Dinner and Politics

[forcegalactic]

[As promised, at 5pm on Wednesday, the dining hall is prepared for a group dinner. Along the side of a wall is a long set of tables filled with food prepared by Mordecai, Sukuyo, and all their volunteers. One end has drinks (and a bag of blood on a fancy plate for Dio), which transitions into meals and then onto desserts. Two rows of tables are arranged with twenty-five sets of plates and silverware, all on neighboring seats.

Enjoy yourselves, chat with your neighbors, and remember: we don't need McDonalds to have a happy meal!]

Comments

[forcegalactic]

Myself, I'm glad I'm not the only one that cooks. It's a good skill to have, whether you have a family or not.

Honey cake. It's the quickest thing I could make.

[icysemblance]

It's one I'm going to have to learn at some point. I can make coffee and tea, but that's about it.

...ooh. That sounds good.

[forcegalactic]

[Every time Weiss praises his food, Mordecai can't help but feel proud of himself. He still has it.]

We can start off somethin' simple, like sandwiches. Then you can help me out when I'm makin' dinner and pick up the basic skills from there. Once you know how to prepare ingredients, it's all a matter of doin' it in the right amounts and right order.

[He takes a plate and fills it with a few spoonfuls of the paella.] I'm guessin' you live in a military academy, right? I heard those kinda place make all the meals for you.

[icysemblance]

[She nods. That makes a whole lot of sense.]

After that, it's a matter of following the recipe, right?

[Another nod, as she takes a few more bites.]

I do, yes - I'm at Beacon Academy. They have a big dining hall, and while there are smaller nooks for coffee machines and electric kettles, most everything's prepared for us.

[forcegalactic]

So, teachin' you how to fight, but nothin' havin' to do with life skills. Wonder if it's common for all military folks.

Now forgive me if this comes off as rude [he doesn't care] but in my universe, humanity is protected by the United Solar System Alliance. Families are encouraged to worked together on the same ship, and I'm sure some of the soldiers have non-military family that can cook for them, but those must be an exception. I seriously doubt they ever teach their kids how to cook. []Poor Sparks must have been raised on instant food, rations, and take-out.] Bein' Hunters and Huntresses don't run in the family, do they?

[icysemblance]

I think it probably has far more to do with my family life than anything at Beacon. We didn't really do the whole 'everyone gather in the kitchen and cook with Mother' thing.

[There's a touch of regret in her voice.]

...sometimes, it runs in the family. Two of my teammates are sisters. My memory's a little fuzzy, but I think their father was a Hunter, too.

[forcegalactic]

Shame. It's a good way to grow up. That's how I did, and I turned out alright. [Said with a bit of pride. Compared to the people he knows, he's the most well-adjusted out of the entire lot.]

But dang, it's kinda the same thing, ain't it? Sure, runnin' saloons runs in my family, but at least we got time for regular livin' and not fightin'.

[icysemblance]

It's a lot like how Ruby and Yang grew up.

[She almost sounds jealous.]

...mm. It must be nice not having the world's expectations on you and your family.

[forcegalactic]

[Did he hit a sore spot? Her voice and face says yes, and he reaches out for the paella spoon once more in apology.]

Here. Let me fill your plate. [If being a Hunter was just like being in a private military, perhaps Weiss' situation was similar to Sparks. Mordecai heard the Marshal didn't have a good relationship with his parents, who were in the USSA, but he isn't clear on the specifics of that.]

Are your parents proud of you?

[icysemblance]

Thank you.

[She has to think about the answer to that question. Mother always said so, but nothing was ever good enough for Father.]


...one of them is? My father is difficult, at best.

[forcegalactic]

Well, sometimes they're like that. Let me tell you, I used to disappoint my father from time to time whenever I ran away from work to hang out with my friends. Not the same thing, but you get the idea. [No, why would she?] Can't always please everyone, but you eventually find a place where you fit int.