Ask Dinner For Two

[John Tyr]

Where was that damn spice Kiyomi always used again? John threw open cupboard after cupboard, checking every nook and cranny of the kitchen. His go-to spices when he made himself something to eat were all readily available, but for the life of him he could not remember where Kiyomi kept the rest of them. He’d promised a home cooked dinner, and a night of no work on the balcony; and just like every war plan ever devised in the history of man, his original plan was crumbling fast.

“Where the fu-“ he started to blurt until the corner of his emerald gaze caught a small spice container on the counter over by the stove; right where one would expect to use the spice in the first place. John pinched the bridge of his nose, growling at his own incompetence as he grabbed the spice and covered the gizka filets with it. Mushrooms and assorted peppers lined the outside of the tray around the filets. He slid the tray into the oven. With a few minutes left, he’d come back and apply the sauce that was simmering on the stove top.

John poured two glasses of wine and made his way out to the balcony. He set the glasses down on the outdoor end table between the lounge chairs, plopping down in one of the chairs with a sigh. The heat of the kitchen on his skin seemed to fend off the cool of the early winter air. He unbuttoned the top button of his button up, and rolled the sleeves half way up his thick forearms. John was more dressed up in his own home for dinner with his wife than he was for Senate hearings. His lips curled, the thought amusing him.

The stars were just barely coming out through the evening sky. John sipped some wine, gently placing the glass back on the table by the stem. There were no sounds of battle, no flashes of explosions. The skyline from the capital was serene. Peaceful. John couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Ord Mantell so calm.

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

Location: Ord Mantell

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___A lengthy, languid sigh passed through Kiyomi's lips as she opened the front door to the house and stepped inside. Another long day of senate hearings and intellectual debates was enough to tire anybody out, especially when someone stood on the side of peace in a galaxy once again being slowly enveloped in the fires of war. Every day, it seemed as if the number of people seeking to escalate hostilities increased, making Kiyomi's duty ever more challenging. Still, despite this gradual incline of warmongers and open declarations of violence and ill-intent, she would not be deterred. She would ensure peaceful options were always available and urge people to pursue peace instead of violence.

___The Fiani shed her coat and hung it on the nearby wall rack. She proceeded through the hallways and doors to the kitchen, where she found her oldest daughter, Anya, preparing one of the beverages she enjoyed while working out. Kiyomi smiled and shook her head, and Anya turned around to see her mom.

___"Hey, Mom," Anya said.

___"Hi, honey. Did you have a good day?"

___"Yeah. Dad's outside on the balcony if you're looking for him."

___"I was, actually. Are you going to work out?"

___"Yep."

___"Do you have—"

___"Yes, Mom. I have water, and one of the droids will be spotting for me."

___"Good. Come here."

___Anya approached Kiyomi. The matronly Fiani leaned forward to press her lips against Anya's forehead in an affectionate kiss, eliciting a quiet chortle from her offspring. Kiyomi combed her fingers through her daughter's wild, messy hair, looking at her with a loving smile.

___"I really don't like that you're already taller than me," Kiyomi tittered. "Love you, honey."

___"Love you too, Mom, and blame dad for the height," Anya chuckled, stepping forward to hug her mother before leaving for the gym. As Anya departed, so did Kiyomi, navigating her way to the back balcony. She slid open the door, spotting her husband lounging in one of the chairs. The woman smiled at him as she approached the empty chair, preparing to sit down. The calm, peaceful night certainly didn't escape her notice. It was a more than welcome reprieve after the loud, heated debates on the Senate floor.

___"Good evening, my love."

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John almost didn't hear Kiyomi approach. He saw her from the corner of his eye as she came around to sit, but didn't jump despite the surprise. The corner of his lips tugged upward into a smile. "Hey," he said. He grabbed the bottle of wine and began to pour into the empty glass meant for her, filling it up just enough to be considered a single glass. "Long day on the floor?" She looked tired, but he would never say it directly. Being a Senator meant being perpetually tired. Running a family at the same time was down right exhausting at times.

"Dinner's in the oven. It should be done soon. Duck filet, mushrooms, and assorted peppers. I used that spice you always use," John said, offering his hand over the table to help her sit down. He didn't grasp hers, knowing that after sitting down the first thing she would want to do is take a sip of wine- or down it, depending on how the day had gone. John knew the feelings all too well. Sometimes he even had to hide sips from a flask in the Senate Chambers themselves.

Even with the sun setting in the distance, and beautiful visage that was Ord Mantell on a relatively peaceful evening, John's emerald gaze stayed on his wife. "You look beautiful, Kurva'ri," he said finally, turning to the sun set and taking a sip of wine. "How long as it been since we've been able to sit down and enjoy a night like this?"

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___"A very long day," Kiyomi replied, accepting John's hand as she lowered herself into the seat. Once she was situated, the Fiani released John's hand to take the glass of wine he poured for her. She lifted the glass to her lips to take a slow, measured sip as her other hand reached into one of the folds of her dress. The woman pulled out a pack of cigarras and flipped open the box top, easing one out with her thumb.

___"Yes, it was one of those days," Kiyomi tittered as she set the glass of wine on the end table again. The hand with the cigarra pack lifted to her mouth so she could pull it out with her lips, and the other reached back into her dress to remove one of John's favourite cigars. Kiyomi laid the cigar on the end table before going into her garments a third and final time to pull out a booklet of matches, flipping it open to break one off.

___"I thought I smelled food when I walked in the kitchen," Kiyomi said as she struck the match alight on the back of the booklet, then lifted the flame to the end of the cigarra. She puffed on it as it smouldered, and once sufficiently burning, the Fiani flicked her wrist to extinguish it. "Thank you for making dinner. After the day I had, I wasn't sure if I was feeling up to cooking," she sighed, tendrils of smoke wisping out between her lips before she lowered the rolled paper to her lap. "I saw Anya in the kitchen, and I had to hug her."

___Kiyomi reached over to grab her glass of wine again, lifting it to her lips to nurse the beverage. A thin smile creased her lips as her husband offered his compliments, her gaze drifting to admire the sunset casting a golden-orange glow across the horizon. Setting the glass on the table, Kiyomi sighed quietly.

___"Too long, it feels like," she answered as she lifted the cigarra. "This is exactly the kind of evening I needed to unwind, though."

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John watched Kiyomi pull out a pack of cigarras, and took the cigar she passed to him. Her day must have really been rough to get her to pull them out. He had quit smoking cigarras a long time ago, despite his voice sounding like he still smoked a pack a day; cigars on the other hand, he could go for a good cigar. Kiyomi knew just the kind he liked too. John took the matches from her when she was done lighting her cigarra and struck one to light the cigar. He puffed on it until it was adequately lit, making sure not to inhale the smoke. It was all about relaxing and taste, and there was nothing in the galaxy that you could smoke that tasted better than a bourbon soaked cigar.

"Was she heading off to the gym? She was practically salivating when I started prepping dinner. Might have to guard any left overs closely," he joked. Nodding in agreement with his wife, John turned to the sunset himself. His large frame sank into the lounge chair as he puffed the cigar again. Silence fell over the two for a moment, and John was content with letting it stay unbroken for a while. Eventually, he broke it.

"Senator of Begamor caught me at the range the other day," John said. It had been a while since he and Kiyomi had actually been able to sit down and talk. "Asked me what I thought of the Senate, and of possibly forming a coalition of systems independent of the major players. Seemed keen on it being a new Republic." Truth was, John had already put it to a vote on Ord Mantell. Even without the guaranteed funding offered, it was an overwhelming vote to join. "I know I promised no work, but figured you'd want to know."

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___Kiyomi's ears flicked as John inquired about Anya. He didn't question the events that had put her in her current situation; for that, she was grateful. There were many times when he intrinsically knew that she didn't want to speak at length about the occurrences of the day, and this was one of those times. His tacit agreement to keep business affairs unsaid was a quality she appreciated, especially now.

