a large table, but had extendable parts to make it a massive, round table, big enough for everyone.

She placed the bottles of wine in ice buckets, open of course so they could breathe, as well as pure juice, squash, and other drinks for everyone. The invites had gone out, with everyone confirming their attendance, including her uncle Plase.

Their entire quarters smelled amazing, with freshly made bread rolls on the table as well as butter (the perks of having a cousin who ran a restaurant, Christina had brought a large supply of fresh food and drinks with her, in stasis units in the cargo bay right now, separate from the rest of the cargo, a request she had made to Bane), and she enjoyed the smell.

"Dinner smells amazing love," Christina said, before heading to the bedroom, going to help K'tress get her dress on. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," Christina complimented.

Kin'Fuji was dressed in her kimono, like normal, and her hair was done in a traditional Japanese style, to keep it out of the way. "Thank you love." She said to Christina.

"Now to sort out K'tress, before everyone else arrives. You looking forward to tonight, sweetheart?" Christina asked their daughter.

"Yes mamma." K'tress said bouncing all over the place.

Christina giggled. "Good. Everyone is going to love you," Christina said, holding and hugging her daughter.

K'tress snuggled her mother as she was hugged.

* * * * * * *

Ravi arrived at the door and pressed the chime. She wondered if she was too early but as she'd only just got off duty and gone straight back to her quarters, cleaned up, dressed up and come straight back, she hadn't really known what else to do with the extra minutes. She had already felt like falling asleep when she lay on her bed in her bath towel after her shower so she didn't want to risk any mishaps and had just set off to avoid any danger of one.

After the chime sounded on the door of the Hartley Family Suite, Ravi began to wonder if she should have perhaps just walked around the corridors a bit to make sure she wasn't the first to arrive but it was done now and so she waited with her bottle of wine held in one hand and a bunch of brightly coloured flowers for the hostess that she'd replicated on her way out.

"Come in." Came Kin'Fuji voice over the intercom. As the door open the home cooked meal was just mouth watering. Once Ravi stepped into the room, she smiled at her. "Please make yourself comfortable." She stated walking over to take the Wine and Flowers.

* * * * * * *

Lisald came around the bend and saw the quarters he had been invited to, and the doors to said quarters just closing. He had not seen who had entered, however. For Lisald, this was the first official engagement he had attended since being released by Drs. Elodin, Winters and Kin'Fuji. If it had not been at Winters insistence that he attend, he would not have. He was not, officially, back on duty. He still hurt, and still had trouble breathing with his new lungs. Plus, he wasn't entirely sure he was going to stay in Starfleet now. The meeting with Captain Bane a few weeks ago had given him something to think about, but since then, he had heard nothing.

Approaching the door, he pressed his thumb against the plate, a small ache emanating from where his wound had been.

"Come in," Christina said, as she emerged from the bedroom with K'tress. "Welcome, both of you," she said. "We're glad you could make it."

Lisald was just about to say something to Ravi when Christina made her presence known. His opportunity was missed, but there would be another chance soon, he was sure of it.

"It's very kind of you to host an event like this..." Ravi began, but the chime sounded again before she could add to that.

* * * * * * *

Spangler stopped a few feet before the door. It was not too late to turn around, or simply keep walking. The Science Officer's track record with social events aboard the ship was less than stellar, and this was not lost on him. But then again, "Hell with it." He tapped the chime, and affected a smile that was practically pleasant.

Maralen had received the invitation to dinner like everyone else had. He was not entirely sure why he had been invited given that he was new; he was actually surprised they knew he was part of the crew given that the captain had not. Ultimately, it didn't matter though. It would have been extremely bad form to not go, so here he was. He was dressed in loose-fitting clothes to allow his fur to breathe -- he doubted that they would have appreciated him showing up in only enough to cover certain parts, though that would be any feline's preference if given the choice.

