victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

"That sounds rather like kept hounds or hawks or the like."

Which, according to the people who train them, can be quite intelligent in their own right. Though Shrike can't attest to that himself; his specialties are magecraft and strategy, not animal handling.

"What an odd place..."

He might not have meant to say that last bit loud enough to be heard. He's still a fair bit disoriented.

"I cannot deny the similarities... but I have yet to meet a hawk or hound which can learn writing as a human does, and Gremlin is capable of a great many other things besides." One of them being video gaming but, well, that's an entirely other conversation.

Speaking of the devil - Gremlin comes racing back, chittering the entire time he clambers up to Dimitri's shoulder, and he nods. "Oh, I see. Then, it seems he has found a place for us to dine. I hope you will forgive that it will likely not be what you are familiar with."

Well, there are beings in Shrike's world that could be compared to Pokémon in those ways, in terms of some being as intelligent as humans. But those are fay, and fay are, well, that's probably not a great topic to ask him about. Shrike would rather not talk about them, anyway, so rather than continue discussing this point he'll take the much easier out that Gremlin's return provides.

"Unfamiliar is hardly a problem, and should it prove less than pleasant, well, I've doubtless hard worse before."

That's not being polite, he did spend a few years living by himself in the mountains as a kid, after all.

"Oh, I hope it will not be worse, or else I will have failed as a host!" Dimitri exclaims. He honestly has no idea what the average food is like here in Johto, he won't lie. It's not like he can taste it, after all. But he's never really heard complaints from the others, so...

Alright, that's a lie. Sort of. He's heard plenty of complaining from Felix. Mostly about vegetables, and how sweet things are, and soda.

But Dimitri thinks soda is just neat, so maybe Felix can be wrong on this. He's wrong on lots of things, after all! Soda would just be one more on the list.

For now, however... They're coming up to a little building that indicates they're on the outskirts of a city. Dimitri isn't sure if he knows which one, yet... But he can recognize a diner regardless.

If Shrike thought everything else was weird, the diner aesthetic may just be one more for his list.

Dimitri goes to the door. "Here - allow me."

That certainly is an aesthetic, yes. But on the other hand, it's so foreign Shrike really can't even judge. Strange? Yes. But so are, well, a lot of things.

But on the subject of strange, no doubt Shrike's appearance will almost immediately draw everyone's attention as he follows Dimitri in. Fortunately, he's quite used to that by now. He doesn't like it, but he's used to it, and simply ignores the stares. Instead, his attention is on Dimitri.

"Do you come to places like this often?"

He's curious, not judgmental.

At least, for those who have some vague idea of the strangeness of otherworlders, it's probably not the weirdest thing they've ever seen... At least, Dimitri thinks as much, and hopes any staring will pass soon enough.

There are even local trainers who dress stranger, so, you know.

"I suppose I do, when traveling," Dimitri admits, beaming at the hostess who guides them to their little diner booth. He rather thinks they're quaint and fun, honestly, but maybe it's just because these at least have cushions built into them unlike, you know. Taverns he's familiar with. "It is easier to seek a meal elsewhere than make it, in such situations."

Dedue would probably do it, if he were determined and thought he had cause, but Dimitri thinks his lover ought take a rest when they're traveling like this.

As they settle down and are handed their menus, Dimitri leans forward. "Due to the peculiar nature of this place, you should be able to understand the language... But let me know if there are difficulties."

Shrike's deliberate ignoring of the stares doubtless helps, but, well. He just tends to draw attention, for better or worse. Must be those ears.

He does raise an eyebrow at that last remark, as he takes one of the menus. "Indeed?" is all he says before perusing it.

To start with, it's an entirely unfamiliar material, so Shrike can't help but spend a moment or two simply examining that. Smooth and reflecting the light, almost like glass, but soft and pliable like leather. While of course being neither of those at all.

Ah, the wonders of plastic.

Once his initial curiosity is, if not satisfied, at least gotten as good a look as he's going to get, he does finally take a look at the content of the menu. True to Dimitri's assurances, the strange language is mysteriously intelligible. And luckily, Shrike has a broad enough knowledge to recognize most the foods listed as ingredients for various dishes. Still, though, some are entirely unknown to him, such as...

"What's a 'sandwich'?"

Used to everything as he has now become after some years of being in Johto, Dimitri is content with simply sitting in place, pondering the differences in a couple of grilled cheeses. When the waitress drops by, he takes charge in excusing them for just water to start with, so that Shrike can fully immerse himself in investigating the menu.

Was the younger Shrike like this? Dimitri supposes he was, when he first arrived, if he could adjust to being around so many people.

......Or is the social anxiety so strong that it kept him away from diners?

Before Dimitri can get too lost in pondering such thoughts, the Shrike before him speaks up once more, and he perks up. "Oh - it is bread, sliced into thin planes, upon which you layer other foods. Often what is preferred is a type of meat, and then a variety of vegetables as well, but it is by no means a settled thing." He smiles. "some can get rather creative with the idea, as you can tell by the many varieties. Burgers are much the same."

The younger Shrike had definitely avoided diners, at least at first, instead preferring to buy his food from the stores. Though he did marvel quite a bit at first at, well, pretty much everything. At least in private. And at least once make a remark to someone about how surprised he was both at how much was available to buy and that the prices in the stores were the same for everyone.

His older self, well, at least right now he's more likely to keep any thoughts like that to himself.

