"Live? A. I wanna see that, and B. I would honestly be willing to try that."

"Oh, okay, you can have live octopus, but only little ones, I don't want you getting beaked in the face."

"If they're small I'd have to be careful about not accidentally swallowing the beak, though. I eat pit in olives, but those are probably much easier because the pit is centrally located and also they don't move."

"Huh, I wonder if I could make an olive that moved... nah, not after brining it... unless... hm..."

"I love how fucked up you are."

"Oh, good, because you are going to be so heavily involved. So to speak."

Big blush. Pink cheeks.

Monoceros cackles and gives Katie a quarter of her chicken picatta.

She nibbles dutifully.

For dessert there are pastries! And tiramisu! And gelato!

Oooh, what flavor gelato?

Monoceros is having pistachio but there's also caramel, chocolate cookie, and coconut.

Katie gets a scoop each of the caramel and chocolate cookie. Mmmm, tasty.

Monoceros gives her a cannoli to supplement.

Ohhhhhhh cannoli. Ooooohhhh chocolate chip. Oooohhhhhhh so full.

"So do you already at least know your blood type or nah?"

"No? I might've had it tested before but I don't think the doctor told me?"

"Well, if they'd told you they'd've been wrong. You'd look like AB poz on tests but you're actually AB-secret-third-thing and the secret third thing is important. You're absorbing all the calories pretty well, you should go swimming a little more for optimal distribution though so your digestion isn't so tempted to spit out everything above maintenance."

"Wow. Apparently I am getting a good grade in blood, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve."

"I'm very happy with your blood. Your core sample not so much, need more fat in there, but we're working on it, early days."

 "Not like that's much of a surprise, given you can, y'know, see me."

"I can, but you could have had smaller bones or something, and you do not. Your bones are normal size and you should have some tiramisu." Plop.

Ugggghhhh getting it down is a struggle at this point but she's doing it anyway. She takes a moment to ride out the nausea.

Monoceros thereafter has mercy. "I'm off to work on my science fair posters and shit, have fun! Swim with Topsy and the rest!"

Katie waddles uncomfortably back to her room. She's gonna swim with them but she needs a minute first.

ok so apparently i did get a good grade in blood, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve.