(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/7d/6a00e55003818f883401543213d274970c-320wi.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Sue, the Cook</span></span><br/><strong>Location:</strong>The Galley<br/><strong>With:</strong>Elfi, the slave; Serenity, the Companion<br/><br/><em><strong>"I could smell it from down the hall Sue, I can't wait to start eating."</strong></em><br/><br/>It was the first mate.  A good man, professional, of few words, which made the ones he did speak more meaningful.  When he seen a job done right, he made sure the man who done it knew it.  I pushed my fingertip up into the bottom of the brim of my hat in an informal salute, acknowledging the hidden compliment.<br/><br/>Next, I noticed Keri walk in.  I looked up, looked down at the counter, then back up at her, my eyes lingering on her, a smile slowly growing on my face as she flashed her grin.  She snuck a bite and I look tilted my head before shaking it playfully disapprovingly.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Fantastic! As always Sue, you are pure genius in the kitchen!"</strong></em><br/><br/><strong>"Thank you, ma'am.  I'm actually pretty good in other rooms, too."</strong>I gave her a wink.  I noticed her glossy lips, which made me lick my own.<strong>"So what's your name, darlin'?  And have you happened to see our pilot anywhere?"</strong>I looked at her dress and the way it hugged her body, then looked Keri in the eyes.  My eyebrows raised and I nodded like I like what I saw.<br/><br/><em><strong>“Here Mya!  You may sit at the table.”</strong></em><br/><br/>When Braxton patted the seat next to him, I greeted him with a<strong>"Captain."</strong>Already he was acting like his usual self around the ladies.  How else was Mya going to eat?  On her knees on the floor?<br/><br/>Actually, that seemed like something wonderfully humiliating.  I myself enjoyed things like degradation and verbal abuse of a sex partner, but typically it was in the bedroom or with like-minded folk.  By giving Mya permission, he was reminding everyone of his power over her.  Also, he wasn't giving permission to Elfi.  Looked like the slave was going to be doing the serving during the meal and her eating after we was done.  I made sure to save her some and keep it warm.<br/><br/>At that point, all the food was out and almost everyone was sitting at the large rectangular table.  I sat close to Serenity, but not next to her, so I could sneak a few glances at her while we was eating.<br/><br/><em><strong>"I can't imagine who would be rummaging through your supplies, Miya."</strong></em><br/><br/>The comment gave me pause.  Nothing got past Serenity, and she had such as way with words.  I could feel her thoughts, if not her eyes, on Braxton.  The galley was already starting to feel like a pot that was on the verge of boiling over.  I had something in mind to turn down the heat.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Quit showing off, Sue!"</strong></em><br/><br/>Finally, Lance showed up.  I responded by showing off, bringing my arms up and flexing them a bit.  I imagined I looked hilarious, wearing a pink apron with lace trim and cowboy hat while showing off my biceps and shoulders out of my sleeveless shirt.<br/><br/>That reminded me of the other man on board with even bigger muscles, Cookie.  I got up and made a quick call on the intercom to Cookie's bunk.<strong>"Cookie, it's Sue.  We're a-startin' to eat.  Ya'll comin' to join us or shall Ah keep yer dinner warm?"</strong><br/><br/>As everyone was eating, I motioned Elfi over to get extra glasses for everyone.<br/><br/><em><strong>“Only as long as we have fresh groceries, I’m afraid. We stocked up in port, but once those run out our little greenery can only provide a small reprieve from the canned, flavored proteins we have to fall back on.”</strong></em><br/><br/>I punctuated his sentence with the pop of a champagne bottle.<br/><br/><strong>"Ain't that the truth, Captain.  Ah take a certain amount of pride in makin' food that's tasty as well as fillin', but the reality is that prepared food is only as good as its ingredients.  Can't make a gourmet meal out of animal feed.  We'll be good for two days, but then Ah'll need to go a-shoppin' on Shadow for wherever the black takes us next."</strong><br/><br/>I went behind each crewmember and passenger, reaching around to pour them some champagne.  As I poured, I spoke some more.<br/><br/><strong>"Ah'm more of a whiskey man, myself, and Ah do have some of that here for all of ya'll that are interested, but I heard from a reliable source that this here bubbly will make the flavor of the peppers and potatoes really pop in your mouth."</strong><em>And put everyone in a more civil, friendly, hopefully playful and ideally naughty mood, too.</em><br/><br/>Finally, I sat down, making sure even Elfi had a glass.  Standing, I raised mine in a toast, looking at each guest as I spoke of them.<strong>"To the Line, may she, and her captain, and his first mate, and her pilot, and her <em>engineer</em>, and her doctor, and her domestic help, and the rest of her crew, and her passengers, have a fast, safe, enjoyable, peaceful journey.  <em>Gan beyh*</em>."</strong><br/><br/>I sat down and started eating, paying special attention to the way the ladies reacted to the food.  I loved feeding women.  The way they closed their eyes and tilted their heads back and moved their mouths and made "mmm" sounds made all the time and effort worthwhile.<br/><br/><em>*Bottoms up, or literally "dry cup"<br/><br/></em>