It smelled good. Savory and aromatic, which surprised her. Why, she didn’t know, except that she expected frozen food sticks or something, she figured.
They didn’t have standard utensils like she was used to. Instead, it was a kind of chopsticks, but with little teeth on the ends, and it took her a few minutes to get used to them. But soon, she was able to eat well with them.
“Makes me wish I would have practiced more when I got chopsticks with my takeout at home.” Jana tried for the third time to pick up the meatball in her meal.
“What kind of utensils do you use on your world?”
“Forks, spoons, and knives.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You need three things to eat with?”
“In some cases, more than three. There are some cultures that use sticks like these for eating, but I had never learned the proper way to hold them.” She held them up, still struggling with the right tension on them.
He held his hand up again, showing her finger placement, and she mimicked the hold as best she could. His fingers were much larger than hers.
“They make little holders if you need one to help you learn.”
She smiled. “I’ll figure it out.” She tried one more time, and this time was able to get the meatball. “See?” She took a bite.
He smiled at her.
Purple and all, she did like the way he smiled. It was truly genuine, she thought. Slightly awkward but still genuine.
“So, tell me something, Phares. That guy that was here. You called him your parental. Can you define what that means?”
Please don’t mean his dad,she thought.Please, not his father.
“He is my parental. His seed made me.”
Damn.“That’s what I was wondering.” She sighed. “Threatening a mate’s father on first meeting is probably not the best way to make a first impression.”
“He is likely spinning a tale of my return with a crazed sex worker as we dine here.” The bitterness in his tone was almost tangible, it was so strong.
“I am sorry I made things worse,” she said. “Should I apologize to him? Would that help?”
He shook his head. “He is problematic in his own right. If it were not for the Mining Guild, he might be one of those without residence that you served in your charity kitchen.”
“Does he struggle with addiction?”
“Only narcissism, which is emphasized with drink.”
“I’m sorry,” Jana said and patted his knee.
His hand touched hers. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She watched him for a moment as he took another bite of his food. “You haven’t had a lot of kindness in your life, have you?”
He blinked. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is the job.”
“Kindness always matters. Truth. Integrity. Kindness, they’re all important.”
“Getting the job done. That is what matters.”
“At any cost?”
He opened his mouth, like he was about to speak, but stopped himself.
Looked down.
