[ The look that she gives him is level, but she's shit at keeping the grin off of her face even as she tries her best to chew it with more dedication than she's shown the food. It means a lot that he would even consider without her asking, just decide that was something he was going to, but of course she's not going to say that. Bringing it up might mean that he never does it again. The horror. ]
I'll pay you. I'll give you one space dollar.
[ That's got to be worth at least one hundred Earth dollars. ]
Currency aboard this this monstrosity sounds like a surefire way to actually make it worse. [ Mild teasing. He doesn't want any compensation for it, anyway, he'd feel too strange about it. ] Though it'd be a good motivator for everyone to finally get a bloody job.
Or we could just start telling everyone that they'll be fed to manticores if they don't contribute in some way. [ Says the girl who didn't contribute in some way other than the shuffle her feet for however many months. ] That way everyone's happy. Except the slackers, since they'd mostly be kibble.
[ Money is a non-issue anyway when you're operating on the barter system. In that respect, the witches and wizards might be king, considering their ability to turn a napkin into a couch. ]
People who don't work are using limited oxygen, if something does happen, anyone not contributing will be on the bottom of the list to escape.
[ Thanks, Severus, what a nice thought. But it's a practical one and one he's been trying to impress on people, because seriously. ] All can take heart in the fact that I'm sure no one would agree with me.
[ For as much as he considers xenogen as a non-vital department on the ship, being in the position that he's in and the person that he is, he obviously has some sway in some capacity. Outside of their relationship, she does respect his opinions, even if she doesn't agree with them all the time. That being said, Claire is pretty sure not many people would accept that as an exit strategy.
She makes a noise like pffft. Very ladylike. ]
So that was the real reason you were so adamant about me getting job. You just didn't want me to get trampled in your master evacuation plan. Thank you, Severus, that's very sweet.
Well it is a limited resource. [ Awkwardly but. But!! ] It's sort of frustrating. I mean, there are plenty of people who contribute without being in a department. Nill takes care of a number of animals in the gardens. But even more do absolutely nothing. Usually they're idiots, though. You're not.
[ Severus is just going to aggressively believe in Claire and there's nothing she can do about it. ]
[ Claire is just going to ignore high praise until she's more comfortable accepting it. She does actually know that she's pretty smart, but when you're frequently hanging out with someone running a science-based department, it puts things into perspective. ]
I don't know how those people aren't dying of boredom. If we didn't have an unmitigated disaster every few weeks, I don't know what they'd do with themselves. Plus, we're on a spaceship, in space. Every job is automatically interesting. [ She adopts a deeper, exaggerated sort of voice. ] What are you doing? Oh, nothing, just on my way to adjust space... tuners in my space jumpsuit in space. No big deal.
The pasta is very nice, as usual. [ So there. Maybe his taste has been slightly skewed due to the available menu in space. Probably that, actually. But also Claire can cook.
Have they devolved into absent smalltalk? Oh wizard god. How did his life get here. It's not terrible, which is the most odd part. ]
Thank you. [ On that front Claire actually is quite pleased with herself. ] It would be a lot better if I had more vegetables to throw in it, but I don't feel like I should really be stealing that stuff until I think that I can actually get away with it without getting fired.
[ She tosses her food around in the bowl a little, mixing it until more green stuff is peeking through. Like everything else that she has as a base, Claire knows the recipe by heart following years of observation and being the helper with her mother. ]
My mom used to make this all the time, actually. My dad was constantly traveling, so we were always picking him up from airports or taking him to airports. And she didn't want me and my brother making ourselves sick on a bunch of crap. [ She doesn't sound particularly sad or thoughtful about any of that. In fact, she's wondering if they have McDonald's in Wizard Britain. ] There were some other quick and easy things that she made a lot that could probably be easily translated here. I wish I could remember half of them.
I'm sure it'll come back to you the more you stare absently into the refrigerators. [ Seriously tho. Hunger is inspiring. ] I made eggplant cannolis a little while ago, I believe it was temporary insanity.
[ Severus has never been so grateful to know how to cook. There's no communal kitchen here, no prepackaged meals. Everyone has to fend for themselves and, all things considered, having fresh fruit and vegetables is a luxury. ]
I'll have to come up with something unique for when you get back.
I don't think so. I think that was actually a moment of clarity.
[ She has gotten very good at staring blankly into refrigerators. Also at branching out from her usual forte of bake sale goods and into things that are more actively making a difference for whoever chooses to eat them. That's one area of pride that she can account for, and she would agree with him about being grateful to know how to cook.
Meanwhile, the promise of food yet to come. ]
Unique? Like what? [ Does she dare to dream? ] Like vindaloo?
Curry's not that unique, but I can still make it. Do you like tahini much?
