It's time for an after party!

[perpend]

[About an hour after the trial and subsequent execution, Cabanela makes a decision.

They need to do something, keep the morale up, however little it may be.

Under each occupied room door people will find the following note written:


In difficult times such as this, it is important to carry on.
Don't give into despair; we must preservere.
If you don't want to be alone this evening, meet me in the dining hall.
-Cabanela

[Upon entering the dinning hall, you will find Cabanela sitting at one of the tables; he has lit two candles that are placed at the center of the table, but there's nothing else to note.

You'll have to supply your own food, since he doesn't have much of an appetite.]

Comments

[forcegalactic]

...No, not much...

...Unless you're talkin' about one o' those quack doctors. [His eyes widen in realization.]

[housenurse]

... Ahh, I shouldn't have said anything at all! I'm such an idiot!

[she nervously wrings her hands together, giving him what she hopes is a pitiable look.]

You won't tell anyone, will you? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew I got him in trouble! And Cabanela-san... It was never even a problem until I got here! No one back home even cares!

[forcegalactic]

No, no! [Be calmed by his frantic hand waving and nervous smiling!] I ain't the Marshal, I'm not gonna report you for breakin' the law! What's more important is you don't go around causin' trouble yourself, right?

[He really likes Sukuyo, she's too sweet to be blamed for her husband's job.]

Well, he's a doctor poor people can afford, so...that's a good point for him! [Just how poor is she, anyway?] He, uh, how'd he learn to be a doctor, then?

[housenurse]

Thank goodness... I've been so worried about it, these past two weeks!

[toot toot here comes the headcanon express.] He got kicked out of medical school, right before we got married! He's never told me exactly why, but I'm sure it wasn't very important! [medical schools are all just rude rich people tbh]

[forcegalactic]

...Can't blame you for pickin' up somethin' that gets you money. [This is the man who's fine with letting known bandits hang out in his saloon as long as they behave.]

I dunno, usually the reason for gettin' kicked out for any school is due to poor studyin', or some personal situation popped up, likely to do with family or money or...doin' some mad science.

[housenurse]

Oh, it couldn't have been grades; he's the smartest man I've ever met! It must have been about money.

[and it was! kinda! about the illegal acquirement of it!]

[forcegalactic]

Oh, right. He's from a poor family?

[The salmon should be ready now. He puts on mitts and opens the oven.]

[housenurse]

We both are. I can't remember a time when I wasn't. [watches him with interest.]

[forcegalactic]

And no scholarship?

[He takes out the salmon, wrapped in foil, and puts the tray on top of the stove. With a fork, he pries off the metal, steam bursting out from the bundles.]

Huh. Looks like I put it in for just the right time.

[housenurse]

Wow! [man how cool is that shit.] You're a really good cook, Mordecai-san!

[forcegalactic]

What, this? [He completely opens it, revealing the juicy salmon inside.] It's just how I learned to cook 'em, that's all. Get me some plates, I'll open up the rest.

[housenurse]

You'll have to teach me one day, okay? I sure don't know how to cook anything like that!

[WOO GOES TO GET PLATES AND UTENSILS LIKE A BOSS]

[forcegalactic]

You don't have an oven, or is it the fish you're referrin' to?

[But hooray for dinner! The salmon are ready to be distributed among the lucky winners (including Mordecai and Sukuyo).]

Some vegetables--oh! Almost forgot the sauce! [He slips off the mitts and runs to the pantry to grab the lemons.] My wife never eats it plain, she's picky like that!