Stress eating (D3 LE Kitchen)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

She had only meant to grab a little snack before heading back to the room but Mei found herself standing over the stove cursing.

(Chinese) "Oh come the fuck on just fold already! I don't need this today, stupid fucking eggs."

She was making what could generously be called a sardine and spinach omelette.

[Yori Hakamada]

She had only meant to grab a little snack before heading back to the room but Mei found herself standing over the stove cursing.

(Chinese) "Oh come the fuck on just fold already! I don't need this today, stupid fucking eggs."

She was making what could generously be called a sardine and spinach omelette.

As always Yori has somehow managed to approach too quietly and too closely as she suddenly leans over Mei's shoulder to peer down at the troublesome eggs.

"Sergeant Zhou."
She continues to look down at the eggs.
"Have you seen the leftover sardine and spinach? I was going to make a sandwich."
Yori peers a little closer at the greens on the stove, but clearly her brain just cannot make the link between fridge spinach and pan spinach.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Sergeant Zhou."
She continues to look down at the eggs.
"Have you seen the leftover sardine and spinach? I was going to make a sandwich."
Yori peers a little closer at the greens on the stove, but clearly her brain just cannot make the link between fridge spinach and pan spinach.

(Chinese) "What the fu.."

Mei jumped at the sudden voice in her ear and turned, nearly knocking the pan off the stove. Barely managing to keep it off the floor she turned and seeing who it was jumped back slightly and offered several quick bows.

(Japanese) "Oh please forgive me Chui Hakamada I did not hear you approach. Sardines and spinach? Umm, I am sorry Chui but I have used the last of both those things in this omelette. You may have it though, I should not have taken it if you intended to eat it."

Mei continued to bow clearly nervous.

[Yori Hakamada]

(Chinese) "What the fu.."

Mei jumped at the sudden voice in her ear and turned, nearly knocking the pan off the stove. Barely managing to keep it off the floor she turned and seeing who it was jumped back slightly and offered several quick bows.

(Japanese) "Oh please forgive me Chui Hakamada I did not hear you approach. Sardines and spinach? Umm, I am sorry Chui but I have used the last of both those things in this omelette. You may have it though, I should not have taken it if you intended to eat it."

Mei continued to bow clearly nervous.

Yori, like a completely normal person doesn't appear to have been startled in the slightest, only turning her gaze to follow Mei with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Oh, I see."
Long pause, much staring at the pan then at the bowing Mei.
(In Japanese) "I did not clearly label them as mine, thereby violating kitchen etiquette. As such I see no reason why I should have any claim of your...omelette."
So that's what it was.

She waits a few more seconds and then bows politely
"There is no need for over formality in a kitchen setting. Unless you are within the formal kitchen hierarchy in which case that order is the only way chaos is defeated."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"No, no I am not I'm just not sure how address you. I understand that title and ceremony are important in your culture and I only wish to respect that. What would you prefer I call you? You can call me Mei if you like and if you will not take the omelette may I please share it with you?"

The shaking and fumbling had actually folded the omelette better than Mei could have hoped to do but now she faced the hardest thing there is to do in the kitchen, she needed to flip it. With laser focus she slid a butter knife under the eggs and in one quick motion turned the whole thing into scrambled eggs, utterly failing at the flip. She looked very pleased with herself as she had managed to keep all of it in the pan for once.

[Yori Hakamada]

"No, no I am not I'm just not sure how address you. I understand that title and ceremony are important in your culture and I only wish to respect that. What would you prefer I call you? You can call me Mei if you like and if you will not take the omelette may I please share it with you?"

The shaking and fumbling had actually folded the omelette better than Mei could have hoped to do but now she faced the hardest thing there is to do in the kitchen, she needed to flip it. With laser focus she slid a butter knife under the eggs and in one quick motion turned the whole thing into scrambled eggs, utterly failing at the flip. She looked very pleased with herself as she had managed to keep all of it in the pan for once.

Slow blink
"I will not be offended if you choose to use my first name. In turn I note that I prefer only to use the given name of others whom I am friends with. And it is not that I am not friends with you Sergeant Zhou, but rather we are not sufficiently acquainted."
Yori pauses for a moment
"Your efforts to show respect are appreciated, it is likely you would have done adequately well in the Combine, or at least not been forced to commit ritual suicide."

