"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.]

Comments

[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?"