Temiyage Tea
Posted on Sun Mar 30th, 2025 @ 9:40am by Commander Mariko Tao & Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Edited on on Sun Mar 30th, 2025 @ 8:28pm
2,626 words; about a 13 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: The Quarters of Mariko Tao - Deck 4 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD012 1100 hrs
Siadra had just put the finishing touches on the small assortment of Japanese pastries. There were only six but they were nestled in a small wooden basket covered by an embroidered cloth which had cherry blossoms. "Computer, what is the location of Commander Tao?" once she found out where Commander Tao was Siadra will go there, and invite her to tea. Hopefully she will accept.
Mariko had been practising tai chi in her quarters. It could be tough, and it took all ones inner strength in both body and mind. A droplet of sweat rolled from her hairline down her temple and eventually dripped from her chin as her eyes opened. She had completed her final move and now a shower beckoned.
"Commander Tao is in her quarters." the computer replied to Siadra's request.
Getting her answer, Siadra gave pause for a moment, thought it over then decided to be polite instead of just showing up she sent a call. =^=Commander Tao, this is Lieutenant Molaur, may I stop by?=^= Siadra feeling the approval of her 'roomies'. still though she stepped out of her quarters to head on over to the commander's quarters.
Mariko preferred the older styled things in life, as such her shower was a water based one and not sonic. She felt a sonic shower took away the pleasure of water on your face and the warmth your whole body could feel and respond to as it hit the body. It was a simple pleasure right enough but one she thought made space travel more bearable. Stepping from the shower she was drying her hair with a towel when she heard a faint call on her badge. Looking for it quickly, and wondering where she'd put it, she soon spotted it resting on the small table next to the sofa.
=/\=Of course Lieutenant. I am just getting dressed. My door will let you in when you arrive.=/\= Mariko responded as the doors to the bedroom closed.
Mariko's quarters were an homage of sorts to her heritage but also mixed with the standard style of typical Starfleet ships. She had one sofa but only one and it was rarely used. Still it had a Japanese styled throw over it, one from her own world, and done as a leaving gift by one of their citizens and residents of the area her family 'ran'.
There was a small wooden table that had cushions around it. This is where Mariko would usually sit to have meals or tea. Also around the quarters were other Japanese themed objects and some things she'd picked up from her travels as a diplomats, usually gifts from dignitaries.
She had a bat'leth hanging over her desk, a gift from one of the Ambassadors who was trying to woo her whilst she was stationed there. He failed. Some gifts from the Mathadians, a new species she had met and introduced to her captain at the time. Then there were the Romulan gifts which she had debugged for listening devices upon receipt of them. Some were found but they were still quite nice pieces.
Siadra had added an assortment of tea to go with the Japanese pastries. She had been a few steps away from her own quarters when Keema had given her a little bit of a nudge about taking an assortment of teas as well. Just as what the Commander had stated, the door did open upon Siadra's arrival, the trill woman stepping inside. Her mouth opened in awe, as she perused the décor of Mariko's quarters.
"You have beautiful quarters, Commander" Siadra giving a warm smile.
Mariko watched as Siadra entered and took in the inside her inner sanctum so to speak. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Just a few things I've picked up over the years. Most of it from my time in the diplomatic corps, and some from home, Anbara-sei. Please come in." she walked over to the woman and welcomed her in properly. Her people were nothing if not good hosts. "Let me take that for you." she gestured to the basket.
Siadra had almost forgotten the gifts she had brought for Mariko having been admiring the quarters. "Oh yes, this is for you." smiling warmly as she held out the basket for Mariko to take. "I do hope you like this."
Mariko often thought that gifts came with hidden agendas. 'I'll give you this if you do this for me, deal with that'. She hadn't been on the ship long enough to suss everyone out yet but what better way to assess someone when their guard is let down and you are in your own space of comfort.
