Sandwiches

Who: Dorian and Tensiel
Where: The Lockwood Residence
When: Afternoon

Tensiel had closed Caleb's door behind her, and then leaned against it for a while. Then she'd gone through to her room, to the things she had left behind, and picked up a clean set of clothes before wandering into the shower.

It was only ten minutes gone when she came back out, wet hair hanging in long dark tendrils down her back and to either side of her face. Caleb was asleep just now (she hoped, he had looked so tired) but she wondered if anyone else was home. With an intrigued tug on the shoe lace of her new hoodie, she padded quietly through the house - looking for Dorian.

Dorian was in the kitchen, sitting on the counter as he mended his hand. He'd been stupid to put it off, but he hadn't exactly cared about it at the time. Then other things had come up and they'd come first. Like calling Harper and letting her know he hadn't made it in to work. She had a key, so it really wasn't a problem, but he was supposed to have been there. Instead, he'd had family issues to see to.

His knuckles were split, but he'd heal-- they'd looked worse than they really were. Dorian rinsed the blood off them, then began to put anti-bacteria junk on them, just in case. When Tensiel walked into the kitchen, he looked up and gave her a small smile. "Hey," he said. It always threw him off a little when she arrived, seeing as how she never used the doors.

"Hiya Dorian," Tensiel replied quietly, wandering in and tilting her head curiously at what he was doing to his hand. Quickly she paced over and peered down at it, then up at him where he was sitting on the counter. It made him much taller than usual, and so far as Tensiel was concerned Dorian was already pretty tall.

"You and Caleb need to stop punching stuff," she informed him recognizing the injury to his hand as identical to the ones on Caleb's last week and looking him in the eyes. "Cos... the stuff is winning."

The was she shuffled over to check on his hand was amusing, almost childlike, even if she was no longer a child. Dorian looked up from his hand and gave her a smile, laughing softly. "Yeah, probably. It was a only a punching bag, but it survived." Anything else and his hand would have been in much worse shape. "It'll heal," he said.

Tensiel smiled a little up at him, feeling a little better at the sound of his voice because he didn't look like he felt so good. "If you want I have bandages, in case you don't want to get anything on your books," she offered. Because you needed your hands to turn pages and things, plus Caleb said Dorian liked books... which was why she had brought him one back from that yard sale. It was in her hoodie pocket, but she didn't want to give it to him just yet.

"I think it'll be okay, but thanks," Dorian said. "I didn't go into the store today and it's not like it's dripping blood. Just cut up a little." There was no one to blame but him, with it all being the result of his temper tantrum. It wasn't often that it flared up like that, but when it did, it could be bad. This one had been helped along with alcohol; never a smart move. "So, what are you up to?" he asked, turning the conversation back towards her. She didn't need to worry about him. He'd live.

Tensiel gave Dorian a slightly quirked look that expressed wordlessly how much like her brother (the non-assy one) he was, but she didn't push it. Dorian was big and probably reasonably tough, and it was for him to say about his hand. She shrugged a little and then reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out the book she'd gotten for him. It was old, but in pretty good condition, and had at least four hundred very thin pages (like a bible) between it's soft leather covers. On the front the title was stamped in old red-copper leaf that had only worn off a little. Quintessential Tiered Principles of Magicks of the British Isles.

"I uhm, I went to a yard sale and Caleb told me about your bookshop," she said a little shyly, handing the book to him.

Dorian smiled, taking the book from her and slowly flipping through the pages. The leather was soft and worn, but well taken care of, a sign that it'd been well loved. This was part of the reason he'd wanted a bookstore in the first place: he loved books. Too bad it didn't translate exactly like that, but he could still appreciate the gift. It wasn't often he received one. "Thank you," he said, turning it around to read the cover. "I've never really tried my hand at magic, but I enjoy reading about it. Theories and practices and all that. You should come down to the shop sometime."

Glad that Dorian seemed to like the book, Tensiel watched his face curiously and itched the side of her nose. It was funny how different it felt to be cleaned up, because she'd barely noticed how dusty and dirty she'd gotten driving through open country with windows down.

"I don't know about magic either," she said. "Somebody I knew was good at it but he exploded so..." She made a wavery little motion with her hand, as if that explained perfectly the inherent dodginess of the craft. Dropping down to sit cross-legged on the floor a few feet away, she started to braid her damp hair into thin little braids behind her ears, but still looked up at Dorian. "Your shop sounds neat. I like books too, especially ones from the far east - their letters are so much easier to read."

