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A Few Days Later - Evening.

All of the day's work done, Courtney sighs in relief as she looks at the pristine kitchen. She was never that big into cleaning before, but now that she basically has an industrial-scale kitchen to run as she herself pleases, it sparked a desire to keep everything up top.

She glances towards the big oven. As she does, the timer for it dings and she moves to take the power off.

...and then there's the fact that it's a nearly daily activity to fry 'canapes' for a dragon, that is to say, a huge oven pan of fried chicken. Not that she minds having a dinner of it in the process. After taking the heavy load of birds that had an unfortunate ending out of the oven, she portions a leg for herself and puts it on her plate, before starting the work of setting up the rest for Rebecca.

And if her experience so far is telling her anything, she should be hearing the steps of a dragon trying to be sneaky pretty soon as the smell wafts from the fried chicken and into the hallway...

Rebecca has spent the day reading. This isn't a huge surprise honestly, but she has no other meetings or duties or anything today, which means she's spent the day more or less alone, a few words to Courtney when they've crossed paths, but she's not wanted to get in the way of her friend's duties.

As it gets to be dinner time, though, she curiously sniffs at the air, and setting her book down, begins to stealthily approach the kitchen... As stealthily as someone her size and weight can be, anyways, as she pokes her snout around the corner of the kitchen, sniffing at savory aroma.

Courtney looks up from setting up the greasy, spiced chicken on the serving plate big enough for a dragon, resting on a serving cart: "Ready soon, Rebecca. Any particular sauce you want tonight?" She glances at the very well stocked spice-and-sauce shelf. Something about how the dragon digestion - or maybe just their appetite - works, makes them desire every possible way humans have engineered to make, spice and addition to make food just more in every way.

Not that Courtney herself minds either, it's fun to experiment with her own meals too.

Rebecca's snout disappears back around the corner, then her head reemerges, "Oh, Courtney! Yes, well, anything really. I did rather like that teriyaki sauce we had last time, but anything you can think up, I'll try!" Indeed, she's rather impossible to disappoint with food preparation or seasonings, but definitely likes the more savory and spicy flavors.

The rest of her comes around the corner and she settles down in the doorframe, watching. "Once it's all ready, I can help you carry my portion out, of course."

Courtney motions at the cart: "I mean, that's kind of why I have this cart, but if you want to, go ahead." She smiles as she grabs a couple of sauces at random and gives the chicken a very generous covering with them. "Makes it easier for me to bring my own food and drink on the same go." Done saucing, she picks up a bottle of cola from the cold and puts it on the cart next to her own plate of chicken and salad.

The gothy maid may or may not have started to put some soda in the huge pantry stocking orders for the manor. Pittance in a dragon's budget anyway.

Rebecca grins, "I know, I know! But it's sorta fun, helping out! I never got to help out back at home." She's made an argument to get Courtney some degree of control of the house budget, both in requesting the usual foodstuffs and supplies, but also the bigger items like appliances. All submitted to Rebecca's (and then upward to her Uncle's) approval, so not a lot of room for abusing the system, but smaller ticket items certainly don't get noticed, and Rebecca has encouraged Courtney to get whatever she might want to make herself comfortable.

Courtney smirks as she motions at the cart-wide serving platter: "Have at it then, Rebecca. I shall be right behind you. In the study as usual?"

Rebecca nods, winding around the corner to take the cart, she leans in and sniffs the chicken up close, then starts to push the cart towards the study. "It's where I do my best eating!"

It's also one of the few places in the manor with seating accommodations for both humans and dragons. The dining room itself is painfully large and empty, meant to host a family of dragons, and Rebecca avoids eating there, finding the echo 'oppressive'.

She wheels the cart in and sets it by her pile of pillows, climbing back up into place.

Courtney double-checks everything is turned off in the kitchen before following, smiling as she looks at the dragon's movements. The idea of maybe suggesting drawing... nah, that would be pretty bold of her. She files it away for later.

