And to the Victor.. (Penelope){Spoilers}

[Prysm Ray]

Before Penelope had taken her finger away, Prysm managed to see what she had pointed to. Staring at the menu for a few seconds, Prysm finally spots the picture. Actually looking at the picture and not at the caption just yet, a look of utter disgust crossed her face. Sure it looked fancy, but it just looked so... un-vegatarian that even thinking about eating it was disgusting.

Well it's good thing you're NOT eating it. Read the damn caption, frenchie.

Wanting to slap that voice across the face, Prysm managed to divert her eyes from the masterpiece of meat. Reading the caption below, she gulped. "Fête Américaine" it sounded so familiar, how did it sound familiar? Arlene didn't even give her formal french lessons, who was she to tell somebody was something in french meant? She could piece together the rest of the description, but couldn't for the life of her remember what the name was.

You know this... come on. Arlene practically bitched at us about it.

Right, the fashion designer had complained rather avidly about something like that. But what did it mean? Digging through her past memories of back home, Prysm tried to remember exactly when Arlene had went bi-polar on her for seemingly no reason. Remembering just how freaky it was when the calm and pristine woman enraged, it all started to come back to her.

~~
It was after Arlene had just finished making a dress for herself, Prysm and four of their closest friends. Arlene had put in a lot of hard work and dedication throughout all of their constant nagging about the dresses. Some of them weren't accurate enough, some of them weren't useful enough... and the only comment Prysm had about hers was that it needed to be about Twenty Percent Cooler. After Prysm had said that, Arlene's eye seemed to twitch but Prysm thought nothing of it.

Prysm and another one of her friends, Dianne Pinkamina, decided to throw Arlene a surprise party, to thank her for the hard work and dedication. Prysm didn't know how to cook at all, so Dianne had said that she was going to cover the food and decorate. After finally persuading Arlene to go to the surprise party, Prysm thought it was going to end swell.

However, it did anything but. Arlene absolutely hated being surprised, and to top it all off, she hated parties. Arlene went on a pretty heft rant about everything from the choice of decor, the anything but subtle persuasion by Prysm, to the food.

OH THE FOOD. Yes, Dianne had chosen such an amazing feast. Muffins, Cakes, Muffins, Pies, Muffins, Cupcakes and most importantly MUFFINS! However, it seemed Arlene didn't appreciate it at all. Seeing the small selection of food, Arlene's rant came to the climax when she yelled angrily.

AMÉRICAINS STUPIDES ET LEURS STUPIDE FÊTES AMÉRICAIN.[/i]

After the fact, Prysm had figured out that it essentially meant Stupid Americans and their stupid american feasts.
~~

*DING DING DING* You've got it, genius.

Smirking at Penelope, Prysm said.

It says American Feast. Lets see what it actually is...

Skimming through the rest of the caption she said.

But the most I can make out of it is that it's Chicken... wrapped in bacon, dipped in some sort of beef juice, and then breaded and fried...

Just describing it made Prysm want to throw up. It was so... meaty. Blegh.

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[Penelope Lea]

Chicken! Wrapped in bacon?! Dipped in beef juice! Nevermind the breaded and friend bit, three meat-related products in one convenient foreign package was enough to distract Penelope from her glittering fingernails. If her refrigerator wasn't vegetarian, it would be totally envious of the products served at this absolutely glorious restaurant! The cracking smiles making themselves present on Penelope's face told the story of an exceedingly excited young woman as just the idea of bacon kissing her tongue made her feel insanely happy. She couldn't do anything but think about the idea of finally eating real, authentic food as the embellished flavor of the menu photo was now a genuine masterpiece fit for an historic museum. Closing her eyes, she began dancing endless twirls inside her head amongst equally groovy bacon people as they clouded Penelope's better judgment. Just the imagined smell of cooked meat sent her senses into a whirlwind of ecstasy. Penelope honestly never cared for the taste of bacon, but it had been so long since she was allowed to even have it that it may as well been her all-time favorite food; the promised chicken seemingly just an added delight to Penelope continuously growing happiness. However, it ended the moment Penelope opened her eyes and saw the disgruntled look on Prysm's face. It took her a moment to push away the disco bacon people to fully grasp what she was witnessing.