"He exploded?" Dorian asked, looking up from the book. That generally wasn't something sixteen year old girls experienced-- watching other people blow up. Not that he'd been normal at that age, and neither was Caleb, so he wasn't sure why he expected it of Tensiel. She'd already proven herself a bit odd.

"See, those are the books I can't read and just collect. I have some for sale, but my knowledge of languages is limited to those of a Latin base. I know a few Kanji, but not enough to even make out a book cover," he laughed. It probably sounded silly, selling books that he couldn't even review for content, but there was always someone out there that could read them. Like Tensiel, for instance. "How did you learn to read... well, what languages can you read?"

Fingers twinning deftly through her hair, Tensiel blinked up at Dorian and smiled a little bit. "My mum taught me french because she's french, so I read that one. And my papa knows a lot of Arabic languages and the couple that they write down over in Indonesia so he taught me those." It made her feel a bit better to be able to say that she knew how to read something, even if it wasn't English, and it maybe showed a little in her pale eyes.

"I don't know English very well, really. But Caleb says I can get books from the library to practice for before school starts."

Dorian wondered how she'd gotten there, knowing as little English as she did. Tensiel was odd all around, though he'd just stopped questioning it. It seemed like a fact, just like anything else. "If you're ever down at the shop, I have a few books written in French, but also translated to English. I don't know if it would help, but you could look at the English and the French together and maybe it would make sense."

He paused for a second, then continued with a small smile. "I'm glad you're going to stay and go to school, Tensiel. I think you'll like it." It would be good for her, going to school with people her age, learning to socialize. The only thing he worried about was her naivety and it being shattered. Unfortunately, that was just as likely to happen living with them as it was at school.

The offer of looking at the two languages at once made Tensiel's face perk up. Maybe it'd be better and easier than stumbling through her library or a newspaper so slowly. "I'd really like to come to the bookshop," she said quietly, gratefully. She made a little sigh at the school mention. "I don't know much about school, Caleb says it's important but... well, I guess I have to try since I said I would stay."

"It would be good for you to be with people your own age," he said, hoping she'd understand that. "You'll meet people. Maybe learn something you don't already know. And Caleb will be there, so he can help you." Dorian wasn't sure of how well his little brother did in school, but he was positive Caleb knew how to read. At least Caleb could help her with that maybe. "I'm not going to be in the shop tomorrow-- Caleb's gonna watch it for me-- and I have Sunday off, but I'll be there Monday. If you come down, I can show you around."

"Monday," Tensiel echoed, thinking then shook her head. "I've got work from eight to four at Mya's, so can I come in the afternoon?" she asked, hoping it'd be alright. Now she really wanted to see Dorian's store and Dorian's books.

"I only work mornings. It's rare you'll catch me there after two," Dorian said, thinking. "I'll be there Tuesday morning, and I usually work all day Wednesday, but Caleb's agreed to take the afternoons for me, so I don't go stir crazy." It would be a twelve hour shift, otherwise, but he had to give his co-worker a day off. "We'll overlap a bit on Wednesday though, if that works?"

Tensiel just shrugged a bit helplessly. "I guess I'll try to come right after work one day, guess it's complicated with us working." But she had to be at the diner... speaking of which. Tensiel's stomach chose just then to hiccup hungrily, and she remembered that she hadn't really been up to eating anything since... well, she couldn't remember. She had just been so sad and out of sorts that her appetite had been gone, but now it was peeking back up. Her cheeks reddened slightly and she glanced over at the fixed window. "Uhm... Dorian, is there any food?" she asked, feeling a bit off asking. She'd take it if it was given to her, but asking was a bit different.

"There should be," Dorian laughed, hearing her stomach growl. "At least, anything that I didn't leave out yesterday. Let me see," he said, hopping off the counter and opening the fridge. "There's some left over soup. And we have sandwich meat. And cheese. And peanut butter and jelly. Did you want something cooked?" he asked. He'd prefer to make something simple. He wasn't really in the mood to cook.

She wasn't going to ask Dorian to cook ever, but especially not when his hand was sore and from what Caleb had said earlier (which she was only belatedly remembering) he wasn't in good spirits inside today. Tensiel kicked off the slidy kitchen floor and slid over to peer up at the open fridge. "I can make sandwiches," she said confidently, turning to look up at him from quite the interesting angle. "I'll make you sandwiches too, if you want."

"Ham and cheese?" he asked her, getting them both out for her. "I'd like one, if you don't mind. Here, let me get you the bread." He'd been planning on making one for each of them, but she seemed to be volunteering and he just liked the idea that she'd help out. Even if it was something as simple as making sandwiches. If everyone put in a little, then it wouldn't be as overwhelming, trying to do everything himself.

