plasticasshole | Aefenglom IC Inbox

[Justine laughs, her voice rich and warm.]

Burgers can be healthy. I think condiments and anything that counts as fast food is the only thing that make them unhealthy. [And bread but there is nothing inherently unhealthy about a hamburger.] But he likes beef? I think we can find plenty of things that you can make him.

[She steps closer to his side when it seems as if someone might be walking a little too close for comfort. Her hips and side mold against Connor's side as the shop she had in mind rises into view.]

Just there. We'll go there first.

[Connor nods, taking the information in. As Justine steps closer, he glances over at the person walking closer than necessary and automatically puts his arm around her waist protectively.]

I plan on buying a recipe book, but having the experience will be helpful too.

[He steps into the shop with her, letting go of her waist and following her to look at the clothes.]

[The touch of his palm sends a little thrill of heat through Justine's frame causing her long slender legs to prickle with goosebumps.]

Recipes help but some technics should be practiced. [Such as poaching, grilling, oven frying... etc.

Justine steps into the store and the clerk instantly intercepts her, waving a hand as if to ask her to leave. The woman looks to have had assumed that Justine is a whore of some kind and such attire is not welcome in her store.

She gently assures the woman that she's simply in need of a skirt and a pair of shoes to replace the articles of clothing that had gotten wet. The sales clerk flushed and Justine was swept into a changing room before more could be said.

When she steps out, her hair is a little more dry and curling freely around her exposed shoulders. She has a new white blouse decorated with pink rose buds gently hugging her torso, taking the place of her corset. It's very apparent that she isn't wearing a bra but Justine looks to be comfortable without one. Light purple fabric swirls around her hips while a few thin pieces of pink and white fabric are tied around her waist. She is wearing a pair of brown sandals that look to be simple but functional.]

What do you think?

[Justine asks as she places her shoes, corset and soaked blouse back in the basket.]

[ooc: similar to this but more white and purple.]

Edited 2019-06-04 13:31 (UTC)

[Connor buys a shirt while Justine is inside the changing room, and another pair of shoes. He's buttoning it up when she comes out, and he gives her a small smile.]

You look nice.

[The outfit is pretty on her. Then again, pretty much everything is nice on her. Connor picks up the basket again and heads to the counter to pay for their things, and then starts to head out of the shop.]

You needed fish, right?

[Justine follows behind him, offering a soft thank you to the store clerk before exiting the store. Her steps are light and nearly silent without her usual heels clicking against the stone streets.]

Yes.

Do you want to buy something too?

No, not until I've tried cooking first.

[Or at least has watched Justine do it.]

I wouldn't want to waste the ingredients.

[He looks over at Justine curiously.]

What are you going to make with the fish?

[Her dark gaze shifts between Connor and the path in front of them as they head towards the stalls of local vendors selling the catch of the day as well as a menagerie of other goods.]

I'll probably cut it into filets or flat pieces and roast it with herbs and spices. The heads, tails and bones can be used to make broth though some places already have the fish cut and sell the pieces separately. So it depends on what I can find and what's fresh. [Justine doesn't like prepping raw anything and tries to find vendors who are willing to do it for her, keeping whatever part of the fish they wish in exchange for the service.]

I was going to cook when I got home, if you'd like to see.

[Connor wonders if Hank would like fish. Though looking at the dead fish on ice makes him feel... sad? Uncomfortable? He can't quite pinpoint it. Either way, it's not enough to make a fuss about. He'll get over it.]

I'd like to see, yes. Maybe I can help somehow?

[He doesn't want to get in the way, but maybe he can do something.]

[Looking at any dead animal is uncomfortable.]

Sure. Do you know how to use a knife? I have some things that will need to be cut up.

[Justine purchase a small piece of white fish that's already been cut for her and another bright pink colored fish. Both were wrapped in paper and slid into the basket. The fish here aren't exactly like the ones she's used too at home but she's trying the common fishes and searching for the ones that she likes.]

Let's stop over there. I think I see a blue strawberry. [Which is weird.]

I'm very precise with my hands. If you show me how to cut something, I can do it.

[He's never actually done it before, but he could analyse how Justine does it and then apply that technique. He follows her over to the strawberry, squinting at it and analysing it.]

...It's almost identical to a normal strawberry, it's just blue.

[Justine's lips twitch as if she's holding back a smile.]

I know Connor. I think you've proven that to me by now. But I'll show you. I should have everything we need at the house.

[She stops in front of the produce and pays for a small container of blue strawberries.] Yes. Strawberries are my favorite fruit but I was hoping I might be able to get red ones and grow them outside my house.

[He smiles slightly even if Justine held hers back.]

That sounds nice. Who knows, maybe those blue strawberries will be even better than the red ones.

[He shifts the basket to the other hand so he can walk beside Justine without hitting her with it.]

Where do you live?

I live in one of the smaller cottages in Haven. It's actually the first on the block.

[Justine walks at Connor's side, guiding him through the market place towards her home.] It has three rooms though it's just me and Harry right now. There is a stair case in the back that leads up to a floating platform. It's a little strange but it's a pleasant place to relax and read.

