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It's nice and dark outside, the miracle of winter having settled upon the town in its usual fashion. Snow flurries have been falling most of the day, but as twilight envelops the area, the flurries turn into full flakes. Katherine has been in the kitchen most of the day preparing dinner for that evening. She's still working on it. Beef wellington, scalloped potatoes and asparagus spears all are on the menu. She is standing behind the counter, reading something on her phone as she sips a glass of Merlot, waiting for any guests or boarders to arrive. Since it's cold outside, she's clad in a pale green sweater and a pair of warm woolen leggings. Instead of boots, a pair of boot-like slippers are on her feet, underneath a pair of thick fuzzy woolen socks.
*
Esme was looking forward to tonight. It was always good to get out of the house and she hadn't seen Katherine in what seemed like forever. She arrived at the B&B with a book and a bottle of wine to add to Kate's collection! Or to be also had with dinner and after, who knows. They'd see how it went. Her hair was down and she shed her wool coat to reveal a long-sleeved black shirt with little skulls and ghosts on it as well as a pair of black jeans with matching boots.
Following the smell of food to the kitchen, Esme grinned to the younger woman. "Looking comfortable." She said, walking over to the counter to set down her things and then give Kate a hug. "Thanks for the invite via Sam." A light tease to her tone, kissing the woman's cheek as well before relaxing against the counter. "How have you been, dear?"
*
Sam makes his way up the hill to the Stone house, dressed warmly against the cold weather outside. That's nothing unusual. Upon arriving he lets himself into the house. It feels a bit strange to just walk in, but it is a B&B, so he supposed it wasn't all that unusual. It takes him a minute to discard all his winter gear and try to make his hair behave after suffering with a toque upon it, before he finally makes his way toward the kitchen. Tonight he's wearing a well fitted light blue sweater with a wide collar over a simple grey shirt beneath and close fitting tan jeans and a brown belt. He pushes into the kitchen - "Hello!" He calls, seeing that Esme had already arrived.
*
Kate returns the hug and kiss to the cheek, grinning at Esme. "I'd have called you myself, but..you know." She wrinkles her nose, sticking her phone in a pocket before she takes the bottle of wine. "I can't complain. Life has been pretty amazing the last couple of weeks, for the most part. Feel like I'm shaking off a fog and seeing spring or something." She aims a look at the other woman, letting a smile brighten her features. "Looking forward to Paris? I made all of the arrangements, I hope you were able to get a passport." She turns when Sam enters and waves in his direction. "Welcome! You two have a seat and I'll get you both something to drink. Wine okay? I have fresh coffee and just regular juice in here somewhere too."
*
"That's wonderful to hear. I'm glad things are startin to look up some for you. And yeah, I am very ready." Esme grinned. "I have my passport ready, a list of places I want to see. I'm excited. It's a first for both of us." Esme slid into a seat as Sam came inside, "You know I'm fine with wine. I brought along a bottle of red just in case." She flashed a grin to Sam as well. "Hey you. Did the rest of your day go okay?" When Sam would come closer to the counter, Esme would slide the book she had over to him. It was titled 'Girl in the Mirror'. Back to Kate, "Everything smells fantastic. I've missed your cooking."
"I'd love a glass. To start at least. And Esme is right - it smells amazing in here. I hope you're both doing well." Sam takes a moment to make eye contact with each of his new friends and share a smile, before he takes the seat at the table and grins wider when the book is pushed across toward him. "Ooh. Thank you." He picks it up and idly flips through it in that way you must do when picking up a new book. "I'm looking forward to the read." He also seems piqued by the Paris discussion, but doesn't comment on it aside from asking - "When do you two actually go?"
*
"You're always welcome to come by Esme. I love having you here, you know that." Katherine murmurs quietly, taking Esme's bottle so she can screw in the corkscrew. She manipulates it easily and soon the soft pop of the cork exiting the bottle can be heard. She pours two glasses, picks them up and delivers them to the table. "We leave next week, we'll be gone for four days. The photos of the hotel …well I'm so excited that I have packed and unpacked my bag about six times." She bounces on the balls of her feet and heads back to the stove where she checks the cooking food. "About ten minutes more." She says before she goes back to the previous subject. "The chef that I'm going to be studying with for two days called me, gave me a list of things he's going to teach me to make. His accent was charming, and ..I am just ..I can't wait." She picks up her own wine and a platter of appetizers, a charcuterie board with some meats, cheeses and slices of bruchetta, and walks toward the table with it.
*
"I know, I'm going to try and be better about coming by. I wanted to come by last night but I ended up staying late at the library. We got a shipment of new books in that needed to get tagged and put on the shelves. It took longer than I was expecting." Esme thanked Kate when the wine was placed down. She took a sip, sighing contently and grinning as she listened to Kate's elaboration. "That will be amazing! I'm sure you'll learn so much. I can't wait to see it. It is an exciting thing. I definitely have a few of their libraries I plan to look at, and all the museums and sights. So much to pack into four days! But it'll be worth it. I might have to remember to pick up some disposable cameras too. Just in case. Do they even sell disposable cameras anymore?" Her brow furrowed in thought.
