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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 3:59:37 GMT
At River’s suggestion, Pascal turned his head to the side thoughtfully before he nodded in approval. With his self-imposed isolation and his time as a prisoner, the man hadn’t had a decent meal in ages. He was already a skinny person, but his clothes hung off of his frame much more loosely than they used to.
A meal after everything seemed like a pleasant change of pace.
Soon the two of them made their way to the kitchen area, and once they arrived, Pascal sat himself down at the counter. He set his wine bottle down next to the other man’s and watched as he searched for things that would be required. First was a wine opener, which he tossed over. The champion of Hades managed to catch the device, and set it near the bottles.
Next, the Ares champion was going through the fridge and said an important fact: He didn’t know how to make anything. Pascal’s brow narrowed somewhat, and he leaned his head onto a hand in thought.
“I do… kinda,” he replied, looking into the fridge, “It's been ages since I last cooked. If we want something to go with the wine, then perhaps some pasta would work.” He was at least certain out of all the ingredients, they’d at least have pasta.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 4:22:03 GMT
"Great," he said as he closed the fridge doors and moved to the pantry. He dug through there for a little bit until he finally found a box of fusilli pasta hiding amongst the rest of the items stuffed in there. He set it down on the counter next to the stove and then started looking around the space.
Part of him remembered some of the steps when it came to making pasta. He knew salt and pepper were involved. He also knew that he'd need to boil some water so he needed a pot. From there he'd be lost.
He'd only managed to watch Jesse cook a handful of times before he'd have to go do a job of some sort. He barely ate then and he hardly ate now.
"What's new?" he asked as he moved around the kitchen getting the rest of the things he needed. "Hasn't been long since we last talked but as we know-" he pulled a medium sized pot out of the cabinets and started filling it with water "-everything can change."
Setting the pot on the stove, he ignited it and set the temperature to boiling. From there he put his hands on his hips and looked between Pascal, the pot, and the pasta box asking for more instructions.
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 15:51:43 GMT
Pascal looked up as River started to work on making the pasta. Sauce would be needed, though it didn’t seem like the other man had prepared for that yet. Outside the boiling part he seemed unsure of the process, which was understandable.
“I can make a sauce for that. When you need to turn the water out, save me a cup for it,” he stated, standing up from his seat and moving into the kitchen. He ran his hands in the sink to wash them before he started looking through the fridge. There was butter, heavy cream, cheese… The stuff they had could be used for an Alfredo sauce, with modifications.
His nose visibly upturned at the scent of garlic. Most pasta recipes called for it, though he was unfortunately allergic to the stuff. He never informed people of that fact, and it was part of the reason he didn’t eat a lot of what Enzo had prepared. Perhaps some day he’ll explain that to him, he just didn’t want to mess with someone else’s cooking for his sake.
From the fridge, Pascal took out the ingredients he’d need. The heavy cream, the cheese, the butter, and instead of grabbing the garlic, he grabbed some green onions as a substitute. As he started to portion what he had out, River started to ask him if anything was new with him. He sighed.
“Not much has changed, no,” he responded as he grabbed a knife to cut up the green onion. “I should be more relieved that Echo and Daniel are back after what they’d been put through. I am glad they don’t have to suffer anymore, but…” he trailed off, trying to find the words to explain his thoughts.
“I dread what would happen to the ones who traded themselves. Theodore shouldn't have sacrificed himself for me.” He knew they didn’t have much choice in the matter, and Echo and Daniel needed to return home, but Pascal himself didn’t feel good about his own trade. They’d lost someone they liked, someone who got along with everyone, for him. His own return lived in the shadow of that loss.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 17:04:21 GMT
"No one should have been traded," River agreed as he moved out of Pascal's way.
Right as he was about to go around and take Pascal's spot at the counter he remembered Jesse had added salt to the water while it was boiling. What for he couldn't say. But anytime he tried the pasta his friend made it tasted pretty good.
So he returned briefly to sprinkle a bit of salt in the warming water and then went to go handle the wine bottles.
"I'm going to yell at Theo when he comes back believe that but, i'd rather have everyone alive than someone else die because we didn't play their game. So, in some ways I have to thank him too," he admitted. He wasn't happy to admit it but he had to. Theo had helped get not only a healer who saw everything happen and took notes but their friend back. "It was... an impossible situation to get out of any other way."
Going to a wine rack - noticeably missing it's wine portion - River picked up two glasses and set them on the counter. He twisted the corkscrew into the cork of the wine bottle and tugged until it popped free. He couldn't help the urge to sniff at the opening of the bottle.
Then he started pouring the wine. It was red. "I'll admit things feel a little more grim since Echo and Daniel got back. At least for me. Things are starting to catch up again," he continued then scoffed as he moved to pour his own glass. "Cleo's key is gone, Lane's freaking out about something, three of your friends just traded themselves over to the exiles, and Irene is still missing but she's 'fine'," he mocked putting emphasis on fine.
