An Evening Meal

Posted on 27 Jun 2016 @ 2:55am by Captain Harvey Geisler & Senior Chief Petty Officer Mila Rasputin

5,511 words; about a 28 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Location: Mila's Quarters
Timeline: MD 2 || 1900 hours

It had required a bit of bargaining with the head cook at the enlisted mess hall, but Mila had arranged time to prepare everything she needed to create the Pelmini, Sorrel soup, Ptasie Mleczko and Sbiten from scratch using the best fresh produce the ship had to offer. She had been forced to replicate a few items which wasn't aboard the Black Hawk but it was a small price to pay.

She hummed as she created the dough for the Pelmeni, making it from flour, water and an egg and separated into a dozen small squares which she set aside. The meats, beef, mutton and pork - all of which had to be replicated - were cooked, blended with black pepper, garlic and diced onions. Once she had all of that prepared, she rolled the blend of meats, onion and spices into the squares of dough and put them in the oven to cook.

Next, Mila worked on the Sorrel soup which consisted melted butter to which she added flour and cooked over moderate heat for five minutes. She stirred in boiling chicken stock and simmered for ten minutes before adding in the sorrel, spinach, garden orache, chard, nettle, and dandelion and seasoned with salt and pepper. While that cooked, she beat yolks lightly with cream and poured a cup of hot stock mixture into egg mixture, then returned it back to saucepan. When it was finished, she stirred in softened butter and serve hot with a dollop of creme fraiche and chervil.

She debated making the airy soufflé sponge cake with a chocolate glaze that was known as Ptasie Mleczko, but knew it would never survive the trip back to her quarters with everything else, so she entered the ingredients and instructions into the replicator and sent it to her quarters instead. The last thing she made was a pitcher of Sbiten, which was a spiced honey drink. All it required was sugar, honey, cloves, cardamom, a touch of ginger, lemon zest and a tiny bit of mint leaves. Beside the pitcher, she placed a container of cinnamon sticks that some people preferred to let soak in the drink for added flavor.

Mila enlisted the aid of a crewman to help her take the meal with warmers back to her quarters and thanked him with a promise to look into a request he had. Once he left, she set out plates, bowls and glasses on the living room coffee table, made sure everything was proper and headed to take a sonic shower. Since the Capt...Harvey...had complimented her on her hair being down, she left it down after she got out instead of putting it in the elaborate braid she normally wore.

She dressed in a simple black skirt which came to her knees, a pair of black kitten heels, and a white peasant blouse. She checked herself in the mirror, then went over her quarters to make sure Chow hadn't hidden any pistachio nuts or grapes, which she took the time to feed the little Capuchin monkey along with a bowl of yogurt.

"You are to be good tonight, Chow," Mila told him. "Captain is coming and I am not wanting you to play tricks on him. Are you understanding? No tricks." While she spoke, she made a few simple gestures which she associated with various words and emphasized no tricks. When he nodded, she smiled and gave him an extra bowl of yogurt and settled down to wait for Harvey to show up.

As promised, Harvey would leave Captain Geisler in his quarters. Just as he so painfully realized upon arrival at Yolvanda II, Harvey was again reminded how deficient in civilian clothing his closet was. He did not want to wear what Jayla had replicated for him those weeks ago, leaving him forced to again visit the replicator. Of course, he had no idea what to wear. For so many years, it was just the uniform. Regulation duty uniform during all of the day. Regulation PT gear should he ever go to the fitness centers. Dress uniforms for the formal occasions.

He paused at the replicator screen, wondering what happened to the clothing he'd worn when he spent so much time on leave on Betazed during his medical leave of absence. Harvey realized almost instantly that he must have never unpacked that particular trunk, a particular trunk that had been long absent from his quarters. After a quick call to the quartermaster and some searching on that end, the trunk was located buried in Cargo Bay Two. Now it sat open in his quarters. So many forgotten memories had awaited him in that trunk, including books, medical journals, photographs, even Alison's veil from their wedding.

Harvey smiled, thinking of that wonderful day. She'd worn a simple dress to the ceremony as she herself was not fond of ceremonies. Of course she looked stunning in it, but sadly it had disappeared from his quarters when the Dominion overran Starbase 211 during the war. He was strangely grateful for it. After all, how would he explain carrying around his deceased wife's dress after all these years.

He set the veil aside and uncovered some civilian clothing. Thanks to his habits, though these clothes were older, they were still in excellent condition. He rummaged through the small selection and selected a pair of jeans with a navy button down shirt that had a light blue fabric on the reverse side. Harvey was honestly surprised that the clothes still fit, though the jeans were getting a little tight around the waist. After rolling up the sleeves, he put on a pair of black shoes and took a look at himself in the mirror. Harvey barely recognized who he saw, but he smiled at the sight. It was like greeting a long lost friend after all these years.

Confident that Harvey Geisler would survive without the comfort of his Captain's pips, Harvey left his quarters. The journey to Mila's quarters was a quick one, and soon he was pressing the chime outside the door.

"Computer, Russian folk music, soft background," Mila said as she checked her outfit and the placement of the food when she heard the chime ring. She gave a soft laugh at her silliness; while it was the Captain...Harvey...she was having dinner with, she felt as if it were Aidan, but knew there was no comparison between the two. "Come in," she called.

The doors parted, revealing Mila's quarters. Harvey was impressed that she had more on display than he in his cabin. He had many excuses to not unpack, mainly because most of his personal effects had been stowed away in a trunk in the cargo bay. The fact that he had been reunited with said trunk after eight months was of little consequence. Seeing Mila's quarters inspired him to dig deeper into it and perhaps put a few items within arm's reach. "Good evening, Mila," he said, coming inside to allow the doors to close behind him.

As always, her quarters were the muted tones of Starfleet with her poker champion trophy displayed on a shelf, her poker playing vest on a coat rack near it, a shelf that contained Russian dolls and a white furry ushanka sitting near it. Chow sat on the back of a chair and hooted when the man who was not friend came in, then recognized him as the man Mila served from her talks with him and settled down.

"Hello there," Harvey said, turning to the monkey. He'd thought he heard mention of Mila's capuchin once or twice, though his name escaped him. "I'm Harvey," he greeted.

Chow perked up and extended a furry paw with a hoot and nod.

"This is Chow," Mila said. "I have had him since he was baby. He is two and a half now and full grown."

Harvey, smiling, took the extended hand. "Pleased to meet you, Chow. You seem to like the starship life well."

The little capuchin monkey gave a nod as if he understood the man's words and gave his hand a polite shake before he released it.

Mila laughed. "He is one of six in Starfleet that I have heard of," she said. "Other five are his parents and siblings. He is very good boy." She turned her attention on Harvey. "I am hoping you are hungry, but chagrined that I was not able to make Ptasie Mleczko in mess hall. Is very delicate soufflé and I was not wanting it to fall on way back here."

"I am hungry indeed," Harvey replied. Were it not for his lunch meeting with the ship's new first officer, he would have skipped lunch in preparation for this meal. He enjoyed being occupied with mission matters, and not the dullness of the day-to-day. "I'm sure whatever you've prepared will be wonderful."

"I am having replicator code for that if you are not minding replicated dessert," she said as she turned to the table where everything else was laid out. "I made everything else in mess hall in trade of favors with cook. He is driving hard bargain, but is worth it to give good, solid meal to you."

Harvey nodded, taking the liberty to examine some of her personal effects, beginning with the poker trophy and vest. He wasn't exactly thrilled that Mila had pulled some strings with the cook, but after their conversation in the turbolift earlier, he didn't want to say anything in fear that it might negatively impact their evening. "Favors with the cook?" he asked, trying to be friendly. "You are making this meal sound more impressive by the second."

"Was nothing big," Mila assured him as she looked at the trophy he was looking at and a pack of metal cards beside of it. "I won that on Betazoid Poker Tournament in twenty three eighty-four. Was very good challenge."

"How many Betazoids did you have to play to get it?" an impressed Harvey asked, taking a closer look at the cards. "Or other telepathic species?"

