angels in the architecture

[tryingitall]

Who: Balthazar and open!
Where: The library, the kitchen, and assorted other mansion locations.
When: Monday
Rating: Probably PG?
Summary: Balthazar is in need of distraction. I have two scenarios here, but feel free to bump into him in the halls in between locations, if you're so inclined. I'm game for other ideas, too.



He finds it somewhat vexing how difficult the library is to locate on any given day. He's found it once before, although he wasn't especially motivated to peruse the contents then. Why bother, when he could ask his closet for any book he has in mind?

The flaw in this theory, Balthazar eventually realizes, is there are books out there he doesn't know he wants. Books about art history, for example. Having latched onto the idea of setting up a miniature gallery in his rooms, he's determined to follow through, but he needs more information. Examples. Ideas.

After a couple hours of wandering the halls, he finally finds the place and ducks inside with a grumble of relief. Now, of course, the problem is how to find what he's looking for within the library itself. No one ever taught him the Dewey Decimal System, if indeed that's even how the place is organized. But he has all the time in the world, so he'll begin at the beginning and wind his way through the stacks for as long as it takes.





When he began walking again, he wasn't aware he was headed for the kitchen, but once he arrives there he decides to stay and experiment. Angels don't need to eat, but Balthazar has developed a taste for one or two things aside from alcoholic drinks. Certain sweets. Well-brewed tea. Vegetarian dishes spiked with fiery sauces and spice. There's a cookbook open on the counter, possibly left behind by someone else, and he finds himself thumbing through it as the kettle heats. It's mostly baked desserts, and he's about to lose interest when one page catches his eye.

'Fried cheesecake bites'. Fried cheesecake? Fried cheesecake. It sounds like the unholy offspring of Sara Lee and a county fair funnel cake vendor.

He's not sure if he'll like it himself, but he's willing to bet Death would. Assuming he could somehow pull off the dish. After the recent TV land fiasco, it might be smart to make nice.

It can't hurt to try, anyway. He scans the ingredients list with a frown and goes for the refrigerator.

Comments

Seeking Death ((For thepalehorseman))

[tryingitall]

The cheesecake bites look nothing like the illustration in the book. They're misshapen little lumps, not perfectly fried petit-fours. But he's eaten two of them and as it turns out, the weird outward appearance belies the flavor.

He thinks they're a suitable offering, anyway, and he wants to talk to Death. Balthazar can feel himself spiraling downward into a morass of grief and self-pity. He could probably find a shoulder to cry on, if that were what he wanted. It's not. Death is decidedly not a shoulder, in any case, and the angel thinks that right now, complete indifference to his petty emotional issues is what he wants in a conversational companion.

He may find he's wrong, but if so, he'll have had dessert if nothing else.

[thepalehorseman]

The good thing about Death and food is that he is not expecting it to look pretty as long as it tastes the way that he likes: Deep fried. He can practically feel the presence of it when it is being prepared. That may not be the most impressive skill, but who argues with Death?

He is aware of the general outlook of this place. When others come and go, the morale raises and lowers in a manner he finds insufferable. It is a mostly fleeting thing though, not enough for him to focus on it for long.

He arrives in an instant with a calm expression on his face.

"Look at that. Somebody knows how to prepare food correctly."

[tryingitall]

Balthazar is in the midst of pouring strawberry syrup into a cup for dipping, and he starts when Death speaks, spilling pink goo on the counter. It's not easy to sneak up on an angel, and he finds himself mildly surprised that Death came to him rather than him having to go looking for Death. He sets the syrup tin down and gropes for a dish towel, flashing a weak smile over his shoulder.

"Hello. Did you sense I had you in mind or did you hear the crackle of the deep fryer? They were an experiment, but I think they came out edible."

[thepalehorseman]

Death really does have that effect on others. Somebody either jumps or they end up spilling something. He would keep a tally on all of that if it would not end up being the most tedious list ever. He gives Balthazar the usual expression of amusement on his face as he steps off to the side and over to a chair.

"In a sense, I suppose you could say both. In a place as small as this one, it is easy to hear when somebody intends on calling for me."

He will give a light smile here.

"The crackle of the fryer does have a certain ring to it. Now...let's see how those came out, hmm?"

library!

