tampered | Log; Complete

Somehow Caspian believed pizza was going to be like those Italian horses, an old world concept made modern by some other world's innovation. And that other world seemed to hold a common theme for many people in the City. The only variation appeared to be time as Peter's time was very different from Toshiko's. Food was food either way and Caspian had learned to rough it for a couple weeks between feasting like a prince and feasting like a king.

Peter could've taken relief in the fact that this time Destrier didn't accompany them.

"She is very interesting, and Japanese," he said to Peter on their walk to the pub. Toshiko was just one woman on a long list of ladies with which Caspian had acquainted himself.

Peter didn't see why the idea of pizza was so exciting to Caspian; it was just pizza, after all. By now though, Peter had gotten used to Caspian and his fascination with modern things.

"Japanese?"

Tosh spotted the pair and lifted her hand in a wave. She was dressed as she had been all day -- jeans and loose top, leather jacket, gun and cell phone on her belt, comm piece in her ear. The only thing missing from what was practically a uniform for her was the almost-always-present computer satchel.

"I've got us a table," she called out, when they were near enough for conversation. "Hullo, Caspian. And you must be Peter."

Someone must have convinced Caspian not to wear his armor or his sword because he was dressed in a simple natural linen tunic and some tan breeches in his brown boots. He still looked like an escapee from a Renaissance Fair but what could they do about it? He was comfortable this way.

He also carried a dagger in one of those boots, old habit and some such.

"Yes, from 'Japan' and she is familiar with your time," Caspian nodded to Peter then glanced to that Japanese woman. "Toshiko," he smiled, approaching her, "yes, this is Peter."

His Majesty the High King, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands. All those titles seemed silly in the City.

In contrast to Caspian, Peter wore a casual dress shirt. It had been easier for Peter to adjust to modern clothing, and it reflected in the way he dressed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Toshiko. I'm Peter, and you've already met Caspian."

Naming himself as High King Peter the Magnificent would have been pretentious, anyways. He had learned that lesson back with Trumpkin.

And to be honest, Tosh would have probably just bitten back a smile at the titles, and continued to call them Caspian and Peter. Especially considering that it was just now occurring to her how very young they both were.

"It's very nice to meet you too, Peter. And yes, I have met Caspian already. It's good to see you again," she replied, addressing the last statement to Caspian. "Come on inside, and we can figure out what to order."

She led the way into the pub, which she'd chosen partly because it was a well-lit, smoke-free sort of place. And because she'd been told they served excellent pizza.

Caspian shrugged off the feeling of being a little out of place. If he could do it amongst centaurs and fauns then he could do it amongst people from the 21st Century when everything supposedly changes. He wouldn't know any better, though after having met Claire Bennet there could be something to that...

"Very good," he smiled to Toshiko.

By now he'd realized that pubs and the sort were no different from Ye Auld Tavern. Perhaps some things really never did change, only changed its face and clientele.

"Toshiko had asked if you prefer wine or beer," he upnodded once to Peter. A challenge? No of course not.

If Caspian felt slightly out of place in the 21st century, Peter could say the same about going to that pub. It wasn't the pub atmosphere that made Peter uncomfortable, but the idea that something so much like home existed so differently here in the City. Besides, Peter hadn't been much of a pub hopper back at home, something he probably wouldn't admit.

"Beer." Peter answered Caspian's question smoothly. "You two?"

Tosh might have had a moment of concern when she saw the bit of challenge pass between the two boys. But then, she'd been out with Jack and Owen before, and that was pretty much like spending time with teenage boys. In fact, Caspian and Peter would probably be better behaved.

"Beer's good for me," Tosh agreed, stopping at their table and giving the pair a chance to choose their seats. Some people liked to be able to see the door, or have a wall to their back, she knew. "I checked what they have on tap, and it looks to be good."

... But he'd been drinking the castle wine since he was at least 6 years old. Well beer, mead, and grog were well enough and Caspian wasn't one to appear spoiled by his upbringing.

"Beer," he repeated Peter's answer to Tosh.

Wait. There was more than one kind? He gave Peter a brief look, curious and unsure if this was something he was supposed to understand but not wanting to ask Toshiko about it just yet. Why expose his ignorance prematurely?

As for the seating... Wall to his back, thank you.

Wine would have been a bit too elegant in a pub, or at least in Peter's opinion. Besides, wasn't beer the typical drink that went along with pizza? Whatever it was, it wasn't a question that would keep Peter up at night.

