Jono's Apartment above the Boards, Sunday evening

[trigons_child]

When the auditions seemed to be winding down, Raven went to Il Pollo to fetch some Italian take out. She dropped off Troy's portion with him, then headed upstairs with her and Jono's food to wait. She happily passed the time playing with Joni.

She hadn't brought his belongings yet; she was just going to just teleport back to her room to get it all when she was ready to surprise him. Of course she had no idea someone had spoiled the surprise, KARLA.

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[furnaceface]

After auditions had ended, Jono had taken a bit of time to just kind of... tidy up a little. Put things back into order, not the least of which being his own head. Karla had gone and spoiled the surprise, maybe, but his mind was on the image she'd shown him of Leech, happy and hale, running down the corridors of Xavier's as though he'd never been hurt at all.

There was... a lot on his mind as he came up the stairs, through the door into his apartment, and then slumped back against the door with a sigh.

Honey, I'm home?

[trigons_child]

Raven still had Joni in her arms as she approached the door. "Is everything all right?" she said, frowning a little. "Did something go wrong with the auditions? Or are you simply tired?"

She wasn't sure what to make of how he was acting.

[furnaceface]

"Auditions went fine," Jono replied, pushing himself up from where he'd slumped backwards just as quickly as he'd flopped back in the first place. "Tired's more th'word for it, I think. Just getting back into th'groove of things, I suppose."

Yes. The groove of things. That was what was dragging him down.

"We got a bigger turnout than I was expecting today. Kenzi's agreed to do costuming and sets, even. We haven't started rehearsals yet, but things seem to be... coming together, I'd say."

[trigons_child]

"You must be hungry," Raven said. She let Joni jump down from her arms, and the cat walked over to Jono to rub up against his leg.

"I hope you like Italian food," she went on. "I got us lasagna. There is some with meat and some without."

[furnaceface]

"Lasagna," Jono echoed, managing a bit of a smile as he crouched down to give Joni a quick scratch behind the ears. "Lord, I haven't had that in..."

In...

"A while."

To say the least.

[trigons_child]

"Good, then that is my first surprise," Raven said happily, pleased with her selection.

"And you may have the second when we are done eating. There is salad and garlic bread as well, if you would like."

[furnaceface]

"You spoil me, Sunshine," he decided, giving Joni one last pat before hauling himself back up to his feet. Never mind that he'd paid for the meal, really.

Or, rather, half-paid.

"Thank you for this, luv. I've missed you."

[trigons_child]

Raven busied herself pulling the tin containers of lasagna out of the bag and setting them on the counter, being careful to keep the one with meat and the one without separate.

"I have missed you as well," she said, glancing over to him with a smile. "I am sorry I did not visit at all this week. I was not feeling very well, and I spent much time resting."

[furnaceface]

"A little under the weather?"

That was... odd. Jono's brow furrowed a little as he worked that notion through his mind.

"Are you feeling better now, at least?"

[trigons_child]

"Just tired," Raven said, shrugging it off. "It is nothing to worry about. I would tell you if I thought it was something serious, I promise."

She looked around the kitchen area. "Do you have plates and utensils? They put plastic ones in the bag but real tableware would be easier."

OK, so she was deflecting just a tiny bit. It was habit.

[furnaceface]

Well, in all fairness, so was he.

"I should have something," Jono replied, stepping into the kitchen and going through the cupboards. "I haven't really been using them, but I think that's mostly because I keep eating whatever's easiest."

Lots of instant ramen noodles. Lots of it.

"They never warn you when you take up the eating habit again just how inconvenient it really is."

[trigons_child]

"Plates, glasses, utensils," Raven teased. "Having to clean the dishes. Putting the plate on the floor for Joni to lick clean does not count."

Oh, Jono, don't make Raven sneak into your apartment to stock it with healthy snacks. Fruits! Vegetables!

[furnaceface]

What are these vegetables of which you speak? Sausages! Gravy!

Once he stopped being lazy and actually nerved himself up to cook his own food again, at least.

"Well, Joni would care to disagree on that point," he offered, pulling down two plates and then reaching up to grab two glasses, as well. "She certainly appreciates it when I share."

Joni got... a lot of food that wound up totally flooring Jono on the first bite.

