strangecompany | RP: OPEN GEN POST

Well, if you knew where I started, you probably wouldn't say that. [ He listens as he cooks while Spock talks about something he isn't familiar with. A Vulcan rite of passage maybe? Despite everything that has happened the Vulcan people are still very reclusive. ]

Sounds like a hell of a time. I bet you did pretty well during the Academy survival courses, then.

[ Cue pancake flipping! He let's it sit a moment, adjusting the pan on the heat before turning back to Spock and grinning. ] You'd be surprised then. You know we have hot plates for emergencies? They don't exactly get old or busted, so I use them every once in a while, but it isn't the same with all replicated ingredients.

I wish we had a way to just take on food stores sometimes, and actually use a kitchen like the older style ships.

Doubtful. [ Even if Jim had started out cooking in inauspicious circumstances and his earlier meals were simply hastily thrown together meals, Spock would not change his words. ]

I performed adequately. They were not hardships. [ Vulcan itself had been far more extreme in temperature and environment than Earth, and Spock was adept at moderating bodily functions. ] I am aware of your scores for the survival courses you took. Top of your course.

[ Spock has never paid attention to the hot plates, other than ensuring they were present on the ship. He wonders why he has never seen Jim use said hot plates, though it is easy to explain. For all that they are friends now, and chess games and conversations are common, they don't spend too much time with each other. ]

It is possible to purchase food on the planets we visit, provided there is a market and the produce does not contain allergens Doctor McCoy would find unsuitable for you, though long term storage remains a challenge. Might I suggest an upgrade in the future?

You know about them? Were you checking in on me, Mr. Spock?

[ It's obvious from his tone that he is teasing him, he can't resist the opportunity. ]

I got lucky, it was nothing. [ Jim says it with a shrug and a quirk of a grin that belies the true nature of where he learned such invaluable skills to end up as the top of his class for that course. He says it like he doesn't know the difference between what's good and what's too rotted to do anything but make someone sick. He says it like someone that doesn't get anxious when he feels hungry in between meals and needs to snack. ]

Bones will spoil all my fun in the kitchen with the exotic stuff, but I did pretty good this time, right? No hives or itchy spots or anything. Anyways, I've got the hypo he gave me just in case something comes up.

What, like an upgrade with storage or a kitchen? Cause I'd happily take shifts in the mess hall if that meant I had a working kitchen on my ship.

[ Spock just raises an eyebrow at Jim. Of course he checked Jim's records. ]

Luck has little to do with displayable skills, Captain. [ Before Jim, he might have said luck had little to do with anything, was only a mask behind which humans hid, bemoaning their fate, or their inability to do something, or dismissing their own skill. But Jim has proven that luck is indeed something he has in spades.

It's illogical enough to make Spock grind his teeth.

Cooking, however, is a tactile skill that requires knowledge of ingredients and methods of preparation, and considering that they are on an alien planet, the ability to extrapolate and draw conclusions based on past experiences. It is not luck. ]

Doctor McCoy is only concerned for your health. It would be wise to listen to him when he starts discussing your allergies. [ Spock is a big magnanimous that morning. And Jim better not ever repeat his words. On the pain of death. And he manages to communicate that through a narrow-eyed glance. ]

I do not think Starfleet protocol allows for the captain of the ship to take shifts in the mess. Of course, not many ships have working kitchens. It might be an appropriate time to start asking questions.

[ Start shaping Starfleet, is what Spock really means. But he is not going to come out right and say such a thing, for all his general bluntness. ]

[ Who knows, maybe one day he'll get him to believe in miracles as well. ]

Now you're just trying to make me blush, Spock. And how many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to call me Captain? Especially when we're not on duty.

[ Jim snorts softly when he mentions Bones's concern with his health. If he was concerned with that he wouldn't give him nothing but rabbit food all the live long day. It's so frustrating. ]

I'm pretty sure I know my allergies better than him, ok? Minus the time with the one delegate from that place a few systems back. That was a fluke. I didn't know they had that in there, and I'm forever grateful you got the hypo before he decided to give me mouth to mouth.

