Fic: SGA: Charming the Locals, a Take Out 'Verse snippet
The boys' first encounter with Mama Ji. Yes, I'm posting a portion now, mostly so I won't forget to write the rest of the story.
The premise is that Rodney showed up at the restaurant to pick up some food and forgot his wallet. Mama Ji won't let him leave (no wallet, doesn't want him to get picked up by the cops) and won't take a "place holder" for the food (Rodney's watch) and makes him wash dishes until John shows up because he gave her lip. She threatens to cut off his Chinese food source if he doesn't comply, so when John shows up, Rodney's furious, terrorized, humiliated, and literally steamed from the heat and water in the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“You sure you want to take him home?” Mama Ji asks dubiously. “He mouthy.”
John, smiles at her, slow as slow.
“You dirty boy,” she scolds, pinking up a little. “I like that.” She strikes the counter with her hand decisively. “You come back.”
“Hey!” Rodney yelps, offended. "If I can't..."
Mama Ji holds one hand up imperiously, looks at him, sniffs. “You come too,” she allows, “but you eat what I tell you.”
“I will n-“
“Good boy!” she beams. “I knew you smart. For now, always bring Colonel with you.”
“But, wait, that's!” His voice rises at least three octaves.
“Let’s leave while we’re ahead Rodney,” John cuts in smoothly, giving Mama Ji his best respectful smile and steering Rodney away from the battlefield. “While the nice lady will still feed us.”
“But!”
“Dumplings, Rodney. General Tso’s. Best Chinese food within a two-hour radius of home.”
“I,”
“Shhhh. I think we just made a friend.”
“She’s a harpy,” Rodney whispers harshly.
“I can hear you!” Mama Ji sing-songs behind them. Rodney flinches.
“Don’t look back,” John croons. “Just don’t look back and everything will be all right.” He glances over his shoulder to throw one last conciliatory smile at Mama Ji, and catches her laughing silently, hands clutching her stomach.
He squeezes Rodney's shoulder and rubs his back. “It’ll be all right, buddy.”
Rodney shudders and leans damply into the circle of John's arm. The bells tied to the the swinging door chime sweetly, and Mama Ji's laughter breaks free as the door closes behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The premise is that Rodney showed up at the restaurant to pick up some food and forgot his wallet. Mama Ji won't let him leave (no wallet, doesn't want him to get picked up by the cops) and won't take a "place holder" for the food (Rodney's watch) and makes him wash dishes until John shows up because he gave her lip. She threatens to cut off his Chinese food source if he doesn't comply, so when John shows up, Rodney's furious, terrorized, humiliated, and literally steamed from the heat and water in the kitchen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“You sure you want to take him home?” Mama Ji asks dubiously. “He mouthy.”
John, smiles at her, slow as slow.
“You dirty boy,” she scolds, pinking up a little. “I like that.” She strikes the counter with her hand decisively. “You come back.”
“Hey!” Rodney yelps, offended. "If I can't..."
Mama Ji holds one hand up imperiously, looks at him, sniffs. “You come too,” she allows, “but you eat what I tell you.”
“I will n-“
“Good boy!” she beams. “I knew you smart. For now, always bring Colonel with you.”
“But, wait, that's!” His voice rises at least three octaves.
“Let’s leave while we’re ahead Rodney,” John cuts in smoothly, giving Mama Ji his best respectful smile and steering Rodney away from the battlefield. “While the nice lady will still feed us.”
“But!”
“Dumplings, Rodney. General Tso’s. Best Chinese food within a two-hour radius of home.”
“I,”
“Shhhh. I think we just made a friend.”
“She’s a harpy,” Rodney whispers harshly.
“I can hear you!” Mama Ji sing-songs behind them. Rodney flinches.
“Don’t look back,” John croons. “Just don’t look back and everything will be all right.” He glances over his shoulder to throw one last conciliatory smile at Mama Ji, and catches her laughing silently, hands clutching her stomach.
He squeezes Rodney's shoulder and rubs his back. “It’ll be all right, buddy.”
Rodney shudders and leans damply into the circle of John's arm. The bells tied to the the swinging door chime sweetly, and Mama Ji's laughter breaks free as the door closes behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~