Logs:Wholesome

Wholesome
Dramatis Personae Desi, Lucien	2021-12-28 "It might be good."
Location <PRV> Tessier Residence - Greenwich Village
Understated opulence claims this spacious and well-kept townhome, the decor throughout the whole of it of the highest quality and carefully chosen. The front door opens onto the entrance hall, a closet close at hand to receive coats and shoes -- the pale hardwood floors gleam underfoot, unsullied by tracked-in mess from outside. The living room beyond the entrance is all dark woods and pale earth tones, comfortable couches and armchairs and a thick soft rug laid down beneath. Two large and painstakingly aquascaped aquariums flank the entrance to the dining room, with several brightly coloured species of fish within. Most of the rest of the wall space, notably, is taken up with shelves -- shelves crammed with books of every subject and genre. A study branching off of the main hall is cozy, small, done in pale blues and lined with books as well around the large computer desk and smaller futon, though these rarer books are cased behind glass. Another securely locked door leads to the basement, and another to the full bathroom downstairs. The kitchen connects to the living room; in contrast, it is sleek and modern and well-appointed, stocked by someone who takes their cooking seriously. And takes their alcohol equally seriously -- to one side of the kitchen there is a fully-stocked bar. The back door to the kitchen looks out on a small well-kept garden. It's not actually all that cold by late December standards, but the low gray clouds that have been drizzling on the City all day make it a thoroughly unpleasant one to be outside in. Desi has been out in it all the same, returning now only slightly damp thanks to the umbrella she is collapsing as she steps inside, styled like a leafy canopy. She steps out of her knee-high black boots and sheds her blue trench coat. The dress she wears beneath it is a flowing empire waist affair in amethyst velvet, trimmed with black lace. It makes her green eyes look even greener and her pale skin paler, both to striking effect. Her hair is in a dutch braid that wraps around her head to hang down over one shoulder and accent the (rather low) square neckline of her dress. After dispensing the requisite pettings to the dog, she drifts into the kitchen, making for the refrigerator. The kitchen is already occupied and smelling rich and spicy. There's a number of taco garnishes neatly plated on the counter; Lucien is at the stovetop finishing cooking the marinated eggplant, tofu and shiitake mushrooms for the fillings. He's dressed more casually than Desi, jeans and a soft blue v-neck sweater. He glances up when she drifts in, saying nothing but quietly moving a kettle onto a free burner and flicking it on. Whatever Desi was looking for, she evidently does not find in the refrigerator, but with another glance at the stove she does come back out with milk to set on the customary tea-prep counter. She tucks herself out of the way after this, taking a seat at the breakfast nook, her eyes surveying the taco assembly line in progress. "It's wonderful having company, of course, but maybe the New Year Day game could just be us, no?" "Mmm." The preparation of a pot of Earl Grey flows neatly into Lucien's cooking. "I suppose it might be a bit vulgar, having someone here to witness such humiliation." Desi huffs, not quite a laugh but not entirely humorless, either. "I was about to chide you for your lack of faith, but we won't have any more home games until what, February?" She tugs at the cuffs of her sleeves fastidiously and settles her elbows on the table without looking too much like a little girl in her mother's clothes. "Or whenever the NHL, the networks, and Centre Bell decide it's okay to play in an empty arena. But I was really thinking it might be good to have..." Her hesitation is notable and full of uncertainty. "...family bonding time?" Lucien does not immediately answer this, though it does not really seem like the rote tasks of stirring his skillets or waiting for the tea to steep take all that much attention. "It might be good," he finally allows neutrally. "Gaétan may require a bribe." "Yeah, I was still working on that one." Desi deflates a touch. "I need to talk to him. Maybe I can negotiate the bribery, too." At least this doesn't come out sounding like a question. "And anyway it doesn't have to be hockey. We could have a--movie night. Everyone can take turns picking the film." Her slender brows furrow. "Okay, everyone but Matthieu can take turns picking the film." "He's had a bit of a rough year. It may have to be a very good bribe." Lucien raises an eyebrow as he carefully flips the tofu in its pan. "Matthieu," he informs Desi, very solemnly, "has been taking great pains to be on his best behavior. I am certain he could be trusted to pick one movie. What would you choose?" "Are we talking 'favorite dessert' good or 'new video game system' good or...?" Desi props her chin up in one hand and turns the other palm up. But her expression shutters after this. "I know, it's insufferable. I don't expect Matthieu's 'best behavior' to last, but his taste is awful whether or not he's pretending to be a decent brother at the moment." She sighs and starts to reach for her purse (presumably, in fact, for her phone), but aborts the gesture. "I don't know. Something lighthearted and fun, like..." Here she seems to be drawing a blank. "How about Stop for Death or whatever the last Bond film is called. Is that too violent? Maybe the new Addams Family. Or whatever Disney's been doing since that atrocious live action Mulan." "Should I pick out the present? My gift wrapping skills have gotten top-tier and I'm fairly sure in a pinch I could forge your handwriting as well." Lucien's deadpan expression hasn't changed with this offer. "I'm certain he intends this to be a permanent change for the better." He steps aside from the stove to decant the tea, stirring milk and sugar into it before bringing a cup to Desi. "Mmm. Ryan has pieces in two of those. I've seen none of them. I hear the Disney one has the usual suspects all a-twitter. They're convinced it's a pro-mutant propaganda piece and I expect his contributions don't help matters." Desi quirks an eyebrow at her brother, eyes not quite rolling although only just. Somewhat less petulant is her chastened, "No. It should be me." She's quiet a moment, receiving her tea with a murmured "merci", though she does not brood over it long. "Oh, Encanto, right? The pearl-clutchers will call any film with magic in it 'pro-mutant propaganda' these days. Wait until they hear about comic books." She sips at her tea, her eyes closing. "Anyway, we could use more pro-mutant propaganda in our lives, and Ryan's music is solid." Her eyes open again and she eases into a faint smile. "Besides, it's bound to be less painful than watching the habs crash and burn again." "Yes, that's the one." Lucien glances at the clock. Switches the burners off beneath his food. "Very good, then. Disney, and family time. I'll make us eggnog. It will be distressingly wholesome. I won't even surreptitiously check the score on my phone. One singular pain-free evening."