OOM: Mid-June, 2012, Geneva, Swizerland

[damncompass]

They've been snowed in for three days, and it's starting to get old.

It's not the company that he objects to, as much, Helena is one of the few people who can keep up with him, no matter what he's babbling on about, but it's just that he's beginning to wonder about the state of his food stores.

So as he gets up and goes to open his pantry, he comes to a realization.

"Helena? If we want to eat today, I think we're going to have to brave the rest of the snow. I'm almost out of anything that's not mac and cheese." He opens the fridge. "And I think my milk's gone off too." You'll have to excuse the boy. He wasn't really in the right state of mind last week.

Comments

[timelessinventor]

"But it is how they generally decide whether someone is an asset or a liability." Helena helps herself to some more food (it really is quite good). "He's a good person to have on your side."

[damncompass]

"I guess so. Who is he, by the way? I mean, I know he's a Regent, but why would a random Regent stop by? Is he from Switzerland or something?"

[timelessinventor]

Helena smiles a little. "Far from it, in both cases. I'm not sure precisely where he's from, but Mr. Kosan is... the top of the food chain, you might say." Now do you see why she was so nervous, Joshua?

[damncompass]

"... if he's the top of the food chain, why the -shit- is he bothering with me?" He pauses. "I get your nervousness, though. If he's the head guy, why's he showing up?" He prods a bit of the fondue.

[timelessinventor]

"Perhaps because he wanted to give you a proper welcome when there was no business to attend to?" She shrugs. "And, I suspect, because he truly felt I needed that bit of reassurance." and she's not about to say he was wrong.

After a while, the waiter comes back and asks if they're interested in any dessert.

[damncompass]

Joshua cheerfully orders some chocolate fondue with a grin. Hey, he absolutely loves the chocolate stuff.

He's rather fallen back into his own thoughts. Nothing against Helena, but he just has a lot of feels.

[timelessinventor]

She doesn't order anything of her own (she's mostly full), but when Joshua's dessert arrives, she does help herself to a few pieces. It is quite good, after all.

[damncompass]

He doesn't mind. In fact, he rather likes sharing.

He's also rather comforted in the fact that they can just be quiet, but not necessarily awkward at each other.

Eventually, the bill comes, and he pays. "So, do you want to walk around a bit more, or should we go back?" He's kinda forgotten the grocery store.

[timelessinventor]

"I wouldn't mind a bit of a walk, but as I recall, your original idea was that we needed more about to eat than macaroni." In theory, she supposes, they could go out more now that the snow's melting (or, well, evaporating), but that would get a touch expensive.

[damncompass]

"Oh. Shit. Yeah. Grocery." Joshua facepalms. "Let's go to the store and get actual food." He's actually a pretty damn good cook when it comes down to it, but there's only so much you can do with macaroni.

[timelessinventor]

Helena laughs. "I dare say we won't need much, but yes, let's do."

[damncompass]

"One of the perks of living around here, actually. The store'll deliver whatever groceries we pick out." It might just be a thing with CERN, but Joshua certainly takes advantage of it.

As they're leaving the restaraunt, the maitre'd hands Joshua a (gold? bronze?) rectangular metal box-like thing covered in Egyptian symbols and a note. "Monsieur, ceci est pour vous. L'homme qui était te parle, il me l'a donné.*" Joshua blinks, but nods. "Merci, Monsieur."

Walking out into the street, Joshua unfolds the note, written on notepaper with a pyramid below thirteen arched stars on the top.

Regent Donovan,

I realized that I was leaving you (and us as well) without a means of contact. I'm sure your sister has informed you of the function of a Farnsworth. If you need me, turn the dial all the way to the right.

We will see you on Saturday.

The signature is a usual scribble, but Joshua has a strange suspicion that it's slightly longer than Kosan.

"What in the world...."

*[ooc: Translation from the French: Sir, this is for you. The man who was speaking to you gave it to me.]

[timelessinventor]

Helena's eyebrows go up. "Well. I can't say I've ever seen a Farnsworth quite like that before. He is right that you need one, though, and besides, Pete and Myka had the one we took to Egypt." It's better if they don't have to rely on Claudia to call Joshua's phone (Helena regularly forgets to check hers).

[damncompass]

"Why doesn't everyone have one? It's not as if Claud couldn't make more..." That's a Concerned Person In Charge face. "No, dont' worry about it. The answer is probably Artie."

He shrugs, putting the Farnsworth in his pocket. "I'll figure out why mine's so shiny eventually. Shall we go, then?" He offers her an arm, which she accepts, and they go about their errands.