When have you ever had the choice? his own mind reminded him. But the answer was simple. He had had choice ever since Tenna of Nestral had freed him from the Singers. Granted, at first, he had not known what to do with it, but he had learned quickly as he had learned everything else. And then he had chosen Starfleet. And now, he was choosing to be here.

As he neared the door to the designated quarters -- he was exactly punctual as he had always been taught to be -- he noted another officer already waiting to be admitted. That officer was slightly shorter than he with brown hair. Not enough data yet to put a name to him, so Maralen moved up alongside him and touched the door announcer, glancing sidelong as he did so. "Hello," he offered politely as they waited.

Spangler turned his head slightly towards the new arrival. These Security types had a way a sneaking up on you. He didn't recognize the man; but that didn't mean much on a ship like the Cygnus. The simple fact he was aboard the vessel meant he probably belonged. Stowaways and pirates rarely attended dinner parties anyway. "Hey there, fella." Albert responded with a slight nod.

Christina opened the door, smiling at the newcomers. "Hey, glad you could make it," Christina said, letting the guests in. "There's drinks on the counter there, please feel free to help yourself," she said to everyone there.

Because the other man was here first, Maralen allowed him to enter first. As Maralen himself entered, he took note of everyone and everything in the room. Then his eyes came back to the hostess, and he smiled a closed-mouth, cat smile. His whiskers twitched at all the smells, and his ears perked, swiveling toward her as he accepted her greeting.

The Bajoran, well, he wasn't really sure what he was now? Was he still an officer? Vaat didn't know. Still, he saw his friend Albert come in with another feline crewmate, someone that Vaat did not know. He thought about going over and saying hi to his friend, and introducing himself to the new person, but both of them moved into the crowd. Vaat did not want to intrude.

"Thank you." Maralen moved into the room, allowing the doors to close. "And thank you for having this gathering." It will allow me to observe the senior staff away from duty, to learn who they are more clearly. That last, he did not say, though. He then moved off toward the table she had indicated and began to look over its offerings.

* * * * * * *

Elodin walked out of the turbolift and immediately stopped, glancing both ways in the corridor and trying to remember if Hartley's quarters were to the left or to the right. After weighing the question for a few seconds, he finally picked a side, and was soon comforted to hear the quiet buzz of conversation coming from an open door just a few meters ahead. Just as he was about to pick up the pace, he sensed someone approaching from behind. He turned to see the ship's new Chief Operations Officer heading in his direction.

"Lieutenant..." he ventured.

"Bast," replied the Trill. "Temerant. Is this the way to Lieutenant Hartley's quarters?"

"It is. I was just about to go in myself," replied Elodin, extending a hand for the younger officer to precede him.

He noticed that they were both carrying bottles of wine. He made a mental note to have Sickbay prepare some hangover remedies, just in case.

Temerant walked in first, with Elodin close on his heels. He spotted a table where people had put down bottles of wine and other refreshments, and added his bottle of Bajoran Springwine to the lot.

* * * * * * *

Ravi moved towards Vaat as soon as it was politely acceptable to cross the room. She stopped on the way at the worktop where there were drinks and the idea of Andorian Sunrises crept into her mind, causing her to smile. She took a glass of Ragellian Pineapple juice and added just a little Vulcan blue spice that made the end result a slightly green and odd looking, benign thirst quencher. She was about to continue over to Lisald with the intention of asking him if he wanted one too when she found herself almost slopping it down the front of the person she hadn't realised had come up behind her to look at the drinks counter as well.

"I think I preferred it when you brought me a drink, not almost spilled it on me," Christina teased, smiling at Ravi.

Ravi beamed. She was relieved the drink hadn't actually slopped outwards. "Well it wouldn't have been a very grateful way to treat my host!" she agreed. She was also glad to see Christina again. She knew of course that she would since the invitation was from her and her wife but nonetheless it was still a nice feeling to see her new-found friend again.

