Dinner for who? PV Kelsy Brumby Re-opened

"I'm really glad you seem to have brought your appatite with you," the caretaker chuckled at how quickly Kels gobbled up a dumpling. "It's never much fun if I'm the only one stuffing my face." He popped a dumpling into his own mouth before reaching for a baked pork bun and leaning over to hold it to Kelsey's lips, daring him to take a bite with a sly grin. "Try this one. It's one of my top favorites."

Allowing the nurse time to decline or accept, he eventually seated himself at the table and listened. Kit considered how the other man's life must have been, born and raised in a place called 'Wicken Fen'. He thought he'd head of it before, but he couldn't recall exactly where. It definitely sounded like more of a countryside place than urban or even suburban, though. The comment about identifying as a swamp creature earned another laugh.

"Wow, really? I guess you're mostly comfortable in humid and warm climates then, huh?" Kit asked teasingly, pleased that the dinner already seemed to be going so well. It was as if Kelsey stopped by to have supper frequently which Kit hoped in the future he would. "Unless you identify as a swamp creature in ways other than preferred climate and habitat."

Leaning forward on the table, the caretaker studied Kels' face - the arches and dips of his nose and brows, the cut of his jaw and cheekbones - before answering the new questions directed to him without averting his gaze.

"Heh...unfortunately not," Kit confessed, reclining back in his chair once more. His eyes had still not left his peer's countenance. "Metamorphs can change the shape of their organs, but they can't change their function. For example, I could change into a woman, but I wouldn't be able to reproduce like one if that makes sense." Idle fingers reached for one of the lychees on his plate to deftly peel the scaley skin with practiced ease. "That's why if I change my voice, I have to work at mimicry to get the intonations and mannerisms just right. And if the pitch is out of my range, a little Volubilis Potion never hurts."

Once he was finished peeling, he held between his forefinger and thumb a translucent, white, glistening fruit that appeared to have the same juicy texture and consistency of a large, peeled grape.

"Ever had one of these before?" he asked. "They're Chinese. Well, most of the foods in front of you are Chinese in origin, which is kind of funny since neither of my parents are, but their country's cuisines are good, too." A sheepish smile curved his lips. "Just...not quite my favorite."

@Kelsey Brumby

One thing after the other, Kels was already starting to pig out. A few of the flavors surprised him, but others were somewhat close to what he was expecting. Kit held out what looked like a roll saying it was his favorite, which certainly peaked Kels' interest. Funny that he hovered it right by his mouth, he chomped down on it to take it as his own, before pulling the half that wasn't being consumed back out with one of his free hands. He wasn't actually expecting something to be inside the bun, so he did a double take as he looked at the bisection of the uneaten bun. It was tasty alright, he nodded as he examined the ingredients.

To his comment about being a swamp creature, Kit presumed it had something to do with the climate and habitat. The truth was, he wasn't sure what it was that made him what he was. He spent most of his life just doing what inspired him without really putting labels on it. The swamp creature thing was just a gag... though it was something his old muggle friends from Wicken and Cambridge used to say. He started to wonder, they called him that because he lived in the fens, but what did it mean? He didn't know anyone who grew up the same way he did, he felt a much closer kinship to a good deal of wetland species he became familiar with.

"I dunno... " Kels looked thoughtful, pausing his eating for a moment. "Sometimes I jes' don't feel human. Like I'm the last of my species."

If this topic wasn't talked about more, he would shrug and continue with the feast. The conversation would continue regardless, with his questions about metamorphmagus physiology being thoughtfully addressed. Kels listened intently to the explanation, still stuffing his mouth in-between moments when he was expected to reply. Kit certainly knew the fastest way to his heart-- nothing like a meal and intriguing conversation. "Wooahh." Would be his response, mouth half-full.

"Yop!" Kels would reply cheerfully, admiring the lychee. "My mum love lychees, said they got tons of healin' factors. If ya eat it before a meal is supposed'ta help with abdominal pain. Got them anti-inflammatory catechins innit. Good fer colds an' flu too, what with all the vitamin C."

