Luke's Diner; Tuesday [02/20].

[chef_chocobro]

After a little bit of neglect in light of things like unexpectedly attempting to save cities and a bit of lazing about in another country, and another week of lazing about in another constellation, Ignis was eager to get back behind the counter and back into the kitchen of Luke's. Truly, that was the only reason, and not because it was far too easy for him to take his tendencies toward introspection much further in getting in his own head about things too much. It became far too easy, to just be able to shut out the rest of the world, when you didn't even have to look at it.

So work was just a good way to connect with that world and keep himself rooted in it, all the preciseness of cooking and the scents and aromas, the texture and the feel, the rhythm of slicing and the sizzle of the grill. The bustle of the kitchen and the delegation of tasks until it all came together like a well-oiled machine. Of which he himself was a central cog and a crucial part.

He'd been eager to get back to that experience, and, at least so far that day, it had not at all disappointed.

Today's Specials
Argentinian Choripán
(Traditional and Vegan available)
Carbonada Criolla
Torta Rogel

Luke's is open!

Comments

[deathsmajesty]

Today was not a day for striding. Liliana sulked into Luke's, expression entirely displeased.

"We are returning to Argentina immediately," she declared. "And not returning until June."

[chef_chocobro]

Try as he might (although, admittedly he didn't try that hard that at all), Ignis couldn't quite keep the small smile for all her grousing off his face.

"As lovely as that does sound, darling," he said, "I can conceive of a few logistical arguments against doing just that."

The very forefront of which was pointing out if they stayed in Argentina until June, then they would be missing out on the complementary school trip. The bill of which was being considerably footed by the school itself, without charge, without any upfront financial contribution on their part.

And free, lest that minor detail be missed.

"I can, however, offer to at least bring a little of Argentina back to you here," he offered, with a gesture toward where the specials board should be, unless someone decided to go and move it on him. "Or perhaps something else to keep you warm, if that is where this particular longing is stemming from..."

[deathsmajesty]

In a few weeks, Ignis was going to look back upon that 'but it's a free trip!' and regret everything.

"It is bitterly cold out," Liliana announced as if Ignis perhaps had missed that fact. "There is nothing civilized about this temperature. It is suitable only for werewolves and yeti, and I am neither."

So that would be a 'yes' on the warming, please.

[chef_chocobro]

It would, indeed, lead to a notable revival of the tried and true 'well, you do get what you pay for' adage, spoken with heavy sighs and in ways that would no doubt greatly benefit Liliana directly.

"It is, thankfully, also quite suitable for stews, of which I have an excellent one already prepared and ready to go."


He was, however, going to start her out with a kiss, moving easily over to her side, with an arm deftly slipping around her, to share the natural warmth of his body, enhanced by the heat of working in the kitchen and the fire that ignited ceaselessly inside of him whenever in her presence.

"Shall I go fetch a couple of bowls," he finally asked, "then come join you?"

[deathsmajesty]

They were frequently entwined around one another in public, but this might have been the first time Liliana openly snuggled against him whilst in the view of people beyond their immediate social circle. "Yes," she murmured and would let him go do that in a moment, honest. "It is only fair considering how brazenly disrespectful your shift was to me this morning."

His bed had gotten very cold without him there to warm it. Rude to chilly necromancers.

[chef_chocobro]

Well, at least the blame was being placed on the shift itself, rather than solely on Ignis' shoulders, though he was sure he still carried at least a part of its weight for bring so bold as to actually work it.

"Remind me to have a work with the contractors about the fireplaces at some point, as well," he drawled, almost idly, with also no great hurry to retreat to the task, especially not with his other arm now wrapped around her shoulders, his hand gently rubbing warmth into her arm.

[deathsmajesty]

Look, all she was saying was that while he was here 'connecting with the world' and 'being a central cog,' she'd been shivering under blankets all cold and alone and maybe he should consider his priorities a little, okay? At least until, say...Mayish. That seemed only fair.

And before he said anything, no she couldn't have gotten out of bed and been industrious as a way to warm up. Impossible. That was just nonsense.

"Yes," she said again, though slightly less sulky sounding, as his body temperature was slowly increasing hers. "I don't suppose you have a nice thick bread to go with the stew?" And before he could answer, she added sternly, "That is not a request for you to make some if the answer is no. I'm quite happy to have a regular special if it means that you return to me more quickly."

Because she was hungry, obviously. Nothing to do with a plot to harvest all of his warmth for herself. Perish the thought.

[chef_chocobro]

And, silly him, thinking maybe it might be because she enjoyed his company. Or at the very least found it to be more tolerable than most. Still, the alacrity with which the addendum was made pulled small huff of a laugh out of Ignis.

"If I were to pour my attentions," he said, "into a hearty stew on a cold day and not have a good, thick bread on hand to go with it, then I should think I'd have to relenquish any right to step foot into a kitchen ever again."

[deathsmajesty]

Yup. Purely a heat warmer. That's all he was to her. Not even using him for his cooking, just his delightful body heat.

This was what he got for pouring his attentions into stew and not Liliana. Tch.

"I never should have even thought to question," Liliana said, a smile breaking through her overall pout, like a glimpse of winter sunshine, followed up by a soft kiss. "I suppose I should let you do that, rather than entrusting the task to one of your underlings."

Gonna let go soon. Honest.

[chef_chocobro]

Even if the end goal all along had been to pour the stew into Liliana?

"Hardly my underlings," Ignis pointed out, because they were indeed all on allegedly equal employment, despite what his elevate culinary prowess might suggest, "but I certainly wouldn't want you served by any but the best."

And Ignis did pull away just then, but only enough to free his arms from embracing Liliana, so that his hands could gently cradle her face and hold it as he kissed her, a long and languid, dragging sort of kiss that firmly established itself as pre-emptive compensation for the long and dragging minutes she would be forced to suffer for such a consideration.

"Sufficiently warmed?" he asked, once the lack breathing became regrettably untenable. "For now?"

[deathsmajesty]

"For now," Liliana agreed, cheeks flushed, eyes gone dark. "If only because I'm not allowed to help you inventory the pantry." A beat. "Right?"

Look, a woman had to check. Especially after a kiss like that.

She slid her fingers between his, just long enough for a squeeze, and then headed for the booth she'd mentally claimed as her own months ago, mind very thoroughly not on stew.