That, I thought we could decide together— depends on what you might have on hand, but with all of this, I figure we can turn anything into a feast.
[Which is saying something, because he himself is quite a fan of Tifa's cooking— as is the rest of the gang— but it would be a lot to expect her to feed everyone all on her own.]
Whatever we decide, though, you're taking it easy. You spend enough of your time looking after all of us.
[Tifa always feels more at home when she's there to take care of the others. It comes so naturally, and it's easier for her to do it while staying back and running the bar while the rest of them are out in the field, so it works out in everyone's favour.
She pauses to think, running inventory through in her head.]
There isn't much around here, but we'll figure something out. I think there's some meat in the freezer we can use to make patties. Maybe even fire up a grill outside in the back? [As for the produce he's brought, she gestures to all of it.] ... And a big salad bar. What do you think?
You might enjoy it, but maybe we want to take care of you sometimes.
[From one mother hen to another, and all— he enjoys this kind of thing, too, although he doesn't have quite the same knack for it that Tifa does. Still, there's a certain quality that comes from having been a teacher before he'd come to join the ranks here.
He folds his arms across his chest and gives a firm nod of approval.]
Sounds perfect— burgers are always a crowd-pleaser. [Especially this crowd.] And we gotta enjoy this stuff while it's fresh! Not every day we get an opportunity like this.
[Grocery shopping in the slums can be challenging, to say the least, although running Seventh Heaven means that Tifa is usually better off that most when it comes to supplies.]
Won't be interrupting business if we take the place over for the evening, will it? Since we didn't have a meeting or anything planned ahead of time.
[With all the Avalanche goings-on, she's become accustomed to balancing meetings and the regular patrons that come and go. Besides, that's why there's two of them, right? A lot of the people know about their cause, and those who visit more often are usually understanding about her multi-tasking. She always makes sure that a customer never goes ignored for too long.
She moves to the freezer to start digging through it for the meat, and what she pulls out is a giant hunk of frozen ground beef for the burgers that she slaps onto the counter in front of Biggs.]
They'll have to be made from scratch, but we can use my top secret Seventh Heaven burger recipe.
[She's always been good at balancing both the business and their team, something that Biggs has always admired. Yet another reason he feels she deserves some recognition. While she goes to dig for meat, he lifts the crate of produce and carries it over towards the sink— there's a lot of washing to be done before they can turn its contents into a salad bar.]
Top-secret, huh.
[He looks back at her over his shoulder, shooting her a grin.]
Gonna make me turn the other way while you work on them? Kind of defeats the purpose of helping... I promise, I'll take your secret to the grave.
I guess I can make one exception. [Tifa waggles a single digit at Biggs.] As long as you promise not to tell another soul.
[Honestly? She doesn't care all that much. It isn't as top-secret as she's leading him to believe, but where's the fun in that? She's pretty sure she got it out of some barbeque recipe book a long time ago, when she first opened up the bar, but she can't recall which one. Still, she hasn't tasted any other burgers quite like them, so she'll keep her methods a secret until then!
From out of the cupboards, she grabs what's left of a bag of bread and takes out a few slices, as well as a bowl, and some milk from the fridge.]
First, you wanna get to work on crumbling some of these up with some milk? Gotta make it pasty.
[He lays a hand over his chest, just to show his sincerity, though he knows full well this isn't all that serious.]
Cross my heart. Not a word.
[And of all the members of AVALANCHE, he'd like to think he ranks pretty high on the list when it comes to 'trustworthy.'
He's quick to wash his hands before getting to work, but once he does, he doesn't hesitate in doing what he's been told.]
You got it. [He'll gladly relieve her of that bread, and quickly starts getting to work breaking it down into the bowl provided.] For the record, this isn't just for today. If you ever need a sous chef, I'm happy to help out— just say the word.
[Meanwhile, Tifa begins to gather the remainder of the ingredients, including unwrapping the meat.]
Are you trying to wiggle your way into a permanent position here at Seventh Heaven?
[They could all work here permanently if they wanted to, but the better question was whether or not they'd be able to handle making the drinks on the busier nights.
A sous chef doesn't sound so bad when he says it out loud, though. She gets enough people coming in for pizza and the like, and then there's the ones who get cravings a few beers into the night...]
