Joe - Nel // Closed Commentlog // ONGOING!

[idkmybffsean]

 Characters: Joseph Ivers (idkmybffsean ) and Nel Zelpher (skinbrand ) [closed]
Location: Our House aka Nel's Kitchen aka Deck 8!
Date: Present
Rating: PG for the Irishman with the potty mouth. :>

Comments

[skinbrand]

Soup is boiling. This is unusual, since Nel doesn't have any of the stoves turned on and hasn't done so since she began renovations. Unusual but not impossible when you're a fine-tuned runologist who doesn't trust modern technology, or wants to get spoiled by them.

"Hm." She lifts the lid and lets the steam blow away from her face, only taking a quick peek to ascertain the vegetables were softening nicely. Joe's knock and call-out catch her attention as the lid clinks gently down.

Nel leans into the wide serving counter to see and let herself be seen. "Joseph," she enunciates in her odd accent. His appearance and carriage match the 'rogue' she'd pinned him as.

[idkmybffsean]

Joe smiles and steps forward, hands in his pockets and eyes taking in the sights. The decor isn't bad, far better than what he had at home and he's pretty impressed with the whole layout. It's obvious that there's been some changes made recently, and possibly more to come.

His attention shifts to Nel. She's short, stern looking just like her voice suggested. Joe sticks out a hand to shake. "Em. Just Joe."

[skinbrand]

The serving counter is obviously meant for someone taller than Nel, but that doesn't stop her from jumping a little, balancing, and shaking the offered hand. Her eyes flick from his build (professional interest, Joe, don't be getting any ideas yet) to his face. The violet keeps steady even as she bounces back on her feet.

Only having the bridge of her nose and up visible doesn't seem to detract from her dignity. Nel ignores or doesn't understand what he says, holding up a finger to "wait" while she ducks out of the kitchen.

A tiny red-haired woman in leathers -- tunic, boots, waist brace, underpiece -- rounds the corner, communicator in hand. She talks into the screen, presses a button or two, and...

"I know some of your language, but very little. Would you mind bearing with me and repeating"?

[idkmybffsean]

Worry not Nel, Joe is professionally assessing her build, face and general mannerisms. She's different to the other ladies he's met thus far, young, but wise beyond her years. It's a little sad to see someone neglect their youth like she is. Oh well, each to their own. It's not exactly Joe's place to pick.

He digs out his comm to match what she's doing. It's a feature he knew was possible but not one he bothered to figure out. Joe speaks and lets the comm translate.

"I said, call me Joe."

Shifting his weight to his other foot, Joe pauses to let her read before continuing.

"It's good to meet you in person. Sorry it took so long. It's been a crazy week."

[skinbrand]

Neglecting her youth would imply Nel realized she was supposed to be doing something other than toiling and giving her absolute all to her job. Youth is for people who have LIVES, man.

Nel blinks, but chooses not to inform him that Joseph works just as well for her. A smile tugs at her mouth but doesn't quite form to be whole.

"Likewise, and understood. You told me you could cook?"

Straight to the point. She can do the social dance, but it's not her preference. Nel doubts he'll take offense.

[idkmybffsean]

If that's her take on things, then Joe is more than happy to be childish enough for both of them. Still, that won't stop him from trying to get her to loosen up once in a while and relax a bit. The fact that he almost got a smile out of her earns a grin.

"Aye, I can."

He motions to the kitchen.

"Right, probably be quicker for me to show you?"

[skinbrand]

It will be an experience having her kitchen invaded by men who are mentally half their physical age, definitely. Nel won't be happy about it, but she's not got much of a choice. The wonders of having a social circle who give a damn about whether or not she loosens up.

She bows. Not deeply-- not yet, but in all likelihood more formal than Joe's ever encountered.

"Lead the way, Joseph." There's something wry about her tone, there.