"That's right, Prysm's vegetarian!"

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For some reason, Penelope began to feel ashamed, and she didn't know why. Well, maybe she did, but she didn't want to admit it towards herself. Her moments of happiness now shrouded in regret, Penelope's troop of choreographed bacon people held their heads in shame as they jumped off their stage. Penelope always hated it when Sasha took opportunities to flaunt her age, securing herself as the all-knowing older sister. Sometimes poking fun at the fact that Penelope not-so-secretly held an emotional connection with a pink stuffed-animal pony. Having had "Oatmeal" since she was a toddler, Penelope always had her displayed gallantly in her room, even now as a centerpiece for her bed in her apartment bedroom. Penelope could only imagine that Prysm Ray felt similar when it came to people eating fabulous slabs of dead animal in front her. She didn't want to do that, the idea that this date actually meant something more than just a match-stipulation to Prysm Ray seemingly forbade Penelope from flaunting her carnivore-ism in front of her.

"Oh, um, well...that's disappointing."

Penelope was the self-proclaimed world's best vegan.

"Poor farm animals, it's almost disheartening to see them toyed with in such disgusting fashion, you couldn't even tell they were in the picture."[/center]

It was emotionally hurting Penelope as each anguished syllable escaped her lips. She was going to have to settle for the most vegan-isk thing on the menu in a restaurant that embraced the dressing of assorted meat products. This was all Rolf McCounterson Jr's fault. If he had never taken her to the All-of-Garden in the first place, Penelope could have allowed herself to enjoy the mouth-salivating meats Vulize served. Scavenging the menu for specialized items, Penelope depressingly waved good-bye to her disco bacon friends.

"So...what are you having?"

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[Prysm Ray]

The face. STOP THE FACE.

Prysm was still making the partially disgusted face about the American Feast. She knew she had to stop. But she struggled to the more she stared at that picture. Upon looking up from the menu to look at Penelope, she managed to compose herself. Penelope's face radiated a form of joy. Prysm highly doubted that the joy was from being in her company, as much as she hoped that was the case. She knew right that her suspicions on Penelope's choice of diet was correct. She wasn't a vegan, not at all.

Called it.

Snapping out of her self gloating of being correct upon hearing Penelope's rather hesitant voice. As she talked, that aforementioned joy vanished from Penelope's face. Which made Prysm slightly curious as to what had just happened inside that head of hers. Then Penelope managed to say the words "...that's disappointing."

What? Disappointing?

Prysm sort of was taken aback by that, disappointing? It was insanely obvious to Prysm that Penelope wasn't a vegan, let alone a vegetarian when at All-Of-Garden. She seemed to have to force herself to even eat the tofu burger, and even just now with the look of joy on her face.

Listening to Penelope's obviously forced spiel about farm animals, Prysm sighed slightly. Realizing that she was only pretending that the meaty meal sounded like a poor choice to her. A smile crossed Prysm's face as she could see Penelope force out the last bit about the pictures. Prysm had a plan start to formulate, about to speak up about what she was planning on ordering, the dizzy waitress came back with two glasses of water. As she set the two glasses down and then pulled out a little notepad and pencil she asked.

Are you two ready to order?

Well, Prysm's plan was going to have to get kicked in sooner than expected.

Why yes, yes we are.

The look of sheer glee on the waitress' face was undeniable, and Penelope's one of utter confusion.

I'll have the Aubergine Ratatouille.

The Ratatouille being a vegetable sort of dry stew that originated in France. Nodding, the waitress jotted it down and then looked at Penelope who still had a confused look on her face. As she hadn't chosen a meal yet. Smiling, Prysm cut in.

She'll have the fête américaine.

The lady then jotted that down, and with a nod she was off. Leaving Prysm and Penelope all alone again. Prysm half assumed that Penelope was going to try and continue the vegan act.

