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 Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:19 am
"That's a classic," Toby agreed with a nod. Pretty much everyone had enjoyed pb & j at some point in their lives, perhaps even this selkie. Of course that was if they weren't allergic. It was funny. People hadn't had peanut allergies when Toby was a child but instead it had developed over time. Humanity was strange.
"I can if you'd like," Dari said with a nod. It meant gaining a few ounces and diluting him just a little but there were useful substances in ice cream just like anything else.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:50 am
"It'll be fun." Having ice cream with her two favorite guys. "What kind of laptops are there?" She asked with interest. "Or should we wait until we get to the store?" She took a sip of her glass of water. "What kind of food do you like best, Toby?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:55 am
"Uh--" Dari began, but Maia rectified her question with another question. "Yes, I think it would be easier to show you than to tell you."
"Oh, I don't know," Toby responded then, "The edible kind? I've been all over, I've tasted so many different things I don't think that I could pick just one. On the other hand, I'm not totally enamored with UK-native cooking."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:18 pm
"Okay, I'll try being patient." It would be difficult. She figured there must be a long set up after purchasing a new computer. She didn't know how long it'd taken HQ to set up her phone, it'd been ready for use when it'd been given to her.
"I don't know what you mean by that," Maia admitted: what exactly was UK native cooking? "I like most things I've tried so far."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:25 pm
"Well, every country has a different palate. There's certain seasonings or preparations of things that are wide-spread across their culinary background. Me, I'm less fond of English food or Scottish food than, say, Italian food or Thai food. It's just personal preference." He shrugged and sipped his water. "There's so much more out there." He smiled then and nodded. "We'll try some different stuff while you're here. It'll be fun."
Their server returned then to take food orders, only hesitating for the briefest flicker when Dari said there'd be "nothing for me, thanks." Then she was off again.
"So," Dari began, "Do you know what you'd want to do with a new computer? Like play games or go on the internet or... write a novel, whatever you like."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:11 pm
"Oh, I see. My mother made Irish dishes; lots of potatoes and sweet breads, I liked those. But I've never found a place where it tasted the same. Italian is noodles, isn't it? I like it."
"Play games, research. And the internet. I want to use it to learn mostly. All sorts of things! Legends, see those videos you've talked about, see if I can do any good."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:04 pm
"We could try to make some," Toby offered. "I mean, I doubt we can make it taste like your mother's, but we can try." He rather liked baking as well, but hadn't really done any since Maia arrived on the scene. Maybe he should.
Dari nodded. Research and the internet were easy. Those were both dependent upon Toby's WiFi connection rather than the strength of any laptop component. Games, though. What kind of games did she mean? Left 4 Dead had seemed to scare her pretty soundly. "It shouldn't be hard to find," he reassured her.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:41 pm
"Let's try. And even if it doesn't, I'm sure it'll be good." Everything Toby made seemed to be, he was an expert. She was "Maybe I'll find some recipes on my computer. We could look together."
"Great. Then after I master reading I'll be able to do all sorts of things."
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:49 pm
Toby smiled. Maia was definitely an optimistic sort, wasn't she? He also would be lying if he said he didn't like how much she seemed to adore cooking after telling him she'd actually ruined a pan trying to make fish. Huh. Fish. Maybe they should have fish...
"You're learning very quickly," Dari assured her, "and with determination like yours I don't think it'll be very long."
Lunch went by pleasantly. The server asked Dari several times if he was sure he didn't want anything, but he just smiled and nodded. For Toby it felt entirely normal for Dari to not partake in eating, especially after all these years. It just wasn't something he needed.
That being done, they went to the small ice cream stand that lived near a large lobby-like area behind a lone escalator. It was like hidden treasure. Toby found himself excited by the idea of a treat and buried himself in the menu. Ooh, flavor swirls...
"What are you getting?" he asked Dari. This seemed odd, that Dari was going to eat something.
"Milkshake," Dari responded. It had to be something he could eat without flashing his teeth and tongue.
"Flavor?"
"...chocolate."
Toby turned to Maia then with a broad smile. "What do you want?" He might even let her pay this time. Ice cream wasn't exactly going to break the bank.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:11 pm
Maia was happy to see Toby's apparent enthusiasm for dessert. It was nice to see. And Dari was getting ice cream, just like he'd said. "I'll get a swirl," She said, when Toby turned to her. She hadn't decided what flavors she wanted yet. "What flavors are there?" she asked.
"And I'm buying. You bought lunch." And it was only fair. They'd bought the video game too, she wanted to pay for dessert.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:22 pm
"Vanilla, chocolate, or vanilla-and-chocolate," Toby said with a nod, looking over at their machine. "But come here. See that?" He pointed out the flavor swirls. "You want one of those? It's vanilla ice cream with flavor around the edges.... bubblegum, cotton candy, watermelon, coffee or cherry." He had his eye on cotton candy, personally. He nodded then. "I won't stop you this time."
