capeandcowl2020 | Open Post 002

[ kanaya continues looking ahead at her skillet, flipping over the fish, then putting her spatula off to the side to quickly wipe at her eyes. she's been lonely for a very long time, around so many people she can't entirely trust. she spends so much time being someone else that she's afraid she's losing grasp on who she really is. having the chance to be herself now, she almost doesn't know what to do. ]

I can't pretend I did any of this without that ulterior motive. Just...something to delay your departure.

You could have always just asked, you know. I spent so long waiting for you that just running off now would be pretty stupid. [her eyes crinkle in amusement, although for all her efforts a bit of melancholy seeps in] As if I'd even wanted to.

I can never really be sure of what anyone else wants anymore, it's been too long. [ the rice has started boiling now, so she reaches over to turn it down to simmer. ] I don't really even know what I want anymore.

Then I'll be doubly sure that you get enough time to figure it out again. [she's not really sure how to do that, but Nepeta has never really (probably never will) be particularly concerned with the how of things. if something desperately needs to be done, she'd find a way. it was always too important not to]

[ kanaya just shakes her head. ]

There are more important things now. Maybe sometime after this is all over, once we've put this current regime to rest, then I begin to think on such matters.

What you want is always important, no matter what's happening. But I guess taking out all this stupid government stuff is a pretty big part of whatever it is you do want.

Precisely. And that will be enough for now. We can't let our priorities become mangled by a lack of focus.

Yeah. Just - [she hesitates, then forges on] don't forget that there are other things for you, ok? I don't want this to eat you alive too.

[ she could make a comment about "alive", or call into question just what other things there are anymore, but she doesn't. that won't put nepeta at ease, and after the first time seeing an old friend in years, it's ease she needs most. much better for her that she lies instead. ]

I won't.

Good. [Nepeta has never really been certain that she can take such promises from Kanaya at face value (she works herself too hard) and the time spent by herself only makes it more difficult to accept. but this is a friend, a good friend, and she trusts her. even in it isn't the whole truth, she can work from here.

so she relaxes ever so slightly and her smile brightens up, moving on from the melancholy to something a little more palatable.]

So is that fish almost done yet? I'm starving!

[ kanaya looks up from miles away to see the fish gently sizzling. she prods it a bit before nodding at nepeta and turning off the burner. ]

The rice isn't quite there yet, so you'll have to wait just a minute.

[ of course, that's when the kettle decides to whine, as well. ]

Awww. I've nefur been good at waiting. [as evidence by the way her fingers creep into the pan while Kanaya is tending to the kettle to break off a chunk of that delicious delicious fish.

years spent living without utensils, can't be tamed]

[ of course, before she knows it, kanaya's hand is on her wrist, fast as it's ever been. she might have smacked it if this were a more regular thing, but the length of years was between them, it wouldn't seem appropriate. ]

Nepeta, please! Mind you manners.

[she makes a soft dismayed noise, frowning petulantly at Kanaya]

Oh, come on. It's just us here! And it's not like I was going to take all of it.

[ kanaya closes her eyes and holds up a finger, as if she's relaying something profound. ]

A meal is like a setpiece, it must be composed in a manner that each component complements the other. To try one without the other is getting only half of the intended experience.

[her mouth twists up in a manner that indicates she's really not buying any of this]

I don't know, I think that food being in my mouth is the most purrfect complement it could pawsibly have.

It's about completing a palette, Nepeta. A painting isn't complete with only one color.

It sounds like you've nefur seen a really good painting with one color.

That, and I'm reasonably certain that they don't exist to begin with.

I used to do tons of them! They were all purrfect.

I'm sure they must have been!

[ kanaya laughs lightly as he finishes setting the infuser in the kettle, the fish having been put on a plate that hasn't yet left her hand (she's tall enough it can stay out of reach this way, since everyone knows cats aren't allowed on the counter). then the skillet is in the sink and she's checking on the rice again. ]

I should make some fur you sometime soon so that you can see.

[having finally acknowledged that she's not getting any delicious food in advance, Nepeta begins rifling through the drawers for cutlery so that she can begin setting the table. if they're going to be unnecessarily fancy then she's going to help god dammit!!!]

I wasn't sure you had anything available to make them with. I could make a few acquisitions along those lines, if you need them.

[ the rice seems to be finished, so she goes ahead and scoops out a bit to give it a sniff, but not a taste. hard to taste test when you can taste it, so she hopes everything's in order as she scoops out a bit more onto the plate and moves it toward the table. ]

The tea still needs a few minutes more to steep.

Oh, I'd like that a lot! I haven't really been drawing much lately, and that'd be a nice reunion gift for you.

[lately means since they were all parted, but it's the sort of understatement that Nepeta's found herself making more and more frequently. it was better to soften the reality of her life, she's found; the truth is less important when it comes to her when the price of it is friends' peace of mind.

the cutlery clinks against the porcelain of the plates as she circles the table and sets things in their place]

I'll have to buy you some in the morning. That at least should provide us good excuse for a later meeting.

[ it's been about the same amount of time since kanaya had done any sort of sketching or truly involved sewing. the plain black dress she wore now betrayed how large a hit her fashion sense had taken from both a change in priorities and a need to hide her identity.

she brings nepeta's plate and the teapot to the table before taking her seat. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject