"Put them jaguars down there," Blanc said to the others as they passed near the waterfall pool on their way towards the campsite.
"Why here, hubby?" Miyanna asked.
"We can't take corpses in our campsite, who knows what gets attracted to the smell?" Blanc replied.
"Make sense," Miyanna concluded as she placed the jaguar she was carrying down in the mud.
And the rest followed slowly after, placing them one atop the other.
"Perfect," said Blanc, "I will take care of skinning them at night."
"My love," Celine spoke, curious about one specific thing that Blanc mentioned earlier, "Could you please tell me again what you plan on doing with that caiman you hold?"
Blanc showed a prideful smirk, "But of course, we will be eating it."
"E-Eating it?" Miyanna stuttered, clearly disgusted.
"I mentioned this before, why act surprised all of a sudden?" Blanc wondered.
"Is that beast even edible?" Celine sighed.
"Edible?" Blanc's, Lune's, and Kael's eyes went wide in unison. "My loves, have you never eaten a caiman before?"
"For half my life I've eaten stolen or half-rotten bread, so forgive me, hubby, but no, I did not eat a fucking crocodile," Miyanna replied.
"It's a caiman, though," Blanc muttered.
"It's a caiman, alright," Kael added, moving around the caiman's tail.
"A caiman," Lune nodded.
"What the-" Miyanna muttered, seeing the three siblings, but stopped herself as Celine opened her mouth.
"I never ate one, have you?" she asked the three.
"This is a household delicacy, my love. I'm pretty sure you had some when you and your father came," Blanc replied.
"Yes," Lune nodded to her brother's words, "We had some two days in a row, there was some at your Betrothal Ceremony as well."
"Why don't I remember the taste?" Celine wondered.
"Perhaps you did not know what you were eating," Blanc explained, "It tastes like chicken and fish at the same time."
"That sounds awful," Miyanna sighed.
"Do not kick it until you try it, my love," Blanc replied coldly, "This will be a delicacy prepared by none other than yours truly."
"Do you have everything you need to prepare it properly?" Celine asked.
"I do," Blanc replied the next moment, "I have everything I need to prepare a proper Denegis Dinner."
"That confidence of yours makes me have hope, but the beast you are about to cook makes me lose it all," Miyanna added.
"Now, now," Blanc chuckled, turning on his heels, "Let's go set up the campfire, then let's prepare dinner."
The campfire, as it was the day before, was ready in less than twenty minutes, with tents up, beds summoned, fire going, water boiling, and any fallen leaves cleaned from the ground.
It was obvious that they were getting used to this nomadic life, even though for most, all these constant preparations were annoying since they were not used to any of it.
But at least they had a bed, a tent protecting them from the elements, a fire to keep beasts away, water to drink, and food to eat.
Though the food for tonight had too many fangs, and a look to it that was as appetizing to look at as it was looking at bugs.
Luckily, the constant praise of Blanc and the twins convinced them to at least give it a try.
And even though Celine had apparently tasted it, she neither remembered the taste nor the look of it.
So she felt just as uneasy as Miyanna, though perhaps her unease came from her pregnancy.
"Wonderful," Blanc said, pulling out his knife and dragging the caiman next to him, "Anybody keen on watching me prepare it?"
"I'm sorry, but no," Celine shook her head.
"Fuck no, hubby, I feel like puking," Miyanna added the next moment.
"I want to jump in the pool," said Kael, followed by a nod from Lune.
Blanc sighed, seeing that he was cooking alone again, "Very well, go wash up. Be careful for any beasts, though."
"Not to worry, we will move them further into the rainforest," Celine said.
"Good," Blanc nodded as he moved the tip slowly against the sides of the caiman, "Enjoy your baths."
Though disgusted by what Blanc was doing with the knife, they went and kissed him before heading inside their tent to prepare fresh clothes.
Kael and Lune watched for less than ten seconds before they too decided that it would be wise to go and prepare fresh clothes, and with a sudden, and unison turn on their heels, they were off as well.
Blanc could not help but sigh again, seeing them take off.
But there was nothing he could do but just do what had to be done, which was to show his wives that looks do not matter when it comes to food.
However, his monologue crept in as if waiting for that moment when Blanc was alone.
Is acting like nothing happened and happily talking about food and delicacies a wise move?
Is asking a question I know the answer to, not a foolish question?
Why though?
*sigh* Because I had to show them that I was not angry anymore, maybe that, and some good food, will make apologizing to each other easier.
Are they children to be bought with food?
Are they not people, happy to eat good food? A full stomach would make almost any situation better.
…
What?
I don't agree.
Why not?
Because food is food. It does not serve as a negotiation tactic, nor should it be used as some kind of manipulation tactic.
What am I talking about, hm? It's food. Diplomacy is built around meals. The first thing the High Monarch used to do, even when we visited, was to have a meal with his guests. Even before doing any ceremony or "truly receiving us".
And isn't that proving my point exactly?
No, it only shows that food is universal. Be it used as sustenance, culture, art, or part of politics. Food is food. And if food can make a situation better by just being there, it's not suddenly some tool or some manipulation.
What is it, then?
Food. Just food.
Whatever.
Yeah, let me prepare the dinner.
It does look disgusting, though.
I know.