Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

Another Stay In Esthar

"I've heard mixed reviews about this tofu stuff. My mum thinks it's painstakingly bland, but my father has been known to eat it depending on how it's been prepared and what it's being served with. I, personally, have never tried the stuff."

Harlan was staring at the tofu that his girlfriend had placed into their shopping cart, and had remembered the debate his parents had had about it when he was younger.

"It's lovely, Harlan. I have no idea what your mother is talking about." Aurelie smiled. "She must have had an inexperienced cook. Tofu is great."

"Will you be showing me how wrong she is, then?"

"You can bet on it." Aurelie nodded. "As a matter of fact, why don't I show you what it's like to grocery shop as a vegetarian?"

"There's a difference?" asked Harlan. "I'd think you would just skip the meat areas."

"Maybe for some, but I like to try to avoid foods with animal byproducts too. That's usually something a vegan would do, but I figure I could avoid any other unnecessary things too. That, and I try to buy things low in sodium and gluten-free, preferably organic."

"This is starting to sound way more complicated than I thought it would be," admitted Harlan.

"Not really, because there are some brands I like and I just get those. But when trying new things, sometimes the process is arduous. Come, I'll show you what I mean."

Aurelie walked over to the pasta section, which was near where they had been previously, and pointed to the labels. "This brand is vegan. They're labeled."

"Oh! I never noticed those labels." Harlan nodded.

"I have a question- have you ever seen gluten-free tortillas in Esthar? I've tried to find them with Grandmother, and we never can. You'd think that they'd exist, and I'm sure they do, but why can't I ever find them?"

Harlan shrugged. "You're asking the wrong person. I've never paid much attention to my food; I just want it to taste good."

Aurelie gasped, as if he'd sworn to kill her father. "How could you not care about what goes into your body?! That's like... like not caring who comes into your house! Like not caring if... if a bug skimmed the surface of your drink! And, so help me, if that last thing doesn't bother you, I'm never kissing you again."

"You are so precious, Aurelie." Harlan smiled, giving her a forehead kiss. "Could I meet you in the frozen goods aisle? I forgot to pick a few things up for our dinner tonight. I'm cooking for us."

"You cook for me every time I visit Esthar."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way."

In the frozen goods aisle, as Aurelie stared at the assortment of ice cream available, she got a call from her mother, who needed the code to the magic studies safe.

"I'm almost definitely sure that it's Nora's birthday," Aurelie told her. "If not, then it's mine, or our late grandmother's." She sighed, "I'm sorry, Mom. If I hadn't been taking so much time off, I'd be there to help you."

"Aurelie, this is only the second time you've asked to have time off. Don't be such a workaholic." She could tell Quistis was amused. "Enjoy your time with your boyfriend, and don't worry about us here. We'll be fine, all right?"

"I guess so." She hung up uncertainly, and turned back to the ice cream before deciding on Neapolitan and going on her way.

After a few steps she felt Harlan hug her from behind, before he put his hands on the cart handle on top of hers and they pushed the thing together. He'd get like that sometimes, although Aurelie was still a bit timid over public displays of affection.