“I’m just tired, okay? Jeez, give me a break. I only just woke up, and this is a new kind of clasp system.”
“It is the most basic of skills, dressing oneself.”
“Don’t treat me like a child.”
“Of course,” he said, his gaze shifting from annoyed to slightly appreciative of her form for a split-second. “You are clearly no child.”
“Thank you.”
“But your abilities are lacking like one.”
“Oh, give it a rest, man. Seriously? At least let a girl have some coffee before you start in with this shit.”
“Coffee?”
Ziana shook her head. Of course there wasn’t coffee on this world, but the thought of a nice hot cup made her mouth water as the phantom scent wafted through her mind.
“It’s something we drink in the morning to help wake us up back on my world.”
Dorrin cocked his head slightly, nodding. “Ah, you require a cup of hot Koodzus. Some find it a useful adjunct to their morning repast.”
“Koodzus?”
“I will prepare you a cup. But be warned, it is rather bitter.”
“If it’s got caffeine in it, I’ll deal.”
He waited for her to finish dressing, refraining from any further comment on her lack of skill with the simple task, then led her to the kitchen area. It was a part of the bungalow she hadn’t really had the opportunity to examine thoroughly, but he moved through it with the familiarity of one who had stayed in the competitors’ area on many occasions.
The Koodzus was dispensed from a spigot built into the countertop, hot and fragrant as it filled the cup. The same system then dispensed a glass of cold and cloudy liquid for him.
“Does that thing handle all of our drinks?”
“Yes,” he said, handing her the cup. “Be careful, it is hot.”
“I know how to drink,” she said, taking a cautious sip.
The flavor was bitter but not unpleasant, almost like unsweetened cocoa in the way it had a subtle almost sweetness that only needed a tiny bit of sugar to be released.
“Hey, do you have anything to make this sweeter?”
“There,” he said, pointing to an almost imperceptible seam on the countertop. “Press there. Use the yellow powder.”
She did as he said, pushing on the counter. A small section rose, on it a collection of little jars with powders and liquids. An alien spice rack she assumed, taking the yellow powder he’d mentioned and opening the top. It didn’t have any smell, so she dipped her fingertip and tasted it.
“Oh, that’s interesting. Almost like powdered caramel,” she noted, tapping some into her beverage where it blended in instantly without even requiring a spoon to stir it. She took another sip, the bittersweet warmth hitting her tastebuds in the most wonderful way “Oh, yeah. Nowthat’swhat I’m talking about.”
“Do not drink too much. It can be a bit much for some races and we do not know how your kind reacts.”
“Got it. Go easy. I’ll just have the one cup for now,” she replied, already feeling a bit of a caffeine-like buzz tingling in her body. But it was different. Not jittery, but rather a warming of her core, making it feel as though her blood flow was somehow steadier and more energized but without that caffeine edge. “I like this stuff. Thanks.”
“I am glad it is to your liking.”
“It is. Now, what do we do about food?”
“We have two options. Our quarters are furnished with a fully stocked larder should we wish to prepare our own meals, but there are also the communal tables available from morning until night. As it is early in the games, it does not really matter which we choose, but later, when the numbers are reduced and strategy is discussed, it is advisable to eat on our own more often than not.”
“Got it. But for now it’s not an issue?”