[ He blows out a scoff when he mentions protocol, but starts dishing out the last of the pancakes from finishing up the batter. He cools off the pan in a little lukewarm water so as not to damage it, and sets it in the sink to soak a bit. He'll clean up after they eat. ]

Yeah, but you spoil me, don't think I haven't noticed. We'd have to fight for that kitchen, though. It's a power sink as far as their concerned, so we'd have to find something ---efficient.

[ Doubtful that will happen, as miracles are considered the work of divine agency. ]

To be embarrassed by the truth is illogical. Though I did not know it was possible to still make you blush.

Mouth to mouth would not have been as effective nor heal the symptoms you were suffering from, merely supply you with oxygen. I am positive McCoy found the hypo more useful.

[ Realizing Jim is done cooking, Spock settles at the table, serving himself from the various dishes. It is not often he has freshly prepared food, and while he is content with the food from replicators, it is worthy of appreciation. ]

Do you not think your crew capable of adjusting for the power an actual galley would require? Between Mr. Scott and myself, not to mention the others - efficiency is what we strive for and will achieve.

[ They are the best crew in the galaxy. It is not improbable that they could arrange something. ] We can look at Mr. Scott's still and extrapolate from there.

It wouldn't be the first time you accused me of being illogical, would it, Mr. Spock? And was that a joke? That sounded like a joke.

I'm still eternally grateful you came to my rescue. And they say chivalry is dead.

[ Jim takes off the apron, and heads back over to the table. He has a little bit of flour on his arms from where he was mixing earlier, but it's nothing that won't come off later when he cleans up. He's not worried. Once Spock is done with a particular item, he starts putting together his own plate. ]

It's not that. I just don't think that Starfleet is going to approve anything of the sort if we can't prove to them beyond a shadow of a doubt that it isn't going to be an issue with power production or consumption for the rest of the vital systems of the ship. You know how it goes, one step forward and two steps back with requests and requisitions.

[ But then he's making the comment about the still and Jim actually laughs, eyes bright with the sound. ] Well, just make sure you give it a fancy name or call it something completely different in the report. I'm not supposed to know about that, remember?

I beg your pardon. You should know by now that Vulcans do not joke.

[ Really now. Accusing him of joking. Spock shoots a look at Jim, almost a glare.

But the food is good, and he does enjoy the chance to savor something not replicated, although he would not admit such a thing, and he does not feel the same connection to food as many humans. But it mellows out his glare and his lip curls up just the slightest, a fleeting smile that is quickly repressed.

He is almost tempted to point out the flour but refrains. If Jim does not catch it later, he will mention it, but for the moment, he suspects he will only get a sigh. ]

We will see. At our next starbase stop, I will make inquiries about possible upgrades. In addition, I wish to investigate alternate means of power for the science labs. A number of our experiments would be improved if we can divert more energy to the lab.

[ Of course he is not going to mention the still on the reports. It will not go over very well with the admiralty. ] There will be no need to mention it. It is simply a starting point.

I beg to differ. Your humor is just as dry as the desert. It's still humor.

[ Don't think he didn't notice. Hush with that eyebrow game and eat your food. Jim has a good connection with it, mostly cause it reminds him of better times in a large chunk of his life that was not ok. Learning to cook with his aunt is one of the best memories he has. He often wonders if she'd be proud of the man he became.

Which is probably another reason why the flour doesn't bother him. He got doused with it the first time he tried to bake on his own. ]

I like that idea. Both of them, actually. Do you think there's anything we can do until our next stop? We've got a few months before then, don't we?

[ He asks it as he picks up a piece of fruit from his plate, and chews. ]

There is no Vulcan who ever lived who put store in humor.

[ You are imagining things, Jim. Both the humor and the eyebrow thing, because Spock would never.

