Second Chances

Posted on Fri Nov 29th, 2019 @ 12:20am by

Mission: Promenade
Location: Lilith's quarters
Timeline: Shoreleave
1719 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Feeling mostly like himself now, Patrick had slowly started up his routines in the kitchen again. Breakfasts were going well, and lunch would be up in a few hours. But there was something he needed to do before even thinking about lunch.

Carrying a small covered plate, he approached the flight chief's quarters, and pressed the chime.

Thirty seconds passed before Patrick got any indication that his chime had been heard. An audible thump shook the floor from the other side of the door. Sleepily shuffling her way to the door, Lilith keyed the intercom without opening the door, buying herself a few extra seconds to get dressed.

"Ya, uh, hello? Who is it?"

"It's Paddy, ma'am," the Irishman called out, wondering what was going on in there. "Are you alright ma'am?"

The door slid open to reveal Lilith still in her pajamas. Most of her weight was being held up by the wall she was leaning against.

"Hello Paddy," she smiled. "Yeah, it's all fine, just recovering from a night out. I should've paced myself better, but everything in moderation. To include moderation," she groaned as she pressed her forehead against the cool metal of the door. "Anyway, what's going on? To what do I owe this honor?"

"Uhhh...maybe I should come back another time? I thought I'd bring you breakfast. Make up for that botched dinner the other day." He looked a little flustered at her appearance.

"Breakfast?" Lilith opened the eye closest to the door and noticed the covered dish that the ship's chef was carrying. "Well now you have my attention Mr. O'Malley. You should've started with that. Come on in if you want," she motioned as she stepped aside from the entryway.

Patrick stepped inside and placed the covered plate on the table. "It's nothing fancy just toast from fresh bread and eggs." He did hope she liked eggs.

"Oh my gosh, you didn't have to do all of this! Thank you so much Paddy!" Lilith took a seat and picked up a piece of toast. She placed it back on the plate and stood up, making her way to the replicator to retrieve an allotment of butter and jam. "I take it you're back to feeling better after all of that implant nonsense, yeah? Boy am I glad that's all over."

Patrick looked on in horror as she replicated butter and jam. "Had i known you wanted that too I would've brought it fresh from the mess," he sputtered, "we make everything fresh, including butter and jam. I don't serve replicated food..." Except for meat if nothing was left in storage.

"It's okay, you already did such a nice thing for me, it'd be unrealistic for me to expect you to be able to read my mind too," Lily grinned towards the ship's chef. "But really, thank you for taking the time to bring this all the way here to me. You didn't have to make up for anything from the other day, it's not like any of us were acting completely normally."

The chef smiled shyly, even though he was still horrified. "It's what I do ma'am, and what I love to do. I feed people, and it makes me happy to see people enjoy my food."

"I'm happy to hear it. You have a positive effect on morale when you're doing your thing so really, I should be thanking you," she shrugged. "We're happy to have our chef back to his usual ways and not a moment too soon. Some of the chatter among the pilot group was along the lines of a culinary mutiny. They were gonna back Tarria in some kind of culinary battle royale," Sullivan winked, tongue firmly in cheek.

"What? Battle royale, what do you mean?" His precious kitchen a warzone? "Tarria's no chef but i know she did the best she could under the circumstances."

"Oh Paddy, not everything is meant to be taken seriously," Lilith smirked, stifling an eye roll before taking a bite of the eggs. They were perfectly seasoned and cooked equally well. The chickens that lived in the arboretum were no doubt partially responsible for providing the bounty.

"So," she continued, waving a fork around with another bite of egg affixed to the prongs, "do you have plans for our shoreleave? Gonna get into any trouble while we're docked at the station?"

"I'm hoping to talk Murph into some sightseeing, and maybe go camping somewhere," Patrick smiled, "what about you?"

"You know I haven't thought about it that much yet. Maybe I should see what Cassie's up to and figure it out from there. Or, since I'm done flying and therefore breaking Murph's ship, maybe we could all meet up and get together sometime," Lilith took one last bite of her breakfast, leaving scarcely a crumb on her plate. "I, uh, may have some apologizing of my own to do."

"Oh?" Patrick looked pleased at the plate being all but licked clean. "What for?"