Yori watches Mei with the same focus that Mei watches the eggs, now confused as to why the other woman had decided to give up on the omelette and head to scramble town.
"I would be willing to share the...egg based meal with you, yes. I am glad your mood appears to be improving. Although if I am misreading things please let me know to avoid future awkwardness."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Slow blink
"I will not be offended if you choose to use my first name. In turn I note that I prefer only to use the given name of others whom I am friends with. And it is not that I am not friends with you Sergeant Zhou, but rather we are not sufficiently acquainted."
Yori pauses for a moment
"Your efforts to show respect are appreciated, it is likely you would have done adequately well in the Combine, or at least not been forced to commit ritual suicide."

Yori watches Mei with the same focus that Mei watches the eggs, now confused as to why the other woman had decided to give up on the omelette and head to scramble town.
"I would be willing to share the...egg based meal with you, yes. I am glad your mood appears to be improving. Although if I am misreading things please let me know to avoid future awkwardness."

"Oh no not at all, I was just surprised is all. I did not expect to find anyone else here this late. It was a busy day and a lot of people have looked exhausted so I figured a lot of people had gone to bed already and this more like lunch time for me."

The eggs now overcooked and the sardines starting to fry Mei turned off the stove and slid the mess onto waiting plate.

"Please have a seat and I will grab some...are forks alright or would you prefer chopsticks?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Oh no not at all, I was just surprised is all. I did not expect to find anyone else here this late. It was a busy day and a lot of people have looked exhausted so I figured a lot of people had gone to bed already and this more like lunch time for me."

The eggs now overcooked and the sardines starting to fry Mei turned off the stove and slid the mess onto waiting plate.

"Please have a seat and I will grab some...are forks alright or would you prefer chopsticks?"

"Forks will do, but thank you for asking."

Yori sits down, ramrod straight like the coordinator himself was in the opposite chair.
"Are you are usually nocturnal then? I have not actually updated my data on company sleeping habits for some time since the Captain told me to 'knock that creepy [expletive] off, Yori'."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei grabbed a couple of forks out of a drawer and a small stack of napkins then sat down across from Yori.

"Yes I have always been a night person. It's cooler and quiet and not nearly as bright. I feel like I can see better and am just more awake and alert...except it seems when I am cooking." She said with a chuckle. She passed a fork and napkin over to her companion and pushed the plate a little more towards Yori.

"Please enjoy."

[Yori Hakamada]

Mei grabbed a couple of forks out of a drawer and a small stack of napkins then sat down across from Yori.

"Yes I have always been a night person. It's cooler and quiet and not nearly as bright. I feel like I can see better and am just more awake and alert...except it seems when I am cooking." She said with a chuckle. She passed a fork and napkin over to her companion and pushed the plate a little more towards Yori.

"Please enjoy."

"I agree that the night is often the most productive time of the day, fewer people to bother you, fewer people to bother...quieter. I can see why you would enjoy it."

Yori nods in thanks and uses the fork to start cutting small precise squares of egg which are daintily shoveled into her mouth, chewed exactly four times and then swallowed.

"Cooking...you mentioned that is a passion of yours. It is no surprise it takes more of your attention."
She chews for a few more moments, clearly enjoying the snack
"Do you often swear at your eggs? I only know a few words of Chinese, and most of them are unfit for polite conversation."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Not normally no but it has been a stressful couple of days. My best friend had a bad time during the initial landing and set up and I didn't do much better. So badly that I have heard more than one group talking about it. I met someone special here and people are talking about that as well it seems. I even messed up some gloves I was knitting which never happens. A lot of bad luck I guess."

She reached over and took a forkful of the fishy eggs and smiled as she ate it.

"That's really good."

It was very salty and you couldn't taste the spinach at all.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Not normally no but it has been a stressful couple of days. My best friend had a bad time during the initial landing and set up and I didn't do much better. So badly that I have heard more than one group talking about it. I met someone special here and people are talking about that as well it seems. I even messed up some gloves I was knitting which never happens. A lot of bad luck I guess."