"Final game was four Betazoids, me and Vulcan," she said. "Rule of game required telepathic inhibitors and monitoring by impartial telepaths during game. Was pure luck and skill at game."

"My congratulations, then," Harvey offered, though he would have offered them regardless of the circumstances. "And it does sound like something big. Did you get a chance to see the Janaran Falls while you were there? We always thought they were beautiful."

"I thank you. Da. I have and I believe that Betazoid is being most beautiful planet I have ever been on," Mila said. "Come. Let us eat and talk. Pelmeni is much better warm."

Harvey promptly joined Mila at the table. "Smells wonderful," he complimented. "I was there just a few months ago, shortly before taking command. And, unless circumstances warrant it, I probably won't be back."

She went to the table and began to dish out servings of the Pelmeni and a bowl of Sorrel soup for him, then poured a glass of Sbiten. "I am hoping you are liking this, Harvey," she said before she served herself and sat down. "I am understanding of the situation which you faced when you were last there, but they say in order to cross bridge, you must first see bridge is there."

"Indeed," Harvey replied, his usual phrase sounding forced even to him. He held his dishware close to Mila's hands as she dished as to keep food from escaping to where it shouldn't and then set them in front of him. The aroma was certainly pleasant, and Harvey found himself not knowing what to try first. Somehow, the thought of combining the two for the first taste just wouldn't be proper. Finally, he elected to lift his spoon and sample the soup. "Incredible," he remarked after letting the flavor sink in his mouth.

"What do you mean?" he asked before taking another bite of the soup. The last time he was on Betazed was to finally mourn and say goodbye to Alison. Her body had been vaporized, so there wasn't even a shred of DNA to bury. All that remained was what few articles he had in his trunk and a name inscribed on a monument.

Mila watched him and gauged his responses to both her statement and the meal. His pleasure as the soup pleased her and she cut a Pelmeni in half and delicately chewed it while she thought about an answer. "Harvey," she said softly as she took a sip of her Sbiten. "I am your Yeoman, am I not? I am entrusted to great deal of personal information and it saddens me to know what happened to you there. I am wishing that you would not be so distant from those who would be more than crew you are working with."

Harvey was sampling the Sbiten as she began to answer. He listened as she spoke honestly, believing her words had been carefully chosen to gently, yet firmly, give him a shove. "All my life," Harvey said, picking up a fork to cut one of the Pelmeni on his plate, "at least my childhood, I was always the last remembered. My brother and sister never cared. My parents cared enough to keep me only so far out of trouble. Alison was the first to help me understand that I could be more than that child. And, when you lose someone like that, not even a chance to say goodbye, it, uh... It changes you."

He shook his head, lowering the untasted Pelmeni back towards the plate. "Years ago, Adam tried to help. Hell, he did more than he knows. The sad thing is, detaching myself from everyone around me has just been the simplest way to cope. It certainly has also been the least rewarding. And, I think I'm starting to realize that."

Mila listened quietly as he slowly opened up to her and the emotional content nearly made tears well up in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then reached over to gently lay a hand on his while making eye contact with him. "I am sorry that you have had such bad life and that one good thing...nyet...good woman was taken from you too soon. I am not able to imagine what that is to be like," she said. "You are good man, Harvey Geisler, and you are deserving of many rewards in life. I am hoping your realization leads to more evenings with those you are able to call friends and I am also hoping that I can be one of those fortunate people."

"Can be implies that it hasn't already happened and that it is only possible," Harvey countered. "You are one of those fortunate people, Mila," he said with a smile, before finally inserting the Pelmeni into his mouth. His eyes widened, enjoying the flavor, and he smiled at her, hopefully it was enough of a non-verbal indicator that he enjoyed the meal. "I think the saddest part is that I realize that I robbed myself of many opportunities. After..." his voice trailed off, realizing this was going to resurrect part of their debate earlier that day. "After del Rosario shot me, I saw Alison."

Harvey set his fork down, and let his gaze fall to the dish in front of him as he tried to compose the words he wanted to say. "It... she felt so real. It was like she'd never left. More beautiful than I could remember. We spoke only briefly, but she wanted me to be happy." Looking back up at her, Harvey asked, "Have I really been that unhappy?"