I'm gonna need to conduct an interview if you want that!
Just offering a helping hand! I do have other things to keep me busy, don't know if I could go full-time, but—
[The entire conversation is playful in tone, but there's definitely some truth to it. She works hard, keeping this place running all on her own and doing her part as a member of AVALANCHE. There's the business with the water filters, too.]
Hey, any questions you have, I'm an open book.
[He shoots her another grin as he makes short work of the bread, breaking the last of it down.]
Just saying, you don't have to do it all on your own all the time.
[Continuing with the spirit of the conversation, Tifa pauses in piling the ground beef to walk over to him with a bottle of ketchup shaking in her hands, eyes fixed on him as they glimmer with a playful smile. She sets it down next to his bowl for him to use later, as well as some Worcestershire (or the equivalent) sauce slid across the counter.]
What do you think your relevant strengths are for the job? Sous chef, right?
[Well, what better time to interview him then when she can watch him work? He takes it easily in stride, his mood still bright— they don't have a lot to smile about down here in the slums, but Tifa's optimism has always served as a reminder to enjoy the moments as they come and take pleasure in the simple things.]
Well, I know where to find killer produce, for one.
[Alright, he'd gotten lucky, but it could happen again.]
Hmm. I know how to follow orders and defer to the head chef?
[Meaning he won't question how she chooses to run her kitchen. The contents of the bowl in front of him, meanwhile, are finally starting to look pasty, as requested.]
Timely. Dedicated. I've never caused a grease fire once, unlike some other people we know.
[And that's why Wedge is only permitted on the customer side of the bar.]
[That last point is important. She doesn't need someone setting the bar on fire (lol) anytime soon! Everything else, Tifa already knows about him, and in the end, it isn't just about following orders, but also about knowing what you're doing when it comes time to do things on your own! Improvising, too. All things that Biggs excels at, in and out of the kitchen.
She slides up right next to him and squeezes a pinch of ketchup into the bowl.]
You're off to a great start.
[But he shouldn't get too cocky just yet! That was one of the easier questions! Next into the bowl comes the Worcestershire.]
If you could bring one thing you think could improve the bar, what would it be?
[He leans just a little to his left to make room, lifting his hands out of the bowl long enough for her to add the next ingredients before he resumes mixing. It's got some color now, at least— a few steps closer to being burgers.]
Hmm. Now, that almost seems like a trick question— I'm not about to challenge your authority, and you know we all love this place the way it is.
[That said, that doesn't mean there's no room for improvements at all. Her cooking and drinks are both perfect as-is, but he worries about her working herself to exhaustion without help.]
Maybe some mandatory time off for the boss. We all see how hard you work here. But, if we're talking about the menu... I helped put a vegetable garden together at the Leaf House not too long ago. Would be kind of nice to have one of your own, wouldn't it? Hard to grow around these parts, but something like that could make the bar even more memorable than it already is.
[The only trick part of the question is that he's already got the job if he wants it! It's nice, hearing what other people have to say – the rest of them are always so busy with missions that they hardly get the time to talk about what can be done to help improve the business, too! They're all as much a part of the Seventh Heaven family as she is.
With a smile, Tifa slaps the slab of ground beef before she begins breaking it up into smaller chunks to dump into Biggs' bowl – once he's finished his mixture.
Of course he'd say that. Tifa does spend a lot of her time working that she's hardly had any chance to decorate the bar, or her apartment. Or even go shopping for either. That would be nice, but her business comes first! That isn't to say she won't treat herself once in a while, which is why her eyes light up at the idea of a garden.]
[He quickly adapts as she starts breaking meat into the bowl, mixing things together thoroughly as the consistency of it changes between his fingers. It's not an unfamiliar feeling, but he can't remember the last time he had occasion to do something like this— given that he lives alone and eats a lot of his meals here at the bar, most of what he makes for himself is pretty simple and doesn't involve a lot of prep, even if he knows full well how to cook.
His smile pulls to one side, boyish.]
I don't know if I'd go that far, but I've had some experience thanks to helping out the kids. There's a gardener who lives nearby that's really helped get that project moving for them, she might have passed along some tips. Herbs are pretty easy, at least— they don't need a whole lot of space, but they're not very exciting to look at, so the kids at the Leaf House didn't want to include too many of them in their garden project. Got lots of seeds left over that I don't think the teachers are going to put to use anytime soon.
