perfectdistance | Golden Peacock

( and that's his guest, in a room that isn't his. aventurine peeks out from the kitchen, his sleeves pushed back as though he had been hard at work. )

I almost thought you had ghosted me. ( he did not, ) Come, join me in the kitchen. We've got quite the day ahead of us.

[ Nero looks slightly alarmed at the mention of ghosting, but also quickly moves on from that. Following him into the kitchen, assuming this is Aventurine's place.

He didn't make any other plans for the day, so this is fine. ]

Let's start with the meal.

[ As he starts pulling out the ingredients for Sole Meunière. How does the kitchen look at the moment? ]

( it's clean and organized, because if nothing else, to play the part of owner of this room - which aventurine isn't even entirely pressed about playing pretend, despite all -, he had to learn where everything is, and at least make it prim and proper.

he leans against the counter, arms crossed. literally like the owns the place. )

Knives are over there, ( he points at the knife block, to the left of the sink, ) pans are down here, ( tap tap of his foot against a cabinet next to him, ) there's some seasoning over here, ( cabinet above him, ) and utensils in that drawer. ( mostly cooking chopsticks. even though aventurine is nowhere near asian looking, but don't worry about it. )

Just rummage through the place, if you want. Take whatever you need, if you haven't bought it yet. The kitchen is yours for now, Mr. Chef.

[ Seems about standard to him. The chopsticks he knows only vaguely from what the sage told him. It's just not something that exists back home. He does take in where all the kitchen utensils are, almost like he's casing the joint. ]

Been a while since somebody's called me that.

[ It's kind of nice to slot back into a role where who he is doesn't matter. ]
[ Pulling out a pie dish, and putting his flour into it. It's so easy, and so clearly practiced for him to start preparing the fish, going through all the motions like he's done it a hundred thousand times before. ]

So you used to be well-known back in your world?

( he'll stay where he is, perhaps take a step or two to the side in case nero needs the space or the cabinets behind him; but aventurine stays, close by for no true reason other than let his watchful eyes observe nero hard at work. the true reason behind it could be plenty, but above all else, it's his own caution and trust issues.

not that he thinks nero would slip in poison or anything of the like right in front of him, but old habits die hard. )

I can tell you're more than used to cooking, from how you handle your ingredients with confidence. A seasoned chef, I assume.

I don't know about "well-known" or anythin' like that. I had a restaurant for a few years is all. Sometimes people chatted with me.

[ Not that often. The City of Rain has so many rules and regulations people would rather not talk at all than to potentially trip on one and end up jailed. Talking to strangers in public was one of those... Nero misses that one a little too often.

The oil gets added to the pan next, as he waits until it starts to shimmer before adding in the butter. ]

( lonely, then, he assumes. maybe he misses the company? aventurine steps further from the boiling oil, lest it splashes on his expensive clothes. )

Tell me more about it. If you had your own restaurant, then was it a passion project? Otherwise you could have worked for someone else.

( his eyes watch the pan curiously, cautiously, making sure nothing else is added to it. aventurine might not be the most well-versed in cooking, but at least he knows some basics of it.

he only allows his eyes to shift back to nero, studying him. )

Or are you the most comfortable when you're in the kitchen? ( if his network had been anything to go by, frankly. )

[ He picked the restaurant location on purpose, a place so utterly mired in rules, that people wouldn't bother prying into him. A city so hostile to wizards, nobody would believe he was one of them. For a wizard who didn't want to completely isolate, it was ideal.

Until he got outed. ]

I just preferred being the "owner". [ How does he put it... His expressions come across clearly. The problem is his feelings on existing as a person are complicated. His most ideal situation is that there are other people around, but they never affect each other on a personal level.

Relationships are so messy. ]

Guests knew what our relationship was. That kind of thing is cut and dry. They ask me for the food, I make it, we chat about the weather, maybe, if they're interested, they pay, and that's the end of it.

