>>5159827The news is on, the sound is low and fighting with a cheap radio but an anchor woman is talking about the rising tensions in the east, gunfire had even been exchanged around the Zakha region and the growing spread of the Lunar Plague. Stock troubles and Food shortages. The usual toils of life. "What are you baby killers eating?" The man asked loud enough for everyone to hear, you look over. So does the rest of your team, Suranovich seemed uncomfortable. The drunk boys were clearly bothered as well. The senior pilot worked to cut the tension and quickly began to read out her order for the man. She orders for the table, keeping the man's attention away from you all.
The flutey music helps to sooth the situation as a meandering conversation is shared. You had never eaten a Kebab before, it was hard to hide how excited you were. You had years of institution cooking. The senior pilot finally heads back over, finding a seat on Suranovich's lap with a sigh. "Sorry about him, Qadir can be coarse. But he makes a mean donner." Your world jumped, for a second you fell into sleep. But was brought back by touch. The table was being served coffee by the girl. She had rich almond skin, Dimitri in his drunken state failed to come across as interesting. Declaring himself a Phobos pilot to her, she didn't seem that interested. You noticed the scars along her collar, thin purple traces that crisscrossed. Her left arm was missing, in place was an antique artificial one.
Yellow tinted porcelain stood out against her own dark skin. You focus on drinking, the pressure was slipping away. The world slowly and coldly creeps back in. The food came next, the smell was irresistible. A thick Pita bread was loaded with meat, vegetables and painted in a thick pale sauce. It was creamy and heavy with garlic, the hint of hot spices hiding somewhere within. You all ate cheerfully, humming and hawing in agreement with the others. Suranovich and Francheska forced you all to drink water, trying to revive the strung out youths. "So who are you friends Fransceza?" The aged man towered over the table, hands on his hips as he weighed you all up and down. The girl went on to explain how the boys were novice pilots.