Peter nodded while choosing his seat, as acknowledgment to Toshiko's statement. When it came to beer, he wasn't too picky.

"Caspian?" Peter asked, after noticing Caspian's quick glance.

Tosh pulled out her seat and sat down, puzzling for a moment over the look shared by the two boys until she connected it to the fact that they were talking about beer.

Maybe it would be best if she ordered for everyone, she decided. "I could, um, recommend something, if you're not familiar with what they've got," she offered. "And I promise not to be offended if you don't like my choice. But you'll have to tell me what to put on the pizza."

She opened a menu and held it out toward Caspian and Peter, pointing at the list of toppings. "I'm happy to explain anything that wasn't around in your times, or...worlds."

"What do you recommend, Peter," he countered.

Oh Toshiko to the rescue. And here weren't the boys supposed to be the heroes? "It was your invitation. I would not be offended by whatever choice you make," Caspian said to her with a smile.

One look at the menu and he was already noticing that the shape and general style of it as something easily baked on top of a shield. Not that Caspian had ever done such a thing before... he'd heard it was a Calormen custom.

"Is there anything you'd recommend?" Peter asked, directing his question towards Toshiko. Peter had ordered pizza before, of course. But he did concede that Toshiko was much more familiar with this pub, and it never hurt to get a familiar opinion on the food.

Pizza wasn't anything new for Peter, even though these pizzas seemed slightly different from the ones he was familiar with at home. "Are you fine with mushrooms?" He asked to no one in particular.

"I'll eat pretty well anything on my pizza, but the standards are pretty much things like pepperoni or sausage for meat, and mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives for vegetables. Honestly though, name something you like, you can probably get it. Anything but bananas, if you don't mind."

Tosh smiled, and added, "How about you two take a minute to look things over, and I'll go up and get our beers while you do?"

What? He stared between the two for a moment, and in a moment of royally learned diplomacy, Caspian claimed, "I will take anything and everything so that I will not miss an experience with each."

He appeared smug, subtly so, then nodded to Toshiko as she went away to retrieve the peasants' drink--er.. beers.

Not miss an experience? Peter raised his eyebrows as he glanced at Caspian. "That's quite a heavy pizza you're making." Not to mention a flavor overload. "You should ask for something more specific."

"Thank you, Toshiko." Peter mentioned as she left to grab the drinks.

"I will defer to your recommendation as soon as you make one," he said to Peter, reflecting his expression.

"Well, if Toshiko doesn't mind, I think mushroom and sausages would be a good combination." Peter really doesn't mind what they put on the pizza, but the idea of getting every ingredient is a bit too odd for him.

Is the insight here that Peter Pevensie is conservative and would likely vote for the Labour Party?

He shrugged once, content to settle with mushroom and sausage as long as only the best sun-ripened tomatoes and some basil and oregano are involved. Caspian wasn't spoiled, really, he just didn't know any better about how different their cultures were. He glanced to Toshiko who was across the pub then back to Peter.

"Do not be surprised that she knows."

Peter could be a pizza conservative, or he could find the idea of eating a two inch deep pizza unappealing.

Peter shrugged at Caspian's comment, as he skimmed over the menu waiting for Toshiko's return. Unlike Caspian, he didn't have any high expectations for the pizza. It was just a pizza, after all.

"Is this the first time you've eaten out?" Peter asked Caspian idly. Peter wasn't exactly sure what Caspian liked to eat, and he had a strange feeling that he should have known by now.

He watched Peter a moment, unsure if he'd caught his meaning, though here in the City, even without their 'usual' enemies it was still best to keep the crown under wraps. But it was unfortunate how half of the network population seemed to know.

"Yes, I suppose, if that is what you call it," he nodded again. Caspian easily survived on bread, butter, and that tea Peter liked to steep, but occasionally he'd brought some meat to cook with rice. One would be surprised over how much a boy prince could learn just watching the servants in the kitchen.

Peter wasn't much of a cook himself, but he had got along pretty well by making full use of the cities privileges towards children. Not that he considered himself a child, but it did leave money towards other, more important things.

"We'll have to remedy that. It wouldn't hurt to try different things while you have the chance." Caspian had been in the city for this long, and yet this was his first experience with eating modern food. "Why haven't you gone out before?"

"I have gone out. I have ridden through the forests and along the beach. I believe I know the landscape of this City much better," he nodded, because that's exactly what Peter meant, right?

After another moment, he finally admitted, "it is not what I expected."

"I meant to eat." Peter says somewhat wearily.

"Do you mean the City?"

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