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Frin isn’t eating anymore. You’re trying to make new foods for them but he keeps lying and saying that he’s not hungry even when you can hear their tummy. And when he does eat, he does his bad smile and says it’s good, but he’s lying! And won’t tell you what’s wrong! He won’t stop being a crab! Za is helping you make dinner tonight. Za’s gross with Frin so he has to know why Frin won’t eat. “Za, why doesn’t Frin like my food anymore?”
“Bonbon…” he stops and looks at you sadly like adults do when they won’t give a good answer, “There’s nothing wrong with your food. Sif is just…”
“Just what?! He eats less than all of you now! And he smiles bad when he does eat like nothing’s wrong…”
“You aren’t doing anything wrong Bonbon… Sif… Sif wouldn’t want you to feel bad because of this. Honestly, if it weren’t for you he’d probably be eating even less…”
“That’s stupid… Frin’s stupid…”
“I agree. Nearly starving themself definitely isn’t the best decision, but we can’t exactly force them to eat.
“Then what can we do?”
“Hmmm… We could make something he wouldn’t ever turn down. What do you think is Sif’s favorite food?”
“I thought it was malanga fritters but that’s loop food…”
“Yeah, should probably avoid that. Maybe we should check the library in the next town. If we’re lucky we might find something else that he’ll like.”
“Really? You promise?”
“Promise, Bonbon.”
“You super promise?”
“Super promise.”
“Super duper promise?”
“Super duper promise!”
“Right! I’m gonna cook Frin the best meal!”
✦✧✦✧✦
“Welp, Bonbon and I already have plans. We'll see you all later!”
“Oh, and where do you plan on going?”
“It's a secret!”
“Yep, top secret m'dame.”
“Of course, forget I asked.”
“Good. Come on Za!” You run off.
“Bonbon! You don’t even know where you're going!”
“Hurry up then!
Za stops being slow and catches up so he can lead you to the library, “What kind of cookbooks are we looking for?”
“Sif said the headache books are in his language. So if we can find one we might be able to find a translated copy. Maybe a taste of home will help with their appetite.”
“Oh! Making forgotten food!”
“Yep! Pretty much!”
“That'll be so cool!”
“Definitely. Wanna help look?”
“...No, I need my head to cook.”
“Of course you do, Bonbon. Leave it all to me! You can go look for a book you like. I'll find you if I find anything.”
You walk around the library doing very important stuff like not looking for a book until Za finds you.
“Guess what I found Bonbon?”
“Oh, oh! Let me see!”
“Here you go!”
Za gives you a cookbook and you look through it. “Mmm… Oh! Jerk chicken! Frin likes spicy food.”
“Yep. He does. And I'm totally okay with that.”
“Jerk chicken and…” You keep flipping through the book, “...rice and peas? Those aren’t peas!”
“Right you are, Bonbon.”
“Then why is it called that? Are they dumb?
“Maybe it’s cultural… But I don't think it'll be easy to find coconut milk here. Maybe when we get closer to Bambouche?”
“Mmm… I guess we can wait…”
“Right. Let me copy the recipes and then we can head back. I need to sleep off this headache.”
“Thank you, Za!”
“No problem, Bonbon! Anything for you guys!”
“Dile! Can we go shopping? Please?”
“What for Boniface?”
You look towards Frin, who’s just poking at his omelet, and say, “Secret.”
Dile looks at Frin too, “I see. I suppose we should stock up on a few things. We can go after breakfast.”
“Heheh, thank you.”
You eat as fast as you can but Dile takes forever to eat and get ready to leave. When you finally leave the inn and go to the market it’s already crowded. “So what are we looking for exactly? Something for Siffrin, right?”
“Yeah! Me and Za found a headache cookbook with a translation and found recipes for rice and peas and jerk chicken.”
“To help with their ‘lack’ of an appetite? It sounds like as good an idea as any. Did you make a list?”
“Yes,” take Za’s notes out of your hat and give them to her.
“Hmm… Looks like most of the ingredients aren't out of the ordinary for us… And the chicken needs to marinate? I’ll take Siffrin out later to give you time to get started if you want to get started today.”
“Yes. I don't wanna wait.”
Dile nods, “If she is there, you should ask Mirabelle to help you. She might be a little upset if she’s the only one who doesn’t get to help with this scheme.”
“I know’ Dile
“Right, so we need a few new spices, chicken wings, kidney beans, etcetera, etcetera…”
“Yeah! And they all have to be perfect!”
“Of course. Nothing but the best for us.”
“Heheheh, you get it.”
You both walk from stall to stall picking up stuff you need for tomorrow's dinner and for the rest of the trip to Bambouche.
“...Why do you think Frin barely eats anymore?”
“...It’s very likely due to the loops. Maybe something during it hurt his relationship with food.”
“Like with bananas?”
Dile nods, “Like with bananas. Trauma could also cause a loss of appetite, though it doesn’t seem likely in Siffrin's case.”