[manicuredangel]

Aziraphale is set up in the library as is becoming the new normal for him. He was surrounded by books and, despite being trapped in a world other than his own, happy. For the most part. Well, he really did want to go home.

He'd gotten familiar with the people coming and going in the library he was there so often. So he noticed when a new person walked in. He looked up and offered a kind smile.

[tryingitall]

Balthazar is a bit slow to notice the stranger, too busy looking around like a lost tourist. It's not that he's got no facility with the written word. Quite the opposite, he enjoys writing and reading. It's all this sorting and organization that's got him turned around.

Belatedly, he sees the man smiling at him and returns it with a nod. And then he does a mild double-take, tilts his head like a puzzled puppy, and approaches. "...hello. Do I know you?"

[manicuredangel]

Aziraphale chuckled and closed the book he'd been reading.

"No, I don't think we've met before, dear boy. I'm Aziraphale." The way he pronounced his name, it almost sounded like "Ezra Fell".

Library

[seekinghome]

Ed can be found, as he often is, in the library with science books of assorted sorts scattered around him. This particular trip involves rather a lot of crankiness this time since it's to work on replacing notes his brother's Mirror destroyed. He was able to recreate some of them, but not nearly enough.

He's sufficiently involved in his work that it may take some time for a new arrival to ping on his awareness of his surroundings.

[tryingitall]

Science isn't the section Balthazar intended to wander into. Not that he objects to it at all, it just wasn't what he was hoping for today. Still, he finds himself picking up a couple volumes by Stephen Hawking and seeking a place to settle with them for a while. Searching out the information he wants will be a work in progress, anyway. Can't hurt to take a brief break.

It's Ed's table he comes to, with his selections, and he smiles in recognition. "Mind if I join you? I can be quiet."

[seekinghome]

Ed twitches at the unexpected person popping up while he was focused on his work. At least this time his reaction wasn't particularly dramatic.

He looks up at Balthazar and there's recognition in his own eyes. "Oh hi. Sure, if you don't mind me apparently taking over most of the table."

kitchen!

[ex_alighthouse135]

When Elizabeth enters the kitchen looking for the book she left behind, she smiles at seeing a familiar face there. And it looks as though Balthazar has taken an interest in the cook book, as well! She walks up behind him quietly and then peers around him to observe the recipe.

"Fried cheesecake bites? That sounds... unhealthy. Which means it's probably delicious."

[tryingitall]

He senses her presence when she walks in, but barely looks up until she speaks. Then, he smiles at her. "Hello, again. I'm not actually much of a cook, but I got caught up. I'm making tea, too. Care for a cup?"

He's already emptied the kettle into a jade-green pot, and the fragrance of brewing tea leaves hangs in the air.

[ex_alighthouse135]

"I'd love some!" The tea does smell good and she hasn't had tea in awhile.

Elizabeth is curious about the dessert recipe Balthazar is so interested in. "Are you making this for a special occasion?"

kitchen

[unregenerate]

Sure, she doesn't have to eat, but that doesn't mean Meg won't skip on down to the kitchen to grab a quick bite on occasion. She's been to the diner once and that was enough. Too many peppy, cheerful people (and the crying teenage girl who apologizes a lot, she's annoying), so she sticks to the kitchen when she has a craving for something food-like.

Imagine her surprise to see Balthazar in there, checking out a cookbook like he's about to start churning out some baked goods.

"How are angels in the kitchen, anyway?" She starts the conversation as though they'd already been talking, because why not? Small talk is irritating, and it's not like he couldn't sense who she was. Better to skip the polite conversation, get right down to the meat of what's going on.

[tryingitall]

He doesn't miss a beat, looking up from his reading with a smirk. "Better in the bedroom, I'm afraid, but I thought I'd expand my repertoire. Or, to put it another way, I'm bored out of my mind."

And restless, grieving, etc., but she doesn't need to hear all that. "How about you? I haven't seen you in a bit."

He's poured himself a cup of tea already, but he nods at the pot on the counter in a silent offer.

[unregenerate]

Okay, he gets some points for the wit. She can appreciate some wit, especially coming from an angel. It's nice to be surprised.