*
"Thank you." Sam says, accepting his own wine and taking a tiny sip of it before setting it back down on the table. He grins between the two, the excitement is contagious. "You two are going to have a blast. Just remember to eat everything you see. It's all so good. And the sights. And the nightlife. And the cute cafes serving espresso everywhere you look." He shifts his eyes toward Esme, curious at her last comment. "Disposable cameras? They must still have them, but when everyone carries a phone that's so capable, I can't imagine they do much in the way of sales any more."
*
"I don't think I've used anything but my phone in..gosh..years?" Katherine sets down the charcuterie board, plates for it already on the table, before she moves back toward the kitchen. "Help yourself to some finger foods there, and I'll start making plates in a few minutes. Hopefully when I cut this beef wellington it doesn't explode or anything." She eyes the oven warily for a moment, setting down her wine glass. "First time I've made it, but the instructions didn't seem horribly difficult." She shrugs and starts to pull plates from a cupboard. "I plan on gaining five pounds in France. Maybe ten, depending on my mood. I just want chocolate croissants. All of them. I should just make some, but I want them straight from the source. Pain au chocolat. Pretty much the only thing I can say in French." She looks impish for a few moments before she adds. "I can probably ask for a bathroom too. Maybe."
It's dinner time in the B&B, Kate stands behind the counter as she finishes the prep so she can serve, Sam and Esme are seated at the table drinking wine and hopefully eating some meats and cheeses.
*
Just before the back door opens, there's the sound of some stilettos on the pavement crossing from the garage, and a bleat, and then a laugh. "Don't use that tone with me, ma'am." Oh, good. Now August is talking to the pygmy goat every time she crosses the back way to come in the door.
A tall, tattooed woman steps inside, pulling the door closed behind her. She wears black skinny jeans, a glossy black pair of heels, five inches by the look of them, a dark grey tank top, and a black hoodie unzipped but pulled closed. Across the chest, it reads in large stylized letters EAT ME. The upper left chest has the Mad Tatter Logo. Her long grey ombre hair is pulled up and pinned in an upsweep, black framed glasses tucked in her hair like she's forgotten them. Which she has, because she's just come in from an early shift at work.
"What is that fucking amazing smell?" August's question is quietly spoken, but of course with an f-bomb right on in there.
*
"I mean, neither have I. But I don't want to worry about my battery life running out or storage being taken up you know? I'll look into it." Esme mused as she did indeed pick at a couple of the meats and cheeses, setting them on her plate."Gah, the food. Don't even get me started. Their food always looks so good. I'm definitely with you on gaining some pounds Kate." Esme laughed, leaning lightly on the counter. "But I'm going to have to have a translation app or something…I can say escargot and that's about it." Another sip of her wine taken. "It'll be-" She started, but then August walked in and Esme smiled brightly. "August, long time no see. I was hoping to run into you soon." Turning slightly so she could look at the woman better.
*
"It's Paris. They all speak English. And they're so used to tourists that they just default to it. I mean, if all all fails, just point at something on the menu and it's almost certain to be delicious. You'll just want to look up what it was after the fact so you can know to order it again." Sam remarks, spearing a couple items from the plate of meat and cheese with one hand while having a sip of his wine with the other. "You and I are of a soul, Kate. Chocolate croissants are everything. And - while I'm sure they'd be excellent if you made them, they're still different there. They have different butter than we do. It's hardly fair. Every time you have one, have a second for me." He turns his head at the voice and the new person to come into the room, taking a moment to take in August's appearance from head to toe before raising his wine glass toward her in a silent 'hello stranger' type greeting.
*
"Sparkle is grounded. He bopped Charlotte earlier when she let him out to run." Kate notes to August as she walks in, shooting the woman a win before she gestures to the table. "Have a seat, lady. I'll get you something to drink." She turns to put a kettle on, and then pulls two pans from the oven, her hands mitted in bright pink oven mitts. "Translation app, good idea. I've been using Duolingo to try to learn more French before we left, but between everything going on? I have the attention span of a gnat." She pulls a knife from the block and sets it down, ready to cut the beef wellington when it's had a chance to rest. "Oh…bad hostess. Sam, this is August Lexington, she is staying in the garage suite outside. She works at the Mad Tatter." She points at Sam and grins at August. "Sam Ryce, a new arrival of sorts to the city. He's an author, and he might be staying here with us." She opens the second oven and slides out the asparagus spears - drizzling butter on them before she sprinkles spices atop them.
Kate is standing behind the counter, getting plates loaded up with food while her guests are all gathered at the table. The kettle starts to whistle and she quickly steps away to pour some of the hot water on a bag of chai tea. "I'm going to make the croissants. When I get home, and they're gonna be amazing." She assures Sam, peeking toward the door to make sure the goat isn't destroying anything in the back yard.
