Third Floor Common Room, Friday Late Afternoon

[bitchprince]

Two particular occurrances had led to Arthur finding himself thoughtful. And worried, although that by itself was hardly anything new. In an effort not to dwell too much, he'd relocated from his room to the common room where he draped himself over a chair.

He stared at the wall.

The change of scenery already had him cheerier. Honest.

He just needed a distraction.

[[ open common room! ]]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir bustled in, not really noticing any other occupants for the moment as he brought a few groceries handwavily bought from town to stash them in the icebox. He knew Amber was in something of a funk and so thought to surprise her with some cake (http://community.livejournal.com/food_porn/5138445.html#cutid1) and dinner (http://community.livejournal.com/food_porn/5136789.html#cutid1), and so as soon as he stripped off his cloak and bag, started in with preparations. When he turned to slice the lemons--

"Er, would you like anything?"

[bitchprince]

It was both the voice and the statement itself that caused Arthur to blink before he granted Liir any other reaction. He looked at the boy, and remembered the servile nature he'd shown before all of... that.

He was still uneasy, but by now it was settled enough he could bury it as he did with such fears.

"No," he said, after a beat that lasted too long.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded.

"Fair enough."

He started cutting the lemons and putting out the herbs. He wasn't sure if he wanted to do cutlets (easier to eat) or to keep the meat on the bone (more flavorful and juicy) and eventually just decided to rub the thing with salt and the herbs to let it tenderize while he put together the cake.

"I won't be here too long," he told Arthur, not wanting to trouble him any more than he was obviously troubled.

"I'm just making dinner for Amber and myself. I'll be out of your hair soon enough."

[bitchprince]

"Good," Arthur said. He sent another awkward glance in Liir's direction. He shook his head quietly next. Nothing to make a fuss of.

He could almost be made to feel ridiculous about his initial reaction if he wasn't aware of how much was possible. His position in the chair shifted, as if shaking whatever left-over awkwardness his poise held.

Silence with a sorcerer, he could do.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

The 'Good' made his lips quirk abruptly to one side.

As if he was carrying plague. Or plotting his demise this instant. As if he was so important! He didn't say anything, wouldn't say anything, but it did make his minor butchering of the chicken go a bit awry and he couldn't help the faint hiss as he cut himself with the very sharp knife.

"Ozdamned--"

To the sink to wash it out, turning the oven on in the process.

[bitchprince]

Arthur could say nothing. Quite easily, in fact.

But instead he found himself sighing. "Don't take your hand off," he called. "Your Amber'll want you capable of feeding her yet."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Just a slice to the finger," he admitted, biting his tongue to keep from ending it with some manner of subservience, "I've had much worse."

And he actually smiled at that. How did he know about Amber-- ah. Yes. Arthur read the news on the radio every week.

"The lemon, is all."

That seemed even more awkward, so he continued, wondering which unfortunate strain of Thropp-ness made him ask--

"Bad day?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope ventured from her room this afternoon to get away from the incessant ringing of her telephone. Her mother was upset with her, for good reason. Penelope decided to do what any normal teenage girl would do: ignore her.

Thus, she wandered into the common room and over to the kitchen where she grabbed an apple, washed it, and began to cut it into slices. She hummed lightly to erase the ringing in her ears.

[bitchprince]

"Penelope," Arthur greeted, bowing his head at the girl as she passed on by. He believed that was her name, right? He wouldn't forget the face, or the magic that wrought it.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She glanced over, too wrapped up previously in her own musing's to have noticed anyone.

"Oh, hello Arthur," she returned, smiling. "How are you?"

[bitchprince]

"Perilously in need of a distraction," Arthur admitted, wryly. "How's..." he trailed off, because he was only rude in a certain kind of way. "Yourself?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"As am I," she replied, placing her apple slices on a plate before she walked over and made herself comfortable in a chair. "I am well, if not slightly bored, as I basically mentioned. My room became stifling."

She was certain her appearance affected him so she set her plate aside, not wanting to draw further attention to herself by eating in front of him. Her nose seemed to wrinkle up further when she ate.

[bitchprince]

"It's usually a good time to get out when the walls start approaching," he agreed, and made a good effort of angling no further attention towards her nose.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Penelope got a wave as she entered the kitchen.

"Afternoon."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She smiled pleasantly at Liir. "Hello, Liir. What an odd chance it is, finding you in a kitchen," she teased lightly.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He rolled his eyes at her and gestured to the bowl of hazelnuts he was working with.

"You're welcome to one. And yes, I know, I'm a terrible creature of habit. How are you?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I'm well enough, thank you," she replied, taking a hazelnut. "The ringing of my phone wouldn't hush so I wandered down here. Mother is upset with me," she added the last on a whisper.

"How are you, Liir?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He leaned closer to her.

"I know how that is," though he hadn't exactly known she was his mother at the time, of course.

"And I'm well enough," because a small cut didn't really mean much at the end of the day.

"Working, learning, cooking, keeping others company. The puppy's in the room with Amber, I believe, if you'd like to say hello. Yourself?"

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

"Hello Arthur," Chuck said when he came into the common room. He immediately turned into the kitchen in order to get ice out of the freezer for his glass of scotch.

[bitchprince]

"Afternoon, Lord Chuck."

Sweet mercy, that name was never going to stop sounding funny. "...What's that?"

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

Chuck dropped two ice cubes in his glass before turning around to answer Arthur's question. "Scotch. Breakfast of champions."

Yeah, he had just gotten up.

[bitchprince]

"Isn't it a bit late for breakfast?" asked Arthur, who was making an attempt to be tactful about this.

Sure, he slept in, but sloth had never really been his sin.

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

"I had a late night," Chuck said. Yeah, late night getting high and watching porn. "Besides, it's Friday. I always like starting my weekend early."

[bitchprince]

Arthur made another good effort not to eye him. "Of course," he said, neutrally, "Late nights. We've all had them."

[stylin-wizard.livejournal.com]

Ever since cooking club, Alex had been on a chocolate kick. She wondered if anyone would mind her making some brownies (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE-FUDGE-BROWNIES-12773).