Milk, Onions, and Friendship

Bedivere Fontaine

Today was a day which ended with a "y," therefore it was also a perfect day for binge cooking. Having spent much of the previous night binge baking, Bedivere was feeling completely renewed in energy, ready to tackle another ten or so hours of bliss in a kitchen and bid his vacation fund a tearful farewell. Because cooking took priority over white sand beaches and besides, he already lived on an island. Going to another island for fun just seemed a bit redundant. But also something he would be completely on board for if he weren't literally making other people eat him into the poorhouse.

After a short amount of time, he had finished gathering up most of what he had deemed "essential" ingredients. It was enough to fill up an entire shopping cart, and he was still adding more things at the last minute. Like onions. Onions were the Holy Grail of the culinary world. Barring baked goods and sweets, onions could make almost anything taste better and at the onion stand, his eyes immediately fell on the perfect onion.

As Bedivere reached out to grab it, however, his hand bumped into another. "Oh, no, it's quite all right," he said, flashing a smile as he automatically handed the perfect onion over to the other person. Seeing that it was a woman, however, he automatically took a few mental steps back and restarted, "I don't believe that I've seen you around much before, miss. Would you happen to need help with anything?"

Bedivere Fontaine

Bedivere was not deterred at all by the fact he was being intensely stared at by some stranger he had only just started speaking to. He just assumed that, well, she found him attractive. Which was completely accurate and a simple fact of life. The completely emotionless expression was a bit nerve wracking but she did have very nice chocolate-colored eyes.

He did falter a bit, however, at the sight of her basket. Since she was openly showing it to him, he couldn't help but take notice of the fact that she only had two items. Two items that did not go together at all.

"Oh, but wouldn't you like to get a bit more variety going?" Bedivere asked, already frantically thinking of things to go alongside chocolate milk and onions. Maybe a salad? "It doesn't seem like a lot at all. Have you considered adding some fruit? I hear that apples are lovely this time of year."

Bedivere Fontaine

He did not stare, because staring was impolite, especially at a lady. Deep down, however, Bedivere was absolutely appalled. Did she really intend to live off of chocolate milk and onions? What kind of childhood must she have had to think that something like that was adequate. Obviously as a good Samaritan, Bedivere had to intervene for the sake of her health.

"It's not at all very nutritious, I mean," he said, already starting to transfer things from the nearby stands into her basket. Mushrooms, apples, broccoli. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Maybe he should look into some meat. Based off of appearances alone, she seemed like the sort of person who enjoyed that. "It's important to have balance in your diet. Onions are great and all but they can't support your wellbeing on their own."

After another glance, Bedivere reached for her basket. "Here, allow me." Even if a lady looked strong enough to do something on her own, he still felt the need to at least offer. It didn't feel right otherwise.

Bedivere Fontaine

The woman's actions confused him even further. Her basket still in hand, Bedivere followed her to the stack where she was grabbing yet another. If she was trying to refute his advice then why was she seemingly following along with it anyways?

"Are you planning on buying something big?" he asked. "Because if not, I'm pretty sure this one basket would have enough space for whatever else you're trying to buy." It wasn't like it was very full, after all. It might take a little bit of shuffling around, but nothing should be crushed unless she was planning on stocking up for the winter or anything like that. Bedivere had filled lots of baskets in his line of work, so he knew this well.

Bedivere Fontaine

Bedivere was completely and utterly taken aback. Did she know nobody with proper manners? The idea was so stunning to him that he took a little while to recover from it. When he had, however, he was hurrying back to her side.

"No, no, no! That's not what it means at all!" He wasn't flustered, not yet, but he could still work himself into a small fit over it. "As a gentleman, I must assist you. I should really get that one, too," Bedivere said, with a nod towards the second basket in her arms. "But I really have to impress the importance of a balanced diet."