Title: An Unexpected Meal
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Milliardo
Notes: Challenge 216. Baby Series 4 #104. Takes place shortly after Green Eyes.
Spoilers: None
Warnings:
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: An Unexpected Meal
Milliardo studiously avoided watching Marquise Weyridge expertly slip the oyster from the shell to his mouth, fighting a rebelling stomach with every oyster that vanished. He had never been particularly fond of shellfish, and oysters definitely were not his preferred option. In general seafood was acceptable, he preferred it over certain heavier meals, but oysters were definitely not high up on his 'like' list.
What he wanted to know was why they were indulging in oysters for lunch? A quick glance around the table revealed that even Relena looked a little put off by the menu. It had to do with their grandfather, he assumed, as he was certain the housekeeper had listed a hearty soup, crusty bread and seafood stew for lunch. They might be royalty but unless the occasion called for grand demonstrations he liked to keep expenses down and enjoy a more 'humble' meal than most would expect to find on the king's table.
Oysters had not been on the menu.
It came as something of a relief when the Marquise set the final shell on his plate and settled back, looking particularly content. Gradually the other diners followed his example, some with more enjoyment than others, Milliardo noted. He had not touched the selection set before of him and thankfully no one commented, though two of his dinner companions looked somewhat uncomfortable.
He would need to determine who was behind this. There was no grand occasion to be marked and, whilst it was all well and good to see that one's guests enjoyed their stay, oysters for an everyday lunch...?
And lobster?
That was definitely lobster tails beginning to make the rounds of the table following the oyster entrée.
Was senility setting in so suddenly? Had he forgotten an event? Surely not. Pagan would have reminded him should the occasion warrant a feast for the midday meal... And this was one of the smaller, intimate dining rooms. There had been no security updates and nothing in his diary warranted this kind of meal, or the use of the high quality of the dinner setting either. It was the 'third best' porcelain and the silver cutlery set, both some four hundred years old and reserved for state occasions, not for a simple family gathering.
He wished he could have accompanied Duo out to the site of the proposed power station or managed to sneak out and score himself some fast food takeaway. He was not one to enjoy the fattier side of fast food, but this meal... There was just something off about this menu and the choice of guests.
Weyridge's arrival had come as a surprise, they had not been expecting him. He vaguely recognised three of the men seated at the table, some kind of business associates of his grandfather. He knew Pagan had been far from pleased with the unexpected arrivals, but the man had sent word the individuals would be thoroughly vetted and watched. Pagan liked surprises even less than he.
End
Karina Robertson 2013