Lisald had seen Ravi look at him, and he smiled, but then she turned away without smiling back, and began talking to Christina again. Maybe the friendship he thought they were forming was all in his head? Could it be since he was one of her patients so recently, that she couldn't see him as anything else now, other than a patient?

"This is a lovely suite you and Kin have here!" Ravi went on, looking around and taking in all the lovely wall decorations and the soft furnishings with so much taste and style.

"I love what you've done with it. It's so warm and friendly. Just like its resident!" she said warmly, patting Christina's shoulder with her free hand but carefully keeping the offending glass of juice firm and steady in her other.

Christina chuckled softly. "Thanks, Ravi, took us the better part of a day, but we got this sorted," Christina said. "Do you want to meet my daughter, K'tress, and my wife, Kin'Fuji?"

* * * * * * *

By this point, Maralen had gotten himself a tea and moved off to the side to allow others to access the table. He was watching and listening to everything, and he noted the conversation between the two ladies. His ears swiveled to catch more of it. Wife and daughter. The invitation had mentioned the wife, but not the daughter. He would be most curious to meet them, especially the child. Children were his weakness. It was one of the reasons that... he pushed the memory aside and focused on the here and now.

Vaat tried to catch they eye of the new crewman that came in with Spangler, but failed to do so, or was being actively ignored. Vaat wasn't sure which. He wondered if the person was just getting the lay of the land before he started socializing with everyone. The young Bajoran watched him for several minutes, realizing that he was just getting the lay of the land, as it were. Picking up as much courage as he could, Vaat made his way over to him. "Hey there. I'm Lisald Vaat," he said, in a way of greeting.

Maralen had indeed noticed the man staring at him, but he had not been concerned as it seemed to be an assessing stare rather than anything worth being concerned over. When the man approached, Maralen could smell unease on him, but he didn't need to smell it to know it was there. It was in the man's stance, eyes, etc.

Maralen studied the other for a moment then smiled, though he was careful not to show too much fang. No need to scare the poor fellow, after all. "Hello, Mr. Lisald," he greeted in return, using what he hoped was the house name based on normal Bajoran naming conventions -- he had noted that the man was at least partly Bajoran. "I'm Maralen Seitha. "And I promise I don't bite fellow crew," he added with a wink to indicate the light humor.

Vaat's eyes got wide for a moment, but when the Feline Officer started laughing, it dispelled most of the surprise and misgivings. Lisald smiled, then laughed too. It was a good laugh, and he needed it. Once the laughter died down, he noticed Maralen looking at him. Perhaps he laughed a bit too long. Shrugging it off, Lisald pressed forward. "I've been a bit out of the loop for a few weeks," he alluded, "So I'm afraid I don't know what it is you do aboard ship."

* * * * * * *

"Oh yes please!" Ravi replied with enthusiasm. She really would love to and she said so sincerely but she couldn't help but pass the slightest tiny, wistful glance across to Lisald as she followed Christina across in the other direction to meet Kin and K'Tress. The little one was SO cute that Ravi was immediately distracted and full of congratulations to both parents.

They really did seem to be such a lovely family. Ravi's heart was warmed by them and their amazing happiness which radiated outwardly from them all. She felt that she really wanted to find someone who she could love this much and she definitely wanted to find domestic happiness like theirs.

She asked if she could hold the child, hoping she wouldn't object to being approached by a stranger? Ravi looked at Kin to see if she was agreeable to this request?

"I don't mind if you say no, if you think it's not going to be comfortable for her?" Ravi added, not wanting to push.

"No, it's fine. K'tress, do you want to give Ravi a cuddle?" Christina asked. K'tress grinned and ran to Ravi, wrapping her arms around her.

"HI!! K'Tress!" Ravi beamed and crouched down into a Kossak stance to give the sweet little girl a hug back at her own level. It was such a lovely hug that there was an instant surge of happiness that spread through Ravi.

