Star Trek: Starbase 777

The foodcarts were located in a grassy area, parked in a semi-circle with so many options to choose from! There is much room for people to mill about, lay blankets down to sit on, bring camping chairs or things of that nature. There are carts from Federation and Non-Federation planets (whatever you want, dear reader). Each food cart has napkins, utensils, cups, and containers that are patterned with pride flag colors or encouraging messages about being onself, and many were giving out wristbands or mini flags to their customers. The food is delicious and all vendors have water available to guests!

Rakim rocked up quietly. Food his first port of call in his uniform and his bi head wrap he'd affected in a slight and temporary departure from what regulations mandated. The scent of food a siren's call despite the fact he'd baked yet more scones in his last break,stress relieved through the act of movement and formation, through the step by step process that ended with a finished scone. The taste he sometimes argued better when made with ones own hands after all. A fact that failed to stop his stomach as it hungrily murmured its audible displeasure at him as he moved at all. If anything it happened to make the feeling worse. Worse enough that, as he beelined toward a array of displayed baked goods in pride colours, he did so without the hesitation that dogged him at over events. Yes there were people around and it was outside of work but he didn't sneak as he approached. He walked calmly. A nice change from that meeting, his mind noted. "Hello, two cookies please." He'd requested then once he'd reached the front of the queue.

Vanik had been milling about for some time and had also decided to try one of the baked goods. He was idly wondering if perhaps they were as good as Allan’s when he stopped next to a man in a Starfleet uniform and a Bi Flag head wrap. “Greetings, Commander. Your accessory is…nice.” He nodded and then ordered a matcha lemon cookie from the stand Rakim was at, and took it when it was handed to him. “What flavor did you get?”

Chocolate brown eyes flicked to focus on the Ensign as they approached, hands clasping the cookies as he stepped aside. Allowed others more space to queue. "Greetings, thank you for the compliment, its been a while since I got it out." The words filled with a meaning he declined to verbally expand on as he instead looked to the cookies. "I've not tried them yet but I believe it said one is chocolate chip and the other is red velvet." The El-Aurian indicated. Indicated before, after a moment, he awkwardly added. "I admittedly purchased without looking at the price." Rakim's words followed by a soft chuckle at that as he asked. "What did you get, if you don't mind my asking?"

Diahjir had arrived at the food carts! Feeling just a little out of place -- mostly because he was not much of a fan of large groups. He had to admit, he had a bit of an ulterior motive for going -- that being the fact that he could be needed there for medical related reasons. He was wearing something rather understated, nothing too out of the ordinary for him -- other than the bright rainbow vest with fringethat he was wearing over a white short sleeved button down. He knew he did not need to worry, but still, worrying was what he did. That was what brought him to the food carts, grabbing something small -- a bao bun pork belly taco, he stood at the edge of everything, just taking in the scenery.

“You are welcome. It is…nice that there is an occasion to bring it out.” He nodded and offered an impassive expression to Rakim, though he was paying him rapt attention. “I have enjoyed chocolate, when it is prepared Vulcan-safe. Those flavors sound intriguing. Mine is matcha lemonade. It is a cookie flavored with matcha, and I believe lemon zest. It also has white chocolate chips.” Vanik noticed a man just a bit of a ways off, carrying a savory looking treat and offered a ta’al in his direction. He seemed familiar, like maybe Vanik had met him on an away mission or passed him by in a hallway briefly before.

Eyes remained fixed on the ensign for the most part, a flickered glance at the one stood at the edge of everything one that passed quickly back to being focused in on Vanik. The Ensigns words ones he smiled politely at. "It is, I agree." Appreciative of the Ensigns choice of words, conscious at the fact they happened to be a Vulcan and had happened to still choose such words. "I thought it appropriate to wear, though I admit I am unsure if full uniform was the best choice for me." He'd continued then as he'd glanced to the crumbs he'd already gotten on it and carefully brushed them off. "I've a tendancy to get cookie crumbs everywhere." The addition followed by a moment of contemplative silence as his eyes glanced down at their words to his cookies once more. "The red velvet one is certainly a flavour I don't regularly see in a cookie form." Rakim had allowed then as he'd bit into said cookie, hunger's demands something he elected to not ignore any further. "Your cookie's flavour does also sound agreeable, though I've admittedly never tried that flavour myself."

"I think that is the nature of cookies." Vanik nodded and his brows furrowed very slightly. "It has been my experience, eating many of them recently. I also have not witnessed red velvet cookies before... I am not partial to red velvet flavored things, but I find it fascinating that one dessert can be made into another. It is fascinating how many flavor combinations there are, and how they can be utilized different ways. It is very creative. Do you bake things?" He raised a pointy, curious Vulcan eyebrow, not realizing he had spoken to this person in the chatroom about their baked goods before.

"I agree, does seem to be." Rakim agreed as he thoughtfully hummed and looked down at the two cookies he had once more. Looked down at them and once again headed the demands of hunger and indulged in another bite of cookie. "It is.. and I do, baking's somewhat of a past time for me during off duty periods where I've nothing else planned." The El-Aurian then responded. His eyes had then flicked to the cookies and other goods on display again. "Its a hobby I've engaged in on and off for a good few years now, though I admit I've not actually baked a lot of cookies." That admission met with a nodded gesture over toward a selection of cakes. "I've always been more of a cake and a scone person, though even with those its always fascinated me how many flavour combinations there are." His tone thoughtful as he considered the food and with a effort ignored another stomach rumbled declaration he still wasn't satisfied. "I've been around for.. a while and I've still yet to fully plump the depths of knowledge on the subject."

Vanik made a very slight nod. "Cake and scones are pleasant tasting pastries. Often Terran in influence. I have seen much talk of cake and scones in the chatroom. It seems many occupants on this starbase make those desserts. I do believe I may have seen you at one of Lieutenant Allen's baking events in his quarters, perhaps? I believe I was going and you were arriving." Vanik's voice was impassive but he was curious. "I can understand why one would not be able to harness all knowledge of baking. It is essentially the knowledge of chemistry, which is vast."