your quiet eyes, your mouth that never tells lies.

[canicide]

[ after school, it hadn't been that hard to leave the country. he was a legal adult, after all, and einsturzen's education wasn't all for nothing. speaking different languages is helpful when you're on the move. eventually, heine had found that being able to handle a gun is useful on a whole other level.

he's back on a visit from the darker sides of europe, somewhat more scarred, a little harder around the edges. but the red string that had showed up when he came of age was pulling, more tightly and more insistently than before. heine had been able to ignore it for years (longer than most), but when it was more of a distraction than he could afford, he'd gone to follow it...

...all the way back to his hometown. expecting the string to lead him away, and just inside the borders, he hasn't told anyone he's back, but he's not exactly hiding, either. ]

Comments

[canicide]

[ uh-oh. he's not great at cooking, and even worse at helping. but he'll try, at least. ]

What should I do?

[ come on, Heine, take some initiative! ]

[culver]

[Wow Heine. But all Nill does is smile and turn to face the counter, gently pulling his arm so he's right up behind her. Luckily she's short enough so she's pretty sure he can see over her. She picks up the knife and holds the pepper with one hand, and slowly starts demonstrating how to chop it.]

[canicide]

[ he can chop things! he doesn't usually chop vegetables, but he can adjust. Heine works quickly, and maybe a little too haphazardly. after a few minutes he rolls up his jacket and shirtsleeves. ]

What are you going to make?

[ casually, he looks back over his shoulder to see what Nill is doing. ]

[culver]

[She's moved on to mixing up the eggs and a little milk, sneaking in some seasonings in the process. At the question, she turns to face him, cradling the bowl with the beaten eggs in one hand and reaching for an empty pan with the other. She makes a gesture as if she's flipping something--omelette is supposed to be what he gets out of that.]

[canicide]

[ he takes a second to figure out what she means, but once he does, he nods. pushing the first small pile of green pepper slices to the side, Heine continues to cut the rest of it.

he doesn't talk while he works, but the silence is a comfortable one. ]

[culver]

[A smile makes its way to her face when she sees how careful he's being. She thinks it'll be okay to--just lean up and give his cheek a light peck. The string seems to like that, vibrating a little more when the closer she gets until her lips meet his cheek. And then she pulls back, still smiling, and turns to the stove to start on the omelette.]

[canicide]

[ experienced mercenary he may be, but Heine still gets flustered by the kiss. he turns towards her just as she pulls back. smiling back slightly, he ducks his head and turns back to the cutting board.

the string on his finger is humming a soft, constant tone, comforting now that they're close to each other. soon, he's finished cutting the green peppers. he picks up the entire board and carries it over to the stovetop. ]

When do you want to put these in?

[culver]

[It's a good feeling, actually, seeing him caught off guard. She doesn't know why--it isn't as if she's taking pleasure in the fact that he's flustered. Well, maybe she is, just a little. But she's never really done that to anyone, so that probably explains why she's enjoyed it.

Once he's finished the cutting, she's pretty much ready for the vegetables. She steps aside slightly and makes a gesture meant to mean right now please.]

[canicide]

[ he pushes the sliced peppers off of the cutting board with the knife, bit by bit and careful enough that everything goes into the actual pan. ]

Anything else?

[culver]

[The care he's taking is just endearing, really. Nill smiles, and lifts the pan so she can give a quick flick of her wrist--and wah-la, the layer of eggs and peppers is now an omelette. She almost pirouettes around him to grab a plate from a cupboard and slides the food on to it, looking pleased with herself.]

[canicide]

[ that was fast. Heine trails after her once the cutting board is set down on the countertop with the knife. ]

I'll get the cups. [ he doesn't need to talk, really, but it's only around Nill that he feels comfortable speaking anyway. retrieving the glasses, he rinses them out of habit and sets them down on the table so that Nill can choose what she wants to drink. ]

[culver]

[Maybe he just took a long time cutting the pepper. Smiling to herself, she sort of trots around him to deposit the omelette on the table before making her way to the fridge. She opens it and leans over, almost sticking her head inside to inspect their arrays of juices (apple, cranberry, grape), milks (white and chocolate), and sodas. Look, sometimes ladies just want to have choices. Nill rocks back and forth from her heels to the balls of her feet as she tries to decide what she wants and what Heine might like.]

[canicide]

[ maybe a little too long. still, he's ready to eat now! he splits the omelette at the table for two. ]

Haven't picked yet?

[ he's a little teasing, but he's happy to wait for her. ]

[culver]

[She pokes her head up over the fridge door to stick her tongue out at him playfully. She finally settles on juice (apple) and grabs two cups and forks, pours them both a drink, and makes her way to settle in a chair beside him. She pushes his glass towards him and then tucks in to the omelette. It's plain, but she thinks it tastes pretty good.]

[canicide]

[ once the glass is close enough to reach, he drags it over to his side. the omelette is nice. it's not what he usually eats, but all the better for it.

after a few moments, he remembers conversation. ]

It's good. [ he swallows. ] Thanks.

[culver]

[Meanwhile, Nill is taking the tiniest of bites. Look, she can't exactly help it. She doesn't really have the biggest appetite. But she does look up when he speaks, and smiles as she nods in acknowledgement. He's very welcome--and thanks to him for helping. Those peppers are cut excellently. Really, she's just glad he likes it.]

[canicide]

[ Heine really has no excuse. he's just socially maladjusted. ]

Do you usually cook?

[ aw yes, he's great at cutting things. usually not vegetables, if he's being honest, but hey. it's a skill with many applications. ]

[culver]

[Let's be real, so is Nill, at the best of times. Her lips spread into a smile and she nods. Yes, she actually really likes cooking. It's oddly calming. Whenever she's having trouble with school or friends, she'll sit down--well, stand up--and cook. Usually baked goods. Even though she already knows the answer, she tilts her head just slightly, reciprocating the question.]

[canicide]

That's good. [ it makes him happy (or at least relieved) to see that she can take care of herself. ...well, of course she can, but it's still reassuring.

Heine shrugs, almost sheepishly. ] Not really. I don't... have that much time.

[ he's too busy shooting things — mostly people, though he won't say that. ]

And I can't make that much stuff.

[culver]

[A small laugh comes at that, nothing more than a quiet huff of air, really. No, she hadn't expected him to be able to cook much. With the way he was dressed, she assumed that someone did it for him. And that's... good. It means he's well-off, that she can maybe worry a little less (she won't, really).

Her half of the omelette is gone and she sips at her juice, thinking for a moment before gesturing to the kitchen, then herself, and finally him. She could teach him, if he stayed long enough.]

[canicide]

[ he could, honestly, get someone to cook for him, but mostly just buys food. letting someone inside his house is too dangerous; there would be too many possible security breaches. ]

You want to teach me?

[ oops, he laughs. it's short, but genuinely amused and not mocking. he highly doubts that anyone could salvage his kitchen abilities. ] You could try, I guess.

[culver]

[She doesn't think it's that bad of an idea! Nill has the grace to look mildly (and fakely) offended before breaking back into a smile. Even without two years of college under her belt, she is fully confident in her ability to instruct Heine in the culinary arts.

Nill has always been an optimist.

With her best resolute face, she nods, setting her cup of juice down with purpose. Yes, she could try. And she'd be damned if he couldn't at least make himself an omelette like the one they'd just shared.]

[canicide]

All right, then.

[ he smiles and leans on his hand, fork in his other. Heine likes that she tries, because it's almost as if she can make up for how little he does. ]

We can try.

[ unfortunately, this is destined to end terribly. ]

[culver]

[No, nothing about this endeavor will be in the least fruitful.

Smile returning to her face, she finishes off her juice before standing and starting to gather up the dishes to take to the sink. Nill pauses as she reaches for his dishware, tilting her head to inquire as to whether or not he was finished. She could always make more if he's still hungry, after all.]

[canicide]

[ he pushes the plate towards her a little. ]

Thanks.

[ on second though, he gets up, anyway, and takes it to the sink. ]

You want to start now?