"Oh that was a totally 100% brilliant hug, K'Tress! Thank you SO much!" Ravi told the little girl, making no attempt to move away from her until she was ready to make the first move back to her mother. "This is an amazing party!" Ravi added. "That looks like the best and most beautiful party dress I've ever seen, that you're wearing!" she complimented the little one. "It's WAY prettier than mine. Did you make it?"

Ravi knew this was a ridiculous question but it was a seemingly appropriate way to flatter her way into a conversation with K'Tress.

As Christina was out in the living area with all of them, Kin'Fuji went back to the kitchen area to check on dinner. She chuckled at their daughter being the social butterfly that she is going to be.

K'Tress and Ravi chatted away about everything and nothing and eventually the little girl spotted Christina close by and held up her arms to be lifted up. "Thank you for talking to me K'Tress" Ravi said and then thanked Christina as well - again, before moving off on her original trajectory, quietly approaching Lisald at last.

Ravi finished her juice and put down the glass on the counter on her way by. She approached Vaat with a large welcoming smile.

"Good to see you decided to come after all, my friend!" she placed a small peck on his check almost formally and added "I hope you're feeling much more recovered lately?"

Thrilled beyond reason that Ravi approached him, he was stunned and blushed hard at the kiss on the cheek. "I am feeling better, though still a bit weird to breathe deeply. However, you and Doc Elodin said that would become normal in time. Speaking of Elodin, have you seen him," he asked, looking at the crowd. "How are you doing?"

Ravi noticed that she'd made Vaat blush and apologised straight away. The last thing she wanted was to make him feel uncomfortable around her. She'd just been a bit too enthusiastic, probably because she'd been trying to get over to where he was and not managing it until now.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you" she told him quietly, hoping not to make it worse by letting anyone else hear her referring to it. "I did see Dr Elodin earlier but he vanished into the group over that side." she took her voice back to normal volume and moved away from her error in planting that kiss on his cheek. She wanted to kick herself for the error.

She'd actually hugged him - well, to be fair, he had hugged her - when they'd first met but that had been to fool the Denobulan who had been following her and Vaat had been kind enough to play along and act as if they were together.

It was Ravi's turn to flush at that memory. It had been something wonderful and she'd been anxious to get to talk to him since but he'd been so wounded and close to death that it hadn't been possible to get him alone since. She had sat beside him a lot of the time he was unconscious and in particular when she was off duty and free to just sit but he wouldn't have been aware of her presence then and now it was just back to being strangers again.... well she supposed that in truth, they'd never really been anything else. She turned her large, deep brown eyes up towards him and just stood, welling up with so much to say and yet, no words coming out.

Desperate to say something, anything, so as to have an excuse not to move away, she grasped at his earlier question. "er... yes, I'm doing okay. I'm so glad you're getting better" It was a bit repetitive but she was struggling and didn't want that to show in case he misunderstood it.

Vaat nodded and smiled, feeling warm and fuzzy inside, and various other feelings over his body. If he weren't so embarrassed and feeling like the whole room was watching him (he spied Spangler smiling in their general direction), he would have rather enjoyed the feelings. He cleared his throat needlessly. "I am, thanks to you and to Dr. Elodin and Dr. Kin'Fuji," he said, nodding his head toward the feline doctor. He still hadn't seen Elodin yet, but that didn't mean anything. Indeed, most of Lisald's focus was very much on Ravi. He was pretty sure he had just said the same thing to her a moment ago. He wasn't for complete sure though; it had to be the medicine still wearing off (never mind he hadn't had any in a week now).

Winters smiled back, "I still owe you dinner in return for the one you provided for me when we first met." she told Vaat quietly. "I hope you'll let me sort that out as soon as you're well enough?"

Despite himself, Vaat smiled. He was just about to blurt out an affirmative, but then his mood soured. He had remembered he was resigning his commission and going back to Bajor. "Well, yes, of course," he started, carefully and methodically. "But it will have to be before we get back to Deep Space 9." He saw the confusion on her face. "I am considering getting out of Starfleet," he explained.