[Penelope Lea]

Wha-what? The last few handfuls of seconds happened in an absolute flash, not allowing Penelope to fully gather what exactly had happened. Prysm Ray had ordered for her, yes, quite possibly ordered her the most lavish feast she had in the longest while, but Penelope was certain her acting was spot-on! From her sudden change of tone, to her undesirable actions of flipping through the menu's pages, making sure each expression on her face was more disgusting than the last with each new pictured item of dressed meat, Penelope made sure to cover all her grounds! Unless...no, it couldn't be. Penelope was certain her enjoyment of hearing the food's description was entirely internal, not external! Prysm Ray must have been contemplating a bigger picture, perhaps she intended them to share the ratatouille? But then what was the purpose of the meat? Just a taunting temptation to further test Penelope's vegan-hood? Penelope couldn't eat it, as much as she wanted too, as much as she craved it, she couldn't allow herself to eat it if she were to keep playing this vegan act in front of Prysm.

"Why did you do that?"

Putting up a faux expression of anger, Penelope was determined to cover any faulty grounds she managed to create moments ago when she allowed herself to get overwhelmed with her enjoyment. She had to be the world's best vegan, and as much as she hated the idea of changing the item Prysm had ordered for her, she had to suggest it to keep some type of ideal advantage over Ray. Angrily whispering, so she wouldn't draw more attention towards herself, Penelope uncorked her inner-vegan.

"You know I can't eat that. I will lose my super vegan powers! I'm sure you've seen, read, or at least played Scott Pilgrim, you're an idiot if you haven't. Do you really want to create more of a scene then we're already creating tonight? Sirens will sound, Clifton Collins Jr. will barge through these doors, creating a ruckus with the few people that actually recognize him, and then he'll flash his badge and give me my first demerit on my spotless record! Believe me, it's spotless, I've never strayed from my diet. I am the best vegan in the world, people write blog entries praising me, wishing they could be just like me! Who wouldn't? I'm a genuine, and pure role-model. "

Penelope found herself out of breath, she may have been the lead singer in Xombie Skull Kickers, but she didn't allow herself the opportunity to pace her words as her mini-rant ended. She wanted to appear flustered, she wanted to re-convince and fix any wrongs that may have lead Prysm Ray to assume she was anything but a woman with a pristine diet to maintain a figure. A figure...that was anything but seducing, but still a figure nonetheless.

[Prysm Ray]

Keep your cool Dash, keep your cool.

Prysm's temper was actually starting to rise as Penelope kept on her little tirade. The only thing worse than people insulting her, were people who insulted her lifestyle choice and people who lied to her. She usually chose to tolerate the people who did, but it was easy if they were openly attacking her lifestyle. It was easy because she could just call them ignorant... Penelope on the other hand was making a mockery of it.

Hey, I'm the one that's supposed to be angry... calm down.

Now the voice in her head was the voice of reason? Why was that? Prysm didn't even know. It could have had something to do that Prysm was trying to get emotionally involved with this girl, and she was then starting to take this charade personally.

Listen, Penelope.

No, you don't want to do this Dash... you really don't.

Taking a short sigh, Prysm was fighting with herself. She felt that she had to say this, even though she knew better. She was going to start a conflict, possibly even make more of a scene here than they already were making. It was a weight on her chest that had been bothering her severely ever sine All-Of-Garden.

I know you're not a vegan. It was painfully obvious. Both when you were eating that tofu burger, and then when I told you what the American feast was. Now I'm not a vegan, but I am a vegetarian. You claiming to be a vegan and acting more smug than a pompous rich brat of a teenager expecting a massive birthday party for her sixteenth, is irritating. I like when you're confident, hell, that confidence is what made me feel the way I do about you.

Yes, I'm admitting that I do have some sort of feelings for you. I like how you carry yourself, I like how you act when you're trying to prove somebody wrong. I also like when you're shy, like you were just earlier tonight. But now? Not when you're acting like this.

