Ocean Spray (D12, EE Beachview Fine Dining)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

I don't really make it to may actual restaurants. Richard and I have gone out to dinner together or with friends a few times but in my mind a nice sit down restaurant like this is a date thing and I don't really go on many dates unless it's to a bar or something more casual. I have a fondness for food carts though, reminds me of home and all the carts and stalls around the arena selling bowls and skewers for cheap. Not the healthiest way to live though, lots of fried food and sugary snacks.

How about you?"

[John Slaktare]

"I like restaurants owned by people that are from the same culture as their food. Makes me feel like the food will be similar to what they'd cook at home. And a home cooked meal is amazing. Street food can be pretty good, but its usually too oily for my tastes. Noodles and sandwiches are good though, cooked on a grill or in a wok."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I look forward to the day when I have my own kitchen and cook whatever I want whenever I want. I still need to find someone around here to teach me how to make cheese."

[John Slaktare]

"Been too long since I saw it. Definitely not something I could really help with. But I wouldn't mind learning a bit of cooking. Maybe we could find some classes or a teacher and learn to make cheese together."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"That sounds like a great idea, I'll ask around; someone on this island has to teach a cooking class or be willing to teach us for a few bills."

[John Slaktare]

Butcher nods at her enthusiasm. "It'd be great if we could find someone. Actually, maybe the folks at the religious cult compound. They grow their own vegetables and make all their own food there. Might have folks that are good at making things from scratch like cheese and butter and bread and stuff."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Religious cult compound? What?"

[John Slaktare]

Yeah. Think I mentioned it. A few of us are apparently heralds of the end according to their beliefs. Definitely different."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"That actually sounds terrifying, I don't want to be sacrificed and eaten by crazy people."

[John Slaktare]

"They seem fine. Just believe in different stuff. I'm sure nobody in the unit is in danger of being converted. But also to that point... I'm crazy and you don't mind when I'm eating."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"No in fact I love the way you eat but you aren't crazy. That guy in engineering who rambles about aliens running Comstar is crazy, you're totally sane...unless there's something you haven't told me."

Mei glanced past him.

"Oh I think out food is coming."

[John Slaktare]

"You don't think aliens run Comstar? All the evidence is there," John deadpans. "Just gotta know where to look. Like in a leprechauns pot of gold or Santa's bag. Easy to find."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Well you have done every single thing I have asked of you, including things you weren't comfortable with, so I think I can handle so time with a cult. Maybe they will hold some mystical cooking secrets, maybe we will just have a fun story to tell after."

[John Slaktare]

"Well, they're locals which is potentially useful. I ain't trying to be a part of their crap. But it's what they believe so good for them," he says with a shrug.

"But that's not really important. Not when I got you here."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"No actually the more I think about it the more it makes sense."

Mei paused as their food was delivered and thanked their server.

"We get to meet some locals, maybe learn a thing or two. Worst case we have an interesting story to tell people later, worst worst case we get into a fight to rival Yori and Richard." She said with a laugh. "But most likely we just have a good time out together. So whenever you want to go I'm up for it."

She rubbed her hand on his leg and leaned in and kissed him.

[John Slaktare]

Butcher also thanks the server and nods to him before facing Mei-Ling and returning the kiss. "We'll set something up. Not sure what it'll look like, but we'll find out."

He takes a look at what he ordered and smells it. It seems really nice, some sort of pan seared fish with seasonal vegetables on the side.

"This looks nice," he says before taking a bite, then offering a bite from his fork if shes interested. "I like it."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

The bowl in front of Mei was such a violent shade of red that there was no mistaking that it would be spicy.

"Yes please, if I don't try it now I might not be able to taste it later because this soup looks like it wants to cause bodily harm."

She takes the bite from his fork and raised a hand to her mouth as her eyes went wide.

"Oh that is very good, delicate even and so well cooked. I mean, I've had A LOT of fish in my life but this is one of the best I've had."

She looked back to her bowl.

"I'll uh...I'll save you some of this but if it's as spicy as it looks it might spoil your meal if you try it right now; unless you're a gambling man."

She lifted her spoon and and tasted the broth. "Oh my <light cough> oh yeah that is spicy as hell but damn does it taste good <light cough>, and it's opening up my sinuses."

[John Slaktare]

"Can't be as spicy as my queen," he replies. "I'll give it a try."

He was a fan of spice so when he tasted it he wasn't unhappy about it. But it was quite spicy. Still, he finished the bite, nods in approval, then starts on his own once more.

"It's good. Thanks. Maybe that's what I'll get next time."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"The difference between me and this soup is I will never burn you. As you well know I am more likely to drown you but luckily you're like a fish." Mei continued to eat her soup, taking sips of water every few bites but seemingly loving it.

[John Slaktare]

"I can be a bit thirsty," he admits. "But thats cause I gotta cool those spices down. Do you got a favorite spice?"