Menu Madness

Posted on Thu Sep 30th, 2021 @ 11:47am by Lieutenant Vira Vemre [Whavi]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: Arcadia
Timeline: MD6 1800
2031 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kaden sat in his lab working on the drinks for Arcadia's grand opening he wasn't sure when Vira planned the event. But he wanted the drinks to be the talk of the town so to speak. Was Kaden nervous about a grand opening? No, but there were two things that made him nervous one was his old assassin buddies showing up. Despite he had to turn his weapons into security.

He needed something to protect himself the custom buckle on his belt contained two throwing knives hidden inside. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing he had only been on the ship a few days but he kept to himself and out of trouble. The other thing that was making him nervous was trying to get the damn drinks on his menu perfect.

Kaden needed a break from this menu madness he walked out of his lab into the bar and made himself a cocktail. Before taking a seat on the stool leaning his back against the bar and crossing his arms.

Freya stepped through the doors into the room, seeing Kaden sitting back on the stool she offered a smile. “Hey handsome, how goes your plans for the opening of the bar? I’ve no doubt you’ve got customers eagerly awaiting it.”

Kaden sat up and walked back behind the bar. "Having a hard time right now trying to put the menu together I think I need more time to get the drinks right." He pulled a glass out and set it on the bar top. "Speaking of which, want a drink?"

“Sure” Freya smiled and nodded. “You know what I like, surprise me!”

Kaden went to work making Freya a Drax Moonberry Martini doing the usual tricks that he enjoyed doing. As he put her drink together he added a special ingredient to it he spent quite a while creating the perfect drink for Freya during his adventures away from her. With a few more tricks for her, he poured her martini in the glass and garnished it.

“Is that a Moonberry Martini?” Freya smiled the biggest smile yet. “You used to hate making that when we first met, something about the flavor combination being all wrong.”

Kaden took a seat next to the red-haired beauty he loved so much. "I worked hard to make it just perfect...for you."

“So do you like the change of hair color?” Freya smiled as she looked at Kaden. “I thought a change would be nice.” She sipped her Martini. “Mmmm that’s perfect!”

"I always had a thing for redheads." Kaden leaned forward and kissed her. "But I love you no matter what."

“So does this mean I don’t have to hide how I feel for you?” Freya looked at Kaden curiously. “Or do I have to keep our relationship professional when we’re amongst others?”

"Until I get a feel for the people here we need to keep a low profile, It sucks but...I have to know we will be safe here." Kaden replied.

Freya nodded. “I guess you’re right. It’s just... hard not being able to show that I love you.”

Kaden sighed feeling rather upset he had to tell Freya no to her wishes to show how much she loved him. It was not easy to tell her no matter of fact he hated it she wasn't asking him for something big like a baby. But until he could get a general idea of the people on this flying space station so to speak they had to keep low.

Feeling the need to change the subject Kaden took a sip of his drink. "I hired a general manager already."

As if on que Vira entered the bar with a stack of PADDs in her arms. "Kaden! Perfect, I was hoping you would be here. We have so much to talk about. Such as what kind of musical preference are you thinking? I know a few good jazz singers, also there's this guy in security named Damien-" Vira stopped abruptly just now noticing the female seated next to Kaden, "Oh hello!" Dumping the stack of Padds onto the bar top Vira extended her hand to the female. "Vira Vemre, I don't believe we've had the pleasure." The risian gave her most charming smile.

"Vira, this is my assistant Freya Savette." Kaden took another sip of his cocktail. "Freya, this is Vira the General Manager I hired."

Freya offered a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you Vira. I’m also an exchange officer here aboard ship so I’ll come and go between shifts.”

"So what is this about music?" Kaden asked.

Vira furrowed her brow in confusion for a moment before remembering what it was that brought her there. "Oh! Music yes!" She picked up one of the PADDs she had set on the bar and handed it over after starting a recording of a woman with a deep smoky voice singing a soft jazz number, "I need to know what kind of atmosphere we're trying to set here. What music preferences do you have?"

Kaden rubbed his chin in thought. "Well...I met this Dabo Girl who used to work for Quark's on Deep Space Nine during my travels. She said they had some really classy holosuite program that was really popular with the folks there. Classy like Frank Sinatra or Vic Fontane that kind of stuff." He listened to the woman singing. "Like her."

"I'm going to pretend like I know those names." Vira chuckled, glad Kaden approved of the woman singing.

"You know I may dock it from your paycheck for making me feel old, Vira." Kaden teased before taking a drink of his cocktail. "Need anything to drink?"

Freya smiled as she watched the exchange between Vira and Kaden, it was nice to see him settling into his role on board the Elysium.

"A bourbon, on the rocks please." The risian told Kaden before turning to Freya, "What do you think? I also have a sample of Klingon opera, oh!" Vira picked up another PADD and handed it to her, "I also found this Bajoran whose voice just does something to me! Just him and a guitar," Vira swooned.

