(closed) god, it’s been a hell of a week

[scholiast]

who: lucretia + others (hmu if you'd like a starter!)
what: catch all for a couple things + canon update time :)
when: end of aug start of sep
where: here there everywhere
warnings: will be updated if they occur

Comments

[scholiast]

Two of my coworkers are chefs, so brunch has sort of replaced breakfast as a new constant on our ship.

(Since they all sleep in and then eat at different times. It's nice.) But I haven't done a sensible, sit-down type brunch sans bickering for ages, so I've been looking forward to it.

[tutee]

[ Bill raises her free hand in an "I swear" gesture. ]

No bickering from me. This will be a bicker-free zone.

[scholiast]

I knew I liked you for a reason.

(The restaurant is fairly quiet considering the time of day; Lucretia supposes she needn't have booked. Their table is outside because the weather is still so fair, and, as she trails her finger down the menu, she glances up curiously at Bill.)

Is there anything you don't eat? I'm sorry, I didn't even think to ask that before.

[tutee]

[ Bill reads her menu with nervous excitement, her knee bobbing as she taps her foot under the table. ]

Oh, me, I eat anything. No allergies or intolerances. Besides, life's too short not to try new food.

[scholiast]

I agree.

Well, uh, not so much about the life's too short thing? (Life has been absurdly long so far, and in the strangest way possible, so.) But I like trying new things. There's– have you seen that fruit that grows here? The spiked one? I haven't seen it anything like it before.

[tutee]

[ Bill's face lights up with recognition. ] I've seen it! Haven't tried it though, I wonder what it's called...

[ She looks down at the menu as though there's a chance "spiky fruit" will be listed somewhere. ]

[scholiast]

(Lucretia laughs, propping her elbow on the table and chinning her hand.)

I don't think it's just going to be on the menu!

Two of my friends are wonderful chefs, so I've tried some pretty odd things over the years.

[tutee]

Oh yeah? I imagine you must have, traveling so much.

[ She's reminded of the time she ate blue nutrient jello on a human colony planet in the future. ]

[scholiast]

Mmm hmm. It changed quite drastically with what was available to eat on any planet.

(Somebody comes over to take their orders and Lucretia hands back her menu happily, pleased to think of the food that will be delivered shortly.)

In contrast, I can't cook worth a dime.

[tutee]

[ Bill smiles sympathetically. ]

Cooking's not that hard. If you have a recipe, all you have to do is follow the instructions.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia flusters a little.) I know! I know, it, uh, seems like it should be simple but I can't do it.

(Cooking is just not her thing.)

[tutee]

[ Bill smiles. Flustered Lucretia is cute. ]

S'alright. It's like me with singing. Should be simple, but I just can't.

[scholiast]

Exactly. (That shouldn't be cute, and yet it is some how? Lucretia smiles, ducking her head when she does to hide it.)

It's a good thing the auction was for a date and not for a song, then.

[tutee]

Auction? [ Bill looks surprised. ] You were the one who won me at auction?

[ She smiles. ] Guess I'm glad it was you and not some stranger.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia's elbow slips off the table.)

You– you didn't know?

[tutee]

No?

[ But she doesn't look offended or anything. ]

I thought you just... wanted to go on a date.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia blinks, rubbing her elbow. She feels caught in a lie somehow, but Bill is looking at her without a shred of rancour, and slowly but surely she starts to relax again.)

I did. I thought– I dunno, that you would find it strange, knowing I bid on you. (She laughs, glancing down at her hands, embarrassed.) Not uh, not sure why, now that I'm saying it out loud.

[tutee]

[ Bill smiles encouragingly, reaching across the table to touch Lucretia's arm. ]

S'alright. I don't think it's strange. I think it's sweet.

[scholiast]

(She smiles too, encouraged by Bill's fleeting touch.)

Oh, good. I just– when we met, at the festival, I thought that I would really like to get to know you better.

[tutee]

So much so that you spent money on me! [ she jokes. ]

But really. I'm glad you did. But for the record, I would have said yes even if you didn't buy this date.

[scholiast]

It was for a good cause!

(The cause being her going on a date for the first time in thirty-something years. And, like, work fundraising, or whatever.

She grins, hesitantly.)

And don't tell me that after I spent all this money. Is it too late to get a refund d'you think?

[tutee]

Definitely too late.

[ But that's alright, because they're having a wonderful date. ]