*
There's a bit of a pause from August, then, "Esme." It seems Ms. Lexington does indeed remember Esme from the night in the bar a few weeks back. "Good to see you again. Oh, were you?" Hoping to run into her, that is. "Is this perhaps tattoo related?" Aug lowers her arms once she's inside, and free of the freezing wind, halves of her hoodie falling open. A few inches of belly tattoo are revealed by the cropped grey tank she wears. Still struggling to dress for the weather, it seems.
"Oh, Sparkle. Such a sassy beast." Auggie makes her way to the table, smiling to Esme and Sam. She slips into one of the seats where she can see the whole room. "Thanks, Kate. Juice and tea if you have them. Apple. Or cider." For once she doesn't offer to help, noting Kate is in full hostess mode. She glances over to Sam as he's introduced to her, "Sam. Pleasure. You can call me August of Auggie as you prefer. An author? Very nice." She regards the man for a long moment, as if she's trying to place him, her silver eyes intent before she glances away, crossing her legs and sitting back in her chair. If she's seen his pic in the back of something she's read, it'll come to her in a bit.
"Croissants are magic. Chocolate croissants are magic with sex in the middle." Auggie says, lacing her fingers to drop her hands onto her thigh.
*
Sevin didn't expect to have to dodge a goat on his way in, but here it is, and here he is, and there's a brief standoff before he skirts past. He looks like he just got off work; his attire is on the well-dressed side of casual, though the inclement weather's left his curly hair askew. Kate's the recipient of a hawkish look as he meanders toward the kitchen proper, though the others - August in particular - are greeted with a polite nod should he catch their eye.
*
"I'll have to maybe give DuoLingo a peek, but I doubt I can commit anything useful to memory in such a short amount of time." Esme mused, eating a piece of cheese as she watched Kate cut the Wellington with curious eyes. A soft laugh at August's description of chocolate croissants. "The way you talk, I'll have no choice but to eat a bunch right along side Kate. I'm such a sucker for sweets." She mused, sitting up a bit. "And yes! Tattoo related. My back is already covered, but Sam here offerred to draw me something so I figured I'd take the opportunity to cash it in for a tattoo reference. Still working out the specifics. Something occult related I know, but that's a wide topic." Esme ran a hand through her hair. Looking over as Sevin arrived, she offered him a smile. "Good evening Sevin. Long time no see."
*
"Nice to meet you, August. Sounds like you have the prime suite - Kate keeps telling me about her book collection, but I can't see it since the room is occupied." Sam replies to August once the woman gets settled down at the table, taking up another piece of cheese from the platter, giving an amused grin at her description of the French treats. Hard to argue with that. "I write under the name Robin Brooks." He says after a moment, having seen that 'do I recognize you' look before. More people! He turns to see Sevin skirting past the goat this time and he raises a hand in reply to his nod. "Good evening, Sevin. Good to see you."
*
Kate's eyes narrow when Sevin walks in, but she's distracted cutting beef wellington, and happy success it looks like the picture in the recipe book did. She starts to plate the food, adding a slice of the beef dish to all but one plate before she scoops some scalloped potatoes on and adds the asparagus. "I used DuoLingo to give myself a passing familiarity with Spanish, and I retained a little bit of it." She pauses from what she's doing to carry juice and tea over to the table, setting them down in front of August. She adds a few more sets of silverware for August and Sevin, nodding to an empty table before she shoots a distracted smile at the latter. That done, she starts to carry out plates, taking two trips to get them to the table, the one without the beef placed in front of Sevin. "It's likely to be occupied for a while, but I'm sure August will invite you over one evening so you can be nosy. The suite is one of my most favorite places in this house." She gets her own plate and wine for Sevin, carrying them over to set them both on the table. "Everyone dig in. Don't let it get cold." She says before she settles into her own chair.
*
"There's nothing better then a properly made chocolate croissant, except maybe a properly made chocolate croissant on the banks of the Seine," August murmurs, offering a smile to Esme as she says it. She glances up as Sevin enters, and, yes, that smile is his for a moment too. And then her gaze returns to Esme at the mention of a tattoo. "I spent a lot of time doing harvest imagery in Brooklyn, some curiosities and specimen tattoos too." A look to Sam, then back to Esme. "Anything you come up with, I'm happy to collaborate on."
"I do have the prime suite. It's lovely over there, and hopefully soon to have a fireplace. Sometime, let me know, I can let you have a look at the shelves, though I did a little rearranging." Aug says to Sam, regarding the Garage Suite's little library. Which is now organized by book size and possibly color. It's a thing that happened.
"Thank you," is murmured softly to Kate as chai makes an appearance. She takes the mug in both hands to warm them. Though a moment later she reaches over for the juice and sips. She sips slowly, closing her eyes for a moment.
