soup-thief

[soup-thief]

he notices the way that their smile disappears for a second . . . but doesn't mention it ; he's not great with that sort of thing, and honestly ? he's kind of more prone to making things worse than helping, even when he's trying to help. it's more than a small relief when the subject moves back to food.

" yeah ! i mean, what is dressing if not basically soup as a garnish ? " he's spent a lot of time thinking about soup. tapping his chin with a finger, he hums in thought. " does ranch normally have garlic in it ? " a brief pause, " if not, it should. "

" i'm pretty great, i know, " he answers with a good natured smirk, doing a bit of preening. he might not feel it, but he's got an image to maintain, after all.

ten thousand years. he’s not the first one to say it, but it does hit them. maybe not as hard as it does some of the other humans that have been popping up, (only because they’ve done some version of this before), but still. they can’t help the way that their smile falters for just a second. but only that.

“you’re gonna make me ranch?!” they will allow this to carry their mood for the time being. whether there’s pizza or not, at least there will be ranch. “i’m totally happy to help. like, not just taste testing, either. i can find shit for you. might need like, a picture, but i can do it.”

yes, nadine is bouncing in their seat, practically. funny, what even the slightest bit of food will do for them. “oh this is going to be so awesome. you rock, dude.”

[soup-thief]

" we have ranchES, but i'm getting the feeling that's not what you mean. " if it has to do with food, though, he's all ears ! he nods along as they explain, gradually leaning in as he grows increasingly intent on the concept being presented to him. by the time they've finished, reth is already concocting recipes in his head.

" i don't know if we've got all the same herbs, " he muses aloud. " it's been, what, like ten thousand years since you guys were last around ? " he's pretty sure that's right, though he's never really been the scholarly type. heck, he was pretty sure he was the go-to example for what happens if you slack off in school, and don't stick to your path.

he shakes his head before he can get too distracted, his attention firmly back to the human before him. " you're gonna be my official taste-tester -- i'm gonna figure out this 'ranch' just you wait ! " his plans are derailed by their next words.

" uhhh . . . we've got pizza ? " he has no idea what pizza is, but he's pretty good at following directions. sometimes.

"oh my god, you guys don't have ranch?!" this seems a lot more important to nadine than what their manners may be here, because they are totally speaking with their mouth full. "see, so it's like. okay, well, the ranch itself is like the seasoning, which is like, dill and some salt, and some other shit. but like, the good part is when you make it a creamy dressing. it takes lettuce to a whole different planet. it's god-tier."

they finally swallow.

"and it's like, you can put it with everything, right? it's the best with-" they stop themselves. "oh, dude." food is entirely forgotten for a second. "please tell me you guys have pizza."

[soup-thief]

" ashura? " reth questions, brows raised. normally the big guy was one of the first to welcome newcomers to kilima -- was he slacking, or was this human really that fresh ? his worries are quickly chased away, though, when they compliment his soup. if his chest puffs up just a bit with pride at those words, well, could you really blame him ?

" ranch ? " he repeats, wrinkling his nose in thought. the only ranch-related things he can think of are the farm down the road and tish's furniture sets. " you're not suggesting i put hay and ormuu dung in my soup are you ? " he's only half-joking this time, brows raised in clear skepticism, though he holds off on taking offense just yet.

there is half a second where they’re worried that he might be serious, but this does not last long. “i don’t even know who that is, but you’ve got it.” and yes, they are just speaking based on hunger, but they do mean it. maybe this time, they’ll be able to do shit debt free. (or, monetary debt free. they’re already collecting secrets.)

as soon as they get their hands on the bowl, they’re shoveling soup into their mouth. any other day of the week, nadine would say something about the fact that it is just lettuce. eating ramen on the regular does not stop them from being judgmental about food. but today? “duuuuuuuuuuuuude. this is the best thing i’ve ever had.” they can’t help it. “have you ever thought about putting ranch of this? that’d slap.”

[soup-thief]

huh. that wasn't the reaction his soup normally gets, but he digs their enthusiasm ! " man, and here i thought i was the only one who got that excited about soup ! " this is a great sign -- they'll have so much to talk about ! his brows knit slightly when they don't immediately accept the offering. . . but he's quick to laugh when he hears the reasoning.

" what, you mean you didn't spring forth from the void with a fully funded bank account ? " he fakes a scandalized look for a moment, before breaking back into a crooked grin. " don't worry about it ! this one's on the house. " a beat, and he glances around the main room of the inn. " just don't tell ashura, okay ? " not that he thinks ashura would mind helping out the newcomers --- but he has a reputation to maintain around here !

it has been a long day. nadine has moved through time before, but a new world was a first. they were lucky, that they’d ended up somewhere seemingly nice. they’ve got a roof over their head, and a town nearby.

speaking of which, they needed to stop into for plenty of reasons, but food quickly becomes the main. it suddenly hits them how hungry they are when they smell food. it really doesn’t matter what. they could eat a horse, or whatever people say.

“holy shit. you’re a life saver!” they also do not ask for a name, or even think about the fact that they’re technically accepting food from a stranger. soup, as well, which isn’t exactly high up on their list of favorites. still, they pause. “you know i don’t have money, right? or like, the money i have doesn’t work here. because like, i can’t pay for that.”

[soup-thief]

@dumbthink is the newest human in palia

" oh, hey ! " his surprise is quickly covered by a good natured grin, andn he wipes his hands on the front of his apron before offering a little wave. " Ashura mentioned someone new showed up recently ! glad you finally found your way into town --- and i bet i know exactly what you're here for ! "

it doesn't even cross his mind that he's yet to introduce himself, or ask for their name, as he turns his back, ducking behind the counter, before popping back up and presenting them with a bowl of his kilima-famous lettuce soup, beaming with pride. " ta-da ! "

[soup-thief]