15 Mar 2021, 02:03
Dinner for who?
Backdated to the evening of March 13th, 2021, after the events of "Poison Ivy is a Pain" which occurred on the morning of January 10th, 2021 and during which the head nurse, @Kelsey Brumby, assisted Kit with poison ivy rashes and blisters. This poison ivy poisoning resulted from "The Quaking Cleanse" on January 9th.
On Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021, Kit sent an owl inviting Kels to dinner in his caretaker's office Saturday evening, March 13th, 2021. This roleplay is the event of said dinner.
Hey there, Kels!
If you weren't too busy this March 13th, Saturday, and you think you might be interested, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner in my office? I'm arranging to have a decent variety of foods so I'm hoping at least a few might be to your liking, but a lot are of Asian cuisine just so you have an idea. I thought we could have a nice chat over a hot meal and get to know each other a little better. If you can't or don't want to make it, though, no worries! Hope to see you there, though~
- Kit Paine
The table was set and candles were lit. Kit couldn't help wondering about the candles for the hundredth time, but also for the hundredth time, he told himself it couldn't be helped. The only other practical alternative to eating by candlelight was wand light, but that would have probably just seemed ridiculous.
Candlelight, however, made the caretaker ponder whether Kels would take his dinner invitation to seem more romantic than originally intended. This was kind of ironic since Kit knew he tended to behave with his peers in many ways that might have made one question if he was flirting with them. He didn't really consider himself the romantic type, though, and he wasn't sure if Kels would have appreciated the notion.
Kit sincerely just wanted to have a nice meal with the man and get to know him a bit better. Hopefully, however, if any misunderstandings were made, they could be quickly made known and straightened out. The head nurse seemed like a jovial, reasonable fellow. Surely he wouldn't get offended enough to decide against allowing Kit to explain himself if worse came to worst.
With a soft sigh, the caretaker thanked the house elves for their help with the set-up of the food and looked over the spread once more. There were a couple of types of curries; yellow and panang like his dad used to enjoy. Next to those, a steaming pile of Chinese broccoli accompanied other vegetable treats, both cooked and raw, like spinach, lettuce wraps, spring rolls, and kale. A small mountain of dumplings such as shu mai towered over everything else.
There were also dishes his mother used to make like empanadas with slightly sweetened meats and the famous Filipino chicken adobo. A large bowl of rice and a plate of seasoned salmon with tomatoes and cilantro also took their places on the table alongside a side dish of purple sticky rice and diced mango for dessert. In case that wasn't enough, another bowl of some colorful, cut Asian fruits - lychee, jackfruit, and dragonfruit, along with the more traditional kinds from the UK - sat in the center of the table.
Everything looked alright, he thought. Just because he liked the food before him didn't necessarily mean his guest would, though. Surely, though, with so many different kinds of food, Kels was bound to like something there, right? And if he didn't, Kit could easily just go put in a request in the kitchens for something Kels would want to eat. It would be fine.
Provided Kels decided to come at all, of course. He was a busy man, Kit knew, and they had only met properly on one other occasion. What were the chances he would waste this perfectly good Saturday night to come have a dinner of strange foods with the caretaker in his dingy tower office?
No, no, no; he had to stop worrying. This wasn't like him. Not at all.
Maybe...maybe he just needed to work off his nerves. Let Tymiko out and about for a bit.
And if Kels came, then? Well...he might as well get to meet her sometime. Marcus already had, but Marcus was different; Marcus was a Head of House. If Kels came and didn't like her...
No. It didn't matter. If he didn't like her, it couldn't be helped and that would be that. For now, though, Kit had to change into Ty or his mind threatened to change his appearance for him in ways he wouldn't have otherwise been able to predict. Taking a deep breath, he hurried behind the folding screen in a corner of his office and quickly changed out of his day's clothes and his usual form into robes fit for a younger student and the body that went with it.
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
17 Mar 2021, 00:58
Dinner for who?
It had been a while since he first met Kit, though with how huge the castle and grounds were, it wasn't all that surprising that he pretty much never saw the rest of the staff unless there was a meeting, or one of them got hurt. Sometimes he bumped into his colleagues in the Great Hall or around in the halls, but he was still a fresh face. Four months wasn't a long time to have a job. Kit was one person he never ran into. He'd certainly notice if he was in the room, he was pretty tall and distinctive. Kels wasn't much of a subtle presence either, but for very different reasons.
He wasn't expecting to be invited to some kind of dinner, especially with all that warning. Who needed ten days to prepare for a dinner, why didn't he just snatch him up after his shift was over? Well, he wasn't about to give it much thought. Free food! By the sounds of it, Kit just wanted to set aside some time to hang out. They did seem to hit it off when they first met, so really Kels was all for it. As he recalled, Kit was very easy to talk to, lots of laughs in a short amount of time. More talking with him sounded great, it would probably be a good time!
Finding the place was not hard-- Kels had visited the office many-a-time. Even though modern Hogwarts staff had found fit to hire him, the caretaker from his time as a student would likely have had a few things to say about it. Maybe even a detailed list of things to say. Good memories. Still, it really was far away from everything else. He sometimes felt it was outrageous that the hospital wing was on the third floor, but he'd be really lonely stuffed away in a faraway tower. It was no wonder he never saw him.
Kels came dressed in exactly whatever he had been wearing under his robe, as he threw on one of his muggle jackets instead. Couldn't run or jump in robes, which was a problem. Might be able to use robes as an improvised parachute, though, so there were pros and cons. He could tell he was the only person around, as the tower was crazy empty in the evening. Without it being the weekday, there might not have been anyone in the tower all day. Kels could feel his being there waking up the area, like it had been dormant without vibrant life around to prop it up.
Getting to the door, there were some office hours on them, but nothing saying he had to knock, so in he went. Even though he could already start to smell it before, opening the door unleashed the smell of a big, hot kitchen, and he'd quickly see the set-up. "Holy crap!" He'd yell out right away, his jaw dropped. It was enough food for a flippin' feast, what did he think Kels' stomach looked like? Well, he probably wasn't meant to eat it all... that would be insanity... or was it a challenge?!
The host, however, was nowhere to be seen. Kels sat in the chair closest to the door, investigating the buffet. He wasn't exactly a cultured person, so he was totally clueless about what anything on the table was. His idea of Asian cuisine was Chinese take-out, and the occasional Korean barbeque. All the stuff in front of him looked totally different than that and it smelled really awesome. Why wasn't Kit around if the food was all ready to go? Perhaps he wasn't loud enough.
"Zassy, where are you hidin'?" He called, basically shouting. "Come out with your hands up!"
@Kit Paine
17 Mar 2021, 02:46
Dinner for who?
A small, quiet gasp followed Kels' exclamation and large, blue eyes peered around the edge of the folding screen to witness the newcomer. Tymiko breathed out in silent relief when she discovered Kelsey wasn't hurt or anything; simply responding to the display of food.
A tiny smile slightly curved her lips at the thought. She was about to step out from behind the folding screen, but eventually opted to watch her guest a little longer before making herself known.
The head nurse seemed to make himself quickly and easily at home, attired in typical casual muggle clothing as he sat himself down at the table. She giggled when he called out to 'Zassy' to 'come out with his hands up' and instinctively whisked back behind the folding screen like a shy child.
Then, taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and slowly walked out with her palms spread out and open toward Kels; one hand adjacent to either side of her face.
"Hi, Kels!" the girl greeted brightly, her gaze positively dancing with glee. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
Abandoning her position of 'hands up', she broke into a running tackle of a hug toward the man in the chair.
Ty, what are you doing?! You're coming on too strong!
It's fine, she told herself inwardly, though her thoughts were laced with doubt. He said he liked hugs...remember?
Yeah...and remember when he leaned away when I leaned too close?
That was you. This is me! she insisted.
We're the same person! Kit retaliated with irritation as he tried to reason with his own illogical emotions. Anyway, he doesn't even know you!
Exactly, Ty answered with more confidence. It'll be fine. I'm just a kid. You're the creep.
She was satisfied when her inner voice seemed to have nothing to say in response to that.
@Kelsey Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
19 Mar 2021, 14:28
Dinner for who?
