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 Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 3:56 am
Work was well… work. Same s**t different day. Except for this time it wasn’t. Sonia was expected back at the house so that she and Reed could go on a patrol together. First time since getting settled that they were going to do something while in uniform. Which meant… Sonia definitely didn’t find reasons to stay late after her last lessons. Nor did she make a list of groceries they were missing at the house and needed replenishing. Of course, she didn’t even consider driving around looking for the cheapest gas station to fill up her tank. No, she’d never put off the inevitable in such a blatant fashion… Except she did. Normally home around 8:00 PM she didn’t walk through the door until almost 10:00 PM; a half-gallon of milk and orange juice held in one hand, duffle slung over her other shoulder and a bag of ingredients to make her own pasta hung from her bent elbow as she then turned to close the door behind her.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 3:24 am
Up at the kitchen table - the rest of the house dimmed - darkened in other spots. Heard the door, easy enough in the stillness. Don't comment on it, don't be an a**.Told himself such. Chewed the words until he felt the sour grimace of their taste in his mind resonate and spread across his face. Sighed and just... "Did you run into trouble on your way home?" that felt safer to say, to ask it without looking up from the screen of his tablet that no longer held any meaning in its glow. To use those words without giving away that he'd been waiting up, that he'd been worried - somewhere deep down. The circles beneath his eyes would speak for that. The way he chewed on the corner of a nub of something - hard plant stem - straw - pen - like it had personally offended his entire lineage. A terrible habit, but it saved his nails when he had work to focus on. Not that he actually had any in front of him at the moment. Only blankness, a page filled with things he wasn't seeing anymore. Had stopped seeing an hour ago when the clock had taken up the whole of his attention. Ticking away of time... His own personal dammed time....and he was right back to being irritated at her instead of worried. Was going to give himself whiplash for it, if not a headache. Shanyume Hell yes and I love it! ohgod I love how Prehnite's basically been an eviction notice in her life! Lol!
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:37 pm
"Trouble?" Considered the question carefully then replied "No, no trouble." Sonia walked past him, shaking her head with an almost innocent expression before setting the bags on the kitchen counter. "My car was out of gas. If I didn't fill it up tonight then I wouldn't make it to work in the morning." Mostly because the later they were out, the longer she'd end up sleeping. "The cheapest gas station was the one by the grocery store so I ran inside to get a few things," To this she began pulling items out of the other bag: Three boneless chicken breasts
A bag of panko bread crumbs
Half carton of eggs
Jar of chunky tomato sauce
Three types of chees; fresh mozzarella, provolone and parmesan
A small bushel of basil A little bribery could go a long way when food was involved and she wondered how much something like this might sway him. Although she had no clue how to cook with eggplant, Sonia could at least make a chicken parmesan dish instead, close enough to what Reed had asked for but didn't get when he met her parents. "I assume you've already eaten?" It was more of a question than a statement.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:52 pm
Softened a little with her explanation, let the tablet down long enough to watch her mill about in his space. Things in hand, plans in hands, and it seemed like she had meal ideas. He could've helped, should've maybe offered, but found it was far better to watch. Man outside a window who could be curious about things without getting in the way. "I'm glad then..." that she was safe, that she was back. Let his words trail briefly as the thought occurred that he should've found a way to get that information from her sooner. Reed wondered if he should start a precedent of getting her to text him when she'd be arriving late to things. Except he was neither her father, nor her mother, barely felt like her roommate still, certainly wasn't a friend yet - and so he had no right. To demand check ins, to ask for updates... Except he was her captain so maybe he should have done those things? Put the pressure on to keep an open line of dialogue. Knew how quickly he'd allow it to follow through on his own end, because he rarely kept such things up with people who weren't superiors, and even then? All work, rarely friendly in nature. "I did eat." except that was hours ago, could've eaten again, might've been nice if they were going on a lite duty outing, to have something else before hand...a snack....or maybe.... "If I may ask - all of 'that' - what's it for?" asked from a carefully poised position, set the device firmly face down on the table because now he actually was curious, beyond simply her and her own words. What the items in the bags were meant for.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 11:23 pm
“Well,” Sonia turned to put the orange juice and milk in the fridge since those wouldn’t be needed until morning anyway. “I was thinking if you’d be willing to give me a half hour or so to get things together and put in the oven.” “Then,” paused to turn her attention back to Reed, “you and I can patrol, or whatever,” wasn’t entirely sure what the plan was for the evening but wanted to in some way put a time limit on it if he insisted they still go out. “And come home to a nice meal before bed,” because who the hell knew how much energy she was going to expend. “I have no idea how much, or how often, you eat so I took a guess and assumed you are like my brother.” Where half of a chicken breast was usually enough for her, Anton could easily eat a whole one in a single sitting. “Might even be enough for lunch tomorrow. Better than high school cafeteria food,” she added as a pro to her argument.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2021 4:57 am
Fingers tapped, skitter of nails over the tabletop as he considered her, turned her words around, turned them into something he could be accepting of. The night wasn't getting any younger - it also wasn't going anywhere either. "Mmm, I'd have to know how your brother is 'like' to answer that one for you." snorted softly for the comment, a light jab, but absolutely accurate. There was nothing he would ever eat from that place. Would bring his own things - didn't envy those who were given charge over the evenings there, dinners or breakfasts. "You're being very convincing? I'd say you're stalling for time...." except that he found himself minding less and less that she was. Settled into the idea of sitting down for an egregiously late meal. Off schedule, after hours, and did it matter now? Was it something to work himself up over, one hour had become two, and two wouldn't mean anything more if they became three at that point. The night would continue to exist whether or not he threw a fit for expediency on 'getting out there'. "Except that it really does't matter at this point if we go to, ' whatever' now, or later, does it?" soft little shrug, and if he was going to be eating at the table instead of pretending to work at it unperturbed -- stood to put any extra things he had away, thought to wipe it down as he moved. " Alright, I'm willing to - hmm - have second dinner with you? Is it normal that they keep you so late at that place..." an easy way to ask so he wouldn't have to press her for updates, wouldn't seem like he was being overly concerned, if it became a pattern with her. He could understand work/life interference. Could work things around it.
