you know you could have it so much better

[corviform]

WHO: SHADE and GILBERT
WHERE: Residence #004
WHEN: 3/7 evening
WHAT: One actual Victorian fellow and one not really Victorian fellow smoking a smoke and being classy and weird. Probably more weird than classy.
WARNINGS: tba

---

[ Sharon hadn't been herself before Gil had come to realize she had been infected with some mysterious virus whose origins were still unknown to him by the end of it. She needed rest after such a grueling and strange week and he tended to her without crowding her. It was never polite to impose too much on a young lady, especially the Duchess Rainsworth's granddaughter.

But then she disappeared and he was filled with temporary panic before it receded and was replaced by a touch of happiness and comfort Sharon was back where she belonged.

Then came bitter thoughts. He was supposed to be happy she was ported back home, to continue what they had all started out to finish regarding the Baskervilles, Leo, the Sealing Stones, and the mysteries of the Abyss. But while pleased for Sharon, he began to wonder when his turn would come. Three years away from Oz was rapidly approaching and his throat felt tight and head dizzy and heavy.

He needed to get back and yet here he was. All he could do was focus on cleaning the home, offering Aileen the now spare bedroom, preparing meals, and when the evening settled in and quiet fell upon the neighborhood he stepped out into the backyard and took long drags of his cigarette, watching the sun disappear from view. ]

Comments

[corviform]

[ It may be impolite, but Gil doesn't feel Shade is wrong about that. He was nitpicky back home to a degree and it seems there was less food to go around than it can now. So much processed foods and junk, it hurts the cook in him. ]

My favorite?

[ He lights the end of the fresh cigarette. ]

I don't really have one.

[foreshadower]

Nothing?

[ He almost sounded surprised. Curiously, he looked over, as if the idea of not having a favorite food was unheard of.

Most chefs had a favorite dish, after all. ]

Very well then, anything that you haven't had in some time, that you would prefer?

[corviform]

[ For a grown man such as himself, who also manages to stay in shape, Gil eats practically like a bird. Small meals or just coffee or tea before he has to go about his day. To most it would be an unhealthy lifestyle.

He mulls over it. ]

... Scones, but that's not a proper dinner meal.

[ Stress baking is easier than stress cooking. ]

Steak is alright if prepared properly. It's so expensive, though.

[foreshadower]

[ Now that Shade could do, and if Gilbert didn't know where the steak came from -- Shade's small yet growing reserve of funds -- or that there were scones perhaps for breakfast and a midafternoon snack instead of lunch --

Well! He'd be quite pleased with himself.

It wasn't as if he had needs, most of his money was spent on things like books, or the rarer, more expensive ingredients for his own meals. ]

I can assure you, I can properly prepare steak. Don't you concern yourself with that.

[ He was already starting to put together a menu in his head. ]

[corviform]

[ That sounds suspiciously like he's going to feed Gil people. Shade. ]

You won't need any help around the kitchen?

[ ... Of course he's going to try and make himself helpful in any way possible. It's strange to picture himself waiting around for dinner, not lifting a finger while someone else does everything necessary. ]

[foreshadower]

[ Just because he was friends with Hannibal Lecter doesn't mean he eats people!!! ]

You're joking. [ His voice was dry, and bemused. ] I am as perfectly capable of handling things in the kitchen as you are. Don't you fret on that. If I need assistance, well, there's always the shadows.

[corviform]

[ He cants his head, trying to decipher what Shade means by that and if he means it literally. ]

The shadows...?

[ His familiarity with Shade's shadow power is removing a rogue alligator and, of course, Eques' power to hide within them and tail people. ]

[foreshadower]

Yes, the shadows?

[ His voice was, perhaps, too mild in tone. He didn't even sound like it was a large deal at all, the way he waved his hand. ]

The shadows, which I have control over, I must remind you. It's a simple thing to enlist in their aid.

[corviform]

Is that... safe?

[ Is it sanitary? He doesn't voice that aloud, but he may as well have. ]

[foreshadower]

Perfectly, yes.

