All in Good Taste

Posted on 12 Jun 2022 @ 6:52pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark

2,674 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Outside of the Security Office
Timeline: MD-07, 1605

[ON]

Coming off a shift was one thing, but Vansen felt distinctly tired having thrown himself into the last few days. Ever since the abrupt departure, he felt...short-changed. There had been days left, and after taking Gabriel on a spacewalk, he had wanted to do it again. As it was, time seemed short with everything that needed doing. But he had managed to get off his shift a few minutes early, to loiter outside of the Security office. He was chancing it, to see if Gabriel wanted to eat, or just talk.

Any excuse to see him, really.

It was somehow odd, how drawn to Stark he was. Something about the way Stark never judged him if he asked a question. As if the gaps of his general knowledge weren't a disadvantage in his life. There was also something about Gabriel that Constantin was drawn to. Maybe it was the strange glimpses of vulnerability he had seen, but all he had wanted to do was to tell him it was going to be okay.

Lie to him, you mean. Because you never know what is going to happen. If you die, it's no reflection of your importance in the universe, it just is. Or if you live, well, again, no reflection whatsoever. Just is.

The thought was oddly reassuring for Constantin. Knowing your insignificance in the universe was as comforting to him as he supposed logic was to a Vulcan. It let him get on with his life, to experience and feel and appreciate every moment he had.

"Hey..." Gabriel smiled with surprise as he rounded the corner out of the office, spotting him easily enough. His jacket was already half undone and he pulled it off to hook over his arm as he watched with warm, dark eyes. "Is...everything alright?" he asked, as his brain kicked in from just staring at him like an idiot. Because if he was on his way into security, maybe something had happened.

Constantin smiled as he looked at him, pushing himself away from the wall. "I thought we could...grab a meal together?" he asked, suddenly feeling stupid. "I didn't get the chance to...to see you after our spacewalk. Wanted to see how you were. How you are."

Gabriel's smile grew with that, not even attempting to try and play it cool. "Sounds great. Mind if I change first though? You're...kind of never off duty if you're security in uniform. You can come with?"

"Sure," Constantin smiled as he stepped closer to him. He glanced down at his own uniform, frowning. He just wore that, mostly, unless there was a reason to change. So he did what he thought logical...he removed the uniform jacket and then the high-necked shirt underneath, leaving him in the white vest underneath. Layers were good for Operations, you never knew where you'd end up crawling.

Gabriel grinned at the change, letting out a whistle. "Maybe I should put mine back on, I'm going to have to protect you from the men at work fans..."

Constantin looked at him with confusion as he walked with him. "What...do you mean?" he asked, holding the shirt and jacket awkwardly in his hand. But he was smiling, because Gabriel was.

"You, looking hot in your vest," he shook his head with a playful smile as he led him into his quarters. "You'll have people flocking Ops for a glimpse."

"Ah..." Constantin looked down his own body as they walked before he smiled. "Glad you think I look hot." It made him feel good about himself, that Gabriel thought that.

"Oh, it won't just be me," he assured with a soft laugh, moving to his clothes. He picked out simple black trousers with a black silk shirt, keeping his back to him as he changed quickly. "Hell, I'm starving, I'm going to eat a platter..."

Constantin watched him change, watching his back for a long moment...taking in the curves of him, and the tattoo of the feather. "What does the feather mean?" he asked, ignoring Gabriel's statement. It was beautiful, like a crow's feather, a contrast to Gabriel's skin.

Gabriel glanced over his shoulder to him, his smile gentler at that, more natural and almost with a touch of shyness. "It's an angel feather," he said quietly.

"May I?" Constantin moved closer to him, reaching out to gently brush his fingers over it. He smiled, shaking his head. "It's beautiful, Gabriel." And he knew what an angel was. He had read about them when at Starfleet Medical.

Gabriel gave a gentle smile at the reaction, leaning into the touch for a moment before letting out a long breath. "I'm named after one," he said with a half smile, turning to him and hooking his thumb under the gold chain with the cross on that he always wore. "See?"

Constantin touched the cross with a gentle fingertip, frowning as he studied it, thinking. "Christian," he said, thinking about the various religions and the religious imagery he had been exposed to when on Earth. "Right?"

Gabriel nodded before arching an eyebrow with a chuckle. "Catholic, to be more precise. My brother's a Michael, so..."

Constantin nodded, his eyes on the cross before he gently let it go and met his eyes. "Must be nice to have something like that," he said softly, but he was smiling.

