There's a little bit of you in everything

COLT

I've called many things 'love' and so many things 'grief'
They've all just been versions of uncertainty

She'd like to know who the hell decided ma'am is a sign of honor and respect, because that word pierces her with such a sharpness that her neck nearly breaks with how quickly her gaze whips up to him. He's faster though, already a backside vanishing behind a screen door, but that doesn't stop the shout she hurls after him. "Gonna feed all of your portion to the dragon and dogs if you ever call me something like that again Zavien!"

Grumbling to herself, she reaches for the pocket knife in her back pocket, flicking the blade open with a deft hand well used to the handle and the switch of it. She uses it to slice up one of the testicles into smaller pieces, grabbing those bite-sized morsels and offering them down to the patient pack of animals that are all scenting the good air. They're gone in a flash, so small she isn't even sure they register the taste, and she huffs out an apology to them before ruffling the shoulders of one dog closest to her. "Sorry kids, that's all for now, maybe I'll have more later." Showing her empty hands as if proof (despite the steaming steaks behind her), she rises back to her feet.

She did expect he'd be out by now, and anxiously leans to the side, squinting into the dark of the house. "All good in there?" she calls out to him, one hand fisting into her hip. She'd sent him to make it quicker than her going in, but she's certain she could have lapped him by now. Just as she's deciding to hide the steaks back on the grill to risk going in, he reappears with a grin as if nothing is amiss. Skeptical, her gaze narrows with mild scrutiny, but she claims the plates from his hand without further remark and slides a steak onto each one. A rocky mountain oyster is placed on top like a meaty cherry, including on hers,n because she'd not make him eat this alone even if she already knows her preferences to it. "Only if you mean to fight off dogs your whole meal," she warns, implying that she has no interest in doing so. The porch swing is the only real seating out here, and it's rather perfectly dog-height. Inside, her kitchen table is higher, and while they'll still circle like sharks, he at least has the raft of the wood top.

"Either way, we need silverware and I need a drink refill. How's your beer coming?" She hands him his plate, then picks up her own and her empty glass and heads back inside. Setting the plate on the counter, she pulls out a drawer and the silverware clinks lightly against it. She busies herself making her second margarita, and glances back his way. "Well? In or out?"

Wherever they settle, she points to the bundle of meat on top of the steak. "That's the rocky mountain oyster," she informs him. "And that's what you gotta try first." He'll find the texture to be very fatty and chewy, which is desirable to some, but she likes her meat a bit leaner usually. She pops her own into her mouth, chewing and swallowing quickly through the process.

Sudden cracks in the floor, but we're keeping the pace now
I feel this terror when we start to slip and I stare down
Keep the tempo now as the roof starts to cave
Keep the tempo now as the world starts to break

-Zavien-

He hears the echo of her voice as he scurries inside, grinning to himself to know that he's found something to tease her about if necessary. As long as it's after he's eaten. 

When he's outside again and the meat is being plated, Zavien notices that the dogs have chosen to swarm the grill, tails now wagging expectantly at Colt. It gives more than enough evidence to her argument, and she won't find any disagreement from him, his laughter flowing like a setting sun along the porch. "Good point."

His eyes fall curiously on the 'meat cherry' atop his steak, still clueless as to what it is as he grabs his nearly empty beer bottle and follows her back into the house. "I could use another," he says, adding quickly after, "In." The cheeky grin he throws her suggests she should have guess that from his presence in the house, but he doesn't push further, helping gather the last utensils, beverages, and other pieces to set up their places at the table. 

Once they've settled in their chairs with fresh drinks and Sol begging beneath his feet, he admires the plate again, holding back a groan at the delicious smells greeting his nose. Instead, he raises his eyes to her. What should be suspicion is curious observation when he says, "It doesn't look much like an oyster." And yet, he doesn't hesitate to slice his knife into the round piece and form a bite, placing it between his teeth like he would a more familiar food. 

The flavor is... unique, and Zavien's eyes squint to consider the odd texture. It's fatty but doesn't melt on his tongue like a well-cooked roast. He doesn't immediately dislike it, so he trades for a bite of steak, comparing the marinade that dances across his tastebuds. He nods a wordless approval but can't help the hum that follows. "Hm. Not bad. The steak is definitely better though."

