After Work

"Khaat has a huge sweet tooth," Robert laughed, watching Khaat leave. "When she was pregnant with her daughter, her one craviing was cheesecake. Well, actually, she had two cravings. Cheesecake and coffee. I don't count the coffee because she always craves that. She's a really terrible coffee addict. The woman practically mainlines it.

"But I must admit, I do like this chocolate orange cheesecake. She told me earlier today that she just added a full service gourmet bakery to Sparks. I suppose I could manage to get us appointed as her chief taste testers for her new recipes. It might be a welcome addition to all those Ministry staff meetings. What do you think, All?"

"Extend that to lunch once in awhile, and you've got a deal," Brian said.

"You really are pushing it, aren't you?" Robert looked at Brian and laughed. "Well, if we prefer to do lunch meetings, I will spring for the lunch."

"That's better," Brian laughed. "So, I presume you will want to do some sort of training exercises, Robert?"

"Well, I would prefer to, but perhaps we're all feeling fairly secure with our dueling skills. What do you all think?" Robert asked.

"Training exercises are preferred," Daniel said, his voice a little shaken by his love visiting him. He still had random tingles in parts like the fingers and toes, he was sure he'd want to be at least the last person they picked for one, but he was doubtful of that.

He let out a covered up belch, "Chocolate and orange are a good combination, mind you not as good as something like chocolate and strawberry. Tiger tail ice cream used to be my favorite chocolate and orange combo, but this cake...well...takes the cake".

"I haven't had tiger tail ice cream since I had a vacation with Khaat and Robert and Katherine and Khaat's Uncle Remus. We went to Colorado and went rock climbing, remember, Robert?"

"I do," Robert laughed. "Remus was not the best climber, as I recall."

"No. Was not one of his strengths," Brian agreed. "Remember Khaat and I slipped away from you all and found that little ice cream place and were eating tiger tail when you found us?"

"I remember. I also remember Katherine grounding you both.

"Ah, well, that was the only mistake we made the whole trip."

Robert looked at him. "Are we talking about the same trip? I seem to remember that differently."

"No matter," Brian shifted subjects quickly. "Alright. I'll set up some duels. I presume they'd rather duel me than you."

"Be my guest," Robert said. "And I'm sure you're right."

Daniel yawned, his body shivered again, but he was genuinely cold. Thinking of ice cream in a place like this made him like that.

Then he put his palm to his face, "The black in tiger tail isn't chocolate! It's licorice! How could I have forgotten that?" He hadn't had it in a while.

"The last time I had that ice cream was at a parlor with Brienne and Luna, they ordered large sundaes. I had to finish Luna's, though, cause her eyes are bigger than her stomach. That was what...half a year ago now? Yeah. Approximately."