10_20_15_5_50 | now that song is stuck in my head/a real title later

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now that song is stuck in my head/a real title later

Despite her failings, Sam was serious about her ongoing effort to be a good friend. It was why she'd warned Zeran that she'd be unavailable (“I'mma fuck off to New York,”) for the better part of a week, and we she'd assured an apparently-unconvinced Amon that the most dangerous thing she'd do in New York would be being in New York, and why she'd decided to show the two that she really as was as safe as she'd said she'd be by sending them a short video. Since the video featured her sitting in Djedi's comfortable living room, with an unidentified Djedi on her arm in his ~~surprisingly portable and comically top-heavy~~ bird form, and reassurances from the both of them, she wasn't really surprised when, three weeks later, she was back in New York, holding the door to Djedi's restaurant open for the others. It was late---after hours, when the place would've been locked up---but she'd texted 'PLZ LET US IN I brought you more maple syrup' on the ride over from the hotel Zeran'd booked rooms at. As the Fixx said, one thing led to another.

“I'll let you handle your own introductions, cause I'm too tempted to open with 'guys, the bird, the bird, the guys.' Sorry.”

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It wasn't entirely surprising that Djedi was here. There was plenty to do, and while it could keep until the morning, he was more than happy to give himself an extra hour or two of sleep the next day. And it tended to mean he was around for things like friends texting him and dropping in, which was always something he was thrilled about.

More than predictably, Sam would likely smell food cooking as she came in- if there was one thing that everyone could count on in life? It was that if Djedi knew you? Djedi fed you.

Especially his disaster Adept friends, because he knew how they operated. Regardless he grinned when he spotted them coming in, waving from where he was still in the kitchen.

"I mean, it's not terribly wrong! Come on back, we can use the chef's table." There was more room to spread out there, and it meant Djedi could keep a half an eye on some of the stock he was prepping for future use.

Zeran couldn't help but chuckle as he followed Sam inside, Amon on his heels. "Still, proper introductions might be in order." When close enough he offered Djedi his hand. "Name's Zeran, it's nice to meet you. This is my friend, Amon."

Amon gave the man a friendly nod. He couldn't help himself, he scanned the man for any information he could, vitals, general health, any apparent signs of nervousness. He was also mapping out the building for anything of note, including exits or anything of interest.

Edited 2020-09-05 23:04 (UTC)

“It not being terribly wrong—-or, actually, inaccurate in any way---is why I'm barely sorry. If I weren't Canadian, I wouldn't be sorry at all.” Grinning as she spoke, Sam limped towards their evening's host and pulled him into a hug, body language broadcasting c'mere you. (Though Sam would return an acquaintance's hug as a courtesy, the hugs she gave friends were nearly inescapable; this one was brief, but Djedi was clearly not getting out of it early.) “Good to see you, thanks for having us over.”

Releasing the chef, she turned to regard the others, pleased; sure her friends would get on well, why wouldn't she be?

"Djedi, good to meet you both." Zeran's hand was clasped in a friendly shake as the chef smiled, returning Amon's nod in kind. The place itself was much as one would expect from a restaurant, and Amon might notice that their host was both entirely calm, but rather lacking any sort of actual signs of life- a vague bit of circulatory system functionality but not nearly enough to support life. If not for his obvious liveliness as he caught that hug from Sam with a low laugh, he'd simply look to be an especially fresh corpse.

"I think you're not actually sorry at all." He accused good-naturedly, patting her shoulder as they drew back. "You're just pretending so you don't lose your citizenship."

He led the way past the darkened dining room into the better-lit kitchen, gesturing invitingly towards the table. "You didn't give me much notice, so you're getting Alfredo."

Not that he assumed they'd mind. At least he knew Sam certainly wouldn't. Especially given that he of course had leftover baked goods for after.

Amon showed now outward sign of his shock and discomfort with the clear lack of life signs. He was good at hiding his ~~emotions~~ thoughts on such things, but it certainly put him on edge. Though, he guessed, where magic people of any sort were involved, anything was possible, and if this man could shape shift into a bird...

Zeran's grinned and also gave Sam's shoulder a clap. "I agree, you're not sorry at all, not really. I think I know you well enough to know that." The announcement of food had him grinning even wider. "Sounds great to me. Thank you."

“Hey,” Sam's protest was mildly indignant. “I'm marginally sorry, alright? That still counts, even if it's pretty much the product of social pressure to be as apologetic as I am---which is increasingly less with your uncharitable remarks. Some people's children...” She gave Amon a little 'what gives?' sort of shrug before abandoning her effort to fake a straight face, moving for the kitchen with the others.

“'Sounds great' seconded, sorry I didn't throw details at you earlier. What's new, what's good, what's exciting?”

"Is it uncharitable if I'm just being honest?" Djedi protested himself in mild, amused tone as he was bringing bowls to the table where places were already set. The aforementioned pasta, salad, and a basket of breadrolls, and he was confident that if it wasn't all polished off now, that it would go home with them to be demolished later.

