Luke's Diner, Saturday

[what_the_shock]

Miguel was in a pretty good mood today.

Until he walked in and everything was pumpkin spice.

"No."

The busboy looked like he wanted to speak. Miguel held up a hand. "Just no. Pumpkin spice doesn't belong in burgers, and if you mess with my coffee, I won't be responsible for my actions. Put the spices where they belong."

"But it's tradition!" the cook protested.

"You want those spices, I'll show you how to use them properly. If you want them in coffee, go to the Perk."

Miguel put his foot down, scowled, and went to cook. Coffee first.


Today's Specials:
Pumpkin Chili
Pumpkin, Black Bean, and Poblano Tacos
Pumpkin Sage Polenta



Luke's was open (and OCD free)!

Comments

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden had been stared at by carved pumpkins all day, and since she had a grumpy cat at home - Issa still hadn't forgiven her for the panther visitor - and no food, she decided to stop by for something to eat on the way home.

She entered, looked at the menu and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, fuck. Pumpkins?!"

[what_the_shock]

"Hey, at least I managed to make it real food. And keep it out of the burgers and coffee," Miguel said. "They were going for a theme."

[1000yearstoolate]

"It's just the vegetable though?" Seivarden asked. "And not that spice thing? After those vodka shots I'm never trying anything with that in it again."

[what_the_shock]

"Definitely not pumpkin spice," Miguel said firmly. The dishwasher pouted, but he ignored it. "You tried vodka with it? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Can I get you a coffee or soda?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"They were free at Caritas," Seivarden offered as way of explanation. "I'd like some tea, please. Loose leaf, black, no weird spices."

[what_the_shock]

"I don't know if we have loose leaf. Let me check," Miguel said. "Any food we can get started while I look?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"You had last time I was here if I remember correctly," Seivarden said. "Kanan made some decent tea. And... what food would you recommend? I don't know what it is, except that there's pumpkin in it."

[what_the_shock]

"I haven't seen any recently," I totally forget Miguel called back as he checked the pantry. "Oh, never mind. It's in little pyramids; I hope that's okay." He brought it up and went for hot water.

"If you're not sure, get the chili," he recommended. "Hard to go wrong with that. And I can get you a taste first." He grabbed up a small bowl and got a spoonful of it, sliding it across the counter. "See if you like it."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Pyramids?" Seivarden said. "That's not loose leaf, is it?"

She reached for the bowl.

[what_the_shock]

"It says it is?" Miguel was kind of skeptical, too. "Here." He let Seivarden see the box, which did indeed promise whole-leaf tea in little "silken infusions". "Should I keep looking?"

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden picked up the box, frowning. "What? Yes, the leaves are loose inside the bag, but it's still a bag, just one made of cloth instead of paper."

That was a 'yes', Miguel.

Tasting the chili, she added: "This is good. I'll have this."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel shrugged. "Chili and black tea then. I can cut the bags open if you'd rather? I can put a cheesecloth or something over the lid to strain them out."

He didn't see the point, but he was a coffee drinker, what did he know?

[1000yearstoolate]

It wasn't perfect, but at least Miguel wasn't judging her about it, which was something.

"I'd appreciate it."

At least the chili was good.

"I can't really notice the pumpkin in this," she said. "Which isn't bad, I've been stared at by them all day. I really don't get the decorations for this holiday."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel snorted as he slit open the tea bags and dumped them into a small pot. "Halloween's meant to be spooky. Carved pumpkins with weird faces are part of that."

He paused. "I assume that's what you mean. Not some weird Fandom thing."

[1000yearstoolate]

"I hope not," Seiarden said. "Although with a room full of them it feels like they're watching you."

She made a gesture with her hand. "Never mind, I've had worse things happen in that shop."

[what_the_shock]

"Yeah?" Miguel asked. "Flowers, right? The worst I get here is their sense of humor." He hooked his thumb at the staff."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Flowers," Seivarden said. "I'm not sure why but the island is very creative with them, and I don't mean making arrangements. At least I assume it's the island."

[what_the_shock]

"Safe bet." Miguel found cheesecloth and stretched it over the pot's spout, rubber-banding it in place before closing the lid and setting it and a mug in front of Seivarden. The cook set a bowl of chili on the divider, and Miguel moved that over to her, too.

"Enjoy."

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden poured the tea.

"So, they have a bad sense of humour?" Seivarden asked, not loudly, but not lowering her voice either.

[what_the_shock]

"Yes," Miguel said, at the same time the cook yelled out, "No!"

"They think they're funny."

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden smirked. "I wasn't asking you, was I?" she called to the cook.

[what_the_shock]

"See, now you'll just make him sulk." Miguel sounded supremely uncaring. "Which means I'll just have to cook more instead."

Oh, darn. What a fate.

[1000yearstoolate]

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" Seivarden asked before taking a sip of her tea. "The cooking, not the sulking."

[what_the_shock]

"I'm a fan of cooking, so it's pretty good," Miguel said. "The cooking and the food," he clarified.

[1000yearstoolate]

"That's what you did even before you came here?" Seivarden asked, then added: "A lot of people seem to end up doing jobs they hadn't expected. I mean, I never planned to work in a flower shop."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel snorted. "Uh, no. I was a geneticist. One of the top in my world, head of an experimental division of one of the megacorps. Cooking's just a hobby."

[1000yearstoolate]

"You have geneticists in this world?" She made a gesture with her hand. "Forgive me, I haven't been that impressed with medicine here so far. Not that I know much about it, I used to be captain of a military ship."

She felt that last part was important to mention. Then she remembered:

"Space ship."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel snorted. "Yeah, if you've got regular space travel, this place must be medieval. They've got 'em here, but I'm not sure how advanced it is. I'm from about a hundred years in the future, and I think my world was a bit more advanced than the one on the mainland here to start."

[1000yearstoolate]

"You don't even have space travel where you're from?" Seivarden asked. "I mean, proper space travel?

[what_the_shock]

Miguel made a so-so gesture with his hand. "Orbital and moon traffic pretty regularly. There's not a lot further that's been worth our while so far. Stories say some folks met aliens a while back, but stories might be all they are; we haven't met any yet. Well, not back home. I have, but in other dimensions."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Other dimensions?"

It was hard just to ignore that comment, even if Seivarden wasn't sure she wanted to know.

[what_the_shock]

"Other worlds through portals?" Miguel shrugged. "That's how I left home. Traveled a lot of them before I came here."

[1000yearstoolate]

"So you're used to... that sort of thing?"

Seivarden sipped her tea, then sat down her cup.

"I can't get home. Can you?" she blurted out.

[what_the_shock]

"I can get just about anywhere," Miguel said. He couldn't go home, but that was different. "Portals to your place are broken?"

[1000yearstoolate]

"Unless Portalocity is lying to me."

She didn't put it past them.

[what_the_shock]

"That sucks," Miguel said. "I don't use them; my team travels a different way. Hard to get people back unless we know where they come from, though, sorry."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Yeah," Seivarden said. "I've been told it often changes though."

She was holding on to that.

[what_the_shock]

"That's what I've heard," Miguel said. "So you never know."