"Well, ma'am, I was actually planning on modifying some traditional Essian dishes. Problems lie in that I do not know any." Aliset spoke in heavily accented Essian, offering an apologetic smile to Aerlia. "Our lovely science officer, Shoi Sayoko, will be as food artist while I do what I can to learn. I apologize for my accent. I'm aware that I sound like a drunk child with too many wrong words."
She had to blink once or twice, shaking the thought of the Taisa's height and strength being quickly banished from her mind as she moved to acquire a set of chef's whites to cover Aerlia's uniform and keep the stains away from that white panel. In fact, two. Her shawls weren't the advanced synthetic fibers so easily cleaned by a swarm of nanites. No, the leather edged shawl was made of silk, produced by some large arachnids found on Shurista and used mostly as cattle, both for the silk and for the meat. She idly noted in her mind that her clothes would be getting a lot more expensive, aside uniforms, the longer she was away from the flotillas. She only had so many water chits, and the exchange rates between Shuristan water chits and Yamataian KS had not been established. More, she was not receiving the Shuristan UBI out here. While what she was wearing would have seemed casual for any Shuristan civilian, akin to a Nep in jeans and a cheap tee shirt, natural fibers weren't so easy to find, nor as cheap as from a more "advanced" civilization.
Snapping out of her momentary daze, she offered the coat to Aerlia, unpinning her shawl and untying it from her hip to fold neatly on a nearby table, that brooch on top, leaving her silvery shoulders rapidly developing goosebumps as they were exposed to the cold air, and she was suddenly deeply greatful for the sturdy sport bra she wore under her camisole. "Perhaps you can teach me the foods of your home. I will spare you the boring attempts at advancing my career. You have had a long journey. It is time to relax, at least until our skills find more need."
