Second Floor Common Room; Sunday Morning [10/02].

[pun_king]

There had been an awful lot of talking (and chewing!) around pies and pizzas and empanadas lately, and Graham was fairly certain that he was not likely to be bereft of any of those things any time soon. But it did get him thinking that it was a bit selfish, wasn't it, to not sometimes provide something back? The only thing was that the only thing he really knew how to make was his signature choco-chip pancakes....and so, clearly, this morning, choco-chip pancakes for the whole dorms (or, well, for anyone who showed up that morning or for anyone who raided the leftovers after the fact) it shall be!

It didn't take much to gather up the ingredients and get to work, and he'd almost thought about having Triumph make the trek up the stairs to join him for something like this, but Triumph was having a bit of a lazy day, so Graham decided he'd just bring some down for him later, and, whistling and humming some idle, random tune as he did so, he got to work on seeing just how tall of a stack he could make before anyone showed up. Maybe he could even get it to the ceiling! He'd probably have to work pretty fast, though, and you couldn't rush a good choco-chip pancake!

[[ open common room is open! ]]

Comments

[pun_king]

"Thanks," said Graham, grinning over at Belle again with another swell of pride. "It's always good to hear someone else say it. I've only really ever had my family to make them for before coming here, so they might have just been appeasing me or it might just be a Cracker-specific sort of taste bud, you know?

"But making tea is also an important skill! Who doesn't love a good cup every once in a while?"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"Any time you feel like making them I will be happy to help you eat them," Belle assured him before taking another bite.

"Would you like some tea? I could make some. Or perhaps something else is better with pancakes?"

[pun_king]

"If you don't mind," said Graham, brows lifting eagerly, "I'd love some! Then, we'd have both contributed something we're good at, and both things will be better for it, too!"

He couldn't help the simple, pleased smile that came with such a simple, pleased perspective on things, as he continued on with, "Have you had a good weekend, Belle? Are you ready for another exciting week ahead of us? Did those gremlins in the library ever stop interrupting you on a Thursday?"

It was convenient, really, that he got to report on Belle's library shift, because it meant he could always have something to refer to when talking with her!

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"I'll make a nice breakfast tea then," Belle said as she opened a cupboard to look for the correct type. "For sharing."

"It's been a quiet weekend but I've done a lot of reading. How has yours been, Graham? How was your game this weekend? And yes, eventually the gremlins left me alone but not until nearly the very end of my shift! I'm hoping this week they'll be calmer."

[pun_king]

"I hope they'll be calmer for you, too," Graham said with a firm nod. "And if not? Then I'm going to have to include a warning for them in my broadcast, because, really, they should know better! You have important work to do, with all those books!"

And the gremlins probably listened to the radio broadcasts, too, right?

"And the game went well! They just got hired by a very well-to-do lady to serve as an escort for her brother to a city to the northwest, but, oh boy, do I have some surprises in store for them when they leave! I'll not say anything, lest anything get out and spoil the surprise, but they're sure in for it, let me tell you that much! I can't wait! But, besides that, I've mostly just been doing some extra training with Triumph. We've really got to get a lot in this week, if I'm going to be going on the school trip and everything! I ask him if I could see if he could come with us, but he said he was worried about getting sea-sick, and decided he'd rather just use the opportunity to go visit home for a bit, which is understandable. He probably really misses the weevils."

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"A warning certainly wouldn't hurt!" Unless it led to one or both of them being bitten in revenge but that could provide endless comic opportunities.

"Your game always sounds so interesting. Though the trip ought to be as well. The last three certainly were! Will Triumph be alright at home without you though?"

[pun_king]

It really had been a while, since the gremlins really managed to sink their teeth into something juicy, hasn't it?

"You're welcome to drop by some time and check it out," Graham offered, "if you want! I can very easily fit in a guest character for a session or two if you'd like to give it a try, and you can even stick around if you like it! The more, the merrier! And oh, sure, Triumph will be fine, he'll be happy to see my sisters again and they'll be sure to take good care of him. The real trouble will be trying to get him back, I'm sure, because they will pamper and spoil him, you can be sure of it!"

As if Graham himself didn't do exactly that constantly.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

It really had. The squirrels were probably desperate for something to happen.

