( mostly closed )

[ettersberg]

Who: Thomas Nightingale (ettersberg) & various
What: dinner dates, accidentally stumbling about questers, a month in the life of one (1) thomas nightingale
When: january
Where: olympia
Warning(s): n/a (will warn in subject lines if anything comes up)

[ starters in comments. hit me up via pm or at abiosis if you'd like to do something! ]

Comments

[ettersberg]

I'm inclined to say South, but I'd be guessing. I really haven't eaten there often enough to say for certain.

[ but going by the menu, that's his guess.

clark leans in and thomas finds himself wanting to mirror the movement. after a moment, he does. ]

[apricitous]

[ Clark will stay as close as that to Thomas if he can, and he might just lean in, lean up, and very gently peck a kiss to the man's cheek. ]

I'll have to see for myself then.

[ettersberg]

[ there's no pause in thomas' step at the kiss, no hitch in his breath, but there is a small smile around his lips a moment later. ]

I hope you'll enjoy it.

[ the walk isn't terribly far and they arrive shortly after, thomas reaching for the door to hold it for clark. ] After you.

[apricitous]

I'm sure I will. Even if the food isn't to my liking.

[ Yes, that's a compliment, Thomas. He likes you. ]

[ettersberg]

[ that gets a slight pause from thomas after all, something warm settling in his stomach. clark is so open and easy in his affection, unflinching in his warmth.

it's -- nice, to say the least. ]

And yet, I still hope you'll enjoy the food.

[apricitous]

[ That gets a chuckle out of him, because- ]

Honestly, I'm sure I'll love it. It already smells great from here.

[ettersberg]

I had a pasta the last time I came here, and liked it.

[ which is, of course, why they're here. back here, in thomas' case. the restaurant is small, tables and chairs mismatched in a way that manages to be charming, and a waiter bustles toward them immediately. ]

Ah. For two, please.

[apricitous]

It's kind of amazing, how some things maintain between different... [ they're out and about and while he's keeping his voice down, he doesn't want to break the rules, ] places. Noodles, or pasta... how you can find them where you're from, where I'm from, here...

[ettersberg]

I suppose food is as universal as it gets.

[ in all their variety, people do always need to eat. ]

[apricitous]

[ He'll walk along with Thomas to wherever they're guided to and there'll be an attempt to hold out a seat that he'll start to abort before looking to Thomas curiously.]

At least the need to eat. And flavor profiles, etc.

Though it does make me curious if there's anything like Indian food here.

[ettersberg]

There is a place in Wyver that reminded me of Indian food.

[ thomas doesn't know wyver well, but he did spend some time there back when they were all more or less forcibly relocated. ]

[apricitous]

I haven't found that place. I'll have to get the location from you some time.

[ He settles into his own seat with a bowing gesture to Thomas as thanks for finding them such a lovely place. It really is nice in here. ]

There's a rib place that my roommate and I tend to get take out from. Other than that, I usually just cook.

[ettersberg]

Of course.

[ thomas inclines his head. ]

I should probably do some more cooking, myself. [ or... any. no, he's not entirely hopeless. just very much not used to it. ]

[apricitous]

Not everyone has the time.

My... well, my friend who's still up in stasis, she'd get take out any time she could.

Her mind had other things to deal with.

[ He shrugs. ]

I just find cooking to be very soothing, personally.

[ettersberg]

I've only ever done it out of necessity, really.

[ he'd always been in institutions that had food prepared in some fashion— and then there'd been molly. ]

[apricitous]

It started that way, but I guess it became something of a ritual for me.

[ He offers a lopsided sort of smile. ]

Something useful, but also sort of meditative.

[ettersberg]

I'll have to try it, then.

[ thomas smiles back, after a moment. ] Perhaps you could share some recipes with me.

[apricitous]

Anything but my mother's apple pie recipe.

[ That comes with a conspiratorial lean in. ]

Otherwise, she'd never forgive me. The rest, though, you're welcome to.

[ettersberg]

I wouldn't want to be responsible for that family feud.

[ thomas leans in as well, a little. ] It may be wise to start me off simple, anyway.

[apricitous]

Well, I could always show you the recipe for the roast.

Since you like that particular dish so much.

[ Perhaps he leans in just a little bit more. ]

[ettersberg]

If it is something a beginner could manage, I would appreciate that very much.

( especially given the delicious smells currently filling his apartment. nightingale finds himself smiling, body angled toward clark. )

[apricitous]

It's definitely doable by a beginner, [ he's firm on that point ] but you do need a little bit of patience and a few best practices.

[ettersberg]

And you'd be willing to teach me those?

[apricitous]

[ That gets him a short laugh, soft and fond. ]

Yes, it would be part of the first lesson. I could give it to you now, if you wanted.

[ettersberg]

( for a moment, thomas hesitates — not out of worry, but thinking it over. lingering on that laugh, too. then he nods. )

I'd appreciate that.