Re: Re: Re: Of Course It Hurts (Judy/Saya)

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Sounds good.

That's fine with me, Kyo and Saya said almost simultaneously.

It was only a moment later that their waiter headed their direction, obviously with some news from the kitchen. With a bow, he said, The chef conveys her thanks and says that she will do her best to accommodate your request at the earliest opportunity.

Thank you! Saya answered, surprised at the rapid response. While you are here, we'd like an order of tiramisu to share, please.

Ah, excellent choice. Let me take some of these dishes for you. He gathered what they were done with before maneuvering away through the tables again.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

"Delightful," Judy replied, addressing all the threads of the conversation at once.

Once the waiter was gone, Judy turned to pick up a brand new thread.

"It's a lovely experience, isn't it?" she asked rhetorically. "Very unique. Probably not too conducive to soup, or fondue, but pleasant."

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Very, Kyo responded with a grin. Though I don't know what fondue is. It's definitely a novel way to travel.

It is, Saya agreed. I thought at first that the movement and noise might be disconcerting, but after a little while, it's less noticeable.

Oh! Saya added suddenly. I wonder if the waiter could tell me who to speak to about seeing the engine. He's been most helpful thus far.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

"I'd imagine that's more of a conductor question," Judy remarked. "They talk with the driver, so they can more than likely ask the cab if we can take a look."

Judy had been there before. In America, but she had.

"As for fondue, it's essentially melted cheese dish that's served in a pot over an open candle. Everyone gets to dip bread or potatoes in it with long forks, and it's delicious!"

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Oh, that sounds excellent! Saya exclaimed. We should have that sometime. Not on the train, of course.

Do you think it would be best to wait until we arrive at our next destination before asking about seeing the engine? Of course, I'd like to see it in action as well.

We might lose her if the driver likes her interest, Kyo whispered to Judy, plenty loud enough for Saya to still hear him.

She gave him a withering look. He just grinned back.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

Judy couldn't help a chuckle at that comment. Not that she tried to - the chuckle came out.

"There's only one way to find out, and that's to try it," she answered. "I don't know whether they have a system to get up front while it's moving, and I doubt you'll want to spend the hours between stops up there, or that they'll let you, but it never hurts to ask."

She happened to glance over, to see the waiter come by.

"Your tiramisu," he said.
"Thank you," Judy replied.
She looked then to the youngsters - a sign she'd wait on them with eating.

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

No, not the whole time, Saya replied. I would be interested in seeing things while the train is moving, but if that is not possible, just looking it over at one of our stops would suffice.

Thank you, she echoed Judy as the waiter set down their dessert.

That looks delicious, Kyo commented.

Saya ventured the first bite, cutting off a small piece with her fork and popping it into her mouth.

Quite good, she said after swallowing.

Kyo gestured for Judy to go ahead, content to wait. He also nudged the plate a little closer to Judy and Saya since he could reach further with his long arms.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

Judy was going to be the last to eat. It was a matter of self-control, as well as of principle. At this age, she was distinctly the adult in the room.

"You go ahead," she told Kyo. "I'll eat what you two don't."

Judy had learned some rules of adulting from her parents and grandparents, and she followed them.

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Kyo had a moment of wanting to tease Judy and see if he could convince her to eat first, but decided he didn't want to go up against her stubbornness. When Judy didn't want to do something, it did not happen.

With a tiny smile he took a bite of the dessert and made a appreciative sound.

Judy did underestimate the precision of her two companions, however. When they pushed the plate her direction, they'd each eaten just a third, leaving the last third for her.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

Judy looked at the slice. It seemed remarkably symmetrical, like an exact third. For work done with spoons, that was truly remarkable. It was also too much for her.

She reached for her purse, took out the glasses case, and put her readers on. She looked through them, and then over them. She cleaned them, for extra dramatic effect, and then repeated the motion. Then, at last, she melodramatically whipped them off.

"You're kidding," she remarked. "That's a half, and that at the bare minimum. I'll have this much, you have the rest."
She carved out a line about halfway down the remaining tiramisu, to mark her intended share.

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Saya raised her eyes to the ceiling and chuckled at Judy's antics, but waved off having any more.

You sure? Kyo asked.

She nodded, and Kyo pulled the plate toward himself and finished off the tiramisu.

As Kyo was finishing the last bite when a short woman in traditional chef whites approached their table. Hello? You are the table that asked about hasperat?, she asked in a European accent of some type.

Yes, Saya answered.

Ah, good. I would like to try this, but I wanted to ask if you have a preferred recipe? I could find one, but then it might not be what you like and then I would have failed as a chef, she said with self-deprecating humor.

Umm, yes, we can give you one. It's not perfect, but it's the closest I've been able to get to my father's.

You will not mind if I, uh, tweak?

I suppose not. I'm no chef, Saya offered a small smile of her own. The vegetable lasagna was delicious. It's what made me wonder how well you could make hasperat.

Excellent! You will bring me the recipe tomorrow!

Certainly, Saya answered.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

Judy had offered a hand to the chef rather early on, but let her converse with Saya for a bit. Not every conversation had to involve her directly, instantly, and at all points. The world did not revolve around Judith Eastman.

However, she joined into the conversation a little later, after the hasperat had been mentioned.
"I hope you won't mind if I, or more likely all three of us, loiter a bit in the kitchen. I'm an avid cook, have been for decades now, so I'm very interested to see how you manage in such a small space."

One thing, in all this, had been forgotten.
"Judy, by the way. These are Saya and Kyo. Pleased to meet you."

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Pleasure, the woman replied. Alexa Paliki, chef extraordinaire! she said with a flourish, then grinned.

Ehh, coming in the kitchen is difficult, you understand? It is a very small space, as you said. But brief visits, yes, that can be permitted. One at a time.

Saya smiled and demurred. I appreciate the offer for my part, but while I enjoy cooking, I'm actually more interested in seeing the engines.

Ah, the technical mind. I understand. Still, you are welcome if you change your mind.

I must get back to my stove before that idiot Stephan burns down the kitchen.

She flounced back to her domain.

[Judith Eastman]

[Train]

"Definitely wouldn't be good to have the kitchen burn down," Judy said, as she waved the chef goodbye. A brief visit was a compromise she'd have to accept, and it'd probably turn out to be sufficient.

"Now, I believe we've eaten what we came here to eat, and I'm feeling a bit tired," she then told Kyo and Saya. "To me, that means it's time to sleep in a real narrow bed."

[Ozu Saya]

[Train]

Saya raised a sardonic brow at Judy as they gathered themselves to leave the dining car. I do believe you have the widest of the beds, though I imagine the corgis will reduce that space somewhat.

That reminds me, Kyo interjected. Do you want the bottom bunk so you don't have to worry about Alieth falling out of the top?

Saya hadn't gotten far enough to think of that, but it made sense. Will you have any difficulty on the top?

No. I mean, either one is going to be too short for me, so it doesn't matter.

Very well. I appreciate it, and I'm certain Alieth will, too.

The corridors were somewhat crowded as they made their way back to their car as other diners were returning to their own suites and cabins.