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[faithfulflame]

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[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.]

[divinable]

Khura'inese food are known to have many spices in them, but I have never encountered something so hot before.

[ she does eat a lot of ginger, though. how's that for bad breath... ]

[faithfulflame]

It's American food. They do everything in extremes.

[Ugh...]

[divinable]

Like the milkshake from when we met, is that correct?

[ the one with the chocolates and pretzels and diabetes. ]

[faithfulflame]

Yes. That's right. American.

[You brought that on yourself, small child.]

[divinable]

That was pleasant, at least. You have done something good, America.

[ dear god ]