He liked to think he had a decent eye for people. He didn't, but he could tell when someone was nice. She was nice. He liked nice. Nice was what he aimed for. He could tell he was going to get along with this woman juuuust fine.

He didn't even look up from his concentration on getting the door open as she asked him the question. It was just a question, right? And of course she knew they were together, Elke had probably told her the last time they hung out, right?

"Time moves so fast here... Four months? Though there was that stretch of time in which we didn't see each other after we started dating. Her dad was pretty mad when he found out, I guess." He wasn't sure if that was why, but it made sense.

Mabe she just didn't care. That was also a possibility. She was confusing after all. More so than anyone else he'd ever met.

"Where do you want me to put this stuff? Do we have more trips to make?"

She chuckled, petting Sloth on the head as the big snake shifted around her shoulders. "I can see that. Saphirus, I think, has a hard time letting go, and she is well past leaving the nest. Fathers of Daughters often times find it harder seeing their little ones grow up and move on with their own lives. Have you met him at length, yet? He does tend to calm down after a while if you give him enough time."

It was thankfully easy to ignore the poisonous whispers in her mind trying to ruin the mood. Her own father hadn't had a hard time at all when distancing himself from her, after all...

"I do, actually! I need to collect another box and a bag from one of the offices downstairs. Is you could just set those boxes over there that would be wonderful." She'd brought the other items along on her first trip, and then left them there as she went back for more. Her medical bag was down there.

"I wouldn't mind at all if you'd like to accompany me there, but I will also understand if you need to leave. Class schedules and such here are run pretty tight, from what I remember."

She paused as her stomach rumbled, and blushed in embarrassment. "... I should probably head to the kitchen and whip something up, too. I neglected to eat breakfast this morning and I am now greatly regretting it."

More talk of Saphirus... Why did mention of him sour his mood a bit every time? By all accounts he was one of the good guys. He supposed they were just very different types of heroes. Not even two sides of the same coins, but a different currency altogether. What could she have seen in him?

"I can help with that! Day's free for me, pretty much." He set the boxes he'd been carrying down carefully and patted his hands, turning and looking toward her as her stomach rumbled. A bemused smile crossed his face. "Okay! I can whip something up, actually. It's a good time for a snack, right?" He started walking past her and toward the kitchen.

"What are you in the mood for? Oh, any allergies or anything you don't like?" He would move at her pace, but he knew a rumbly tummy wasn't a good time, and that meant it needed to be corrected! "Any increased or decreased ability to eat from your mutation? Gotta get the servings right." He didn't have any of those sensitivities himself, but he always asked. You'd be surprised, he'd met 500 pound mutants that couldn't eat more than a few bites a day, and a 30 pound rat man that could eat his weight in burgers.

"Oh, um, if it's alright? I'm told I'm an excellent cook, and I'd hate to part ways without feeling like the work is done!"

She was very surprised by his sudden declaration that he would be cooking. She barely knew him! She couldn't just go expecting him to cook for her like that!

But, as she opened her mouth to politely protest, he continued on and she gradually snuffed out the option to cook for herself. In fact, the way he carried on was quite endearing. She could tell that he actually cared and that was rare and unique and totally belonged right where he had ended up. She ended up smiling instead, hurrying along to match the footsteps he had matched for her as he led them both to the kitchen.

"No allergies." She replied, "and I will eat pretty much anything."

He was... interesting. Unique in many ways and yet so so similar to others that she had met and grown fond of over the years.

"Actually, I would throw those servings right out the window if you are cooking for me. My mutation requires so much energy that I am able to consume large quantities of food, and I need to often. Me missing breakfast was very poor considering that It can have lasting effects on me, but..." She blushed again and ran a hand over the smooth snake bodies atop her head. "... I was in just such a hurry I allowed common sense to escape me, I suppose..." A chuckle did nothing to make her seem less irresponsible, she was sure.

"I would love to see what you can cook up for me! I am a bit of a chef myself you see, and I do so love seeing others in action."

He didn't even notice the shift of emotions in his new friend as he walked down the hall, pausing only when she listed her lack of allergies, and general non-pickiness. Amazing. Anything and everything.

"See? That's why I ask! And no worries, we'll get you fixed right up, and then get those last boxes from downstairs." He walked on into the kitchen and politely pulled out a chair for her.