After perhaps a moment, she says, "For the low low price of hot cocoa as admission, or Totally Baked cupcakes, you too can see the bookshelves." Finally, she puts down both drinks, and reaches for a set of silverware. She cuts a very small bite, breathes in deep, then puts it into her mouth, past a set of lips stained matte-black with lipstick.
*
Sevin clearly wasn't expecting to be fed tonight, and it might have something to do with the narrowed eyed look he gains from their hostess. Not that it deters him in the slightest from ambling in closer, his coat shed with a shrug of broad shoulders. Pale, pale green eyes remain fixed on the brunette for some moments before shifting to the other occupants in turn. No eye contact to be had, but he'll murmur a proper greeting as he slides into a seat at the counter. "It has been a while, hasn't it, Ms. Ryerson," he notes toward Esme, favouring her with a brief smile. And, "Kate, you really didn't have to." Make him something special, he probably means, without meat. "I didn't come here to take advantage of your cooking skills and good will."
*
"Perfect, I look forward to it then. I'll get your number before I leave tonight and let you know for certain." Esme nodded, moving with her glass of wine over to the table as Katherine set everything. "It all looks great. And I'm sure it'll taste even better." Esme grinned to the woman as she settled. She took another sip of wine, a curious little look between Sevin and Kate, but she didn't ask. "How are you liking Calaveras, Doctor?" Looking to Sevin again before taking a bite of the potatos.
*
"I'm entirely comfortable with providing bribes to see books. I think that's a more than fair exchange." Sam replies to August, his lips curved in an easy smile before the arrival of the dinner distracts him for a little while. Enough is going on that it hardly seems rude to give the dinner his full attention for a time. He tries each of the items on the plate, nodding to himself as he does so, then has a bit more of each. He looks over toward Kate, thinking that she likely gets tired of the constant praise, but - "It's all really good, Kate."
Sam looks to August again when he takes a moment to have a sip of wine. "I know drawing. But, I don't know a thing about drawing something that will become a tattoo. I'll bow to any input you have on the subject."
*
"Not feeding you while everyone else has food would be unaccountably rude. I am many things, rude isn't one of them." Kate remarks to Sevin, cutting into her own beef wellington taking a forkful to taste it. She looks thoughtful for a few moments before she adds. "I'm curious about what you came here for then." She picks up her wine and takes a drink, setting it aside so she can pay attention to her food once it's warm. She is lifting a bite of beef wellington to her mouth when Sam compliments her cooking and she inclines her head in his direction. "Thanks. Glad you're enjoying it." She sighs afterwards, pouting across the table at August. "Will you share the bribe with me, if it's cupcakes?"
*
Auggie nods to Esme, and reaches into her back pocket to take out a little card holder, etched copper with a little silver death's head moth on the latched top. She pulls out a black business card, high gloss fingernails ticking through to find it amid a few others recently added. She slips it out and offers one to Esme, one to Sam, placing the card by their plates rather than interrupting their eating to hand it directly over. Each is a matte black card embossed with a silver dagger on the front. The back has her name, number, and an insta handle. The stock is thick and well-made, letterpressed certainly.
"Don't worry, Sam. I'll make you look like an old pro." August grins a bit, then cuts her food into very small pieces before she makes a go at another bite. And, yes, she goes glance between Sevin and Kate, though the look is brief, and then her juice has her concentration. Sip. "Yes ma'am. My cupcakes are your cupcakes." She smiles.
*
Sevin turns up the sleeves of his shirt, ostensibly so he doesn't end up decorating them with gravy. One and then the other, up to the elbow; unhurried precision in the movement of his fingers. There's ink visible at his left forearm, and likely more covered by the shirt's sleeve. Lettering of some kind, most likely arabic given the flow and use of abjads. "I'm sure you are," he murmurs to Kate, brandishing his fork and digging in. A brief flick of his eyes between August and Sam, and then Esme gains his attention for a moment. "It's quieter than New York," is his assessment of Calaveras. "But it's charming. I'm liking it well enough. I don't suppose you've had any luck with that book?" His gaze finds her for a beat.
*
Esme took a bite of beef, chewing thoughtfully before flashing a smile. "Yes, it's delicious Kate." She nodded and used her free hand to slide August's card a little closer. "Lovely design, dear." She said sincerely as she looked over the card and then slipped it into her pocket before taking another bite of food. A soft chuckle at August's words to Sam, though she was pulled back by Sevin's words. "I've had a couple leads, but I'm waiting to hear back from one or two people first." Offering up another smile and a nod. "I still have your information though, so I'll let you know as soon as I hear."
*
"That's about my speed, August. A bit like my editor. I honestly think she deserves more credit than I do for the end product that everyone reads." Sam comments briefly, but then returns his attention to his dinner while he listens quietly to the other conversations that are happening around the table. His eyes drift from person to person, eventually settling on Kate to give her some assurance - "I'll bring extra cupcakes. It's the least I can offer."
