[OPEN]

[myscarsmiles]

WHO: Kristoph Gavin [myscarsmiles] and hopefully lots of others.
WHAT: Nothing in particular. It's an open thread. Get something to eat, chat with your friends. Go wild. No explosions, please.
WHERE: Un Morso Di Mangiare: A 24-hour diner: Vie Marsala and Via Aspromonte
WHEN: A couple of days after the fashion show: anytime, really! Just say when in the title

Comments

[ombrosa]

The quizzical look on Kai's face lingered, even as she cautiously slipped into the booth across from him. The man was so proper and polite, and there was no indication of the darkness that she saw in those who had to clean. A certain hardness, like quartz, a sharp glimmering in the eyes -- she had seen it in Prosciutto and Risotto and even Nariko. Kai could only imagine she had the same somewhere buried deep behind her madness, but this man, this Kristoph Gavin. Everything was neat and crisp, no rough edges, no hard surfaces, nothing that told her anything beyond the fact that he strove for perfection

[ombrosa]

Kai narrowed her eyes, learning across the table, and once again, gave Gavin a careful sniff. It was, perhaps, the longest conversation she'd had for years and his teasing and toying with her both annoyed and delighted her.

"Perhaps Kai does not want to be collected. Perhaps she is collected already. By others. She is not a stupid little girl, like so many think. She can be your animal. But only for a price. That is what Nariko taught her, and Prosciutto, after her fall. How much would you pay for such a beast?"

[myscarsmiles]

Kristoph sat back and was silent for what might have been a long time before he answered. His answer was level, with an edge to his voice and his smile, and when he again made eye contact with Kai, he looked a little different - colder.

"I do not pay for beasts, my darling. They come to me, and I offer them what I have, but never more. And if they do not want to stay, it is not me who misses out, is it, mm?"

A thin smile.

[ombrosa]

"Such a vicious little thing, Mister Gavin. Such a wolf," Kai smiled, a dark mirth seeping into her eyes and her voice. She held Gavin's gaze with her own hard stare, like two animals circling around one another. Watching. Waiting. Studying.

"What do you have to offer then, tell Kai. Beyond waffles and soft hands and wonder at Sky High."

[myscarsmiles]

Kristoph gave an amused chuckle as he watched her expression shift, small but significant. He pushed his glasses up his nose and brushed a stray blond hair behind his eye.

"Are you interested in being collected, my dear? Prosciutto might get mad and try to clean me up."

[ombrosa]

At the mention of Prosciutto Kai's snarled slightly, possessively. "Gavin is not foolish enough to cross Prosciutto. Kai knows this. Can tell. Gavin likes to be alive and well, and keep his very soft hands working. Always working, yes."

Leaning back, Kai crossed her thin arms across her chest. "Prosciutto would try to get Kai back, he would. And no, Kai does not want to be collected." Childish indignation in her voice. "Kai is happy being Prosciutto's animal, yes. Prosciutto and Risotto keep her safe."

[myscarsmiles]

"Exactly, my dear. I wouldn't want to anger Prosciutto. He's a very dangerous man, and a wonderful cleaner. Much better as a friend, mm?"

He smiled as Kai's waffle was brought out, heaped with toppings: buttery, whippped-creamed and loaded with strawberries.

"That's what I thought, my dear. I wouldn't want to make you unhappy."