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It's <span class="mu-i">fine</span> that a Jaxtian wants to try your cultural food. If anything, you enjoy seeing the other races of the Hegemony interested in the Swall, especially since you always felt like the fish out from the school. Jaxtians are omnivores, after all. Besides, it's not like a <span class="mu-i">Vetucker</span> will ever be interested in trying your food; or at least if one is, that would be a <span class="mu-i">real</span> fish out of water.
You decide to give the Jaxtian a simple fold-over cut. You expertly slice along the fish's meat, organs already carefully removed and digestive track cleaned and washed, to create a uniform thickness with your ultra-thin and sharp knife; chilled in the refrigerated scabbard built into the preparation deck. At the end, you fold the meat over itself, creating a single fold that gives the meat a uniform, basic mouthfeel with a bit of heft to it. It's a classic, only a lay-flat is more commonly ordered type of cut. You place it on a luxurious tray with a beveled surface, ultra-slick ceramic coating on the top allow it to easily and perfectly slide anything placed onto it directly into the mouth of the restaurant's patron, only requiring you to lift and tilt the place into your mouth. Beside it, you also present two basic toppings; a cup of dried algae flakes specially farmed in the algae bloom preserves above the ecumenopolis to add texture if sprinkled over your carefully cut slice, and a cup of two parts water and one part oyster sauce; watered down significantly as to not spoil the natural umai of the meat. You hope he doesn't go too crazy on the toppings, but you have to cater to the customer somewhat in any business; even one run by the Hegemony.
<span class="mu-r">”Your slice is ready, Sir.”</span>
Grabbing it off the plate and crushing the well-prepped slice with his fingers, the delicate folds crushing up into a ball, and shoving it into his mouth, the monkey chews. He gulps it without allowing the meat to melt on his tongue, and swallows it down in but a few seconds.
“Ahh! Hey, that was pretty good! And so filling, wow! That protein. Thanks!”
He seems strangely satisfied with just one slice. He pats his belly with satisfaction, almost as if mocking you, but he seems grateful for the experience. You suppose Jaxtians don't eat that much meat; so even a relatively small amount like this is like what a heavy steak would be for your people.
