From our window we could see

[velveteened]

Date & Time: June 24, 8 pm
Location: Unit 403
Characters: Kate Kane, Gilbert Nightray, and Oz Vessalius
Summary: Gilbert offers to make Kate dinner. Oz wants to meet his mysterious lady friend.
Warnings: SHENANIGANS

( he'd been curious.

gil had been acting really strangely, oddly surprised at oz coming to the apartment at this time. oz had only wanted to ask about something trivial and not so important it needed to really be dealt with now; but the fact that gilbert had asked just that -

if it really can't wait, if oz can't make do for a bit, he can't go anywhere right now but later...!

- had made oz decide to change his plans.

so gilbert is now off to search nearby shops and stalls for a local specialty, because rhubarb berries are totally real and being sold nearby but if he doesn't hurry he'll miss out for the whole rest of the summer!!!! - and oz waits to investigate just what it is gil had been expecting. )

Comments

[gevurah]

[ And she doesn't have any news on Marty or CTSV. Best not to disturb her then and bring up that topic.

Her gaze falls back on Oz. It's uncanny really, those eyes and even the shade of blond. Then Gil might know about the man from the hospital. She'll consider asking later.

Gil's master is a teenager. It's a bit strange. ]

It's nice to meet you, too. How long did you say Gil was going to be out for?

[velveteened]

Not for much longer.

( that she's looking is something he can tell, but whether at him - which would be odd - or something else is difficult for him to tell. )

...if I can ask, how do you know him?

( it's the kind of thing that could be asked in a demanding way, but it's genuine curiosity that colors his tone. there's a thought from something gil said once, but it's entirely possible he knows more than one woman.






maybe. )

[gevurah]

We helped each other out recently. [ There's nothing else to it. He helped her and she repaid the favor. She would ask if he's doing better himself, not sure if Gil's been lying to her, but she doesn't want to set off an uneasiness already. ]

[retraced]

[It hadn't been easy to find rhubarb berries. After a quick sprint to the market, Gilbert had gone to five different fruit vendors until someone bothered to both acknowledge his presence and also show him his wares. The berries...well. They look like berries, it's true, but he has to wonder just why Oz has developed a taste for them. A taste that was so demanding that he'd been forced out of the house in order to go find it while Kate was supposed to arrive soon. He just hopes he's back with enough time to spare so he can throw this bag into Oz's hands and get him back to his apartment before she shows up.

He bursts in through the door, damp from the rain and breathing harder from his run. Good physical shape or not, his lungs still ache from recent events and his pant legs are wet from splashing through puddles. He's hardly the most attractive he's ever been.]

Oz? I finally found the rhu--

[He appears in the doorway, triumphantly holding the bag up in front of his face, but immediately falters and slumps forward at the sight of his young master and his guest sitting together.

Damn. He was too slow after all.

ps: the 'rhubarb berries' are really just mutated raspberries. Maybe he'll figure out later that he was just blatantly ripped off.]

Ah...g-good evening...?

[velveteened]

( we helped each other out recently.

that certainly seems to match up with the 'woman' gil had mentioned that oz had teased him about. he opens his mouth to say something on it -

- when gilbert bursts in. he turns and offers a blithe wave. )

Ah, there you are.

[gevurah]

[ Kate's a little startled by his appearance. She looks between Oz and Gil (what the hell is this kid not telling her?) and then she lifts a hand in greeting herself. ]

Welcome back.

[ She wonders if she should get up and help him. ]

You need a minute?

[retraced]

I -

[At first he can't comprehend what she means by that, but all of a sudden he realizes how ridiculous he looks standing here awkwardly holding a bag of whatever-it-was that Oz asked for. But the realization hits him a second later, and he quickly drops his hand, moves over to Oz's side and drops the bag down in front of him.

The damage is done, he supposes. There's nothing else to do except to try not to look embarrassed about his bad timing and the teasing that he knows he's sure to get after all of this is said and done. Face flushed, he keeps his head bowed with his hair covering his eyes as he mutters:]

Yeah. Sorry. Please, excuse me one second.

[And then turns to hurry out of the room. brb, weeping bitterly into hands.]

