Fish in a Barrel(Maria's Mon Cal Munchies, EE8)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala got a table for two with a view of the street and waited for her guest to arrive.

[Nekoinu]

Senator Seir'oto came in wearing a casual suit for the occasion. He took the seat opposite of the woman and smiled. "Good evening, Colonel. I assume your day has been well."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala stood once he walked up and waited for him to sit down before retaking her own seat.

"I think the talks earlier were productive," she said with a nod, "and I'm glad to be getting back to what we are here to do rather than dealing with the disruptions of discontented parties.... How has your's been?"

[Nekoinu]

"There have been many complications," he admitted, "But that does not impede the machine of democracy. My day has been the same as yours: dedicated to the negotiations."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Well, would you prefer to discuss business before, during, or after dinner?" she asked politely, turning her eyes down towards the menu.

"Oh! And do you have a recommendation? I don't have any experience with your cuisine."

[Nekoinu]

"Well, business often spoils the appetite. And eating is often good for the mood. After, then?"

He glanced down at the menu. "I would hope you enjoy seafood as that is the mainstay, unsurprisingly."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"It's not what I tend towards, but I can always appreciate good cooking regardless of the form," she said with a smile. When the waiter came, she simply ordered a second of whatever he got.

[Nekoinu]

"Not always cooked," he corrected, "Sometimes it is eaten raw." After he ordered his food, he shook his hand. "Wait, Colonel, the crabs are still alive in this delicacy. Are you sure you want that?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

She gave him a slightly perturbed look.

"Am I allowed to kill them before I eat them, or do I have to feel them squirming down my throat?"

[Nekoinu]

"The crabs are inside the food, Colonel. I am not sure how you would kill the crabs without destroying the rest. Perhaps you can order it with them already dead? I'm sure this establishment will comply."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Thank you, Senator," she said before turning to the bewildered waiter who had to deal with the bloody tourist and amending her order.

[Nekoinu]

"The diet of my species differs greatly from humans and other, similar species," he explained casually, "The crab being alive is a delicacy for Mon Calamari."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"That makes sense," she agreed, "it was something I was simply unaware of. My apologies. I've eaten live bugs before on occasion, but never anything.... sturdier? Sturdier than that."

[Nekoinu]

"Live insects are a thing in Imperial cuisine? I did not know that." He shrugged. "I was under the impression that insects were not common among human delicacies."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"They aren't, it was a local delicacy from one of my postings," she said with a smile, leaning forward slightly.

"Somewhat rare, that breed of bug. Used to be more important, good source of nutrition and all, but then they discovered that the secretions of the bug could be used with a few other chemicals to create a powerful psychotropic drug. They were hunted to near extinction by the black market, and are now only available in limited quantities and usually for formal occasions. Such as this, for example. It was a bit of an acquired taste though, and I didn't ingest enough to get past that."

[Nekoinu]

"I wonder if it was prized as a food because of those properties." He gave a light shrug.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Might be, but I didn't think it was easy to ingest that much psychoactive material," she shrugged.

Once the food came she picked at it politely so that the conversation could continue.

[Nekoinu]

"How is the food? I wonder if they cooked the crab inside then, perhaps removed the shell?" He himself practically devoured his plate.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"it's nice," she said after swallowing her mouthful, "There's more seasoning than I would have expected on an acquatic planet."

[Nekoinu]

"Ah, partially due to imports! My people are amicable to many different species across the galaxy. It is only natural to share such things."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Makes sense, though my apologies. I thought I was finding an authentic cuisine rather than fusion," she said with a conciliatory smile.

[Nekoinu]

"Ah but I consider fusion to be authentic, Colonel. It may be strange to label it as such but I consider it to be ingenuity."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Fair enough, though there are some days I just want food to taste like it did going up," she countered.

[Nekoinu]

"There is merit in that too. But today was not my goal," he replied, "for this of all times is when I need to be open to new ideas."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"As do we both," she agreed, lifting her water glass.