Once in the study, she sits down at the human-sized table, only now realizing how hungry she has gotten as well. "Oh boy. I'm starving. Started organizing the dry pantry and sort of lost track of time..."

Rebecca nods, "oh, same! I got into a really good book about ancient roman bestiaries. I mean, I guess most of it was made up by the authors, and the rest was all hearsay. They didn't know what an antelope looked like so they just guessed! But then again, some of them include dragons! Which is really funny, but kinda weird to think about, you know, now."

Courtney giggles as she cuts up a piece of chicken. "Heh. I guess dragons have sort of been a thing in human fiction long before you guys came into the picture. Coincidence, or was your arrival not the first one?"

Rebecca hums, scooping up a handful of chicken to chew on as she considers, "I hadn't even thought of that! Huh. I mean, it's always weird to me to hear other dragons talk about "home" when I was hatched here anyways, so it always just feels like we've always been here."

Courtney tilts her head as she muses on this. "Mm, you were born on Earth?" She glances sideways at Rebecca, uncertain if she is probing too much again.

Rebecca swallows, "Oh, yep! I've heard stories about where we came from, but I guess I was still an egg. I was born shortly after my parents arrived on Earth so I've been here my whole life."

Courtney hums: "Oh. I thought... actually I'm not sure." She considers with an amused smile: "I have never known an Earth without dragons either, so I guess I'm sort of in the same boat."

Rebecca chuckles, "Can't really dwell on 'the way things used to be' when this is just how it's always been for us, hm? It's... Kind of strange. Maybe that's why I like history so much. Earth history. And art. And... Everything. I'm considered a bit weird by my family for even bothering to read about Earth culture before we arrived, but I find it all really interesting."

Courtney nods: "History can be fun. And inspiring." She smirks: "I'm the black sheep of the family for how I dress and what my interests are. Most of the adults in my family are somewhere in the public service or banking sector and that's so boring to me."

Rebecca giggles, "Oh, me too. I know 'running my own manor is supposed to teach you fiscal responsibility and good hoarding practice' but ehh... It's the family business, and I don't really know what else I can do in this world..."

The goth hums: "I thought dragons could do basically whatever they wanted to? Though I guess family is family regardless of species..."

Rebecca sighs, swallowing another mouthful. "Well, whatever we want, but what do I want to do?" She takes another bite, chewing slowly as she thinks for a moment.

Courtney continues eating for a bit, thinking. After a moment, she glances up with a small smile: "I guess you have time to figure that out, at least. Don't need to know right here, right now."

Rebecca hums. "That's... True. I don't have to do too much around here, and honestly, I spend most of the day reading or talking with you. I guess I can manage family expenses while I... think about it." She pauses, looking down at Courtney. "You've got big plans though, yeah? You're going to be an artist! That's so inspiring..."

Courtney blinks, pausing in her eating: "I well... well I want to go make something of myself, yeah. Learn how the greats have done the crafts and... I don't know, figure out from there. Work something creative for a living."

Rebecca grins, "I've seen your sketchbook, remember? You're talented. I think it'll take you to big places... And I know this job is just to help you get through your studies and all..." She pokes at the little bit of chicken remaining on her plate.

Courtney winces a bit: "Sorry." She doesn't know how to continue so awkwardly pokes at the remains of her own chicken.

Rebecca shakes her head, "No, no! It's fine! I just... Hope we can stay friends afterwards, that's all."

Courtney swallows: "O-of course! You're..." she searches for words for a few moments: "...a g-good friend." She mentally kickes herself for that lame finish.

Rebecca doesn't comment, or simply doesn't notice, the awkward catch there, "You are too! I... don't really have any other friends..." She cringes, reaching up to grab her snout with one hand in embarrassment, "Oh hells, that sounds so pathetic to say out loud!"

Courtney swallows, hesitates, then finally continues: "Well, um... guess that makes two of us." She looks at Rebecca with a hesitant, but warm smile.

Rebecca lowers her hand, "Wait, what? B-but you're so cool!"