"Gosh, it's been over a week, but to make a long story short, I've typically made it a habit to ingratiate myself with those who fix the equipment I fly and inevitably break. This is my first starship posting, so I figured I'd start with the chief engineer," Lilith explained as she stood up from the table. A few moments later and the dishes were recycled, their materials ready for use elsewhere.

"See that bottle of whisky on the shelf over there? Well, I invited Murph to share, completely unaware that he didn't drink. Well, judging by how he reacted, I'd say he's had his battles with the sauce," Lilith sighed, drying her hands after having washed them. "I still feel bad, even though he said not to worry about it."

"If he said not to worry about it that's probably for the best," Patrick advised, "he does on occasion share a drink with me over dinner but that's about the extent of it. He has his reasons for not indulging, I know them of course but it's not for me to discuss. I'm sure you'll find a way to thank him properly if necessary." He smiled encouragingly at her. "Seriously though, don't worry about it."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she nodded. "Just another example of how you never really know what people are going through until you get to know them a little. Just gotta be empathetic and treat people how you'd want to be treated. Speaking of which, thank you again for breakfast Paddy. It's really properly cheered me up and gotten my day off to a roaring start."

"Always happy to serve ma'am," Patrick smiled, "I'm happy if my food makes people happy, so I've served my purpose with you today. And don't worry about Murph, I know him quite well." He smirked. "I live with the man."

"Oh my gosh how did I not know that! That's awesome for you two!" Lilith beamed at the realization. "Then yes, I guess you would be qualified to speak on the subject. I'll take your word as the truth on the matter. He is a good man, and so are you."

"That he is," Patrick beamed, "let me know if ever you need anything special to eat? You know...if you have a date with Miss Cassandra again?" He winked at her. "Chef knows everything," he teased.

"Hey, anytime the chef and the bartender know you better than the folks working the brig, that counts as a win, right?"

"I guess so." Patrick shrugged. "Depends on the context I guess... I mean I know the brig people too, but I've never spent time in this particular brig."

"Best to keep it that way. Although I guess the brig officer does know me by name come to think of it," Lilith scratched her chin, trying to suppress a laugh as she remembered the drunken, implant-facilitated three person hunt for the streaker from a few weeks ago. "Good ol' Wilfred," she chuckled.

"He's cute," Patrick added, "though I heard he has a girlfriend now?"

"You're more attuned to that sort of news than I am, Paddy. If he is, good for him. He's a good guy, just needs someone to bring a little bit of confidence out of him. I think he'll really flourish if he can figure that part of it out."

"Oh I'm not attuned to who's dating or not, I just happen to know this," Patrick smiled, "not really attuned to the female aspect of any species anyway. Hence I noted he's cute."

"Oh come now Paddy, you're the one that said it - 'chef knows everything'," Sullivan teased her friend. Lilith walked as she talked, making her way to the closet to retrieve her trust hooded jacket. Pulling the quarter-zippered sweater over her head, she focused her attention back to the conversation as she threaded her arms through the sleeves. "I'm just poking fun, I know how it is. You work in a place on the ship that's a social hub. You're gonna overhear and notice things, I mean, you are a perceptive human being after all, right?"

"Err..." Patrick cast her a sheepish smile. "I'm usually hidden away in the kitchen. I do hear things but I'm not very perceptive." He shook his head. "Not unless it concerns food." Then again.. "your sweater is askew..."

"Oh yeah, look at that," Lily glanced over her shoulder in the mirror and tugged one side of the garment until it settled evenly on her torso. "Thanks! Breakfast and an outfit check, great start to my day. You ready to head out?" she glanced towards the door.

"Yes ma'am," Patrick replied, giving her a nod of approval, "any preferences for lunch? While we're at it."

"If you're up for it, there's always time to go explore around the station. I'm sure we can ask around and find a good spot to eat over there. What do you say?"

"That'll have to be another day ma'am," Patrick apologized, "I already have plans for today. I have time to make lunch but otherwise I'm already engaged for the rest of the day."

"No worries friend, have yourself a wonderful day, okay?"

---

Lieutenant Lilith Sullivan
Chief Flight Control Officer

Patrick O'Malley
Chef
pnpc Lhaes