That wasn't the point though, as it seemed Kit was pointing out how much more fond of Chinese cuisine he was when compared to Pilipino or Indian cuisine. Kels didn't see how that was an issue. "Oh man, yer gonna have to pay fer that. Yer culture's gonna hunt you down and turn you into cuisine." Kels already started chuckling under his breath, his big smile stretched across his whole face again.

When Kels paused during his meal, commenting that sometimes he just didn't feel human, Kit contemplated this for a minute or two. Then he smiled and waved a hand. "I think being human is overrated anyway," he chuckled, resting his chin on his palm. "You're probably better off being who you are; whoever - or whatever that may be." Then, considering something else, he added more soberly, "Is it...does it feel that way because you feel...lonely?"

Deciding to let Kels choose to answer or not answer, Kit went back to his own food, eating each morsel slowly as to savor the full flavor of each bite. There really was nothing like sharing a meal with a friend; especially one as fun, enthusiastic, and cheerful as Kelsey. It seemed to make the delicious dishes all the tastier no matter how used to the familiar foods he was. Truly, this was the best way to celebrate his birthday.

He almost choked on a piece of spring roll at Kels' half-full-mouthed response to his explanation regarding his metamorph transformations, amused and flattered the nurse could find his words so fascinating. Kit was also immensely pleased - more than he realized he would have been - to know that Kels not only knew of lychees, but had also had them before and spoke of his mother's love of them.

"Ha! From now on, that's my excuse for eating lychees before a meal even though they're sweet and often thought of as dessert," he declared, ecstatic to hear of how the fruits helped with abdominal pain. "Didn't realize they were good for colds and the flu, too. I'll definitely have to keep that in mind."

Kit made the mistake of going back to eating as he listened to Kels, for he really did choke on something once he was warned that his culture was going to hunt him down for his disloyalty. Fortunately, he turned his head away from the table when he began to cough; but even after half a glass of water, he was still caught between trying to breathe and spurts of strangled, involuntary laughter.

Eventually, once enough food and water had washed down the right pipes, he was able to speak again, albeit with something of a raspy voice. "I suppose I deserved that one," he confessed hoarsely with a guilty grin. "But I was told you know life-changing stories! Aren't you going to tell me some of those eventually?" His grin broadened as he glanced at Kels' plate. "Not that there's any rush, of course. I just want to make sure you haven't forgotten."

The caretaker beamed at his guest, tipping his head slightly as if to view him in a different light. "I also wondered if you might consider modeling for me sometime. As an art model."

@Kelsey Brumby

Kels listened thoughtfully, his smile small when it wasn't munching. It was funny to think that Kit found being human overrated, though it might have been a lighthearted joke. Metamorphmagus were human, though for the person with the ability, it wouldn't be hard to see why they might feel a bit inhuman, especially given the things he had heard about Kit's parents so far. Then again, how uncommon was it really to feel like one didn't belong? It sounded nicer when Kit put it they way he did-- better to be yourself than 'be human'. Kels got it. He wasn't ready for the continuance of it though, which had him reflexively sputter out some of his food in surprise.

"Whhhaaaaaat? Nooooooo waaaaay!" Kels lied, as unconvincing as any reply could possibly be. He wouldn't elaborate though, unless he was called out.

Next was Kit's turn to spit out his food, though for a moment Kels though he would need to bring out his wand to save him from choking to death. After a few somewhat tense seconds, it seemed like the trouble had passed without incident. Thank goodness, he got other people's regurgitated food on himself way too often and was not openly inviting any more. Kels' smile returned to its casual grin, glad that his joke didn't kill anyone.

"I didn't ferget." Kels nodded, now picking at the food more than gorging. Even though he wasn't adverse to talking with his mouth full, he wasn't about to be the next choking victim. "Maybe when I'm done eatin'."

