Audio; late day 16

[popotostudies]

[That sure is a tired sounding voice.]

Should anyone be hungry, there is a pot of bacon and vegetable stew in the kitchen courtesy of red team's assignment, have at it. Be advised it contains things, so if you are allergic to things, don't eat it.

[investigating the kitchen will indeed find a stew. Hearty, tasty enough and far more veg than bacon.]

Comments

[blitzcheer]

Pointing the new people in the right direction?

[ Nevertheless- ]

Thanks. Sounds like a few things went into it.

[ things ]

[popotostudies]

Yes. I wouldn't want it to go to waste.

[Many things went into it!]

Quite a few. Delicious things. Less meat than some might prefer perhaps. But plenty of other things.

[THINGS.]

[blitzcheer]

Hooow many of the things did you know the name of before you stuck it in?

[ He's joking. Maybe. Yes, but also. ]

[popotostudies]

[the tiredness in his voice fades to something like humor.]

At least two. How are you enjoying the afterlife?

[blitzcheer]

[ That gets a choked sound from Tidus's end. ]

Wh-what-- [ oh, shit, right! ]

About that-- forget all that! I said some stupid things back then.

[ Like the guy being from his past and...probably some other things... ]

[popotostudies]

Aw. Let's not take any of it too seriously, even if mistakes were made. Have some stew!

[fandaniel still isn't comvinced ot wasn't some shard or other. Tidus knew what chocobos were!]

[blitzcheer]

Alriiight, alright. Only 'cause you put some thing in there.

[ But with that, he'll give a quick 'see ya', and make his way over to the kitchen car, suspecting to see a somewhat familiar sight of a man.

And some stew!! ]

[marriedanidiot]

Fandaniel? You sound terribly weary, my dear. What's wrong?

[alchemists]

That sounds really good, what sort of vegetables are in it?

[popotostudies]

Excellent things.

[Tidus is left to his own devices!

But indeed when he arrives in the kitchen car, there is in fact a large pot of something that smells vaguely bacony on one of the stoves, and Fandaniel is in attendance. He's even found bowls! Sure there's an actual dining car but why go so far for so little.]

[popotostudies]

It's..

[There's a pause. A lengthy one. When he speaks again, he sounds wearier yet.]

Have you ever realized only long after there's an opportunity to do anything about it, that something you had made would have gone gloriously with cheddar?

[popotostudies]

Popotos, zucchini, carrots, corn, and sweetish turnip. It would have done well with a good pork stock but I did not find any.

[blitzcheer]

[ And there Fandaniel is! ]

'Sup!

[ So of course, he gets a greeting as Tidus walks into the kitchen. ]

So do Red team pick straws on who's gonna be cooking that night, or were you feeling inspired?

[ Meanwhile, helllooo stew, let him come and smell you. Maybe all the vegetables will take the edge off constantly eating salty bacon. ]

[popotostudies]

Hello again!

[Tidus had been reasonably pleasant company before, so no reason to assume otherwise now! Which means Fandaniel isn't going to be overtly grumpy, even if he does look like he should probably get more sleep.]

I wasn't assigned to it, I just happened to have quite a lot of popotos on hand, and as you know they're great for soaking up salt in a stew. It's a good pairing for bacon..

[It smells more like a good veggie stew than a bacon stew, up close! That smoked scent gives way to the smell of fresh produce, which seems to be in a rather light, yellow-tinged broth.

Frankly it ISN'T the best cuisine anyone ever ate, but it tastes decent should a sample be tried, and there's plenty of it.]

Besides which, if I get it out of the way I don't have to worry about being asked to handle breakfast.

[marriedanidiot]

[ Must. Not. Laugh. ]

No? I am not the main cook in the family though, that would be Feanaro.

[blitzcheer]

[ Meals for the passengers is left to whoever gets to it, and Tidus has never been bothered to make his own dinner except once or twice. So when he takes a test taste of it, mmm -- tastes edible to him.

His stomach isn't a picky one!

He scoffs a little though at Fandaniel's reasoning, pulling the spoon from his mouth as he looks at him. ]

You look like getting up early's the last thing you should been doing. How're you holding up?

[ But since the guy went out of his way to make this stew, Tidus will take the ladle and pour himself some out after asking, putting the spoon he just ate with into the bowl he's picked. ]

[alchemists]

That is a good blend of vegetables, I'm sure it tastes good even without a pork stock.

[popotostudies]

I am not much of a cook ordinarily but I dabble a bit.

[Glumly:]

And now I have regrets. And an inability to actually sleep. I don't much like sleeping, losing eight hours just to hallucinate vividly and be unable to move the entire time really isn't my idea of a good time, but it is required for healthiness. And now my dreams will be plagued with the certainty I should have added cheese.

[popotostudies]

I like it, but I admit I am exceptionally biased.

[popotostudies]

I am not getting as much sleep as my physical age and species requires, which is having irritating side effects like 'grogginess'.

[Something in his tone suggests while he is completely serious about why he's tired, but chose to phrase it that way because Why Not.]

I don't like mornings. Any mornings. And this train has its own ideas about when it thinks we should be awake. Well I disagree!! Daytime .. is for sleeping. At least until midday or so.

[At least it ended in edible soup. And Tidus hasn't rejected it as repulsive or anything, which is certainly a bonus.]

[blitzcheer]

[ Yep, that sure is a dire case of the grogs. ]

Yeah, sleeping around here is...weird. I dunno how late or early I get to bed. Not that I ever try going early -- I hate the cabins. Everything's too cramped!

[ But, edible soup! Which Tidus is taking small bites of while they speak. ]

[marriedanidiot]

[ Oh no, oh no, Fandaniel is suddenly acting like one of her sons after one of their projects went wrong, and Nerdanel has to suppress the urge to giggle ]

Ah, I see. I suppose it would not help if I offered to see if I cold ease your sleep?

[popotostudies]

[It's only one small part of a mountain of endless problems, but it's the one that most occupies him at the moment because it's the most recent. And therefore, the most horrible.]

So far chamomile and spellcraft have done nothing. What do you intend?

[popotostudies]

There's a suggestion option box the train possesses, I've been very carefully weighing asking the train to convert ALL the bedding cars into double deckers, with two individuals per room instead of four..

[Still not much privacy but slightly better!

He should probably eat his own soup. He hasn't yet.]

Between that and a pool it might be far more comfortable.

[blitzcheer]

[ Come on, Fandaniel!! Edible soup! ]

Why not both? [ Sipping up some of the broth. ] We can both ask. Show it that more than one person wants a change.

A pool'll be good for my new roommate too. The train swapped one of the beds for a bath. It's barely big enough for her!

[ Soo not amused. ]