I'm sure we could find the space. Doubt the soil's any good down here, but I'm sure we could figure something out!
[As long as Wedge's cats don't come around and try to eat any of them.
That said, she can already think of some places where a raised garden of some kind could be built. Out front, maybe, would be best she thinks—it would add some colour to the front of the bar which is pretty plain, at best. Maybe that addition will draw in even more customers, and they could advertise that the food is made with only the freshest, greenest ingredients, home-grown on the ground floor of Sector Seven.
Tifa watches as Biggs works his hands into the mixture, and there's a giggle from beside him when it squishes.]
You should take me there sometime. The Leaf House.
I might be able to help with that part, actually— I might know someone who can give us a hand with the soil issue.
[Considering herbs do well in windowboxes or other small planters, it's not like they would have to use the local soil. He could probably get his hands on some from somewhere else, but he has a feeling that the only real gardener he knows is going to take it out of him in trade, maybe. Well, he can worry about that later.
He looks over his shoulder at her once more, canting his head slightly.]
Yeah? You want to see it?
[His smile pulls wider, pleasantly surprised.]
It's not much to look at sometimes, but I know the kids there are always excited to get visitors— meet someone new.
[She hasn't had the time to! But she knows it means a lot to Biggs, and what's important to her family is important to her, too. She'd like to meet the kids one day, and maybe even bring them some gifts besides small herbs and flowers to plant in their garden.
Time to start flattening the meat into patties, and Tifa slides the bowl so that it's between them and begins to demonstrate while maintaining the conversation. Slap! goes the first patty onto the tray!]
[He begins to follow her example as they talk, watching her just long enough to get an idea of the size she's aiming for before beginning to start flattening meat into patties for himself. It's not long before there are two more on the tray, with many soon to follow.]
Yeah— honestly, I don't remember ever being anywhere else beforehand. Wedge was there awhile, too, but he came later on.
[Neither one of them have blood relatives, though, which is why their AVALANCHE family is so important to them— and why they've seized every opportunity to visit Jessie's parents along with her on the rare occasion that they arise.]
It's not a terrible place to grow up. Sector 5's community does what they can to help keep the place going, too. Nobody there has much, but everyone gives all the same.
[Soon enough, the burger patties become second nature to her while they talk, with their collection slowly growing. They'll have enough to feed half the slums at the rate they're going, which probably wouldn't be a terrible thing.]
I hardly ever get the time to visit anywhere else, let alone leave the bar.
[She has no problem with that, of course. Tifa loves being here and loves what she does, so pouring all of her energy into keeping this place running is important to her. She would, however, still love to get out there and see more of the slums beyond Sector Seven.]
Only been there once or twice before to pick up supplies. Sector Five doesn't seem like such a bad place. [She sets down another patty with a fond laugh.] It's interesting... how each Sector is so different. Topside is all the same, but the ground floor's got so much personality, y'know?
[Hey, nothing not to love about leftovers— but given the people involved, it's more likely they'll make sure any extra food goes into mouths that could use it. It's one of the things he actually likes about living in the slums, despite the fact that he's never really known anything else— people rally to help one another, to offer each other small kindnesses where they can. They're a community, one he's grown attached to over the years.
He shoots her another smile as they work their way towards the bottom of the bowl, giving a nod of concession.]
Guess you're right about that. All the more reason to let some of us help around here a little more often, right?
[And not just him, regardless of the on-the-fly interview. He knows Tifa has this place well in hand, but he hopes she knows that she can ask for help if she needs it.]
But I've thought the same thing— about every Sector having its own sort of flavor to it. It all comes down to the people who live there, doesn't it? Everyone puts everything they have into making the slums livable, into making it home, and it shows. We've got quite a variety here on the ground floor.
[Tifa wouldn't have it any other way. Nibelheim will forever be her hometown, and even after it's long gone, she still holds it and the memories from there dear to her heart, but it was the people of Sector Seven that helped her get back on her feet. AVALANCHE—no, Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, and Barret were the ones who had her back and were her very first loyal customers to Seventh Heaven.
It feels like so long ago, but she remembers those days like they were yesterday.
