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[thirtybits]

"This is Judah's voicemail, no need to leave your number, I'll reply as soon as I can."



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[depicted]

[Dorian settles down beside him, only able to laugh at the comment.] Yes, I do. And I can sweep and dust, and do my own laundry, and get my own food at the supermarket. I haven't had a servant in decades.

[Dorian starts pulling the foods out of the baskets, starting with a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses, but moving on to the dishes—cold cuts of roast beef, seasoned, lentil stew, the nearest approximation of ful muddamas he could manage, and canned apricots. Every single food selected as something that would have been available to Judas in his home time, or at the very least, as close to those dishes as Dorian could get.]

Sorry I couldn't get lamb, but beef seemed like a better option than trying to get meet off of the wild animals around here. A luxury, I know, but you are with one of the elite, so you may as well eat like it. And I wanted to get figs or dates, but apricots were the only things available that would work.

[thirtybits]

[Judas stares at the food, that pang of guilt hitting him immediately. There's so much food, and it looks wonderful, it's rare he sees such presentation, if ever. Not to mention the quality, sure Judas ate meat regularly after leaving Hell, but he's done away with it since coming to the Box. What's more, it's clear everything was done with him in mind, and that is truly difficult to fathom. Worry creases his brow as he bites his lip.]

You...you made this for me?

[depicted]

Well, you know. [Dorian looks down, rubbing at his mouth.] I thought, you're always bringing me food. It would only be fair. And it's been a few decades since I've eaten like this, so. I mean, I learned it in the 50's and 60's, almost two millennia after your time, so you'll have to tell me if it comes at all close. But I think I'm all right at it.

[thirtybits]

[He bites his lip harder, squeezing his fingers individually.]

I...I don't know what to say. Thank you. It looks delicious - I'd imagine that's the main difference from my time. [A small laugh.] ...But...you know I don't really... [He trails off, not knowing how to say it, and not wanting to say no.]

[depicted]

[Dorian looks up, voice picking up speed and becoming more fragile all at once.] We don't have to eat it all! You can save some for later. And I'll eat half of it, too, so you don't have to have worry about that. But, I mean, we've both been in accounting in our time, haven't we? [His laugh sounds as delicate in its happiness as his expression looks.] I owe you, don't I?

[thirtybits]

I really appreciate it. [That line is meant to lead into turning it down. Meant to. He can't bring himself to follow through. Though his chest heaves with the dilemma, he takes an apricot to start. Popping it in his mouth to commit himself to the idea.]

[depicted]

[The reward is a smile, blooming with such delight that you would want to paint the moment to give it immortality, and Dorian leans forwards on impulse to press a kiss to Judas's lips.] You'll have to tell me what you think. I think I enjoy the added taste to you. [He very happily starts up with his half of the ful muddamas.]

[thirtybits]

[He flushes, rubbing his neck as he decides to better settle in.] W-well, the fruit is good. But I guess I should be commenting on what you've made...

[depicted]

[Dorian laughs.] Yeah, those were from a can. Fortunately, I have a lot of recipes to trade, so this was all fairly easy to come across. Aside from the cramping in my hand.

[thirtybits]

[Judas takes some stew first.]

You know you don't have to do this for me, right...?

[He looks up at Dorian, eyes nearly wet.]

[depicted]

[With fingers to Judas's cheek, he seeks to reassure him.] Think of it as . . . an expression of my affections for you. There is no monetary value for such a thing, right?

[He taps once under Judas's eye.] And I already added salt. It's best if you don't add more.

[thirtybits]

No, that's true... [He forces a smile, and shifts to give Dorian a quick kiss before digging into the stew.] It is delicious - lentil soup has always been a favourite of mine.

[depicted]

[The cat purring now that it got what it wanted, Dorian slides over so he can partially lean against Judas as they eat. This is part pure affection, part deliberate effort to keep Judas's attention more on Dorian than on the (cost of the) food.] I'm pleased. It was very interesting learning about the kinds of herbs that are still mainly used locally. I'd never even heard of hyssop before I started consuming Middle Eastern cuisine.

[thirtybits]

Really? I'm surprised it hasn't been exported more. It's great for medicine, too. But I guess there are plenty of herbs and spices that only really lend well to one sort of cooking.

[depicted]

Yeah, you'd never find sumac or saffron in an English pie. [Excuse Dorian while he forks some beef for himself. Mm, meat.

(He killed the cow himself, it was traumatic.)]

[thirtybits]

You'll have to give me favourite recipes to make for you. Even as it's come to light you can cook for yourself. It's still better having someone else do it for you. Especially for simply wanting to...

[Folding a piece of beef in half, Judas decides to use it to scoop up the ful in place of bread.]

[depicted]

[He is masking his delight at Judas actually eating the beef.]

Ugh, well, I can tell you I won't be asking for much English. My country does not have a reputation for fine dining, and there is a reason for it. Some of the ingredients of my favourite may, I'm afraid, be hard to come by. [Like caviar, probably. What an asshole.]

[thirtybits]

I'm sure I can make a lobster trap. [He's sure that indicates expensive taste, and really what else would he expect from Dorian. Lobster is the first thing to come to mind as an expensive ingredient.] This is much better than what I'm used to.

[depicted]

[Dorian presses his lips together to avoid laughing, then grabs himself an apricot.] What matters is that it suits your tastes. I assume you weren't living off of ambrosia up in Heaven, if you're willing to accept this.

[thirtybits]

Oh, I wasn't really in Heaven much, our apartment's in Tokyo. So between the common cooking of the country and living with fishermen, a lot of fish.

[depicted]

[Weird comedy.] I'll remember not to make you any. Unless you really like fish.

[thirtybits]

No, I like fish. Not that it really matters anyway.

[Saint Young Men is a comedy, sorry Dorian.]

[depicted]

What, don't trust my fishing abilities?

[thirtybits]

[He laughs.] Well, there's that. But more so that there's no point in continuing to cook for me...

[depicted]

[Dorian feels a lurch in his stomach. Instead of responding to it appropriately, he claps his hand over Judas's mouth.] You're only allowed to use your mouth to praise my food or eat it. You're not starting on that now. For twenty four hours, all the normal laws are suspended. Understood?