This story uses characters and locations based on the Gunslinger Girl manga written by Yu Aida and published in monthly shōnen magazine Dengeki Daioh. The characters of Kara and Michele are original to myself.
Chapter One – La Principessa della Pasta [The Pasta Princess]
The skies were clear and the temperature cold when Triela stepped outside and made her way to the garden areas, dressed in long pants tucked into her brown boots and a sweater over her button-down shirt. Even though it was now November, the gardens had adapted with the seasons and were now growing a mix of winter vegetables along with cover plants to allow the soil to recharge for the spring planting.
"How is she?" Claes asked as she checked her lavender and rosemary. She'd moved most of her herbs indoors, but those that could survive an occasional mild frost remained outside. On account of the weather she wore a heavy jacket and her blue suede boots over black leggings. She was kneeling on a plastic-covered seat cushion like those used for sitting in stadiums on aluminum bleachers to keep the soil off her knees.
"Awake and alert, but they still won't let her leave the infirmary," Triela noted as she took a seat on the edge of the brick. "Though she did absorb the blast of a car bomb," she added, digging a short trench in the dirt with the heel of her right boot.
"Michele said the doctors don't think Angelica's going to survive," Kara commented from the other patch as she tended to the crops and cover plants. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater with hiking boots. "He says they're like vultures circling a wounded beast, waiting for it to die."
"We should do something nice for her, then," Triela stated.
"If the medical staff won't let her out of the hospital…" Claes noted.
"We can make her a nice dinner," Triela suggested.
"We can do more then that. Let's give her the whole experience. We'll make a special table for her in the dining room and we'll do a full meal service. We can dress up as waiters and really treat her."
"That sounds fun!" Rico said, startling them all, who had neither seen nor heard her approach. "Can I be a waiter?"
"Signore Togni, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Marco turned. "Yes, Kara?"
"A few of us would like to hold a special dinner party for Angelica in the girl's dining room. Would it be an imposition if you could ask Doctor Belgonchi if she could be allowed to leave the infirmary for a couple of hours one evening?"
"That's very nice of you, Kara. I'll speak to the staff for you."
"Thank you, Marco."
The "special day" arrived and Priscilla dressed Angelica in a blue and white dress with white stockings and black patent leather Mary Jane flats. Marco lifted her into a wheelchair and they covered her in a blanket and wheeled her over to the girl's dining room.
Outside the door, a wooden podium from one of the conference rooms had been placed. Behind it stood Triela, dressed in a tuxedo vest, shirt and pants with tie.
"Good evening, Your Highness. We've been expecting you," Triela greeted. "We have your table ready, if you would please follow me."
She opened the door and led them into the dining room. The lights had been set low and an area had been cleared, with a square table and chair placed in the center. On the table was a single setting of Michele's fine china and silverware along with glassware and cloth napkins. A hurricane lamp cast soft light over the table from the tall candle inside. Marco lifted Angelica out of the wheelchair and into the dining chair, which he then pushed forward.
"Hi, Angelica," Rico smiled as she approached with a bottle of water. She was dressed like Triela, but without the vest. She filled the water glass and then placed the bottle on the table. A moment later Kara and Claes came out, both dressed in full Chef's Whites. Kara was beaming and Claes tried to put on a pleasant face, though she felt dressing up for the part was overkill.
"Welcome to our Ristorante. It's a pleasure to have you dining with us, Your Highness," Kara greeted.
"Why does everyone call me 'Your Highness'?" Angelica asked, confused.
"Tonight, you are the Pasta Princess, Angelica," Priscilla replied. "And this is a special dinner prepared in your honor."
"But the hero in the story was a prince," Angelica said.
"Roll with us on this one," Claes stated. Angelica nodded and flashed her thousand-watt smile.
"We'll be over here if you need anything," Marco said, and he and Priscilla took a table to the side.
"In your honor tonight, Angelica-hime, we have prepared four courses," Kara noted. "For the antipasto, we have Tortelli alla Lastra, followed by a primo of Spaghetti con Vongole e Cozze. The secundo will be Braciola di Pollo and for dolce we have prepared a Pandoro."
"It all sounds wonderful!" Angelica exclaimed in happiness.
"We hope it will be," Kara said and she and Claes returned to the kitchen.
They had already prepared the tortelli earlier. They were essentially squares of pastry filled with a mixture of boiled potatoes, onion, carrot, sage, garlic, tomato, pecorino, eggs, butter, nutmeg, oil and salt. The edges were then crimped. All that remained was cooking them, which they did by grilling them on a stone that had been pre-heated in an oven. It was ready within minutes and Claes plated them and handed them off to Triela, who brought them to the table and served them to Angelica.
Next was the primo. The water for the spaghetti was already on the boil and Claes added the pasta. Kara had cooked two cups of canned tomatoes, which she had drained and coarsely chopped with garlic and olive oil, until the tomatoes had given off their juices. She now added a pound each of Manila clams and small mussels with a half-cup of white wine. She stirred and tossed the mixture, watching as the mollusks opened in the steam.
Triela returned with the empty antipasto plate. "Angelica loved it," she noted. "And the adults were fans, as well."
Kara tossed the few mollusks that had not opened and drained the pasta, which she then poured over the sauce. She mixed them together and seasoned to taste. She prepared a plate for Angelica and then handed the pan to Claes, who poured the rest into a large bowl for the adults to serve themselves.
"Oh this looks yummy!" Angelica exclaimed as Triela placed the plate before her. Beside her, Rico removed the cork on a Sauvignon blanc from Collio Goriziano. Rico had been told to pour just a little in first to let Angelica try it to see if she liked it, but Rico just filled the glass about two-thirds of the way. She didn't really understand the nuances of formal dining; she just wanted to do something nice for Angelica. As such, Triela didn't bother to correct her, but instead asked Angelica if she liked it.
"It's very refreshing," Angelica complimented after a taste.
Back in the kitchen, Kara checked the secundo. Earlier, she had seasoned a de-boned fryer chicken with salt and pepper and in a mixing bowl combined prosciutto, parsley, breadcrumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano and provolone cheeses, eggs, and basil and rosemary leaves. They'd then coated the inside of the chicken with the mixture, rolled it up like a roast, and secured it with butcher's twine. They seasoned the outside with salt and pepper and then roasted it for a half-hour, allowing it to rest for 10 minutes after before carving it into medallions and serving.
After the secundo had gone out, Kara and Claes finished the Pandoro for the dessert - an egg and butter-rich bread from Verona baked in a star-shaped pan and dusted with Confectioners' sugar to represent snow on a mountain. They cut it into slices and served it with a silver bowl of melted dark chocolate and whipped cream.
"This was all wonderful," Angelica stated to everyone. "Thank you so very much. It made me very happy."
"Seriously, that was an excellent meal, girls," Marco added and Priscilla nodded. "And thank you Triela and Rico for your hard work taking care of Angie."
"We're glad you enjoyed it," Kara replied as she sipped an espresso after having a slice of the Pandoro with chocolate and whipped cream. She and Claes had both sampled the meal before it went out, so they were not hungry themselves.
Angelica yawned. "Excuse me," she said. "I'm so full I'm sleepy."
"Well let's get you back to bed, then," Priscilla said. Marco moved her from the table to the wheelchair and covered her with a blanket.
"Thank you again!" Angelica said, flashing them another thousand-watt smile. All four girls smiled and waved good-bye and then started cleaning up.
The End
