“This food is wonderful,” she remarked to Captain Glo’ll, who was eating something entirely different. His plate appeared to be filled with a cake of rich, loamy dirt and he was drinking muddy water instead of the weak green wine the Duplo had filled everyone else’s glass with.
“Oh, do you like it my dear?” he asked, popping a clod of dirt into his mouth and chewing with the sound of breaking branches and grinding grit. “I never eat meat-creature food myself, but I’m told that some of my crew are better at preparing it than others.”
“Really? Does everyone take turns making the meals, then?” Lan’ara asked, looking around the table.
“Everyone but Drung,” Laxah told her. “Trollox food is unbelievably foul. If we let him cook, the whole ship would smell like a garbage scow. Not to mention the fact I wouldn’t put anything in my mouth that he’d had his filthy paws on.” She shuddered as she cast a glance at the hulking Trollox, who was on his third helping of turny-flips with all three heads. “I don’t know why Captain Glo’ll keeps him around at all.”
“Now, Med Tech Laxah, as I have explained before on numerous occasions, Drung is the kind of blunt instrument which is necessary in the kind of endeavor we are engaged in,” Glo’ll remarked, catching her words. “When one specializes in hard to get items, one often needs the muscle to back up a deal, in case things go badly. And you must admit that the sight of our three-headed Second Mate strikes fear into the hearts of those who might consider reneging on their part of the bargain when we trade.”
“Right, right,” Laxah said sourly. “I just wish you could have found someone with muscle who also has integrity.”
“First Mate Needrix fits that description,” the captain said tranquilly. “But a Master Navigator is difficult to come by and I don’t choose to risk him by using him in that capacity.”
“Thanks, Captain, but you know I’m always ready to back you up,” Need said. Taking a bite of his own turny-flip he said, “These aren’t bad, for all that Krax and Kreeva is always arguing with him/herself when it’s his/her turn for cooking duty.”
“I’m not bad at cooking and baking myself,” Lan’ara said cautiously. “Perhaps I could help with that duty while I’m on board?” She looked hopefully at Need as she spoke, hoping her new owner might allow it. She loved to cook and without something to do to keep her busy, it was going to be a long trip to Genu Six.
“I suppose it can’t hurt,” he said grudgingly. “You can help me next time it’s my turn. The Goddess knows, I don’t much care for it.”
“Not to mention you always make the same thing,” Laxah pointed out sourly. “Yerba stew with peebla bread. Don’t get me wrong—it’s tasty the first hundred or so times you eat it. But it does get old after a while.”
The big Kindred shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling.
“It’s the only thing I know how to make reliably without fucking it up. Let me know if you want me to experiment with your next dinner and I’ll try something new.”
Laxah sighed.
“No, never mind. Though maybe we can hope for something more if our new crew member is as good as cooking as she says she is.” She cast a sharp glance at Lan’ara who felt her cheeks get hot at the sudden scrutiny.
“I always made good grades in my cooking and baking classes, my Lady,” she said quickly. “If you give me an idea of what you like, I’ll do my best to please you.”
“My Lady?” The med tech widened her eyes in apparent horror. “No, please don’t call me that!”
“Now you know how I feel,” Need growled, but without malice. When he glanced at Lan’ara, one corner of his mouth had ticked up into what was almost a grin. “I’ve tried but I can’t seem to break her of the damn habit.”
“I’m sorry,” Lan’ara said humbly. “I’m only doing as I was taught at the Twyleth Tigg Academy. My form of address is meant to be respectful and courteous and to put people at ease.” She hung her head. “But it seems to have the opposite effect, here.”
“Well I find it charming to be called ‘my Lord Captain,’” Glo’ll remarked, smiling and sprouting a few more roses from his vine-covered chest. “You may continue to address me that way if it pleases you, my dear,” he told Lan’ara.
“Thank you, my Lord Captain,” she said, bowing her head briefly. “You are too kind.”
“And you are too charming! Quite the loveliest meat-based creature I’ve ever met,” he said graciously, handing her the roses to add to her bouquet.
Lan’ara felt her cheeks heat in a blush as she accepted the flowers and nodded her thanks again.