| [Jul. 25th, 2013|06:01 am] |
Genma shrugged. “It’s okay. I never really knew her. Sometimes I think I remember little bits of her, but other times I think I’m just making it up. I mean, I was two and a half. It’s just been me and Dad as long as I can remember.”
He winced as he ate another bite of seventh-level-of-hell flavored omelet; it felt like the garyuu was excavating new sinus cavities with every eye-watering mouthful.
Raidou eyed the diminishing mound of red-speckled egg with a look of extreme doubt. “I don't want to stand between a man and his dining choices, but you look like you're actually doing yourself injury,” he said. Genma was about to protest that it wasn’t that bad when Raidou added, “Which'd be a little ironic in a medic.”
“You have a point,” Genma said. He reached for the bread—a thick-sliced toasting loaf—and gave his palate a rest. It was telling, perhaps, that the soft bread felt like sandpaper on his throat. “I like spicy stuff, but that’s practically a munition. I bet it’d make a nasty contact irritant. You picked it up on a mission to Wind?”
“Yeah,” Raidou said, amused. “Not for purposes of assassination, though. I was more thinking, y'know, curry.”
“Curry,” Genma agreed. “That’s definitely a better idea than my death-wish omelet.” He gazed ruefully at the unfinished egg, still hungry, but the thought of what was going to happen to the rest of his digestive tract if he kept going stopped him from taking another bite. And really, with the bread and milk, he’d taken the edge off the hunger. He could always grab something at the cafeteria while he was up here near the barracks. Maybe even shower and change at HQ before going back into town. Aoba would appreciate it if Genma didn’t use all the hot water.
“I should get out of your hair, I guess.” Genma pushed back from the table a little and drained the rest of the glass of milk. “You have anything exciting planned tonight? I think I have the office set up and ready for tomorrow’s meet-and-greet with the newbies, but if there’s anything you want me to do to get ready, I’ve got a few more hours in me, if I can get a shower.”
“Hell no,” Raidou said, waving a dismissive hand and shaking his head. “Take a night off, enjoy yourself. We've got it all to come tomorrow. Grab the break while you can.”
Now that was a considerate superior officer. “Thanks, man,” Genma said. “Subdue the Honey is playing at Infusion Lounge tonight. If I can convince myself to go back out after I get cleaned up, I might go catch the show.”
Raidou’s mouth quirked wry. “Man?”
“Uh. Captain.”
“Thanks, dude,” Raidou said, so dry Genma couldn’t tell whether Raidou was amused or annoyed and making a point.
Right. Not Hajime. Genma picked up his bowl and Raidou’s plate, and stood up. “I can wash up, if you’d like.”
“Want to water the fern, too?” Raidou said, nodding at a lush-looking maidenhair overflowing the edges of a clay pot on the kitchen sink windowsill.
“Sure?” Genma said, entirely unsure, but willing to go with it.
“I’m so kidding. Go take your shower,” Raidou told him, cracking a smile.
“Yeah.” Genma looked down at the mud spattering his dark-clad leg, and could only guess how he smelled. “I definitely need one.” He put the dirty dishes down by the sink and went to put his boots back on, turning to tap a salute at the door. “Thanks, taichou.”
“Lieutenant,” Raidou said, returning the salute. |
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