Part 1: Of Gods and Dinner...
Posted on 08 Oct 2016 @ 5:38pm by Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie & Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD
1,610 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo, Deck 02, Baxton's Quarters #2613 SO
Timeline: MD-02 1700 Hours
[ON]
Braxton finished preparing the dinner. It had been the second time that Jonas was in his quarters for a meal, the first, had been breakfast and the room had been filled with boxes.
He was by no means done unpacking. He had his bedroom and bathroom to set up but…his dining area and living room area were set up. He’d moved his sofa to the wall and moved the table and chairs for dining a bit to give it the feel of a separate space. He’d unpacked his throws and pillows, lavender in colour with emerald accents, a gift from Marie when he’d entered the academy.
On the dining table he’d placed a black and gold cloth to cover the sterile gray of the table. By the entrance door, with the help of ops, he’d put up a shelf to house his Elegua statue, a rocklike figure with sea shells for the eyes, nose, and mouth. He rested upon a platter surrounded by candles of black and read with black and red beads and bracelets surrounding the statue. A little bowl for food and a cup for drink, as Marie had taught him. Elegua was the god of crossroads. In sanitaria he was like St. Michael and St. Antony of Padua the protector, the guide; Braxton needed a guide now. Elegua was the the opener of doors and roads, the first and the last Orisha and as such he was always consulted first when trouble was at hand. He was the gatekeeper, the messenger of the Gods and the diviner.
Braxton smiled as he lit the candle on the small alter, Marie…He remembered her fondly. She’d died a couple of years ago and it had been a devastating loss for him. He hadn’t known until a box was delivered to him as per her will. He mourned her to this day.
He turned and headed to the second alter in the room. Chango, the Orisha of thunder, lightning, war, dance, music, passion, drumming, virility and power. His colours red and white. He lit the candles and added the Eleke (Sacred necklace) to the alter refilling the food and drink bowl and cup. He was the protector against death and fire.
He’d just lit the last candle when the door chimed. “Entre,” he said in French.
Jonas, who had been hesitating outside for at least a minute before pressing the chime, cautiously stepped inside. It was darker than he'd expected and what he could see of the cabin looked much different than it had on his first visit, but the delicious aroma filling the air confirmed he was in the right place.
"Evening, Brax," he called to the form illuminated from behind by candlelight. "I brought some wine. Wasn't sure what we were having so I've got a red and a white," he explained, offering up both of the chilled bottles.
Braxton smiled. "It will be a surprise but wine is always good." He motioned. "Come on in. I am almost done cooking." He motioned Jonas inside and headed to the little counter area he'd set up. He'd brought with him a mini stove burner and even though the ingredients were replicated he grew his own mint, and sage, and a few other herbs. "We're having Jambalaya with Andouille spicy sausage. I also have some Crème Brulee for dessert." Suddenly he motioned nervously. "Um... feel free to look around. Can I get something for you to drink?"
The counselor's eyes almost rolled back at the mention of Crème Brulee, as it was easily in his personal list of Top Five Best Desserts Ever. He followed Braxton's suggestion and began to take in the decor while deciding if it was best to start with a cocktail or just go with water. The room had certainly developed a personality, and appropriately enough it reminded him of some of the homes and apartments he'd seen in New Orleans. The statues also had a vague familiarity about them, but that was mostly likely due to the reading he's done on Santeria after the two officers had met. He found himself drawn to the Elegua altar, though he couldn't recall the name. Focused on the patterns on the small shells that made up the face, Jonas realized he hadn't answered Brax's question.
"Oh, um, yeah... a Mojito, if you have any rum. Or even, replicated, I guess, but if that's the case, could you toss in some of that fresh mint?"
Braxton made up the cocktail and add a sprig of mint even though he had real rum. He walked up behind Jonas and smiled. He spoke, his voice taking on a low rumble like quality to it, "That is Elegua the god of crossroads. In sanitaria he is like St. Michael and St. Antony of Padua the protector, the guide. The opener of doors and roads, the first and the last Orisha." He stepped a bit closer and held out the drink. "Your Mojito."
His mouth suddenly dry, Jonas simply glanced over his shoulder to signal his thanks. But his eyes caught Braxton's, and they both held the look a bit longer than expected. The counselor slowly reached out to accept the glass and their fingers brushed lightly. Time seemed to freeze until the illusion was broken when Jonas finally took a sip.
"Mmmm, that's... that's very refreshing," he said, taking another drink as he moved over to the other altar. "So, that one's Elegua, and this one is..." he paused while inspecting the details, suddenly hyper aware he should make some kind of conversation and create some distance. Of course Braxton was attractive, but that wasn't what he was looking for, at least not right now. He was at dinner with a friend, a new friend, and he must have been tired from the workload and the newness of everything and then there was this atmosphere with a handsome, intelligent man...
"The colors, the posture, I'm gonna guess some kind of masculine deity? Power, energy, virility?"
It took a moment for Braxton's brain to catch up. The finger brush, the gaze. It brought back memories feelings that he thoughts...he shook his head. He was tired, reading things wrong. The question sank in. "Yes. That is Chango, the Orisha of thunder, lightning, war, dance, music, passion, drumming, virility and power." He picked up one of the sacred necklaces. "This is the Eleke of Chango. It is a sacred necklace meant to protect the wearer's life and guard against fire." He placed it over Jonas' head. "It is yours now."
Feeling a bit bothered and not knowing why he walked back to the kitchenette area he'd set up. "I'll check on the food." He stirred the food and added a bit of herbs to the mix. "Almost done." He said.
Braxton finished up and then plated the Jambalaya with Andouille spicy sausage in a serving dish which he took to the table. He then went back for the warm bread and a plate of butter. He brought them to the table. "Dinner is served." He said.
Braxton had taken care to set the table to look elegant. He really hadn't even known why he was taking such care but for some reason he wanted Jonas to like it; to feel comfortable. He smiled a bit of an odd embarrassed smile as he waited for Jonas to join him.
His fingers running along the base of the Eleke, Jonas hadn't taken a step from where he'd been standing when it had been gently slipped on him. "This... this is very kind of you. Thanks." He looked up, flashed his winning grin, and moved over to take his seat. "Very impressive setup, Lieutenant. You've wasted no time in making this a home."
Scooting in, he placed his napkin on his lap, admired the tablescape, and then reached for bread. "Everything looks wonderful and the food smells amazing. How did you find time to throw all of this together? I can barely order a complete meal from the replicator." He offered Brax the piece he'd just buttered, and began to spread some on another piece for himself.
Braxton smiled and accepted the piece of bread as if it were the greats jewel in the world. He was almost sorry to eat it. "I love to cook, amongst other things. It relaxes me no matter what kind of day I had." He filled their plates with food.
As they began to eat Braxton avoided taking the bread just cause Jonas had given it to him. He was a bit frustrated at that but the frustration disappeared as he watched Jonas pop a bit of bread in his mouth. Suddenly he reached for his own bread as if it was a connection between them. He quickly looked down at his food, lest Jonas notice him staring. "So...Um...how was your day." He asked.
Braxton wasn't very good at small talk but the thoughts tumbling through his head right now....it was all he could say. He was glad he'd made sure the table had everything because there was no way he was standing up now for reasons that would be too obvious.
"Not bad," Jonas said between bites. "Actually, not bad at all. I think I've decided to revisit an old paper I wrote a few years back but never submitted for review. It was Dora's suggestion, actually..."
To Be Continued...
Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo
&
Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo
RSS Feed
Back to Top