Welcome to Gaia! ::

Krishna's spine stiffened slightly as the inebrieted man leaned forward, but he did not pull away. No, he was not oblivious, and yes, he had a fair idea of what Richard wanted. For a brief moment, he allowed his partner to remain in control. Then, the florist seized control of the kiss. There would be only one--he would see to that--but even in this one he wanted Richard to know he was permitting it to occur.

"No." A single word, laden with meaning, broke the kiss as he pushed the whiskey soaked candy man away. Yet, in his mind, the only word that need be spoken to end the moment Richard had sought. Best to be clear on the matter once and for all, with their single, shared kiss as a parting gift.

There were many reasons why Krishna would not yield. Pride certainly played a part; as flattering as the attention could be, the florist could not allow his partner to take control of their still developing relationship. Diligence, and duty, were another, more substantial part. Zinkenite had more or less entrusted the newly awoken Buddingtonite into Krishna's care. Richard was now more than merely a means to profit; he was a fellow officer, one that needed to be trained and protected. Perhaps most importantly of all... Krishna simply did not have that kind of interest in Richard. Business partner, ally, and... friend, however sparingly the rainbow-haired man used the word, yes. Lover? No.

He pulled the refrigerator door open now that the hand holding it shut was gone. Krishna would not dwell on this moment; better to just let it lie in the past. There were other, more pressing matters that needed tending. Food, for one. The hungry florist pulled out the dozen eggs and bacon, moving to place them on the counter. Omelettes were as good a place as any to start this late night meal. He had not seen mushrooms or onions in the ice box... but he returned for a second look and also to inform Richard, "I need a pan. We will talk while cooking."

Talk, yes, about the information that Krishna still needed to give Richard about the organization he had just joined. The lieutenant may not have known everything about the Negaverse, but he knew enough to start. He would not fail Zinkenite's test of his abilities, and he would not let his partner wander further into darkness unattended.

"No, you are a drunken tart," Krishna shot back acidly. He was not going to take the blame for the other man's drunken antics, particularly when Richard was the one with the obvious crush! The florist had made his intentions clear from the very beginning. He rummaged through the cabinet until he found the pan he sought.

He placed the pan on the stove and then turned the stove on to begin preheating the dish. His rummaging in the cabinet had also found a bowl, which he now returned to retrieve. This bowl he placed on the counter and began to break eggs into. The shells he stacked inside the styrofoam spaces they exited. He had no intention of leaving even a single egg unconsumed so, for now, this would be the cleaniest way to dispose of them.

"Zinkenite is our leader." That seemed as good a place as any to start. He cracked another egg into the bowl before returning to the fridge for cheese. He would also need a knife to slice open the bacon but that could wait until he was finished with the eggs. Krishna left the cheese for now and returned to cracking. "He gave us this power. There are branches you can join. There is a place called the Rift - only Captains and higher ranks can go there."

Krishna slid his knife through the plastic covering the bacon. He had finished cracking his eggs, and he had just added a bit of milk and cheddar cheese. Once he was finished with the bacon, he'd go back for the single head of broccoli he had seen in the refrigerator and check its freshness. He would prefer mushrooms, but broccoli would suffice. He noted Baldwin's hungry look as he peeled apart the bacon strips, respecting the animal all the more for his quiet patience. Without a word, the florist tossed a couple of raw bacon strips to the wolfhound in reward.

Now, if only his master could follow his example. Krishna snorted with amusement at the very thought of the talkative Richard ever waiting quietly and patiently. The comment about his own taciturn nature made him shrug as he sneered, "My actions speak." Now was not the time for a philosophical debate, however. Zinkenite had entrusted the new recruit's education to him, and Krishna did not intend to disappoint. "We fight Senshi. Recruit new officers. All I know."

He returned to the final preparations for cooking his omelette.

Bacon and broccoli successfully added, Krishna poured the omelette mixture into the greased, heated pan. A slight sizzle was the only sound from the kitchen for a few momiments, but Baldwin's heavy steps and the clanks of someone rummaging through dishes soon followed. After setting a plate ontot he counter, he gave the omelette a flip. Now he just needed something to go with it...but what?

He let the planning of his meal take priority as he listened to Richard horse around in regards to their duties. It would take too long to bake anything when he felt this tired and weak. The florist knew his blood sguars were low, a combination of strenous activity and his very light dinner. He needed food now. He wriggled the steaming omelette onto the plate and placed the hot pan back on the stove.

After switching off the burner, Krishna moved quickly. returning to the refrigerator, he grabbed orange juice and butter. He then snagged the plastic end of a loaf of bread between hsi fingers. No need for utensils when the slices could act as vessels. He balanced the loaf of bread atop the jug and placed the stick of butter on one side of his plate. All of this he carried intot he living room where Richard sat with his dog.

The taller man claimed an empty recliner for his seat. Plate, bread, and butter were placed into his lap. The bottle of juice he took a sip from before placing it beside the chair. As he took a slice of bread from the loaf and scooped omelette into it, he finally replied, "I've told you what I know." Then, he dove into his food with gusto. Alleviating huner was currently more important than etiquette, but for his own vanity, he tried not to make too much of a mess.

Krishna had fully expected the noble Baldwin to hungrily watch while he ate and already planned to let the large dog lick up whatever remained on his plate. Seeing pieces fall to the floor, he swallowed and called the creature over, "Baldwin, come." He indicated the chunks of omelette on the floor for him, clearly giving him free reign to lick up what was there.

Richard's presence and more flattering form of begging, however, made him smirk. He tore into another piece of bread after scooping up some butter on it. He was biding his time and desperately filling his empty belly at the same time. His vanity wanted to focus on the acknowledgment of his superior cooking skills... but the part his mind instead focused on was the issue of money.

Did the candymaker know? had he seen the florist living out of his shop? Was that why he had offered the place for the night as one of the potential prizes for winning the sparring? Golden eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Should eat." Krishna punctuated his statement by handing a slice of bread to Richard. "Then rest."

The rainbow-haired man spared a grin to the happy pooch before turning his attention to the pouting owner. He chewed the omelette in his mouth before shrugging. "Baldwin is quieter." He watched Richard begin to nom down on the offered bread and prepared him another slice, handing it over. The movement became a languid stretch, cracking his joints and and causing him to wince slightly. "But you are my partner."

"If you snore as loudly as you talk, then I'll be quite comfortable on the couch." Krishna licked the last of his omelette off of his fork and prepared himself another piece of bread and butter. He was still feeling a little peckish... but there were apples and other food stuffs in the fridge if he felt he needed more. The florist gave a nod and began thinking of that bath. "Bathe. Rest. Tomorrow, we train more."

"I am not worried." It was a simple response that answered both the statement about their friendship and the couch. He was not affected at all by the confectioner's display of flinging the door open or of plunking down the sleeping supplies--except when it affected Baldwin.

The other man might have sounded bitter, but still all Krishna did was smile. He scratched Baldwin's ears to soothe the poor creature, but that smile remained. When he looked up, his gaze was mellow and accepting. Perhaps because he was feeling good, despite their recent acqaintence. Richard was petty, dramatic, loud... and his. His with whom to train and to grow, his to use... his. All his. "Good night, Richard."