[velveteened]

( he catches the bag as gil drops it, opening it and having a look - or more like a smell, really - inside. so gil really did find rhubarb berries! that or someone claiming to sell them anyway, but regardless he won't object to relatively fresh berries.

with this, he considers leaving - he's mostly found out what he wanted to know, in any case - but not before gil gets back. it'd be rude to leave a guest alone! )

[gevurah]

[ Well, this is just getting more and more awkward. ]

Are you sure I didn't come at a bad time? [ Gil looked partly horrified just now. ] I can come back another time, really.

[velveteened]

I'm sure! The stew should be ready, anyway.

( he'd first walked in while gil was finishing off making that, after all. )

[gevurah]

Do you need help setting up the table, then?

[ She should be polite... nothing's tested her patience yet. ]

[retraced]

[Elsewhere in the apartment, Kate and Oz will hear a muffled gaaah! followed by the sound of someone falling over against the wall. Pay it no mind, changing pants is hard when you're in a hurry.]

[velveteened]

( gil r u ok.

normally he couldn't possibly let a lady, or something like that, but as things are he hesitates and nods. )

That's alright with you?

[gevurah]

Yeah, it's... [ She turns her head to the hall when Gil yells, arching a thick eyebrow. ]

... Fine. Might as well.

[velveteened]

Thank you, then!

( which makes it time to get up, carefully setting the bag of berries on the coffee table, and get on over to the table and kitchen areas. )

because I've never actually used this icon before

[retraced]

[Meanwhile Gilbert has finally made it into a pair of pants without hurting himself, but now comes the tedious task of trying to muss his damp hair back into place. Give him one more minute...]

[gevurah]

[ She follows him to the kitchen area, still eyeing him from behind.

Is he related? The resemblance can't be explained any other way. ]

[velveteened]

( aaand there's the sensation of being stared at, possibly, again! but in any case he ambles over to where the bowls and things are kept, which is fairly friendly to someone of small stature, and pauses. )

[retraced]

[And somewhere in the middle of this awkward exchange (and as he is absolutely unable to properly read the situation ever), Gilbert finally makes an appearance. He's still a little soggy looking, but he's changed his pants and shirt and is currently fidgeting with the collar as he steps into the kitchen to join them. These shirts don't fit right here. His kingdom for a tailor from Reveil.]

Sorry, I -

[Even though he's attempted to clean up well, the minute he catches sight of Oz trying to help, he instantly tenses and hurries over to his side.]

Hey, I'll set the table myself. Go sit down if you're going to stay!

[And an unspoken glare of: AND BEHAVE YOURSELF IN FRONT OF THE LADY.]

[gevurah]

[ Her frown quickly disappears hearing Gil's approaching footsteps.

So Oz wasn't supposed to be here in the first place. First she met Jack in a sketchy situation and now this? She's starting to feel something isn't quite adding up. ]

You sure? It's no skin off my back.

[velveteened]

( he'd had a feeling this was going to happen the second gil got back, so there's no surprise at the reaction. instead, he shoots his servant the most woefully tragic of looks. )

You're saying I'm not welcome?

1/2

[retraced]

[WHY IS THIS HAPPENING WHY DOES HE EVEN TRY.]

[retraced]

That's not what I'm saying at all-?!

[Okay this is quickly turning from embarrassing to pure mortification. He takes a deep breath, shuts his eyes and points at the cabinet where the dishes are kept. At a low level, of course, so that Collette and Oz can both reach them since Oz is so SHORT.]

Do your best to set the table properly while I finish dinner and I'll fix any mistakes that you make. Thank you for helping too, Kate.

[gevurah]

[ Kate is losing her patience somewhat with this already. She came here for dinner with Gil, not cutesy manipulation from little boys. She keeps from giving him a stern look, but when she does look over at Oz her expression is eerily void of any emotion. ]

No problem.

[ She goes over to the cabinets (she's a fairly tall woman herself so she has to lean over slightly) and opens them up to fetch the dishes they need for the meal. ]

[velveteened]

( a victory with gil, though that's not unexpected. as for kate, her expression isn't something he can make out, but the careful neutrality isn't entirely lost on him. he waits on her to get the dishes, but he'll only accept two from her - he's not actually going to crash the date dinner, whatever he might tease gil - before heading to the table. )