It made her happy that his expression over the Pelmeni was positive and she bowed her head a little before she looked back up at him as he spoke more. "Then it is something which I will never betray, Harvey Geisler," she said. "Friends are rare in space and I am fortunate to be counted among those with you." She took a sip of her Sorrel soup as he continued to talk.

"You did rob yourself," Mila told him. "And you robbed many others as well in the process. You seeing Alison after you were shot was your subconscious telling you that it it time for you to free yourself. Not from the memory of her that you cherish so much, but free yourself from the grievous harm which you inflict upon yourself by holding yourself back for so long. You knew in your heart that such a wonderful woman would not want to see you suffer so."

Harvey couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "I don't suppose you have a bit of a counseling background hidden in your file." It certainly sounded like it. "I'd like to think that if she saw me, she'd give me a firm push into the deep end."

"Nyet, not counselor," she said. "Just a person who knows when someone is sad. To hear you like this makes me sad as well, Harvey and I am wishing that I could take it from you. I am believing that she would not push you into deep end, but would walk beside of you from shallow end to deep end. She is still walking with you, but you are having to take the steps, which you are now doing."

He sighed, but brandished a smile as he did. "I have a feeling that my sad days are over. I didn't know how badly I needed the Black Hawk and its crew until just a few days ago." He picked up his cup of Sbiten and raised it. "I didn't know how badly I needed you, Mila. Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Harvey," Mila told him and returned the smile. "I am hoping we are able to have more talks like this."

Harvey kept his smile, and he was fairly certain it grew without his conscience's permission. "To friendship," he said, still with his cup in the air. "And to many more talks."

She raised her glass and touched it to his. "To friendship and talks," she agreed. "Now eat, Harvey, eat. I am not making big meal just for myself. If I am to be your friend, I am required to see that you do not starve."

"Are you sure there's no hint of Senior Chief Rasputin in there?" Harvey joked before consuming another piece of Pelmeni.

Mila laughed. "Russian meals are usually bigger than this, Harvey," she told him. "I did not get rye bread or salad to go with this. Still, I would not have you go hungry." She took another Pelmeni for herself.

"That certainly won't be happening tonight," Harvey said, sampling the soup once more. "And, enough about me. Are you, Mila, currently happy?"

"Da," she said. "I cannot remember last time I have been so happy." Her features almost glowed as she thought about Aidan and all the time they had spent on Yolvanda II before the virus had struck. "It is amazing what the right person can do to make you happy. He...Aidan...may be a cadet, but he is also a knight in shining armor and has the manners of a true gentleman and just enough rogue to keep me hopping."

Harvey chewed on another Pelmeni and thought about the name. "Science, right?" He asked, not expecting an answer. "I am he makes you happy, though he could be your Senior Officer someday, so be careful." With the joke aside, Harvey picked up a spoonful of the soup.

"You are being correct," Mila said as she worked on another Pelmeni. "By the time that happens, you will be Admiral and I am being Master Chief and still serving you."

Harvey chuckled. "There are only two ways that I'll be leaving this ship. The first is that I die in the command chair, and the second is that there's no more chair to sit in." Of course, both were morbid things to say, but Harvey knew full well how old the Black Hawk was. The ship herself only had a few more good years in her, and he planned to command her until the very end.

"You are not allowed to die as long as I am your Yeoman, and I am not planning on dying," she told him sternly. "And shame be on your for even speaking of such things during dinner. I am thinking you are having Borscht next time you are here as punishment."

Though his tone was in jest, Harvey had been quite serious about his statement. Perhaps he should have taken a less morbid approach. "What I meant to say was that I have no desire to go anywhere. Captain is as high as my ladder goes, and you are welcome to remain as long as you like. Besides, I'd hate to break in a new yeoman, much less a new friend."

"Then I have no desire to serve under anyone else or be any less of a friend to you," Mila said. "Besides, new yeomans are nowhere near as efficient as I am even when I am being mad at you."