"Out......" she spluttered, shocked and horrified. "I don't understand.... what sort of out?" she asked, having gone as pale as a Cardassian plus some more. Possibly as pale as a Reman.

Vaat could see the pain in her eyes and the shock on her face; it didn't take an empath to know that he had dropped a tricobalt torpedo on her. "Yeah, I think so. Getting hurt," he said, his hand absentmindedly going to his chest to cover the entry-point, "Really made me think. I'm a scientist, Ravi. I'm not an explorer, and I am certainly not a tactician. I want to study, to learn, to do the things that I want to pursue in a safe environment. I do not want to be responsible for people, or for their lives. I was kidding myself thinking I wanted to go into command and rise up the ranks. I knew better than that. I just got caught up in the excitement of rank and position and authority. All of those things mean nothing to me. Only the science and the experience and the knowledge excite me. Starfleet, I do not think, is for me." As the words flowed from his mouth, he could see the concern and the hurt that Ravi was feeling, and he couldn't take it anymore. "I'm sorry, if you will excuse me," he said, and stepped away before she could say another word. The only person he could think to talk to right now was Spangler, his best friend. He no more than made two steps towards him and saw him now talking to Elodin (ah, there he is!). Not wanting to interfere, he made his way to the refreshments table, hoping to get a drink.

Ravi was left open mouthed, speechless and stunned. It was like he had drop kicked her and winded her. Her lungs didn't want to take the next breath even though she could feel her chest heaving, in an effort to force them back into action.

Pale and stammering with shock, she felt alone in a crowd and tried to turn towards the door. Flight was a serious option for her now - she needed to go away and process this horrible turn of events and a room full of cheerful, chatty people was her idea of hell in a handbasket right now.

She looked left and right, reminiscent of a trapped animal, looking for a fast way out.

* * * * * * *

Bast walked the perimeter of the room, a drink in hand, eager to mingle but hesitant to interrupt ongoing conversations. He maneuvered around a little one who seemed very eager to greet someone who had just entered, and nearly collided with a dark-furred feline crewmember.

"I'm sorry," he said, catching his glass before any of it spilled out.

Maralen had been standing by a wall, observing all around him. He was not, by any means, anti-social. Nor was he avoiding contact. Rather, he was learning about the people around him. One thing that made itself very clear almost immediately was that they all seemed to know one another. Some were in small clusters; he guessed by their interractions that they were friends.

He had remained where he was more out of a sense of politeness than anything else. In a very real sense, as regarded interpersonal relationships anyway, he was an outsider. It would have been exceedingly rude of him to simply impose himself on one or another of the groups. And so he had been looking fort a good opportunity to engage someone.

That opportunity came to him in the form of the crewmember who bumped into him, thankfully catching his drink before it got in Maralen's fur. Maralen glanced to the man as the other apologized, ears swiveling toward the man as well. Whiskers flared as he took the scent of the individual, then he smiled.

"Quite all right," he offered, his expression shifting to slightly playful. "I do tend to blend into the shadows." He gave a short pause and then offered one hand. "Maralen Seitha, Security and Tactical."

"Temerant Bast," replied the Trill, shaking the feline officer's hand. "Operations. Just transferred here."

Maralen gave the man's hand a firm shake then released it. "Pleased to meet you." That was followed by a slight smile. "Good to know I'm not the only one who's new here." His eyes trailed over the room before coming back to Temerant. "These people do seem to know each other quite well." In truth, they seemed to be like a family; and it could be daunting to try to become integrated into that type of crew. "Do you know any of them?" he asked curiously.

"Can't say that I do," replied Bast. "I met the Captain and First Officer when I came on board, but that's about it."