Just off the middle of the room there was a small table, lowered to the ground with no chairs to speak of. Thankfully the XO's quarters gave a lot more space than she'd previously been used to as just a department head. "You can take a seat by the window..." Mariko gestured to the sofa. "Or if you want, sit by the smaller table there. I don't mind which." she placed the basket on the table and opened it to see what was inside.
"What have you brought me Lieutenant? A bribe for a better duty shift?" she joked but delivered it deadpan and serious as was often her professional demeanour.
"I have brought a housewarming gift for you." Siadra began, "Inside that basket are a variety of teas. Matcha, genmaicha, ginseng, ginger, and some peppermint tea. There is also some pastries to go with them." a little chuckle from Siadra, "I do love teas and also I am not looking for a better duty shift. I am on the duty shift I am assigned to be on."
"Everyone is on the duty shift they are assigned to be one. That doesn't mean they cannot be changed or 'tweaked' by the one who makes them." Mariko smirked a little deviously. "However I will agree with you that I think there is nothing that can't be solved with a good cup of tea. Sobacha, is my favourite. Caffeine-free, nutty, earthy flavour. Nice soothing, relaxing tea." she moved to get a small old fashioned styled kettle and hotplate. She then moved to fill it up with some water from a tap she'd had installed in her small kitchenette within her quarters and walked back over to Siadra. "What would you like to drink and I'll pop some of the tea into the kettle to boil?"
"Oh that sounds lovely, Sobacha. I would like some of that please." Siora walking over and taking a seat at the lower table. She at first tried to be in the kneeling position, but since Siadra wasn't used to that, instead she opted for sitting on the floor with her legs bent at the knee and to one side.
"Well, I'll store the tea you've brought if you come over for another visit, thank you." Mariko took the tea and placed it within a small cupboard for a later date and took some of her Sobacha out. "This is from my planet so I'm hoping you like it. It's not everyone's taste." she placed some in the kettle and put in on to boil.
Noticing Siadra shift position on the floor Mariko smiled a little. "You can sit on the sofa if you want. I don't force anyone to sit on the floor like I do. It's just what I'm used to and try to keep some habits from home alive when I've been away for so long."
"This is quite alright, besides it wouldn't feel proper if I sat on the sofa. Aadru, had told me that when one isn't comfortable sitting formally, another proper way is how I am seating now, and I am finding it quite comfortable. I do thank you for your consideration though."
"As you wish." Mariko replied as the kettle began to whistle, her stove was quite efficient. In one of the upper cupboards she removed to tea cups and saucers, a teapot and some smaller bowls for sugar, milk etc. Placing the bowls on the small table, cups and saucers too, she smiled softly at the design of them. They were made on her own world and she was thankful the designs on them reminded her of home often when she was so far away.
Moving back to the stove she poured the tea into the teapot and brought it over to the table and knelt down with ease, graceful as someone who had done it many times before. "Would you like me to pour, or would you like to pour your own?" she asked before resting back on her legs.
"If you would pour please, Commander." Siadra could have poured her own but that would have been improper etiquette. By making the tea and allowing Siadra into her quarters, that made Mariko the hostess. It would have been rude for Siadra to have poured her own. Mariko pouring, friend to friend.
"Some people can be picky." Mariko replied. "Being a diplomat has always made me want to present an option before committing." she added as she poured into a small cup. "You mentioned Aadru, was that one of your Molaur's previous hosts?" she asked with interest.
"Yes he was, he was a historian, an antique dealer and a curator. He loved collecting historical pieces from different cultures. With permission of course. He wasn't one who liked having someone purloining objects that had a story to them. He had gone to Earth and ran a small museum there for a time plus ran a curio shop. It was something he loved quite a bit." Siadra having a fond smile at recounting this tale.
"What was their favourite piece?" Mariko asked as she knelt down in front of Siadra and took a sip of her tea. Trills held a fascination for her. All those lives lived but still able to gain a new perspective and the fact their personality changed after a joining was always interesting. Well, to some.
