[ The barracks aren't a place Claude spends a lot of time these days - having not really returned at all after making his way into Cadens proper to stay there instead - but hearing there were new faces showing up at the outpost was reason enough to make the trip back over. Curiosity both about who would be showing up and whether anyone he knew was a large part of that, and as he worked his way through his former one-time residence: it wasn't looking good since there's no one from his past around so far.

Stopping in the mess hall to eat rather than waiting to get back to the city starts to sound like a better and better idea the longer Claude's there, so that's exactly where he ends up. With a tray in hand he surveys the room for somewhere to sit and has the strangest feeling of deja vu to back to his academy days for a second - until he spots someone familiar. Or at least she looks familiar from where he's standing a few tables back behind her so he approaches to have it confirmed that yes, he is looking at who he thinks he is. ]

It's definitely not boar, I know that much. I've never actually asked what it is but I can confirm it's delicious, if that helps any.

[ He's just going to sit right down across from Petra like everything's totally normal here, like they aren't both in a place that's decidedly Not Fodlan. Claude gives her an easy smile to go with it as he picks up his silverware and then points with his fork to the vegetables. ]

I'm not gonna say this place is known for great food overall, but you definitely can't go wrong with what's on your plate. We ate more questionable things back in Garreg Mach's dining hall, really.