Lunch: 1/30/06

[fandom-sub.livejournal.com]

The happy humming from the kitchen today might be interspersed with occasional worrisome chuckles. Today's menu is written in neat block letters:

- Fettucine Alfredo (with chicken and/or broccoli)

- Steamed Carrots

- Roast Beast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding

- Pad Thai

- Minestrone

Dessert:
- Lemon Sherbet

- Snow Cones

Comments

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie helps himself to a bit of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and three bowls of minestrone. In the mood to meet new people, he spots an unfamiliar girl and approaches her table. "Er, hello," he says, suddenly realizing she's reading. "Would you mind terribly if I joined you, or would I be interrupting your leisure time?"

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Jessica beams at the friendly yet unfamiliar face as she looks up from her book. "Oh! Hello there..." she says with a big smile, closing her book and putting it down. "No no, not at all, I would love for you to join me, please."

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie sets the tray down and seats himself across from her. "Thank you, I appreciate that. Er -- Archie Kennedy's the name, and I'm pleased to meet you." He extends his hand with a smile.

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Jessica makes a mental note of the kind boy's manners as she smiles back. Unlike others, she recognizes that. "Jessica, Jessica Tate" she says, taking his hand in hers. "And it is quite a pleasure to meet you Archie."

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"Jessica Tate," Archie repeats, shaking her hand and taking care not to dip his sleeve into his soup. "I'm pleased to see you survived this weekend unscathed, and in good spirits as well, from the look of you."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Jessica shrugs her shoulders slightly and smiles modestly. "Truth be told I was not very, well...aware of any danger until after the whole ordeal had passed. I suppose I was simply one of the oblivious lucky ones." Jessica gives a little laugh then moves a carrot about her plate with her fork.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"One of the lucky ones indeed," agrees Archie, stirring the first of his bowls of soup. "I was frozen out of the action -- literally -- at the onset of the entire ordeal, and I'm told several of my friends involved sustained injuries of some sort or other. Still," he adds, laughing, "you'll be able to claim you survived an experience few other people will be able to claim."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

"Yes, ill-mannered snowmen...in need of serious etiquette training" says Jessica seriously. "I mean really, to come to the school uninvited, and behave as they did...no no" Jessica shakes her head and puts her fork down. "Then again...maybe they were simply...misunderstood?" Jessica sighs. "Poor things."

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes it's hard to tell around here," agrees Archie after swallowing a spoonful of soup and wiping his mouth. Half-teasing, half-serious, he adds, "Of course, I've come to learn that with such a diversity of culture as we tend to get in this school, perhaps such behavior would be considered acceptable in their culture. Assuming they have one, of course."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

"Of course. I mean, I guess they would have to have one, no?" says Jessica, wholly-serious. She then thinks for a moment, shakes her head, and clears her mind of it. "So...you were frozen? My goodness...Well, I must say I am glad to see you've...thawed dear." Jessica smiles, nods, and takes a sip from her glass of water.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"Hypothermia, I believe it's called, was technically what happened. Regardless, it wasn't in the least bit pleasant." Archie eats another spoonful of soup, then indicates the three bowls of it on his tray with a rueful grin. "As you might see, I'm still feeling the effects of it, if only mentally. I suppose we're lucky that the freakishly cold weather seems to have abated with the weekend's events."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that is most certainly a good thing then" says Jessica with an enthusiastic nod. Jessica looks down at her plate, then back up at Archie and smiles. "You know, you can always come to my room for something to warm you up dear..."

Jessica actually didn't intend for that to sound flirty?dirty? the way it probably did, but she doesn't realize it at the moment. Maybe she should have clarrified that she makes a good cup of tea...

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie stammers for a brief second, and luckily he hadn't yet put the spoonful of soup into his mouth. "That's, er, very kind of you to offer," he manages.

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Jessica smiles appreciatively. "Thank you dear but you see its nothing I wouldn't offer to anyone else. Thats just how I am you see." Jessica gives a serious nod and takes another sip of water, puts the glass down, folds her hands properly over her lap and smiles back at Archie.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Perhaps Archie's been in the company of more modern folk a bit too long, he thinks, and is assuming the OMGdirty worst of people's statements. "I appreciate that," he says, somehow getting a smile out. "You live in the dorms, I assume?"

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Jessica nods politely. "Yes, room 232. And you?"

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"115," he replies. "On the illustrious, eerily quiet first floor. All the fun seems to happen on your floor."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

"Really? I hadn't noticed. I mean...yes, the second floor does seem to have a rather colorful group of young individuals...but so far, regardless of one's floor, everyone I have met here is really quite kind and pleasant you know." Jessica pauses, then continues. "And you, Mr. Kennedy, are of course no exception." Jessica smiles widely, but raises her glass of water to her mouth, trying to hide the degree of her smiling.

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie blushes a bit more, and wonders if he can blame on the steam rising from the hot soup. "Thank you, Miss Tate. I can think of a sole exception to the rule, but yes, I've been quite pleased to discover the same thing. Today, of course, I can add one more person to that total."

[mrs-tate.livejournal.com]

Sometimes Jessica was wonderful at picking up on subtleties even though this wasn't really subtle but oh well. Unfortunately this was not one of those times.

Jessica blinks and asks with all seriousness, "Really? Who...?"