777: Additional RP Server - laikan︱xixu-fusion-foods

She walked into the restaurant, still wearing that raggedy old jacket she had since she was 18. It had been a while since she'd been back to Andoria, not since her mandated leave after the war did she return. In fact, this was probably the first time she voluntarily chose to go on shore leave. A weird change in habit perhaps, or a sign of something new. She quickly took a seat at a table, located near the kitchen. Aquariums littered the place, and screens went on playing what looked to be a boy band or something. It was... colorful to say the least.

Bright and perky, Selena was always the first to greet customers upon entering the restaurant. She had a tall glass of chilled water as she noticed this customer was Andorian. For non-Andorian or Aenar guests she would bring warm water, but for those who were cold-loving people she was happy to bring them the icey water. She placed the cup on the table and greeted the stranger with a friendly wave. "Hey there," Selena said, speaking loudly so she could be heard over the music. There was indeed a boy band playing on the screens, the latest and greatest Reman band called 'Rock Stars'. Andorians weren't bald, but they had a lot in common with the grey cold-loving species that historically lived in caves. "What can I get ya?" She asked, antenna bobbing along to the beat of the music.

"Oh, hello." She paused for a moment, her hand quickly flipping through the menu. "Hmmm, I swear i saw it... Ah. I'll have some traditional Andorian noodles with... that korean vegatable thing. Kimsee was it? Oh, and a glass of tea." She looked up towards Selena, handing over the menu. "That'll be all from me, I take it you're one of the chefs?", she asked, considering her outfit.

"Lovely choices, the andorian noodles are our specialty," Selena said with a cheerful smile, her antennae still bobbling as she spoke. She noticed she had never seen this customer before, maybe a visitor from out of town? She would have surely recognised that fluffy hair. "I sure am! Head chef, indeed!" She said with a bit of a regional accent. "The name's Selena Sh'hrass, but please just call me Selena, dear. I don't think I've ever seen you around, are you visiting?"

"Yaveru." She paused for a minute. "Sh'hraas, is it? Huh. I'm Zh'hraas." *She chuckled lightly, what a coincidence hmm? Though, she feeling even more awkward. "No, I'm on shore leave. Starfleet officer". She smiled weakly, fidgeting with her hands slightly. Her antenna swayed slightly, the other not having fully healed, despite months having passed already. Yaveru felt a tad out of place, even on a world full of her own, and she wore that expression on her face clearly.

"Nice to meet you, Yaveru," Selena said with a warm sing-song like tone. Her voice was soft, yet confident with great projection. One would think she was a vocalist herself, but she was just a chef. Sometimes she did sing for her customers, but not when there was already music playing in the background. She readjusted her bun and glanced at the kitchen area for a moment. "Starfleet, huh? Well I hope you are enjoying your break! I'll be right out with your drinks, so just hang on tight dear!" As much as Selena wanted to talk, she didn't want this nice officer to have to wait too long for her food. Selena headed back towards the kitchen and grabbed the kimchi! The kimchi was of Andorian origin, despite its Standard name. Fermented Xixu (hence the name of the restaurant) mixed with ground Vithi powder to give the Xixu that spicy kick! The noodles were cooked in bioling water. Hand-pulled at the restaurarnt by Selena herself, and cooked to order. She sampled a noodle to ensure it had the perfect bouncy consistency before straining the noodles and placing them over ice to cool them down. Once the noodles were cooled, the Andorian Kimchi was added, along with some of the noodle water. The recipe was traditional, for sure, with a modern twist! Selena added a few more ice cubes to make sure everything was thoroughly cool. Selena swished the noodles and the kimchi in the metal bowl, making sure all the flavour of the hanar-based noodles mixed with the kimchi. Once that was done, she grabbed a giant fork and carefully spun the noodles into the bowl, making it a very neat swirl shape! Inside of the swirl, she added some garnishes Skopar with a Shaysha (type of green andorian beetle) on top. The noodles came with a side of Sohla t'pocowan, a type of Andorian bread made with vegetables. A healtheir (and low carb) alternative to their andorian spice bread and a great compliment to the noodles. divider

15:21

With the food prepared, all that was left was the tea! Selena grabbed the pitcher of premade tea and poured it into a cup, with ice cubes! She soon reappeared and brought the food out to kind Starfleet officer. "Here you are, Yaveru!" Selena placed the bowl and cup of tea in front of Yaveru. The metal bowl was adorned with Andorian script swirling from the outside in. The noodles were grey, contrasting with the vivid green beetle in the centre. The bread was light brown in colour set on a small plate beside the bowl. Lastly, the tea was a brilliant Andorian-skin blue, with ice cubes clear as the Andorian waters. "The noodles are hand made by yours truly, the tea is also my own recipe. And oh the kimchi, completely locally made! It's our own blend!"