Certainly not holding back on the surprising statements, Kit's next suggestion felt like it was out of left field, though it didn't require any more food debris. Kels' eyebrows just lifted, blinking a few times incredulously. It took a second to process, he had never really thought about people being models for art, really. In fact, he knew next to nothing about the world of art, beyond casual exposure to it. Where to even begin?

"Would I haf'ta... sit still fer a long time?" That was the foremost pressing concern. If it was going to be boring, he was going to say no.

The sputtering of food from Kels followed by what Kit took to be strongly sarcastic claims earned a knowing and incredulous smirk. "Oh, please. How can someone as charming and charsitmatic as you be lonely? You must get on with almost everyone." He tipped his head thoughtfully. "Unless it's not the kind of lonliness that just anyone can alleviate...?"

Kit smiled politely and nodded when Kels said he didn't forget about the stories and that maybe he would tell some when he was done eating. As long as he hadn't forgotten, the caretaker was content with that. However, the responsive look on the head nurse's face and his question that followed caused new laughter to bubble up from the caretaker.

"Not necessarily," he answered, amused, when he was able, thinking how the inquiry reminded him of something a child might worry about. "If you're moving about, I can just do gesture drawings. I have a muggle camera I can take pictures of you with, too, so they wouldn't move if I need to have a still image. Otherwise, I can just sketch you while you're working if you're okay with that, or while you tell me your stories."

Beaming still - for he seemed unable to stop - Kit peeled another lychee and tossed it Kels' way. "Catch," he called, aiming for the other man's face with his trajectory.

@Kelsey Brumby

Ah, he got caught. Even to someone who was happy in his own skin, not being able to fit in could be lonely. Kit seemed to imply it he should be swamped with friends, or that he might be wanting something more, but he was off. Kels shook his head, waving his hand like batting away a fly.

"Naw, don't act like yer daffy, I know most people can't stand me." Kels wiped his mouth with the back of his arm, cleaning off anything that might have been left behind. "I don't mind it, y'know, their loss, but... gettin' older, everyone jes' disappears. Everyone moved on, an' I'm still here, soz..."

He ended the sentence with a big shrug, the universal sign language for 'whatever'. It wasn't like he could keep all of his friends in the same place, they scattered all over the world. He could keep in contact, but they were never around. For as difficult as it was to find people who accepted him like he was, he often found himself alone eventually. It wasn't like he was going to let it eat at him, obviously he was not lonely right that second. He would never give up on making more friends.

He was relieved to hear Kit didn't expect him to hold a pose for an hour, as that was never going to happen. His questioning look was quickly gone, and he laughed under his breath a bit instead. He didn't really mind being drawn, but something felt weird about it, perhaps because he just didn't get why. The way he said it, with all the lengths he would go to do it, like taking a picture. He got that art peeps used reference, but why did he seem so eager?

"Wow, sounds like you'll bend over backwards for it. Do I get paid too? What else can I scam out of ya?" Kels laughed, gesturing to the mountain of food. "Actually, can you draw while bending over backwards? How about suspended from the ceiling, while spinning?"

When Kit threw him the lychee, Kels snatched it before it got his face, fumbling it once but keeping it aloft. His laughter petered out as he rolled it around in his hand a bit. Something just felt a bit off. "Y'know..." He was the last one that would want to kill the mood, but he also wasn't the kind of person that just let things go without saying anything. "It kinda seems like... you have a thing for me. At least, you like me a lot, right?"

He look back up from the white ball in his hand to see if Kit's face told him he was right, and would keep going. "I thought I should tell you I'm asexual, y'know, in case you were tryin' to jump my bones."

He felt better after he got that out of the way, finally. It was hard to slip it in naturally, but sometimes people felt straight up betrayed if they found out too late. As wack as that was. Kels popped the lychee in his mouth, chewing happily.

"'Most people can't stand you'?," Kit repeated, genuine shock temporarily banishing the smile off his face. "Whatever gave you that idea? As someone who people honestly can't stand, I really have no notion of what you think you're talking about."