[ The sauce gets made quickly on the side, butter, parsley, lemon juice, and a stir. At the same time, the fish gets added to the oil with a satisfying sizzle. ]

( if they're interested is a wild way to describe commerce, paying for a service that you requested. aventurine's guesses are just that nero enjoys cooking for the sake of it, and wanted to give to people without requesting much back. but if he's the owner of a restaurant, if he had bothered to actually open one instead of just cooking for himself, then there's a hint of desire for companionship.

aventurine could almost relate to it. )

And that's the life of working class. All and any relationships between you and your clients is already pre-determined. You sell a product, they consume it. There has never been any need for more. ( spoken with confidence, clear in his words that he's just the same - or at least, he understands being in the position.

being a senior manager and the owner of a restaurant can be similar enough. capitalism is capitalism no matter what, though. aventurine cants his head gently, and practices a softer smile on his face. )

Did you ever wish that someone different walked into your restaurant? Someone who asked you about more than just the weather?

[ Plenty of people come in just for the meal, and Nero can't begrudge them of that. Nero would say that he doesn't really need other people, but an existence like that has pieces where life rings hollow.

It's easy, then, to invite people in, cook for them, get paid. A relationship that everybody knows the terms of, nobody has to overstep and hurt each other by accident. The perfect distance between people, in Nero's point of view. Anything more than that, and it becomes complicated.

When Aventurine asks if he ever wanted more than that, his face twists for a moment, into something guilty, before going back to a careful neutral. He's never been a good liar, as much as he'd like to be. ]

No. [ He's pushing the plate of fish into Aventurine's hands. ] Here, try it. [ If all else fails, give them food and maybe they won't keep prying.

If it works on children it has the possibility of working on adults? ]

( a sensitive spot, huh. the change in his expression doesn't go unnoticed, but aventurine makes no point in bringing it up. a secret kept safe, perhaps, or an information safely stored in his mind. something to learn, something to keep in mind. )

Of course not. ( if anything, this is tell enough that he does not believe in nero's lies, but he won't pry further.

instead, aventurine crosses his arms against his chest, and opens his mouth towards him. the motion should be obvious enough - feed him? )

[ As much as Nero would like to pretend he doesn't have feelings, and they don't exist... he's a terrible liar and he's only barely getting away with it around kids. Around other adults he really should give up, but it's so messy and complicated he'd rather just never talk about it.

And then Aventurine waits to get fed and Nero squints at him for a moment. Wh...? It's fish, it's not that hard to eat. Actually this has to be the easiest thing, right? Maybe it's a pampering thing?

Uh...

Sure, he will use a fork to take a piece of the fish and place it in Aventurine's mouth. The fish is delicate and the sauce pairs well, bringing out the fish's natural flavor. ]

Do you like it?

( that nero actually goes along with it is more than he could have asked for, and maybe that, too, tells aventurine all he needs to know.

the food is delicious, all things considered. food itself is a luxury for him still, no matter how much of it his money can buy. the fish is warm and soft on his tongue, barely requires chewing, and compared to the food pier point has to offer, it's, frankly, leagues better. )

It's delicious. You should consider opening a restaurant in here. I'd be happy to fund it. ( and he means it, if nothing else, because it's easier to trust another guest than the house itself.

aventurine takes the fork from nero's hand, cuts a small slice of the fish and does the same to him - open wide, boy. ) Eat some. After your hard work, I would hate to be the only one eating.

Haha ... Maybe if I can find a place to work out of.

[ A restaurant... He's missed being able to cook in one since getting outted as a wizard.

It's one thing to feed Aventurine, but a much more embarrassing thing to be fed himself. He looks between the bite of fish and Aventurine and he really can't do anything about the way his face flushes. ]

I can eat it myself. You don't have to do that.