"I never take it off," Gabriel admitted, shaking his head as he slid the shirt on, doing it up carefully. "It's become superstition now. It's one of the few links I have left."

Constantin stepped back, giving him space as he watched the fingers on the buttons. "Links to what?" he suddenly asked, not understanding, but he was smiling in a way that he hoped showed that Gabriel didn't have to tell him.

"My faith," Gabriel gave an almost apologetic shrug to him, a little more awkward than usual talking about it. "It's not that common anymore. And mine is, well...I don't know now."

Constantin considered the words before he smiled. "It's there," he finally said. "Or else you'd not wear that cross." He pulled back, winking, before he let out a breath. "I should remember to change out of my uniform after shifts. Looks more comfortable."

"Helps create a balance, you know? Work Vansen and Constantin," he smiled warmly to him as he led him back out and towards the mess. "I think so at least. I mean, I know we're Starfleet, but we're still people too. Have to stay sane."

Constantin considered it before he smiled, giving a quick nod. "I think I will start that. Sounds nice. I also have some nice clothes to wear, would be fun to have them...every day. I got this really nice tunic, I've been looking for an excuse."

"Can't I be your excuse?" Gabriel asked him with an innocent smile, but fully meant it as he watched him with dark eyes. "No...you should enjoy the nice things. If you save everything for special, you end up never using it. Trust me."

"True, we could be dead tomorrow," Constantin said lightly, walking with him. "Which is why I will eat well, and wear what I like after duty..." he winked, nudging him with his elbow.

"I approve," Gabriel smiled brightly, watching him with warmth for a long moment. "How was your day? I haven't seen you since..."

"Since our...walk," Constantin said, shaking his head as he smiled. "I've been alright. Everyone seems very tense, I noticed that. Operations are running around a bit. I've been busy...need to get myself to medical as well, for a check up. What about you?"

"Same," Gabriel chuckled before shaking his head lightly. "Well, apart from the Sickbay part. I make a good game out of staying out of there as long as possible."

"Well, some of us get dragged to medical and counselling more often than your average crewman," Constantin teased, nudging him as they went to the mess. He took a deep breath, looking around with interest.

Gabriel glanced to him with a weak smile at that, knowing about the last part at least. "Maybe I know something about that," he shook his head. "Fresh or fake?"

"Fresh?" Constantin asked, curious about it as he smiled. He had grown up on rations, occasional foods that his parents had gotten him, and the greyish porridge that their replicator had been able to handle. "Is...it much different from replicated?"

"Well, it depends who is doing the cooking," Gabriel teased as he moved to grab a tray, heading for the counter. "Well cooked food? Yes, I think it is better. It has the imperfections that make something good. But...it might just be psychological."

Constantin took a tray as well, and followed him with a small smile. "I think it sounds nice," he admitted, his voice gentle. "I want to see if I can tell the difference, because...It is something new."

"Well, it can also be worse, of course," Gabriel warned with an arched eyebrow, moving along to see what was on offer. "If the ingredients are in the hands of a bad chef..."

"Hey, you badmouthing me, Stark?" the Orion looked at him, eyes narrowed dangerous, but the small smile said that Nesh was only being playful.

Gabriel leant on the bar with a grin, watching Nesh with a playful, charm filled smile. "No, not *you* of course. What would you recommend for someone who wants to try their first real food."

Nesh studied them both, considering it. "Do you like Klingon food?" she asked, before she winked and shook her head. "We are having pies today. I have three of them. Vulcan Red Spice vegetable pie, steak and ale pie, and Rokeg blood pie. All served with mashed potatoes and a...gravy." She said the last with a small shrug. "I like it, but apparently it is meant to be smooth and I did a lot of sliced onion in it."

"Sounds like a feast," Gabriel grinned, leaning to pat Vansen in the chest. "We had steak and ale pie at home, it's traditional where I'm from at least. Give it a go, I think you'll like it..."

"I'll have that then," Vansen smiled to Nesh, who nodded and started serving up for him. He looked at Gabriel, with curiosity. "What are you going to have? Not...Rokeg blood pie, I hope?" He wasn't sure Klingon fare was going to go down well with Stark.

Gabriel hit him harder with the back of his hand against his chest at that, grinning as he shook his head. "I'll try the Vulcan one please Nesh, we can try them both. Maybe our forks will touch in the night."

