The Apartment Above The Boards, Sunday Evening

[trigons_child]

After they'd walked from the library to the Boards, Raven let Jono do any last minute cleaning he wanted to do, then shooed him out of the kitchen so she could cook. She'd decided to keep it fairly simple to reduce the chances of messing something up. So Lemon Garlic Spaghetti with warm crusty bread (she didn't make that from scratch, please) on the side. She'd even brought a sweet white wine to go with it, nothing too strong, though.

"I hope you like it," she said, pleased with how it had turned out. She set a plate on the table in front of him and then settled in her own seat. Hopefully this would distract him, if only for a little while, from having to leave the island tomorrow.

Comments

[furnaceface]

Jonothon considered the plate in front of him with a wry little smile. It was supposed to just be a nice evening, but now it seemed almost more like a distraction for distraction's sake, and his mind kept wandering to the way that... that woman had singled him out in Town Hall that morning.

In retrospect, he probably could have just... gone with whatever they were suggesting. But he'd spent too damn much time hiding, and... no. No, he was just going to eat and enjoy this evening, because soon enough this whole mess would be behind them, and it wouldn't matter any more.

"This looks spectacular, luv," he offered, reaching for his fork. "I hope you didn't go through too much trouble making it."

Okay, so it was pasta. Even Jono could handle pasta. But still.

[trigons_child]

"It is nothing terribly fancy," Raven said modestly. "I have only attempted fairly simple recipes so far. But I do like how this one tastes."

Particularly when she tripled the garlic. One clove? Ridiculous.

[furnaceface]

"There's nothing the matter with simple recipes," Jono replied. "Far less of a chance that what's on my plate will be utterly overwhelming, isn't there?"

He twirled some spaghetti on his fork, considered it, and then shrugged and put it into his mouth.

Good lord, yes. That was just the right amount of garlic, and to hell with anybody who disagreed. Of course, he was chewing, so his approval was going to have to be conveyed with a thumbs-up and a nod.

[trigons_child]

Raven's smile was positively radiant at his approval. "I am so glad you like it," she said. Cooking was a lot more enjoyable when she had someone to share it with. Maybe one day she'd be adventurous enough to try to cook something in the common room. Then again, knowing how close she was to Karla, people might keep their distance.

[furnaceface]

Well, there was no guarantee that Karla would stay out of the common room while Raven was cooking, and if she started while there were people around, they'd be expected to eat it, horror of horrors.

Jono swallowed, winding some more around his fork, and smiled a little at her.

"You know, I don't get cooked for often. But I'm not just being polite, here. I like this. It's very... garlicky."

And lemony. A nice change of pace from pizza and curry.

"We might have to do something like this more often, luv. Next time, I'll cook."

[trigons_child]

"I would like that a great deal," Raven said, taking a sip of her wine. "I have enjoyed cooking for you, and it would be nice to be cooked for as well."

She spun some pasta around her fork and took a bite, savoring the flavors. "I brought some movies with me as well, if you wish to watch one after dinner," she said once she'd swallowed. "You may pick one of them, unless you have something else you would rather watch."

[furnaceface]

Oh, Raven. What horrors were you planning on unleashing on poor Jonothon on his last night on the island for the next little while?

"I'm curious what you brought, now," he mused, smirking at her over his plate. "Do you remember any titles offhand, or is this another surprise?"

[trigons_child]

"They are all movies that fall under the category of 'American rock musical,'" Raven said. She'd picked them thinking those would interest him more than dramas or chick flicks, really!

"I believe the titles of the ones that I picked are meta for Xanadu, Streets of Fire -- which is described as 'A Rock & Roll Fable,' and Purple Rain."

That last had been mostly because she was curious about "things that only Prince would sing about," to be honest. Crying doves?

[furnaceface]

Please hold. Jono needed to remind himself why not eating while Raven was talking about home entertainment was always a good idea.

By choking.

God, Raven. Did you hate him or something?

[trigons_child]

"Are you all right?" Raven said, getting to her feet and moving around the table. "Did something not taste good?"

Had she poisoned him?! Oh, Azar, no!

[furnaceface]

Wheezing. Wheezing and waving about one hand while the other reached for his glass and downed the contents of it.

Wine? Good. Wine was good. Today was a damn fine day for wine.

"No, no, it's fine. I'm fine?" Sound a little more sure of that one, Jonothon. "I just... was a little caught off-guard at those film titles, is all."

Purple Rain.

Purple Rain, Raven.

[trigons_child]

"Are you certain?" Raven said fretfully, still hovering for the moment.

Why would perfectly good movies cause such a reaction? Was it because they were American rock musicals? Jono, you snob.

[furnaceface]

Nodding! Nodding to follow up that wheezing!

"Positive. Absolutely positive." Yes. Yes, that was it. Sure. "I'm just... not... a huge fan of..."

If he waved that hand around some more, maybe it would finish that sentence for him? No? Damn it.

"Prince."

[trigons_child]

Raven gave him a slightly dubious look, but accepted this and returned to her seat. "Oh!" she said. "I am sorry; you did not mention that when I asked you to explain what Prince would sing about. But that is fine. I only picked that movie because there was music in it. We certainly do not have to watch it. Is one of the others more appealing?"

ELO and roller skating?

[furnaceface]

Jono pursed his lips for a moment, trying to think his way out of this one. The last thing he really wanted was... well... either of those options, so help him.

"... Actually, I couldn't help but think... I'm in something of a more hands-on mood for music tonight," he decided. "What would you say if I told you I wanted to pull out my guitar for a couple of hours?"

OhPleaseOhPleaseOhPlease...

[trigons_child]

Jono, you were saved. Raven reacted like a squirrel spotting rum. "That would be delightful," she said happily, clasping her hands together and practically bouncing in her seat. "You know I love to listen to you play."

[furnaceface]

Oh, thank goodness.

"Well, then once we're finished eating," Jono mused, twirling more pasta on his fork, "I'll pull out my guitar. You can make a few requests, if you like. Maybe sing along?"

[trigons_child]

Raven blushed and ducked her head, pretending to chase a piece of garlic around her plate to hide her pink cheeks. "If you would like," she said. "If you play something that I know."