savetheearth | xx2 TEXT

There's no way you'd get in the way, silly. I can teach you! And maybe you can even lick the spoon.

That part I can do! Even if I have to earn it.

Sounds like a plan, then!

Okay, scary movies and [ NOT FAT-FREE ] snacks, coming right up. I'll see you really soon!

[ BUT BANNIE WE'LL GET FAT ]

Okay! I'll go get ready right now!!

[ NONSENSE WE HAVE OUR FIERY SPIRITS TO BURN FAT ]

[ He's pretty much got the directions down pat after his stint walking her home for a week thanks to their bet from the parlor. So it doesn't take him very long to arrive on her apartment's doorstep with one tote full of movies and popcorn and twizzlers and m&m's and another carrying a ~mystery surprise.

Knock knock! ]

[ An hour. That's how long she has to make herself presentable, and to grab some stuff to throw together for a make-shift baking event. She's brushed her hair until it shines ( previously messy from laying around in boredom ) and thrown on fresh clothes that she hasn't been laying around in, and thrown a little baby powder on to make sure she smells nice. The first day where she hadn't had to upkeep maintenance had been fun, but now it's gotten a little old.

So when he arrives she's fresh-faced, cleanly bandaged, and wearing a cute shirt and a pair of nice jeans. The counter has a few ingredients on it for brownies, basic stuff like cocoa and sugar, all of which are certainly not fat free. At the knock at the door she brushes herself down one last time and heads over, feeling a tingle of excitement because she doesn't have friends over much. ]

Hello!

[ She opens the door with a smile, instantly stepping back so he can come inside. It's a neat apartment, on the smaller side but very nice, with hardwood floors and a leather couch in the immediate area. Very clean and bright, with several teapots and other nick-knacks hanging around. ]

Come on in.

[ He's been up and about for the better part of the week, opting to stretch the lingering soreness out of his muscles by going on about business as normal, a few shifts at the library being the only casualties of his mother's worry. At least he had that luxury — most of his scratches and bruises were superficial and faded quickly, now barely noticeable. Belatedly, as he waits, his throat stirs with the realization that he's seen the face of this building a bunch of times, but he's never actually been invited in...

When the door finally opens, his entire face lights up.

Figures, she would be the best looking sick-person he's ever seen. ]

Hey, you healed up so fast! ...You look great.

[ Then he realizes that yes, stepping inside is supposed to be a thing. He just got a little distracted. ]

Hehe... thank you. I've always been clumsy so I've gotten used to stuff like this before! Um, not so badly, but I guess my body knows me and what I get myself into by now!

[ Her smile brightens at the compliment though, a pretty pink blush setting itself down on her cheeks. She had been told she looked horrible not too long ago, so the fact that she's looking better now definitely spruces up her spirits. ]

You look good too!

[ As she steps in she realizes that, oh wow, this is the first time a boy's been in her apartment when Grannie hasn't been around. Not that she wouldn't allow it, of course... she closes the door behind him and brushes a hand through her hair. ]

Grannie won't be home for a long time [ she might not even come back at all, since she's been taking care of tea parlor business ] so we can use any room we want! The living room, or we can go in my room.

You never seemed that bad to me! [ Standing on chairs and everything, sheesh. Maybe she was more of a daredevil than he thought. ] But I'm glad that you're feeling a lot better. I can barely tell.

[ That he doesn't quiet mean to sound as soft as it does, but it's not something he can exactly help, either. It's no secret how deep his worry ran in the beginning, but for now, for today, he can put it aside.

Venturing into the apartment, he takes a cursory glance around as she talks. The atmosphere wasn't entirely unlike the parlor, the thinks to himself with some amusement. ]

Yeah? Did she take over for you? [ Remind him to send her a thank you note. ] Um, well, wherever you're most comfortable. Or whichever has the best sound. [ A quick smile. ] You can't watch thrillers without the volume turned up all the way!

Hmm... probably my room, then. Grannie hasn't gotten a new TV in the living room in 30 years... [ as she glances at the huge thing with a 20 inch screen sitting on the table in the livingroom. ]

My parents bought me a nice one for my birthday last year!

[ She scoots into the kitchen, gesturing for him to follow. There's a table and chairs in here that he can put his tote down on if he wants. ]

And yes, she did! She said that I deserved a break, anyway. Though now that she's seeing how many hours I was working I think she's looking to hire someone new, too.

[ Following her gaze towards the brick of a television crowning the living room, Banagher's eyebrows shoot up. It's a relic. ]

That's impressive, especially if it still works!

[ Laughing, he follows her into the kitchen when prompted, carefully unloading his armful of baggage onto the table. Any implications of being on their own are left alone. ] But that'll be great, if she finds someone to help out regularly. I bet it could make things easier on the both of you in the long run, since you do the deserve the time off to do whatever.

[ Because it doesn't make him feel good to know that a little old lady is taking over that many hours either, but well. He knows how tenacious grandmas could be. ]

Oh, and before I forget! Here. [ Shuffling the second tote over, he reaches in. ] I have something for you.