He began to count off on his fingers. "I tend to stare at people - even random strangers - too long when I'm drawing them or thinking about drawing them, which gives them the creeps. I tend to invade what others call their private space without thinking because I love being physically close to them. I often meet and get to know others in shapes different from my real one which definitely puts them off...but what on Earth do you think you do to repel people?" He scratched his head and tried to smile again. "Make funny jokes? Tell interesting stories? Laugh and grin contagiously?"

Still, he listened, thinking about what it was Kelsey felt made those he was close to break off from him emotionally. It reminded him of a few songs like 'I'm Still Here' by Verifcall Horizon and 'Drift Away' from Steven Universe. It also made him think of a certain little child who hated people getting older, growing up, and changing in more ways than one. This was precisely the reason; because of how lonely it was to be left behind when everyone else changed but you did not.

Perhaps Kels meant something different or more than that. Maybe he referred to people moving away and losing touch rather than choosing to change the way they thought and grow up mentally in ways that meant they couldn't enjoy things they used to. However, Kit still couldn't help thinking he might have known something about what Kels felt. After all, he was lonely, too.

It wasn't enough to just befriend people. Anyone could easily befriend someone if you know what to say and do to get them to like you. What was harder was staying true to yourself and only saying and doing what you wanted to do and say, especially if you had been rejected so many times by others for behaving the way you wanted to. And that, as it so happened, reminded Kit of another song; one of his favorites.

"...And it gets lonely when you live out loud;
when the truth that you seek isn't in this crowd..." he sang softly under his breath, letting it fade as quickly as he had begun it. Then he looked back at Kels and beamed. The other man had begun to joke again, asking what else he could scam out of Kit.

"Probably whatever you want," he replied, his tone a mix of humor and matter-of-factness. "Hahaha...drawing while bending over backward and spinning while suspended from the ceiling?" the caretaker chuckled. "I haven't tried those yet, but I'd be up for giving them a go."

Laughing and applauding when Kels caught the fruit, his laughter died as the nurse's did and he leaned forward attentively when his peer began to speak again. Was something wrong?

Upon hearing what the dirty blonde started to say, Kit straightened up a bit in his chair. Yes, he liked to flirt a little openly and obviously...but was that bothering Kels? Perhaps like when he'd moved too close the first occasion they had met? Or, if not Kels, maybe the nurse already had someone in his life who wouldn't have appreciated Kels being flirted with in his stead.

Then Kels continued. Kit blinked, then grinned again, if uncertainly. "Is...is that all?" he asked somewhat hesitantly as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. That couldn't have been it. Could it? "I mean, granted, I'm definitely glad you told me because yeah, I tend to get ahead of myself and behave a bit...brazenly. Another thing people dislike me for," he added with a laugh, "But...is that it? I mean...are you also aromantic? Do you already have a partner I don't know about? Have I made you uncomfortable at any time in any way already?"

He looked away, still smiling, though the tight lines suggested it was strained. "Because I tend to make people uncomfortable more often than not without even realizing. I've tried to get better at it, but...you never know for sure what some people are okay with and some aren't unless they tell you, right?"

@Kelsey Brumby

Kels chuckled a bit at Kit's outright shock, not exactly the reaction he was expecting. According to him, he couldn't see it at all, which was fairly naive for how old the Caretaker was. Certainly he knew no one had to have any legitimate complaints to hate someone, or find them annoying. Sometimes it was just a matter of personal taste in people, or an easily disturbed disposition. It wasn't because Kels was failing in any way, or inherently obnoxious. Then again, maybe he didn't know. Kit came off as a bit sheltered, or if not that, a bit out of touch. "Maybe y'are daffy, then." He muttered quietly, bemused.