Of all the things to hear back, he wasn't expecting a quiet giggle. Shortly after, a little girl came out of nowhere and answered him, saying his name and that she was glad he was there. Before he had to wonder where she knew him from, she was making for him like an American footballer, so naturally he moved to brace himself and catch her in a big hug. No matter why she knew him, she wanted a hug so he would give her one! That was his first policy as head nurse: free hugs all the time, and he thought it was going pretty well so far. Kids needed hugs, needed to be reassured they were loved and cared for. Why even think up an justification-- hugs are just great!
"Oh nooo!" Kels screeched in playful dramatics, hugging her back as tightly as she would hug him, "They sent their best warriors first!"
After the hug had run its course, Kels set the excitable child down, looking around the room as if expecting Kit to have come out while he was distracted. When he saw no one, the mystery only continued. Looking back at the little girl though, she had a lot in common with him, they could have been related. Was it possible this was the brother Kit was taking about? He didn't mention it being a dinner for more than just him, but it would explain the massive amount of food.
Setting his hands on his knees and twisting his face quizzically, he spoke again. "Who are you?" Kels would ask, booping her nose with his finger.
@Kit Paine
20 Mar 2021, 06:21
Dinner for who?
The girl laughed delightedly at Kelsey's cry, hugging as tight as she could and so happy to find she was hugged just as tightly back. That, in her opinion, was the way hugs were supposed to be given; whole-heartedly and without reservation. Yes, she was liking this man more and more by the minute. It gave her the courage to confess what she knew she would have to sooner or later when he eventually asked her who she was.
Shifting uncomfortably like any child being asked a question they didn't really want to answer, Tymiko cast him a shy, sheepish smile once she had been set down again and he booped her on the nose. "Um...I'm...actually Kit," she said slowly, forcing herself to meet his blue eyes with her own. "Well...sorta. He - I? - turn into me to vent his - my - feelings when he gets too, um...emotional." She tapped her chin with her forefinger, trying to think of how best to explain. Then she took a deep breath, as if trying to ready Kelsey by taking the breath for him before the plunge. "I'm a metamorphmagus, so, uh...I can change my outward appearance. This is the form I take when I get emotional. I compartmentalize my emotions into this girl, Tymiko."
Then she suddenly looked worried, her expressions revealing her thoughts as clearly as pure water. "I can change back, though, if it's weird!" she said, putting her palms up before glancing toward the changing screen in the corner of the room. "I was going to, anyway. It's just...I got a little nervous while waiting for you." She looked away then, staring down at her shoes.
@Kelsey Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
24 Mar 2021, 18:10
Dinner for who?
There was a moment after the words were said that Kels' expression didn't change. It was ludicrous after all, even with magic, to take an admission like that at face value. There were things like polyjuice potion, but complex transformation like that was rarely ever done, let alone to spring a hug on someone. The kid must have been embarrassed, or pranking him. Surely there was a gag in there somewhere that he would get when he heard the punchline.
Then she continued, stuttering over her words and trying to explain. If it was a joke, she wasn't very good at telling them. Then, with the words 'metamorphmagus' his expression changed completely. Eyes widening as they went on, he smoothed back his hair, an unintentional attempt at helping his brain to process the information. Of course he knew what the word meant-- he had studied the phenomena extensively. Even so, it was a rare ability, and it was hard to get his hands on case studies. He knew emotions could encourage changes, but was it usual for someone to take an entirely different form to regulate their emotions? He had no idea. He was flabberghasted.
Speechless, it seemed Tymiko was quickly backpedaling, talking about changing back and being nervous. At that point, he had to say something before they started filling in their own interpretation of his shock.
"Uhhh..." He said loudly, looking at the ceiling pleadingly with his arms out as if it would help him find the words to explain all the stuff that was going through his head, "Okay. Right. Okay."
Moving his hands around aimlessly and grooving in place, he eventually arrived back on planet earth by clapping his hands together and looking at Tymiko, his expression still awestruck.
"That is insane! Are you for real right now?!" If it seemed like his energy was too much, he would simmer down slightly. "I want to see! I want to know everything! Why does it help you relax? Is she someone you know?"