She reaches the bottom of the bowl, preparing one last patty and slapping it down with the rest, and she claps her sticky hands together as if to shake off the meat. It does nothing of course, but habits and all.]
Alright! I think we're ready to fire up the grill. Now you can really show me what you're made of!
[Between the two of them, they'd made pretty quick work of that bowl. He grins before gesturing towards the sink, offering her the opportunity to wash her hands first, even as he flicks a tiny bit of excess off his own hands and into the bowl.]
Trial by fire, huh?
[As Dad Jokes go, it's not the worst, but still not great.]
By all means. I'll aim to impress! Promise I know how to work it and everything.
[That is a pretty awful dad joke—definitely not his best—but it still draws a laugh out of her as she sticks her hands under the running water in the sink, pumping her hands full of soap to get her fingers squeaky clean again.]
I'm gonna hold you to that.
[She flicks a little bit of water at him, not aiming for his face, but playfully at his belly.]
Last time I let Wedge work the thing, pretty sure he would've burned down my patio if I hadn't gone out there in time.
[Bless his soul... He just wanted to help, but sometimes, he does it in the most dangerous ways possible.]
[He laughs a little, throwing an arm up as if to defend himself from incoming fire, letting the water hit the front of his shirt and temporarily stain it darker. Once she's done, he takes his own turn at the sink, taking care to soap well past his wrists to be safe. Never can be too careful with food preparation, especially with raw meat.]
Poor guy. He does his best— just wants to help out, but sometimes he's a little too eager for his own good.
[The team wouldn't be the same without him, though. Biggs can't imagine AVALANCHE without him.]
Maybe next time you can put him on dishes. Lets him help out and keeps your hands free for awhile.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Which is saying something, because he himself is quite a fan of Tifa's cooking— as is the rest of the gang— but it would be a lot to expect her to feed everyone all on her own.]
Whatever we decide, though, you're taking it easy. You spend enough of your time looking after all of us.
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[Tifa always feels more at home when she's there to take care of the others. It comes so naturally, and it's easier for her to do it while staying back and running the bar while the rest of them are out in the field, so it works out in everyone's favour.
She pauses to think, running inventory through in her head.]
There isn't much around here, but we'll figure something out. I think there's some meat in the freezer we can use to make patties. Maybe even fire up a grill outside in the back? [As for the produce he's brought, she gestures to all of it.] ... And a big salad bar. What do you think?
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[From one mother hen to another, and all— he enjoys this kind of thing, too, although he doesn't have quite the same knack for it that Tifa does. Still, there's a certain quality that comes from having been a teacher before he'd come to join the ranks here.
He folds his arms across his chest and gives a firm nod of approval.]
Sounds perfect— burgers are always a crowd-pleaser. [Especially this crowd.] And we gotta enjoy this stuff while it's fresh! Not every day we get an opportunity like this.
[Grocery shopping in the slums can be challenging, to say the least, although running Seventh Heaven means that Tifa is usually better off that most when it comes to supplies.]
Won't be interrupting business if we take the place over for the evening, will it? Since we didn't have a meeting or anything planned ahead of time.
[He maybe... hadn't thought about that.]
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[With all the Avalanche goings-on, she's become accustomed to balancing meetings and the regular patrons that come and go. Besides, that's why there's two of them, right? A lot of the people know about their cause, and those who visit more often are usually understanding about her multi-tasking. She always makes sure that a customer never goes ignored for too long.
She moves to the freezer to start digging through it for the meat, and what she pulls out is a giant hunk of frozen ground beef for the burgers that she slaps onto the counter in front of Biggs.]
They'll have to be made from scratch, but we can use my top secret Seventh Heaven burger recipe.
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Top-secret, huh.
[He looks back at her over his shoulder, shooting her a grin.]
Gonna make me turn the other way while you work on them? Kind of defeats the purpose of helping... I promise, I'll take your secret to the grave.
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[Honestly? She doesn't care all that much. It isn't as top-secret as she's leading him to believe, but where's the fun in that? She's pretty sure she got it out of some barbeque recipe book a long time ago, when she first opened up the bar, but she can't recall which one. Still, she hasn't tasted any other burgers quite like them, so she'll keep her methods a secret until then!