“I’m not really very good at choosing music, we all have our own tastes” Freya grinned. “The Bajoran sounds interesting though.”

Kaden put her drink together and set it before Vira before coming around and taking an empty stool next to Freya. "Vira, keep in mind I don't want the Arcadia to be some Honky Tonk we need some class. Read up on clubs and bars of Earth in the 1920s thru 1940s."

Vira smiled as she accepted the drink, lifting and taking a sip. "I can totally do classy, don't you fret." She winked then added, "How's the menu coming?"

"Slow, got any ideas for who should run the kitchen?" Kaden asked taking a drink.

"I've had more than a few inquiries, but to be honest, I'm searching for someone who isn't into experimenting with their dishes. Oh and Klingon and Cardassian food is a no-go." Vira shivered to wonder how anyone could consume something that was still ALIVE. "I hope you don't mind but I send word to my homeworld of the job openings."

Kaden raised his glass. "It's your ass, Vira." He teased again finishing his cocktail. "But do what you need to do we lots to hire before even doing a grand opening."

"Good thing it's a nice ass." Vira muttered as she laughed, "And yes, lots to do! I'm holding interviews in here in a couple of days, I hope you don't mind but I'll be testing the skills of every bartender that interviews."

Kaden leaned back slightly looking Vira over it was a nice ass but Freya had a nicer ass honestly he was a boobs guy though he wasn't going to tell Vira that. Instead, he shrugged sat up went over behind the bar, and put his empty glass in the replicator. "And I need the best I want every person to come to Deck 4 cause this is the place to be on this flying space station. So don't let me down or you will be the shortest General Manager ever." He grinned slightly.

"Shortest?" Vira laughed, she thought she knew what he meant but narrowed her eyes playfully. She enjoyed a challenge.

Kaden set out two fresh glasses and began to make each lady a drink. "Here, try this ... something I been working on." He did his usual show for them putting together his creation before setting their glasses for them.

Freya picked up her drink, she sipped a little before nodding. “Mmm, that’s pretty good. Quite fruity.”

"Is it too much?" Kaden asked.

“Just about right for me” Freya smiled. “But then I do have a sweet tooth”

"What about you, Kid, got a sweet tooth, or does it need more work?" Kaden asked Vira.

Vira sipped hers, letting the flavors coat and tingle her tongue before taking another sip. "It's like sunshine in a glass."

"Sunshine in a glass?" Kaden raised an eyebrow. "Guess that means it is good?"

Vira laughed and nodded her head, "Yes, it's good!" She took another generous sip.

Kaden pulled out his PADD. "Great, one down...a ton to go." He paused to think for a moment. "Sunshine...hmmm." The bartender eyed Vira for a moment. "Vira, what sort of drinks do you like?"

Vira snorted, "Anything with alcohol," she joked then added, "Lately its been whiskey on the rocks, but depending on my mood I love a good frozen margarita."

Kaden made a few notes in his PADD. "I'll see what sort of ideas I can come up with. In the meantime make sure you use replicated crap for your tryouts, Vira. The real stuff is for our paying customers only and it takes a while to get a new supply out here."

"Yeah yeah yeah," Vira waved off Kaden's concerns.

Kaden raised an eyebrow grumbling a bit under his breath he hoped Vira would take his concerns seriously. He had quite a few encounters with patrons in the past that hated not having the real thing. Vira was a good kid just she seemed to always make Kaden worry at times she wasn't taking the job he gave her seriously. Running a bar was a pain in the ass and despite the slight locking of horns, the two had on their first meeting Kaden liked her passion.

Kaden wanted to say something but thought against it instead he focused on cleaning up the bar a little pointing to a set of bottles off to the side. "There is the stuff for you test out your candidates hope they can make a damn good drink. Last I need is to worry about riots breaking out cause they can't pour a damn beer from the tap or something."

"That is something none of us want, trust me. My friend from back home should arrive soon. I have zero doubts about his skill. As far as new hires, I like to see some experience but as long as it doesn't come with bad habits, like eyeing a pour, until i'm confident in their measuring skills everyone is using a jigger. The last thing I want to worry about is inventory loss." Vira stated adamantly.

"Agreed, till we know what we got making them use jiggers is a smart move. But I am curious to meet this friend of yours if he is as skillful you say he is I want to see for myself, understood?"

Vira held up a finger to correct Kaden with a sly smile, "I said I had no doubt in his skill, he'll for sure meet out requirements but skillful might be a bit too generous."

"Yeah? Well just as long as he is can make a good drink you got nothing to worry about." Kaden replied heading back to his lab of wonders.

Vira simply shook her head with a smile as she immersed herself in the PaDDs of potential musicians, cooks, and barkeeps.