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 Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 7:02 pm
It was early. Too early. Usually, he slept in because he went to bed very late. His lab time was an evening opening and meant he could only worker in the day. Usually by now, Rin would have woken up to go to the greenhouse. Instead, Melvin was up, staring up at the ceiling and listening to music. The room was dark and after checking his phone a million times, reminding himself of the empty inbox and how early it was, he sighed and got up.
Groggy, he went to see if he could get something to eat and then head out to the greenhouse. He was thinking toast and coffee, or even oatmeal if they made it yet.
Sighing, he rubbed his eyes, leaving his glasses in his pocket, and wandered down the hallways. What he smelled instead was far from the cafeteria garbage. Following it, he wondered who was even cooking this early. He peeked around a corner and rubbed his eyes again.
It wasn't really........
"Jan? What are you doing up this early?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:28 am
Lawrence woke up early most days, he was fortunate that he did not generally require a great deal of sleep, efficient in his use of the rest that was afforded him. He preferred to function late at night and very early in the morning as both times of day were relatively quiet as far as company went. He preferred to work on his own, away from prying questions and the need to maintain façades. Cooking was one of the hobbies he could still maintain in the absence of his hand, and though he would rather have used his own facilities he was forced for the moment to use those of the organisation. Much of his time before cooking was spent scrubbing all of the surfaces spotless.
When Melvin arrived, breakfast was well and truly on its way, the omelette sizzling delightfully in its pan while he mixed up what appeared to be yoghurt with a few choice nuts and fruit. He had made himself known to a few of the shopping rings of hunters on the island and was able to secure fresh produce semi-regularly as long as the portals remained open.
"Good morning Melvin." he said with a smile, he was dressed all in white as was usual, with the addition of an apron which was, also rather predictably white. "I am making breakfast." he said. "Would you like some? Strawberry and mint omlette, it does not sound delicious but with these eggs and strawberries it is. We have so many advantages on this island beside the disadvantages, fresh picked fruit without shipping and truly free range eggs."
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:33 am
It was rare when Melvin felt any degree of shame over his appearance. Usually, he was comfortable in that he matched or exceeded the standard and kept himself well maintained – mission mishaps that were out of his control aside. Jan was one of the few people on the island that made him feel uneasy and want to fix his hair or check his breath just by bearing near him. It was the same effect Simon and Dr. Stephen had on him, and he always asked himself how long had it been since he brushed his teeth and was glad for hand wipes and Listerine strips in his pocket to keep him feeling less like an eyesore to the others.
While he was no a morning person, he did manage a shower, but his hair was still slightly damp as his runic hairdryer was on the fritz again. It let his natural curls spring up in ways he didn't like, a burden of genes that he always had to fight with constant grooming. Even worse, he was still woozy from lack of sleep and felt more like a zombie than the early-riser Jan seemed to be.
He's up and about just like Rin.
Standing in the doorframe, he watched the man in pristine white, a bleach-beautiful beacon of clean and just as bright as his attire was his energy and focus this early in the morning. Melvin tugged on the dress shirt under his sweater, making sure it was neatly pressed underneath and not slanted, and looked about.
"I wouldn't want to intrude on your supplies." Most people hoarded their food for the long period of time between leave and the uncertainty that the portals wouldn't go down at any moment.
"Fresh eggs? I never saw any chickens here." How could they have farm-raised when all animals died on the island? "I didn't know about the fruit either." Though Rin's garden seemed to be growing plenty of vegetables with, thus far, no side effects.
"I didn't know you woke up this early - and cooked." Then again, he really didn't know all too much about Jan.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:56 pm
"Oh it's fine." he said, and it was on this occasion. He had made more than he strictly needed, intending to have it for lunch as well later, he did not grudge sparing a little food for the sake of improved relations. Another plate was retrieved and two omelettes were set out with the usual fastidious attention to detail and aesthetics that the blonde man always displayed. It was almost mesmerising how well he had learned to deal with his missing hand, one moment balancing a plate in the crook of his damaged arm, the next handling the pan nimbly with another.
The plate was set in front of the blonde man.
"Oh no, not on the island, there are some people who also value fine cuisine as much as I do. There is a shopping ring of sorts who will retrieve ingredients from off island for a certain fee. It ensures at least some standard of quality is maintained in what I eat. I cannot abide the cheap bulk swill that is purchased here."
He picked up his plate, balancing it expertly and adding cutlery, before also collecting a small bowl of the yoghurt he'd prepared.
"We should go sit." he said. "I will come back through to tidy up afterwards." And without waiting for Melvin to reply, he headed into the larger cafeteria, taking a seat. "Why on earth are you awake this early."
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 6:35 pm
Melvin slowly walked in a bit more, about to offer his own help, but Jan seemed to have everything completely under control. This allowed the Lifer to just watch, which in and of itself was far more entertaining and less hazardous to everyone. While Melvin could follow recipes, cooking was not a skill he practiced and it never quite turned out as perfect as the pictures.
Instead, he let Jan move about, showing the same ease with his missing hand that almost made the handicap invisible. Almost, though Melvin was far too interested in it. His missing limb had touched so deeply to that of Rin that he wondered if this was one of the many reasons she found herself contacting the other man. They both shared the struggle of missing something that was vital for fighting but still not fatal. Rin too was fumbled through the first steps of adjusting and after months had managed to do almost everything without trouble. Melvin had been there to help her but learned to back off once she showed she no longer needed his help.
….no longer needed his help.
She had always been a very strong woman, keeping a happy, upbeat attitude despite what had happened to her. Even now, Jan was waking up as early as she did, showing finesse and ease in creating a culinary threat that most people probably couldn't do with both hands.
He wondered when Jan even lost his hand and how.
Entranced, he jerked back to reality when Jan walked out. Picking up his plate and silverware, eh followed after and sat down with the other man.
Despite the lovely breakfast – it lacked a major component. He needed coffee, badly.
Rubbing one eye, he could only sigh at the question. "Didn't sleep all that great. I got into a bit of an argument with someone I haven't talked with in a long time yesterday."
He paused before adding. "With Rep. I guess I still want him to see reason but…..he said a lot of things that got under my skin. He's been a real a*****e on Twitter lately too."
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