"Are you still mad at me?" Harvey asked with genuine concern as he continued to consume his bowl of soup.

"Why would I be mad at you?" She asked him suspiciously as she put down her spoon.

"After our conversation in the turbo lift this morning," he answered. "I know we were both open with each other, and very... Honest. And, a lot of my talk this evening has been about my dreary past. I just... Want to be sure we're past that."

"You are here in my quarters eating a meal I prepared just for you, Harvey," Mila said. "Are you thinking that I would do such if I had not forgave you for earlier? Your past is not dreary. I sense that you have a deep need to talk about it and I am more than willing to listen."

Harvey smiled, thankful that they were able to move past that. "It's one thing to reminisce," he said, finishing his Pelmeni. "It's another to more forward, which is what I want to do. I'm not going to keep my past hidden anymore, but I'm not going to let it continue to restrict me either."

"Good," she said as she finished her Sorrel soup. "Living or hiding in past is not good thing," she told him. "I did much of it when ex-boyfriend said he would do anything for me, then killed a man I had complained about and blamed me for it before he took his own life. I lived every day and night in nightmare loop and it manifested when I was in Sickbay. I had laser scalpel and saw Aidan as him and was trying to kill him before I hurt myself. Not letting go of past is dangerous, but do not be forgetting lessons learned in it or you will be repeating them."

Harvey lowered the last of his Sbiten back to the table. "Mila... I'm sorry that you had to go through that. And, I will certainly heed those words." He certainly had no desire to repeat past experiences. "There is... one thing I do want to tell you. Doctor Kij and I are no longer seeing each other. We've decided to just be friends."

Mila had started to take a drink of her Sbiten and paused before she carefully put it back down again. "I am hoping it nothing bad happened, Harvey," she said. "But...is old saying that there are many more fish in sea. We are in sardine can in space, da, but there is still many choices to be had if you are to be opening your eyes and looking."

"Nothing bad happened," Harvey confirmed. "After last night, I was reminded what it was like to have fun. Real fun. And, I think that's what lead me to start finding myself again. It's time to have some hobbies, and well, fun."

"What was to be happening last night, if I may asked?" Mila asked as she listened to him. For him to say that he was having fun a moment after saying that he parted ways with the doctor...it was odd. She was certain the rumor mill would have something about what happened, but she was getting it straight from him at the moment and that would negate any rumors that circulated.

"I met Lieutenant Corwin in security," Harvey explained. "And she taught me how to surf. It was the most I've enjoyed anything in a very long time."

Mila thought for a moment and remembered the personnel file for the Lieutenant and the associated images of the brunette Security Lieutenant and smiled. "She is Hawaiian, da? Is good thing for you to learn to surf and have fun, Harvey. You are making great steps when I was expecting small. I am very happy for you and wish to hear of more adventures which brings smiles to your face."

"When they happen, I'll let you know," he told Mila. "As for surfing, I'm not ready for a public display. I can barely stand on the board as it is, but I'm not about to stop trying." Smiling he also added, "And Joey is just a friend. Nothing more."

"Harvey, is not concern of mine who you are friends with or are something more with," she said as she got up to take their plates and bowls to the recycler and then requested the Ptasie Mleczko that she had put the codes in for earlier. When it materialized with two plates and forks, she returned to the table and sat his in front of him. "My concern is that you are happy."

Now that looked very interesting. He politely thanked her for the dessert and stacked the used dishes to the side to keep them out of the way. "I am," he assured Mila. Using his fork, he cut off the tip of the cake and sampled it. He smiled, enjoying the flavor even more so than what dinner had offered.

"Then I am as well," Mila assured him, making a note to look more into this Lieutenant Corwin's background to see exactly what type of woman she was. For the moment, she contented herself to enjoy the fact that he was happy. She took a bite of the dessert and sighed. "Is not best from replicator, but is second best. Next time, I am taking time to make it from scratch before you are worth effort to produce the very best."

"It's still very good," Harvey said, only able to imagine what freshly made Ptasie Mleczko would taste like. "I feel like I've been spoiled tonight," Harvey told her.