Then, Kit started counting things off on his fingers that sounds like an anti-dating profile. Staring at people, invading their private space, getting to know people in disguise... it was no wonder he described himself as shady before, or why something seemed off about how close he got, and how quickly. Kels had been called a creep a few times himself, but he imagined Kit's childhood had many more bumps along the road. At least Kels always had his mum, who supported him in everything, always lifting him up when he was unsure of himself. He hated to think of what his life would have been like if his birth parents had never given him up.

At the end of his little speech however, Kels laughed even more, this time out of embarrassment. He wasn't unused to compliments, but so many of them one after the other got to him in a different way. Usually if he said something like 'most people find me annoying', most people would be able to see it. It was kinda obvious, not to mention all of the experience he had trying to undo damage he accidentally caused by talking too loud or not reading the room right.

"Well..." he started, not entirely sure whether it was hypothetical or he was getting his leg pulled. It wouldn't be the first time he completely misunderstood something someone was trying to say. "Lots a'times I'm jes' totally not on the same page as people. Everyone's so serious, all the time. I'm not sayin' I think I'm unlikeable or somethin'. Jes' outta place. Like a clown at a funeral."

The idea brought a new bubble of laughter out of Kels, the image too good not to laugh at. He would love a clown at his funeral. Maybe he would hire a bunch of clowns and not actually invite anyone he knew. Even better, animal clowns. That would be a riot. The honest truth was he didn't give the fact that people didn't like him much thought, he would much rather think of an alligator with face paint and a rainbow wig.

He brightened when Kit sang a bit, though he only sang a very short verse. "What's that?"

His answer to what he would do to get to draw him was buried in the following conversation, in no little part because Kels had been joking around to make the point about how over-eager Kit was acting. Not that he hadn't just described that exact amount of early enthusiasm before, but that doing anything to get a drawing or picture of someone was more than what it was ostensibly worth. It made someone wonder what was so important about getting that drawing, and with magic being a thing, it could even have a nefarious bent.

For instance, a student mentioned that one of the previous nurses had used something to change his appearance, something to trick students into trusting him and then betraying that. It was instances like that which made it hard to trust someone out of hand. It wasn't just himself that he had to look out for, but all the students who trusted him. Kit didn't seem like a bad guy, but he would kick himself forever if he let his trust in someone hurt innocent little children.

He didn't really answer about why he wanted to draw him though, not too surprising since he didn't really ask. Instead he framed it like he thought he might be a little hot under the collar for the nurse, which didn't seem terribly far off from his answer. He said he was often too brazen, but didn't outright admit he had been flirting. Instead, he asked whether Kels was aromantic, if he had a partner, or if he had been made uncomfortable.

"Haha... I dunno, t'be honest." He said about being aromantic. He had certain had romantic feelings before, but he didn't feel empty without them. He really hadn't devoted much time to figuring it out, most people did not want a non-sexual relationship, statistically. Kels had only ever really dated one person, and when that ended, he had never tried to replace him. "I'm not with anybody, but I'm not even sure what bein' with somebody really means. So long as y'know now, I'm not uncomfortable. I was more uncomfortable thinkin' you'd get mad at me if I didn't end up bein' what y'wanted. Which has happened t'me before, so that's not yer fault."

He smiled broadly, trying to make up for what seemed like nervousness in his host. Kels was a lot less worried about making other people uncomfortable, but most people infantilized him rather than seeing him as a threat. "If y'want to be affectionate, that's fine, jes' as long as y'aren't on the pull. I don't mind get draw'd neither, it sounds like fun." It still begged the question though, "Why d'ya wanna draw me so bad?"

Kit stuck his tongue out playfully at being called daffy, but made no other response to the comment. He leaned forward on the table to pay better attention once Kels began trying to explain how he often didn't feel like he was on the same page as other people. Picking apart a small cluster of jackfruit petals with a fork, Kit nodded slowly. He definitely understood that sentiment.

"Oh, I see. Heh...yeah, I think I know that feeling all too well." He beamed more brilliantly at Kels' laughter, entertained that the head nurse could be so amused even by his own words. When he was asked about what he had been singing, however, his brows rose.