___"She was," the Fiani acknowledged. "When I saw her, she finished making one of those drinks you two always have. I think they're protein shakes?" she chuckled. "All dressed up in her workout outfit. She also said she would have one of the droids spotting for her," Kiyomi said, lifting the cigarra to her lips to take another short drag and exhale. "No need to guard the leftovers. She's a growing girl, after all," she finished, though her husband's joke earned a chuckle punctuating the end of her sentence.

___"A new Republic? That's quite the endeavour," Kiyomi said, glancing over at John from the corner of her eye. "Thank you for letting me know. I have no strong feelings on the matter. I recommend caution, though, and ensure the Senator of Begamor's intentions are genuine and not simply a grab at power," she cautioned, reaching over to pick up her wine glass and take another sip.

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John let out a chuckle. Kiyomi's lack of knowledge of workout soup always amused him. "She'd be having creatine before a workout, my love, protein comes after. Creatine helps with-" he started to explain but stopped himself nonchalantly waving his hand because it didn't really matter. "Anyway... Good thing a droid is gonna spot her. She out lifts just about everyone else at the gym."

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly," John said to her caution. "At least it means we'll get the funding we need to end this thing with the Hutts. Can finally spend money on infrasture, and schools." John turned back to the horizon, but a beep from the kitchen alerted him that the food was done. "Food's ready, I'll be right back."

John put the cigar down on a small ash tray on the table, and then lumbered to his feet from the chair. He made his way to the kitchen, pulled the food from the oven, remembered to turn the oven off because getting yelled at for forgetting that would most certainly ruin the night, and then portioned the filets and vegetables onto two separate plates. When John returned to Kiyomi, he set the two plates on the table between the chairs along with some napkins and silverware.

"Yes, I turned the oven off," he assured her before she even had to ask. John spent a very miniscule amount of time in the kitchen. He could remember where every screw and pin was in a blaster rifle, but remembering anything in the kitchen was apparently asking too much. He plopped back down into the chair, almost wanting to recline in it rather than eat. He started taking bits and pieces of the food from his plate and popping them into his mouth with a fork anyway. Hey! He was a pretty good cook!

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___"Oh!" Kiyomi declared as John elaborated on the differences between pre- and post-workout routines, including an unmistakable undertone of theatric shock. "I am so very sorry. I'll be sure to make a mental note of the differences for future references," she jested, smirking as John stood up and walked away to attend dinner. As he departed, Kiyomi rubbed thoughtfully at her chin at her husband's words. Her brow furrowed as she mulled over his words.

___When he returned, the woman smiled sweetly and nodded with appreciation as he laid out dinner. Before she could harp on him about ensuring the oven was off, he defended himself, and the Fiani couldn't help but laugh at her partner's innate understanding of her mind. The times when one knew what the other would say before they finished speaking were plenty, and no matter how many times it occurred, Kiyomi was always amused by it. She took one last sip of her wine before setting the glass down again to retrieve her plate.

___"You speak as if Ord Mantell joining this 'New Republic' is a foregone conclusion," Kiyomi said, picking up the fork and knife on her plate to carve a piece of the filet, her cigarra sitting next to John's cigar in the ashtray. "I don't suppose you're omitting more details than you've actually shared, are you, John?" she inquired, glancing over at her husband before slipping the chunk of gizka into her mouth.

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

As much as John was a meat man, he actually started with the vegetables. He knew anything meat related he cooked would be delicious; years of being a dad and cooking in embarrassing outfits had given him all the practice he needed on that front. Vegetables were always a secondary thing, so he speared a few of the assorted peppers and mushrooms and popped them in his mouth, savoring the taste. Yup, pretty good!

Enjoying the food wouldn't save him from Kiyomi's line of questioning, and he knew that. He began cutting a piece of the filet. "I put it up for a vote. It's not my decision to make, but the people of Ord Mantell's. They voted, hell, even Anya voted, and the motion passed," he explained. He had no idea which way Anya had voted, just that she was excited to vote. She got that from her mother; John was much more of a orders kind of guy. Even so, it wasn't his place as Senator to remove the will of the people he represented. They vote him in every election because he leaves the decisions up to them. He is the people, for the people.