[trigons_child]

Raven took the plates and began to scoop lasagna on to each one. The sauce should be mild enough so as to not overwhelm, but cheesy goodness could be a powerful force. She put a chunk of bread on the plate, and a bit of salad on the side, then did the same for hers.

"You do not want her to get fat, do you?" she said, continuing to tease. Though she was one to talk, since she'd spoiled Joni with treats while she'd had her.

[furnaceface]

"Fat? Joni? Never." The cat peered up at them both, trying to figure out what in the world they were going on about. Jono offered her a little smile, giving her a light nudge to the side with his toe. "She's just th'right size. And if she gets bigger, that'll just be more Joni to love, really."

He liked his logic. It was perfectly valid Jono-logic, thanks.

[trigons_child]

Raven handed him his plate. "That is true," she said. More to love, and more belly to rub.

"Now eat," she commanded gently, "so that I may give you your surprise."

[furnaceface]

"Eating, eating," Jono replied, taking his plate and finding himself a place to sit. It was some small miracle that he had a kitchen table, he supposed. "This might take all my concentration, mind. That certainly looks like it'll involve a great deal of chewing."

He knew how to chew, Raven. He was just being an ass.

[trigons_child]

Raven joined him at the table, spearing a piece of lettuce with her fork first. "It is soft enough that you should be able to manage," she said, keeping a straight face. "I was unaware you were having difficulties."

[furnaceface]

"Well, not half as many as I suppose I could be," Jono mused. "I did get a bit of practise in here and there, after all."

When he'd had it pointed out to him that the burger was mostly just good because he'd spent a few years eating fireworks, and such.

"This... is still going to take some getting used to, mind. Sitting down at a table and eating, I mean."

He hadn't done much of that even when he'd had a mouth before. His family hadn't really been huge on togetherness and family meals and the like. They'd been bigger fans of 'stay out of my way' and 'go find something to do,' mostly.

[trigons_child]

"I used to take my meals in Azarath alone," Raven said. "It took some time for me to become accustomed to sharing them with others. But now I prefer it."

She smiled across the table at Jono. "It will be easy to become used to, I promise."

[furnaceface]

"Well, if you say so." He poked at the lettuce for a moment with his fork. And when it didn't leap up and bite him or something, he skewered a little bit and actually ate it.

Tasted... lettucey. There were probably words for these things that he'd pick out again, beyond the basic 'sugar is sweet, pepper is hot' stuff. For the time being, he'd go with 'not bad' and just keep eating.

"So, this surprise of yours," he ventured, as he went back to poking at the food on his plate, "you didn't go through much trouble getting it, I hope?"

... Look, he'd still act surprised. And there was no denying that he'd be pleased to see his Stratocaster again.

[trigons_child]

"It would have been worth any effort put into it," Raven said, "but no, there was not any trouble." Well. Troubling things, yes, but it hadn't caused them much difficulty in retrieving his belongings.

She finished up her salad and moved on to the lasagna. "Oh, this is very good," she said. "I think you will like it."

[furnaceface]

He offered her another tired little smile at that, before trying the lasagna too. It was... definitely rich, but not the same way as the hot chocolate that Ronan had almost floored him with the other week. Cheesy. Good.

So help him, it took focus to keep from just scarfing it back once he'd tasted some.

"It is good," he agreed, after a moment. "You chose well, luv."

This was all so... domestic that it seemed practically surreal. Just sitting down at the table and discussing food with the girlfriend. Did people really do that sort of thing?

[trigons_child]

Raven might have forgiven him for eating it too quickly, just this once at least. She was anxious to give him his guitar, after all.

"Thank you," she said, happy he was enjoying it. "It was either this or sushi, but I was not certain you were ready for that yet." Her tone remained teasing, but she couldn't help but think it was strange to be so domestic as well. Certain never a position she expected to be in with Jono.

[furnaceface]

"I vaguely remember just how thoroughly wasabi punches you in th'mouth," Jono shared, working his way steadily through the lasagna. "From that one, er, weekend here, a while back."

Back when apparently sushi was a suitable payment for almost anything. This island. Honestly.

"Lasagna was probably the better choice here. I was nearly floored by th'curry, after all."