#especially when he's openly saying he's going to try to get something to VR-LA's tastes that's also new to VR-LA

[kathbunny]

Beach picnic - Mermaid VR-LA

CW: fish blood

VR-LA was half out of the water, laying on his stomach in the sand, bloody fish in his claws. Maxim was sat across from him on a beach towel, lunchbox in his lap, awkwardly staring at the fish. He was aware this was normal, he was aware that all being ate like this, he's aware mermaids have limited cooking methods. It still kind of made him feel weird seeing VR-LA's mouth and claws covered in blood.

What kind of weird was something Maxim was choosing not to directly identify.

VR-LA noticed his stare, staring back for a moment before holding up the fish. "Want some?"

"...no thank you, VR-LA." Maxim replied, receiving a nod from VR-LA. Maxim ate a bit of his own lunch, the leftovers from a meal he had at a restaurant the previous day.

VR-LA seemed curious about it, watching as Maxim chewed. "Humans chew so daintly." He commented, tilting his head slightly. "What are you eating?"

"Macaroni gratin." Maxim answered, taking a moment to realize that required far more explanation. He held out a spoonful to VR-LA. "You're free to try. Macaroni refers to the pasta used, the curved bits you see. Pasta is made from a dough generally made from salt, flour, and water, amongst other things depending upon the type. Flour is made from wheat, a plant. The white you see is a white sauce made with cheese, made from milk, normally cow milk, a domesticated animal. The crumbs you see are from bread, which is similar to pasta in ingredients. You've seen bread before. There's also cooked shrimp and mushroom, which is a fungus. I don't know what kind of mushroom specifically off the top of my head, although most wild mushrooms are toxic, so it is a farmed one."

VR-LA accepted the bite, chewing it thoughtfully for a moment. He made a face as he swallowed.

"Ah, not to your tastes?" Maxim asked.

VR-LA thought about it a moment longer before shaking his head. "It has such an odd texture and taste, but I don't dislike it. And I could recognize the shrimp!" He then smiled, seeming pleased. "Thank you for giving me a bite."

Maxim nodded, wiping the spoon off on a napkin in his lunchbox before resuming eating. "I'll try to bring something with mostly grilled fish next time, perhaps."

VR-LA blushed a bit at the offer, but nodded.