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Swapping recipes sounded like a fine idea. As for what he'd swap, hmm... he paused to contemplate. There were several good desserts he knew how to make. Chocolate chip cookies, toffee brownies (Paula Deen-style, with entire candy bars in the mix), Snickerdoodles, drop cookies, lemon meringue... what did he have in the cupboards to make things with, he wondered...

More importantly, what did he feel like baking? It hit him.

"Alright. That's decided, then. I'll teach you how to make some gooey butter cake, and you can teach me how to make Moussaka."

Gooey Butter Cake... It certainly would fatten them both right up. Maybe next time, he'd try and have the stuff for the Golden Bee's signature honey cake on-hand. That'd be even better.

They were gone... they were really...

Gone...

It took a moment for Aurum's mind to recognize that thought. Even longer to dignify it with a proper response. His heart was racing. He was running on adrenaline, and so...

"Coffee?" He looked at the blond woman he'd rescued from certain shoulder-toting doom. Maybe she could use a cup?

>>"Oh, Um Lemon soda sounds good."

Aurum nodded. He walked over to the fridge to grab a cold can of lemon lime. He pulled a glass down from the cupboard, and filled it with water. A few ice cubes from the tray in the freezer later, he made his way back to the coffee table. He shifted a coaster down under his glass, and offered her the can.

"Not sure if I have Phyllo dough, though I have walnuts and lemon juice and flour. " He sipped his glass as he thought. Personally, Aurum didn't like the idea of substituting ingredients. He liked to have everything he needed, and exactly what the recipe called for. The less guessing in cooking, the better, he figured. Maybe they'd start with what they'd initially set out to make, instead... though, maybe he could teach her to make something first? The glass sat back down on the coaster as she asked him a question.

>>"Have you ever cooked Eggplant in a dish, Aurum? As a main course, that is...."

"I've had eggplant parmesan. It's good. I've also had stuffed eggplants, and eggplant casseroles. My mom also makes a terrific Italian Vegetable Bake." He smiled. "With tomatoes, and onions, and okra, and all sorts of good stuff." He supposed she could call him an eggplant aficionado. Though, did that list come off braggish? He didn't want to come off like a braggard. Aurum reeled back the grin. "What did you have in mind?"

Forked tongue!

>> ”I don’t usually work on men, but I’m pretty sure at some point they’ll make me for school. I’m always looking for people to walk for me in student shows. Maybe if you help me out, I’ll help you out in the future.”

"Take my little spin on the cat walk? I guess I could help out..." Aurum replied wryly. It could be fun. Here's hoping she made him look good.


++"A convent."

On his mentioning of the convent, she reacted, but he missed it.

>> ”It was the only place for someone like me to go. I was raised in rural Ireland.”

He gave a good-natured shrug. "Ireland must be gorgeous, from what I've seen on television. And all the history..." And all the old castles that seemed larger than life, and torn straight from the pages of a good Holmes mystery.

As they entered the apartment, his interest was piqued. He turned his attentions to describing the apartment, though, and shot a friendly wave Frank's way.

>>”I live in one of the apartments over the Iris Clinic. It’s a nice place, but nothing as fancy as this.” Kealey commented.

"Iris Clinic? Hmm..." Aurum wasn't sure if he knew about them or not. For a moment, he racked his brain trying to recall something. Nothing came. "Who works there... the name sounds familiar..." Aurum said, after a while.

They moved to his apartment, up in the elevators, and straight to the door. He popped in, and got straight to work with pulling out pots and pans. As he worked at getting things ready, Aurum turned to smile, and make an innocent comment.

++"I still can't believe you were a nun."

'So, a nun, huh?', read the subtext.

Kealey smiled a terse smile as she replied.

>>”I wasn’t a nun…I was almost a nun.” ”And that seems like another life time, they thought I was meant for more than life in a rural church. Sent me out to do God’s work.”

"So, they got you into things you didn't really want to do, and you decided to go?" He quested. Somehow, the thought he was dealing with an ex-nun was momentarily more interesting than the fish. Though, not like a freak show. No. More like a mystery... he hated his mind for thinking it, but she didn't seem like the stereotypical 'nun type'.

She brushed past him as he was thinking. Right, the fish. Aurum gave a weak smirk.

"Maybe if we all clap our hands and make a wish?" He joked. One joke, mind you, then down to business.

Aurum moved over to the oven, and turned the dial to start it up at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If she was being pushy about the cooking, and changing the subjects, he'd just offer her up some duties. "Can you measure out a gallon of that safflower oil into the Dutch oven, and heat it over high heat until it reaches 320 degrees? There's a thermometer in the cupboard." He gestured to one cupboard in particular, then turned to grab a V-slicer from a nearby crock. "I'm going to slice the potatoes while the oven is heating up."

Aurum pulled down a whale-shaped cutting board from one of the cupboards, and got to work slicing potatoes with their skins on. After they'd been sliced, Aurum slipped them into a large bowl with cold water.He stalked over to another side of the counter, and set down a bowl for the ingredients. He gestured back towards the bowl of cold water and potatoes for Kealey.

"When the oil reaches 320 degrees, could you drain the water off the potatoes into the sink, and submerge some of them into the oil? I'll hop over there and check on them once I'm done whisking this batter... start with small batches, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until they are pale and floppy, okay?"

He looked up from his whisking of flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and Old Bay seasoning, and shot her a grin. Then, he poured in the bottle of beer. After everything was thoroughly mixed and smooth, Aurum popped over to the refrigerator, and put the batter away for a bit. They'd want to refrigerate it for about 15 minutes before they used it... he moved back over to where Kealey was, to check on her.

"Here, let me help with the draining." It looked like she'd already done alright for herself with submerging the small batches of potatoes. He helped her remove them from the oil, and drain them off. They were quickly getting a good pile of potatoes for the cooling tray. He let those cool to room temperature.

When they had enough, Aurum took over with the oil sheepishly. It was time to heat it up again, to 375 degrees. He re-immersed the fries. Over the course of the next 2-3 minutes, he heated them to a nice crisp golden brown. He removed them, drained them, and set them down on the roasting rack for seasoning.

After they'd been seasoned with kosher salt, he brought them to the oven for the finishing touch.

Aurum turned his head to look back towards Kealey appreciatively. "Can you let that oil cool back down to 350 for me, and pull the corn starch down from the cupboard? It should be in the one to the left of where you found the thermometer. We'll use that for dredging the fish." She moved to set it out for him.

Aurum glanced towards the wall clock. It was just about time... the batter had been refrigerated long enough. He waited until Kealey told him the oil was at the proper temperature, busying himself by pouring out some corn starch in the meantime, then moved on to the first step in the fish's preparation.

He lightly dredged the fish in the corn starch, then moved on to the batter. Working in small batches, Aurum dipped the fish into the batter and immersed it into hot oil. Each time the batter looked set, he turned the fish over, and let them cook until they were a beautiful golden brown. He worked in small batches. Time passed quickly. Ten or so minutes later, Aurum turned to Kealey.

"Clear some space on the roasting rack," He gestured to where the fries were cooling. "Gonna drain this cod off there..."

He set the fish across the roasting rack to drain, and to cool. A few minutes later, everything was ready. Aurum turned off the oven, and checked to make sure everything was ready, and cooled or cooling for clean-up later. The recipe had gone off without a hitch. Everything looked great. He stepped over to grab the malt vinegar, and set it on the nearby eating table for them.

"Plates are in the cupboard above the sink. Silverware is in the drawer on the right of the sink. Help me set the table." He asked.

A few minutes later, the table was set. Everything was ready. Aurum looked to Kealey. "Any preference on beverages?"

Welcome to MRO, Kaitlyn.

>>”Doesn’t that mean that sometimes you’ll have to defend people who really are guilty of a crime? How are you going to handle those situations? I applaud your commitment to the judicial system, though. It takes both sides to make everything work.”

Aurum nodded. "Of course. But they're innocent, until proven guilty. My job is to make sure people remember that, and to give them a fair trial. If they're criminals, that should become apparent beyond shadow of reasonable doubt thanks to the prosecution. I'm the one who gets to bring that shadow, by exposing flaws in their logic, and contradictions in the evidence and testimonies." He was prepared to handle both scenarios. It was only by both sides upholding their duties that innocence and guilt could be be properly determined by the courts. "All I have to do is have faith in my clients, and do my best. From there, it's up to the judge or jury to decide whether I've done well enough."

Of course, he'd also offer his help to people dealing with the less-severe sides of the law... but that was far less exciting.

>>”I hope I make pretty things.” Kealey said demurely. ”It’s a far more involved process than I’d have ever known until I really got into it. I feels right though….which is saying a lot coming from me.”

Aurum nodded. "I suppose it's a little bit similar to my job, what with 'prettiness' determined by judge or jury of your peers. Maybe I'll have to check out your work sometime?" He smirked. "Once I become a lawyer full-time, I'll need a good suit."

His curiosity was met by wincing. Wincing? Wincing... that wasn't good. He walked along passively as she sighed, and swung his head to watch her reactions with interest. If it was something hard for her to confess, she really didn't have to dig too deep. Still, he'd ask it. He wanted to find out the answer.

And the answer, it seemed, was worth all sorts of good things.

"A convent." He looked her in the eye. She'd very nearly become a nun. The image of Kealey in a habit flushed through his mind as red flustered her cheeks. The innocent image, mind you. Complete with 'ruler of strictness' and angelic wings.

>>”Over the years I learned a lot from the sisters, and though I griped and complained at the time, all those history and religion lessons are basically what got me this job, so I’m grateful.”

>>”Your turn to surprise me.”

Aurum paused, and considered what would surprise her after her nun-revelation. They'd been walking a while, though, so...

"My apartment's up ahead," He swung his face to point towards the massive building on 71 Broadway. The front of the building was big, with three glass doors under three glass windows, and a revolving door to the right. It was built in traditional New York style, with pretty pillars and ornate stone decor. Aurum waved to the doorman, and they were both let in. In the entrance area, bright lights hung like flying saucers from strings. There were black leather chairs, black flower pots, and marble floors. Beside an elevator, there was the main desk.

Aurum led Kealey to that elevator, and pressed the button for his floor. After that, he turned to smile at her, slightly pleased with himself. "Just my lil apartment, with elevators and revolving doors." And common rooms with pool tables, and sun decks, and exercise rooms. He left that last part out.

After a minute or so of elevator-riding, the lift stopped. They both got out. Aurum founjd the door to his apartment, and unlocked it, letting her in.

The interior of the apartment was simple, with white painted walls, brown laminate flooring, and plenty of floor and cupboard space. A grayish couch sat in the middle of the 'living room' area, next to a black and glass coffee table covered in magazines. An easygoing television lazed its way onto the 'pedestal' on the entertainment center close by. Out the windows, one could see a nice view of the city. The kitchen area was spotlessly clean. Aurum walked over to the counter, and set the bag down. He rummaged through the cupboards, gathering the rest of cooking materials he needed. A dutch oven plopped down next to the bag.

Aurum turned towards Kealey with an honest smile. "I still can't believe you were a nun."