Welcome to Gaia! ::

A look of confusion swept across her features. The hell is pozole? Wondered as she moved the second piece of chicken to the cookware and began frying the final breast. Took a moment to consider his preference of beef over pork, curious if it was a dietary reason or religious but didn't want to be intrusive with more questions. Best to probably just have that at home rather than make it here.

Keep things simple.

"I um," paused to clear her throat to keep from getting a bit choked up. "I appreciate the offer to include my family." Truly, she did. This was twice now he'd made such a statement which she took to heart. Actually meant a lot that he considered how important they were to her and encouraged her to keep in contact and spend time with them when most would have probably advised that she cut ties to keep them safe.

"However, I'm hesitant to invite them over." She loved her parents but they weren't without their own faults. "If I tell them to behave, I know they'll try. But my father will ask to see your garden out back and my mother, well I know she'll probably feel inclined to snoop around the kitchen or ask to see my room." Her mother would be a bit more tactful about it though. Offering to do dishes so she could open drawers and cabinets without looking as if she were searching for something else. "I'd advise maybe one at a time, or we take food over there."

The third piece of meat was done and place into the remaining space in the glassware just as the over preheat sound went off. "You can go ahead and put the sauce on and it can bake for about the next 45 minutes, take it out and layer on the cheese and bake for another 5-7 minutes." Sonia carried both bowls, the tongs, and the knife she had used to cut the chicken over to the sink and began washing the few dishes she'd dirtied.

"There's still time to go out if you want to." A short patrol while staying local-ish to the house.

Sonia smiled, albeit small. It was, however, still there.

"Anton's got a good head on his shoulders. He gives me crap from time to time but we're siblings so it kind of comes with the territory," shrugged because at the end of the day nothing was ever said or done that couldn't be forgiven. "He's a good kid," only younger by a few years, she'd always think of him like that even though he was often more mature for his age growing up and at times was the one to take care of her.

"He was my motivation for whe-" There was a notable pause, as she subconsciously moved a hand to brush a thumb over one of the scars beneath her sleeve. "For when I needed someone to help me through some dark times." Didn't want to get into it, not if he still wanted to patrol, it was a long conversation and she wasn't ready to open up to him like that. Trust was a delicate thing and the two of them weren't quite there yet. "But if you'd like to meet him I'd be happy to invite him over. I think you two could get along so long as you promise not to try and recruit him."

"As for my parents," she gave the thought a serious consideration before replying. "Maybe next spring, or early summer if things continue to work out here. I'd be worried about my mother getting attached to you. She tends to adopt friends as part of the family and her way of showing affection is through food and hugs." Reed definitely gave off the vibes of no touching, arms distance at a minimum otherwise across the room preferred unless absolutely necessary; like now, with cooking dinner.

It was nice though, a bit awkwardly normal but nice nonetheless.

"Anywho, if I could ask you to put this in the oven and set the timer, I'll go put my bag upstairs and get my pen." Changing was unnecessary, as would be a shower. But that sauce he made smelled divine and with a good meal in her stomach after their patrol, she could take care of the other things before bed.

Sonia dried her hands off on the handtowel then lifted her duffel bag over her head. Could have probably left it there until after they returned but she didn't like leaving things out where anyone could take liberties with going through her belongings.

It took no more than two minutes for Sonia to emerge from her room, hair pulled back into a high ponytail. In her hands were both the henshin pen as well as a pair of what looked to be sewing sheers. Something she intended to keep in her subspace pocket for... reasons.

"Just, bare in mind that it's been a while since I've powered up." A year and a half, probably longer. "So please don't try and ditch me out there." Otherwise she would just turn around and come back home. Captains were both faster and stronger than basic Senshi or Lieutenants and after his last demonstration she'd rather not end up on the flat of her back again.

The pen in her hand, although it weighed next to nothing, it had been carried for so long that it felt incredibly heavy. A cursed item in her mind, something that only ever brought suffering; forever to be used as a stepping stone for others achievements. Prehnite would be no different.

Once he was able to show that he'd succeeded in his assignment, done whatever else was required of his final promotion and became a General, this little façade would be over. LIkely pass her off to another Captian or give her leave to go back home. Well, maybe not the latter but probably have her find a apartment or something so he'd have his home back to himself again.

Her original delay had in all honesty been her way of rebelling, pushing patience and trying to just well... not make things so easy. But Reed didn't react the way she'd expected him to. Waited for her to get home, didn't yell or make demands and actually kind of bent with her requests rather than break beneath her unruliness. If anything, this meal prep taught her more about him and his temperament than she could have learned by reading his file or asking other teachers that worked at the school with him.

Still an enigma, but perhaps a little more relatable. More human than she gave him credit for but didn't mean she trusted him while powered. As a roommate, maybe a little. But tonight would give her an idea on how they could work as a team to which she definitely had doubts.

Sonia followed his lead and powered up beside him; comfortable clothes replaced by a long sleeveless coat and skirt. Fortunately, her sleeve-like gloves and thigh-high boots were enough to mostly cover up any remaining exposed skin. Some Senshi were not as lucky in their attire.

Hatsya grimaced at the floor-length hair that swept behind her and for a moment thought to ask if she could cut it short real quick or if he'd just use one of her knives on it. But his imposing aura gave her reason to withhold the request and instead resigned herself to behave.

She'd postponed the inevitable for this long and it's not like they'd be out very late. The timer had been set on the oven so this little outing should remain quick enough for her to tolerate the obscenely long tresses. For now, Hatsya just shunted the sheers into her subspace pocket for later.

His actions, however, brought back an echo of a memory from a time when she was a young child watching Aladdin for the first time. Mirrored the scene where Ali offered his hand to Jasmine and gently asked if she trusted him. Would have made her heart flutter if only she believed in fairytales or happy endings. As it was, Hatsya was quite confident that neither one existed.

If anything, she had to school her own thoughts and remind herself that the man before her was not her roommate, well... he was but for the sake of the next hour, his role had changed.

Reed was her roommate, Prehnite was her Captain; a title that meant he had the final say and right now it was time to go.

"Okay," Hatsya replied in a quiet voice, as she looked up at him with uncertainty. Cautious as she reached a hand out to take his; gentle in placing hers in his own.