Maralen nodded. "That sounds about right," he commented, though why he did so he was not exactly sure. "I'm afraid we're in the same situation there. I don't know any of them either. I think they just invited the entire senior staff." A frown slid over his features. "Maybe we should say hello to our hostesses?" Being a Relations Rep -- that was the closest of his old ranks to social situation -- was very different than just being 'social'; the rules were not the same. Was he being rude to the hostesses by standing here and not properly introducing himself?

"Of course," replied the Trill with his best smile. "If you can point them out, that is."

Fortunately for them both, Maralen had looked over the dossiers of his new crew, and he had an eidetic memory. Glancing around the room, he found them, pointing them out. "That is Christina Hartley, and that is her mate Kin'Fuji Hartley." Of course, that damnable memory of his meant that now he had to wade through the crowd to greet them. Not that he minded the greeting part, only the wading through people part. That tended to end with stuff in his fur.

"Fantastic," replied the Trill. He remembered the name of ship's Chief Engineer, but the manifest he'd seen hadn't had any personnel photos attached, and everyone being out of uniform also didn't help matters. Of course, he hadn't needed a personnel photo to identify the Caitian medical officer.

* * * * * * * *

Spangler had found himself a nice comfortable corner to people watch from. The interaction between Vaat and Ravi amused him immensely; his friend had the ability to ooze uncomfortability like no one he'd ever seen. Scanning the room, Al found his only other friend in the room and walked over with a smile. Picking up the glass, he helped himself to a portion from a bottle that while he couldn't identify the contents, had the most appealing color. "Don't mind if I do." He mumbled to himself, before raising the glass to eye level. "I sure hope you're alcohol."

Elodin brushed past Spangler's shoulder as he reached for a glass of his own. He caught the Science officer's eye as the young Human mumbled. "Lieutenant Spangler," he nodded.

Just above the glass, Spangler realized all too late he was also staring at the Doctor. Not the first awkward interaction between the men involving alcohol, Spangler chose the only rational action; he froze. "Hi... Doc. Nice party?"

"Yes it is," replied Elodin. He gave a quick nod to the Science officer's glass. "Easy on those Lieutenant, or you might have to pay Sickbay a visit in the morning."

Lisald walked up at this time, fresh from his visit with Ravi, which ended in disaster. "I'll take it, then," he said.

"Same advice goes for you as well, Lieutenant," said Elodin. "With all the painkillers you're taking, any alcohol should be consumed in moderation."

Vaat screwed his face up at the Doctor, playfully, before downing the drink in one gulp. It burned his throat and his oesophagus all the way down, the face he had made now contorting to surprise and, as it were, uncomfortableness, before the drink settled into his stomach, a pleasant and somehow uncomfortable heat/burn in his stomach. "You got it," he said smiling wryly to his doctor and friend.

* * * * * * *

Down the corridor and around the bend, Captain Bane and Erik Larsen stepped off the turbolift together. Bane was speaking to Erik as the doors opened to the deck.

"....of course, when I saw him doing that, I couldn't help but make the best imitation of the Proconsul, complete with how he spoke out of the left corner of his mouth. I tell you, it stopped him dead in his tracks, and for about five heartbeats, I wasn't sure if I was going to be trounced out of Starfleet, or made to take part in the next rendition of the ships performing arts night. Thankfully, he laughed, and hard," he recounted.

“A stroke of luck indeed,” said Larsen neutrally as they made their way down the corridor. “I, of course, have never gotten in trouble due to my mouth. And if you believe that, I have beachfront property on the surface of Andoria to sell as well. I think this is it, Captain.” Larsen pressed the control panel on the wall and the door slid open, revealing a room that was buzzing with activity.

The two senior officers stepped into the room. It was nice, in this instance, that nobody stopped what they were doing and made the center of attention be Erik or Plase. It was everyone's and no one's moment in the spotlight. Bane smiled warmly as Christina approached them.

* * * * * * * *

Ravi wasn't aware how many moments passed but she knew she was going to make a total fool of herself if she stayed where she was standing any longer.

