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"Oh it will be something delicious… " he says while licking his lips with a small movement of his tongue that is only noticeable because she happened to be watching his lips while he was talking. For some reason him doing that felt slightly uncomfortable but she could not figure out why. Before becoming lost in thought she smiles back and let's out a hearty, "Can't wait, but who is doing the cooking?"
"Oh… we have a caterer that brings our meals when we need it. We do not have time for elaborate cooking and since I had hoped you would come today I made prior arrangements. I hope you don't mind and that you are hungry."
She smiles as a tray of food is brought in. Two covered silver platters are set in front of us, one for Francisco and one for her. She looks down on it seeing her own reflection in the polished silver. She is interrupted by Francisco, "Go ahead, open it… "
She carefully takes the cover and lifts as though she is expecting something to pop out at her but she is pleasantly surprised. There is a medium rear stake with roasted potatoes, some peas and carrots and a gravy that smells as though grandmother made it. Off to the side is a dinner roll with a one inch cut piece of butter and a butter knife next to it.
"This all looks really good… " she says in a cheerful manner relieved that this is at least 'normal' but then it occurs to her that Francisco has not opened his cover as yet. "Aren't you going to open yours?" she says.
"Oh of course" he says while lifting the cover and placing in front of his glass. Krusten almost stands up to see what is on his plate and determines that it looks like a dark red soup.
"What's that?" she says quickly.
"Beet soup!" he replies right away.
Krusten wears a puzzled look. "Beets?" she replies as though it weren't a food.
"Yes?" he says in confusion and then with a hint of sarcasm he says, "You know beets the vegetable, they are good for you… have you never eaten beets before?"
"Not like that!" she says right away watching his soup as though it were a bowl full of worms the deep red color not helping her wild imagination.
With that he begins to eat ignoring her facial expressions and enjoying every spoonful like a man's last meal on death row.
Krusten is not sure if she should feel comfortable by his unwillingness to cater for her disgust at his meal but she cannot control everything and switches the conversation to something she should know, but does not as yet. She simply asks, "So what's the history behind this place?"