She reached over and took a forkful of the fishy eggs and smiled as she ate it.

"That's really good."

It was very salty and you couldn't taste the spinach at all.

Mildly
"It is an extremely efficient method to intake sodium."
Yori eats a few more squares before quietly standing and fetching two glasses of water for the pair before returning to her seat.

"Best friend...well, only two mechwarriors did particularly poorly during setup."
Looking over the table
"Are you referring to Lieutenant Rains? She is well meaning, but I haven't seen her since we landed. I did not know you two were best friends."
Her eyes focus and narrow slightly.
"It is inappropriate people are gossiping about that or your sex life. Unless you are an exhibitionist, but from context I do not believe that is true. I hope they stop soon."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mildly
"It is an extremely efficient method to intake sodium."
Yori eats a few more squares before quietly standing and fetching two glasses of water for the pair before returning to her seat.

"Best friend...well, only two mechwarriors did particularly poorly during setup."
Looking over the table
"Are you referring to Lieutenant Rains? She is well meaning, but I haven't seen her since we landed. I did not know you two were best friends."
Her eyes focus and narrow slightly.
"It is inappropriate people are gossiping about that or your sex life. Unless you are an exhibitionist, but from context I do not believe that is true. I hope they stop soon."

"Thank you" She said accepting the water.

"Well, Ok maybe best friend is a bit presumptuous but I would say that Gianna is my closest friend on this ship. I'm pretty used to people discussing my sex life, it happens everywhere I go. I understand I have a bigger apatite than most do but today it was just one more thing piled on my plate. People are always going to talk though, it's a small ship and people get bored. While all those people are talking about me getting lucky I'm busy getting lucky." She said with a wink. "What about you, what do you do to keep busy?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Thank you" She said accepting the water.

"Well, Ok maybe best friend is a bit presumptuous but I would say that Gianna is my closest friend on this ship. I'm pretty used to people discussing my sex life, it happens everywhere I go. I understand I have a bigger apatite than most do but today it was just one more thing piled on my plate. People are always going to talk though, it's a small ship and people get bored. While all those people are talking about me getting lucky I'm busy getting lucky." She said with a wink. "What about you, what do you do to keep busy?"

Deadpan "Discuss peoples' sex lives."
Yori calmly eats a little more egg
"That was a joke actually, that is not a hobby of mine. I generally only do that when considering prospective partners, there is a questionnaire involved."

Setting down her fork and then spending a moment to ensure it's perfectly straight against the edge of the table.
"I have a few basic hobbies, meditation, caring for my fish, reading, visiting the range. Lately I have been reading some manga which has been quite interesting."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Deadpan "Discuss peoples' sex lives."
Yori calmly eats a little more egg
"That was a joke actually, that is not a hobby of mine. I generally only do that when considering prospective partners, there is a questionnaire involved."

Setting down her fork and then spending a moment to ensure it's perfectly straight against the edge of the table.
"I have a few basic hobbies, meditation, caring for my fish, reading, visiting the range. Lately I have been reading some manga which has been quite interesting."

"That seems like a very pragmatic approach to sex."

Am I weird for wanting to this questionnaire? I wonder how many pages it is.

"Oh right, how are your fish? If you don't mind I would love to see them some time. What's a manga?"

She might not have noticed how salty the foo was but her body did and Mei downed the glass of water after only eating a few forkfuls of food.

[Yori Hakamada]

"That seems like a very pragmatic approach to sex."

Am I weird for wanting to this questionnaire? I wonder how many pages it is.

"Oh right, how are your fish? If you don't mind I would love to see them some time. What's a manga?"

She might not have noticed how salty the foo was but her body did and Mei downed the glass of water after only eating a few forkfuls of food.

"Yes, I think so. It's important people be able to communicate freely beforehand, discuss mutual preferences and dislikes. I am not currently seeking any long term romantic matches, so the length of the questionnaire can be kept fairly short."