“Yeah! His tummy is always grumbling!”
“Yes, their appetite does seem as large if not larger than normal. It is just too difficult to tell when Siffrin refuses to talk to us about it
“Which is why Frin should stop being a crab and eat!”
“That he should. Hopefully your gift will help him realize that.”
“Our gift. We’re all helping Frin.”
“Yes, our gift.”
✦✧✦✧✦
“Siffrin, if you aren’t busy, I would like your company on an errand.”
“Ohoho, is this a secret quest?”
“Hmm… Perhaps. Though if you two already have plans I do not mind putting it off.”
You let them talk to Frin as you take Belle away and into the kitchen, “Wah! Bonnie? Did you need something?”
“Yes. It’s important. We’re cooking for Frin.”
“Oh! Yes, I’ll help however I can. What are we making?”
“Za helped me find recipes from Frin’s home and Dile helped me find the best ingredients. We’re making jerk chicken and rice and peas.”
“Bonnie, that sounds so wonderful! I’m sure Siffrin will appreciate it a lot.”
“Heheh, can you wash the beans? I wanna soak them overnight too.”
Belle nods, “Leave it to me, Bonnie.” You give her the beans and she gets right to washing and you start chopping a pepper to go in the wet mix.
The kitchen is quiet while you both work. When Belle finishes with the beans, you both work on the marinade. Once the chicken is covered in the marinade you put them in the fridge with the beans and a ‘DON’T TOUCH!!!!’ “This is really nice of you Bonnie. Siffrin really does need to eat more…”
“Frin can’t say no to this. I won’t let them!”
“Hehe, right. There’s no other choice”
✦✧✦✧✦
Belle takes the chicken out of the fridge as the kitchen and moves them into a baking dish while you pour the beans into the pressure cooker and season them before washing the rice.
“How are the two of you doing?” Dile is standing at the door but she promised to help Za keep Frin busy.
“Mademe? What’s going on?”
“I just came to give an update and check on you two. Siffrin tried to come in and caught on to our attempts to keep them out.”
You and Belle yell “No!” at the same time. “Doesn’t that mean Isabeau needs help?”
“Not at all. Isabeau thought our best chance to keep them out at this point was tossing them over his shoulder and heading out.”
“Gross.”
“Hehehe! And Siffrin let it happen?”
Dile laughs with Belle and nods, “Went limp as soon as Isabeau set them down. Call him when you’re done. He didn’t mention where he would be taking Siffrin.” She walks away before you can answer.
“Right, sounds like we have plenty of time. Do you need help with anything else?”
“Nuh uh. Thank you for helping Belle.”
“You’re welcome, Bonnie. I’m always happy to help you.”
You finish up the rice and peas and pull the chicken out of the oven before making the handsign Loop taught you all, “Za! Hurry up with Frin!”
[Heard you loud and clear Bonbon! Coming back now.]
“You better be!” You stop the call and make Frin’s plate.
✦✧✦✧✦
Za and Dile are at the booth with Frin as you and Belle are waiting in the kitchen. Dile finally gives the signal and you both come out holding the pot of rice, a baking dish, and a plate you already made for Frin, and put it down in front of Frin.
“W-What…? This is…”
“Rice and peas and jerk chicken! And everyone helped with it! Za found the recipes, Dile took me shopping, and Belle helped me cook!”
“Oh… and you made this… for me…?”
“Uh-huh! So you better eat it!
“You all didn’t have to do all of this…”
“But we wanted to, Sif.”
“We’ve all noticed you've been nearly starving yourself these past few weeks. You need to eat.”
“If this is what it takes to get a proper meal in you, we’ll happily do it every time.”
“Yeah! So eat already!”
Frin looks at all of you one by one before looking down at the plate, “...Okay…”
He picks up his spoon and scoops up some rice. You see their hand shaking…. D-Did you mess up? Is rice and peas bad? Frin shoves the spoon in his mouth and you’re all quiet enough to hear them swallow and then you see a tear run down his cheek… “F-Frin--" He doesn’t even listen before shoveling down more and more rice.
Za grabs Frin’s hand, “Sif! You don’t have to eat it if you don’t--"
“It’s delicious…” Frin wipes away his tears but doesn’t stop crying, “Thank you…”
Za lets go of Frin, “No problem, buddy.”
“It’s good? Really good? You promise?”
“I super duper promise, Bonnie.”
“CRAB YEAH! I made a lot so eat as much as you want!” Frin nods and keeps eating. “Hehehe!” You make everyone a plate and give Za one piece of chicken and he looks at it like it's trying to hurt him.
“...Hey, Sif? Would you please save me from this chicken?” Sif looks up at Za and smirks, slowly shaking his head, “...Jerk.”
“Ugh.”
“That was bad…”
You glare at Za while he is laughing with Frin, “More chicken for you!” You put another piece on his plate.
You finish making your plate and join everyone. You hope that when you get to Bambouche, you can have more meals like this with your whole family.