Altria looks up from her meal as you approach, and blinks, appearing surprised to find you standing next to her.
"Is this seat taken?" you ask, indicating the place to her left.
"Mmnn," the blonde replies. She quickly pulls her fork from her mouth, swallows, and repeats. "No, it is not."
"Then may I-?"
"By all means."
You set your stuff down, balancing the silly giant check against the table and clearing a space on top for the plaque and the envelope of forms. "Would you mind keeping an eye on this stuff for me for a moment?"
"Not at all."
"Thanks." And with that, you head for the food, all the while doing your best to ignore the pointed stares digging into your back.
Picking up a tray, you proceed to pile it high with selections from the somewhat-reduced buffet. Once you're satisfied with your first course, you return to your chair, briefly thank Altria, and proceed to dig in. Time passes in a haze of culinary delight. You're vaguely aware that Altria gets up, leaves, and returns at some point, but you don't give it much thought. You do the same thing. No words pass between the two of you, but there is a definite feeling of camaraderie, arising from a mutual appreciation for good food, and the ability to pack it away in quantity.
"My god," Cordelia's voice finally intrudes on your thoughts. "Where do you put it all?"
You look up, and are surprised to find that Cordy isn't looking at you, but at the blonde in blue who sits to your right.
"I'm sorry?" Altria asks, looking puzzled.
"That's your fifth serving!" Miss Chase nods at the other girl's tray, which carries a half-empty plate of rice and veggies, a depleted side-dish of meat strips and dips, and a few slices of assorted cheeses. It's not as much as you took in one go, but if it is her fifth dish... "Do you always eat this much?"
"Ah." Altria blushes slightly. "As it happens, yes, I do."
Cordelia isn't the only girl who's staring. "So you basically eat like Alex all the time, and yet you're still tiny."
"...I have a very high metabolism?" the English girl offers.
You sense a sudden surge of envy from all the human girls at the table.