He stepped up to the counter when it was their turn, ordered his and Dari's treats and then stepped aside for Maia. When Maia was the one to hand over her card, the attendant glared just a little bit. A woman buying ice cream for two men? Feh! Toby just ignored it. People were fickle and presumptuous.
As their ice creams were coming out, there was a yell. Something incomprehensible. Another. "Mommy!" A pause. Sobs. "MOMMY!"
Toby perked and looked out into the crowd. A little boy, no older then four, wringing his hands nervously and standing in the middle of nowhere all alone. Without another word he went toward the boy and offered him a smile, crouching in front of him.
"Hey, you. Are you lost?"
The boy looked hesitant at first. Good. Someone had told him not to talk to strangers. Too bad he didn't have his badge on him.
"If you want, I can help you find your mommy."
The boy snuffled and, after a moment's hesitation, nodded.
"Where was she last?"
The boy pointed toward the children's playscape. Alright. Leaving your kid on the playground. Not good form.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:39 pm
Maia ordered a watermelon swirl for herself and paid the attendant. She looked from the attendant to Toby and back to the attendant before saying, "We're going dutch it's only our second date. I wonder where his friend's date gotten off to?" She didn't mind lying, not to someone who'd glare at Toby.
Ice cream wasn't on the top of her list of priorities after hearing the yell. She left the stand and looked for the source. Toby seemed to be handling it: good. The child would be safe with him. She made her way over. "Lost his mom?" She asked. "I could go look and see if someone's looking for him there," she suggested.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:49 pm
Dari was left alone at the counter. Err. Well. He looked off toward the blondes and the little boy and took Maia's ice cream and his own. With those two he excused himself to the attendant and rushed off.
Toby nodded to Maia, but kept his gaze on the boy.
"What's your name, little man?"
The boy rubbed his eyes and said his name like it was the greatest monster, voice trembling. "Timothy."
"What's your last name?"
"Kemper."
"Maia, could you go up to the customer service kiosk and see if they can make an announcement?" He nodded down the hall. Luckily it was not far away.
Dari arrived then, offering Maia her ice cream and then smiling to the little boy. He crouched and offered the boy his milkshake, knowing that people were probably watching and assuming the worst. "How about an ice cream? We'll find your mother, I promise."
Timothy, suddenly less apt to cry, reached out and took the ice cream, immediately latching onto the straw. All Toby could think was, boy, I hope he's not diabetic. He'd have done the same thing, however. Dari retreated to get Toby's treat and simply stood aside. Two men approaching a lost child was strange at best.
"Okay, we're gonna walk around a little bit, and if you see your mommy you tell me, okay?"
Timothy nodded. Toby took his little hand and started back to the playscape, even though he had to stoop to walk with the boy.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:16 pm
Maia nodded and moved to do as asked when Dari appeared with her ice cream. She thanked him with a smile, took a lick to prevent it from melting, and made her way to the customer service kiosk. "Can you make an announcement for a missing parent? We found a child," She gestured towards Toby. "He says his name is Timothy Kemper."
She waited and took another swipe at her ice cream. She really didn't want it melting all over her hands. That'd be embarrassing. Toby certainly seemed to have the situation under control, with Dari's help. Seemed good with children too!
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:22 pm
The young woman behind the customer service desk looked surprised a moment. "Oh, really? Alright, sure." She readied her intercom and lifted the microphone to her lips while pressing the button.
"Could the family of Timothy Kemper please come to the first-floor customer service kiosk? I repeat, could the family of Timothy Kemper please come to the first-floor customer service kiosk? Thank you."
Nothing much happened for a minute until another young woman came pounding down the hall, out of breath. "Where is he?!"
Back by the playscape, Timothy suddenly turned and pointed. "MOMMY!"
Toby smiled and didn't have to urge the boy forward as he ran for his mother. The milkshake never left his hand, and Toby came up behind.
"I hope you don't mind," Toby said, gesturing to the ice cream.
The mother picked Timothy up and held him close. "Oh? Oh, no, it's fine. Thank you," and then to her son: "Mommy thought she lost you, Timmy! Thank you. Really, thank you." She offered a grateful smile to Toby and Maia, and as the small family left, Toby raised a hand to wave to the little boy, now content in his mother's arms and nursing an ice cream. Toby smiled then to Maia as Dari approached. Toby took his ice cream and hurriedly licked the sides to keep it from melting.
"I feel bad, now you don't have one," Toby said to Dari.
"Eh. I should watch my figure."
"Shape."
"Same thing."
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