"And eaten all together, I presume? Like foods served rolled in a flatbread or cooked in a dumpling?" He's definitely having to think about how that works; evidently this particular form of serving food is new to him.

He'll doubtless have many more questions once he actually finds the drinks section.

"Indeed, exactly as you describe. It is a convenient way to eat a variety of foods together in one recipe, and does not require much concentration or effort." Dimitri thinks back to the many benefits of sandwiches that he's personally experienced.

"In that way, they make a handy meal for while you are busy doing something else, or while you are traveling."

Well, that seems straightforward enough, though he'll have to give things more thought before deciding what to try himself. In the mean time, he continues to make his way through the menu, until...

"And what are all these beverages?"

Look, he's never heard of a soda before, let alone all the different kinds listed. As far as he knows, every one could be some unique drink! To say nothing about what a 'shake' even is.

Dimitri is the last person who can judge on a lack of knowledge when it comes to all these fancy new drinks Johto has come up with. Still, he does perk up a bit with excitement at being asked.

"Oh - they are interesting! The sodas all have very different flavors, but they have the delightful effect of bubbling along one's tongue." His shoulders slump, however, and he sighs. "Of course, some would say they are too sweet... I found them delightful."

Mostly because the taste doesn't matter to him anyway.

"Ah, and then there is lemonade, and a few different juices - it is a drink with sugar in it, and lemons, a bright citrus. Good, apparently, for such hot summer days. Same for iced tea, I have been told."

What else... Dimitri skims through the menu himself to get an idea. "And finally... Shakes are an interesting thing, made with a cold cream of sorts and various fruits, or chocolate. I think that should be everything I know of..."

That is a lot of information. Fortunately, Shrike's always been a quick learner, so he's able to listen and make mental notes and generally take it all in. Fortunately, most of it is straightforward enough to understand, even if the concept of a 'bubbly' flavored drink is rather novel.

Or, for that matter, so many sweetened drinks.

"Sugar must be quite the common commodity here, given what you say..."

"There are many things here that are in such well supply here," Dimitri says, leaning forward excitedly. "It is something that I truly do admire, and wish I could take to my own homeland, which suffers regularly from lack of resources. Yet their stores are often full, and the people are so kind."

Both things which Dimitri thinks Faerghus could benefit from, in some ways.

"That what I presume is a common sort of establishment can boast such expansive offerings is itself telling. There are few places I can think of that would compare."

At least one of them being the capital of what's effectively a small empire.

"Indeed. A land of plenty." But he supposes that they're starting to sidetrack just a little bit, and Dimitri rubs his chin.

"If you liked, you could simply request clean water, and try one of my drinks as a comparison. It would help sate any curiosity, while wasting nothing." Because even if it's a land of plenty, Dimitri doesn't like wasting food or drink.

Now that sure is a suggestion coming from someone he'd only just met. You'll have to forgive Shrike as he just gives a dumbfounded stare for a moment or so.

"I can assure you that won't be necessary."

Dimitri stares right back, in the blank manner of someone who does not understand what he said that was wrong.

"Oh, well, as you wish, then. A simple suggestion." Can't waste food! This is very important to him. Don't worry about it. "Do you know what you would like to try, then?"

You're talking to a man who spent most of his childhood fairly impoverished and at least a few years of it just barely fending for himself. If he doesn't care for a drink he ordered, he darned well will probably simply drink it anyway.

Anyway, Shrike takes another moment to consider the menu before finally nodding.

"I believe so, yes."

"Excellent!" Dimitri looks around for the server who had left them and, through no doubt much experience, is already on the way to happily take their order for a drink. Dimitri simply gets a soda, and then mozarella sticks as an appetizer. You know. Just in case.

He looks over to Shrike next, head tilted to the side. "Have you thought of what you want to eat, along with your drink, or shall we go over the menu a bit more?"

Shrike also opts for a soda; he doesn't know whether or not he'll find it too sweet, but he's admittedly far too curious about the bubbling that was described to resist. The nerd. But anyway...

"I believe I'm ready, yes."

He's not a picky eater, once he actually understood what the food options were it wasn't hard to find something that sounded decent.

Well, then that's that. Dimitri is happy to put in his own order as well, and then lean back. The drinks are there in the blink of an eye, and, relatively quickly as well, the cheese sticks as well.

"Please, let me know what you think," he requests. "The last person I showed this to had a rather negative reaction..."

But of course he did.

"To the drink? Or to the... 'mosrellem sticks', were they called?"

As he speaks, Shrike lifts his own glass to try a sip, rather curious and not really having any idea what to expect. Which means that, in just a moment, Dimitri will be treated to the site of a man wearing elaborate court robes, made-up and with manicured and painted fingernails and everything, making the oddest expression of surprise when he discovers just what 'fizziness' is for himself.

Truly, fizziness is a wonderful, peculiar thing.

And it definitely brings about the best reactions in people, although it's not as though Dimitri can exclude himself from that category.

He watches the way Shrike's face shifts and stretches in complete surprise, doing things that a face normally wouldn't do in the day to day, all while nibbling on one of his mozarella sticks. "So? Your thoughts on the drink, then?"

It's certainly quite the site to behold, to be sure. ~~If Beredvyn heard about it she'd be disappointed she missed it.~~

"It's well, certainly something..." He may need a moment to process this.

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coming back to this thread when I've actually been working on Shrike's story lately is... amusing XD

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