Fourth Floor Common Room, after classes

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Finishing dinner preparations had allowed Isabel a little time to process everything she'd learned during the day. Hopefully with the information she and Parker had given Professor Phale to be played out in a bit, he'd be able to stop Lana, Phoebe and Marie before they messed with anyone else's head.

But for now Isabel focused on dinner with friends and that meant cooking rice and setting out toppings to go with the huge pot of chili on the stove.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack wandered in and over to Isabel, leaning over her shoulder to watch what she was doing. "Give me something to do?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel briefly leaned back against him before pointing at the onions. "Chop them please?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack smiled and kissed the top of her head, grateful for something to distract him. "I can do that." He washed his hands before snagging a chopping board, onions and a sharp knife. "I've never made chilli before, how many do you need?" he asked, already working on the first.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"The chili's actually done," Isabel said, pointing at the pot on the stove. "It's just simmering. Those are just extra toppings. I've also got cheese, sour cream, cilantro. All good stuff."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Gotcha. That's why it smells so good." He grinned as he cut paper thin onion slices, blinking rapidly as the fumes started to get to him. "What's cilantro? It sounds vaguely obscene."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam entered the common room a little hesitantly, not sure how to handle Jack and Cedric if they were both so fragile. "Smells good," she said, leaning on the counter.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Isabel smiled. "Cooking relaxes me."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"See, now I just want to propose to you," Sam said, peeking into the pot, "What is it?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think Virginia has a law against that," Isabel chuckled. "It's chili. And I've got bread for bread bowls, rice and all kinds of toppings. So hopefully you'll like it."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I didn't have to make it or scrounge for it, so I adore it already," Sam told her. "Thanks for letting me crash."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack's glanced up from chopping the onions, and made himself smile, watching her closely as his suspicions clamoured for attention. It's Sam, shut up. "Yeah, Izzy's a good cook. I'm glad you came, Sam."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Me too," Sam placed a hand on his back, and asked quietly, "Any better?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Yes, no, maybe. But he didn't tense when she touched him, pressed back against her hand instead. "Yeah, I think so," he said a bit hesitantly, searching her face. "Sorry about in class."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Me too," Sam had felt guilty that she'd forgotten Jack was going through something significant and had to be doing a lot of questioning.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

Cedric had promised and, even though he was nearly sweating and shaking bu the time he made it to the common room, he was there.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Cedric," Sam greeted him, watchful and awkward after what Jack had told her about his magic being gone.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Hello," he said, smiling a little. "How are you?"

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"A little worried," she admitted, taking a few steps closer to him. "You?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Cedric." Jack hesitated, those suspicions flaring to life, but frak it, it was Cedric. Even if he had set him up for Lana, he didn't care. And there was no way he was faking this.

Jack abandoned his kitchen duties to make his careful way over, not wanting to startle him. "You came."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I promised," he said, nodding. "How are you?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Confused. Worried. Scared. "I'm okay," he replied, hesitantly reaching out to put one arm around him and draw him further in to the common room. "How about you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel frowned, more then willing to believe he was another victim. For a moment she regretted that Phale was going to handle things. Because accident or not, she wanted to kill Lana.

Forcing a smile, she pointed to one of the stools at the counter. "Come have a seat, it's almost ready."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm fine over here," he said as politely as he could.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

And if the mountain won't come to Mohammed... Isabel walked over, careful not get too close. "Did you get my message?"

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

The smells of chili enticed John from his dorm room. He wandered over and saw that there was a 'thing' going on. Or what looked like a 'thing' and he felt stupid for asking if it was a 'thing' if it wasn't a 'thing' so he just... kinda... walked past. Waving.