"Oh, it looks like I'm gonna really have to show my skills if I wish to impress! Alright, lets see... what do we have..." He opened up the fridge... well stocked as always... Avoiding the package of saw meat that said 'do not cook' on it, he looked back to her... Large servings. Relatively quick. A stir fry should do the trick. Soy sauce, fresh veggies, some beef cut into thin strips. Oh, a side of fried rice as well. Egg, and shrimp would round out that. Oh, and a little pineapple to add in some sweetness!

He went to work. The kitchen was well equipped, and he'd practiced all sorts of recipes to glowing reviews. Considering it was a bit closer to an early lunch, he didn't mind throwing something a little heavier her way, especially since it felt nice to get something filling in you when you'd skipped a meal.

Within moments the kitchen was awash in meaty, sweet, and somewhat salty aroma as he worked three pans at once, timing things out with practiced ease. "What do you usually cook in your spare time?" He said as he washed his hands and dried them off on the apron he'd borrowed from the pantry.

Quickly, as the mains cooled he threw together a salad with cabbage, bean sprouts, lettuce and a tangy dressing. Looking at all he'd made, he figured there might be some leftovers for the students even with a hefty appetite. Could be wrong, though.

A few seconds later a heaping plate of stir fried beef and veggies next to shrimp fried rice was placed before her, a small salad plate to the side waiting for a tonging from the full bowl next to it. "Hope you don't mind waterchestnuts and baby carrots. I love the texture."

He had a seat next to her, his own, much more modest serving before him. "Let me know if you'd like some more. I have more rice from the wok warming over in the oven!"

Oh, Poor Elke wouldn't know what hit her with this one.

Or... This poor boy would know exactly what hit him, that being ELke. He was just so polite!

As she took the offered seat and watched him move around getting ready, it made her miss Erik terribly. She loved watching him cook when she gave him the chance. Fighting off a wave of melancholy and the terrible ache for her loved one, she forced herself to pay attention to the young man. He was very adept in a kitchen and seemingly well acquainted with what the school had to offer. She remembered the days when she was younger and had been puttering around the kitchen herself.

"A lot of things, really. I cook quite a lot of cultural dishes, but in the last few years, I have been experimenting with a broader assortment of things. A friend of mine is even helping me learn some of the more common Japanese dishes." Speaking of, she really did need to call him and see how things were going. It had been a week or so with everything going on.

"I love to make Amygdalota, and Baklava... oh, and Dolmadakia! Though, it can be a little hard to find grape leaves here."

She crossed her arms on the counter before her, smiling faintly, "How did you come to be so adapt in a kitchen, Xavier? Have you taken culinary classes?"

"Ohh! I'd love to learn some new recipes, if you'd teach me some time!" He grinned widely, digging in to his plate for a few moments before looking up.

"I know Baklava, but what are the other two? You've got my curiosity piqued with grape leaves... Hmm... Oh, have you tried the Mediterranean marked on 4th?" He took another bite, focusing more on the salad and the lighter, less carb heavy options himself.

"Oh, me? I've taken a few quick courses, and then watched tutorials. I also try to cook something new every week. Juniper, my neighbor is usually my food critic, though I guess she always just tells me it tastes great." He chuckled, narrowly avoiding a frown as he thought about how long it had been since he'd actually hung out with Juni... He had the feeling she'd been sorta avoiding him a bit.


"I suppose your tastebuds will have to tell me if you agree!"

She probably spent a bit too much time marveling at the plate he had made her, rather than actually digging into it. He'd already sat and started eating before she'd even thought to pick up her own fork!

"I would love to teach you! Since I will be here for an undetermined amount of time you will probably find me here more often than not. We should exchange recipes!"

...Calm down, Andrea.

She stopped bouncing in her seat and forced herself to face her food again. Great! She was already losing it without charts to focus on!

"Dolmadakia is a variety of dishes, but all stuffed in grape leaves and cooked. My favorite to make is Lamb and rice with onion, scallion, yogurt, and herbs. I use a dutch oven instead of a typical pot and I tend to cook them for a little bit longer on a slightly lower temperature." She got a forkful of food, felt slightly bad for displacing the perfect image that had been on her plate, and popped it in her mouth. Having a slightly larger than normal jaw helped when eating... even if she wasn't much of a fan any other time.

The flavors hit her tastebuds and she dropped her fork in favor of squishing her gloved hands into her cheeks. "It is so good!" She hadn't had a dish like this in quite a while. Hospital food or homecooked food, but not in this kind of flavor.

