Fine Dining?

For the next few hours, howling winds and lashing rains turned the windows into blurry waterfalls. Sitting at the small hobby desk next to his Computer, Caleb is carefully painting helmet lenses on a tiny soldier when an almighty crash and clattering echoes from downstairs. Setting the piece down, Caleb rushes over to the door and swings it open just in time to hear a profanity-laden tirade from the kitchen.

“Stupid fucking shit-ass Pan, I don't know how you got wedged in there like but you are never going back in this cabinet, ever.”

“What the hell are you doing, Evan? Did you break anything?”

“Nope, we’re good, just having to teach this pan who’s the boss around here. Should be good now.”

“Are you cooking something? I thought we were gonna order delivery?"

“And subject a delivery driver to this? How big an asshole am I? Nah, I'm gonna pan-fry some pork-chops with some garlic mashed potatoes, should be ready in a bit.”

“Well save some for me, all I had for lunch was a sandwich.”

“You got it!”

Leaving the door cracked, Caleb continues his work as the smell of fried pork and potatoes slowly emanates from downstairs. After about 30 minutes, a timer dings and Evan yells out “It's done!”

Clambering down the stairs Caleb finds a large bowl of mashed potatoes and a small steaming pot of what looks like a gravy sitting on the table. Heading to the kitchen he finds Evan dressed in a light blue T-shirt and shorts, grabbing a stack of 4 pork chops out of the warm oven.

“Grab drinks and plates, would ya?” Evan bustles past and Caleb realizes Evan has his new, longer, nearly neck-length honey colored hair tied up in an unholy love child of a pony tail and a man-bun.

“Sure, hair finally getting to you?" Caleb inquires as he grabs plates, silverware and drinks.

Evan sets the pork-chops on the table and places a towel over them.“Yeah, though to be honest, if I keep getting ripped, I don't mind looking like an extra in Point Break"

Setting the accoutrements in their respective places, Caleb seats himself and piles on the grub.

“Where did you learn how to make all this? The most I've ever seen you cook is a burger or some Ramen. You’ve been holding out on me. Though I guess I'll take that as an indirect compliment on my cooking.”

Evan blushes slightly and stammers “Well, the pork chops and gravy were my Grandma's recipe, was my favorite growing up but this is the first time I've made it since she, you know, passed.” He composes himself a bit, “The mashed potatoes are totally Instant powdered potatoes though, shit takes too long.”

Caleb bites into the slightly over-done pork chop, the flavor is excellent, but it definitely needs that gravy. “Damn good first attempt, the trick is just to keep practicing so you can adjust for different cuts and the tools at your disposal. Damn near all my recipes I learned were from my Mom or Grandma…except Breakfast, that was all Dad.”

Evan stacks his own plate up and takes a pull from his soda. “You are right though, I only know how to make 4 things, outside of, like, basic ‘Follow the Box’ stuff. Never had any reason to learn more, because I never had anyone to impress or even share it with. Glad I could share it with you, you’ve been the best damn roommate I've ever had.”

Now it was Caleb's turn to be taken aback. Evan had never been this open about stuff like this, usually hiding behind a self-depreciating cover. “Well, damn dude, I don't know if it was the VR or the serum or what, but who are you and what have you done with Evan? In all seriousness, though, whatever helped you, I'm 100% here for it.”

Evan finishes a particularly large bite and swallows, “Yeah, I can't really explain it, I just generally feel *better* and happier all around. Part of the reason I'm excited for the next session, if one was enough for all this, what's the second one gonna do for me?"

Caleb scratches his beard contemplatively, “Here's hoping, though you know I'm gonna be pissed if you steal ALL the hot ladies at Felicity's tomorrow night. Proud, but still pissed.”

Evan rests a hand on Caleb's arm and stares intently into his eyes “Don't worry, I ain't gonna forget you in all this. Without you, I wouldn't be at this point.”

Caleb looks a bit uncomfortable at this outpouring of praise and quickly changes the subject. “Hey, let's put on that new show on Catchflix while we finish eating.”

With that, the two eat the rest of the meal in silence, rain clattering against the panes and the droning voices of sitcom characters in the background.