Luke's, Monday

[vdistinctive]

Eliot had always been in incredible shape. His job required it, and frankly he enjoyed the exercise. One of the ways he stayed that way was by taking care of his body, from icing his fists after fights to his regular appointments with a massage therapist on the mainland.

So when, this morning on a routine run around the island, his right knee twinged in a way it never had before -- even after that time it'd been broken by Malaysian crime lord with a crowbar -- he felt rather justified in being pissed. Especially after calling his doctor about it and getting "what do you expect? You're getting old" as a response.

"Do you smell -- camphor?" the cook asked as they got the diner ready for what in Fandom passed as the lunch rush.

"I was going to say menthol," the busboy said.

Okay. So maybe Eliot coating his entire knee in Tiger Balm was a little bit excessive.

Today's specials
Marrakech lamb with tahini squash gratin
Whole roasted cauliflower with red wine, shallots and wheatberries
Challah grapefruit french toast

Luke's was open. And aromatic.

Comments

Mod your service

[vdistinctive]

The servers are giving the booth in the corner, where Eliot's got his leg propped up on a stack of wholesale food mailers, a wide berth.

Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

Distract him from his attempt to search the internet for non-"you're getting old" answers about his knee.

(No, WebMD, he didn't think it was bone cancer.)

(. . . Probably.)

Re: Talk to Eliot

[spin_kick_snap]

"Why does it smell like an apothecary's shop Olympic Boulevard in here?" Kathy asked, looking around for Eliot. It was weird not to spot him in the kitchen.

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"It ain't that bad," Eliot grumbled, thus revealing his location. "You people act like you've never smelled topical analgesic before."

It was pretty bad. At least Eliot had washed his hands after putting it on.

Re: Talk to Eliot

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm pretty sure I now know what bathing in Tiger Balm smells like," Kathy said, wrinkling her nose as she slid into the booth with him. "You smell like an ajumma with arthritis." She smiled, but worry flickered in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

Oh god, he did smell like his grandmother. Well, she'd used Bengay, but still.

"I'm fine," Eliot grumped. "My knee's just -- actin' up."

For no reason. 40 wasn't that old. That was the whole reason it was appalling to other people that he'd never expected to even make it this far. . . .

Re: Talk to Eliot

[spin_kick_snap]

Yes, Eliot. It was.

"With as much damage as you've taken, I'm surprised more things don't act up on you," Kathy said. "The body's ability to heal isn't infinite, you know."

RE: Talk to Eliot

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Well as I live an' breathe," Hardison said, clutching at his chest and staggering backwards. "Is this Eliot usin' the internet? It's an Easter Monday miracle!"

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"The internet says I'm dying," Eliot said. "So, you know, it's about as useful as I thought it was gonna be."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Why you wastin' your time on WebMD?" Hardison asked, because obviously that's where Eliot had ended up. "That's like usin' Bing as your search browser. Worse! Like, AskJeeves or somethin'."

Because those were all references Eliot was going to get, yes.

"Also, I dunno what that smell is, but I wouldn't trust whatever's comin' outta the kitchen like that."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"It's what that googly thing sent me to," Eliot said defensively. He knew what Google was. He knew how to properly refer to it. He just felt like insulting it, right now.

Except now he didn't just smell like his grandmother, he probably sounded like her too. He really was getting old.

"It ain't the food. It's Tiger Balm."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[sharp_as_knives]

After discussing a bit about wedding food with Jono on Sunday, Hannibal had decided he might as well get a bit further on the subject.

So, tablet and leather-bound notebook in hand, he was coming to see Eliot.

He looked around and headed for him, frowning when the scent registered. It would probably have been overpowering for anybody; for Hannibal it was practically eye-watering.

"Mr. Spencer." He nodded, attempting to be polite but looking pained. "While I don't believe it's possible to overdose on camphor and menthol, there's a point at which it's no longer particularly useful to add more."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

To be fair, Tiger Balm was a particularly strong scent. "Yeah, I probably overdid it," Eliot admitted. "It takes kind of a lot on me for it to start workin', though, and it's easier to get work done if I need to if I don't have an ice pack on my knee."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[sharp_as_knives]

"Inflammation, or have you injured something?" Hannibal asked. Either way, he probably had drugs for it, which would be quite a bit less...pungent.

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"Pulled a tendon or something on my run this morning. Probably not anything big, but I gotta make sure it doesn't slow me down too long, you know?"

Re: Talk to Eliot

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

Parker was just suddenly there. With her fingers. The fingers of poking at things. Reeeeeaching.....

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"Dammit, Parker." Eliot sounded more resigned than angry. "You don't wanna get Tiger Balm on your fingers."

Re: Talk to Eliot

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

"I don't?" And -- SNEEZE. "...right. What did you do to yourself this time?"

Re: Talk to Eliot

[vdistinctive]

"Apparently, I'm getting old." That was about half sarcasm, half despair. Parker was probably more used to hearing the sarcasm part.

OOC

[vdistinctive]

I don't know what Eliot's complaining about. My body started falling apart at age 27.

Or possibly age 12.

I've basically never been in shape.

RE: OOC

[geniuswithasmartphone]

I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHO TO PING YOU WITH SO YOU GET BOTH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

Re: OOC

[vdistinctive]

ILU. MY MORNING NEEDED THIS.

RE: Re: OOC

[geniuswithasmartphone]

ILU2 AND YAAAAAY!

Re: OOC

[sharp_as_knives]

Don't suppose Eliot wants a second opinion (which will likely say the same thing as the first, only more politely)? :D

Re: OOC

[vdistinctive]

"Want" isn't quite the term for it, though Hannibal is welcome to swing by if you'd like! (He's not likely to go find Hannibal, since it's not currently totally nonfunctional or bleeding.)