Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Mar 31, 2021 11:54:20 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - Corridor to CO's Quarters] Jov nodded as she listened, suddenly thankful that they'd needed to replicate most of the ingredients - travit included. Anything from Romulus was difficult to find in Federation space... and this far away from the Neutral Zone, it was almost impossible to get shipments in any decent time. She gathered the ingredients needed for the baste, and slid them towards the bowl, letting her mother continue her conversation. "Traditional Betazed food has very little meat in it... really only seafood. But that's because our empathy extends to animals, as well. It's difficult to hunt when you can feel the terror you're causing. We have no qualms with eating meat if it's replicated, or someone else killed it." Fish and shellfish didn't have the same range, or strength, of emotions as mammals and avians. Devra turned her attention to the ingredients her daughter slid over, and shifted once more back into to teaching. She described each one as she added it to the bowl - measurements not necessary, as Romulans tended to cook according to personal taste, rather than strict recipes - then stood back to let Judy or Max stir them together until it reached the consistency they desired.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Mar 31, 2021 20:16:17 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) & Max Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]Judy nodded, fully understanding Devra's explanation of the Betazoid approach to meat. Her mind drifted in the general direction of what it was like to effectively hunt sentient beings - as was the essence of war - but she put that topic aside. The couple went to wash their hands of the blood as Devra added the spices, and Judy retrieved a large wooden spoon. The topic of spices was more interesting. "Is not using exact measurements a personal preference for you, or a cultural thing?" Max asked, resting his clean - if slightly cold - hands on Judy's shoulders as she stirred. "He's asking because he hates exact measures. Seasoning is a matter of taste, not of science," she added. "I had to teach her that."Judy, as an engineer, thrived on exactness. Flexible measurements, like most forms of flexibility in her life, was something she'd mastered thanks to her husband.
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 1, 2021 2:56:17 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - Corridor to CO's Quarters] Jovireh and Devra followed suit in washing their hands once the seasoning was added. Devra glanced over at Max with a grin. "Both. I've always preferred adding a flare of creativity to my cooking. But it's also very rare to find a recipe for authentic Romulan cuisine that has exact measurements. They're far more concerned about what goes into a meal, rather than how much of it there is." Of course, there was a lot more involved culturally, such as certain spices being more expensive and thus a show of prestige if used liberally. But she had barely been able to scratch the surface of that aspect, so she didn't feel qualified to include it in this particular lesson. "I've always believed it's one of their passive-aggressive ways of differentiating themselves from Vulcans," Jovireh chimed in with a grin as she dried her hands. Her father had made a few comments over the years expressing his... not exactly dislike for Vulcans, but a definite dislike in being assumed to be similar. He was always adamant that pointed ears and green blood was absolutely all the two species had in common, and it was insulting to insinuate otherwise. Personally, Jovireh liked most of the Vulcans she had met. Their cool stoicism was a refreshing change from her own chaotic emotions, and she appreciated their intelligence and logical viewpoints. But she definitely understood not wanting to be mistaken for being half Vulcan, the same way she didn't like being mistaken for being half Human. It had nothing to do with her opinions about the species, and everything to do with embracing who she was.
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 1, 2021 4:51:16 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) & Max Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]"I'd think just using seasoning is difference aplenty from Vulcans," Max quipped. Spices were highly illogical, and thus rare among Vulcans. "I did have the opportunity to work with Romulans and Vulcans at the same time during the war, when we were developing countermeasures for the Breen energy weapon," Judy commented, on a less whimsical note. "It was a bit like watching... estranged relatives. In fact, I think the one-upmanship really motivated them to work harder."Judy was not among those who believed reunification was possible, or even a good idea, but she did see a path to reconciliation.
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 3, 2021 4:31:33 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - Corridor to CO's Quarters] "And meat," Jov added to Max's assessment with another grin, reaching for her glass and taking a sip. Devra's expression was a blend of impressed amusement at Judy's anecdote. "I can only imagine the tension in that room on the first day," she commented simply. Depending on the specific individuals, the tension may or not have extended throughout the project. But the first day was undoubtedly awkward, regardless of the personalities and viewpoints of the Romulan and Vulcan involved.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 3, 2021 18:31:17 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) & Max Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]"Oh, the tension was even deeper than that. There were Klingons in the room as well," Judy remarked. "It reads like the start of a bad joke.""You all made it work, though," Max reminded. "That we did."Max's gaze wandered briefly to the cabinet with Judy's medals, including the Engineering Medal of Merit she had earned for her contribution to that particular project. The war was a difficult period for the couple, as they endured a prolonged separation while she served on the front lines, but he looked back with pride at her service.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 5, 2021 15:59:47 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - CO's Quarters] Jovireh's eyebrows lifted in surprise at the revelation of Klingons being added to the mix on that particular project. "They certainly didn't make it easy for you," she replied with a grin, taking another sip before setting her glass down once more. "Almost sounds like some sort of xenosocial experiment," Devra agreed with a smile of her own before looking at the bowl of the stirred baste. "Alright, now we just coat the meat with the baste - as thick as you want it for taste, and we can use a brush for this part." Then it would go in the oven, and they could throw together the side dishes.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 6, 2021 1:20:56 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), Max Williams & Anna E. Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]"Let's be generous with it," Judy suggested, as she retrieved a brush. Max moved towards the oven, about to suggest pre-heating it, when into the room came the couple's youngest daughter. Elegant in jeans and a knitted lavender-colored sweater, Anna clearly wanted to impress her parents' guests. "I hope I'm not interrupting," the young woman said politely. "Not at all, not at all. Jovireh, Devra, this is our daughter, Anna. I think I've mentioned her before," Judy properly introduced the teenager, as she brushed on the baste.