*
Kate leans in to whisper something to Esme before she gives her plate her attention again. For a few minutes there is just a scrape of silverware against china as people around her eat. She realizes that she forgot to bring the wine to the table so she gets to her feet. "You don't have to do that, I routinely raid the cupcakery — and make desserts here, so there really isn't any shortage. I really love sweets. It's a vice." She picks up two bottles of red, carries them to the table, setting them down in the middle after she pours herself some more. "Though, if you insist, I won't fight. Just make sure a few of those cupcakes are lemon. I'm apparently a lemon fiend."
You whisper, "Girl, we need to gossip later. For real." to Esme.
*
There's a chuckle from the tattooer. "Humble writer, huh? Very rare breed." August sounds like she approves. Or she approves of the glut of hot food on her plate right now. She concentrates on the asparagus, small bite by small bite. She pauses after a few, puts down the silver, and reaches for the juice.
"If Kate doesn't eat them," Aug says, regarding the cupcakes, "I will. Cupcakes never go to waste here." And to Esme she says, "Thank you. I had them done by a printmaker in Jacksonville. Very sweet girl, mad skills with moveable type." She gestures slightly with her juice, then goes back to sipping it occasionally. "The lemon ones are pretty good, but I haven't had one there I didn't like."
*
Esme just nods to whatever Kate whispered to her, looking a touch amused. When Kate brings the wine back, she lifts one of the bottles and offers to refil any of the others who may need it before she refills her own glass. "Man, if I didn't know any better I'd think we were the same person Kate." Esme grinned, chuckling softly. "Sam's books are pretty good too, I've read a couple. Don't let him sell himself short." She gave Sam a teasing little nudge before taking a couple more bites of food.
*
"There's no rush," Sevin replies to the librarian, spearing a hunk of flaky pastry and drenching it in gravy before it completes the trip to his mouth. He chews, swallows, and studiously avoids making eye contact with Kate when she hops back to her feet to fetch the wine. Maybe it's just her usual freneticism, but he seems to know well enough not to goad her any further tonight after that little tease that was summarily ignored. "Found a place to stay yet?" he enquires of Sam. Token effort to engage in conversation, or maybe he's genuinely curious.
*
"Credit where it is due, at least." Sam replies after a bite of the beef. When August is done with the container of juice he pulls it closer and pours some into his own glass. His wine was finished. Kate's mention of lemon cupcakes gains a grin from the author - "I've noticed. With you and lemon. Make sure you stop for gelato when you're in Paris. Specifically lemon gelato. It's not Italy, but close enough that it's pretty damn good."
Sam dips his head at Esme's compliment and nudge, then nods in agreement. "Thanks, Esme. I'm proud of all my work and I do think it's good. I wasn't meaning to sell it short. But, honestly, I should show you some early drafts versus working with Lisa on edits for a few weeks. The difference is astounding."
"No, Sevin. I thought I had a lead on a place, but it was just very big. I don't take up much space. But now we're deep enough in the month that getting something for January is going to be a pain. I'm thinking about renting a room here for a spell and getting the full time living situation figured out without a rush."
*
Kate gazes at August, trying to look innocent. "My alias is cupcake monster, don't tell anyone." She sits back, pleasantly sated for the moment, sipping at her wine. "You know, Esme — we might be. You're blonde, but we can fix that." She winks at the other woman, before she adds. "Nothing against blondes, but I firmly believe that the old adage that blondes have more fun is false. We all make our own fun, or try to." She considers the advice about gelato, patting her stomach before she grins at Sam. "I'll try it. In fact, I'll drag Esme out for some so she can try it with me." She finishes her glass of wine, setting the flute down. "I made tiramisu, if anyone has room."
*
August finishes about a third of her plate and juice, then sets about showing her chai who's boss. She glances up, pale-grey gaze making the slow rounds of the others. Her mug of fragrant, spicy tea cradled between pale hands inked in black and grey. Her claw-tipped nails are glossy black, one thumb tapping lightly against the rim as she adjusts her grip slightly. "This is a good place to find your bearings." Her lips twitch when Kate says 'cupcake monster,' and then she presses them together, clears her throat. "Is that so."
But then the laughter she was trying to suppress is directed toward dessert lust. "Yes, please." Look, August can say please. But rarely does it in situations not involving whipped mascarpone.
*
Sevin eats like a horse, for a man without a lot of extra bulk on him. The plate of food is polished off in record time, knife loosened from the napkin roll so he can dab at his mouth and beard. "Thanks, Kate," he offers the brunette at length, opting to bus his own plate with a clatter of cutlery atop it as he pushes to his feet. "I think you'll find Ms. Stone's hospitality to be well worth it," he tells Sam with a smile that doesn't linger, but seems genuine enough. Off to the sink to wash his dishes, no comment on cupcakes or tiramisu.