Suddenly, Kels forgot how hungry he was as all of his entire world shifted into singular fascination. There was one detail that confused him though.
"Wait... I make you nervous?" His surprise finally abating, his features scrunched.
@Kit Paine
25 Mar 2021, 21:57
Dinner for who?
At first, Ty bit her lip, unsure how the nurse was taking in all the new information and revelations. The initial lack of change in Kels' expression unnerved her somewhat, but when the term 'metamorphmagus' clearly triggered some sort of recognition in the young man, she became even more anxious. Maybe he knew what metamorphmagi were, but that didn't necessarily mean he had a positive notion of them. What if he felt deceived? Betrayed? Repulsed?
She stared at Kelsey quizzically as he seemed to be struggling to find the words to speak, appearing to implore the ceiling for help to no avail. After a series of frantic movements that could have practically been interperted as some new sort of dance, Kels suddenly clapped his hands together and returned Ty's gaze with a flurry of exclamations and questions. It took a moment for the girl to register that he was pleasantly excited about the prospect of her being an metamorphmagus.
"Y-yes," she answered his first question with a tentative little smile. Then, beginning to match his growing energy with her own, said smile broadened into a grin. "You do?" she asked, more than happy to oblige his wish. "I'd love to show you! Um, but it doesn't help me 'relax', exactly..." Ty chuckled softly. "Why don't you start taking some food on your plate and I'll answer the rest of your qusetions in a minute? Don't want it to get cold before you get to try some!" She gestured encouragingly toward the softly steaming plates of food.
Just as she was preparing to tip-toe back toward the folding screen, Kels' last question caught her off-guard. Freezing, she glanced back over her shoulder to catch sight of his expression and winced.
"Not nervous in a bad way!" she was quick to amend, waving her arms. "Well, er...I mean..." Her mouth twisted as it was her turn to try and find the right words. "Just like...I dunno. When you're nervous that someone you like and want to be your friend might not like you or stop liking you or think you're weird because of something they found out about you or the food you eat or something. I dunno! Weird stuff," she floundered, retreating behind the folding screen in a flutter of her robes. "Like when you have a squish on someone," she continued, voice gradually becoming deeper. "I didn't even know if you were going to end up coming or you might have changed your mind."
Kit sighed when he stepped back out from the other side of the screen in a dress shirt and jeans, passing a hand over his face. When he looked back up, however, his typical smile was present, if a bit fatigued.
"In any case, thank you for coming," he said. "What kind of food do you typically like? Sweet? Savory? Salty?"
@Kelsey Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
1 Apr 2021, 15:26
Dinner for who?
When she confirmed they would love to show him-- regardless of whether she realized what they were agreeing to-- Kels shook his own clasped hands like he was celebrating a major victory and he was thanking his fans. She insisted he get some food though, which he turned around and looked at dumbfoundedly. Right, this was a dinner, and he made sure to come hungry. His stomach reacted with a groan of neglect, so Kels wearily readjusted himself in his seat and grabbed his plate in both hands like a little beggar boy, hesitant in that he had no idea what to choose first.
Before she disappeared, she answered his last question. He could kinda see the reasoning, it wasn't like he never feared that sort of thing himself, he just didn't see how someone could think that about him. He found himself pretty easy to get along with, and he was always fairly upfront about how he felt about things. Kit just didn't know him that well yet, and also clearly had some self-esteem problems. Not too surprising when he admitted before that his parents were very clear about their opinions about him. Kels resolved to be at least a little more easy on them, and not act so surprised every time they weren't a social butterfly. Understanding someone was part of being friends with them, after all.
No idea what a squish was though.
As they continued talking out of view, Kels was looking at each item in turn. Some of them he spooled onto his place, sniffing it and investigating the ingredients. It was funny to think that someone might dislike someone because of the food they eat... though people were crazy like that sometimes. As Kit's voice changed, Kels felt drawn back in to wanting to ask a ton of questions. He must have transformed everything to get a shape like that, even the larynx. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to swallow and digest things when everything inside him just wanted to pull out a scroll and start taking notes.
"Yeah, natch." Kels replied to Kit's thanking him for coming, looking out into the sea of food again with his second question, only a few empanadas on his plate. "Everything, really. I love food."
