Chiana

[amusebouche]

Despite being short of many supplies (Bert had not yet delivered the requested goods), Andras had managed to make a meal worthy of his name. Being the ship's chef often meant he had to cook great quantities and in a limited amount of time. He made meals. There was hardly ever a moment to make dinner a performance.

He was grateful for the time off when they docked. People went to visit the planet and there was much less need for dining in the ship's kitchen.

He had therefore been able to make a full three course meal for two. He was proud of his efforts and knew the result would be appreciated.

There was a knock on the door and he straightened his waistcoat to open the door to greet his guest.

Comments

[amusebouche]

As his eyes followed her hand, he did look straight into the cleavage so obviously put in front of him. It was harder, in the privacy of his own room, to maintain some distance between them. "I like it better now," he confessed, and only then took a step back.

[nebaritralk]

Chiana almost stepped forward and asked if he liked her better now, but held back at the last second. A little wine, a little food, they couldn't hurt. She relaxed back into herself, another shift of her body. "Then we should do this more often," she simply answered, instead, with a close-mouthed smile.

[amusebouche]

"We should," Andras agreed. "What took us so long?" He mused, a little flirtatiously himself. He took two glasses and held them out, leaving the honour of pouring the wine to her.

[nebaritralk]

"No. Idea," Chiana playfully replied, as she grabbed the decanter again to pour the glasses. She was a little less at ease with it than she had been with the bottle, since the shape and balance were so different, but she still pulled it off nicely, without a drop of wine running down the outside of the decanter when she righted it. "What are we drinking to?" she asked as she set it down, and took her glass from him, brushing her fingers against his as she did.

[amusebouche]

"To today," Andras suggested. "The future's uncertain, the past is in the past. Neither matter if today is a good day," he explained, and then thought of his words. "To tonight - good food and beautiful company."

[nebaritralk]

"Good food, and beautiful company," Chiana echoed with a delighted smile, tipping her glass against Andras before taking a sip, all the while holding his gaze. Ah, she loved that wine; the clear pleasure she drew from the drink was not faked at all.

[amusebouche]

Andras saw her pleasure and was pleased she valued the taste of wine. He smiled at her. "It's always amazed me that despite the obvious differences between our species, our pallet is mostly overlapping," he remarked.

[nebaritralk]

Chiana clucked her tongue in denial a few times, shaking her head as she shifted her hips, upper body following. "Pallets can be taught. You meet a Nebari that's never left the homeworld, you'd be surprised."

[amusebouche]

"I would like to be," Andras admitted. "I'm very much in favour of getting to know new flavours and new ingredients. And if there's something you like, I'd be happy to prepare it for you."

[nebaritralk]

"I ever get my hands on what I'd need, I'll cook for you," Chiana retorted, and took another sip from the glass, turning away from him to go back to studying his living arrangements.

[amusebouche]

"I'll look forward to it," Andras said. She turned away from him then, and he couldn't help staring a little. The back of her was somehow less aggressive, less feral, possibly because she was less aware of it. It was elegant instead; a beautiful female shape, helped by a corset and an impossibly tight suit. Somehow Andras was reminded of a lesson in anatomy, a drawing he had once seen that had a woman's back opened up, displaying skin and muscles as though they were wings. He didn't know why; she just had a beautiful back.

"Shall we start?"

[nebaritralk]

Chiana turned back around to him with a sharp smile. "Yes," she agreed, the s a little more sibilant than needed. "Can I help with anything?"

She wasn't used to being waited on.

[amusebouche]

"No," Andras assured. "You are my guest. Please, sit."

He took the first course from the table, where it was kept warm. "Pork tongue a la ravigote, inspired by Pascal Aussignac, slightly altered for lack of tarragon, cloves and... quite a few other ingredients."

[nebaritralk]

Chiana lowered herself into one of the chairs at the table, putting the glass down on the table. The translator microbes couldn't do much for her when it came to foodstuff she had no clue about, and Andras's words meant very little to her. "Who's Pascal Aussignac?" she asked, instead, watching the dish Andras was bringing over.

[amusebouche]

"A renowned chef on Earth," Andras explained. "I draw inspiration from books and menu's."

"Tongue is a slightly exotic dish where I come from. I don't know how it is on your home planet, but I assure you that you will like it's taste."

2013/11/21 nebaritralk - DW Comment dw_null@dreamwidth.org

[nebaritralk]

"I got nothing against tongue," Chiana assured him with a quick, sharp smile, as she picked up her fork and knife. While she intended it as yet another sexual innuendo, she meant it literally, as well. When you had travelled to the places she had, any animal body parts were good to eat.

As long as you hadn't given that animal a name that she knew of, anyway.

She cut off a first bite, making sure not to lose the greenery on top of the muscle as she balanced it on her fork, then had her first bite. As usual with Andras's dishes, her lips curled into a pleased smile even as she chew. It wouldn't occur to her to try and hide how much she appreciated it.

[amusebouche]

Andras watched her take that first bite, enjoying her enjoyment, taking her smile as approval, and only then taking a bite himself. "I hardly have use for tongue in the kitchen, so I store them for finer enjoyment. I'm glad you like it."

[nebaritralk]

"I'm enjoying it just fine," Chiana confirmed with one of her more genuine smiles, dark eyes twinkling happy confirmation of that fact. "Is it complicated to cook?"

She was interested in the process, yes, and just as interested in listening to Andras talk about it. He loved it so much.

[amusebouche]

"The tongue is easy to procure, the process of cooking it is slightly more complex. It's a delicate piece of meat. Patience is the key. It has to boil slowly for abour four hours, stand, peeled. It's a process that requires care, a certain amount of delicacy - respect, almost. People often forget that," Andras explained. "If you think you can muster the patience, I could teach you."

2013/11/22 nebaritralk - DW Comment dw_null@dreamwidth.org

[nebaritralk]

"Patience isn't exactly my forte," Chiana retorted with a doubtful, brief purse of her lips. "Not unless you make it really worth my while."

[amusebouche]

A little flirtation in return. "I would," he assured. "I always would."

[nebaritralk]

Chiana smiled at that, close-lipped, and swallowed the next bite before replying. "Oh yeah? What kind of incentive did you have in mind?"

Not that she really expected him to; it had been months and months. If he wanted to frel, he would've taken her up on her offer by now.

[amusebouche]

Andras smiled. It was not that he didn't like Chiana. It was that her methods in seduction were a bit crude. He didn't think of it as 'frelling', he preferred the term 'to make love', and there was wine and music involved. He didn't think it should be shallow, a scratch on the bedpost.

So their relation remained teasingly flirtatious. But he was a man, and lust was not unknown to him. He could merely compose himself quite well.

"Whatever you would like; a slow roast, a luscious dessert..."

[nebaritralk]

"Whatever I would like?" Chiana echoed with a widening smile.

[amusebouche]

"Of course," he said, talking of food, naturally.