From out of the cupboards, she grabs what's left of a bag of bread and takes out a few slices, as well as a bowl, and some milk from the fridge.]
First, you wanna get to work on crumbling some of these up with some milk? Gotta make it pasty.
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Cross my heart. Not a word.
[And of all the members of AVALANCHE, he'd like to think he ranks pretty high on the list when it comes to 'trustworthy.'
He's quick to wash his hands before getting to work, but once he does, he doesn't hesitate in doing what he's been told.]
You got it. [He'll gladly relieve her of that bread, and quickly starts getting to work breaking it down into the bowl provided.] For the record, this isn't just for today. If you ever need a sous chef, I'm happy to help out— just say the word.
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Are you trying to wiggle your way into a permanent position here at Seventh Heaven?
[They could all work here permanently if they wanted to, but the better question was whether or not they'd be able to handle making the drinks on the busier nights.
A sous chef doesn't sound so bad when he says it out loud, though. She gets enough people coming in for pizza and the like, and then there's the ones who get cravings a few beers into the night...]
I'm gonna need to conduct an interview if you want that!
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[The entire conversation is playful in tone, but there's definitely some truth to it. She works hard, keeping this place running all on her own and doing her part as a member of AVALANCHE. There's the business with the water filters, too.]
Hey, any questions you have, I'm an open book.
[He shoots her another grin as he makes short work of the bread, breaking the last of it down.]
Just saying, you don't have to do it all on your own all the time.
no subject
[Continuing with the spirit of the conversation, Tifa pauses in piling the ground beef to walk over to him with a bottle of ketchup shaking in her hands, eyes fixed on him as they glimmer with a playful smile. She sets it down next to his bowl for him to use later, as well as some Worcestershire (or the equivalent) sauce slid across the counter.]
What do you think your relevant strengths are for the job? Sous chef, right?
[Is she interviewing him now? She sure is!]
no subject
Well, I know where to find killer produce, for one.
[Alright, he'd gotten lucky, but it could happen again.]
Hmm. I know how to follow orders and defer to the head chef?
[Meaning he won't question how she chooses to run her kitchen. The contents of the bowl in front of him, meanwhile, are finally starting to look pasty, as requested.]
Timely. Dedicated. I've never caused a grease fire once, unlike some other people we know.
[And that's why Wedge is only permitted on the customer side of the bar.]
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She slides up right next to him and squeezes a pinch of ketchup into the bowl.]
You're off to a great start.
[But he shouldn't get too cocky just yet! That was one of the easier questions! Next into the bowl comes the Worcestershire.]
If you could bring one thing you think could improve the bar, what would it be?
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Hmm. Now, that almost seems like a trick question— I'm not about to challenge your authority, and you know we all love this place the way it is.
[That said, that doesn't mean there's no room for improvements at all. Her cooking and drinks are both perfect as-is, but he worries about her working herself to exhaustion without help.]
Maybe some mandatory time off for the boss. We all see how hard you work here. But, if we're talking about the menu... I helped put a vegetable garden together at the Leaf House not too long ago. Would be kind of nice to have one of your own, wouldn't it? Hard to grow around these parts, but something like that could make the bar even more memorable than it already is.
no subject
With a smile, Tifa slaps the slab of ground beef before she begins breaking it up into smaller chunks to dump into Biggs' bowl – once he's finished his mixture.
Of course he'd say that. Tifa does spend a lot of her time working that she's hardly had any chance to decorate the bar, or her apartment. Or even go shopping for either. That would be nice, but her business comes first! That isn't to say she won't treat herself once in a while, which is why her eyes light up at the idea of a garden.]
I didn't know you had such a green thumb!
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His smile pulls to one side, boyish.]
I don't know if I'd go that far, but I've had some experience thanks to helping out the kids. There's a gardener who lives nearby that's really helped get that project moving for them, she might have passed along some tips. Herbs are pretty easy, at least— they don't need a whole lot of space, but they're not very exciting to look at, so the kids at the Leaf House didn't want to include too many of them in their garden project. Got lots of seeds left over that I don't think the teachers are going to put to use anytime soon.
no subject
[As long as Wedge's cats don't come around and try to eat any of them.
