Dream ► 02
[Theoretically set between Chapter 13 (A Lost Raven) and Chapter 14 (Lop Ear). Largely spoiler-free save for the perpetual Chapter 6 (Where Am I) revelation.]
He taps the whisk sharply against the edge of the bowl, shaking free the last few drops of well-beaten egg, and sets both objects down on the bench. The Rainsworth kitchen is nowhere near as familiar as his own, or even those of the households he has grown up in, but there are enough similarities that he is able to locate the salt without troubling any of the servants busy with their own duties.
"Gil?" He glances up at the sound of the familiar voice to see Oz standing in the kitchen doorway, an Alice who looks more asleep than awake behind him. Oz himself is rubbing at his eyes, squinting past the bright light peeking in through the kitchen windows. "What are you doing down here?"
He could ask the same thing of the boy; after the events of last night, he would have expected him to still be asleep this early in the morning. Placing the salt down near the eggs, he turns to face Oz properly, absently dusting his hands together. "I'm making breakfast. It would be nice to start the day on a proper meal for once." He tilts his head slightly, gaze softening as he searches for any remnants of bad dreams that might be the reason for Oz seeking him out now. "How did you sl-"
"What's this?" The smell of food has apparently woken Alice up somewhat, and he twists to find her balancing on her toes in order to peer over the bench and into the bowl, grubby fingers poised to give the substance within a suspicious poke.
"Oi, don't touch it!" Gil hooks his fingers around the edge of the bowl, and jerks it back out of her reach, earning him a narrow glare that is made less effective by her sleep-tousled hair.
"It doesn't look like meat."
"That's because it's not meat," is the curt reply, and he ignores her displeased growl.
Meanwhile, Oz looks over at the Rainsworth servants who are studiously ignoring the trio. "Won't we be eating with Break and Sharon, then?"
"They'll be having their meal later in the day." There's also something soothing about the routine of doing the cooking himself, and the servants are used enough to his presence not to be disturbed if he slips down into their kitchens every once in a while. They might never look entirely comfortable with having a noble in their midst, but they no longer question it. He reaches out for the salt again.
"Oh, it's eggs!" Oz says brightly, ducking under his outstretched arm to do his own examination of the bowl. "Are we just having eggs?"
He tries to lift his arm over the boy without accidently elbowing him in the head. "No, there's also-"
"I don't want eggs!" Alice slams both hands down on the counter and Oz jumps, managing to elbow himself in the head and tip half the salt over the bench at the same time.
Gil curses under his breath, and snarls, "You'll eat what you're given!" over his shoulder as he places the salt container down and tries to sweep the scattered salt together, which would be a lot easier if Oz wasn't chirping apologies and trying to help as well. "Look, could you both just-" Movement out of the corner of his eye has him jerking his head sideways. "What are you doing, you stupid rabbit?"
She pauses in the middle of opening the nearest set of cupboards to shoot him a haughty stare. "Looking for decent food."
"Stop that," he hisses, and then in the same breath, "Oz!"
Oz's eyes are wide and innocent as he pulls his finger out of the bowl, giving it a quick lick. "I was just seeing if you'd put any of the salt in yet."
Somehow he manages to get between both of them and the bench, arms slightly splayed as if to defend the cooking behind him. "Please." It comes out through gritted teeth, but is still far more civil than what Gil really feels like saying at this very moment. "Wait outside."
Alice mutters and shuffles her feet, but otherwise makes no further protest. Oz merely beams, opening his mouth to hopefully agree with the request - but suddenly frowns and sniffs the air. "Is something burning?"