[ooc: her house for reference.]

Oh, I live in a cottage too. Quite close by, actually.

[As they approach the cottage, he nods.]

It looks similar to mine. I don't think I've met Harry yet.

Oh? [Justine's smile widens as she walks towards the front door.] Then you should stop by more. I can meet your roommate and you can meet mine.

[She slips her key into the lock and then pushes open the door. It doesn't look as if Harry is home or he could be hiding in the basement. Either way, Justine doesn't want to disturb him if he's working.]

Let's take all this to the kitchen. I want to lay out these clothes and see if I can get them to dry.

Then we can start cooking.

I'll make sure to visit.

[Connor helps Justine take her things to the kitchen, looking around curiously.]

Should I do anything before we start?

[He leans against the counter, looking to Justine.]

[Justine rummages through the basket and holds out her soaked panties and cotton shirt.] Can you hang these on the back of the chair there? [She gestures to one of the wooden kitchen chairs. It isn't an perfect solution but the cotton fabric will dry faster than her leather pants and corset which she's going to place closer to the open window.]

Once that's done we can get started.

[Hopefully he doesn't mind holding Justine's delicates.

He might also make the connection that Justine is currently not wearing underwear.]

[Connor takes them without thinking, then seems to pause for a fraction of a second as he realises what he's holding. Mildly flustered, but good at hiding it, he does as he's told. He does give Justine a lingering look though, LED spinning yellow briefly as he processes some complicated feelings.]

I'm sorry again for luring you into the water.

[She gently shakes her head from side to side as she spreads out the legs of her leather pants.] You've already made up for it.

Though, I'd be careful singing from now on. [Justine looks up at him, her dark eyes glittering in the soft afternoon sunlight spilling through the bay windows.] You're voice is too beautiful to ignore. [It's also probably magic but Justine ignores that fact.

With everything set into place she walks over towards Connor, lightly placing the tips of her fingers against his elbow as she spoke.]

For cooking. I think it might be better if you tell me what you know. I realize you said you didn't know much but I'm not sure how much of an explanation you're looking for. [She seems unware of any embarrassment on Connor's part. He's very good at hiding it.]

[It helps that, as an android, he can already sing. The perks of being able to control your voice perfectly. Added magic just invites disaster.

He smiles slightly as Justine touches his arm, though.]

I know how to work the appliances. I've never actually cooked anything, though.

Then let's start with food prep. We're going to cut up the vegetables, rinse off the fish and then season everything. The stove here is a wooden stove. So I need to make sure the fire is going.

[This is definitely a witches house.]

We'll start with chopping up some herbs. [Her dark eyes glittered with laughter as she glanced down at his hands.] Since we know you're so good with your hands.

[Justine steps over to the cabinet and grabs a wooden cutting board and a sharp large knife. She sets them both on the kitchen table and beckons Connor to come stand next to her.]

[Connor stands by her, waiting for her to show him what to do. He thinks he can gather that "chopping herbs" speaks for itself, but he doesn't know how small to cut them.]

How long have you been cooking for? Who taught you?

[He gives Justine a curious look, wanting to know more about her.]

I taught myself.

[She reaches for his hand and gently pulls him so that he's standing front of the cutting board. She'd purchased parsley and something akin to thyme from the market and she places them next to each other on the cutting board.] I didn't exactly have a pleasant child hood. I spent a lot of time trying to take care of myself and after I began to work for House Raith, I found that I enjoyed cooking on the rare chances that I was able too.

[Justine takes his hand and curls his fingers inward.]

Hold the herbs down like this. It'll make them easier to cut. [She slides up close to him, her fingers on the back of his hand while her front pressed against his side.] This knife requires a rocking motion for it to work properly, so the tip of the knife won't ever leave the cutting board. It'll prevent the herbs from going everywhere as you're cutting. You want to get them as small as you can. [More surface area means more flavor.]

I'm sorry. You don't have to answer, but in what ways was it unpleasant?

[He just wants to understand her better. Connor nods though, focused on the task as he works but also dimly aware of Justine pressed to his side. He finds he likes being this close to her. He feels comfortable around her.]

Like this?

[He starts to cut, and now that he's been shown what to do he's pretty good at it. The herbs are cut to tiny pieces.]

[Justine's eyes focused on the herbs as she spoke.]

It's in the past. I don't talk about it if I can help it. I'm sorry. [She'd left that life behind when she'd run away from home and it's for that same reason that she'd abandoned her last name. It doesn't belong to her. That... isn't her family.]

Yes. Like that.

[Justine breaks away as he cuts to unpack the rest of the basket. She stands in front of the sink and begins washing the roots and vegetables she'd purchased, placing each on a towel on the opposite side of the sink. Then the fish which was placed on a separate towel before she took a few seconds to wash her hands clean with soap.

Her expression is calm but lost as she slipped into old dark thoughts. Justine spends a great deal of effort not to think of the time before she came to be in Thomas's care.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject