"Listening to others, considering well what they say" (Part 3: Maingate Hotel)

[cityship]

The Maingate Hotel was pretty extravagant, and an entire section of it had been eked out for the crew's use during their stay. They had several suites, three communal areas, a conference room, their own kitchen with a chef on call if they required her.

They were all teleported from the main teleport pad of the hotel into the conference room, which was a large enough room to be able to hold a group their size and had plenty of chairs arranged in a circular pattern so they could mostly all face each other or whoever was in the middle of the room.

Everyone had to settle down so they were all able to talk, and the meeting itself would have to be carefully controlled so they wouldn't all talk over each other. But they were up for the task, right?

[ooc: Guardian Setup, General Mingling, Clone Checkup, Newbie Briefing, General Briefing, More Mingling, Back to the Meeting, and The Idea Guy sections are open. Backup characters introduced to the plot can join in the mingling subthreads if they want. The opening of new subthreads will be announced here and the ooc. Please read the linked OOC post for a plot timeline.]

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[cityship]

The chef gave the Doctor an odd look, if she was moving back and dealing with the pans on the stove-top soon-after. "We're a kitchen, if we run like anything we run like a ship. In, out, no break-downs, and all sudden fires are put out or we go down."

Davin watched them curiously, then smiled again and continued on his way. It brought him near the both of them, and with a polite, "Pardon me, Doctor, Archaeologist," as he moved in front of them and began laying the plates out on a clear portion of the near-by counter.

"We do our best, don't we, Davin? Of course we do. We're the best kitchen in all of the city. Rated seven out of seven stars by the food and beverage commission!" Another stir, and she took a quick half step and turn to look in through one of the glass oven fronts. "Chef Polynta knows what she's doing, she does." She sniffed, seemed to reach some conclusion, then offered the two intruders another small smile.

"On behalf of my kitchen, thank you for the appreciation. We live to serve the guests of the Maingate Hotel. Is there anything I can do for you, while you're here?"

A little on edge, but it had everything to do with the baking and stirring and very little to do with the offer itself. "Davin here can take care of most everything, as long as you're clear in what you ask for. I must request he not leave the kitchen, however, or you take too much time demanding his services." She smiled.

Davin heard this, turning without comment to bow again to the men before him. "If I may be of assistance," he said, eyes trained on the floor. "It would be my pleasure to make for you anything within my means."

"No cakes!" Polynta called out, turning off a dial on the stove. "You remember the last time you tried to go and do a cake. I do." She tsked, shaking her head. "Out of your parameters, and you know it, too. No wonder it was such a disaster."

"Yes, ma'am," Davin said quietly, smile unfaltering. "It's no wonder."

[makeherblue]

The Doctor exchanged a look with Daniel. Fine, be that way. He was certain sooner or later Daniel would trade in his archaeologist hat for an Otter Soother one. Just had to give it some time.

Like he said: there was a certain level of faith he had in the human.

For now the Doctor focused on Chef Polynta and Davin. It didn't escape his attention that most of the talking was done by Polynta: almost, he thought, as if it didn't cross her mind that Davin could speak for himself about running of kitchen. It didn't even seem to be something conscious, instead the sort of thing you took for granted, like learning how to tie your own shoe laces. If Davin wasn't allowed to make cakes, well -- the Doctor was sure he made some fascinating cakes just for that very reason, no matter how terrible they might taste or how there was the slightest chance Davin could have too much (or too little!) frosting. Maybe it might not be seven out of seven stars, but it would be out of Davin's parameters and that, in the Doctor's opinion, was much more interesting than anything else. Staring at Davin for a beat too long, he nodded and smiled and said:

"You know, I'd like to see one of your cakes, Davin," the Doctor's voice dropped conspiratorially. He tapped the side of his nose. "I do love an interesting take on things. In fact, Daniel here was just saying to me on the way that he'd love a cake. You know humans and cakes. Maybe he could help you."

He swiveled toward Daniel all of a sudden. Why, if he was a surprise Otter Soother, then the Doctor wouldn't be at all surprised if there was an inner cook blossoming in there as well.

You could get "seven out of seven stars" food anywhere in the galaxy, as far as the Doctor was concerned. It was Davin's "out of parameters", though, that was the unique thing and he was quite prepared to sit there for as long as it took for Davin to show him how wonderfully special the Doctor believed him to be.

[hi_there_aliens]

Daniel shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as Polynta patronized Davin in front of them. As if it were perfectly normal to treat another living being that way. Outside his parameters, right to his face. Polynta's treatment of Davin was nothing short of appalling. Davin might as well have been a shadow. Or just another piece of the kitchen's equipment. Polynta only seemed to deign to notice him just to talk down to him. As if he were some appliance that was about to expire past its warranty. And Davin let the condescension roll off him.

Wait, huh? Help out in the kitchen? The archaeologist didn't want to dismiss Davin like Polynta. He refused to. But Daniel didn't think he was going to help his case. He'd probably be responsible for a cake turning out bad.

"I wouldn't mind trying Davin's cakes. You guys do such an amazing job already. I'm sure it'll be far better than what I could do. Easily," Daniel agreed, shooting the Doctor a warning look. He could cook well enough, but Daniel was pretty sure he wasn't anywhere near a seven star level chef. He really didn't want embarrass himself in front of top tier cooks. It was like a teenager playing at painting in front of master artists.

[cityship]

Polynta rolls her eyes when the guest don't understand she meant what she said, but goes back to ignoring them in favor of her work. She took genuine pleasure out of what she did, unmanufactured and unprogrammed.

Davin's expression lingered on polite attentiveness as he listened to them speak, eyes closing as Polynta snorted and mentioned something about, "I warned you."

Davin doesn't much care for Polynta's estimate of his cakes, but he knows she's a snob. For hr faults, she is much more likable than many other chefs in many other kitchens.

"If Doctor and Archaeologist would like, then I will gladly do what is within my means to provide them with what they desire." Another short bow, less concerned this time with appearances as he motions politely for them to follow away from Polynta's active portion of the kitchen. There's a smaller counter and secondary oven next to a refrigeration unit where he's leading them. "Is there any particular kind of cake sirs are interested in? If I haven't heard of it, there is a chance it's still listed in accessible databanks. I am qualified to search within the hotel's network for recipes."

[makeherblue]

The Doctor glanced at Polynta muttering off in her little seven star corner.

If he kept track of how often people warned him off things, well! He'd probably be somewhere in the thousands, if he'd bothered to keep count, but that was beside the point -- and anyway, he was much more interested in Davin and whatever cake recipes he had knocking away. Among other things.

The Doctor smiled at Davin, the smile a bit more warm than the one he'd given Polynta. He waited until they had moved into a different part of the kitchen further away from Polynta's end, the Doctor ducking a beautifully carved pipe of some kind running over head and following Davin to what he assumed was a space more comfortable for the clone. While he was at it, he made a point to "happen" to be glancing the other way when Daniel tried to shoot him a warning look. The warning look sailed ineffectively over his shoulder as the Doctor focused on Davin.

"That's fine and all," the Doctor flapped his hand dismissively, "except Daniel here's all rather particular. He likes it unique. Personal, even."

The Doctor clapped a hand on Davin's shoulder, as if he fully intended to turn him right around and introduce him to all sorts of adventures such as cake-baking whatever you wanted and having a few trips here and there across time and space while they were at it. It might possibly even involve running up corridors! Think of that!

"Something from here," the Doctor pointed at his head. "Something only you and you alone can make."

[hi_there_aliens]

The look that Daniel was giving the Doctor right now? Was starting to get downright dirty.

Maybe the Doctor was right, he wasn't the type to turn his nose up at unique food or new food. That didn't mean he liked to make it all the time, or better yet, play at being a chef, in front of actual chefs. It definitely wasn't going to help Davin's case in front of Polynta about the success of his cakes when all he had was an archaeologist helping him. Knowing how clones were treated so far, all the blame would probably go to Davin if they came out terrible. Polynta obviously didn't think much of it already if the attitude was anything to go by. Daniel had watched Davin out of the corner of his eye when Polytna brushed them off with an implied 'it's your funeral'. Was it him, or did Davin for a second look slightly unhappy?

Daniel followed after the Doctor and Davin, taking a look around at the kitchen. To be honest, he still wasn't that hungry, much less for anything sweet, so he wasn't picky. This was more to see what Davin would come up with if he had some actual encouragement as a living being, not an occasionally faulty appliance. "You've made cakes before, right? Which one is your favorite to make?

[cityship]

Davin was looking down at his chest, as if he expected to find an answer taped to the front of his apron. None was readily forthcoming, and with a casual, glance toward Polynta's location, he admitted, "I'm actually more fond of pies, really."

He wasn't sure he wanted to admit that much, but then he smiled at the Doctor, and then Daniel. "Though we're here to serve the guests of this fine hotel, or so I'm often told, and if it's a cake you'd both like, then it's a cake you'll both have! I've been wanting to try making a Boca Negra... do you like chocolate?"

He seemed more animated in a way, almost smiling genuinely, a little less reserved. Come now, fine gentlemen -- speak with the man!

[makeherblue]

Daniel could give him all sorts of looks if it made him feel better. The Doctor remained pointedly oblivious, instead turning toward Davin and he didn't miss how Davin was reacting. Opening more. The smile looked less polite and more Davin, Davin the Man armed with what the Doctor thought was a lovely potential for cakes. Oh, and pies. Apparently.

The Doctor clasped his hands together, only to unclasp them and settle for clapping Davin on the shoulder, all broad smiles. "Chocolate? Love the stuff! Can't get enough of it! Weakness of mine," he lowered his voice in something that could hardly call itself a whisper. "Boca Negra sounds lovely, Davin. Very extremely lovely."

As delicious as Boca Negra sounded, the Doctor was rather more interested in the changes he was already seeing in Davin. The clone was perking up, less Polynta's seven stars and more himself.

[hi_there_aliens]

If there was one food Daniel had an unhealthy love for, it was chocolate and he wasn't afraid to admit it. It was right up there with coffee. He'd had a Boca Negra once and Daniel distinctly remembered it being, and there wasn't any way of putting it better, a chocolate lover's wet dream. He brightened. "Of course!"

Daniel was pleased to find that Davin seemed to be opening up once he was out of range from Polynta's hovering. He seemed to have dropped the silent, subservient act some too, which Daniel was grateful for. Just as he thought, all this talk as if the clones were practically mindless, programmable bodies for labor was just propaganda. Davin obviously had his own personality, his own life, once someone actually gave him a chance.

He could see immediately what the Doctor was doing. This wasn't just about cakes or pies. It hadn't been since they walked in. Daniel joined him.

"I love pies too. Pumpkin pie and sweet potato are some of the best. What kind do you like to make?"