"You are deserving of being spoiled," she said after she took a bite of the rich dessert. "I could also arrange to have good lunch sent to your Ready Room with new treat daily," Mila offered. "I am knowing you are busy man and it would be making it easier for you to have to worry about one less thing."

Harvey considered it for a moment as he chewed on another bite of dessert. Finally, he shook his head. "I think getting out of the Ready Room for lunch will be good for me, especially since I'm wanting to interact with the crew more."

"Then I am leaving instructions with cook in officer's mess to have meal prepared for you so that you may get it at your leisure," Mila said with a smile before she ate another bite of the chocolate souffle sponge cake.

"Thank you," Harvey said with a nod and finished his cake. "I must say, you are as skilled with entertaining as you are with your duties. This has been a pleasant evening, despite my attempts to rain on it."

"Thank you, but you could not do that if you tried," Mila said. "If you did try, I would have Chow do very bad things to you."

Considering the monkey, he almost wondered if Mila was joking. He then wondered if monkeys could be arrested for doing wrong aboard the starship. It wasn't a matter to look into, but the thought was interesting to say the least. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to do that."

Chow, hearing his name, perked up and looked over at Harvey and his mistress from his place on the couch where he was dipping pistachio nuts in a bowl of yogurt.

"It is okay, Chow," Mila assured him. "It is still green alert." She looked back at Harvey and gave a smile. "He is not doing something unless I am asking him to."

"So he's fully trained, then?" Harvey asked, looking back at the Capuchin. "He doesn't have any wild ideas of his own from time to time?"

"I have had him since he was baby," she said. "Of course, he is having mind of his own, but he has never harmed someone and occasionally helps me with things. I am teaching him new tricks all the time to keep him active and sharp. He is very smart boy"

"And I imagine protective as well," Harvey said, recalling how he'd behaved with Harvey arrived. "Perhaps Miss Di Pasquale would need the extra pair of hands coming up."

Mila looked at Chow, then back at Harvey, unsure if he was joking or not. "Explain, please."

"Chasing two Consortium-controlled ships into a nebula," he started to explain, but decided not to finish that thought. Harvey shook his head. "What I said was in bad taste, a poor attempt at a joke. I apologize."

She thought for a moment. "If we had idea of who is who and where they are, it would be easy to have Chow take isolinear chip to put dent in their plans," she said thoughtfully. "But would be too dangerous. Was good idea, but....do not worry, Harvey. I am forgiving you."

Harvey hoped he would soon be at the point where he would not longer need to receive forgiveness. He nodded to her nonetheless. "Dinner was excellent," he told her. "And dessert was even better."

Mila smiled. "I am glad you are liking it, Harvey. I am very pleased you are liking it. You are fourth person in eleven years that I have served to get personal meal."

Harvey was proud to consider himself highly privileged. "We shall have to do it again soon," he told her. He hadn't made any plans for the evening, but between talking about the past, and having been reunited with his trunk for the first time in months actually made him a bit nostalgic and wanting to go through it.

"I am hoping that we are able to do the same," she said. "It is good to be getting to know man that I serve daily and to see that you are starting to come out and live your life."

"And it will be good to get to know the woman whom I work with daily," he told her, rising from the table with a smile.

Mila came to her feet as well. "Are you to be calling it a night, Harvey?"

"I am, I'm afraid," Harvey said. "Actually, I have a box of memories that just made it to my quarters I need to go through. It's actually where I found this," he said, gesturing at his civilian clothing.

"Then I bid you a good evening," she said. "But do not allow old memories deny you new ones at same time."

Harvey merely smiled in response. He certainly wouldn't allow that, but it was a step to be made if he were to begin finding himself again. "Yes, ma'am," he courtly replied. "Have a good evening, Mila," he told her, and then turned and wished to Chow, "Good evening, Mr. Chow."

Chow gave a series of soft screeches and bobbed his head up and down, then stood up and saluted Harvey,

Mila laughed. "Until the morrow, Harvey," she said.

He chuckled too at the capuchin. "Until tomorrow," he confirmed. He nodded to both and left her quarters.

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