Meg ponders the teapot before figuring why the hell not and going over to grab herself a mug. It's been a while since she's had tea, her diet consists of alcohol, alcohol, alcohol and probably potato chips. Every girl's dream diet.

"Oh you know, a little of this, a little of that. Managed to avoid being a player in that death match we had outside before we took our little vacation." Her nose wrinkles as she remembers her time there. If she thought this side was boring, it's nothing compared to over there. "I get why they're all ten kinds of crazy over there."

After pouring some tea, she leans against the counter, leaning her head a bit to get a good look at the book open on the counter. "Have you cooked anything before, or are you just gonna wing it?"

Her mouth curves into a slight smirk as she sips her tea. Haha, wing it.

Kitchen!

[hamburellakind]

John's okay with living in less-than-normal circumstances, obviously. His life hasn't been normal in years, both in and out of the mansion. But sometimes, he kind of just wants to be normal. So sometimes, instead of getting bags of Doritos out of the closet, he goes to the kitchen and makes himself something to eat.

Today is one of those days, and when he spots Balthazar in the kitchen already, it's a welcome surprise. "Hey, you felt like cooking too?" Huh, angels can eat! Neat!

[tryingitall]

He's scanning the contents of the fridge when John arrives, but he's just as glad to have company. He's never seen John in person before, and only briefly over video, as most of their communication has been text. Still, he recognizes him quickly enough, and gives a welcoming smile. "I suppose I did. I haven't done much of it before, outside of breakfast foods and mixed drinks."

[hamburellakind]

"Dude, drinks don't count. I mean, if you screw that up it's still, y'know. Drunkable." John grins and hops up onto a counter, swinging his legs. "I can show you how to make some not-breakfast foods, if you want. Just basic stuff, though."

The Kitchen

[recitings]

Genesis really had no intention of interacting with people around the mansion, especially not after his conversation with Angeal some days ago. But he still does get curious.

The smell of something sweet and fried catches his attention and he heads to the kitchen to investigate.

[tryingitall]

Genesis may hear some muttered swearing as he gets closer. Fryer grease tends to spatter, and Balthazar's managed to get some on his shirt. Talent! He's fortunate that angels are so hard to injure. Otherwise, he would have a nasty burn.

Still, whatever he's pulled out of the fryer to drain looks like it's appropriately cooked. The sugary smell is stronger once inside the kitchen.

Leaning over the sink to try and scrub the grease spot off the hem of his shirt, Balthazar glances up when the stranger enters, immediately apologetic for cursing his head off. "Er. Sorry. Hello, I'm making a mess on the counter."

[recitings]

If curiosity (and a bit of boredom) wasn't getting to him, then Genesis would have left the angel alone right away. But he had some extra time to spare... so why not? He comes in a little closer now, but remains far enough so he didn't come off as that friendly.

"Your mess isn't any of my business. I had no intention of using the kitchen, anyway. What are you making?"

Kitchen

[oncefairytale]

Amy has a handful of art books in her arms. She'd spent the better part of the morning gathering a few up. Since their last conversation, she had been thinking about it off and on. She had time today so she gathered a few books on her favorite artists. After a few hours, she is in need of food. It is always convenient to stop by the dining room, but she finds herself gravitating towards the kitchen today.

She smiles when she spotted Balthazar in the kitchen. "Fancy meeting you here. And with all these books I found, too." She sets them down on a counter and moves over to start some tea. She turns to look at him. "Fancy a cup?"

[tryingitall]

He's actually already opened a cabinet to look for some decent loose tea, but got distracted in the midst of it. He recognizes her at once, though, and breaks into a smile. "Hello, again! Oh, yes, I was thinking of making some tea, as well. By all means."

His gaze strays toward the stack of books with distinct interest. "And I like the way you think. What have you been reading?"

[oncefairytale]

She puts a kettle of water on the stove before moving back to the cupboards. She rifles through them to find some a nice Earl Grey blend. She holds it up for his approval while pulling out some sugar and a little pitcher for milk.

"Oh, you know, this and that." But then her grin widens. "I thought it might help to brush up on a few things if I was going to help you out with your gallery idea. You're still going to do that, yeah?"