"'That'? Oh, just a couple of lines from a song I know. 'Rebel Beat' by the Goo Goo Dolls," he explained musingly. "What you were describing to me reminded me of it; that 'it gets lonely when you live out loud'. I always figured the phrase 'live out loud' referred to when you try to be yourself instead of pandering to the way people want you to live. I think that makes it all the more admirable an endeavor, though, rare as it is." He shrugged.

"It only makes sense most people would prefer to pander than be lonely. I just find it to be a real shame. It's harder to get to know peoples' true selves when they're so busy trying to hide it to fit in with the crowd." Kit made a whimsical gesture with his free hand as if conducting imaginary music. "Thus the next line of the lyrics going, 'when the truth that you seek isn't in this crowd'."

He speared one of the separated jackfruit petals and brought it to his mouth, chewing thoughtfully while contemplating Kels' next words. He nodded once more, then chuckled and shook his head when he was told that the nurse had been worried he would have gotten angry at him. The bit of info that someone had gotten angry at Kels before for that very reason sobered Kit a little, though.

"Nah...there are really only a handful of things that truly piss me off," the caretaker answered. "And that is definitely not one of them. I haven't had a whole lot of dating experience myself - just once - but I like to make sure my partner's happy. That's pretty much all it takes for me to be happy, I think. So long as they don't mind my own quirks, of course."

Pondering something, he tapped his fork tines to his lips. "Hmm...that's a good question - what being with somebody really means. I'm probably not the best person to speculate considering I've only really had one romantic relationship myself. I suppose...I wouldn't think it'd be much different than having a really good friend," he decided. "Designating time to spend together, sharing hobbies and stories...but also, maybe romantic relationships can be considered a little more intimate than friendships?" Kit's head tilted as he considered. "Not necessarily "sleeping" with someone, but kisses, cuddling...that sort of thing. Maybe even drawing someone nude," he added with a teasing smirk.

When asked about why he wanted to draw Kels so bad, Kit's eyes lit up as if there was nothing he would have enjoyed trying to express more. "Why? Well, see, you have this...how do I put it?...unique vitality to you that I wanted to see if I could capture on paper. It reminds me of the desire to live in the moment and not take a single second for granted; something I strive hard to achieve."

He forked a second piece of jackfruit. "I'll admit I generally also enjoy drawing people because it gives me a way to study them. Studying them helps me get better at disguising myself as a metamorph." He grinned fondly at Kels and offered him the fruit at the end of the fork. "In your case, though, I think I’ve been watching you so much that I might already be able to mimic your appearance if I tried, so that wouldn't count as a reason for why I want to draw you. Not that I would try to take on your form without your knowledge or permission, of course."

@Kelsey Brumby

Their conversation about loneliness seemed to wrap up, perhaps not unsurprisingly with an acknowledgment of the fact that neither of them were currently alone. They were outsiders, for one reason or another, which made the feeling of alienation mutual, at least when it came to the 'crowd'. In school it was the same way, the weird kids always ended up bonding together, no matter how different they all were. In fact, it was arguably what being a Hufflepuff was all about.

"Goo Goo Dolls?!" Kels squeaked incredulously, followed by snickering.

He wouldn't expound on his disbelief, or the fact that all of his pop culture knowledge was extremely spotty. He only knew what the other kids in Wicken were into, and didn't have any CDs or a computer of his own. He was amused by the lyrics and the band name though.

"Hmm... yeah, sometimes it's not'a matter of what'cha want though. It's not really people's fault they can't all be their true selves." Even though Kit made no claim to generalize, and was instead interpreting lyrics directly, Kels felt the need to defend the nameless strawmen at the other end of such a broad statement. "It wouldn't mean the crowd, right? It means y'should find yer own crowd. Err, 'cept I never heard that song before, so I dunno."

