Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Lunching with Lai

Posted by Civilian Lai Kitrian (Independent Operator) in Lunching with Lai

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Lunching with Lai
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Ragna had no similar experience, but she did know that Oed felt strange to her as well. “Well, I won’t be offended if you don’t want to try the spices,” she smiled gently. “You have to do what makes you feel secure from situation to situation. I won’t give you reason to distrust me, though I know actions speak truth more than just words. I can’t say I won’t offend though. I seem to keep getting caught in horrible situations. Things that are considered polite and courteous at home or offensive here. I know my culture is much different, than even most Humans, but I feel like I have no basis on where to approach people.”

Ragna

Lai couldn’t help but laugh aloud and it was tinged with bitterness. “I’m sorry, I promise I’m not laughing at you!” She shook her head. “I just feel the same way about approaching people, but am experiencing the opposite issue. I lean towards expecting the worst and having to be harsh in my interactions and everyone around here so far has bene anything but. It’s very disconcerting and it constantly reminds me that I don’t belong here. But I can’t go home, so what does that mean for me? Can I ever belong anywhere?” She shrugged. “I will use your spices if only to remind myself that I can accept some kindness without there having to be a horrible cost to it.”

~Lai Kitrian

Ragna hated being laughed at and the slightly bitter tone was upsetting. She knew how to reign un her temper, not that she had been good at doing so lately. She did now. When Lai explained, all the anger went out if her. That was Ragna. Her temper burned hot, huge, and quickly gone. “Well I can’t really blame it on other people. They are polite, I just seem to have a knack for getting myself in trouble. I always have.”

Ragna smiled, “I hope you like them. I don’t know what a lot of them are.” She gave Lai a contemplative look. “I have never been in your situation, but I have known people who have been through horrible events. If… well if you ever want to speak to someone that has been through similar, I can give you their contact information.” She was so gentle, sincere, earnest, and careful how she worded it Lai could not mistake her good intensions.

Ragna

Her instant reaction was to tense at inviting others into her life, but there reality was that that would get her no where. Akem was the more paranoid of the two of them (as astonishing as that might sound), she had one thing he did not. A korsiolo. This intrinsic knowing came from a part of her abilities that was tapped into something deep and true. When she listened to this knowing, it never led her astray, but it also could put her into situations that could on the surface feel risky. Trust was not her strong suit, to put it mildly.

Lai returned her attention to their lunch as she pondered the offer. Grabbing two plates (a plain grey), she gently ripped open one of each of the rolls and set the spongy bread pieces face side up on the plates. “I guess I’m not opposed,” she said softly as she spooned the mixture of onions, bell peppers, and flat pea pods onto both rolls. She reached for the sauce she had made and spooned generous amounts over the veg and bread.

Lifting the plates, Lai turned on the ball of her foot and smiled, feeling proud as she set it on the table that she hadn’t burnt the dish. “And we have lunch,” she said, gesturing for Ragna to come take a seat while she went back to grab a knife and fork each. It was notable, perhaps, that while it wasn’t a particular dish that could be placed from Earth, all the ingredients could be, especially the vegetables.

Pouring a couple glasses of water, Lai returned and set the drinks and cutlery down before taking her own seat. “So, this is based on a dish I grew up with. The sauce is creamy and usually bright tasting with herbs. I found something called yogurt and I used lemons and some Terran herbs I found at the market. I warn you that I have no idea how any of it will taste. An accomplished cook I am not, but at least most of the time it’s edible.”

~Lai Kitrian

Ragna sat at the table and looked at the dish. She recognized most all of it. She wasn’t an adventurous eater, but that was because she knew what she liked and, well they grew or caught what they ate. She was not opposed to trying new things however. Ragna set a hand iver the pendant at her throat for a moment and then grinned at her companion. “To trying new things.” She waited to begin eating once Lai did. Ragna wanted to ensure she wouldn’t disrupupt any premeal customs her companion might have.

Ragna

Lai simply dug into her food with nervous apprehension. After all, it wasn’t everyday that she cooked for someone that wasn’t Akem, and in this new life of theirs, the stakes felt decidedly different when it came to their basic needs. They might not have a wealth of resources, but they weren’t suffering. Day by day she could allow herself to explore just a tiny bit more. Today was friendship and food.

She cut into the dish, a really strange version of pasoviof but as she took a bite, Lai couldn’t help but be thrilled. It wasn’t going to win any culinary awards, but it had flavour and the texture of the spongy bread was so very nostalgic as it soaked up the sauce. “Okay, my grandmother won’t kick me out of the kitchen for this, but no guarantees anyone else would like it,” Lai said with a rare smirk, a lightness flooding her for a moment.

~Lai Kitrian