With Dorian bringing stuff over, Tensiel darted around the kitchen finding bits and pieces until she was all set up to make sandwiches. Which she did with a good deal of enthusiasm, until there was a little pile of cut triangle ham and cheese sandwiches on a plate and all the dishes and cutlery were washed and put away in their shelves. After pouring the each some water, she looked at Dorian and smiled. "There. Easy."

Dorian watched her, noting the enthusiasm she had while working in the kitchen, something he rarely, if ever, achieved. He could cook, but he didn't enjoy it, especially when it was just one more task to do at the end of the day. But then, he couldn't not cook dinner for him and Caleb. And Tensiel. She was always welcome to eat with them when she was there. "Thanks," he said, heading over to the table to take a seat. "Do you like cooking?" he asked.

Sandwich in hand, Tensiel nodded. "I'm trying to learn at Mya's when the diner its quiet. I know sandwiches from already, because my parents like them lots and we used to get them when there was bread." She pushed the plate closer to Dorian so he could pick one for himself. "I'm going to learn soup next week, if I'm allowed back in the kitchen. I'll bring it home for you if you want, the pot there makes lots."

"Did something bad happen in the kitchen?" he asked, thinking this might be important. Hopefully she hadn't set fire to something or anything that dramatic. An idea was forming in his head, but he wanted to hear her answer first.

Considering it, Tensiel ate a sandwich, trying to think of how best to phrase it. "There was mmm, slight dramatics with a waffle iron. But it totally wasn't anybody's fault--" Tensiel suddenly looked carefully around the kitchen, eyes scouting for an unseen enemy ready to pounce. "You don't have a waffle iron in here, do you?"

"I don't think so," he said, watching her as she looked around, as if waffle irons attacked on a regular basis. "I could teach you to cook, if you like it. There's so many of us that we could rotate during the week, I think. Well, less of us now that Mathias is gone," Dorian sighed. He really needed to call his brother. This just wasn't acceptable, no matter what the reason.

A small frown crossed Tensiel's face, then she understood a little bit. "Mathias went?" She could guess why, but it wasn't her place to say anything one way or the other. She shook her head a little and sipped her water. "He can still come 'round for dinner all the time, I promise I won't put poison or leapord's whiskers or anything in the food I make for him." She solomnley swore that bit. "If it's really okay you showing me."

"We... got into a bit of an argument," Dorian said, "I'm hoping I can get him to come back, but right now he's gone." The idea of Tensiel poisoning his food was amusing, so much that it earned a smile from Dorian. "I'm not worried about that," he told her. "And I'm not even sure where you'd find leopard's whiskers. Mostly, it'd just be nice if I could get everyone to help out a little and if you like to cook, I thought that would work. If not, then don't worry about it." He could find her something else to do... like reassembling windows.

Tensiel nodded, this was good. Well, not that Mathias had gone and Dorian was upset... but the contributing thing was good. She swallowed the end of her sandwich and looked over at Dorian's eyes. "I want to help," she said. "I was going to ask you about it..." In fact, she was going to ask him about putting her wages into the budget for the house. "Are you sure this is enough? I can be home to make foods every night but Saturday. And don't worry about Mathias," she said giving him a serious but slightly sympathetic look. "He's a jerk, but he's your jerk. He loves you both."

"Would you mind doing that?" Dorian asked, raising a brow. "That's a lot of work. And I know you've got to cook while you're a work, though I think we'd be much easier to serve. I'd pick up groceries. Just-- are you sure?" He really didn't want to put that all on her unless she was completely willing. "It's my fault with Mathias. I jumped to conclusions," he said. He still wondered how he could have been so very wrong. "I'll probably give him a call when we're done."

"I'll do it," Tensiel said, giving him a firm nod. "You and Caleb have done lots for me, so I want to help. I can practice and learn, it'll be good." Then she sighed and reached over to prod Dorian's hand with a finger. "Better jumping to conclusions than jumping off a cliff. Mathias is good at making people do either. Eat more sandwiches." She picked up one of her own and munched on it contentedly, happy to have food again.

Dorian laughed and picked up his sandwich, doing as she asked. His problem was, there were many times he would willingly follow Mathias right off a cliff, given the right reasons. He'd just never had so many people depending on him in the meantime. He couldn't run off and play, not with Caleb and Tensiel there. He had to keep his head on straight. Maybe he'd figure out a compromise eventually, but for now, there'd be no cliff jumping for him.