She went in for a second, large bite. "Amygdalota are sweet almond cookies. They are super simple to make and I tend to favor them over other kinds of cookies, like chocolate chip." She smiled at him, somehow already mostly through her plate of food, "Almond four, sugar, salt, and orange zest. You just mix it all into a dough by hand, or a mixer I suppose, and top it with almond slices."

Another few large bites and she was done. Her plate almost polished clean and she was already looking for what to fill it back up with.

"I have actually been to that place!" She replied to his query about the restaurant on 4th. "They have the best Koshari in town! Really!"

... Where had she heard the name Juniper before? It sounds familiar and she was sure she hadn't met many people with it, so... wh-

Oh

That's right, she had met a friend of Zaid's who had called her for help with her badly injured friend. Could it possibly be the same Juniper?

"Though I can't speak for your friend, I can hazard a guess that if you always cook like this she can't possibly be lying. This is a wonderful meal! Cooked to perfection I'd say." She gently shooed her snakes away as they tried to stretch out to investigate where the smell of cooked meat was coming from. "σταμάτα το."*


----------------------
*stop it

He liked cooking for people. Something about one of the most basic expressions of caring for others just brought him such a simple joy. That, mixed with the relative calmness in comparison to the hectic atmosphere out on the streets of the city brought him those rare moments of peace.

"Sounds great! I haven't met very many people with a passion for cooking in the city. More, people who will happily let me cook for them, which I don't mind either. It'll be nice to have someone to trade with!"

He listened as she explained the foods she'd mentioned before, and grinned widely when he realized how fast she was eating his food. Wow, she could pack it in, no lie! Big bites! He made it a point not to stare, as he didn't want her to be subconcious about it.

"Thanks! I always find time to practice. I think that helps."

He watched as her little hair friend reached out at started to invenstigate. He hadn't mentioned them up to this point. He knew well enough to know that some people didn't like the more physical aspects of their mutations at times.

"They are curious..." He smiled softly, putting out an innocent statement to gague if this was something she felt comfortable talking about.

After unashamedly filling her plate up again, she laughed lightly at his comment about her snakes and patted Sloth as it slowly withdrew from her gentle scolding.

"They are brats." Her words were light as she was only joking. "They are in an uncomfortable position of having all the senses and instincts as their natural brethren, but no stomachs with which to quench the urge." She maneuvered them over one shoulder so that they were a bit closer to him, gauging his previous non-reaction to them as a sign that he didn't have an aversion to serpents.

"You may greet them if you like. They are a bit smarter than average snakes so they do love greeting people." Almost self consciously she reached up to touch the spot where Ira was missing. "Luxuria might be a bit more affectionate than normal, just as a warning... but my usual grumpy sourpuss is still missing, so none should try and nip at you. They generally only react badly if I myself am fearful."

Her hand dropped back down to her plate and she plucked away at her food for a moment, mulling over things inwardly.

"Oh, and try not to get caught by Sloth, it likes to latch on and-"

She glanced over again and the words died on her lips as she caught sight of the large white snake winding itself around one of the boy's arms tightly.

...Cue instant mortification.

"....cling."

She made it super clear that she liked the food, piling up her plate with seconds, which drew a smile as he looked down to his half eaten plate.

It looked like she viewed her little friends with affection, which reinforced his feelings about her in particular. She was a good person. "Sounds rough, but at least they are always in good company!" He winked innocently and smile widely, leaning back in his chair for a second before perking up as she offered him a greeting.

"Ohhh! Yes please!" He stopped himself from reaching out quickly, smiling and chuckling as they reached out and he let them smell his hand with their tongues. He took the time to greet each one, and even smiled a little bit as the large one reached out and started snaking its way around his hand and then arm.

"Huh? Oh, it's okay. He's just saying hi, right?" Gently and firmly he started toward the back, careful not to yank, and plied the constrictor off, extracting his arm, and then gently directing it back her way.

"So strong! Do they tend to go for hugs a lot?" She hadn't labeled sloth with any sort of gender, so he maintained gender neutral pronouns for the constrictor. As far as he knew most snakes didn't like being pet or anything, so he didn't take part in any of that, but he did allow them to inspect to sate their curiosity.

