Late June 2012: Stokes County, South Dakota, The Warehouse/Leena's B&B

[damncompass]

Joshua has realized two things over the past half-week. First, he loves his new job more than anything ever. He can do all of the science he wants, or he can just sit in the office and watch other people do what they're doing while poking on the internet.

Second, he needs a damn car. The rental's fine for now, but he'd checked the other day, and he'd only officially rented it for two weeks. That goes on a to-do list for the weekend.

This day, however, he's locked himself in his lab to finish setting it up and take stock of what he's going to need to get or order.

Comments

[damncompass]

"Pretty sure Pete's not going to be back tonight, but I can call if you'd feel better." Joshua shrugs. "Besides. I feel like cooking. I think it's a spaghetti night."

[k39zzz]

"That case sounds complicated enough to keep him an Artie occupied for the night." For which she's exceedingly grateful.
"Is it a spaghetti night? I didn't know there was a way to tell."

[damncompass]

"It's a family thing. My mom made the best spaghetti ever, and some days, one or more of us would just decree it to be a spaghetti night. I'm pretty sure that Leena stocks the stuff I'd need for it." If not, he does know where the Univille grocery is.

[k39zzz]

Jane nods. "Sounds like a family tradition worth keeping. Do you need any help? Leena headed to the Warehouse herself after I got here."

[damncompass]

"Well, there is a lot of chopping involved." Joshua stands up and smiles. "I wouldn't mind some help with that."

[k39zzz]

"I know my way around a cutting board. And cooking for a large group."
Even when Pete was a teenager she was still essentially cooking for four; he picked up the slack just fine.

[damncompass]

"Sounds good to me." Joshua goes to the kitchen, and starts pulling things out onto the counter, and rummaging for pots, and other sundries.

About half an hour passes, with cheerful conversation and cooking, before the house starts smelling wonderful with pasta, salad, and garlic bread.

[claudiometer]

And that's about the time the ladies get back from the Warehouse.

Claudia inhales and grins. "Spaghetti night! Awesome."

"Joshua does know all he had to do was call me and I'd come help, right?" (Not that Leena really minds; she's had a busy afternoon trying to get some of the stuff from Warehouse 2 sorted.)

"I'm sure he does, but it smells like he's managing just fine on his own."

"Not quite on his own. He's got company."

Claudia frowns. "What?"

[timelessinventor]

"He did mention that he was having a meeting." Helena points out, a bit wryly. "Perhaps his meeting stayed for dinner."

[damncompass]

"Hey! People're back!" Joshua comes out of the kitchen, oven mitts on. "Can someone help with setting the table?"

[claudiometer]

"On it!" Claudia says-- and pulls up short when she gets to the kitchen and sees who's helping.
"Oh. You didn't mention your company was Video Lady."

[damncompass]

"Video lady?" Joshua glances at his company for a moment, then shrugs. That's a part of the process he hasn't experienced yet.

"Well, I did say I had a meeting."

[k39zzz]

"Jane. Good to meet you properly." She can't help feeling like she's dodged a bullet, but she's not expecting her luck to last. Not when Claudia's extremely smart and everyone else here knows already.

Leena frowns. "Funny, usually they do the risk statements earlier after they hire someone. Maybe they decided to wait until you came back from Geneva for good."

[damncompass]

"Risk statements? Right." Joshua shrugs. Maybe it's a Regent thing. "Anyway, Everyone knows everyone else here, so can we get the table set?" Joshua Donovan, changing the topic since who knows when.

[timelessinventor]

"I'll help put things in serving dishes, darling." Helena goes into the kitchen to do so.

Claudia has already gone to a cabinet for regular plates.

[k39zzz]

"This is an extremely dangerous job. We don't want anyone going into it without acknowledging the risks involved."
(You'd think this would mean less Surprise Transfers, but Mrs. Frederic does seem to like them.)

[damncompass]

"Oh, I know." Joshua shrugs. "I think I know the risks, though." Faced his own death more than a few times in that Space.

[k39zzz]

"They'll still get a record of it," Leena says. "Has anyone cut the bread yet?"

[damncompass]

"I don't think so. I did take it out of the oven, though." He goes back in, and helps Helena plate the spaghetti, sauce, and grabs a thing of Parmesan from the fridge. "We can deal with the plastic, right? Right."

[claudiometer]

"Of course we can deal with plastic," Claudia says from the dining room.

Before long, they're settled in to dinner, and all is well.

[k39zzz]

All is well - the spaghetti's excellent and the company is fantastic - until, halfway through, Jane forgets herself and launches into a Pete's Childhood story.

[claudiometer]

Somehow, Claudia manages not to interrupt until she's done.
"...Well, that's interesting, Regent Mom."

Leena just rolls her eyes.

[damncompass]

Joshua raises an eyebrow. "Cat's out of the bag, I guess." He knows that look on Claudia's face.

Helena just snickers.

[k39zzz]

"Is it, Miss Donovan?" When in doubt, refuge in formality.

[claudiometer]

"Oh, it is. You planning to tell him before the next apocalypse?"