Life is getting up one more time
than you've been knocked down.

COLT

I've called many things 'love' and so many things 'grief'
They've all just been versions of uncertainty

It should be noted that while this is not a true dinner, not with it’s utter lack of sides, it is, in Colt’s opinion, acceptable exactly as is. She’s certainly scrounged up worse meals for herself, and she wouldn’t fault Zavien for needing to head into town on his way home and grab something extra, but the steaks are grilled to perfection. She knew she’d have to offer him something better than just the worst part of the bull, and she’s not sold that her company is enough.

Washing down her oyster with a sip from her refreshed margarita, she keeps the glass tipped to her lip, smile growing reckless behind the curve of crystal. It’s all she can do to keep her composure, as satisfied as a cat in destruction as she watches him consume and compare the two meats. ”I don’t think a soul alive would disagree with you there,” she concedes, because even the people who don’t mind the rocky mountain oysters, don’t go out of their way for them.

Shifting in her seat and setting her glass down on the table with a thud, she cuts into her own steak, chewing thoughtfully before waving her knife to point at him. ”Congratulations Zavien, you just ate bull testicles.”

Sudden cracks in the floor, but we're keeping the pace now
I feel this terror when we start to slip and I stare down
Keep the tempo now as the roof starts to cave
Keep the tempo now as the world starts to break

-Zavien-

Not yet understanding why she might agree with him beyond the flavors of the oysters, Zavien takes another bite, continuing to contemplate the odd taste and texture of the meat. Just when he's washing down the mouthful with his beer, Colt finally pulls him into the light, discarding the wool that had been clouding his vision. 

For a moment, he just freezes, processing her words with his bottle poised against his open lips. He blinks. "Bull - " Then his eyes flick down to the suspiciously round meat, widening. "You mean - ?" He falls silent, looking to her for confirmation. 

Before she can give it, Zavien bursts out laughing. He can barely bring his beer to the table for how the sound wreaks through his body, his other hand dropping his knife onto the table so he can place it against his chest to brace for the lack of air. The force aggravates the remnants of bruises, only making him laugh harder. 

By the time he's finished, Zavien is aching all over, his abdomen tight with the effort of keeping him upright. He shakes his head, his face flush with amusement when he reaches for his silverware again. "Now I see why you were so excited to have me try them." His laughter calms, but only a fraction as he lifts a piece of 'bull testicles' to his mouth. "They're better than I would've expected." And with a pure, bright grin, Zavien takes another bite, already imagining how much Thorn is going to enjoy this story.

Life is getting up one more time
than you've been knocked down.

COLT

I've called many things 'love' and so many things 'grief'
They've all just been versions of uncertainty

She doesn’t realize that she’s braced a bit, as if she’s done this before and found less positive results. Men don’t usually take kindly to deceit, and even less so to balls not their own. Not that these responses have changed her in the slightest, clearly still pulling the same heist. Fortunately, Zavien is cut from a better cloth than the average man, a truth she is suspicious of but coming to realize with every encounter. Too bright, too trusting, but certainly better.

His laughter tugs her grin out into full display, and the infectious sound passes to her, forcing her to lean into the the fold of her fingers as she struggles through swallowing her food without inhaling it. When they can manage breath again, she nods. ”I couldn’t help it,” she confesses, her fox face extremely satisfied and unrepentant. ”That’s wehy I made sure I ate so—”

She cuts herself off, jaw dropping open silently as he pops another one in his mouth, utterly rebellious. ”Zavien!” she laughs suddenly, delighted as she throws her head back into the sound. ”You have been hiding too long,” she accuses with a smirk before cutting back into her steak. ”Good company is not supposed to hide.” She doesn’t tease him further, at least not with food and testicles, and they eat and talk until the night wears on and reminds them just how tired they both are. Rest, is what’s best to end the day.


[FIN]

Sudden cracks in the floor, but we're keeping the pace now
I feel this terror when we start to slip and I stare down
Keep the tempo now as the roof starts to cave
Keep the tempo now as the world starts to break