[ She's busy gathering a pan for baking when he talks, making noises of agreement or laughter along with his words. That television... she's half convinced that it'll never die, or that Grannie will want to be buried with it.

Though at I have something for you she peeks up at him from behind the counter, placing the pan on it along with some other ingredients. ]

For me?

[ She's surprised! It's not her birthday. ]

Edited (i can make words right) 2013-06-26 19:18 (UTC)

Remember when I said I had a mint plant? [ A chuckle as he rummages. ] My mom decided she wanted a few more on the windowsill, so I went with her to this plant nursery. I didn't even know about places like that!

[ Carefully, he pulls a small terra cotta pot from the tote, which has a bag of soil in it, joined by a single packet of seeds. (The picture on it might just look familiar.) Putting it down on the table, he smiles. ]

Bellflowers. That's what those purple ones were called.

[ This is... incredibly, incredibly thoughtful. Joy spreads through her and tickles every nerve as she steps toward him, the pot, and the packet of seeds. Her expression even shows it as clear as day as she touches the edge of the pot with the tips of her fingers. ]

... Thank you. This is... this is perfect! I'll cherish it forever.

[ And she means it. This pot is going right on the windowsill of her bedroom, where the flowers can bloom and she can see them every day. ]

This is probably one of the nicest gifts I've ever gotten from someone. I don't know what to say!! Well, except thank you! This is so sweet!

[ Like sugar ]

[ When her whole face lights up like that, he thinks there's not a single day that goes by where she doesn't deserve to have that kind of feeling. Especially when it was thanks to something so small, a simple I thought of you. ]

I found out that they grow in the midsummer, so if you plant them soon, you'll have flowers in no time. Then you'll know how to make your garden, right?

[ When he'd gone that morning, he'd seen the star-shaped blooms in person, soft and incandescent purple. He could have bought them as-is, but he thought this would suit her better. Since that first day in the parlor, he's thought about her wish for a quiet field of flowers and a sky full of stars, and if in some way this could be a step in that direction... well. ]

...You're welcome.

I'll be sure to plant them soon, then. They're going to be beautiful.

[ She picks up the pot and hugs it to her chest for a moment before turning her head to look at the ingredients for brownies. ]

I hope you like brownies. I thought we could bake some -- they're pretty easy to make! We can even add caramel and cinnamon to them, too.

[ Because she remembers that he said he liked all of those things. ]

That sound good?

Brownies sound great. And not very fat-free, especially if you add in the kitchen sink.

[ Caramel and cinnamon? The latter of which having always been one of his favorites, all spicy-sweet. ]

You're sure you don't mind bearing with me?

[ Things he has baked: 0. ]

[ She laughs, shaking her head as she moves the pot to the counter for safe-keeping. ]

No, these brownies will not be fat-free at all! I hope you weren't looking forward to having fat-free snacks.

[ A quick grin from her and she spins around, picking up a bowl and handing it to him. ]

Of course not! In fact, I'm going to show you the baking ropes. By the time we're done you'll be able to whip up some brownies all by yourself!

Do the terms "fat-free" and "snacks" really belong together in the first place?

[ He's barely through the question when there's suddenly a bowl being pressed into his hands, and he's left accepting it somewhat tentatively. ]

Um, I don't know about that. Mine might taste like chalk if you left me on my own, or something worse.

[ Cinnamon-y chalk. Delicious. ]

No way! You'll be a pro, I promise.

[ She spins again, gleefully, before taking to cocoa and sugar and other ingredients. ]

All you need to do is measure everything out and mix it together! A cup of cocoa, two cups of sugar, some caramel cubes, three tablespoons of cinnamon, two eggs...

[ Each thing gets measured out carefully and then plopped in the bowl. ]

I'll let you do the mixing!

I've heard baking takes a lot more patience than regular cooking. With all that measuring, I mean.

[ Leaning over, he gives his rapt attention while each ingredient goes into the bowl, eventually getting to the point where he doesn't mind adding in the oil and flour right before mixing.

Banagher takes the bowl, turning it a bit on the counter before starting to mix everything up with a rubber spatula. ]

Do you like to bake normally? Or did you learn because of the parlor?

Mhm! If you're not careful, something can end up really wrong! You can get away with not measuring everything with regular cooking but baking can be tricky.

[ She begins to put away the ingredients as he mixes. A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen! ]

And... well, I guess that's hard to say! I've been working in the parlor since I was a kid, so maybe it's both. I really do like to make things for other people, though.

See, this would turn out to be terrible if you weren't here. What if an extra caramel turned it into some kind of monster?

[ A gooey one! It was easy to throw in a pinch or dash of something when it came to making lunch or dinner, but baking, man. Finicky.

Banagher carefully scrapes over the sides of the bowl, making sure none of the dry ingredients are left. ]

But mm. That's easy to imagine. I bet these would taste good with the first tea I tried!

Oh, yes! I'm sure they would!

I think I have some specialty teas here if you'd like to try another one, actually. We keep some around the apartment too, but only our favorites.

[ She wipes the counter off as well for good measure, and preheats the stove so it'll be warm in a few minutes. ]

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