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Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:29 am
Success. Within the Negaverse, he was her Captian. Her superior. Which meant his instructions were expected to be followed to a 'T' without complaint or hesitation. Unfortunately for him, she was opinionated and had a voice of her own and would probably question most things since trust had yet to really be established as of yet. However, it seemed that while not in uniform he afforded her some level of leniency and level-headedness. Perceptive that's for damn sure. Expected as much from someone in charge of a class full of students who likely played games on graphing calculators or were writing things other than notes in their composition notebooks. Sonia offered no argument to his observation and simply crossed her arms and leaned against the countertop with a smile that suggested he wasn't wrong in the assumption. "It depends," She replied. "Our week-day classes are geared more towards after-school programs so classes typically begin at about 4:00 PM and last for about an hour and a half. The next class starts at 7:00 PM and runs until 8:30 but those are typically the intermediate classes or private lessons for students looking to focus on competitions and are looking for quicker advancement." "I teach beginner classes which are earlier in the day since those students are usually younger and need to be home earlier to get to bed at a decent time." She preferred working with the younger age group, while some were more disobedient and wanting to just pretend to be swashbuckling pirates, seeing them grow into their own was always rewarding. "Intermediate and advanced classes are later, typically I stay around in case there is a no-show and will participate in the class so everyone has a partner. Otherwise, I take care of the front desk, accepting payments and coordinating scheduling; usually, I can leave early on these days and just pick up cleaning in the morning the next day." Her God Father, Senior Galeno, was typically flexible. "That's why I was just getting home when you appeared on my parent's doorstep," Sonia added by way of example and explanation. Proof that this wasn't abnormal, rare maybe, but not completely unexpected. "Anyway, as an apology," assuming she actually felt any remorse for this intentional delay of the inevitable. "I picked up everything I thought we were missing to make chicken parmesan. If you'd like to help with the sauce, make it however suits you best, I'll prepare the chicken. As for my earlier assumption," circled back to his previous statement. "I figured that you'd eat probably double what I normally do, so two of the breasts are for you." Then again she wasn't entirely sure he liked that kind of meat but knowing him, she'd likely find that out shortly.