Find any. Do your research, and tell me the price. I'll buy it. ( after maybe like, winning some extra large pays? he actually has no idea how much it'd cost to open a business in the resort, but surely it can't be too expensive.

the way nero flushes is telling, and that's a bait bitten. he eats the fish himself, instead, and lays the fork down. ) I see. Then let me be clear.

( aventurine moves to the fridge, takes some wine - that he himself brought - from it, and pours only one glass. he gives it a gentle swirl, takes a sip -

and brings, then, their mouths together, where aventurine forces nero's open so he can transfer the wine... as safely as possible, at the very least, albeit with some of it escaping down their chins.

for what it's worth, it's a short kiss, before he eventually parts and licks his own lips. )

Two people are supposed to eat at a lunch date. ( since when is this a date lbr ) Unless you're opposed to it.

[ Nero can cheat at cards and get the funds that way, or he can just sleep around or- those thoughts slip out of his mind as he watches Aventurine pour out one glass of wine. A little rude not to pour out two.

Though it's very quickly apparent why he went for the one, when he's kissed. His eyes go wide, not entirely shocked, but still not prepared for it. He's so used to keeping distance, physical, emotional, all of it, that somebody closing it so quickly and so casually leaves him at a loss.

It takes a few seconds fore him to respond. ]

... Was it a date the whole time...?

[ He has... a situationship already, and it's not like they've actually talked about what they're doing with it while they're here. ]

Was it not? ( IT WAS NOT ) When two people go out to eat together, is that not what most people expect?

( the fine line is that they're not eating together, per say, when nero had just wanted to use someone's kitchen and to cook. but food that is cooked needs to be eaten, and so the loophole begins.

not that he really cares about any of it, either way. in aventurine's mind, this is payment for a kind gesture. a mutually beneficial exchange, except at the end of it all, nero could profit far more than he would. for now, at least.

aventurine steps back a little, at the very least, giving nero his so fond space back. )

Then consider it a welcome gift, or perhaps an introduction to the kind of place this is. When you least expect it, they will ask you to do something much worse than just a kiss. When that happens, what will you do?

Ain't we supposed to agree to the date before it happens?

[People don't usually make out with their cooks. Imagine how messy a restaurant would get if the diners insisted on kissing the head chef. It's already busy enough back there.

Then again... he shouldn't really be surprised by Aventurine's pushiness. Just his luck to end up around people like this, willful and forcing him into their pace.

It's not like he minds kissing or getting down and dirty, but at least let a guy build up to it. ]

Talk about it first?

Are there truly such rules to a date? If both parties are willing, does it not make it one?

( the hidden inquiry here is whether nero does consider it a date, at least now. the answer, though, is not one aventurine wholly cares for. all the dates he has had in this place were just pretenses for the game they all have to play.

but if it eases the other person into the board, and helps them align their piece onto it, does it not work in his favor, nonetheless? )

Then let's talk. Or I suppose this means I should tell you my intentions? Let's see... ( let him feign thinking about it for a moment, ) I wasn't lying when I said you can consider it a welcome gift. But more than that, I would like to exchange cards with you. No game begins without a card in your hand, after all, and as a six, it gives you plenty of room to seek other numbers. Four below, or four higher. And once you have enough, you might even get yourself your own kitchen.

( and not, like, rely on a shady guy for one. or ask on the network for it, really. that's the implication in his words. )

We don't have to do anything you're not willing either. Don't you trust me? ( lol. )

[ He can recognize this as kind of pushy, but it's different than the usual pushiness he deals with. The other person is usually so blunt and forward about everything that it's impossible to miss.

What Aventurine's doing here is different. The kind of silver tongued strategy more often employed by the western wizards, where they talk and talk until he's suddenly going by their whims.

At that 2 level, the unassuming nature of it? Great. Nobody talks to him. The fact he's living in a closet with no room to put any kind of kitchen? Miserable. ]

You could've just lead with that. I did say I'd be willin' to exchange cards on the watch.

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so sorry nero you deserve better

does he really

I REALLY HOPE SO

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