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[faithfulflame]

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[faithfulflame]

[It's a shame Rei didn't give her that charm about an hour ago huh?]

Oh this looks nice.

[Once the food is laid out and she's said her little prayer, Rei picks up her burger and takes a sniff. Spicy. But not too bad. And then takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully while waiting to see what Rayfa will do.]

[divinable]

[ the burger is rather large, not like the kind of burgers they serve in the place. but no matter, this is going to be an experience!

she would rather use the knife and fork and slice the burger into smaller pieces, but for the sake of the fast food experience, she grabs the sandwich by its wrapper and chows down.

moments later, her face turns red and she starts coughing. ]

It's h- hot! Hot-- [ HELP. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Oh. Oh that poor thing. Rei had actually thought ahead though, and had ordered a milkshake rather than anything acidic. She pushes it across the table towards Rayfa and stick an extra straw in.]

Drink some of this. It's just vanilla, but it'll help with the burn.

[divinable]

[ she drops the sandwich on her plate and quickly makes a beeline for the milkshake, not even caring if she doesn't look prim and proper. she is going to sip the hell out of this milkshake!

and get a brainfreeze. ]

Ack— ow! Ow! What is this?!

[faithfulflame]

[Oh great.]

...An unfortunate series of events.

[A beat.]

A brain freeze. You drank that too quickly. Just...breathe, let it out, and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. It'll pass in a moment.

[divinable]

[ she flops her head on the table and groans in pain. what... is happening... all she wanted to do was try the jalapeno burger! why is everything going wrong?!

rayfa does what rei tells her to do, though. which is why in a muffled voice, she responds with: ] I'm doing it.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei isn't laughing. This isn't funny, it's just an unfortunate series of events. So, she quickly calls the waiter over and explains, ordering a second hamburger, this one called the Dis burger, for the second layer.]

I'm sorry, Rayfa-chan. Brain freeze happens when you have something cold too fast. It cools the roof of your mouth, and tightens a nerve there. Your tongue will warm it up.

[And...because she's a good senpai.]

And I just got you a replacement hamburger. It's nowhere near as hot, but it's still got spice to it. You'll still get to eat, don't worry. And I promise you'll like this one. I've had it, and it's more like a spicy curry, but with jalapenos instead of curry spice.

[divinable]

[ truly a good senpai... rayfa blinks curiously once the brain freeze has passed. a new burger? okay, but then... ]

I was hoping to enjoy the jalapeno burger.

[ for personal reasons!! ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei smiles fondly and reaches out to squeeze Rayfa's hand. She can tell the younger girl isn't quite so used to social interaction, so the touch is brief, but hopefully reassuring. It's also pretty evident that she had reasons for really wanting that particular burger.]

You will. The one I ordered has jalapenos on it. It just...doesn't have all the extra hot sauce on it. The kind you ordered had extra things onait, not just the peppers.

[Like. 4 more different kinds of spice.]

I'm sure you'll like it better when you can actually taste the jalapenos.

[divinable]

[ rei really does know how to cheer her up! rayfa smiles again, this time, a bit more genuine. ]

Thank you very much. This jalapeno burger is very important, you see.

[faithfulflame]

[Oh Rei could just tweak her little nose. She is adorable.]

Why is that, exactly?

[divinable]

[ rayfa's brows furrow and she looks at rei as if she's the enemy. ]

... You must swear to never tell.

[ oh. ]

[faithfulflame]

Alright. I swear.

[She holds out her pinky for a pinky-swear even. Blame Maya for this.]

[divinable]

[ unfortunately, pinky-swears are not a custom in khura'in ]

What is that? A promise of sorts?

[faithfulflame]

It is. Wrap your pinky around mine, and it will seal the promise. If I break it, I'll be cursed.

[To be annoyed by a tiny terror.]

[divinable]

I do not wish to curse you! I only wish for you to never speak of what I am about to say to anyone. Not even your kin!

[faithfulflame]

Rayfa-chan, it's a Japanese custom, but...as you wish. I do swear I won't tell a soul. Even Phobos and Deimos.

[divinable]

[ this is what you get for talking about curses to an overly superstitious little girl. ]

V- Very well. [ she clears her throat. ] It is... My-- My br... aid head...

[ what... ]

[faithfulflame]

Braid...head?

[She doesn't follow. CLARIFY PLZ!]

[divinable]

It is he, my br-- braid head. [ she is struggling to say the word "brother". ] He tried the jalapeno burger at a fast food chain in the United States.

[faithfulflame]

Someone important to you, then.

[Rei doesn't want to press, not her place.]

I understand. If he liked it, you want to as well.

[And right on cue, here's burger 2, the much less spicy version.]

Try this one, dear. I think it'll be more tolerable. You have to build up a resistance to all the extra spicy sauces over time.

[divinable]

He-- He is not important!

[ the tsundere has been switched on. ]

I only wish to see what is so good about it!

[ and now she takes a big bite out of spite! ]

[faithfulflame]

[Ugh tsun. Her bane.]

Better?

[divinable]

... Yes.

Thank you, again. This is a much more delightful burger.

[faithfulflame]

I'm glad. Hotter stuff's just something that you have to step up into slowly. That's the way of it.

[Rei has no desire to deal with an upset 14 year old. Especially when making her happy is so easy.

Must just be her though, she has a feeling Rayfa is a miniature dynamo that confounds people from her world.]