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 5:19 pm
A long slow look for her ask, because sauce for..what? "So as an apology, you'll have me help do part of the work?" soft snark, and yet he was already moving to roll up his sleeves. Wash his hands and look over the ingredients she'd brought in. Figured it was best to keep himself busy - couldn't hurt to try at domesticity in little doses. Doing a thing together, seeing how she was in the kitchen. If her families meals were anything to go by, she was likely a relatively good cook. He wasn't entirely sure if he could match whatever expectations she held - but... "You're very considerate. If all else fails, it would be nice to have something to take to work." easy enough to admit, if there was extra for him, all the better. Whatever he didn't eat could become a nice leftover. Something he didn't have to worry about - home cooked was always better than whatever he could've gotten off campus or from a microwave. Leaving for lunch wasn't really an option most times, they liked their staff on hand, close by, readily available to do a variety of extra tasks. Which left him relegated to lunch rooms and corners in between classes. Teachers lounges - except many of the people you worked with were higher at such varying levels that it was hard to be any sort of relaxed amongst them. "I can understand that, being kept late for things." pertinent information, and he could worry less, could be lenient so long as what he was asking of her wasn't time sensitive, could also maybe think to call her - ever - possibly? Reed paused in looking over the ingredients, wondered if she was the type who liked things added into her sauces outside of the obvious ingredients. If she wanted to layer it in - or pour it on after - if... "If--I'd like to know is all?" breathed and actually looked at her like he was speaking to her, because that wasn't a sentence that made any sense. "When you're going to be running late, as a courtesy? Things can be rescheduled, unless it's something important. I'm not trying to run you into the ground though, especially with something as simple as...ah...a trial run for outings?" he could be understanding, and if she didn't text him - if there were no calls. He wouldn't lose his mind. He would learn to plan better though, to work around such things. For both their sakes, there were only so many nights he actually cared to be up waiting - nights where he would've chosen sleep instead, because sometimes? The Negaverse could damn well wait until daylight.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 2:47 am
Sonia opened the recipe app on her phone and set the instructions for the chicken parmesan down on the table between them. Tried to hide the small smile by turning to wash her hands at the sink. It was wrong. To manipulate Reed or push him the way she was. Ulterior motives hidden behind kind gestures. Could have just asked to postpone the patrol, a week more maybe. But if the impromptu move was any indication of how quickly he'd wanted to move things forward, it seemed to reason that it was better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Honestly Sonia wasn't ready to power up again, not yet. Routine severely interrupted only to come home after work to a silent house. Sometimes felt a bit like ships passing in the night, not that privacy was a bad thing. It's just, she missed conversation which only made this adjustment to living in a new place harder. So she waited. What she didn't expect, however, was his counter compromise. Reed turned to look at her and she offered him the same curtesy of respect. Considered his request for a long moment before finally responding. "We had plans, I should have called you." That much she admitted and agreed. "I'm sorry. But what you're asking for, I need some clarification, Reed." Her was her conscripted Captain. Her forced roommate. Her unfortunate landlord. What he wasn't was her parent. Her guardian. Her friend... at least not yet anyway. "Do you only want to know on days like today," where the two of them had plans that might be delayed. "Or are you asking that I tell you every time I'll be late, or if I'll be staying with my family?" Sonia was oddly calm while asking these questions, making a honest attempt to stay level headed so it didn't turn it into a fight. "Do you need me to tell you when I'm spending time with other people?" But wasn't the point of being here so she wasn't under complete supervision if rehomed to the barracks?
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 3:21 am
Reed busied himself with reading ingredients he didn't care about on the back of a label, pretended to hum at sodium, and citrus additives, scrutinize the whether or not what was in the thing was actually a tomato - it was - it was practically a marinara for how few things it had in it. Better for what she was making most likely, though the use of fresh basil would brighten it up at least. "I'm still not your warden Sonia." skewed a glance at her, because those also sounded like the habits of an overbearing boyfriend, to know who and what she spent her time with, like a parent who monitored the gps location of their errant child. "If we make plans..if you're not coming back at all, and I'm expecting you? I think it's fair that you at least let me know as much." easy enough to shrug for it, to decide the sauce definitely needed something more. Basil yes, but maybe some thyme and oregano as well. A few more Italian spices to balance the sweetness of the leaf. "This is all very new - so taking space? I'm fine with it, with you coming and going at leisure even - so long as you don't disappear off the map completely, or at least don't inconvenience me with it?" and the evening so far was anything but, was rather pleasant to create something together - side by side play like children learning to share the same sandbox. He didn't want it to become a 'thing' though, where he set dates, or times, or events, and she blew him off ad nauseum until he cracked under it. He would've taken a text, an excuse - would set a limit for how long he'd take them before he'd put his foot down. He wouldn't however, jump down her throat for ever semblance of normal civilian life she led. That had indeed been the point, to let her keep that - to maybe shunt her off towards infiltration so she could have all the reasons in the world to stay 'gone' while she progressed through the ranks, while she found a point at which they'd be satisfied that she was heeled back into the flock by the shepherds hounds. "I'm often busy myself - not with those same things, but still..just so it's fair between us - if you ever need anything of me and I can't make it happen? Then I will let you know in advance. Cars break down, students stay after class, and our ah 'extracurricular' activities can often take up extra time. I am occasionally a person who these things happen to..." fetched spices from a cupboard as he spoke, smirked at little as he went through the motions of it. He wondered how much a person she actually considered him to be. He had none of her same habits, or hobbies, or family binds.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 2:20 pm