Nesh nodded, her eyes warm. "You'll like it," she promised, giving a nod. "I am really getting my head around all of this. It's weird, but..." she gave another shrug, then leant close. "Seeing as I am either here or in my quarters on punishment, it's sort of what it is. So I won't see you at the bar anytime soon, Stark."

"Well, you're not missing much with the alcohol ban," Gabriel consoled her, shaking his head sympathetically all the same. "Open mic night's not the same without some medicinal brandy."

"Oh yes...the ban," Nesh rolled her eyes, before she shook her head. "It'll be fine. She's not forever."

"No one is," Constantin said absently, his eyes on the food on the tray more than on the conversation.

"I'm forever," Gabriel grinned, nudging Constantin with shining eyes. "I think I have some Q blood in me, I'm going to live forever."

"Ah, so that is the secret to your beauty," Constantin said with a warm smile, suddenly looking at Gabriel before he winked. "I can see that...Gabriel Q Stark."

"Shh...don't tell anyone, they'll have me conjouring up puppies and hot dates. Thanks, Nesh," Gabriel smiled warmly to her before leading Constantin over to a table near the viewport.

Constantin smiled as he followed Gabriel, just chuckling as he considered it. "What is the fascination with...pets?" he asked as he sat down. Not that he had ever spent time with a puppy.

"Er...they're adorable, and comforting, and rewarding, and love you unreservedly if you treat them well...a bit like boyfriends, I expect?" Gabriel chuckled as he got comfortable with him, picking up his fork.

"Like boyfriends..." Constantin looked down and tried some of his food, frowning as he tasted it. "It's nice. Different..." he stopped, looking at Gabriel. "The food, I mean. You are...far more than just..." he stopped and looked down again, feeling heat in his cheeks.

Gabriel laughed at that, shaking his head as he leant to him. "You'd probably be right though," he teased to try and put him at ease, leaning in to try some of the steak pie. "Mm...that's a decent pie considering how far we are away from an English pub..."

Constantin smiled at his reaction, nodding before he held his eyes. "It's nice. I think you're right...cooked food is best." He trusted Gabriel, and he had known he'd be right.

"Want to try the Vulcan one?" he offered, pushing his plate closer. "I mean...I don't know how much spice they'd actually have in their food, they don't exactly seem a spicy kind of culture..."

He smiled and took his fork, trying it as he closed his eyes. "Mm...it's savoury," he said, meeting his eyes. "Not bland, but not...spicy. Savoury. Do you like it?"

"Mm..." Gabriel nodded as he ate, taking another mouthful, but having to blow out while eating it with how steaming hot it was. "It's alright actually. I still think we make the best pies in the universe, but I'd have this again."

He smiled, watching Gabriel with warmth at how he looked. "I like this," he finally said, continuing eating. "Sharing a meal with you. It's...nice. Warming."

Gabriel grinned at that, tucking into his own pie with a sigh, clearly needing it. "Well I'm always willing to share. Breaking bread with someone is always special."

Constantin smiled as he nodded, taking a moment to think the words over. "I never really had that before I...joined Starfleet," he finally said. "Enjoying sharing a meal with someone, talking."

"It's not something that you did with your family?" he asked softly, carefully, not wanting to open old wounds.

"No," Constantin shook his head, and he didn't even realise that Gabriel was holding back. He smiled to him, chasing a piece of beef around the plate before giving up and just picking it up with his fingers and popping it into his mouth. "Mmm...no, someone always had to be at the controls. So we ate in shifts for...as long as I remember. And if we did sit together, they were always talking about what they were trading or seeing. Couldn't exactly...engage."

Gabriel watched his face for a long moment, wondering if they had more in common than he'd first thought. "But you like it?" he asked gently.

"Sitting here...talking to you and sharing a meal?" Constantin's smile became a grin, his eyes warm. "Yes. I like it, Gabriel. A lot."

"Correct answer," he assured with a soft laugh, shaking his head as he watched him fondly. "Then we should do it a lot. Only seems right, hm?" he said casually, watching his plate as he pushed some food around.

Constantin watched him, awed, before he leant across the table. He kissed his cheek quickly and pulled back, sitting back down. "I would love that."

Gabriel's grin widened at that, his confidence restored at the turn. "Besides, it sounds like I have a whole galaxy of cuisine to introduce you to..."

[OFF]

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Blake]

&

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

special appearance by

Nesh Saalm
Reluctant Cook
[PNPC Rice]

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