Crew Quarters

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

He looked a substantial spread she had laid out. It surprised him that she had chosen an Earth style cuisine. He didn't know if it had been in deference to him or was this something she had done normally. "I like the menu," He smiled. "But it surprises me. I'd also heard something about Romulans eating their food in sections."

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

She nodded, “Normally if I was on the home world we would have done it that way, but since you are my guest in my home I decided to adapt to your needs. Plus I have gotten use to eating more human since being bonded to one for as long as I was. It was just … he wasn’t able to see his children be born.” Looking at the meal she sighed then looked at him. “Well, eat. There is no use in you starving yourself just for the sake of being curious.”

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

Andy had his own peculiar habits about eating. He put it up to his melding with Winter, but he would not touch any food including the 'finger' variety. He carefully cut up his steak into small pieces then got a small bowl and poured steak sauce in it. He dipped a piece of steak in the bowl then ate it. "Very good," He smiled. "My compliments to the replicator."

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

Once she was satisfied he was eating she started eating herself enjoying the meal despite herself. She one to adapt and so he seemed to be as well, “I will tell the replicator the next time that I visit it that you send your complements to its programming processors for preparing the meal, and you do know the significant of sharing a meal with a Romulan?” She was testing him seeing if he knew more then what he was leading on or if he was indeed just being a human and curious about the world around him.

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

He paused for a moment then began to eat again as if pausing would help him think of an answer he didn't have. "I'm not sure, I would guess because Romulans by nature are private people. So for them to invite you into their home is a sign of respect."

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

She nodded, “ A sign of respect and trust to be invited into the personal space of a Romulan without them having guards or having their personal affects hidden, and to share a meal with them means they consider you to be like family. Or in my case it could just mean I wanted you to eat as I am accustom to breaking with tradition in this matter. For the sake of diplomacy.” She then smiled a bit continuing on with the meal as she saw fit to eat it. Mostly though she picked at it as it was her normal not to eat much even when it was meal time.

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

He stopped for a moment and took a drink. Since I've only met one Romulan, would you consider yourself a nonconformist? He at a piece of the vegetables.

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

She regarded his question for a few moments before taking a drink then speaking to him, Yes I would say that about myself. Considering how much time I’ve spent away from the homeworld. Not to mention my mate was human, and he looked a lot like you. She smiled a little bit, I think he would be pleased with your presence here as well, because you’ve manage to get me to eat without a verbal sparring match or a physical confrontation.

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

So I take it you don't consider yourself a heavy eater? He watched her as she picked at the food more than ate.

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

“Normally I am so duty bound and involved in my work I don’t take the time to eat and have to be forcibly reminded to do so.” She had to laugh a little he was asking her shadows of the same questions her mate use to. “You have no idea…well how lucky you are right now. No one normally gets this close to me. Even Testra when he guarded me kept his distance.”

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

Well in his honor, I"ll have to make it a habit to have dinner with you. He smiled. Someone will have to make sure you don't starve yourself. Seriously, we have that in common. Since my mate died, I have kept most at arms length. The exception being Charlie. We have a tradition between 'sons of the south' He lets out a slight chuckle. "We have our traditional 'mint julep' on the first official day of spring on Earth and the last day of summer. Its silly, but when I first came aboard he was one of my first friends and still is."

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

She smiled a bit, “Traditions are not at all silly. They’re a time to bond with people who we grow close to either through blood ties or through emotional ones. Despite roomers to the contrary family and friends are very important to Romulans. It’s why we serve.” She considered his comment about dinner on nightly bases and nodded “I think I can agree to that. Perhaps in speaking fondly of our mates we can find a way together to honor their memory.”

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

"Yes," Andy agreed. "And maybe we can polish our social skills while we are ta it. At least, I think mine can use some work." He worked on this plate noticing how at ease the former diplomat was. He wasn't sure if it was because of the similarities to her mate or the fact that she was very good at her job, but he found he liked it.

[Lt. Mnheia Koval]

She thought a second on it and then laughed lightly at the comment, “Yes perhaps that would have been a good idea about a year ago when mine were repairable. I think at this point people just expect me to be a tad bit grumpy. However, if you wish we can possibly work on yours, even though I don’t see where they are in need of repair.” That was her way of saying he was free to be himself around her and that she found his company not to be offensive in the least.

[Lt Colonel Andrew Shackleford]

"Its just the Marine in me ma'am." He laughed also. "Its in the training. 'See hill, charge hill, take hill.' There very little room from deviation from that. Don't worry though, I haven't seen that grumpy exterior yet."