“Ah! Thank you.” Yaveru smiled, quickly digging into the meal. She seemed to eat with haste, probably out of hunger, probably because she found it appealing. Her antenna bobbed about, happily swinging about as the flavor. “This is really good. I take it you’ve been at this for a while?”

"I have for sure. This place is my passion and I enjoy meeting new people!" Selena said, giggling when she saw how Yaveru's antennae bobbled about much similar to how her own moved. "In fact, I met my wife here. She's a violinist, half Trill, half Vulcan-- ah similar to you. Well at least I think you're part Trill? I have been there, it's a lovely planet, really. They got some friendly folks who are itching to try some Andorian food from what I gathered during my short pop-up cafe."

“Oh. Actually, I also play violin.” She muttered a bit, before moving quickly away from the topic. “Erm- you’ve been to Trill? I heard some good things about from a colleague of mine. How did you find the food there then? As a chef and all.” Yaveru was trying to keep a conversation going. Admittedly sometimes she would be lost as to what to say, but questions were also something good to come back to. This chef was oddly chipper, and very kind. It was something Yaveru admired, something she wanted to have.

"Oh what a coincidence!" Selena said with a wide eyed expression. "Yes, I have, and the food was pretty good. I gotta say it was nice having a steaming hot meal," Selena said, referring to how many Andorian cuisines featured cold dishes. It wasn't that they didn't have hot dishes, they definitely did, but she found the cold dishes to be much tastier. Trill had some warm-weather plants that Andoria would be unable to sustain. "Have you been? You are part Trill, right?"

“No actually, I’ve never been to Trill. I guess…. I just never got around to it.” Yaveru smiled, attempting to steer away from the topic. Compared to her Andorian heritage, she wasn’t as proud of her Trill one, but that’s a story for a different time. “I’ve only been to Andoria one time before this I think, different city though I can’t seem to recall it’s name. Mostly I’ve been on Earth. Speaking of which, are you half-human? Cause… y’know.” Yaveru pointed towards her own hair.

"Oh you should if you get the chance!" Selena said, not catching the topic made Yaveru uncomfortable, but she wouldn't push it. "Yes I am half human!" Selena's antennae perked up. "Say, what was your last name again? I know you just told me but it suddenly slipped my mind!"

“Zh’hraas. Yaveru Zh’hrass.” She chuckled, trying to imitate James Bond. It didn’t sound anything like him, but oh well. Yaveru continued to eat her meal, looking up as she did, awaiting Selena’s reply.

"Oh! That sounds like mine -- Sh'raas. How interesting! I knew you looked kinda familiar. Not that I knew you but I could sense there was something connecting us," Selena said with a shrug and a laugh. Whethe or not they were actually family was to be determined, but the idea that more members of her family were gallavanting around the galaxy definitely put a smile on her face. "Do you know anything about how you family left Andoria? I've travelled around so I'm sure that my family has members who've also been just as adventerous as me! It's in our blood!"

“My family- well, my mother’s family left Andoria… can’t remember when but it was around the time the Federation formed. That’s all I can really say.” Yaveru had a face of subtle suprise. This was improbable, but she wasn’t exactly sad about it. In reality she should feel happier about it, much like Selena was, but instead she felt muted slightly, as if something within her couldn’t really bring a smile or an expression when it really mattered. “I don’t really count Starship assignments as travelling, so really I’ve only been to 3 planets. Better start adventuring more eh?” She chuckled, a bit uneasy.

"Ohh!! That would make sense. Ohh I am not sure what that would make us, but we could be distantly related! Small world, really!" Selena said with a wide eyed expression and a laugh. "Then you GOT to meet my wife. She's not here right now, she's at orchestra practice. But if you are gonna be visiting a while you are more than welcome to come back and I'll make sure she's here!" Selena said with much enthusiasm.

She smiled back, responding in kind. The two talked for a little bit after. Time past, and soon they had to part ways. Yaveru went home, a lot on her mind. Selena seemed so happy, so lively, and yet lived a simple life. Yaveru was somewhat envious, but something else knawed on her concious. Something she’d had to figure out later. At the very least, she had a distant cousin, and what was not to like about that?