Meal Planning Concession (Otherwise Untitled)
#217 of Short Stories
A couple decide on a meal, from the available options.
~ While the winds and snow howled across the vast expanses outside of the shelter, the wolf glanced over the disassembled laserjack on the bench. The probe he held was still connected to the one cell, and the safety interlocks in the blue condition.
~ "I like my arms attached.", he reminded himself at a quiet mumble, before leaning in close to prod an access point with the business end of the probe. Buried deep in the mechanics of it, he heard a solenoid click sharply.
~ "Well, what've we got in storage, that we'c'n dedicate tonight?", he belatedly replied with a yell down the hall.
~ From down in the cleaning section of the outpost's habitation he could hear the cockatiel's reply, "We got black beans, brown rice, turtle beans, and some dried peas."
~ Probing another spot of wiring, and another tangled but firm clicking sound, "We get fruits again when the cycle ticks, yeah?"
~ The wolf could hear a piece of framing settled back down into a rack, "Yaah, and I'm holding back the potatoes for harvest festival this weekend."
~ A new spot for the probe to land, but without any immediate sound. The wolf's reply was delayed as he waited, and then heard a soft shuffle of sound, before, "My vote's for rice and beans and beans. You?"
~ From beyond, "How 'bout beans and beans and rice?", came the counter-offer.
~ As the same spot produced the same lack of a prompt click, the wolf took a couple notes before replying, "Compromise, on beans and rice and beans? I think I can get this laserjack back into use for tomorrow's trek."
~ There was a trill of excitement down the hallway from the cockatiel, "Quite agreeable for you, today. I'll start the cooker, once my hands are free."