The Presentation of Fruit

Posted on Fri Oct 22nd, 2021 @ 4:36am by Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea]

Mission: Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: Jessica/Man'darr's Quarters
Timeline: MD 01 1800 Hours
922 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Jess finished moving Man'darr's things into her more spacious quarters. She took the opportunity to move him in while he was busy getting promoted, and she was busy setting the table for dinner. With a few choice Betazoid, Human, and Capellan dishes. But there was one thing on the Dinner Table. It was an orange. An offering of fruit.

Jess finally finished properly maintaining Man'darr's weapon collection when he came in. "Welcome Home, Chief Man'darr." She mentioned as he walked into the room.

Man'darr had been expecting to have dinner with Jess but he was surprised when he saw his things, including his weapon collection in her quarters. "Hello Imzadi," he greeted. "What is going on?" he approached her, before giving her a kiss.

"The next step, Imzadi." Jessica noted. She presented him with a piece of fruit.

"Normally, my cousin or brother is supposed to attack you when I present a symbol of my love to you. But you and I don't have cousins or brothers here to stop us." Jess noted. "I told you. My home was going to be yours now. I love you, Jarhead."

Man'darr grinned as he recalled the tradition of his people of offering fruit. Like Jess had said, neither of them had family around but the thought meant alot to him. "Thank you," he said sincerely, "and I love you too. Something smells delicious. Did you make dinner as well?"

Jess nodded. "Medara bluefish. Capellan Shira eel. Earth crabcakes, just the way I got them when I went to Boston with my Dad. And some Capellan and Earth Vegetables."

"You are an amazing woman," he complimented her, approaching the table to look at the food before turning back to her. "You didn't need to do all of this. Your love is all I want."

Jess spoke. "Oh this? It's a celebration of you moving in, which is my idea, and you getting promoted." Jess smiled. "And apparently he also promoted Sergeant Gami too, we'll see how long she keeps those stripes, as I hear her reputation for punching is... infamous."

Man'darr laughed. "Gami is a good Marine and warrior. But has a tendency to act first and think later. Reminds me of a certain beautiful starfighter pilot that I know," he looked at her. "So...what's for dissert?" he smirked mischievously.

"Only when people higher up the chain of command make dumb decisions. But I might have something for desert, Leatherneck. But that's a surprise." Jess noted.

"I can't wait," he grinned at her before pulling a chair out and gesturing for her to sit.

Jess begins to speak. "I have a gift for you. Something I found in the old hanger of my home."

"Oh? What is it?" he asked, feeling a bit embarrassed with all that Jess had done for him so far. He would have to be sure to make it up to her somehow.

She presented him with an old record with the BBC Label. "It's a newsreel." Jess mentioned. It had this on it." Jess pushes a button

'..... and many old and famous state have indeed fallen under the grip of the gestapo, and all the odius apparatus of the nazi... rule.. We shall not flag or falter.... we will go on till the end!.... we shall fight on the beaches... We shall fight on the .... grounds...'

"Who is this? The speech is familiar...I may have seen it in a museum while on Earth."

"I've found this hidden in the RAF airfield nearby my home. It appeared it was important enough to hide for centuries in a locker at the base." Jess noted. "My homeland on Earth, centuries ago, once resisted people not to dissimilar to what we fought recently. This was said by the british leader in defiance of the tyrant his nation was fighting. "

'.... we will never surrender!'

"He seems to have been a brave leader," Man'darr complimented. "You are alot like him."

"You give me too much credit. It was this crew that took their ship back. I just gave them all a good kick in the ass to get motivated." Jess noted.

"Which is what a good leader does when it's needed," he said, taking her hand into his. "You are a brave woman, Jess. Among the bravest of this crew. Come, and let us eat."

Jess smiled and moved quickly toward the reproduction of a Jukebox she had. Pushing a few buttons, a song started to sing. 'Take my breath away' - Berlin. She began to munch on the food while watching Man'darr.

"So dinner and a romantic song?" he asked, grinning before taking a bite of his food. "This song...it sounds familiar."

"Romantic movie with fighter pilots. You'll see it soon tonight." Jess smiled.

"Ah, I should have guessed it involved fighter pilots," he chuckled before taking another bite.

Several minutes passed and Man'darr had finished the food on his plate. "That was very good," he complimented Jess.

"Thank you, and I couldn't find a Marine Romance. Not as good as the one we're going to watch." Jess stood. "So.. This is what we're going to do..." She grabbed his hands. "We're going to sit on our couch, cuddle each other., and watch a movie until we fall asleep. As I said, welcome home, Lover."

"Sounds good to me," he said before suddenly lifting Jess up into his arms and carrying her over to the nearby sofa, placing her down gently before sitting down next to her.

End