[ He lifted a shoulder, as if it should be obvious. ]

I have absolute control over them, and it's not as if they can pick up germs, they're shadows!

[ His voice says how laughable he finds the question. ]

[corviform]

I didn't say anything about germs! Where are you getting that idea from?

[ His poker face is awful. ]

[foreshadower]

It would be my primary concern, if I didn't know my shadows well enough.

[ He said it coolly, although the look on Gilbert's face said enough, didn't it? ]

Fear not, Gilbert. I assure you, you'll be begging me to cook dinner after tomorrow night.

[corviform]

[ He looks away, coughing quietly into his free hand and then taking another drag of his cigarette.

He somehow doubts he'll beg for more of Shade's food, if only because he doesn't salivate over good food the way others do. No, he gets starry-eyed for different reasons. ]

I... guess I'll use the extra time to go into town and get some brand new clothes I need.

[foreshadower]

Ah, excellent! [ He almost looks pleased on principle. Gil never seems to take any time off, and the Shade? He's something of a languid, lazy kind of bastard. He does things because he wants to, not because he has to.

So anything to see the boy relax seems like a victory. ]

I'm sure the boutiques will be quite pleased with your decision to spend time out there instead of in here.

[corviform]

It won't be for long.

We arrived with nothing but the clothes on our back and this weather is too much. And it's only winter...

[ He's going through a shirt a day and he knows how much energy gets used up using the machine. Not to mention all the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener they all have to use. It's disgusting, honestly. At least the evenings, like now, are pleasantly cool. ]

[foreshadower]

Yes, yes, it's quite warm.

[ Not that Shade noticed, but then again, he was the sort that wouldn't be touched by heat or cold, no matter where he was. At one time, perhaps, he still had been, but long ago, he'd stopped feeling it.

Or perhaps it had been his brain reading it as something that existed, even if it hadn't. ]

I can't imagine it's comfortable. You should prepare for the coming months appropriately, for certain.

[corviform]

[ Gil is not so lucky in that aspect. He's a lot more sensitive to American summers and the heat waves that come along with it. He's never had to deal with such sticky and sweaty summers before he arrived in the City. ]

It's manageable for now. The air conditioning helps, though I hate to leave it running all the time if we'll have to pay the electricity bill eventually.

[foreshadower]

Indeed. Perhaps we shall see where that goes, hm? Perhaps the government will be kind enough to pay that expense for us as well?

[ After all, they'd given him a house, hadn't they? It was something. ]

[corviform]

I suppose it depends on whether or not we're all registered.

[ Which he isn't and remains pretty undecided about. ]

Are you?

[foreshadower]

Thus far, yes, I am.

I thought they might revoke the status when I left the country, but instead they let me off with a warning.

[ He sighed, somewhat softly. ]

I'm surprised, honestly. I thought they would take any excuse to revoke the privilege.

[corviform]

You should be more happy about that. They were generous enough to warn you the first time.

[ He can't believe this man had the nerve to take off so soon and without a second thought. He shakes his head slowly. ]

Though, I'm not sure I understand what this "Cold" War is.

[foreshadower]

Should I? [ He laughed, softly. The Shade was the Shade, and his whims were generally what he followed, no matter what they were. ]

The Cold War was named because it was hardly a war at all. It's all about the powers, and their game of one-upsmanship with no actual battle. It's essentially a long-standing standoff.

[corviform]

[ He pauses, slowly digesting this information and trying to make sense of it and what else it could mean. He had theorized they were essentially soldiers for a potential war, but could it be that's not the case anymore? ]

They're using those with actual powers to scare Russia?

[foreshadower]

Political powers -- however, I'm sure the conversation would come up.

If I were running a country, I would wave this little trump card around enough to ensure they were more than aware I had it just sitting here. The Cold War was all about weapons that nobody wanted to use.

[corviform]

[ Without knowing what Shade means, he's truthfully a little taken aback by such a bold statement. ]

Wouldn't they retaliate at some point?

[ He's heard some stories about Russia, mainly from Natasha, who told him parts of their history had been etched in blood. They had suffered. ]