"You know us Ord Mantellians; no use pitter-pattering about when there's a job to do. Cuff your sleeves, get ready for a scrap, and get the job done," he said, giving Kiyomi a smile. He popped the piece of filet in his mouth. It practically melted in his mouth. "Ord Mantell gets the funding it needs to kick the Hutts out. In return we play a part in this new Republic up to and including humanitarian and military aid. I made sure to make stipulations; there can be no one ruler, and mutual aid is guarenteed. Otherwise Ord Mantell leaves."

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___Kiyomi pursed her lips thoughtfully as John informed her of entering the new Republic to a vote. While she felt like her spouse and the entirety of Ord Mantell were rushing into this, it wasn't her place to protest. After all, she was the senator for an entirely different planet, and even if she and John were married, she had no tangible sway over what path Ord Mantell walked. At the end of the day, it was his choice and the will of the people.

___"I'm surprised Anya was motivated to do anything political," Kiyomi chuckled with a shake of her head. "That girl has always been so bantha-headed about anything involving politics," she said. If Anya held enough interest to vote one way or the other, Kiyomi knew that the situation was one to be taken seriously. The woman glanced down at her meal as she carved off another piece of the gizka, twirling the fork as she pondered the situation. After a few moments of silent contemplation, she ate the piece of food on her fork.

___"If you believe that's what's best for Ord Mantell," Kiyomi stated. "Dinner is lovely, by the way. I can't help but wonder if you've actually been paying attention during the times you helped me cook," she added with another mellifluous titter.

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

"Can you blame her? If we were my parents I would have stayed clear of politics forever," John said with a chuckle. Even as he picked at his plate and ate, his emerald eyes turned to Kiyomi and watched her. He knew she'd have an opinion one way or another. Her mannerisms could give him a tell into what she was thinking, but this time all he got was contemplation. Well, they would see how it would all go either way. It was a big jump for Ord Mantell. Decades of constant war on the planet would soon come to an end, and while more efforts would be going to peaceful endeavors like education, medicines, and technology, John would be remiss to think Ord Mantellians wouldn't be preparing themselves for the next war that would inevitably come. They were a strong, stoic people.

"Well, I've been paying attention to something," John said, giving his wife a smile. Granted, Kiyomi didn't need to be cooking for John to admire how she looked. Kiyomi, to no fault of her own, made it very difficult to concentrate on other things. Especially in those short-shorts she wore from time to time. "I just followed a recipe I found online and switched out the spices for the ones you like to use. Don't give me too much credit."

"I was thinking," John started, pausing to look out at the sunset and take another bite from his plate. "Why don't we plan a trip to Fiana for a couple of weeks? It's been a while since we've been outside of work. You, Anya and me." When was the last time John had an actual vacation? Too long.

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___"Excuse you? What is that supposed to mean?" Kiyomi asked with a scoff at John's initial statement. She knew that their spats would influence Anya's opinion of politics, but to have it laid so bare in front of her was a reality check she hadn't expected. The woman believed that while she and John had their differences, which were at times aired out in front of their daughter, Anya wasn't so influenced by it that she would turn her nose up at politics. Kiyomi's ears wilted at the thought.

___"All right, then. Credit rescinded," she said with a smirk. The smirk was quickly replaced by an expression of confusion and surprise. "You want to go to Fiana? For vacation?" Kiyomi inquired, baffled by her husband's sudden suggestion. "You recall that Fiana is sub-arctic? That's not even mentioning that it's an undeveloped world, so there's little in the way of attractions or sightseeing," she continued, taking bites of her meal between her inquiries. The Fiani washed the food down with another sip of her wine.

___"Don't get me wrong, I love my home, but it doesn't seem like the ideal place for a vacation, honey. You wouldn't prefer to go somewhere else more... I don't know, extravagant?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John gave Kiyomi a knowing smirk. He didn't need to explain what he meant because she already knew. They were exact opposites when it came to political views, for the most part. They were generally on the same side when it came to galactic peace, but John was much more peace through superior firepower while Kiyomi was more peace regardless. The differences were enough that they had spats from time to time that Anya was almost always the one to have to smooth over. That wasn't ever the case with John's parents. Father was a farmer, mother did whatever father said; John couldn't imagine ever running his own household like that. He enjoyed Kiyomi's free spirit way too much to try to control it.

"When have I ever wanted to go anywhere extravagant aside from when I think you'll enjoy it?" John asked, taking a puff of his cigar and taking a sip of wine in the pause. "Fiana has all the makings of a great vacation. It's quiet, there's hunting parties that actually go out into nature," he explained. "Besides, you know I love the traditional dishes you cook- it would be great to get to try them again." It had been a long time since John visited Fiana. It was rather early in their relationship, if he remembered right.

"Plus, Anya's never been. It'd be a good experience for her," he said finally. He turned a smile toward his wife. "Can you think of anywhere better to go for a week or two to get away from..." he waved his hand toward Ord Mantell in general. "all this?"

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___John had her there. For as long as they had been together, he had never been one for ostentatious restaurants or opulent houses outside of when Kiyomi wanted to go. When it came to taste, the two of them couldn't be more different from one another.

___"Good point," she chuckled. "I suppose it would let me catch up with friends I haven't seen in a while," Kiyomi murmured thoughtfully, her lips pursing as she contemplated the idea. There were many things to consider, not the least of which was seeing her own parents again. When Kiyomi expressed an interest in representing Fiana on the galactic stage, they were less than thrilled. She distinctly recalled her parents imploring she didn't do it, and their frustration when she continued insisting on it. Now she was married and had an 18-year-old child, and because Fiana was so estranged from the galaxy, they had no knowledge of any of it.

___Kiyomi's ears wilted. Would her parents be hurt that they had missed out on so much of their granddaughter's life? Would they still be frustrated that she gave up her life and left behind everything on Fiana for the life she had now?

___"I'll consider it," Kiyomi finally said, looking up at her husband with an apologetic smile. "I agree. It would be wonderful for her to see where I'm from, and I'm positive it would be a good break from everything happening here on Ord Mantell." She paused. She looked down at her food, her appetite suddenly leaving her. "I just need to think about it a little bit."

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John watched Kiyomi work through her thoughts. Everything seemed alright until her ears wilted. He didn't have the same sentiments that she had, that was for sure, but it didn't matter whether they went to Fiana or some tropical world to him. If Fiana caused her any sort of pain, then he would stay away from the planet at all costs. He reached over and grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers between hers.

"If Fiana doesn't work, someplace else can," he said, closing his eyes and leaning further back into the lounge chair. "We can always go up to the ranch again. Anya's old enough to go hunting now." The ranch wasn't escaping Ord Mantell, but it was damn near close. Just mountains, trees, and all the flora and fauna one could ever want. There were no cities or people, just nature. John always loved going up to the ranch; reminded him of childhood on the farm. Food was always good too. Nice and fresh.

"Just let me know," he said finally, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Maybe a beach? It's been a while since you've worn a bathing suit." John opened his emerald eyes and gave her a rare, mischevious grin. Even as he got older, she always looked just as beautiful as she had when they had first met. Spending time with her was good enough for him, always, but he'd be lying if he said if she still didn't entice him.

@Remileah

 

[Kiyomi Tyr]

___Kiyomi glanced up at John as he laid his hand over hers. She smiled weakly at him as their gazes met, turning her palm up as he intertwined their fingers.

___"Thanks," she replied. "I'll let you know after I think on it some more. I don't want to exclude it immediately, especially since it's Anya's ancestral home. I just—" Kiyomi stopped, a quiet sigh passing through her nostrils. Her hand squeezed John's again as her dark green irises plummeted, transfixing again on her unfinished food. The woman inhaled deeply and shook her head, eliciting a noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh. She released John's hand to pick up her knife and carve another piece of food.

___"You would like to see me in a bathing suit again, wouldn't you?" she chuckled, casting a sidelong glance towards John as he smirked. Kiyomi matched his smirk with hers as she slipped the freshly cut food into her mouth. "Are you sure you wouldn't get fussy about men eyeing me? Or Anya, for that matter?" she inquired. "She's that age now, you know. Boys are going to start staring, if they aren't already, and the possibility always exists that she may bring one home in the future."

@TheDudeMike