She searched the room to see if she could see Christina or Kin' Fuji.... or even K'Tress? Her eyes alit on Christina talking to a group and thought better of interrupting her in front of everyone in that group so she went to the kitchen and found Kin there.

"Kin." Ravi breathed, still finding this basic function eluding her somewhat. "Kin, I'm SO sorry" she puffed, fighting back emotion that was trying to finally engulf her.

"I HAVE to go..... I'm SO sorry...." she couldn't say anything else, just repeating the same phrase. "SO SO sorry" she began to try to leave but found the crowd between herself and the door was even larger to get back through from the kitchen. Furious with herself for trapping her own self and still not being able to say what she came to say, that she needed to leave and couldn't explain right now..... Ravi began to stutter, clearly distressed.

"ss. SO...... ss... s... sor......" her hands moved jerkily and in the end she just stood helplessly, fighting for control. ~Doctors shouldn't show feelings~ was all her brain would tell her. It wasn't as helpful as her subconscious mind must have thought it would be.

"shouldn't.... sorry..... show.... SO....." Ravi shut her jaws tightly to stop herself rambling and sat heavily on the nearest kitchen stool just looking helplessly at Kin' Fuji.

Ravi's emotions hit her empathic shield like a landslide. Quickly she caught her superior officer and pulled her into a hug. "It is alright, just relax." She said softly. "This is just a simple dinner so we can get to know the senior officers on a more personal level."

Ravi accepted the hug and returned it, almost in a child like way. She looked up at Kin and shook her head sadly. "No...... it's not that..... " she felt the calm returning at the edges of her confusion and pain and began to try to focus properly.

"It's.... there's someone.... I.... he.... he's going away. I had thought we... he and I..... he's not feeling the same at all. He's not really even noticed me, I don't think. Or he would have let me know he was thinking.... but then..... it's not even my business..... " aware that she was a little clearer but still not completing sentences properly, Ravi fell silent and just tried very hard to concentrate on some deep breathing, her face buried in Kin' Fuji's shoulder as she began to regain her normal equilibrium and the shock of Vaat's revelation started to subside.

"It is alright." Kin'Fuji said as she used her Empathic abilities to project calm on Ravi. "You want to talk about it?" She asked.

As the projection of calm reached into the chaos of Ravi's emotions, she began to feel the benefit and relax a little. "Thank you" she breathed as she started to feel a little less like she'd been caught in the wake of the displacement at the rear of a starship going to warp.

"I don't think I should talk about it tonight if I want to regain enough composure to stay and see the evening out." Ravi explained to Kin apologetically. "Can we not talk about it at all until maybe tomorrow.... or perhaps in about 50 years?" she winced a little and wasn't even able to make a smile to match her own intended lightening of the moment which clearly failed spectacularly.

"Sorry...." she apologised again, soaking up the calm that Kin was radiating. "I'll just breathe and try to be a better house guest." she promised, not at all sure if she could keep or deliver on that but willing to give it her best.

It took some time but Ravi's training eventually kicked in and her "doctors' impenetrable façade" spread slowly and safely back over her countenance.

"I'm keeping you distracted at the most important time of your dinner preparations and hogging you so your other guests can't chat or get to know you. That's sinking the whole point of your evening. It's very selfish of me. Please forgive me. I'm good now...... Is there anything i can do to help you....? Please let me, it's the very least I can do!" she said asked.

"Sure I can use some help in the kitchen." Kin'Fuji said with a smile. "You know how to cook?"

"Moderately...." Ravi answered modestly. She was actually quite handy in the kitchen so she was very pleased to have been given a job to distract her from Vaat and slip her back into the evening with a little bit of her dignity restored.

Ravi helped in the Kitchen with all the tasks that Kin'Fugi offered her and any more she thought might be helpful that popped up along the preparations.

It wasn't long, with two pairs of hands at work before they had the first course ready to serve and the next one quietly cooking away at a stage where they could leave it unattended for a while and join everyone to eat the starters.

T.B.C......

 

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