God, put your foot in your mouth. You're making yourself look like a fool.

Shaking her head, she had to get rid of that voice. It was like her conscience, that always thought the opposite of whatever she was doing. It was terrible. Not letting Penelope argue back yet she said with a forceful tone, a tone that she didn't use that often.

Now, tell me the truth. Why do you feel the need to lie to me?

[Penelope Lea]

"I-I-I-I I don't know."

Prysm's stern expression frightened Penelope as she muttered the first thing that popped into her head. Why was Penelope lying? It wouldn't be right to flat out say "Because I need to hold some type of advantage over you, and vegans are just better than vegetarians," nor would it have been honest. Penelope claimed she was the world's best vegan the moment she noticed Prysm Ray walked into the doors of the All-of-Garden, before she even knew of her diet. She couldn't remember why, she absolutely hated the whole idea of being vegan. They couldn't even eat M&M's! How could anyone live their life without having an M&M for the rest of their lives? It boggled her mind. Prysm however was urgently waiting for answer, if she was a super villain her right hand would have been playing an invisible piano amongst the table. Penelope needed to say something, she couldn't leave Prysm with such an annoying phrase.

Opening her mouth, Penelope tried to elaborate, but nothing would spill. It was more than just the fact that Prysm Ray just mindlessly spoke her mind, it was what was said. From the moment Penelope found the Xombie Skull Kickers disc in Prysm's car, she had been arguing with herself over Prysm's true intentions. Did Prysm had feelings for her? Did she not? Was this all an act just prove to the world that Penelope was the real idiot? But now, now her argument was laid to rest, Prysm Ray honestly felt something for Penelope, and she wasn't sure of how to respond to it. She had never had someone vie for her feelings before, and this date was now seemingly a tool to win her over. Anxiety overcoming Penelope, she began to feel insanely regretful for her actions. For some reason, Penelope had decided to play an act for Prysm Ray, pretending they shared similar diets, but she couldn't pinpoint an authentic reason.

"Why did you do that Penelope? Why? Why? Uhh..."

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Using the table's edge for an on-the-spot drum set once more, Penelope quickly let out an urgent beat as she tried to gather her thoughts together. She needed to say something, she needed to say something, she needed to say something. Prysm's expression had changed for the worst, she no longer looked annoyed, she now looking borderline angry as Penelope's face began to flush red again. Penelope wasn't allowing herself to accept the idea that maybe, by some slim chance, she felt the same way for Prysm. Such an idea was absurd. But...her first kiss. Penelope couldn't look at muffins without thinking of Prysm Ray, and she was starting to feel angry for feeling embarrassed by that. Closing her eyes, she screamed louder than she ever remembered herself screaming before.

"I DON'T KNOW, OKAY?!"

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[Prysm Ray]

Wow, look at what you did.

Prysm's anger subsided as she glanced around, noticing all the people now staring at Penelope's sudden outburst. Gulping, she tried to think of a way to try and at least somewhat calm Penelope down. Apologize? No... she didn't do anything wrong, so an apology would be anything but sincere. Tell her to shut up? No... that wouldn't yield a good result at all... what could she do?!

You wouldn't have to figure something out if you had listened for once.

Shaking her head, Prysm smiled. She knew what she had to do. The smile wasn't false, or forced.

Hey, it's okay. Sometimes people do things without really thinking about it. I know, I've done things in my life without thinking of anything. But... I regretted it afterwards, when I realized just what I had done and who I had hurt in the process.

Taking a small breath, she looked around. People seemed to stop caring for the most part and had went back to their own conversations, but a few were still clearly eavesdropping. Already seeing the waitress coming their way, Prysm said.

It's okay that you lied, it wasn't something that serious... I just don't like being lied to Penny. I didn't mean to accuse you... or confront you like I did. Sometimes my temper can get the best of me.

As the waitress finally reached their table, she set down Prysm's plate. It looked kind of disgusting, but Prysm was sure that it would at least be edible. Smelling the fried meat on Penelope's plate, Prysm smiled. Not that it was meat, or that the smell was good to her... but that she hoped that Penelope would enjoy it. The waitress looked at their glasses, and noticed they hadn't even touched them, with a solemn nod she asked quietly.

Is there anything I can get you two?

Prysm shook her head, and replied to the woman quickly.

No, we're okay. Thank you though.

The woman then walked away. Leaving Penelope and Prysm alone. Which Prysm was glad about. Trying to sound as reassuring as she finally told Penelope with a soft smile.

I'm okay with the fact that you're not a vegan or even a vegetarian. It's a personal lifestyle choice, one that I can't fault you for. So go on, please... enjoy that.

[Penelope Lea]

The American Feast now sizzling in front of her, and the aroma of real meat finding itself with the nostrils of Penelope Lea began to excite the former Hellcats Champion. However, despite her salivating mouth telling her to jump on the playfully massacred animals in front of her, she couldn't stop herself from feeling guilty. She had manifested a lie, a lie which really, really stirred up the emotions of Prysm Ray, making her mindlessly admit possible feelings she had for Penelope. Ray also looked to be taking a professional tone with Penelope, different from the tone she was using earlier, and Penelope wasn't quite sure of how to respond to that. Going silent, and trying to focus on her dish, Penelope elegantly picked up a fork, her glittering fingers making her hand glow as she began to prod the bacon dressed around the chicken. Just the prong's indents made into the scrumptious slabs of pig made Penelope wish places such as Vulize didn't require the use elegant manners. Picking at it, as if she was playing with her food, Penelope began to admire the artwork the chef masterfully put into their craft. Each bacon wrap seemed to hold great significance, the dead pig graciously hugging its equally dead farm animal companion with love. Spinning the plate, continuing to prod, Penelope became upon a horrible conclusion.

She didn't know how to eat this!

And even if she did know how to eat it, how could she destroy such masterful artwork just to satisfy her ongoing hunger? Penelope always hated it when her parents would tear the origami swans she would leave around the house, crumbling them up and throwing them in the trash. Did they not understand the art of folding squares of paper to resemble such beautiful birds? Penelope had spent months trying to perfect her craft, and although she could only make perfectly folded origami swans, she was deeply proud of her art! For her parents to just throw them away, like Sasha's empty Capri Sun pouches, was torturing to Penelope. A misunderstood artist, that's what Penelope Lea was! Seemingly, that's what Vulize's head chef was as well, these people, these arrogant rich people showed no remorse for the art they destroyed while devouring his Mona Lisas!

Penelope began looking at her plate at every possible angle. If Penelope were to eat this, she had to do with the grace of a masterful arteest. She had to pay her respect for the chef that put her plate together with such honest care and devotion. Was it possible to eat a craving something with elegance? Was it possible to become an artistic eater? Picking up a knife, along with her fork, Penelope began to mentally imagine herself cutting into the chicken, cutting into the bacon, and how to rip each sacrificed farm flesh from the bone. However, nothing was artistically satisfying. Penelope knew that the moment the meat touched her tongue she would become a ravaged wilder-beast, forcibly sacrificing elegance for savageness. Sighing, Penelope slouched her seat, stomach rumbling.

"This is stupid. I don't know how to eat this."

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Like a prized magician, Penelope than whipped the napkin resting her other eating utensils, and began to make a swan.

[Prysm Ray]

The fu-... you just yelled at her for lying to you... and she pulls this shit?

The voice in Prysm's head chimed in, back to her bitchy self. But Prysm wasn't even sure if that was the case. Penelope did seem rather distraught after Prysm called her out on the lying. But what was she trying to pull? Was she actually confused, or was this all just another ploy as her inner self automatically assumed. Not wanting to create more of a problem then she already has, Prysm decides to play along if it really is an act.

What do you mean? Just cut into it...

You're falling for this?! COME ON, YELL AT HER. TEAR INTO HER.