He set the bottle down and pushed one of the glasses towards Pascal.
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 17:56:59 GMT
Pascal slowly nodded as River spoke, his attention remained on the ingredients as he continued to portion them out. He’d finished with the green onion and started to grate the cheese. He did not wish for River to yell at Theodore for his sake, though he did not comment on it. A lot of stress was caused by him going, it was fair to let the missing boy know that.
But River was correct in it being an impossible situation. No matter which choice, the exiled wanted blood. It was just a matter of deciding if it was worth doing nothing or having the illusion of choice.
Once everything for the sauce was portioned out, and River moved on to the wine rack, Pascal made his way to the stove to keep an eye on the pasta as it cooked. He occasionally stirred it, checking its progress. The other man had already salted it, so it wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
He turned his attention back to River as he poured the two of them some wine. It was clear he was also stressed, and everything seemed to be happening in such a short amount of time. The mention of Lane got him to crane his neck to the side in discomfort.
“It's been a lot to manage, I’m sure,” Pascal replied, “and I don’t believe you’ve gotten the time to heal either. The fates don’t let up, do they?”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 18:24:45 GMT
River only barked out a laugh before raising the wine glass and taking a large gulp. He swallowed and made a pleased facial expression. It was good. Ares seemed to know his wines. Sure it may help to have to God of wine as your brother but River didn't want to think about that part. He'd just have to remember to get this one again when things calmed down.
Fate was not kind to him he agreed. But people kept telling him he was lucky and that he should believe karma will work itself back around. He just couldn't do it. It felt like the bad was outweighing the good. How much longer did he need to wait to get the good he was owed? He was tired of waiting.
"This is the most time i've ever gotten to heal throughout my life. I only really got a day back home but you all care so I can't get away with that," River complained as he watched Pascal prepare the ingredients and move about. He shrugged and leaned his head down on the counter cushioned by the crook of his arm. "Some parts are still broken," he mumbled and he absentmindedly pushed the glass of wine gently across the counter.
With another scoff he rolled his eyes and smiled bitterly. "But it's fine! We push on until everyone is home."
Glancing back down at the boiling pasta and the cheese being grated in his hands. "How'd you learn to cook?" he decided to ask. anything to change the subject.
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 19:04:45 GMT
River’s laughing was odd to Pascal. He didn’t recall saying a joke, so he wasn’t immediately sure what the reaction was for. Instead of commenting, he took a sip from his wine glass before setting it back down. It at least seemed like the other man was venting some frustrations out.
His eyes glanced at his injuries, and shook his head, “it takes time for something broken to be fixed, and care so it heals properly. If it keeps being pushed, it's just going to get worse.”
He didn’t know everything that was going on since he was away, but considering River had avoided getting healed and seemed content on dying, he figured things weren’t going well. Emotionally and physically. Unfortunately he seemed to be unwilling to talk about it at the moment.
Instead, he changed the subject to cooking, and Pascal’s gaze returned to the pasta. It seemed like it was almost done, so the man stirred it around again.
“I learned from my Grandmother,” he replied, not looking up as he removed the pot from the stove. He sectioned out a cup of the pasta water before he strained the rest into the sink. While that was going on, he placed a skillet on the stove-top and started working on the sauce.
He continued, “When she got older, she needed help with basic tasks like this. I haven’t had as much time to cook because of college.”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 19:33:44 GMT
"Yes, Doc," River teased half-heartedly at Pascal's mini speech of time and healing.
Again another lesson on being patient. Didn't they know he really wasn't that patient? He was only doing it to be productive.
"Well, I'm learning a lot," River jerked his chin towards the stove that now had a skillet on top of it. He'd have to really pay attention to what this next step was. Especially if he wanted to keep from just eating bread all the time.
"Is that why you went to med school? For your grandma or another reason?" he asked gently.
No one knew that much about Pascal. And if anything he'd seemed to shut up more after coming back from the exile's hold. River wanted to know what was going on in his mind and why he hadn't seemed to fully break down like the rest of them. Just quietly dealing with his own problems and willing to help others. He wanted to help Pascal too.
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 20:01:38 GMT
Pascal kept his focus on the skillet in front of him, melting the butter within it before adding the salt and green onions. He stirred it around the pan to make sure everything was well combined. Not long after he grabbed the heavy cream and poured it into the skillet before stirring.
“If she were still here, I’m sure she would have been glad to teach you,” he smiled, somberly. Though River’s question seemed to make him pause.
“She was part of the reason, yes,” he replied, “but, I don’t want to burden you with the full reason.” He was purposely vague when he explained it to Lucien earlier, because it was a lot to explain to someone. It wasn’t something most people were comfortable with hearing, and it wasn’t something he could easily discuss. Though if someone really wanted to know, he wouldn’t be stubborn about it.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 20:18:55 GMT
River raised and eyebrow at Pascal and then lifted his head. His brow furrowed and pointed at the wound on his neck. "You put a needle through the skin of my throat. If I can trust you with that you can trust me with the burden," he argued before dropping his hand back down to the counter.
