04 | Video

[talesuntold]

Good afternoon, my darlings.

That last event was a rough one for a lot of people, and I know some of us are also bracing for what comes next. I'll be in the kitchen for the next four hours, and I'll take requests the whole time I'm there. I think we could all use a little comfort food, or some distraction.

Requests don't necessarily have to be culinary in nature. I'd be delighted to improvise a poem or tell you a story. An off-the-cuff Scheherazade, with bonus cookies.

Come keep me company for awhile.

[Of course, certain people don't have a choice in the matter. She has conchas baking for Seth, cookies for Wirt, all her teammates' favorites, and so on. Friends and acquaintances who fail to show up may well find Maggie at their doors afterward with a plate in hand.

Even a few people who might not expect it, if she's ever had reason to worry about them.

Maggie is going to start climbing the walls if she doesn't find meaningful ways to fill up her days here. This takes care of one day.]

Comments

[quickgenius]

[Jesse doesn’t blink at the mention of zombies. One of her best friends here comes from a world dealing with zombies, and she’s met one since arriving here.] Turkey it is, then. Mom usually made it with beef or venison, but I’ve taken to experimenting a little with it.

I’m Jesse. Jesse Wells.

[talesuntold]

A pleasure to meet you, Jesse. You could also manage it with emu if you really feel like experimenting, but everyone here looks at me strangely when I suggest that one. It's what I use for meatloaf.

[quickgenius]

[If it makes Maggie feel any better, Jesse certainly isn't. She's seriously contemplating the idea.] That sounds pretty good, actually. Never had it in meatloaf before, either. I should try it.

[talesuntold]

[She grins.] Oh good. You should have seen Seth's face when I offered to make emu burgers.

Is it a secret family recipe, or am I allowed to help you cook?

[quickgenius]

[Jesse grins right back]

I would love the help, honestly.

[talesuntold]

I'm open to direction, then. Family recipes are always nice. I'm making a couple of my abuela's today.

[quickgenius]

[Jesse starts puttering about gathering the necessary supplies.]

Mom used to use her lasagne to get my dad out of the lab. She was usually in there with him, but when he'd get super lost in his work or when a particular project was consuming him she'd make a batch of lasagne and sure enough he'd follow the scent right out.