Really wish he'd stop using the word inconvenience... the word itself was so irritating, painful even at times, it was as if someone was running a cheese grater down her back each time he said it. Breathe. "Ok, I will let you know." Sonia turned to pull out two mixing bowls, in one she added the crumbs, some flour, then salt and pepper to taste. In the other, she cracked open four of the six eggs then washed her hands once more. Next, she pulled out a pan and poured some extra virgin olive oil in it. The stove was set to high as she then butterfly and halved each chicken breast so they'd be thin and cook through evenly. "When you have a second, can you get me the pyrex baking dish so I can layer these on the bottom once they're dong frying?" Out of the pan and into the dish, rather than dirtying a plate or cutting board that'd need to be cleaned. She'd dipped the first piece in the egg, then transferred it over to the crumbs; repeated once more then laid it in the oil away from her so it didn't splatter on either of them.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 11:07 pm
“Thank you” felt right to say, and there was something about the preceding silence of cooking with someone, how he’d always thought it’d be awkward to share a prep space - easy though - with her. How she knew what she was doing an needed little in the way of assistance, the levity of not being expected to lead in any one thing and simply help along - cordially quiet. A silence that didn’t smother or cloy, broken by the sounds of her prep. The stirring of spoons, scrape on a pan, sizzle of heat. “Hmm, oh - of course.” Didn’t seek to fill it all with noise - wondered if she was used to small talk - the vibrancy of her home life and her abundant family. The way his home was empty - not like a parking lot - but like a distant deep forest - a quiet desert at night. “Here - Ah - aside from car troubles, how was your day?” Deep glassware set aside, grabbed a roll of foil in case it was the sort of dish that needed covering during the baking process. The types of things people asked surely - and “This is -you cook with your family, often, I’m sure? I’m sorry if this is so - different?” Didn’t know why he was apologizing for it, except for how it seemed to him necessary to open the dialogue away from work - away from the things that bothered them both.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 12:43 am
"Sometimes," she responded, features softening just a bit. The sound of oil sizzling filling any void of silence, turning the crumbs a nice golden brown. After flipping the first one she moved it to the bottom of the glassware. "On days I'm running late either my mother or Anton would cook and I'd take care of dishes after dinner. "It's more of an adjustment trying to cook for one." Went through the motions of preparing the next piece of chicken in the same manner. "Either end up eating the same thing for three days in a row or eating out more than I should. "That," She glanced over to the side, "and I don't want to monopolize fridge space." Unless making something from scratch, most ingredients come with enough to feed a family of three to four. "One of my students is going to bring a cookbook for me to look through next week and I've been considering a small install pot. If you'll allow it..." To that she did look at him, kind of hopeful. It did mean one more thing out on the counters but from what she'd been seeing online it made for quick easy meals that only took like fifteen or thirty minutes to cook and created less of a mess. Still, healthy food and he'd be able to use it as well.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 5:13 am
“It’s not as though I’m keeping a body in there. You can use the fridge space Sonia.” Soft scoff and he rolled his eyes for her fear at taking up too much in his home. At the same time he wondered how she’d survive him. A hardy enough creature, surely, and she’d fared worse in her life. For all that she said nothing of it - for all that he didn’t know of her - no one who joined such an agency as they had survived it unscarred. In mind, in body, with drawers full of hurts to be forgotten and locked away. He didn’t know what sort of plant she was - as a person - how best to tend to her needs. If it would’ve been proper to even suggest she had needs that could be tended to by someone other than himself and his hit and miss tactics.. “A suggestion? Cook the meals as you would, and surprise your family when their too large things. I promise not to cry and wilt if left to my own devices on some nights. You can go see them..” see them feed them share i the warmth she’d been lucky enough to scrape out and cling to. How little he understood that. He would not be completely monstrous and forbid her from it though. “I’m, an instant pot?” Stopped his stirring and paused in tasting to see if he liked the flavor - if the citrus tang needed dulling - if “I don’t.,.I mean? I don’t think I’ve ever used one, I can’t imagine what the harm is in bringing it.” That she used the word ‘allow’ like she was begging him to let her keep a pet rather than bring home a cooking implement - like it was a beg at life and - God he was truly an a*****e. Must have been… “What would you make in it?” A safer thing to ask rather than wallow in the clench of self loathing that washed over him.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 9:18 pm
"Since it's going to be Fall soon, I'd probably end up making some soups, maybe chili. I could also look up a recipe for some stew." Most that she was used to makeing in a crockpot so she wasn't sure how different it would be in an Insta Pot." Could also just pre-make some pulled chicken or pulled pork, add some salsa verde for tacos or some barbeque for BBQ sandwiches. Looked to Reed, curious if any of those sounded interesting or if he was just as 'meh' about them as this evening's meal. There were some other meals she wanted to try, curries mostly or some Mediterranean dishes. But those might require using her brother as a taste tester since she'd never made those before. "Would you have any requests if I did get one?" Obviously he'd be welcome to use it to make his own meals. But at least this was a roundabout excuse to learn what kind of foods he preferred. Some people had a sensitive smell to things like fish while others were allergic to certain spices. Sonia didn't know much of anything about his tastes; assumed that he preferred organic or freshly made as opposed to processed but that was just her experience dealing with people like him who liked to garden.
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