Busy day means tiny drabble. This request was for the Karyuu kiddos in the prompt hot chocolate.
"Captain," Marina said as she frowned at her mug. "I have a hunch the Machine Men were the only ones on cooking duty today."
I snorted. "You think? Well, I give them props for trying." My usual black mug was piping hot to the touch, so warm I could feel it through my gloves. I tried to raise it to my mouth again, but before I could even scald my tongue, the sickeningly sweet smell made me lower it again. It was enough to make my stomach turn.
Had this been real hot chocolate, and had Marina not been standing next to me, I could have mixed in some alcohol. The sweetness of it would probably still make me feel heavy and nauseous for a while, but it would have been more bearable.
Technically, this was hot chocolate. The Machine Men chefs followed the recipe of the title to a T. Now everyone on the bridge was stuck with a mug full of melted milk chocolate. It seemed like a good idea to ask for it at first, at least to the rest of the boys.
"It'll be festive, Captain," and "It'll be nostalgic," they said. Now they were all frowning at their drinks just like Marina.
"I didn't know we had this much chocolate," Ishikura murmured.
"Is it safe to drink this?" Grenadier asked.
"I imagine it will be once it isn't molten hot," I said. "I'm just not sure everyone having a sugar rush all at once is a good idea." Instead of a sugar rush, I was more likely to be stuck throwing up until all the repulsive sweetness was gone.
"Do we actually have to drink it?" Grenadier asked.
I twisted the mug to watch the thick syrup roll around. Trails of steam rolled from the top, but I attempted another sip. My eyes shut tight as a shudder tore through me, but I didn't taste anything beyond the searing heat. Once it was down and all my taste buds were thoroughly burned off, I set the mug on the console in front of me. "If we happen toaccidentally leave them sitting for too long, they'll harden when they cool, right?"
Marina nodded, setting hers down next to mine. "That would be a shame," she said. I imagined she was just content because I didn't mix in any bourbon.
The men all followed suit, except Rai, who seemed content with his drink. I wasn't looking forward to him bouncing off the walls and begging to shoot at something.
I ran my singed tongue over my teeth, where some of the chocolate stuck. I could taste it now, so sweet my toes curled and a ground my teeth together. "Next time you boys want your hot chocolate fix, go make it yourselves," I sighed. "Or let me make it, so I can spike it."
"Captain," Marina scolded as I fought back a laugh.