The food is pleasing, and rather than simply consuming the exact amount needed to sustain energy and satisfy nutritional needs, Spock actually reaches for another pancake, topping it with sliced fruit. ]

It is possible we can take on produce from this world, if the merchants would agree, and create a storage unit for the perishable items. The actual production of food might prove more of a challenge, but there are the hot plates. [ Spock cuts into his pancake and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully. ] I shall contact Mr. Scott and Mr. Chekov, they can engineer the needed items.

I bet there's at least one. Has to be. Before you guys got all uptight about everything.

[ He can imagine a lot of things, but this isn't one of those things. He's right. He knows it.

Jim maybe preens a little to himself though when Spock helps himself to more. It's nice to be able to just enjoy a meal with someone who is obviously enjoying the food as well. It's quite the compliment too. ]

We could. [ He says, washing down a bite with a bit of the flavored water. ] Is this your way of saying it's good and you'd like me to cook it again?

If there was, and it is doubtful, they left no trace behind.

[ But that is an intriguing possibility. There are histories Spock has yet to read, poetry left behind - maybe a project for another day.

If they still have such records. ]

You are fishing for compliments, Jim. You know very well your cooking is more than acceptable. [ He is not going to actually say it is good and wants it again, because that would be expressing a preference. ] It would beneficial for the humans on the ship to have a variety of food in their meals.

I think you're just saying that to get me to let it go. There's probably some stand up comedian type in your past that's just an embarrassment to the rest.

[ Okay, okay, he's teasing. A lot. He'll dial it back now, but the fishing compliment earns a shrug, and a chuckle. ]

Fine, maybe. I'm allowed, I think when I'm pretty sure my aunt would have never figured me for ever being able to cook anything by myself without setting something on fire. Or dousing myself with baking flour. [ Jim nods. ] Well, the Fleet will argue that they get plenty of variety and nutrients from the replicators on board. And that there is no practical reason to keep fresh stores on board when it can just be made with a couple of buttons and a mild energy drain.

You know I'm not wrong.

Vulcans do not have stand-up comedians. Were we to have any versed in comedy, it would be in the form of literature. Possibly a play but more likely poetry.

Not that we have comedians.

[ That is possibly a hint. Probably the only thing Spock might say about such things, but it is a starting point to start looking for those rare instances of Vulcan humor. ]

You have surpassed her expectations, as nothing is on fire and this is an impressive meal. Indeed, I fear it is wasted upon me. [ Spock simply shakes his head at that smile, and the flour, but one corner of his lip curls slightly. ] You are correct, Jim. But they forget that we do invite foreign dignitaries to the ship, who might object to replicated food. Thus it behooves us to have fresh stores on the ship and people skilled at preparation. And it would be impolite to treat only dignitaries to freshly prepared food.

So while it might not happen daily, there is a reason.

Maybe it's just some deeply buried dirty secret that they don't want anyone to know about. [ But then Spock mentions poetry, and it gets Jim's attention. ]

If there aren't comedians, are there poets?

[ That compliment has Jim halting briefly before he reaches for his glass to take another drink. The smile that comes to his face is warm, and crinkles the corners of this eyes. ] You flatter me. She wouldn't say it was wasted, and neither do I. A meal shared with friends or family is never wasted.

[ He sets the drink away after a moment, and cuts up some fruit. ] That's a very compelling argument in our favor. I'll put it forward for review when we get to Yorktown, but it won't be for a few months.

I'm sure Commodore Paris will be amused by the idea.

We are not uncultured, Jim. [ If most of their poetry is somber and dignified, then it is simply because they are a somber people. Especially now. ] Simply not comedic. Though you are welcome to try to find such a secret, if possible.

[ If Jim wants to look, he is not one to stop his captain. There are other Vulcans who might do that, and Spock almost finds the idea of Jim trying to charm another Vulcan entertaining.

Not that he would admit such to anyone. Especially not Jim. ] Incorrect, Jim. I do not flatter anyone, I simply state the truth. [ He was not one to say that which was not true, especially in a situation like this. Spock might be better at obfuscating the truth in certain circumstances, but never with those he considered a friend. ]

Perhaps, but is not amusement a benefit in this situation?

RP: OPEN GEN POST

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