That said, she can already think of some places where a raised garden of some kind could be built. Out front, maybe, would be best she thinks—it would add some colour to the front of the bar which is pretty plain, at best. Maybe that addition will draw in even more customers, and they could advertise that the food is made with only the freshest, greenest ingredients, home-grown on the ground floor of Sector Seven.
Tifa watches as Biggs works his hands into the mixture, and there's a giggle from beside him when it squishes.]
You should take me there sometime. The Leaf House.
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[Considering herbs do well in windowboxes or other small planters, it's not like they would have to use the local soil. He could probably get his hands on some from somewhere else, but he has a feeling that the only real gardener he knows is going to take it out of him in trade, maybe. Well, he can worry about that later.
He looks over his shoulder at her once more, canting his head slightly.]
Yeah? You want to see it?
[His smile pulls wider, pleasantly surprised.]
It's not much to look at sometimes, but I know the kids there are always excited to get visitors— meet someone new.
no subject
[She hasn't had the time to! But she knows it means a lot to Biggs, and what's important to her family is important to her, too. She'd like to meet the kids one day, and maybe even bring them some gifts besides small herbs and flowers to plant in their garden.
Time to start flattening the meat into patties, and Tifa slides the bowl so that it's between them and begins to demonstrate while maintaining the conversation. Slap! goes the first patty onto the tray!]
You grew up there, didn't you?
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Yeah— honestly, I don't remember ever being anywhere else beforehand. Wedge was there awhile, too, but he came later on.
[Neither one of them have blood relatives, though, which is why their AVALANCHE family is so important to them— and why they've seized every opportunity to visit Jessie's parents along with her on the rare occasion that they arise.]
It's not a terrible place to grow up. Sector 5's community does what they can to help keep the place going, too. Nobody there has much, but everyone gives all the same.
no subject
I hardly ever get the time to visit anywhere else, let alone leave the bar.
[She has no problem with that, of course. Tifa loves being here and loves what she does, so pouring all of her energy into keeping this place running is important to her. She would, however, still love to get out there and see more of the slums beyond Sector Seven.]
Only been there once or twice before to pick up supplies. Sector Five doesn't seem like such a bad place. [She sets down another patty with a fond laugh.] It's interesting... how each Sector is so different. Topside is all the same, but the ground floor's got so much personality, y'know?
no subject
He shoots her another smile as they work their way towards the bottom of the bowl, giving a nod of concession.]
Guess you're right about that. All the more reason to let some of us help around here a little more often, right?
[And not just him, regardless of the on-the-fly interview. He knows Tifa has this place well in hand, but he hopes she knows that she can ask for help if she needs it.]
But I've thought the same thing— about every Sector having its own sort of flavor to it. It all comes down to the people who live there, doesn't it? Everyone puts everything they have into making the slums livable, into making it home, and it shows. We've got quite a variety here on the ground floor.
no subject
[Tifa wouldn't have it any other way. Nibelheim will forever be her hometown, and even after it's long gone, she still holds it and the memories from there dear to her heart, but it was the people of Sector Seven that helped her get back on her feet. AVALANCHE—no, Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, and Barret were the ones who had her back and were her very first loyal customers to Seventh Heaven.
It feels like so long ago, but she remembers those days like they were yesterday.
She reaches the bottom of the bowl, preparing one last patty and slapping it down with the rest, and she claps her sticky hands together as if to shake off the meat. It does nothing of course, but habits and all.]
Alright! I think we're ready to fire up the grill. Now you can really show me what you're made of!
no subject
Trial by fire, huh?
[As Dad Jokes go, it's not the worst, but still not great.]
By all means. I'll aim to impress! Promise I know how to work it and everything.
[There will be no grill fires in this bar today.]
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I'm gonna hold you to that.
[She flicks a little bit of water at him, not aiming for his face, but playfully at his belly.]
Last time I let Wedge work the thing, pretty sure he would've burned down my patio if I hadn't gone out there in time.
[Bless his soul... He just wanted to help, but sometimes, he does it in the most dangerous ways possible.]
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Poor guy. He does his best— just wants to help out, but sometimes he's a little too eager for his own good.
[The team wouldn't be the same without him, though. Biggs can't imagine AVALANCHE without him.]
Maybe next time you can put him on dishes. Lets him help out and keeps your hands free for awhile.