"Perhaps I will. I would like to see how it all works. It's similar to what we did in Miss Gingrich's workshop over the summer?" Belle asked as the tea kettle began to whistle.

"And Triumph, I'm certain, deserves his pampering."

[pun_king]

"Oh," Graham agreed, emphatically, "he most certainly does!

"And," he added, carefully pouring some of the next batch of pancakes into the waiting and ready pan, "it's very similar to Steph's class, but not really. Instead of acting it all out in the world, it's really much more the ~theaaaatre of the miii~ind~."

And here, Graham still moved his hands and waggled his fingers with all the mystery and wonder such a thing entailed, even with a pitcher of choco-chip batter in his hands.

"And a lot more actions are determined by the roll of a die, which can make for some really interesting moments, too! If you wanted to think of a character, we can start thinking of a way to fit her in! Either this week, or the week after next....we probably won't play while we're on the trip, unless I do some kind of themed one shot or something, but I'm sure we'll all be busy enjoying France!"

He said that with a great deal of wonder, too. All the lands here sounded so interesting and exotic!

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Such mysterious finger-waggling!

"Like in games of chance?" Belle asked. "It does sound very interesting and I do love stories... Perhaps this week, or if you do something while we're on the trip please do let me know! I'm quite excited for France."

[pun_king]

"I'm excited, too!"

Please, contain both your shock and surprise!

"I'm not sure I've ever heard of France before! Have you ever been there? Do you know what it's like? Do they have great big mountains and dragons in hidden liars? Are there goblins there? Do the people know magic? Are there any floating castles?? Do they have any pies?!?"

Each question got progressively more excited than the last, until a mighty swing of his arms with that final one almost crashed into the tower of pancakes.

It did sway a little, bit it was okay, Graham managed to catch it and himself before they had to suffer a pancake avalanche.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"I'm sure there will be pies of some sort," Belle said.

Some Fandomites would be beside themselves when faced with french pastry shops.

"I don't think there's magic to be found in most parts of this world. There may be castles but I doubt they'll float."

[pun_king]

Graham was absolutely one of those Fandomites.

Those pockets of his would be absolutely stuffed with pastries! Just you wait!

"I've always wanted to see a floating castle," he admitted. "Daventry has a world-famous one, but I haven't seen it yet."

And it would be a depressing disappointment once he finally did.

They were being very generous on the terminology.

[noonedecidesmyfate]

There was one alien in particular who would be in heaven when faced with the fancy pastry shops. Belle would also enjoy them but not quite so much.

"There's a floating castle in your home realm? I would love to see that! None of our castles float, that I know of."

[pun_king]

Graham's fascination with floating castles would wind up diminishing exponentially the more he experienced them, really.

"I've got to imagine it's an incredible display of magical prowess and wonder!"

It really, really wasn't.

"I can't wait to see if when I finally make it out that way for the Tournament of Knights!"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"To make an entire castle float would be a very impressive display!"

Belle was picturing a castle in the sky.

"Please let me know if you do get to see it."

[pun_king]

"I will," Graham promised, with a firm nod of his head, and a grin, "and by then, maybe I'll even be able to invite you out there to see it yourself, as a guest of a Knight of the Realm!"

Excuse him a moment whole he gave a little shiver of excitement just thinking about it!

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"I would be honored to be a guest of a knight of the realm!"

[pun_king]

"Well, then," the grin on Graham's face was broad enough to make the whole thing practically light up, "then now I'll really have to make sure to win that Tournament so that you can be!"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

"I'm sure you'll do very well," Belle assured him. "I think you'd make a fine knight."

[pun_king]

Boy, it sure was a good thing Graham wasn't in his goose form right now, he'd probably lose all his feathers from this amount of preening in response to Belle's vote of confidence in him.

"Thanks, Belle," he said, eyes shining with sincerity and appreciation before he let out a little laugh, maybe just a touch embarrassed by the kind words and the worry that he might not be able to live up to them.

"Hey," he said, "do you think they have knights in France? Maybe I could ask them for advice!"

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle would have felt terrible if her words resulted in a naked goose.

"I don't know if they do. Perhaps we'll find out while we're there! That would be exciting, wouldn't it?"