He tentatively took some more small portions of food, setting his plate up like a buffet. "Am I supposed'ta eat it in'a certain order? What is all this stuff?" He was making an act of being respectful, he wasn't sure if this food was related to Kit's own heritage or not, he only knew he was American so far. "Are you Asian?" (Being respectful wasn't exactly Kels' forte.)
@Kit Paine
3 Apr 2021, 03:34
Dinner for who?
The clasped hands of victory earned a peal of delighted, childish laughter before Ty had disappeared behind the screen. When Kit emerged, he was relieved and glad to see Kels already starting to take things onto his plate despite, perhaps, maybe not knowing what everything was.
"Oh, good. Because I'm sure there will be plenty of leftovers if you want to take some with you," the caretaker mused upon hearing Kels just loved food in general. The question about eating it in a certain order earned another laugh.
"Not particularly~ Unless you have a thing about ruining your appetite with sweets before the main meal or something. Though...a lot of the main meal is also sweet, so that would be kind of tricky," he informed his guest, grinning.
Kit grabbed his own plate and began piling things on. "I seem to have a taste for sweet and savory things, like meat pasteries, so the barbeque pork buns are favorites of mine. Oh, the chinese brocoli is good with that sauce, but I forgot to make the sauce for the dumplings!"
Setting down his plate again, he took some lemon slices and mixed it with a little soy sauce. "There we go. The dumplings are good on their own, but they can also seem a little bland, so the sauce gives it a new dimension of flavor. Something my mother showed my brother and I when we were kids."
He was just trying to figure out where to start in introducing all the names of the dishes and their main ingredients when Kels asked if he was Asian. His head snapped up, surprised, but so unoffended that he didn't even realize it could have even been a disrespectful question to ask.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Well, kinda," he added with a sheepish smile. "Parents are from Asian countries - dad from India and mom from the Phillipines - but they met in the United States. That's where they settled down to have me and my brother. But we've gone to their countries and been raised on a lot of their culture's aspects."
Inclinging his head as he picked up his plate again and put a few lychees on it, he asked, "What about you, cupcake? Lived in the UK all your life?"
@Kelsey Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
12 Apr 2021, 13:19
Dinner for who?
The idea getting to take home leftovers got another fist pump, this of course meaning he wouldn't have to cook anything for what looked like three days. Gotta love people who advocate mooching off them, though graciousness usually led to even more given back in turn. Sharing food was one of the nicest possible things to share, in his opinion. The English weren't particularly well known for having very refined palettes, and he was not breaking any molds there. Food still fascinated him to a similar degree though. Taste was a whole sense of the human body, it had all kinds of experiences to explore.
Even better if it was all sweet. Kit was being precious, fussing about all the little stuff. At least he was grabbing his own food too instead of just hovering like some people he knew. He even pointed out a few things in particular that sounded really tasty. He was starving, so he ate up one of the Chinese broccoli he pointed to, taking a second one to try with the dip. He chomped on it while he watched Kit continue with more demonstration. He had never seen someone mix lemon in soy sauce, but it seemed like it would probably be tasty. He grunted as he moved to try it for himself as well. Snatching a dumpling, he dunked and ate that as well before Kit had time to finish his description.
He nodded along, mouth full, as Kit described their lineage as well. He didn't know much about either of those countries, besides not being geographically belligerent. It was hard for him to imagine what that might have been like, having three cultures being a part of you at once. For him it was always very simple, as it seemed Kit had intuited.
"Yep, whole life in Wicken Fen, actually. Where my mum lived most'a her life too." After he had a mostly empty mouth again, he chipped in. He was already settled in like it was his own home. "I may be an Englishman, but I identify as'a swamp creature."
It was a joke, but it was delivered in deadpan. He didn't have the ability to deliver it more hilariously because he was concentrating on the taste of the food he just swallowed. That, and about a million other things sparking his interest, and the millions of questions attached to each of his curiosities.
"Hey, can ya transform yer taste buds? Yer olfactory bulb? Do'ya like diff'rent food with diff'rent mouths?" He wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it. He was hooked in now.
@Kit Paine