noreasonneeded | IC/Overflow Post

Ultimately, it's not going to be me who cares about any faux pas you make. I lived with vampires for far too long.

At least you didn't say ketchup.

Adonis has fine manners when he’s with me.

[Namely because both men find most manners stupid and ignore them save for maybe one or two on occasion.]

I’d eat eggs with ketchup on them, but no, I don’t that on them by choice.

You say that because they match your own. Which is to say when it suits you.

There's nothing wrong with it but it isn't my first choice, I agree.

Hot sauce is more preferrable than ketchup.

We have an understanding. Which is to not be understanding.

Waffles and eggs are a good balance. More balanced even than my usual preference of waffles with potatoes. [Hers at least has protein. Still. It's a breakfast he used to have with Jordie before they lost what meager money they had, and it's a habit he can't quite give up.]

That sounds like the two of you in a nutshell.

I don't get it all the time but on the days that I can't afford a sugar crash, I do add some protein. That said, potatoes and waffles are a great combination as well.

How do you like your potatoes? Where they still look like a potato or hashbrowns? Or does it not matter so long as they're potatoes?

Last I talked to him, he sounded quite bored with the underworld.

Don't worry, I won't suddenly think you're completely sensible about eating.

All are fine, but with waffles, it's usually hash browns. If someone stuck a baked potato with them on the plate though I wouldn't say no.

[He's a food gremlin with the stomach of a goat, he'll eat anything.]

I'm apparently the worst food taster in the world according to Nina because everything she has me taste I say is fine.

To be fair, there is only so much entertainment in the underworld that isn't just torture and death. And the man gets bored easily. Which is a questionable mix.

Oh good, I would hate for you or anyone to get the wrong idea.

I respect that.

Don't tell that to Adonis. He may make it his mission to try recipes out on you. He was trained as a chef not long ago.

Fair enough. I can think of a few people I wouldn't mind torturing for a good while, though who has the time to do it for eternity. I hope they're still suffering, at least.

I don't mind people feeding me. They just need to know that it's likely to end in being told it all tastes fine. What cuisine did he study?

I have it under good authority if you give him the names, he'll take care of it for you.

Fair enough. Primarily French and English because we were in London at the time. But he's also worked with a couple of chefs from Italy because we had an obsession with Italian food at one point.

Dessert is not his specialty though.

[ Truth is, she still loves Italian food to this day and it is likely what Adonis cooks for her when she visits or he manages to visit her. ]

I'll keep that in mind. As long as personal touches can be added.

I like desserts but I wouldn't say I have a big sweet tooth, anyway. Traditional English food or "English" food like there's "Ketterdam" food with other influences? I know there's amazing Indian and other curries in England.

[In Ketterdam's case it's more from being a bustling port city and financial capital that others from different countries came to and then never left.]

Absolutely.

Both. Many English really like their traditional food but he makes a top-notch curry.

I actually do like a lot of English pub food.

[It’s like 75% fried things and potatoes, of course he does.]

He’ll have to tell me his thoughts on Ketterdam’s fish and chips. The fish at least is extremely fresh.

I can't lie, I do too.

He's never said anything bad about any of the food he's had in Ketterdam to me so I would say that's a positive sign.

It’s no Italian, though?

It is a big foodie city. Glad to hear it meets his ancient standards. I’ll have to ask him for lessons sometime.

[Kaz can get by keeping himself alive in the kitchen, but he’s hardly great at it. Having an opportunity to improve isn’t one he often passes by, and he’s not above asking people he trusts as he does Wylan in his lab.]

It's no Italian. He makes a great fettuccini and a terrific lasagna. It reminds me of those... easier days, I suppose.

If it breaks up his days in the Underworld, he would be all for it. I would even hazard to guess it would make his day.

It’s good that you can embrace parts of those days now.

My company does tend to make or break someone’s days.

Yeah, it's nice that I've been able to embrace it rather than what I used to do.

[ Which he knew all too well. ]

With your stellar reputation, I've no doubt. But much like your wardrobe choice, it works in your favor.

I hope you’re not focusing too much on the time that was lost in doing it. I get the temptation, but it’s far more productive to look forward when you can, I think.

Sometimes I think that’s most of what life is, finding ways to maximize what’s had. Never meet a flaw that you don’t try and work into an advantage.

[Also easier said than done, but worth the effort in his mind. It helps to then hide what is still left vulnerable.]

I can assure you that I'm not. Instead of burying the memories down when they come, I embrace them but I don't focus too much time on them otherwise.

Besides. I have people like you and Adonis to bring me back to Earth when I need it.

Or Hell, as the case may be in his case.

You have a point and something that I try to do as much as I can these days.

I’m glad to hear that, Piper. Honestly. I can’t say I’m that great at it yet. I’m trying more these days.

Always. I’m here to tether when needed.

You know he tried to recruit me.

Same. That part comes much easier than what we were just talking about.

I can imagine, for both of us, it will be something we work on for a very long time to come. Some days are easier than others.

Same, Kaz.

Ah, did he? I wondered when he'd try. He doesn't have the greatest elevator speech, especially when that elevator is one that goes down and not up. I've told him he needs to work on it and he just gives me a look.

I cannot agree more. It comes much easier than everything else.

He did. It wasn’t a terrible pitch, but I prefer to work for myself and take commissions along the way. What he thinks would make me a great asset now he’d hate if I actually worked under him - best we’re on more equal footing as allies.

Still, it was a show of trust. I get that much.

That makes logical sense and something I have no doubt he'd respect more than anything.

It was.

Besides, you're better off. They have crap benefits even if the coffee is decent.

Yeah, he seemed fine when we talked about it.

Benefits are important, but they do get tricky in our line of work, so I empathize with him. There has to be some sort of package for my businesses that run above the legal line, so all the Dregs “technically” have legal jobs within the clubs or other establishments. That doesn’t mean any of them can actually go to a hospital and have questions start being asked given all the illegal work we do. They need to see under the table healers that get paid off the books. Which, yes, I do arrange and cover, but that’s a perk not a written insurance contract.

Then he's fine with it but it doesn't mean he won't ask in several years because he's a stubborn bastard.

Of course you do. I wouldn't expect it any other way from you.

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