He glanced back down at Pascal's process and made a note of what had just been done. Adding the ingredients to the pan without the pasta. Noted.
Picking up his glass he raised it towards Pascal and shook it a little, wanting him to clink his glass with the one in his hand. "You tell me a little bit, I'll tell you a little bit."
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 20:46:42 GMT
Pascal’s head tilted to the side at River’s response. He did seem willing to hear him out, so he couldn’t help but relent. The champion of Hades briefly picked his wine glass and tapped it against the other man’s before he turned back to the skillet.
“The main reason I chose to study medicine is because I’d already lost many people before her. It was my chance to do something about it, but…” once again he paused, his breathing seemed to strain more as he explained.
For a moment, he turned his attention back to the sauce. He inserted the cheese into the pan and began to stir it in.
“Last year she passed away, and not long after, I lost someone else. Near the end of my 4th year, I dropped out.” Pascal’s expression remained firm as he stared at the sauce. While he didn’t feel particularly emotional, recounting everything that happened to him left him hollow.
The same thing that got him to pursue medicine was the same reason he gave up.
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 21:42:28 GMT
River took another sip of the wine as he listened. The information was still vague but enough to understand. Enough to know what demons Pascal seemed to have hovering around him.
No wonder Hades picked him.
He was quiet as he set the glass down and then let his head rest on his arms again.
"I dropped out of school when my parents kicked me out. 8th grade," River started somberly. There was a bitterness in his voice as he thought about that night and how they just threw things at him. "They didn't tell me why, Just told me to get out and slammed the door in my face. I begged for them to let me back inside and pounded on the door. I screamed for hours in the cold until they threatened to call the police. So I left. Never saw them again."
He went back to pushing the wine glass back and forth, watching the red liquid slosh around. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath to keep his emotions in check.
"I'm not used to trusting other people but once I had it I didn't want to let anything like that happen again. I couldn't trust that I wouldn't be turned on again and im suffering for it, but, now I know to fight my own judgement. Because, I know people care. Some of you need to think before doing something without warning but... you care," he joked lightly. He smiled a little before it faded and stared a little harder at his wine glass. "Even if I keep letting my heart get broken over and over again."
Glancing up at Pascal he gave him a softer but pointed look. "Your grandma sounds nice. I would have liked to meet her. Would she be ok with you giving up?"
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 22:27:07 GMT
As he listened to River’s story, Pascal returned the pasta to the skillet. What the other man recounted was sad. It reminded him of Lydia and Lorelei’s parents, how badly some people could treat their own kin. Humans could be so cruel.
It was new to hear this side of River. Hearing him not trusting people initially, believing it could happen again. It was a familiar feeling, one he’d felt for a long time.
“I can understand that,” Pascal stated, “the fear of people getting close, of that suddenly being taken away again. However, keeping my distance here has been… difficult.”
Difficult because he knew he cared about the people there, and for some reason they cared enough about him to worry when he was captured. The stress he felt for Lucien when he tried to turn himself over, the horror after what happened to Haleema. He didn’t think he was ready for all of that, but it still wormed its way into his brain.
Eventually, River brought it back to his grandmother, and Pascal turned to face him, his eyes inquisitive when he spoke, “Guilt is a dirty trick, River.” A phrase he recalled from their prior interaction. His tone showed no indication of hostility, just vague amusement.
With all their talking, the pasta was finally ready. Pascal removed it from the heat, topping it off with some fresh grated cheese, parsley, and pepper. He carefully plated some up for the both of them, and made his way over to where River sat. He set the plate down in front of the other man before taking a seat himself.
“I uh,” he started, “the first thing I was told when I got here was ‘buy me dinner first.’ I suppose I did that now… with someone else”
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Post by Leo/ Clundy on Jan 29, 2024 22:51:55 GMT
River grinned as Pascal threw his line back at him. Good, that meant Pascal got it.
And he got it too.
Leaning forward he picked up Pascal's wine glass for him and set it down in front of him. Then he rested a hand on Pascal's back as a 'thanks for finishing the food'. Taking a few bites of the pasta, River smiled gently and nodded. It was pretty good. Better food than he'd had in days that was for sure.
"Yeah and who said that?" River asked glancing at him. "I was fighting with your student when we all first got here."
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Post by Nari on Jan 29, 2024 23:45:37 GMT
Pascal let himself relax a little as he sat down, taking in the scent of the freshly made pasta. He took a small bite and was hit with the familiarity of it. It really had been so long since he had actual food. There was a pleasantness to it. Briefly he nodded as River handed him his glass, and took another sip of the wine.
He was hungry, but he wasn’t going to rush himself. Who knew when he’d have the energy to try and cook for himself again.
River seemed to acknowledge his words about dinner, and Pascal’s expression fell. “That was Laurie, I recall.”
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