Work Text:
Wriothesley should be grateful for the food that he receives from the Cafeteria. Not everyone can get plates as filling as his, and fewer people still get food that is pleasant to eat. For most, the food is uncolored and tasteless- a source of calories to get through the day.
The Duke’s plates always had a bit more color, just a pinch more seasoning- but that little change made the difference between a satisfying meal and a satisfactory one. It was a perk of his position within the Fortress, one that almost no inmate knew. If one of them knew, all of them would know, and no doubt they would cause an uproar for the poor chef at the Cafeteria.
Today, his meal was sent up with a rich, savory smell. Though simple, it looked delicious. A thick cut of tender meat was generously bathed in rich gravy, accompanied by diced fruits and a bowl of corn. Anyone would salivate over it down here. Wriothesley would too. But not this time. Rather, he stared at where it sat on his desk as he poked dully at the sirloin.
He should be grateful. He was hungry, too- but the rich oily scent made his stomach churn at the thought of eating something that could clog his arteries. If he ate the whole thing, no doubt he would gain more weight. Sigewinne had been scolding him recently about slipping with his diet, and rightfully so- Wriothesley had indulged in small macarons and cakes in the Overworld from time to time when he could get them.
This will make me sick. I’ll gain fat and get slower. In the long run, this could get me killed.
Wriothesley went to bed that night with the untouched plate of food shoved at the bottom of his wastebin.