"Honestly if I needed detailed itineraries, I wouldn't befriend Adepts. Keeps me on my toes." He wasn't sure what had Amon so uneasy- but with the idea that maybe he might not be as keen on new people, he decided not to call attention. "Speaking of people on their toes, Alex has finally started to settle some! Looks less likely to bolt every time I ask him to come to the back to help with something at least, so progress there!"

Zeran and Amon settled at the table, Zeran clearly eager for food. If Djedi happened to set a bowl before Amon however... well, Amon would speak up with an almost sheepish apology.

"I apologize, Djedi. I am... incapable of eating." He normally didn't admit as much, but considering the man had no vital signs at all, and knew of adepts, perhaps such a statement wouldn't be too much of a surprise.

“Maybe.” The skin-witch let it go with that, obviously appreciative as she looked over the spread. “I could actively help with that, y'know. Got another friend or two who would love to join me poppin' in. We might've had another witch with us tonight, but she's the rare responsible breed and didn't want to duck on work---but I'm glad to hear Alex is starting to relax while at work. To the extent anyone can, when working in a busy kitchen. I might not know much about restaurants from the operation side, but even I'm aware the pace is frequently frenetic.”

Amon's apology prompted Sam to start a little, straightening up even as she sat. “I thought I touched on that in the texts? Djedi, did I, or have I lost a few of my marbles?”

"Don't even worry about it, Amon." He smiled as he settled now that people had been served, quite willing to relax for the moment. There was still a stockpot simmering away on the stove, but other than that, everything else was cleaned up so Djedi was able to sit and socialize.

"True, the pace can get hectic. But luckily he's getting a better handle on it." And is slightly less panicked now at his boss's vampiric nature now that he's had some time to come to terms with it. It likely helped that the rest of the crew was aware and certainly unalarmed as well. "If you mentioned any more than them being in or adjacent to the mix, I missed it. Only had half an eye on my phone at that moment to be fair though."

Well, at least he hadn't offended their host by refusing his food. Amon settled a bit more, content to just... observe, and keep an eye on this strange person.

Zeran couldn't help himself any longer. "Speaking of the mix, and at the risk of being rude, might I ask how you're involved?"

With a roll in one hand and a forkful of salad in the other, Sam relaxed; from apology to admission, she had wondered and worried. “Okay, now that I know I'm not unravelling early, I can clarify; mix-adjacent.” She quieted to let Djedi answer, smiling a little since she couldn't blame Zeran for asking what he had without waiting any longer.

"Hardly rude at all! I couldn't imagine someone not being curious." Djedi laughed, leaning back in his chair, well aware that this could trigger a rather long line of questioning. Not that he minded it. Sam was vouching for them, and he trusted her judgement. "As for how, I'm involved both because a good three-quarters of my staff at least at any given time are Adepts, and more directly by being a vampire."

Zeran gave a little shrug. "And I'm nothing if not curious." It was in his nature to question, and search, and find answers. Being that way was exactly why he was the inventor that he was. At the reveal, though, he was definitely sitting up with clear interest on his face. "Really?" Sorry, Djedi, it's the first thing that came to him, but he's shaking his head and grinning. "Though, I guess the more appropriate question is how much of a pop culture, and folk lore stuff out there is based on reality and how much is just, you know, pop culture and folk lore? And I'll admit, I'm always full of questions, but please, if I ask something you're not comfortable with answering, just say; I promise I'll respect any limits you set."

Amon, for his part, looked a bit shocked. He was doing some quick searches for information on vampires and was... well, quite concerned, though, he guessed, Zeran's question was indeed a good place to start, since a lot of the lore he was finding was... quite concerning.

“It's true. I wouldn't've brought these guys in to meet you if they weren't able to take 'I'd rather not get into that,' for an answer... but they're good about boundaries. 'Swhy we're friends. Or at least, part of why.” Now having a hand free, Sam reached over to give Amon's shoulder an affectionate squeeze, though she looked to Zeran with her little wiseass grin appearing. “More tact than my first question.”

"I believe it." Djedi was more amused at the kneejerk response from Zeran, grinning as he nodded. "And seeing how Sam's first question, before we'd so much as said hello, mind you, was 'what are you,' you're definitely out ahead."

A faintly sympathetic edge bleeding into his smile as he noticed Amon's reaction. "Though for the comfort of Amon, who looks like he's pondering tossing you over a shoulder and bolting, the first point should be that I both don't need to, nor do I like to kill people. And obviously garlic doesn't hurt me or I'd never get very far in the business I'm in!"

Amon's chin tucked a little at being called out on his unease, and was jostled by Zeran clapping his shoulder.

"Amon's just the protective sort. And that is certainly good to know," Zeran said even as he gave his companion a grin.

"I apologize," Amon found himself saying again, though for a different reason this time. "It is rude and presumptuous of me to be concerned when you have been nothing but friendly and gracious."

"Hey, I at least prefaced that question with 'excuse me,' and 'I'm sorry, but," Sam grumbled. "I may be more than a bit of a trash witch but I'm not entirely unmannered... and to that end, thank you for supper. Delicious, as always."

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now that song is stuck in my head/a real title later

/shows up a month late with starbucks

MMmmm, starbucks....

Now I want some

Damn, me too. I played myself!

...I'm a cheat, I already had some today.

i hope to tomorrow

Re: i hope to tomorrow

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