"There were several, and I have them with me, one in particular was a old puzzle piece jewelry box. It is made from teak wood, with iron hinges. And it is the size of a medium sized shoe box, ornately carved, bamboo plants near an oriental style home, and a curved bridge crossing a river. It is a work of art in my opinion." Siadra taking a sip of her tea.
"Sounds like an item worthy of collection." Mariko replied. "I am guessing from its make and design it is an Earth piece?" she asked peering over the cup she had taken up to her lips.
"Yes it is, 1905 from Japan. Such a lovely piece, one of my science team said that there was a piece of it missing, and will be replicating the part, in which I am hoping that something is revealed." a pause, "Would you like to be there when the final compartment is opened to the puzzle box?"
"If I have the time possibly." Mariko replied with a small smile and nod of her head. "A First Officers schedule can be tricky to manage, or so I'm finding." The transition from Chief Diplomatic Officer itself had been smooth but she had found being an XO needed more fine managing of one's time. "Do you like it here, on the Artemis I mean?"
Siadra took a sip of her tea before answering Mariko. "Yes I am liking being on this ship. I have found it to be stimulating in a good way. Such a variety of people here on the ship, new faces to find out about. Pieces of the tapestry of this ship. Rather colorful to be quite honest."
Mariko's face became thoughtful. Her time on the ship had been short and she was still getting to know people. It was somewhat ironic the life she'd chosen, being someone who's role was to speak and broker deals/treaties etc when she'd much rather sit alone in silence and enjoy the serenity of nothing. "The mission of this ship is not for everyone. The subject matter we can come into contact with will not be pleasant. I used to relish meeting new species, a first contact mission was often a dream for me. Now we chase murderers, war criminals and animals of all kinds... is this where you saw yourself?"
"I had worked in forensics when I graduated from the Academy, I do like it and I do know that I'll be dealing with the monsters out there. For us though, there is a reason for being here, there are two cold cases I am hoping to solve, that are very personal." Siadra taking a sip of her tea and frowning slightly.
"Surely as department head of the forensics science division if you were to re-open these cold cases, with the captains approval of course, you'd need the assistance of the investigatory departments on board this ship?" Mariko asked intrigued by the motive of the Trill.
"I will have to see if he will allow me to open up the cases. We shall see, hopefully I can convince him to let me investigate the deaths. Could it be considered my being too close to the investigation? " Siadra giving a bit of a shrug.
"If the two cases you are hoping to reopen are deeply personal as you say then I cannot think of you being anything but too close to them. I fail to see how you could be objective... though I don't know the circumstances of your personal association nor what cases you refer to." Mariko replied honestly. She never pried into things, feeling that if someone wanted to open up about a topic they would of their own accord and in fact it made them more willing to give more detail. That's what diplomacy was all about really, attention to that detail.
Siadra puffed out some air, as she thought over what Mariko had stated. "Well, I am not one of the investigators, perhaps I can get the cases to be opened. I know it is weird wanting my murders to be solved but its been plaguing me in my sleep, and I have been getting the feeling that someone has or had been following Keema, as she has had to move from one location to the next."
"It cannot hurt to ask." Mariko replied. "However, she may have simply been nomadic and felt like moving from place to place. I do not know." she sipped her tea and noticed she had reached the bottom of her cup.
Siadra drank the last of her tea, setting the cup down. "I will be asking him very soon." giving a nod of agreement. She smiled warmly towards Mariko. "Thank you for the tea, it was delicious, and I have enjoyed our conversation as well. I do hope that when time permits, perhaps we can have another pleasant conversation or even do an activity together." moving to take her leave.
Mariko rose to meet the woman as her departure was imminent. Giving a half bow of respect, to show that they were equals in the current setting, her head rose to meet Siadra's gaze. "Perhaps." she said simply. "Thank you for dropping by." she added as they parted ways. Mariko would do a quick tidy up before maybe relaxing a bit.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Siadra Molaur
Chief Forensic Science Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Commander Mariko Tao
Executive Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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