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]

[ 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. )

[retraced]

[And they can have a moment alone to put the table together on their own while Gilbert prepares everything to be brought out to the table. There's little in the way of food here that he's familiar with, but the stew that he's made is good enough. There's even fresh bread, made from scratch earlier today. At least there's enough in this world that bread still makes sense.

Both of them are ignored as he puts everything out on the table. Awkward silences are just going to have to hang until everyone is served properly.]

[gevurah]

[ She sets three bowls on the table and plates just in case and waits by it, since Gil seems to have everything else covered. ]

Smells good.

Self-taught?

[velveteened]

( WELL FINE IGNORE HIM. he fusses at the bowls and plates a bit to set out placement - two placements, again - but visual impairments leave everything a bit off center. he did try.

at the question though, he pipes up brightly - )

He is! It's amazing, right? No matter what you ask him to make, he'll figure out how to do it and make it better than anyone else.

[retraced]

[He instantly goes red, keeps his eyes turned away from Oz in lieu of looking at the table instead. The food now placed safely, he reaches across and fixes the settings to be properly centered without thinking about it.]

He's exaggerating.

[And yes Oz you're mostly still being ignored.]

[gevurah]

We'll find out, right? It's a good skill to have, especially in a place like this.

[ She cooks a lot more for herself, too. ]