Coffee. And you piss someone off.

When you enter the dining hall Luisa is supervising some white coated kitchen workers clearing the buffet tables. She grins broadly at the three of you, wiping her hands on her apron.

"You want some food? I can fix you something. Got some menudo out back."

"Just that pale imitation of café au lait you make," Honey says with a smile.

"Got café con leche, just like always," the latina chef grins. "I don' put none of that nasty chicory near it. If you wan' that you best head back to Canal Street. And before you ask, the answer is yes I can get you some beignets. You sit down."

"I suppose I'll have to suffer yet again," Honey sighs, getting an answering snort from Luisa. It's evident that this banter is a routine of long standing between the two of them, and you're still smiling as you sit down across the table from the cajun teacher and Headmistress Naylor.

"You're incorrigible Honey," Diana says, shaking her head. "And that was impressive Dean Hawkfeather. I'm sure the students won't soon forget that show."

"You don't sound like you approve."

"It's not exactly the norm, but I don't disapprove. And if you were going to pick a target, you couldn't have picked a more suitable one. Miss Childers is high in the running for the most arrogant student at the Academy, and her comeuppance will be the talk of the school."

Luisa arrives with a tray, putting cups in front of the three of you and a plate of sugared beignets in the middle. She stands with her hands on her hips, watching Honey as she takes a tentative sip of the coffee and wrinkles her face in distaste.

"Disappointing as always," she says. "But I suppose I'll make do. At least the beignet's look passable."

"Nex' time you ask I gonna bring them out 'blackened' like you Cajuns cook everything," Luisa snorts.

"Dirty Rice and Beans is hardly blackened," Honey replies with mock outrage. The two women share a laugh before the chef turns to you.

"An' where were you this morning Mr. Dean? You can't go skipping breakfast and stay strong."

"I didn't skip it. I wanted to go for a ride. I grabbed something at a diner in town."

Luisa takes a deep breath and puts her hands on her hips, glaring at you. Honey and Diana takes sips of coffee and carefully look away, Honey shaking her head sadly.

"You went to a 'diner,'" Luisa says carefully. "You ate some slop when you coulda had Luisa's cooking. I got a mind to take a cleaver to you Marine. Next time you go there you better have the sense not to tell me, less you want to keep all your parts attached. Now you drink your café con leche and eat a beignet so your mouth is too busy not to piss me off again. ¿Entender?"

"Si señora," you say quietly, abashed by her quiet outrage. She gives a little snort and strides away as Honey and Diana try to hide their smiles.

"Big mistake," Honey says. "Never a good idea to piss off the cook." Diana is shaking with suppressed laughter, her eyes glittering with amusement. Trying to hide your embarrassment, you pick up a beignet and take a bite as the two women surrender to laughter.