[idkmybffsean]

The bow is confusing. Joe nods awkwardly in response and scratches the back of his head. When she calls him Joseph again, Joe gives her a look but smirks all the same.

He steps past her into the room he's guessing is the kitchen and stops again to assess his surroundings. The resources on hand are better than he expected. Working in a place like this would be a luxury compared to what he had before.

The soup is approached for inspection. Nothing really seems strange until Joe realizes that the stove isn't actually on. He frowns and draws his hand towards the boiling broth. "The fuck?"

Those two words don't really need translation.

[skinbrand]

Nel is accustomed to looks from disgruntled acquaintances. She returns it with a bland one of her own and trails behind him into the place where she would be spending most of her daylight hours.

She eyes him; he reaches but doesn't unintelligently thrust his paw into the actual liquid or press it to the pot. At his exclamation, Nel smiles for real, sort-of smug. It's gone before she moves to draw his attention with a hand moving past him to hover, palm-up, next to the disembodied flame.

A whisper of energy flares in the rune branded into that hand. She's not wearing her gloves, so the red gleaming ripple is visible. Nel doesn't even flinch when the flame under the pot flares to nearly engulf it before retreating in the same breath.

[idkmybffsean]

Joe stares and stares some more, first watching Nel and then staring instead at the runes on the back of her hand. He's never seen anything like it, even with all the oddities and dark secrets of his homeland.

With utmost calm, Joe seizes his comm and speaks his message, allowing the device to translate accordingly. "What was that and how the heck did you do it?"

He sounds pretty damn impressed.

[skinbrand]

Nel disperses the excess energy and takes her hand back to herself. She places her hands behind her hips, not unlike pregnant women do, just minus the gargantuan belly and plus maneuverability and access to her knives. It's her default stance.

She surveys the pot for hints of sloppy boil-over before lifting the comm, speaking and pushing the required buttons. Languages she's good at (for gods' sakes, Nel can read dragonspeak), and when she can give up the communicator in daily conversation it will be a joyous occasion.

"It's called runology, a hereditary art passed down through generations of my people. Some of the people here say it's magic. Very convenient, and it keeps me from falling into..."

Nel glowers at the stoves and any electric appliance in the vicinity.

"... Bad habits."

[idkmybffsean]

"Huh." Joe both looks and sounds pretty darn impressed.

"That's some pretty fancy stuff you've got going there."

His eyes glance in the general direction of her glower and Joe cracks a grin. He can't believe she's working in a kitchen like this without taking advantage of everything it has to offer.

"You're kidding me. You call this stuff a bad habit?"

Joe moves to the counter to flip the switch on the blender. The blades give a whirl before he shuts it off again. He grins back at her over his shoulder.

"I just so happen to like my bad habits. Take a seat and I'll make you something. Whatever I use I'll replace."

Somehow. Joe hasn't really worked that part out yet. For now, he's just going to help himself to the contents of the fridge.

[skinbrand]

Normally she would politely yet firmly decline the offer. Nel dislikes sitting and letting others do her work for her. But it's a good way to gauge his skill... despite the intense suspicion she has regarding the blender and other devices like it.

She nods slowly after a beat.

As you wish. Everything in here is far more advanced than what my people have, made of materials I can't begin to hope we have the ability to process, much less mold. Getting used to them is a bad habit.

The cranny in the wall next to the icebox is too small for a man of his height. It's perfect for Nel. She leans there, arms folded and steadily watching his movements.

[idkmybffsean]

Joe smirks and starts his kitchen inspection, grabbing items and food as he goes and doing his best not to disturb the cooking that Nel's already got going. He doesn't want to get in her way, after all.

He whistles while he works, an upbeat tune. Not a half hour later, Joe's adding the finishing touches to his creation. He flashes Nel a grin.

"Steak topped with oysters kilpatrick and sided with roast spuds, beans and carrots."

Joe looks pretty damn pleased with that. And hungry. If she doesn't want it, he's more than happy to devour the meal himself.