The Arms Hotel Lobby, Thursday [7/23]

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi was bored. Normally, she would have played catch with Porthos when she was bored at work, but she no longer had Porthos. Gunther helpfully suggested that she could work on her German. So she told him, in German, where he could stick his German lessons.

It was worth it just to see Gunther's face turn purple as he got flustered by Hoshi's words. Hoshi thought her German vocabulary was just fine, thank you very much.

Welcome to the Arms Hotel!
Today's Special
Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls with Spicy Korean Barbecue Sauce

[Open! The OCD bit into a chili pepper and ran to get a glass of water.]

Comments

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack was out for a bit of a wander again, and saw...well, that got his attention. Barbecue shrimp?

"Hey, there. How's things?" he asked.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Not bad," said Hoshi. "I'm just getting ready to head to my workshop after lunch."

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Oh? What workshop?" he asked, still trying to figure out how barbecue shrimp would work out.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Tactics," said Hoshi. "It's been interesting so far, but don't expect me to lead any battles soon."

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Well, maybe if we set up a game of Risk or something," he said. "I'm sure you could. Or Monopoly."



[why am I picturing Hoshi and Jack and others engaged in high-stakes money board games?]

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Or chess?" suggested Hoshi. That was a game she could really win.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Or chess!" he said, knowing he would lose and lose quickly. "Or even poker. Now that's a game."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

And that was Hoshi's cue to start coughing. Poker was not a game she wanted to hear anything about at the moment.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Hey, you okay? You need a drink or something?" he asked.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"No, I'll be fine," Hoshi managed to say between coughing fits.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Okay, if you say so," he said, getting a bit worried. "You want me to get someone?"

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"No, really, I'm fine," said Hoshi, clearing her throat. "Just don't mention any more games, okay?"

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Okay, sure. ...should I mention food, then?" It was important.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Food is okay," said Hoshi, crossing her arms. "I suppose you're hungry?"

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"I'm always hungry," he admitted. "But I don't want to be a bother." Which was true. At least, when the person in charge of the food was busy choking on something.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"The special's listed on the board, if you want me to place an order for you," said Hoshi, pointing at the specials board. "But I think he also has some wiener schnitzel leftover from last night."

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"The special sounds good," he said. "I like me some barbecue sauce."

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi raised an eyebrow as she placed the order. "I'd advise you go kind of light on the dipping sauce," she warned him. "It's made from a spicy Korean chili sauce called Kochujang."

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack looked nonplussed. "I can take it," he said, boasting.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi looked skeptical, but she didn't push the issue. "I'll just run to the kitchen and get your food," she said, getting up from her seat.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack waited patiently, not aware of the gastrointestinal horrors that lay just a short meal away. "This better have a kick to it," he said to himself.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi was back a few minutes later with a plate of spring rolls, spicy dipping sauce, and plenty of ice water. "Here you are," she said, setting the food tray down on a nearby table.

The sauce would have plenty of kick to it, and then some.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"Thanks!" he said, sitting down to try the dish. He dipped a spring roll in the sauce, took a bite...and... managed to chew a bit before drinking the water. "That's some kick! I like it!" he said, his eyes watering a bit.

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, the fermented fish really adds a nice flavor to the spicy chilies," said Hoshi.

It might have been rather cruel to mention what Kochujang was made of, but Hoshi had to torture someone now that Gunther was hiding in the kitchen.

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack made a "blech" sound as he quietly, tastefully, spat that horking mess out into a napkin. "Rotting fish?!" he exclaimed, drinking more water. "That's too much!"