[EP/GP] Today is Check-In Day

[st_illunsmeared]

When the fifteenth of the month came and went without any new arrivals, most people logically supposed that there would be no new arrivals that week, or that the pattern they believed they'd found was false after all.

Kitty Pryde, Caroline Forbes, and Phryne Fisher were decidedly not most people.

Between them, they agreed it would be best to keep a watch for a few days following the fifteenth, on the grounds that, often enough, holidays interrupted regular schedules, which would reassert themselves again at the next instance. If "keeping a watch" had required them to do anything out of the ordinary, they might have been somewhat less sanguine about it. Might have, as they were not, after all, most people. Yet since their routines, almost invariably, had them in public places, working and people-watching, it required no special effort on their part to be alert for new arrivals.

So it was that Phryne had taken up a table in the lobby cafe to read and hold court, while Kitty took an extra shift tending bar, and Caroline tidied up and labeled the boxes of decorations from Valentine's day "for next year's residents" on the morning of the sixteenth and again on the seventeenth--and not one of them were surprised when, in early afternoon, newcomers began to arrive.

Comments

for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

After Vax'ildan had left Alcuin alone in the hideously red room and a warm bath, he had shed the rest of his clothes and gotten into the water. It felt wonderful. It also turned pink from the blood that washed from his skin. He stayed there, trying to clear his mind, until the water went cold. And only after he'd gotten out and wrapped a towel around himself had he collapsed on the cool floor and sobbed.

He wasn't sure how long he was there. Long enough to feel like every ounce of emotion had drained from his body. But at least he was not in pain, not even from the wound that was now already closed into a thin scar.

Finally, he got up again, examined his bloody clothes on the floor, and then put them into a waste bin. He remembered Vax'ildan's promise to bring him clothes, and so with the towel wrapped around his body he opened the door to the hallway and gratefully found a small pile there. They were clothes quite unlike anything he'd ever seen, but at least seemingly fairly simple. Trousers made of an odd material. A shirt with sleeves that were very short. He did put his own boots back on, since it was easy enough to wipe off the bit of blood that had gotten on them.

Part of him just wanted to hide there forever, but it was twinges of hunger that finally made him venture out. He thought of going to Vax'ildan's door, but no, he had done enough for him right now. And at least, despite the strangeness of everything, Alcuin was by nature incredibly curious, and there was some small amount of joy in the opportunity to explore. He went back to the building where Vax'ildan had found him (careful not to look down too much, as he very much did not want to stumble across a stain of his own blood on the floor).

As he looked around, taking in all the details of his surroundings, he must have looked terribly lost. Both literally and figuratively.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

Mostly because it was something to do, Ignis tended to bring food to the Cafe periodically throughout most days. He enjoyed cooking, and cooking for himself was always less satisfying than cooking for others. Leaving random food out for random people was not, of course, as pleasant as cooking a meal for his friends had been, but few things would be.

He'd identified, early on, the best and least-used route to use in transporting food from the kitchen he'd taken over to the Cafe, and so when there actually was someone in the hall while he was on his way back to the kitchens, it was actually confusing for a second or two. The other person present wasn't making any noise, so Ignis asked, somewhat apologetically, "Are you lost?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin turned towards the man at the sound of his voice. He took in his appearance as he did with everyone, a learned trait and one that was automatic now. The dark mask covering his eyes was strange and unfamiliar, but Alcuin noted the scars underneath, and also the way that his head seemed tilted to not quite the right angle to be looking Alcuin in the eyes.

"Yes," he finally said, his voice a touch sad even as he tried to keep his tone fairly neutral. "In more ways than one."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

So the presence belonged to a young man with a lovely voice, even in only a few words. Though of course Ignis tried not to notice it unduly. The note of sadness warned him that such notice was even less appropriate than it would otherwise be. "If you're looking for something in particular, I may not actually be able to help, but I'm happy to try."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin hesitated and then said, "That's very kind. I doubt you could help me locate my sanity, but... mayhap a bit of food? If it weren't for hunger I dare say I'd still be hiding in my room."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

"Sanity is indeed a tall order." Still bad at kidding. Sigh. "Happily, food is a specialty of mine. Please, come with me." He turned slightly to continue on his way to the kitchen, but stayed still until the young man moved to follow. It would be rude, after all, to invite him to follow and then leave him behind.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin followed behind him, taking note of the way that the man moved.

"Thank you, my lord," he offered. "My name is Alcuin." Thinking that despite everything that had been taken from him today, his manners were something he could keep.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

"Ignis will do for me, if you like. I'm no one's lord." Truthful enough now, even if he had technically been a Count once upon a time. He'd always functioned much more like a servant or bodyguard even then.

The kitchen wasn't far away, and like many examples of its kind was perpetually on the warm side. With Ignis working there, it no longer smelled exclusively of chicken, too. He waved Alcuin to one of the stools around a central counter island. "Have you any restrictions or preferences?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

"Ignis," Alcuin repeated, thinking how Vax'ildan had had much the same reaction, and wondering if he ought to recalibrate the formality. But it was so natural, for him.

"No, my - " Case in point. He cut himself off. "No, I would be grateful for whatever you have." He slid onto one of the chairs and continued to watch him.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

Ignis quirked a smile. He'd had his own difficulties adjusting to varying formality. King Regis had always been 'your Majesty' to his face and scarcely less formal out of it, but Ignis's attempts to remain formal with Noctis had... well, 'your Highness' had become simply 'Highness' had become an exasperated 'Noctis' and finally simply 'Noct'. "You'll get used to it. Most people here, I think, would be confused. I got out of the habit of using names at all for a time, when I was learning." If you didn't use a name or title, you couldn't use the wrong one.

