๏ผ by the time mccoy finds his door, he has been up and training for hours. his hair is damp, his small quarters filled with the billowing steam of an excruciatingly hot shower when he opens his door. his expression is intractable as it ever is, but the absence of tension to his shoulders speaks in and of itself. he steps back, letting the man inside. his space is as neat and bare as it ever is. tiny slivers of personality have snuck in over the course of the nearly two years he has been present here — the row of books on the shelves, the sword on the wall, the selection of fine teas. the pictures of he, wei wuxian and gwen.
he takes the tray from mccoy as he directs the man to remove his shoes, and sets the breakfast down on his desk. ๏ผ
What is the occasion?
๏ผ it's asked as he takes down his teapot and cups, clearly preparing for mccoy to stay a while. ๏ผ
( mccoy dutifully toes his shoes off and nudges them beside itachi's in the entryway. his bag follows suit, nothing in there that itachi appears to have any use for. )
Do I really need one?
( seeing the photos, he smiles, so clearly delighted to find such a treasure here. )
Everyone outdid themselves yesterday. I think the least I can do is feed you. Just don't tell me you hate it, ( he tells him wryly. )
๏ผ he follows mccoy's attention to the photographs, and his mouth quirks faintly down at one corner. gwen's absence is a wound, it will not be one so easily healed. he turns away from mccoy to busy himself with tea. ๏ผ
I hope you know I don't need culinary bribery to make the correct moral choice.
๏ผ it's a bit dry. he's clearly not serious, this is just. his sense of humour. ๏ผ
( settling down with his tea, he tucks his feet under himself, getting comfy. )
Good, easy way to use up a loaf that's gettin' too dry. You make a buttery, cinnamon-sugar custard to go over it, with pecans and raisins, then bake it 'til it sets up. Usually we have it for dessert, but it's really best right out of the oven.
๏ผ that gets a faint, amused hm of sound out of him as he takes the lid off the tray. the pan pudding does smell delicious, certainly, even if he studies it like he isn't quite certain how to go about eating it. eventually, it's portioned out onto a small plate and deftly approached with a spoon, though he pauses prior to digging in. looks up at mccoy, expression unreadable. then: ๏ผ
Thank you. For bringing breakfast. It's very kind of you.
Only if you believe your family would be comfortable sharing it with an outsider.
๏ผ food is an important cultural touchstone, and he knows more than a few families who guard their secrets dearly. approaching the akimichi clan about one of their soldier pill recipes, for instance, has occasionally throughout history been the start of intergenerational skirmishes. ๏ผ
( He did tell Itachi that his grandmother would have liked him, and that wasn't a lie. She was a kind, forgiving woman even as she didn't hold with nonsense, and she'd have looked on this serious young man, sins and all, and sat him down at her table regardless.
Leonard just keeps his smile. )
I think they'll be all right with it.
( Okay now he's gonna let his gaze drift off bc no one needs him smiling stupidly at them while they have breakfast. )
๏ผ that stupid smile is contagious, though for itachi it's more just a general softening of his expression. he does not argue further — mccoy is perhaps one of the most stubborn people he has had the privilege of knowing, and he's learned to pick his battles with the man. if he says his family would like him, who he is he to argue? it is not as if it would ever truly come to pass.
but it's warming, just the same.
he drops his gaze to the food, and eats in silence until they are both finished. once done, he summons a clone to return the dishes to the kitchen, and with a considering glance at his companion... ๏ผ
( the clone gets a polite little 'thank you', as automatic as it is sincere, which he lets himself feel a bit silly for. )
I'm afraid I don't. ( it's not familiar to him, sure the game that comes to mind for him, back in the Enterprise's rec room, is Go. his teacup empty, he sets it gently on its saucer, and thumbs at his chin. )
๏ผ the clone inclines its head as politely as itachi would — and then vanishes with a use of shunshin. itachi, meanwhile, begins the process of wiping down his teacups for storage. ๏ผ
Of course. It is not an inherently difficult game to grasp, but quite hard to master.
๏ผ he takes out a well-worn board. shikamaru nara's, though he doubts that mccoy ever met the man. itachi barely got to know him beyond their tentative, wary exchange of information before he lost the resolve of his regret. he sets it on the table between them, and then gives mccoy a basic run-down of the pieces, the rules and basic strategy. it has many of the same principles as chess, though the nature of the pieces and their promotions are somewhat more intensive.
upon completion of his explanation: ๏ผ
Would it serve you better to play a game yourself, or to watch me play one against a clone?
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no subject
he takes the tray from mccoy as he directs the man to remove his shoes, and sets the breakfast down on his desk. ๏ผ
What is the occasion?
๏ผ it's asked as he takes down his teapot and cups, clearly preparing for mccoy to stay a while. ๏ผ
no subject
Do I really need one?
( seeing the photos, he smiles, so clearly delighted to find such a treasure here. )
Everyone outdid themselves yesterday. I think the least I can do is feed you. Just don't tell me you hate it, ( he tells him wryly. )
no subject
I hope you know I don't need culinary bribery to make the correct moral choice.
๏ผ it's a bit dry. he's clearly not serious, this is just. his sense of humour. ๏ผ
no subject
( any glimpse of humor is something that delights him, and he presses a hand over his heart, as if shocked. )
You also haven't had my gran's bread pudding yet.
no subject
A Georgian specialty?
๏ผ satisfied with the tea, he pours out a cup for each of them before taking a seat, gesturing for mccoy to do the same. ๏ผ
no subject
( settling down with his tea, he tucks his feet under himself, getting comfy. )
Good, easy way to use up a loaf that's gettin' too dry. You make a buttery, cinnamon-sugar custard to go over it, with pecans and raisins, then bake it 'til it sets up. Usually we have it for dessert, but it's really best right out of the oven.
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๏ผ look he has a hella sweet tooth don't think he woN'T. ๏ผ
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Absolutely.
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Thank you. For bringing breakfast. It's very kind of you.
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( he smiles over his tea, and sips at it slowly, enjoying the chance to relax after such a busy, fruitful morning. )
If you like it, I'll teach you how to make it. Trade you for a dango recipe.
no subject
๏ผ food is an important cultural touchstone, and he knows more than a few families who guard their secrets dearly. approaching the akimichi clan about one of their soldier pill recipes, for instance, has occasionally throughout history been the start of intergenerational skirmishes. ๏ผ
Dango is much simpler, besides.
no subject
Leonard just keeps his smile. )
I think they'll be all right with it.
( Okay now he's gonna let his gaze drift off bc no one needs him smiling stupidly at them while they have breakfast. )
no subject
but it's warming, just the same.
he drops his gaze to the food, and eats in silence until they are both finished. once done, he summons a clone to return the dishes to the kitchen, and with a considering glance at his companion... ๏ผ
Do you know how to play shogi, Doctor?
no subject
I'm afraid I don't. ( it's not familiar to him, sure the game that comes to mind for him, back in the Enterprise's rec room, is Go. his teacup empty, he sets it gently on its saucer, and thumbs at his chin. )
Though I'm a quick study. Will you teach me?
no subject
Of course. It is not an inherently difficult game to grasp, but quite hard to master.
๏ผ he takes out a well-worn board. shikamaru nara's, though he doubts that mccoy ever met the man. itachi barely got to know him beyond their tentative, wary exchange of information before he lost the resolve of his regret. he sets it on the table between them, and then gives mccoy a basic run-down of the pieces, the rules and basic strategy. it has many of the same principles as chess, though the nature of the pieces and their promotions are somewhat more intensive.
upon completion of his explanation: ๏ผ
Would it serve you better to play a game yourself, or to watch me play one against a clone?