Milliways, Thursday evening

[momslilassassin]

Ben had been to some stupidly decadent restaurants (being the son of Luke Skywalker had its privileges), but this one blew even those most ridiculous on Coruscant out of the water.

"This is barvy," he muttered to Ender as their waiter led them to their table. "Look at all of the people here. And...other beings...of course."

Ben hadn't been knocked so completely off-stride in years.

[OOC: For the boy and great SP justice.]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "If that'll make you happiest, sure."

[endsthegame]

"I'd like the poetry of it," Ender said, wryly.

[momslilassassin]

"You would," Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"And what--" Ender began.

Then he stopped, as the Dish of the Day walked up to their table to introduce itself.

[momslilassassin]

Ben had seen a lot of strange things in his life, but this...this was up there. "Um."

[endsthegame]

"Hello!" the Dish chirped. "Would you like to hear the specials for today? My shoulder is especially sumptious!"

"...What," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"Think I'm suddenly understanding the appeal of vegetarianism..."

[endsthegame]

"No, no, don't do that," the Dish said, waving its hooves around. "I was specially bred to enjoy this! No guilt at all!"

"I'll... be having that salad," Ender said. "Maybe two."

[momslilassassin]

"Me too," Ben said, looking a little green in the face.

[endsthegame]

The Dish of the Day sighed. "There's just no winning with you island people," he said. "I'll send for the salad bar."

"Thanks," Ender said, nodding fervently.

[momslilassassin]

"I need wine much more urgently now," Ben decided.

[endsthegame]

Ender waved at the server. "He has a strong need for alcohol right now," he said, pointing at Ben. "Ben, did you pick the right alcohol?"

[momslilassassin]

"I hope so," Ben said, pointing to the wine list. "That's not going to kill standard humans, right?"

[endsthegame]

"No, you should be fine with anything marked with a star, a teacup, or a heart," the waiter said, a smile on her face so giant it had to have been drawn on.

"Then we'll have a bottle of that," Ender said.

"And you, sir?"

"Just bring me some milk."

"... All right."

[momslilassassin]

"The salad bar doesn't talk, right?" Ben checked.

[endsthegame]

"No, sir," the waiter said, sounding terribly patronizing.

Then she swept off.

"Well, that's a relief," Ender said, nonplussed.

[momslilassassin]

"The waiter didn't have to be so snotty about it," Ben commented. "It's not like most people expect the dish of the day to introduce itself."

[endsthegame]

"I usually see eating meat as simply being part of the cycle of life," Ender said, after a pause. "Our species being omnivores - it's part of us. But this is... unsettling."

[momslilassassin]

"Very," Ben agreed, looking up at the roiling galaxy above them. "So's that."

[endsthegame]

"Maybe that's the point of this restaurant," Ender said, looking up as well. "To leave us unsettled in luxury."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, if that's the case, they're doing an astral job," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"Hopefully their salads and wine will be decent," Ender said quietly. "Can you sense anything out there...?"

[momslilassassin]

"Kind of trying not to," Ben said. "It feels as bruised at it looks. Heck of a light show, though."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded. "Probably a good idea to close up as many of your shields as possible," he said softly.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben agreed, biting his lower lip. "It's something to see, though. I mean, when else will we get a chance like this? Except tomorrow, apparently, which is slightly confusing to me."