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

[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. ]

[velveteened]

Well there's something I have to do, so I'll come back later, alright?

( to make fun!! and also eat. in the meantime, he offers a wave and makes his way to the door. )

It was nice meeting you, Kate.

( and out he goes. the berries remain on the sofa, forgotten. )

[retraced]

I guess it's--

[Oh. Well, that's sort of a surprise, he guesses. He'd expected Oz to stick around longer and embarrass him some more since he seemed so keen on it so far. Or maybe he's just exaggerating himself because this whole situation is embarrassing in and of itself. Why did he think this was a good idea?

Likewise, he doesn't realize that the berries are left behind. Because comedic timing doesn't call for it just yet. As much as he'd like to just continue to ignore Oz like a mature adult, he manages to finally mutter:]

Hmph. Take your time.

[Read: JUST GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO GET THROUGH THIS DINNER FFS.]

[gevurah]

Same. [ Is all she says to Oz and when she's sure he's completely gone, her head turns in Gil's direction. She doesn't look too pleased. ]

What was that about?

[retraced]

[He waits until Oz has left before he finally lets himself deflate. One hand covers his face so that he can pinch the bridge of his nose and let his shoulders slump. Something has clearly gone terrible wrong.]

Sorry about that...I tried to get back here before you arrived, but I wasn't fast enough. I swear I didn't plan for things to go this way!

[gevurah]

[ Kate sighs, looking at the third bowl that she had set for Oz and she thinks of the blond man she encountered in the hospital.

She thinks about using Gil to extract information about both of them from him. It's cold to take advantage of him like this, but she can't shake either blonds from her thoughts now. ]

Does he not approve? [ Maybe Gil needs permission to have people over? She has no idea what his duties entail. ] Because I'm not your type, so he doesn't have to worry.

[retraced]

[Thank goodness that 'not your type' goes right over his head for now or else this dinner would end in tears. Well it might still, but. He shakes his head and drops his hand away from his face, moving towards the table finally. But he'll wait for her to sit down before he does.]

He saw an opportunity to tease me. I'm sorry if he was rude to you.

[gevurah]

About having a lady over? [ She shakes her head. ] Kids.

[ She guesses he is at that silly age where cooties are no longer an issue. ]

He wasn't rude. He only asked how we knew each other -- not that I told him exactly.

I didn't realize your [ master ] employer was that young.

[retraced]

Even back home I don't usually have - [Women.] - anyone over.

[That time it doesn't go over his head, but he evades it with as much practiced awkwardness as he's capable of.]

Well, he's...ah, that's a long story. He's old enough to be introduced into society back home, so he could be considered an adult.

[gevurah]

[ She's not going to tease, though maybe she's a bit surprised; Gil's a handsome guy so she imagines he gets some heads turning wherever he goes. ]

High society, huh.

[ An old-fashioned upper class. ]

[retraced]

He's the heir to one of the most powerful duke houses. Though you wouldn't guess it from the way he acts...

[So much like his uncle; unfitting of a duke. But that, also, is a long story.]

But he's smarter than he looks.

[gevurah]

[ She pulls a chair out and unbuttons her sweater given the current temperature of the room after Gil finishing up in the kitchen. She neatly hangs it on the backside of the chair before taking a seat. ]

His parents are the duke and duchess, then.

[retraced]

[The question throws him off a bit, noticeably. He'd planned to simply sit down and ask if she wanted him to serve her after giving her the chance to do it herself (as seems to be the more common thing in this world) but now he moves to her side and grabs the knife to cut a slice of bread for her.]

...His uncle acts as liaison as far as official household matters are concerned at the moment.

[But that's where he lets the topic end.]

[gevurah]

I see. [ She's not unfamiliar with parents being out of the picture. Her mother had been dead for a little over twenty years now. ] How's he faring here? He seems okay, but you know kids.

[retraced]

[He smiles a little more, half-proud and half-surprised. Or maybe it's simply being impressed. The bread is placed on her plate.]

He doesn't have any practical experience taking care of himself...when I arrived here and learned what had happened, I was surprised he was still in good shape. But he's stubborn, and incredibly sharp, so it's no wonder that he's managed to do so well for himself here.

oh my god that face

[gevurah]

That's good. [ Even if she doesn't like the idea of kids being here or child soldiers in general, seems like Oz is smart enough not to get himself into too much trouble.

Hahaha, little does she know. ]

And it's good he has someone to watch out for him.

his 'thinking about reim' face

[retraced]

[A small wince.]

Most of the time I only follow behind and fret over him, more than watch out for him.

[It sounds more like he's chastising himself than making excuses. He pours the stew next, making sure not to spill it. But while his movements lack grace, he's still poised, proper and practiced.]

Er - but all I've done is talk about him since he left. Sorry.

reim-san is always so capable u_u

[gevurah]

[ She breaks off a piece of the bread, but before she takes a bite: ] It's alright. I'm the one who keeps asking.

[ After she chews and swallows: ] I'm kind of jealous of that shade of blond he has going. [ Kate's hair has faded blond highlights by this point. She'd like to redo them, but it seems impossible here. ]

and he looks so good in his uniform >':

[retraced]

[He still feels bad going on and on about Oz when he's not even here.]

Really? Your hair is a more unique color.

[What is hair dye.]

[gevurah]

[ Success. She wants to know more about that kid and if Gil knows anything about Jack.

She lets out an amused snort. ]

It's true there aren't many redheads, but compared to what I've seen here it's nothing.

[retraced]

I think it suits you.

[He finishes serving her and moves to his own seat to finally prepare his own meal.]