As if to demonstrate, Prysm picked up her knife and fork. Not paying an heed to the delicate appearance of the food, she cut a small chunk out of it. Piercing the chunk of wheat and eggplant with her fork, she brings it up and places it in her waiting mouth. Chewing and swallowing the food accordingly, she smiled.

See?

You know gullible isn't actually in the dictionary?

Looking at Penelope again, she could see that she was eying the piece of meat like it was art. Even though Prysm would never... no... could never do the same, she knew what it was like to eye a piece of food like that.

You see how good that looks Penny? Just imagine how much better it would taste.

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[Penelope Lea]

Penelope could notice how much it pained Prysm to claim that her plate was "good" tasting, Prysm's facial expression telling the story of a tortured soul, possibly forced to devour meat against her will as a young child. Of course, it probably wasn't anything traumatic, but Penelope liked to make epics of things, no matter how silly. Watching Prysm shamelessly cut into her meal and gracefully eat her food made Penelope wish she could do the same, but she just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of eating her art, no matter how well it just may have tasted. Done folding her swan, holding it between her index, middle, and thumb fingers, acting as if it were flying, she replied.

"I shall name her Napkinina, the Queen of all the Napkins in the land~ But yeah...can't eat it. Look at it Prysm, the chef put all their heart into the design of their work, it would be an absolute travesty to destroy it. I had to prong around the entire thing, just to resemble some type of rivet-like design to disguise my attempts at trying to eat it."

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Penelope was using a snobbish, spoiled, childish tone, keeping her focus on Napkinina. Making her fly above and around Prysm's head through her eye's perspective, Penelope began to laugh. Changing her voice, presumably Napkinina's exceptionally British accent, she tried to hide her obvious puppeteering by ducking her head beneath the table.

"I am the great and powerful Napkinina! As your queen, I demand a royal troop to protect their royal highness. Madam Ray, may you lend your napkins to Princess Penelope? For only she has talent to assemble such a cast of colorful characters."

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[Prysm Ray]

This is a joke.

Right?

PLEASE, Tell me this is a joke. Good god, she can't be serious right now.

Prysm stared, utterly confused about what Penelope was doing. Glancing around, she could easily see that even more people were staring at the duo. Namely they were staring at Penelope's insanely childish behavior. Then Penelope started doing the British voice, which caused the voice in her head to snap.

God almighty... She CAN'T be serious. Okay, where's Ashton?! You got us good Mr. Kutcher, you can come out now.

. . .

We're not being Punk'd... are we Dash? Did you choose the one "special" hellcat on the roster? Did she forget her helmet at home?

Sighing, Prysm tries to think of something to say to make her stop... anything to make her stop this. The constant bullying voice inside her head wasn't helping very much. Glancing at "Napkina", Prysm's gaze glances down at the plate of Penelope's, that she really hadn't even touched yet.

Realizing that Penelope was underneath the table, Prysm moves. Grabbing Penelope's plate, using her own fork and knife, cut a few bite sized pieces out of the... meat. She never in a million years thought that she'd be cutting a bacon wrapped, chicken breast for somebody to eat. After only cutting a handful of pieces, she slides Penelope's plate back into place.

Well, if she's going to act like a child... treat her like one. You go Dash.

Coughing, Prysm said to... Napkina, softly.

Well, Ms. Great and Powerful Napkina, I sadly do not have any troops available for disposal currently. However, even you must know that the royal subjects require sustenance to maintain their beautiful complexion. Please, convince Princess Penelope that the food is ready for consumption.

