#bergen_county

"How much spice? I'm not the please-try-to-kill-me-with-hot types."

"Neither is Dad. But she's more, like, lots of flavors versus melt your tongue, unless she's doing her Nashville Chicken."

"That is an endurance test."

"Sounds like a tastebud adventure. Sure is a nose adventure."

"If you like adventurous food, maybe you can come over when she's trying out new recipes. We've been working through Lebanese."

"Yeah? Maybe. That's one thing about living in a city...lots of restaurants from lots of different cultures. Get to try a lot, if you're not to shy about it."

"I'm okay with, like, meat and potatoes kinda stuff just fine. But, well, Mom likes experimenting..." An easy shrug. "I'm sure she'd like taste testers that are less picky than me and Dad."

"If you like okra, she'd be thrilled."

"Nobody likes okra. I'm certain of it. Anybody who says they do is part of the Big Okra conspiracy."

"Evil slimy wheels!"

A shudder.

"Wait...you're with a sluagh."

Purple!

"Sy? Yeah. He's not an evil slimy wheel, though."

"I mean, no offense, but I'd figure your tolerance for slimy would be higher."

SNORT.

A bit of a grin.

Her cheeks are brilliantly aflame, but she's in a good humor. "Jeez,Rowan."

"Just sayin'!" with a bit of a snicker, hands up again.

"Yargh." A chuckle. "Just, well. It's Sy. I love'im." Huff, shrug. "Oh, hey, I hear Tove - c'mon, you're not THAT much of a guest, let's help her finish up dinner."

A dubious look. "You like to live dangerously, but sure." They follow into the kitchen and offer whatever assistance they can.