Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

The entire kitchen was a blanket fort.

"Nope," Duke said. "Clean this up. The dining room can be a blanket fort, not the kitchen."

His staff stared at him.

". . . Fire hazard?"

They looked at each other.

Duke threw his hands up in the air and went to go see about setting up a grill out back.

Today's specials
Mint sesame pineapple halibut with zucchini noodles

Luke's was open and ocd free.

Comments

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden nodded in greeting as she entered the diner around lunchtime. She leaned against the counter.

"How are you doing?" she asked Duke.

[SP warning]

[betterthanaplan]

[from me too]

“Seivarden!” Duke greeted with a smile. “I’m alright, how about you?”

[1000yearstoolate]

"Not to bad," Seivarden said, smiling back. "Any news? I haven't seen you for a while."

[betterthanaplan]

“Nah, just been bumming around while the mun Deals With Her Shit. Got some good run out of Jamaica if you want to swing by sometime.”

[1000yearstoolate]

"I won't say no to that," Seivarden grinned. "I did stop by here for some lunch too."

She nodded towards the menu. "Interesting combination."

[betterthanaplan]

“Isn’t it? I like the stuff that combines less obvious flavors. Plus, it seemed nice and spring-like. I’ll have the guys glove up to make you a fresh batch.”

[1000yearstoolate]

"Thank you," Seivarden said, smiling. "It does. And spring is nice, but I got spoiled with heat and sun on the trip, so maybe I'm not appreciating it as much."

[betterthanaplan]

"It loses some of its glamour when you've been hanging out in the tropics, yeah," Duke said. "I used to spend most of my winters there."

[1000yearstoolate]

"In the tropics generally or in the Philippines?"

Seivarden didn't really have an idea about long it took to get there by boat.

[betterthanaplan]

"Tropics. I've spent my share of time in the Philippines, though. Been kind of all over."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Is there anywhere you miss?" Seivarden asked. "I've only learnt recently that traveling makes Earth a lot more interesting."

[betterthanaplan]

"I've always been partial to the Caribbean," Duke said. "Jamaica, Trinidad. . . . That whole area's really beautiful."

[1000yearstoolate]

"And a good place for rum?" Seivarden said.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke laughed. "An an excellent place for rum. Not the main reason I love it, but it's definitely a perk."

[1000yearstoolate]

"So, worth a visit," Seivarden said. "Oh, and I have a new harvest, if you want some of that in exchange for the rum."

[betterthanaplan]

"You know, I was just thinking we should do another exchange," Duke said. "Absolutely. And if you decide to go, let me know. I can recommend some very nice places. . . . Some of which wouldn't even horrify you on principle."

[1000yearstoolate]

"Horrify me on principle? You mean there are places where people wear gloves?" Seivarden said with a grin.

[betterthanaplan]

"Well. Where they'll be willing to if you call ahead, anyway."

[1000yearstoolate]

"That's good enough," Seivarden said. "And a lot better than things used to be around here."

[betterthanaplan]

"Must've driven you nuts. I'm not surprised you ruffled some feathers. I'm surprised you didn't just start running around screaming."

[1000yearstoolate]

"I have some sense of dignity," Seivarden laughed.

It meant something to get that kind of understanding.

[betterthanaplan]

"Even when no one else around you seems to, at least on your own scale." Duke nodded. "That's impressive. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise."

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden smiled, not quite sure how to respond.

"Well, I'm glad there are more understanding people on the island now."

[betterthanaplan]

"Of course. Everyone's got their hang-ups. Not like it's some great sacrifice to try to make you more comfortable when I can."

[1000yearstoolate]

"I suppose they have," Seivarden said, who didn't really considered wearing gloves a hangup.