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 7, 2021 8:47:16 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - CO's Quarters] As Max moved towards the oven, Devra gave him a nod, having been about to suggest preheating it as well. "230," she told him the temperature simply, before turning to greet the new arrival with a bright smile. "Not at all! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Jovireh just gave the girl a small wave of greeting as she was introduced, not wanting to repeat the same sentiment for a third time. She'd seen Anna around the station a few times, but didn't recall them ever talking before. That was a frequent occurrence in her line of work. Jov knew a lot of faces, very few names.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 7, 2021 20:56:03 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams), Max Williams & Anna E. Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]Max set the oven to the correct temperature. It was a bit high, but different dishes required different oven temperatures. "Mom told me about you both - only good things," Anna said. "That I did," Judy confirmed, as she and Max put the meat into the oven. "Well, I have homework to do. Call me when dinner's ready."With that, the teen went back to her bedroom, leaving the adults to their business. "Judy was 50 when we had Anna, which is about the oldest a human mother can be," Max shared. He was evidently quite proud, not of his wife's fertility per se, but of the improbable family they'd built. "Most of her classmates' moms are about young enough to be our kids, which is actually oddly rejuvenating."This was an intimate fact of the couple's lives, but hardly a secret. Judy clearly didn't carry on like an average sexagenarian.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 8, 2021 22:07:14 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - CO's Quarters] Jovireh gave Anna a friendly smile before she left the room again. The girl didn't have the typical reaction most teenagers did being around someone who was in security - deer in the headlights or instant belligerence. It was amusing when she received such reactions even when off duty. Anna's comfort around their guests she assumed to be a product of being the Captain's daughter. Both the protection it offered, as well as the frequency of having guests in their home. "Oh goodness, I can't imagine raising a teenager now," Devra replied with a small laugh, knowing she was relatively the same age as the couple. "It was difficult enough keeping up with you when I was in my forties," she teased her daughter, who seemed completely unfazed by it.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 9, 2021 0:53:55 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) & Max Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]"Being old has its benefits, even as a parent. I don't have the energy for screaming matches, so I just don't scream," Judy explained. "It's not always easy, but for our children, we find all the stamina that we need," Max added, smiling broadly. "I will say, she and her brother Thomas really kept us in shape long enough to keep up with the grandkids, which is no small feat."This went for both physical shape - Devra had seen Judy's fit form in workout clothes not so long ago - and the emotional nimbleness that made them good hosts, and made Judy an effective Captain.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 10, 2021 2:06:32 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - CO's Quarters] "Did you and Father ever consider having more kids?" Jov asked Devra curiously, beginning to apply the baste to her own tavrit. Devra picked up her glass with a whimsical sigh and took a drink. "Oh... We talked about it. But we were happy with you, and our work was taking up more and more of our time... So we decided to content ourselves with a future of grandkids." The last comment was spoken with a teasing grin. "No." Jov replied simply, to which her mother just laughed. "You say that now, but there's still plenty of time." At that, Jovireh simply rolled her eyes - receiving another laugh from her mother - and handed her the basting brush.
Tag Judith Eastman
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Judith Eastman
Civilian
Grandma
Posts: 2,593 Likes: 84
Rank: Civilian/other
Position: Civil Servant
Species: Human
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Post by Judith Eastman on Apr 10, 2021 4:31:54 GMT
[Capt. Judith Eastman(-Williams) & Max Williams - Commanding Officer's Quarters]"Everyone says they won't have children... until they have children," Max pointed out, though with joking undertones. "Heck, Lawrence was adamant for many years that he would never, ever, ever give me grandchildren, and now, if nothing goes wrong, he'll give me five," Judy added, using a somewhat extreme example. "And sometimes, it's just a matter of finding the right person to make children with. It really does take two, and not just to tango."As if the words didn't make it sufficiently clear to whom he referred, the man playfully ruffled his wife's hair.
Tag Jovireh Velal
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Jovireh Velal
Security & Tactical
[TI18]
Posts: 2,609 Likes: 55
Rank: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Position: Chief of Security/Tactical
Species: Betazoid/Romulan
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Post by Jovireh Velal on Apr 10, 2021 6:05:19 GMT
[PO2 Jovireh Velal / Devra Kul - Front Ear - CO's Quarters] Jovireh scoffed in mock disbelief at the team up. "I should have known you'd take her side!" she declared, but her tone and expression were still lighthearted. Devra smirked. "If you had a child, you'd understand." She spoke in a sing-song voice as she applied the baste to the final steak. Jovireh tried to ignore her by taking another drink.
Tag Judith Eastman
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