It's almost a smile, or certainly a loosening of her facial muscles
"They are well, a little disturbed by all the travel by now adapting to their new home on planet. You may of course visit them."
Then very seriously
"But do not tap on the glass if you do."
And then back to neutral.
"The manga is titled 'The Saga of Rokugan's Fall', Lie- Richard recommended it to me and loaned me his copies. He seems a kind man."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Yes, I think so. It's important people be able to communicate freely beforehand, discuss mutual preferences and dislikes. I am not currently seeking any long term romantic matches, so the length of the questionnaire can be kept fairly short."

It's almost a smile, or certainly a loosening of her facial muscles
"They are well, a little disturbed by all the travel by now adapting to their new home on planet. You may of course visit them."
Then very seriously
"But do not tap on the glass if you do."
And then back to neutral.
"The manga is titled 'The Saga of Rokugan's Fall', Lie- Richard recommended it to me and loaned me his copies. He seems a kind man."

"Ahh yes, Rich's library of comics is massive, I've read of a few of them over the years and I love the costumes. Rich is a sweetheart and a dear friend, very kind very caring. I am so happy was given command of the scout company he really deserves it even if he would never admit it. So how far into the story are you, what's it about?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Ahh yes, Rich's library of comics is massive, I've read of a few of them over the years and I love the costumes. Rich is a sweetheart and a dear friend, very kind very caring. I am so happy was given command of the scout company he really deserves it even if he would never admit it. So how far into the story are you, what's it about?"

"Costumes?...Yes, I suppose he would have costumes, it fits the profile."
Yori mentally files that away for later.
"I am sure he will do well as scout command despite being Lyran."
As for the manga.
"It's the story of a conflict between an East-Asia inspired race of humans but with increased physical and magical prowess, and contemporary humans who find themselves entering the planet through a portal. A classic asymmetrical combat occurs. There are 85 volumes but I have only read the first 8. The two sides have just experienced a number of scout clashes and are gearing up for war. Meanwhile a magical female and a contemporary male are beginning a secret relationship."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Costumes?...Yes, I suppose he would have costumes, it fits the profile."
Yori mentally files that away for later.
"I am sure he will do well as scout command despite being Lyran."
As for the manga.
"It's the story of a conflict between an East-Asia inspired race of humans but with increased physical and magical prowess, and contemporary humans who find themselves entering the planet through a portal. A classic asymmetrical combat occurs. There are 85 volumes but I have only read the first 8. The two sides have just experienced a number of scout clashes and are gearing up for war. Meanwhile a magical female and a contemporary male are beginning a secret relationship."

Mei wanted to correct Yori, to tell her she meant the costumes in the comics not ones that Richard wears but decided that it was more un this way.

"That seems like a very apropos story given everything going on right now. I had no idea he had any comics that featured Asian characters, I may have to borrow that from him when you are done.

I'm about halfway through the first book in a series I found in the ships library about a group of desperate travelers who are brought together to make a pilgrimage to some kind of ancient tomb that is frozen in time and they are tell each other their personal stories along the way all while be hunted by some giant bladed creature that wants to stop them. Kind of a science-fantasy thing but I found the cover art pulled me in."

[Yori Hakamada]

Mei wanted to correct Yori, to tell her she meant the costumes in the comics not ones that Richard wears but decided that it was more un this way.

"That seems like a very apropos story given everything going on right now. I had no idea he had any comics that featured Asian characters, I may have to borrow that from him when you are done.

I'm about halfway through the first book in a series I found in the ships library about a group of desperate travelers who are brought together to make a pilgrimage to some kind of ancient tomb that is frozen in time and they are tell each other their personal stories along the way all while be hunted by some giant bladed creature that wants to stop them. Kind of a science-fantasy thing but I found the cover art pulled me in."

Summoning all her diplomatic powers
"He seems to...have an appreciation for Combine culture."
Clearing her throat

"Your story story sounds like it has much scope for the investigation of different themes. I wonder if they will reach the tomb and what will happen if they do?"
Judging she had consumed exactly 50% of the eggs Yori pushes her plate forward, indicating any more was for Mei.
"I did not immediately judge you as a reader, but I am satisfied to be proven wrong. It seems we shall have to exchange our current works, with Richard's approval, in the future."