Courtney almost swallows the piece of chicken before she starts chewing, coughing a few times. She blushes at her friend: "I'm... huh... wha?"

Rebecca motions her palm at Courtney, "You're so cool! You're an artist and you're always sorta got that dark style going on! And the maid outfit... Well... I guess that's because of the job, but I think it looks good on you..."

Courtney blinks as she attempts to clear her throat, then just stares at Rebecca: "I er huh. I repeat, wha?" She then shakes her head: "I I I'm not cool. I just, er, do stuff and it occasionally works out."

Rebecca lowers her head to stare at her plate, "O-oh well... Um... Forget I said anything if you want... I'm just a dork who likes books but... I think you're cool."

Courtney attempts to hide her blush behind her hair as she looks aside: "Ah um... w-well... I guess I don't mind if you think I am." 'Gather yourself, Cor! This is ridiculous! Divert to other topics!'

"O-on a different note, y-yeah, I wanted to ask if I can draw you."

'NOT THAT TOPIC'

Rebecca blinks, taken aback. "Wha-? Like... Draw a picture of me? In your sketchbook?"

Courtney runs her mouth a couple of times, then concedes that nothing good seems to come out of there right now, so she just nods at Rebecca with a small smile.

Rebecca lets out a giddy noise resembling the air escaping a balloon, "Heee! Yes! Of course! That would be amazing!"

Courtney swallows, then allows herself a small smile: "O-only um, i-if you have the time to model for me, of c-course."

Rebecca nods very enthusiastically, "Well, you know my schedule. So basically... Almost any time, really. Just tell me when!"

Courtney nods dumbly, then continues eating. 'It's okay, self.' She thinks. 'She's not going to eat you if you draw her wrong. Although she might be disappointed in other ways and who knows... okay stopping thinking about that right now.'

After a moment, she breaks the silence: "Will do. Guess whenever the inspiration strikes. Your scales are beautiful, so should be soon." 'Did not need to add that last one...'

Rebecca's tail wags a bit, swaying at the edge of her pillows. "You... Said that before. When you had to shine them up. They're not even polished or anything right now."

Courtney swallows and gives a mildly panicky smile: "Oh? I did? Well er, yeah, just meant that." She shoves more salad into her mouth in an attempt to stop saying stupid things before she has time to think.

Rebecca picks at her chicken again, smiling awkwardly and unsure what else to say as well, other than a mumbled "W-well thank you."

Courtney finishes her meal. She then moves her utensils on the correct position on the plate. Then moves the plate aside. Then on another side. She wipes her mouth with a napkin. She does everything she can to take as long as she is able to, really.

Because if she says another thing it might be something truly damning she really really does not want to be caught saying out loud. Or even thinking about.

Rebecca finishes her meal as well, silverware not an issue, but she does take some time to wipe her face, one eye watching Courtney fidget. As they both finish, she raises her voice again, meager as her tone is, "Did I say something wrong?"

Courtney erk's, straightening up: "I er, um, no! I just... lost in thoughts. G-got thinking about the future and all that. You know how it goes." As she talks, she starts picking up the remains of the meal to be cleaned up later. Or maybe right now.

Rebecca tilts her head, then turns back to her plate. "O-oh, um... Okay. I guess I do know how that goes, yeah."

Courtney does not dare look Rebecca in the eyes. Those big beautiful deep wonderful OKAY CLEANING UP PLATES NOW.

She awkwardly picks up the pieces and only almost drops the big serving platter as she moves it. "I um... I gotta clean up. I-if that is all, er, talk to you later?"

Rebecca nods, still feeling a bit confused and uncertain, but she gives Courtney a wave, "Of course, err, anytime."

Courtney nods, her mouth feeling dry which is just as fine since talking is apparently a really bad idea at the moment. She glances at Rebecca with a smile before heading towards the kitchen... or a cold shower first, maybe.

Rebecca smiles back, then lowers her head to the pillow once Rebecca is out of sight, trying to figure out what just happened.

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