[ WizardUK: still just as in to Indian food as the rest of the UK. Severus has hoarded spices, both on board and while they were off on Arima, though it had been far secondary to him digging for potion artifacts. ]
[ In practice she had assumed that it wouldn't be overly difficult, but it's nothing that she's made before on her own, and she knows it would never taste as good as what she's had and that would just be sad for everyone. For her part, she spends a moment chewing again, looking at him directly before swallowing and wiping her mouth politely with her napkin. That should be answer enough. ]
Okay, we have to stop talking about this, or I'm going to get very sad that what we're eating is none of what's being talked about right now.
I still like the pasta. [ Smiling a little, now. Okay, putting curry on the list of things to make down the line. If Claire returns alive from the corridors-- which is a great thought. ]
Is there anything else you want to do before you set off?
[ Smiling is always, always a good sign. Claire starts ticking things off on her fingers, letting her fork clank against porcelain as she sets it down to do so. ]
Dogs are taken care of. Secure promise of unique food when I get back. Remember not to bring a metal two by four to hit Erik with if he gets mouthy. Wood, only, so I'll have to cut down a tree somewhere. [ She feels like she should throw 'tell Kate and Darcy' in there but she hasn't talked to either of them, really, since before the jump and all the unpleasantness began. It's easier to just not think about it. ] I do need to pack my bag. Thanks for the reminder. Other than that I think I'm covered. Am I forgetting anything? Should I include something else?
I think it all sounds fine. Get rest before you go. All that business.
[ Pack a sweater, etc. Is he worried? Abstractly, yes. The fact that Claire can regenerate from just about anything is a source of comfort - he just hopes the lot of them stay out of the white doors if they find them. It's just too soon. ]
[ Is he her dad? Actually, no, she is not. Going to entertain that line of thought right now. (Or ever!) While she is trying to eat some nice food with - is he her boyfriend? Claire literally has no idea - before going back into the belly of the beast. She nods in agreement and folds her arms in front of her to lean on them, looking at some point over his shoulder and then over at the refrigerator. If there is one thing she's not lacking, it's sweaters. ]
We should probably make out at some point before I leave. [ Claire frees one arm in order to stab some broccoli. Really, it's just a pretense for not looking at him in the interest of preserving her dignity. The fact that she has brought it up more than once is as surprising to her as it is anyone, since she's still not used to being so direct about what she wants even when she's presenting it in a way that could easily be construed as joking regardless of how serious she actually is. Protection is important. ] In between packing a sweater and, like, finding that board, maybe. I could probably find time.
[ He's a teacher, there's always going to be that slightly uppity sense about him-- is it parental? Severus wouldn't be able to say. His own parents were horrid, and he only has experience teaching. But. I think we're all thankful he's not Nathan. (Or Noah.)
When she says that his first instinct is to squeak a slightly nervous laugh, but he doesn't. Stop acting like a twelve year old, he tells himself. They've talked and talked and he still remembers the first disagreement they went through, a relatively minor one - she's been so consistent with just being direct, even though he can tell it makes her varying degrees of embarrassed.
So instead, he extends one arm across the counter so it brushes her elbow. ] Whatever you like would be more than fine.
[ Following that, she would like to be kissing him right now, but she doesn't. Not only because her mouth tastes like pasta and vegetables but because she doesn't need to, and she knows that. Claire straightens her arm where it's bent at the elbow to extend it properly and press the palm of her hand into the valley of his forearm. It only lingers there briefly, giving him a squeeze before she's drawing it back to her side of the table.
It's all going to be okay, she thinks, and wants to say, but doesn't. Because that feels too much like an absolute, or a jinx, before she goes out into the halls and tests the theory, and Claire doesn't want to play into the notion that, later, any of them could be saying goodbye. Sometimes it feels like they've just finally started saying hello. ]
I know. [ Claire kicks him a little in the side of his leg, just a tap with the toe of her boot, and smiles. ] Eat your not-curry-pasta.
Hm. [ Not really a laugh. Because he's. Himself. But Severus settles back to finish his pasta, only nudging her shoe back slightly.
He should probably be more anxious about spending the next unknown number of days awake, no real chance to sleep until communications fail. What a thrilling notion. He'd rather just roll into it with the same smooth determination that he does everything else with, and he'd rather spend the rest of the evening with Claire, not thinking about it.
When they're done, he'll sort their dishes out. Only fair since she made dinner. (Only slightly cheating with magic.) ]
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I'll pay you. I'll give you one space dollar.
[ That's got to be worth at least one hundred Earth dollars. ]
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[ Money is a non-issue anyway when you're operating on the barter system. In that respect, the witches and wizards might be king, considering their ability to turn a napkin into a couch. ]
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[ Thanks, Severus, what a nice thought. But it's a practical one and one he's been trying to impress on people, because seriously. ] All can take heart in the fact that I'm sure no one would agree with me.
