Work Text:
Food was a challenge for the imposters. For food, often contained salt. Said salt was deadly to them. Even the touch of it was deadly. Eating it would be much worse and even messier.
It was especially challenging due to the fact that at least one of the cooks was really into the idea of salt on pizza.
"And you are SURE there is no salt in mine?" Orange asked.
It had been a question that Orange had asked of all food given to them by Yellow and Brown since their first meal on this ship. To the point where it was beginning to be noticeable. And prompted the question.
"What's your problem with salt?" Yellow asked.
Somehow Orange had not expected to get that question. They stammered out a answer.
"I have.. I have... a salt allergy!" Orange said.
Yellow and Brown were looking judgemental of Orange's excuse. At least to Orange it seemed so. Orange was starting to sweat as they struggled to look like their judgement wasn't making them as nervous as they were.
Judgement could lead to questions, and questions led to gaining more knowledge about others. And knowledge, even if it were true or not, could be cross examined later and work against the imposters.
Orange was doing the mental math to figure out if they could get away with killing both Brown and Yellow right here and now when Brown spoke up.
"I think anything is possible to be allergic to. I've heard of some crew mates being allergic to other crew mates. Or even themselves!" Brown said.
Yellow thought a moment.
"Huh... I think I've heard that somewhere before too actually." Yellow said.
"Yeah! Wild isn't it?" Orange said quickly.
"Sure it." Brown agreed. "We'll be sure to keep salt out of your food, Orange."
Green had to come up with their own excuse. Orange had taken the easy excuse sadly. And it felt like two crew members with the same "allergy" would be suspicious.
So when Brown and Yellow had questions for Green about salt as well, Green had to blurt out a silly sounding answer that was still so endearingly "Green".
"Salt killed my cousin!" Green cried.
"What?" Yellow asked.
Green sensed that they had just shouted was not enough to explain away the issue. They would have to add more to the lie.
"Yeah! It was a high blood pressure thing I think? Or am I thinking of something else?"
Green paused, pretending to think.
"Point is, they had so much salt in their diet, that they had a closed casket funeral because they look like a hunk of jerky."
Yellow and Brown visibly cringed.
"Okay, I think that's enough of a description." Yellow said.
"Oops.. Right. Sorry."
Green's apology was the end of that conversation. As Green had figured it would be. And their secret was safe for longer.
If all went well, they would never know. Even at the moment when it was too late.