The Greek sighed. Loudly. "Yes, Sloth does tend to like saying high quite a bit. The problem is from it refusing to let go after. I cannot count the number of times that big noodle has simply refused to release something or someone.... and I am fairly sure it does it specifically to embarrass me." As if to emphasize her point, the large snake flicked its tongue at her cheek on its way past, as it slithered its way back behind her.

Andrea blushed deeply, brown hues coloring her cheeks and ears. "... I was once stuck to a light pole for three hours before someone finally helped pry me off."

She did offer a smile again after, though. "But... I suppose I can hardly blame them. I wind them back out of the way while I am at work so they don't get a whole lot of attention from people. Finding someone who give them any attention at all other than me and my boyfriend is often the highlight of their day."

Though she was looking at him, she got the inkling that one of them was trying to sneak into her plate and casually redirected the smaller serpent with one hand without breaking eye contact.

He smiled through her exasperation, finding himself more amused by the wandering Sloth's antics than anything else. "Hah hah! Sounds like a real troublemaker. You know, though, sometimes troublemakers like that lead to some of the most interesting interactions, I'm sure!"

It would be like having a puppy that always tangles random passerbys in its leash. Just with scales. He smiled at the thought. "I suppose you would go a little stir crazy, Kooked up in a bun. It's interesting, though... You sorta seem to know what they are up to, a bit, at least."

She was really interesting from a mutation standpoint. Shakes for hair, vision that stunned, a healing factor that was blood based. "I mean, it raises a lot of questions, your mutation. About legends and myths from the past. It would be a bit of a stretch to think that an adaptation like that would come naturally after the myths, so... was there an old wave of mutation before? With a similar set of mutations, that all of our myths and legends are based off of?"

He paused for a second, realizing he was nerding out super hard over things that made little sense.

"Oh, they certainly do. Sloth, in particular, has led to me forming bonds with many wonderful people in the time I have been here."

She pushed away her plate, now miraculously empty, and simply smiled at the young man. "To a degree, I suppose you could say that I do?" How best to explain, though... "I can feel them of course since they are my own flesh and blood, but beyond that, I do get little inklings every now and then on what they are up to. Sometimes even a little urge here or there I suppose you could say."

She lifted a finger so that one of the smaller ones that made up her "hair" could wrap around the gloved digit, and smiled at his line of thought. That was something to be encouraged for sure!

"There are lots of theories, as you appear to know. I personally believe in there being a bit of randomness in how each gene manifests a mutation. With my own, for example, by Biological Father was the gene carrier in how I came to be. He had no physical abnormalities, and from what I was able to gather from him no one else down his line had similar powers to me, either."

She paused, sorting through a flurry of thoughts. "Personally I believe the widely varied and unique pallet of mutations we see come from the Sandbox Theory and a healthy dose of random. All the basics for life and all things that come along with it are present and there are infinite possibilities for how they might come together. Even when totally random, things can come together in such a way that they seem very much planned, no?"

Of course, she was mainly thinking of her own power set and how it had evolved over the years.

"What might your own theories be if I may ask?"

The kitchen was occupied as she stepped in, though it didn't bother her in the slightest. Megan had known in advance who was in there long before she had come to the door. Little spidery scouts everywhere had become a habit that she greedily took advantage of in order to try and keep tabs on her surroundings.

"Hello, Xavier." If the greeting seemed pre-prepared, it was. She greeted lots of people like that nowadays. The Green woman she was less familiar with but had at least basic knowledge of. Someone who Saph knew and used to be close to, and someone she had apparently once known as well. Her older self had certainly gotten around in social circles. Megan simply inclined her chin a little in greeting, not pausing her determined march to the fridge where her own food was waiting.

She could tell that the tall Blonde had been showing off his cooking skill again seeing as the sickly sweet smell of fried meat was in the air. It churned her stomach a little but she was mostly able to push past the nausea now. Being around the excitable X-man in training had actually helped her get used to how her body reacted to normal foods now, though she was sure he had been a bit perturbed by her insisting that she be in the kitchen while he cooked seeing as she had previously had such a visceral reaction to it. Chefs of all caliber were easy to put off by losing your lunch at the mere sight or smell of what they were cooking.

She had not a clue what they had previously been talking about before she entered, and she didn't exactly care. She could be friendly if it suited her wants and needs, but for the most part, she liked to remain aloof and somewhat distant when not in class.

Megan dug the raw beef out of the fridge, removed her note, and sidled her way over to where the bender was located. While she let it blend into a smooth smooshed consistency, she busied herself with getting out a cup and a spoon.