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She makes a noise like pffft. Very ladylike. ]
So that was the real reason you were so adamant about me getting job. You just didn't want me to get trampled in your master evacuation plan. Thank you, Severus, that's very sweet.
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[ Severus is just going to aggressively believe in Claire and there's nothing she can do about it. ]
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I don't know how those people aren't dying of boredom. If we didn't have an unmitigated disaster every few weeks, I don't know what they'd do with themselves. Plus, we're on a spaceship, in space. Every job is automatically interesting. [ She adopts a deeper, exaggerated sort of voice. ] What are you doing? Oh, nothing, just on my way to adjust space... tuners in my space jumpsuit in space. No big deal.
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[ No, really, it's fine. Granted, there wasn't a date on the box but.. it's fine. ]
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Have they devolved into absent smalltalk? Oh wizard god. How did his life get here. It's not terrible, which is the most odd part. ]
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[ She tosses her food around in the bowl a little, mixing it until more green stuff is peeking through. Like everything else that she has as a base, Claire knows the recipe by heart following years of observation and being the helper with her mother. ]
My mom used to make this all the time, actually. My dad was constantly traveling, so we were always picking him up from airports or taking him to airports. And she didn't want me and my brother making ourselves sick on a bunch of crap. [ She doesn't sound particularly sad or thoughtful about any of that. In fact, she's wondering if they have McDonald's in Wizard Britain. ] There were some other quick and easy things that she made a lot that could probably be easily translated here. I wish I could remember half of them.
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[ Severus has never been so grateful to know how to cook. There's no communal kitchen here, no prepackaged meals. Everyone has to fend for themselves and, all things considered, having fresh fruit and vegetables is a luxury. ]
I'll have to come up with something unique for when you get back.
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[ She has gotten very good at staring blankly into refrigerators. Also at branching out from her usual forte of bake sale goods and into things that are more actively making a difference for whoever chooses to eat them. That's one area of pride that she can account for, and she would agree with him about being grateful to know how to cook.
Meanwhile, the promise of food yet to come. ]
Unique? Like what? [ Does she dare to dream? ] Like vindaloo?
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[ WizardUK: still just as in to Indian food as the rest of the UK. Severus has hoarded spices, both on board and while they were off on Arima, though it had been far secondary to him digging for potion artifacts. ]
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Okay, we have to stop talking about this, or I'm going to get very sad that what we're eating is none of what's being talked about right now.
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Is there anything else you want to do before you set off?
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Dogs are taken care of. Secure promise of unique food when I get back. Remember not to bring a metal two by four to hit Erik with if he gets mouthy. Wood, only, so I'll have to cut down a tree somewhere. [ She feels like she should throw 'tell Kate and Darcy' in there but she hasn't talked to either of them, really, since before the jump and all the unpleasantness began. It's easier to just not think about it. ] I do need to pack my bag. Thanks for the reminder. Other than that I think I'm covered. Am I forgetting anything? Should I include something else?
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[ Pack a sweater, etc. Is he worried? Abstractly, yes. The fact that Claire can regenerate from just about anything is a source of comfort - he just hopes the lot of them stay out of the white doors if they find them. It's just too soon. ]
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We should probably make out at some point before I leave. [ Claire frees one arm in order to stab some broccoli. Really, it's just a pretense for not looking at him in the interest of preserving her dignity. The fact that she has brought it up more than once is as surprising to her as it is anyone, since she's still not used to being so direct about what she wants even when she's presenting it in a way that could easily be construed as joking regardless of how serious she actually is. Protection is important. ] In between packing a sweater and, like, finding that board, maybe. I could probably find time.
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When she says that his first instinct is to squeak a slightly nervous laugh, but he doesn't. Stop acting like a twelve year old, he tells himself. They've talked and talked and he still remembers the first disagreement they went through, a relatively minor one - she's been so consistent with just being direct, even though he can tell it makes her varying degrees of embarrassed.
So instead, he extends one arm across the counter so it brushes her elbow. ] Whatever you like would be more than fine.
[ His voice telegraphs more than fine, too. ]
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It's all going to be okay, she thinks, and wants to say, but doesn't. Because that feels too much like an absolute, or a jinx, before she goes out into the halls and tests the theory, and Claire doesn't want to play into the notion that, later, any of them could be saying goodbye. Sometimes it feels like they've just finally started saying hello. ]
I know. [ Claire kicks him a little in the side of his leg, just a tap with the toe of her boot, and smiles. ] Eat your not-curry-pasta.
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He should probably be more anxious about spending the next unknown number of days awake, no real chance to sleep until communications fail. What a thrilling notion. He'd rather just roll into it with the same smooth determination that he does everything else with, and he'd rather spend the rest of the evening with Claire, not thinking about it.
When they're done, he'll sort their dishes out. Only fair since she made dinner. (Only slightly cheating with magic.) ]