Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

“Well, you’re the expert on cooking,” he said with a grin, rinsing off the knife and setting it to the side before washing his hands again. “I don’t cook all that often, but I enjoy trying new dishes when I can.”

A flick of the wrist and flames shot up as oil caught, combusted, and flared into nothing. “Well, I hope you like this. It’s my family’s specialty.” she said as she set the wok down and lifted the tofu out of the fryer.

“What’s it like having so many siblings? Elema is the youngest of four sisters and I’ve heard her stories, but I’m an only child, so I have no real metric at all,” Cort said.

~Cort Belanger

“Fantastic. Annoying. Safe. Painful. Peaceful. Brutal.” Dorma said with a laugh. “Ask me again tomorrow. That will change.” She turned and grabbed the cooked, cold rice and dumped it in the wok. She started flipping the rice up, catching it, repeat. One handed. The other sprinkled soy sauce in the wok as the food was up in the air.

Dorma Fen

Just like with her knife-work, Cort watched her deft handling of the wok with fascination. “When I was a kid, I really wanted a sibling. But the assumption is that we’d get along and be friends. There’s never any guarantee of that as I eventually learned. For all I know it would have just been two kids who fought for their parent’s attention; what little there was anyway.”

~Cort Belanger

“You are welcome to some of mine, if you like!” Dorma said with a laugh. She shook the wok a few more times and then turned off the fire on the stove. She moved to the center table with the wok, set it down, and began spooning the rice dish onto waiting plates. Once done, she took a few of the false fried tofu roses and set them on top, and then finished the dish with a deep red, almost black, sauce drizzled over it all. She took off her chef’s coat and hung it up. “Lets eat, shall we?” and she nodded to the door as she picked up the plates.

Dorma Fen

Cort returned his smock and swapped it for his tuxedo jacket. He almost redid the button up again but would have had to undo it to sit down anyway, so left the jacket open. He pushed the swing door open and held it for Dorma as she carried their food. “It looks and smells amazing,” he said, following her back to their table. He pulled out her chair for her and took a seat. “What’s the dish called?”

~Cort Belanger

“花と火.” she said with a smile. “Ha-na… to… hi.” she said slower. “It means flower and fire. There is a great deal of heat to the dish, but I think you will like it. If it is too much, eat the plain rice on the side.” She picked up a pair of chopcsticks and looked at Cort. “Do you know how to use these?”

Dorma Fen

He picked up the chopsticks and held them between his fingers, tapping them together. “Now, there might be a correct way to use them, but I can get them to work and it doesn’t require stabbing my food which would probably get me expelled from the table,” Cort said with a smirk.

~Cort Belanger

She laughed and said “Trust me, I’ve seen worse. You haven’t lived until you watch a Klingon try to eat sushi with chopsticks.” and she laughed harder at the memory. “Gods above… it was like watching a toddler throw a tantrum… but with really big knives and such.” and she laughed some more before calming down and picking up a bite. “Bon Appetit.” she said and popped the bite in her mouth.

As she chewed, she couldn’t help but be remined of home. She closed her eyes and let the flavors and the heat mover senses back to the kitchen… her father showing her how to make the flowers. Her mother arguing in Japanese with tourists. The smell of the garden behind the restaurant. It was so lovely. She opened her eyes and smiled. “Tastes like home.” she said around the bite with a grin.

Dorma Fen