Another shrug. He met a lot of people who had been cornered by society, in one way or another. Nothing was ever as clear cut as just being yourself, no kid chose to be a soldier or a junkie because they wanted to. That wasn't really what Kit was talking about though, and Kels wasn't looking to bring politics to the table. Not because he was worried what Kit would think of his views, but more because he didn't want to bum himself out. He just wanted to be glad that the two of them had survived it all, at least so far.

Kels features perked up mischievously when Kit mentioned things that truly pissed him off-- the wording had so much gusto to it! Pissed off! He didn't elaborate though, instead talking about dating, a much less interesting topic. He felt the instant urge to figure out what those things were so he could do them. Maybe that was why people couldn't stand him, he couldn't resist pestering. Too funny too often, almost always worth whatever punishment it got him.

He squinted, trying to follow what Kit was saying while he accidentally distracted himself with an errant thought. He was talking about relationships... how they are like friendship plus. It was vaguely in line with how Kels saw it, though he was a bit less eager for that level of intimacy. Practically speaking, he didn't see the clear division. To him, dating just meant exclusivity, like saying you won't be as close to other people as you would with them. Since he graduated, he never felt a reason to stake such a claim. Still, he cracked up when Kit mentioned nude drawing-- brazen in spades!

"Cuddles and kisses~" Kels repeated in a sing-song voice. "Sounds like a job for a puppy. They don't even wear clothes, like, ever!"

Kels had continued to pick at his food, taking a bite here or there. He unfortunately was no gourmand, and was just happy to get his belly stuffed. They were all great flavors, but any real nuance to his taste buds had been long destroyed by years of belligerent poison drinking and bug tasting. He hadn't really considered the long term effects, but there was more than one biological quirk he foisted upon himself that wasn't likely to find a cure in his lifetime.

But then, Kit started getting into what Kels was most curious about. He gained a look of wonder on his face as he explained it. He hadn't really expected any one answer, but he was impressed with the one he got. He had never heard that he had something unique that someone wanted to capture. What a fancy schmancy artist thing to say! It made Kels think of what that those words meant to Kit. Unique vitality, capturing. Was that possible with art? Capturing something so undefinable?

"Woooaaahhh..." Kels whispered, whisked away into all the branching thoughts that came along with this new perspective. When offered the fruit, he chomped it, somewhat thankful for the reminder to eat when the conversation so often took every bit of his attention. "Really? Already?"

He had met a few Metamorphmagi in his time, but none of them professed to being able to emulate him after what amounted to less than 24 hours spent together. Either Kit really had an eye for faces, or he really had an eye for Kels. He appreciated that Kit would wait for his permission, allaying a few of his fears, though he admittedly was no longer thinking of the possibility of Kit being malicious. Kels asked and Kit answered, there were no secrets being kept or fingers being crossed as far as he could tell.

"Unique vitality... Y'know, that reminds me of uhh..." Kels searched his memory closing his eyes and snapping his fingers repetitively until he arrived at the word abruptly, "... élan vital!"

Looking proud of himself, he put an elbow on the table and leaned his half-shaven mug onto his hand. "That's err... some French guy coined it. The 'impetus of vitality' or, how t'say it... t'force of living things that can't be calculated, can't be diminished like entropy. Like uhh... creativity and spirit." His eyes searched the ceiling again, gears clicking in his head as he recalled bits and pieces of the thousands of books he had read. "I kinda had this theory he was talkin' about innate magical ability. Then again, maybe it's more than that. I think there's a lot about life I'll never understand."

His eyes fell back to Kit, a curious twinkle in them. He was fully enjoying himself, it wasn't very often these days that he got to discuss so many different and interesting topics. It felt like Kit honestly wanted to hear his opinions on things too, which was a refreshing change in pace. Not many people waited around long enough to see that side of him, the fervent mind reeling with a massive collection of eclectic knowledge. The world, its people, and all of history was littered with a plethora of fascinating tidbits, from the minute to the massive. He was certain he'd be learning new things up until the second he shed the mortal coil.

"Are you spiritual at all? Do'ya believe in a soul, the collective unconscious, stuff like that?"