"Well, that's what offering trust and the benefit of the doubt brings. You get hurt." With a decisive slash of his cooking knife, he freed the sizzling fish from its makeshift pan, nearly transferring it onto the bread. Producing one fat berry of some sort from a nearby bag, he bisected it with that knife, then slid both halves over the top of the fillet for just a hint of extra flavor.

Then, with a grand flourish, he bowed to her, extending out the hand that held the meal as an offering.