*
Katherine leaves the plates and cutlery on the table for now, getting up to open the fridge. She pulls out a small tray with cocktail glasses filled with tiramisu. She brings the tray to the table and sets them down. She made eight, just in case. Always prepared. "You can see the room once you've had dessert, Sam. See if it will suit you, you have two choices so I won't just stick you in a pink room." She shrugs and picks up one of the glasses, settling back into her seat. "I try to make it a good place to stay, I like the company." She lets her gaze drift toward Sevin, a thoughtful look on her face. "You're welcome. If I had known you were coming, I'd have planned better with the menu."
*
"Of course not, but I hate when things are delayed." Esme offered to Sevin in regards to the book. She fell silent for a moment, focusing on eating some more of her food. A little grin towards Sam. "You should. I'd like to see them sometime. It's always kind of neat looking at older works and comparing them to newer ones." She finished off her food not too long after Kate brought out the tiramisu. She would finish off her wine before reaching for a cup herself.
*
"I have little doubt about that." Sam agrees to Sevin's words before the other man moves away to the sink. Despite clearing the quite full plate, he does indeed reach out to take one of the glasses that Kate delivers to the table. "Tiramisu is among my favourite desserts. Behind creme brulee, but somewhere in the top five." He takes up his spoon, smiling around his first bite at the mention of the rooms. "I'm happy anywhere. Pink would be fine. Though, I might lean a bit toward not-pink if all else is equal."
*
August reaches for a cup of tiramisu, hand cupping the bowl of the cocktail glass. She fishes for a spoon, scooping up a bite of one of her favorite desserts. She gestures with the spoon, "Kate." She shakes her head. "So good." She takes another bite, then goes quiet again. Aug tips back in her chair like a dragon with all the best gold in hand.
*
"If you'd known I was coming, I'm not convinced I'd have made it inside in one piece," Sevin murmurs drolly, and finishes rinsing and drying off his dishes before setting them aside. Turning slightly, he tells Esme over his shoulder, "Just let me know if you manage to get hold of a copy." Seems awfully important to him, whatever it is. Probably some sort of nerdthology. His coat is retrieved, and he pauses a moment as if on the fence about something. Then tugs it on. "I'll get out of your hair," he tells Kate, easing away from the counter. The tiramisu is eyed, but not partaken in.
*
Kate watches August eating the tiramisu, and she wordlessly pushes another glass in her direction. Then she gets down to some serious eating, scooping from the glass gingerly as she tries to get every bit from it. "Better than the trifle?" She asks, raising both eyebrows at August. She blinks and then remembers herself. "Esme, I'll be coming down to the library at some point soon. I have some books to check out. Can you take library books overseas?" She frowns, trying to figure out if it's illegal and then she glances toward Sam "I love creme brulee." Something about that makes her glance at Sevin. "What, expect me to trap the driveway or something?" She holds up a finger and shakes her head. "I'd really appreciate it if you stayed, I need to talk to you. In ..a few moments."
*
Esme smiled at August's reaction and then took a bite of her own, sighing contently. Gods it was really good. Another curious look between the doctor and Kate but she just answered Kate's question bout the books. "Normally I'd advise against it because of the risk of things getting lost butttt since you're going with me, I'd think it's okay. I won't let you lose them." She laughed. "And yes I'll let you know Sevin."
Looking at August a moment. "I think I want the tattoo in black and grey, since my other piece is. But is there any subject matter you're not comfortable tattooing?"
*
August spoons up a bite of tiramisu and looks up again, this time looking at Sevin for a moment before her attention flicks to Kate. Those silver eyes are turned back to Sevin as he rises and retrieves his coat. She licks the spoon, then goes back in to finish that little cup. She mms and nods at Kate's question. "Yes, but ask me again when I have trifle in hand." There's a little smile there and then she reaches for a second serving, retreating back to her seat with it.
"Black and grey realism is one of my favorite styles," August says to Esme. It's pretty obvious given all of her ink is black and grey. "The only thing I've ever refused to tattoo is a swastika. And also some dude's hot dog." She doesn't mean hot dog, but they're at the table, so she says hot dog. "Mmm." Good tiramisu. She makes it almost halfway through her second one before she starts slowing down.
*
Sevin doesn't have much in common with creme brulee, truth be told, save perhaps a hard outer shell. He does however pause in his retreat from the kitchen when Kate gives him the combo of finger and headshake, and raises a brow at her request. Then finishes tugging on his coat and turning down the collar. No smile for her booby trapping the driveway comment. "All right," he concedes eventually. A stool at the counter is half settled against, and his phone comes out while he waits. Bit of a grin at something; could be a text message he just received, but it's more likely August's mention of hot dogs. Because apparently he's twelve.
*
"So I'll make trifle this weekend because..I'm buying some strawberries." Kate finishes her tiramisu, reaching out to snag a piece of cheese to chase it with. "Don't let me lose my books or my underwear. Anything else is pretty negotiable." She mutters toward Esme, her eyebrows raised slightly at the talk of tattoo's. "I cant wait to see what you get, I'm holding back from getting anymore, because every time I mention getting a tattoo, Heather has a mini-stroke, and I'm starting to love her again. It would suck if she died." She settles her gaze on Sevin and looks thoughtful for a few moments. "I may have to excuse myself for a bit ladies.."