The question of food occupied him then. Without a particular request he had leave to show off, but as he'd been told that only hunger had gotten Alcuin out of his room, something quick would be better. He fetched ingredients for an omelette (eggs, ham, cheese, and so on) and started slicing and mixing.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

"I will try to remember," Alcuin said, though the idea of being inadvertently disrespectful to his betters made him quite nervous.

He was also concerned about being inadvertently disrespectful to the man in front of him, who was being so kind. He decided that the easiest thing to do would be to... well, to simply ask, and hope that it was not rude.

"Ignis, forgive me, but... can I help you with this task?" He had worked out by now that the man seemed to be blind. But very, very functional.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_eadfast]

Ignis paused, partly to wonder why someone would need forgiving for that kind of question and partly out of surprise. Those who were inclined to cook already did it themselves, and those who weren't rarely asked to help. He would ordinarily have put the question down to pity and dismissed it pleasantly enough, but he'd heard pity many times before, and in Alcuin he heard only a genuine desire to help.

Perhaps he was simply a helpful sort. Either way, dismissal was a poor response to a genuine (and kind) offer. "If you like, certainly. If you'd rather simply rest and watch, of course, I'll take no offense. The cheese there," he pointed with the knife he'd been using to cube ham, "will need to be grated." Another point, slightly vaguer, indicated the grater. Someone with eyes, who could see when their fingers were about to be grated rather than just operating by feel, would be able to go faster.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin hopped off of the stool, eager to help. He was, after all, accustomed to serving, even if he had essentially no experience with cooking. He could do an impressive ritual tea service, however.

"I'm afraid I have very little experience with cooking," he confessed, slightly apologetic. "But I'm a quick learner."

He came over to where Ignis was standing, and looked down at the cheese. The device was unfamiliar to him, but it immediately made intuitive sense, and he picked it up to begin grating.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

The slender figure with pale blonde hair caught her eye in how it lingered, hovering in shadows and at thresholds, much as Jane had done when they first brought her home. Undoubtedly, the person--she had not yet determined whether male or female--was both new and lost. Association with Jane thus cemented, Phryne rose gracefully from her table and endeavored to catch their eye as she approached.

"Hello," she said warmly in English touched with both upper-class British and street-rat Australian, then offered a kind smile. Male, she decided, now that she stood closer. Certainly. "You've just arrived, haven't you?" Of course he had, so she didn't wait for his response. "It's a bit overwhelming at first, isn't it?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin turned more directly to the woman when she spoke, and met her eyes. "Yes," he said, managing a small, sad smile. "It is, yes."

She too spoke Cruinthe, with a slight variation on the accent that Vax'ildan had. It occurred to Alcuin that he should have asked if everyone spoke that language here. (How very strange, it was so obscure.) Actually, there were probably a hundred questions he should have asked.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

Poor darling. He looked so terribly lost. Honestly, if they were in Melbourne, she'd have insisted on taking him home and tucking him into a warm bed for a good night's rest and some pampering.

"Perhaps it would help to have a bit of company, and something warm to drink? There's nothing like hot cocoa to soothe frazzled nerves. Or some soup if you're hungry?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Alcuin suddenly looked grateful. "I - I am actually hungry," he confessed. "Soup would be lovely. That's very kind."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

Phryne smiled encouragingly and tipped her head in the direction of her table. "If you want more than soup, that can easily be arranged. Will you join me, then?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

"Thank you, my lady," Alcuin said politely, and walked over, though waited for her to sit before he did so himself.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

That reminded her of Jane not at all, as this young man had clearly been schooled in manners. She suspected he would be more comfortable with a little formality. "Miss Phryne Fisher," she told him and gestured for him to sit as she did. "Miss Fisher, or Miss Phryne, will do for now. What should I call you?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

"My name is Alcuin," he offered as he sat. "I - it is a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me if I'm a bit..." He wasn't even sure what it was that he might be. Distracted? Doubting his own sanity? Overwhelmed with grief? "You are only the second person I have met here."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

"There's absolutely nothing to forgive, Alcuin, and I won't hear another word of apology from you," Phryne replied firmly in her kindest no-nonsense tone. He looked mere seconds from bursting into tears, and she wouldn't blame the poor thing if he did. "Now, then. How hungry are you, and what would you like to drink?"

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

Though she had no way of knowing, treating Alcuin this way was the best thing she could have possibly done. It was so easy to be obedient right now, over anything else. Anything that may have made him think too much.

"Is there tea?" he asked. "And - I really am not picky when it comes to food, but I think I may be even hungrier than I realize." He felt slightly nauseated, which he'd been assuming was emotional, but perhaps he was hungry.

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_illunsmeared]

"There is tea." And if there hadn't been, she would have gone to the Gift Shop for tea bags from one of the gift baskets to make sure there would be. Little though she wanted to leave him to himself, neither Dot nor Kitty were immediately visible. She rose again and said, "I won't be a moment."

True to her word, Phryne found Kitty just inside the door to the cafe kitchen. She quickly placed an order for tea, and while Kitty made the tea, she retrieved several of Dot's scones from the display case, and asked Kitty to see about the chicken of the day, or what Ignis might have on the go.

It was less than two minutes, all told, when Phryne returned with tea on a tray, with sugar, cream, and the scones. "Here you are. Let's start with this. Kitty will be along with something more substantial in a few minutes, but it's probably best to start with something simple."

Re: for Ignis + OTA

[st_unning]

"My thanks," Alcuin said, sounding immensely grateful. He picked up one of the scones and took a bite, and... yes, he had been very hungry.