Polaris

House

 My time on the BeBop had proved one thing evident.

These guys absolutely loathe downtime.

Yeah, downtime meant no bounties, and no bounties meant no food. Which typically happened when the crew was down to its last dollar. No food meant everyone was hungry, even Ein! But, with everyone hungry, everyone was incredibly irritable. Especially the boys. Either it was the unnatural hunger of the undead, or it was just how hungry these guys were, but I couldn't help but feel bad when I was peacefully snacking from sitting pretty on the stash of cash I had built up - even with giving Jet half my earnings. To the point one afternoon, I spent my time shopping around Mars. Planning out a large dinner that would get me on just about everyone's good side.

Now, I should state right now that I'm no cook. Fuck, I burn cereal! I stick to instant ramen and have a kettle on my ship for that exact reason!

However, there's one thing that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to fuck up.

Stir fry.

Ein's barking declared my entry as I practically waddled into the living room with grocery bags. The dog seemed to have known that he wasn't left out of my spending, nipping at one of the bags. Aiming for some canned dog food I had bought for the pooch. As if he was going to tear through the bag, and eat through the metal of the can for what lay within.

"Can someone please get Ein! The bag's gonna explode!" I cried, finding Faye picking up the dog, and trying to peer into the bags as she walked alongside me.

"What do ya-"

"Can you finish unloading the Icarus? I left it popped open. Don't go eating anything, those are for after dinner-"

"Dinner?" The gruff voice came from the couch. Seemed the Bounty Hunter had been too invested in reading to notice the commotion of me entering. Or simply didn't care. Seeing him pop up from laying on the couch made me chuckle, holding the book close to his chest while scrambling for his bookmark.

"Yes," I began matter-of-factly, "I'm making dinner."

"What's for-"

"Surprise. All you need to know is there's meat." With that, I shuffled off to the galley. Which, I figured, was all Spike needed to know, especially after witnessing a night where he was pitching a fit when Jet had told him dinner was, "Bell Peppers and Beef," only there to be no beef. Thanks to Spike and his classic tail of destruction he left in his wake. Which was rather costly if you added it up across bounties. To the point one could put a monetary value on Spike for exactly how much he was worth to the BeBop crew.

How much is Spike worth exactly? The short answer is too much. The long answer? I'd have to ask Jet for a list of his expenses.

However, keeping the crew at bay while I cooked was easier said than done. Ed tried sneaking in multiple times to steal little bits of broccoli, which led to a scolding at knifepoint. Not exactly the best thing to be doing when Jet walked in. It would have been an accusatory finger in the kids face but it just happened to the knife in my hand. However, Jet had a bone to pick about me using his kitchen. Which wasn't entirely wrong as the Bebop was his ship, the point he was trying to make being that Jet had been the only known cook up until this point. I mean, I knew Spike tried. Thus, Jet had claimed the galley as his domain. But, his protesting stopped when I explained I was making enough for all of us. At that point he was more than happy to give me free reign. Not to mention he made sure I was left alone to cook.

However, the bitching and moaning returned once more once I started dishing everyone up.

"Why does Jet get to eat first?"