*
Esme shook her head. "Why do people…never mind, I don't want to know." She mused. "But good, no swasikas or hot dogs planned for me anyway." A wry smile crossing her lips. "Just something to do with the occult. Maybe my antique ouija board…or something. I'll figure it out." She chuckled, taking another bite of the sweet treat. Esme winked to Kate. "I won't let you lose anything I wouldn't lose myself." Maybe looking a touch mischievous, but it passes. "You'll be one of the first to see it then." Nodding at Kate needing to excuse herself. "Of course, dear."
*
August snorts a little laugh at losing underwear and books, but she doesn't say what she's thinking. August is twelve, too, so it should be pretty obvious, at least her train of thought. Then she really hears what Kate says before that, and she smiles. You can bet she'll be here for trifle tasting this weekend. Her pale eyes turn to Esme, and her brows go up. She swallows before she comments, "You should see my apartment in Florida. It looks like a museum of occult items, specimens, mounted insects, and skulls. I have a human tooth collection." So there's a good chance she won't have a problem tattooing a ouija board. "I have a few vintage ouijas myself. And an antique planchette collection."
August looks up and over to Kate. She nods. "Thank you for dinner, sweetheart." She glances at Sevin, then back, and flicks her eyebrows up a tick, then back down.
*
Sevin is a patient man. He's either got messages to reply to, or porn to surf on his phone. But he probably wouldn't surf porn in Kate's kitchen. Chances are, he would not. Either way, he doesn't seem to be in a rush.
*
Esme looked at August with an intense curiosity. "Really? That sounds amazing. You should see my house sometime." Esme flashed a grin. "It's also like a museum dedicated to the occult. You and I might have more in common than I thought." She mused, relaxing back in her chair. "I don't have a human tooth collection, but I'd love to see yours sometime."
*
Kate pushes to her feet, giving the dishes on the table a mournful look before she steps around the table. They'll wait. She pulls her phone from her pocket, fires off a text and then gestures toward the great room. "After you." She murmurs at Sevin, brushing her hair behind her ears with her free hand.
*
August won't say penis at the table, but she will say human tooth collection. Go figure. "I'd love to, Esme. And if I have my things shipped in, I'm happy to invite you over to see it. Though I think I'll wait until after I move out of the Garage Suite. I'm not sure how Kate would feel about all that here. Also, there's not a lot of room." She pauses her phone vibrates, then reaches into her back pocket to check it. She opens her screen and hits a few keys, then closes it again. "I need to find a good supplier for copper bowls. I left everything in Florida when I came here, not expecting to stay." She goes glance over at the couple leaves the room.
*
Sevin finishes up whatever he was fiddling with on his phone, and slips it back into his coat pocket. His fingertips rifle briefly through his beard as he moves to his feet, and August is sent a lingering glance for one reason or another that's likely not immediately apparent. Then he's off with a steady report of boot heels, inscrutable mien and all.
*
Sevin leaves, heading towards the Great Room - Stone B and B [O].
You head towards Great Room - Stone B and B.
*
Kate walks in from the kitchen, her eyes on her phone for a moment before she slides it into her back pocket. "Wasn't sure when I was going to see you again." She says, walking to the couch where she plops down, pulling her feet up. "Were you going to drop by and just go without talking to me?"
*
Sevin elects not to sit, for the time being at least. Hands stuffed into his coat pockets, he gazes quietly at Kate for a while before answering, "I didn't realise you had company." His gaze goes to the fire, and remains there. "And I think I was intruding, so I apologise for that."
*
"You know, people walk in and out of here every day to be fed, and I don't toss them out or tell them they're intruding." Kate points out, watching him gaze at the fire instead of her. "So, want to talk about the other night or are we going to pretend that the argument and afterwards never happened?" She makes a move to rise, probably to poke at the fire.
*
"I didn't walk in to be fed, Kate," murmurs the man quietly, and after a moment, does elect to sit at the neighbouring couch. Eyes still on the fireplace. Hands still dug into his coat pockets. "What would you like to talk about?"
*
"What did you walk in for?" Katherine asks, picking up the poker to nudge the logs a bit and add another one. She turns, watching Sevin as he sits. "I told you what I wanted to talk about. This isn't one of those things that we get to ignore and I let it go either." She doesn't sit down on the couch, she elects to curl up in one of the chairs instead.
*
Sevin watches her poke the fire, then tracks her retreat to a chair, and the way her slender frame folds into it. There's always something vaguely predatory about the way he watches her. Intent and vigilant. "To see you," he offers after a time, and rifles fingers through his hair absently. "And I'm not entirely sure what you want me to say. Are you all right?" Pale eyes meet dark, his expression touched with concern.
*
Kate turns, settling her legs over the arm of the chair, her hands folding in her lap. "I'm not fragile Sevin. Far from it, but from what I remember about the argument we had in the truck, and it isn't a whole heck of a lot, there are some things that we probably should figure out. I guess?" She frowns and then she adds. "I want you to say what's going on in your head, that would be nice."
*
"I'm not sure. What you think we should figure out." He's watching the fire again, and the jumping, flickering light burnishes his angular profile in warmth. "I have misgivings.." He doesn't seem to know how to finish that. Or any other thought, really. "Would you like me to go?" His voice is a little rough there.
*
Kate takes a deep breath, closing her eyes as she likely counts to ten in her head. "What are your misgivings?" She asks, watching him not make eye contact with her. That was expected, at least. "If I wanted you to go, I wouldn't have asked you to stay and talk to me. Now just..spit it out." She gets to her feet, moving over to settle on the ottoman in an attempt to force him to make eye contact with her.
*
"My presence in your-" Bzzzt goes his phone. He takes a breath, but ignores it. "My presence in your life puts you in danger, Kate." He does, reluctantly, meet her gaze. And hold it. "I'm worried. That it's too late to mitigate that. I am worried I won't be able to keep you safe. You've had enough troublesome men to last a lifetime, I think." There's a rawness in his voice and in those pale, guileless eyes. A tightness to his throat.
*
"What I'm hearing is that you being in my life puts me in danger. You think that the danger might already be here, but you want to pull back and shut me out?" Katherine blinks slowly, and she gazes away from him first, her eyes on a vase on a side table. "I see." She gets to her feet, and paces, not in any fixed direction just moving aimlessly about the room. "Am I half right there, or…" She trails off, moving back into his field of view.
*
"I don't know what I want," murmurs the man in a low voice, breaking his gaze away after Kate's moved to her feet. Studying the back of his hand absently as she paces. "But you're partly right. Yes." His eyes flick back up as her shadow falls in front of him, lips twitching a faint smile in spite of himself. "You're incredible. Do you know that?"
*
"That's the only thing that's been obvious through this whole conversation." Katherine says in regards to Sevin not knowing what he wants. She folds her arms over her chest as she stares at him, his smile not thawing the tension coiled in her shoulders. She lets out a slow breath, a frown still on her face. "I'm not, if I were, we wouldn't be having a conversation where you're trying to walk away from me." She runs her bottom lip over her teeth, eyes narrowing. "What kind of danger are you in?"
*
A breath is blown out his nose, uneasy. She has a way of shaking him up, this slender little thing who cooks and cleans her emotions. She has a way of rattling him like almost nobody else. "I'm not at liberty to say," is his quiet, and almost mechanical response. Like something that's been trained into him, repeated and repeated until it's rote.
*
"Okay then." Katherine settles back into her chair, pulling her feet up so she has to gaze over her knees to make eye contact with Sevin. Not that she's doing that, her eyes are on the windows, watching the snow fall. "What has changed?" She asks, and her eyes flick to him briefly before going back to the window. "I would assume that you've been in this danger now for some time, it surely can't have happened in the last two days."
*
"Nothing's changed," replies Sevin with a slight shake of his head. He watches the fire for a moment, then Kate while she gazes out the window at the snow falling. "I.. didn't expect this to last as long as it has." The admission is muffled a little by his hands scrubbing at his face wearily. "I am sorry. For what I've done."
*
"Ah. I was a temporary bed warmer." Kate murmurs, blinking quickly so that her glassy eyes don't turn into tears. She keeps her gaze locked on the window. "You're sorry that you're saying this, or for getting involved with me?" She steadily avoids looking at Sevin.
*
"Will you fucking stop that?" he snaps, a bolt of tension going through his broad shoulders, eyes suddenly bright with a flare of emotion that's gone almost as quickly as it showed itself. "I like you. All right?" There's a hiss of irritation as he pushes to his feet, and then completely without warning, snatches up that delicate little vase of rosebuds that happens to be within reach, and hurls it against the wall. It smashes and splinters into a thousand pieces, dripping wet and disembodied rose petals as he storms off for the door.
*
Kate shifts her gaze to Sevin when he snaps, but her expression stays blank, shifting to curious as he confesses his feelings. She opens her mouth to respond, but then he hurls the vase, which makes her jump and then she's just staring at the wall where it hit, her mouth open slightly. She registers him heading toward the door, but she doesn't turn her head, nor does she speak up. She is still until the door closes.
Kate gets to her feet, moving over to the shattered pieces of glass on the floor. She picks up the larger pieces, ignoring when a sliver of glass slices a shallow cut into her first finger. She gets a broom to sweep up the rest before she retreats to the kitchen to clean. Thankfully there is a lot to take care of there, giving her plenty of time to think.
<TXT> To Sevin - You sure do have a funny way of showing it. That was my mother's vase.