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[Penelope Lea]

Penelope Lea honestly wasn't expecting Prysm Ray to play along. Smiling from underneath the table, Prysm's golden sandals still glistening despite the lack of a defiant light source, Penelope danced Napkinina across her edge of the table. After their conversational mishap regarding her veganhood, Penelope had been scavenging for ideas to lighten the mood, and while the artistry of her dish created a viable distraction, a metaphorical light bulb sprang to life the moment terrible memories of her mother crumpling up her swans surfaced. As a young child, Penelope, often bored with diners -especially ones that lacked coloring table mats- would create characters with the miscellaneous objects on the table, and although she was now late in her teens, that didn't necessarily stop her from dusting off the habit. Mrs. Spoon and Mr. Fork, starting off as just mere cootie-infested acquaintances, had evolved into five-time divorcees. While Queen Napkinina had graced her kingdom with the obsessiveness to clean, often forcing her royal guard to do most (if not all) the cleaning once assembled. Trying to hide forceful giggle at Prysm's lack of a motherly tone, Penelope was sincerely pleased that she didn't break the illusion.

"How could such art be ready for consumption?!"

Penelope hadn't pieced together that the sliding at the table was Prysm mercilessly destroying a masterpiece.

"Such a piece belongs in the royal art gallery! Along with Princess Penelope's first-ever, perfectly folded origami swan; my great-great-great grandmother!"

Queen Napkinina was actually Queen Napkinina the IV. However, the princess's stomach unfortunately grumbled loudly at precisely the most inappropriate time.

"...but oh dear. I suppose the princess just may have other plans!"

Straitening her back upright, Penelope pursed her lips as she closed her eyes and focused all her attention to not blush. She had realized she took a leap of faith with putting on an extremely amateur, quick puppet show for Prysm, and hopefully the fact that her acquaintance -Penelope still didn't feel comfortable even thinking of this as "date"- meant that the lies from earlier were forgotten and forgiven for. The idea never occurred to her that the opposite may have occurred as she offered the most current reincarnation of Queen Napkinina to Prysm.

"Sorry...that was random of me. Just the atmosphere was feeling really heavy after the--"

Penelope now had opened her eyes and noticed that her American Feast had been tampered with.

"Wh-wh-why did you do that?!"

Occam's Razor. Prysm was the only one at the table, she had to have done it. Sighing, she placed the swan between the two of them at the table, and reacquainted Mr. Fork with his mistress Mademoiselle Knife. The chef's artistry would forever be misunderstood, while the relationship between Mrs. Spoon and Mr. Fork would forever be in shambles as Penelope finally began to dig in.

"I'm sorry I'm not the Muppets...but thanks."

Penelope weakly flashed a smile as she knew that if Prysm hadn't diced her food, she would still have trouble convincing herself to destroy it.

[Prysm Ray]

Damn right she's not a muppet... that was terrible.

Prysm smiled, easily able to ignore that voice for once. She wasn't sure what it was, but seeing that look on Penelope's face and hearing her say thanks... it just warmed Prysm right up. As a smile graced her face as she stared at Penelope, who was finally eating. Even though she was eating something that Prysm couldn't stand, it made her happy to see that she was enjoying it. She unknowingly was ignoring her own food.

Hey, Dash. Yeah... you know that food you ordered? It's getting cold. You should get to eating and stop giving Ms. Barely Legal Muppet Impersonator those googly eyes.

Blinking, she realized that the voice was actually right. Gulping, she lowered her head and managed to eat a couple of bites of her meal. It was still pretty damn good. But her mind just couldn't seem to get off of Penelope as she raised her head again, staring at her enjoying her meal. The smile returning to her face as she said honestly.

I actually kind of liked that little show you did there Penny... it was really cute.

What?

Really?! You're serious right now?

No way... there's NO WAY that you're serious at all right now.

You are serious though... god you kill me sometimes.

She had remembered that Penelope had almost motioned to give Napkina to her, but had set it down upon seeing that Prysm had cut the meat for her. Smirking,she moved her hand and picked up Napkina and asked softly.

Would you mind if I kept this?

[Penelope Lea]

Penelope never imagined she would ever embrace the taste of bacon, but the dancing bacon people who were once frolicking with absolute glee were now partially chomped pieces as she embraced her inner carnivorous dinosaur. Not the type of dinosaur that just munched on Brain Grain either, the type that were completely blood-lusting savages. With her tastebuds getting lost within the moment they've long thrived for, Penelope began to get consumed by continued promises of real food with every forkful. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so motivated to eat anything, and it turn, she began to feel slightly embarrassed over that. Normal people shouldn't get so excited over food, that's stupid! Forget that her finger nails belonged to an elementary student, and forget that she just threw a crappy puppet show with one freaking character, she shouldn't feel so enamored for eating meat! Stopping to give herself a moment to re-evaluate her eating habits, Prysm Ray broke her concentration.

