Issue 1 Downtime

Melissa helped spread out the blanket, flattening it out while Gar handled the food. "The food smells really good," she said, finally taking a seat on the blanket.

"Thanks." He said as he worked at the open pit fire. "Nearly done, I hope you like it. Nothing more then fine ingredients and fire." He smiled at her. "If you can set up, I'll bring everything over. You'll find what we need in the baskets."

"Sure thing," she said, fishing in the baskets and pulling out the necessary things.

Gar brought the food over dish by dish then took a seat. "Hear anything about your tests from yesterday?" He asked as she served her first.

"Inconclusive. Need more tests. Possibly involving Dr. Bowen. I'm pretty sure that's precisely what they wrote down."

"You think they ever write "Hell if I know." on those chart of theirs."

"I think that's what the post-it notes are for."

"They must go through post-it notes like crazy. My offer to glare at people still stands if you ever want to get out of being poked."

"As much as I complain, it's really probably something I should know. Mutation changes that sound good at first can end up becoming a problem later. Better to know what's going on." She took a few bites of the food, "This is really good."

"I know a guy." He winked. "One of the chefs from town needed some heavy lifting, I got the makings for a gourmet dinner for two."

"You really do have a gift."

"Got good at trading favors back north. Only real way to get everything you need."

"I was talking about the cooking," she said, reaching over to poke him.

"Ah, thick skull, slow moving wheels. Thank you. I do have a dessert you can help me with here in a bit. I'm sure you saw the collection of berries, pick your favorites and I'll us make a camp cobbler."

She looked in the basket and fished out some of the berries before going back to her food, "There you go."

He took the berries over to the fire and set the dessert cast iron pot into the embers. "That'll work while we eat." He smiled.

She settled into her meal, seeming more relaxed than Gar had ever seen her.

He smiled as he ate and watched her, trying to be careful not to appear creepy while doing so. "You look good tonight. Firelight agrees with your eyes."

"Good food, good company, it's a good evening," she said, smiling at him.