"Why does she have to do that?"

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Not only was Penelope complaining to herself about Prysm's constant need to use a pet-name, but also calling her "cute." The tone wasn't that of a mother calling her child "cute," or even sister calling an outfit "cute," it was "cute" with a driven meaning. It was a "cute" with destined purpose, and Penelope wasn't entirely comfortable with where that destined purpose may lead too. Putting on a fake smile, Penelope passed silent "thank you." She was grateful for what she assumed was going to be a free meal, but Prysm didn't have to use "Penny." Penelope knew it wasn't mocking, the tone wasn't, but nevertheless, she couldn't stop trying to convince herself that it was.

"It's Penelope. It's Penelope. Penelope. Four syllables! "

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One third of her mental outrage was towards herself, as she had found herself referring to herself as "Penny" thanks to Prysm's underhanded tactics. That also was starting to bother her. Penelope absolutely loved her name, and until recently, she was 100% convinced that any shorthanded version of her name was horrible. Horrible, horrible, horrible! Just...Prysm's way of saying "Penny," no matter the tone, just felt righ--no. No, no, no! Penelope physically pulled her chair away from the table, instantly blushing as a loud screeching noise further brought attention to their table. Unfortunately...no, fortunately...no unfortunately, no, no, fortunately, Prysm didn't seem notice as she asked for Queen Napkinina's hand in marriage. Pulling herself back to the table, Penelope continued with another fake smile.

"Oh...it's fine, sure. I was going to give you her anyway. It was written in the stars."

[/center]

"Written in the stars?" Really? Focusing her attention back on her American Feast, Penelope quickly jabbed another forkful and sprung it into her mouth. Stupid lines cannot happen with a mouthful, not that it was a line or anything. It was just, it was nothing!

[Prysm Ray]

Written? In the stars?

Prysm blinked, unable to chew the mouthful of food she had right now. Her mind racing nonstop. She saw that Penelope shoved another forkful in her mouth almost instantly after saying that. What was she doing? Was she playing mindgames now? To try and get on Prysm's good side, just to turn on her?

You know that's what she's doing... she's making you fall for her harder than you already were. She's going to make it so that you can't defend that shiny piece of metal, because you won't want to hit her. She knows you have feelings for her now... and she's USING THEM. I told you to shut up...

But NOOOOOOO the Ms. Emotional that you are, just haaaaaad to spill your guts like that. You HAD to expose your weaknesses to her... She's playing you like a guitar.

Prysm didn't want to believe that... no, she COULDN'T believe that Penny was like that. Penny was different, Prysm knew that. Penny would never just blatantly use Prysm like that, she wasn't like that at all. Not at all... Penny was special.

Well, if you think she's so special... why hasn't she said that she feels the same about you? Hmmmm? She doesn't want to let you know that she doesn't feel that way... and on top of that she's a terrible liar... so she just isn't saying anything about it to avoid your suspicion.

Prysm didn't want to listen to that voice... she wanted to ignore everything it had to say, and just enjoy the night. But she just couldn't ignore it any longer. The doubt starting to seep in. Was the voice right? Was Penelope really just playing Prysm's emotions to try and get the upperhand inside the ring? Prysm NEEDED to know, the curiosity was getting the best of her as she gulped down the bite of food that was still sitting in her mouth, asking hesitantly.

P...Penelope...

The hesitation was extremely clear in her voice and on her face as she then asked... knowing that this could either end amazingly... or it could crash and burn.

I.. I know that I told you how I felt about you... but I need to know...

DO IT, ASK HER.

H... how do you feel...about me?[/center][/color]