every life is a pile of good things & bad things

[thedreamer]

WHO: The Doctor & Ghostbusters Friends!
WHEN: December
WHERE: The Inn & surrounding areas
WHAT: Shenanigans, trouble, bringing joy & confusion, more trouble, culinary delights!
WARNINGS: Will edit as needed.


[ A series of open & closed starters in the comments below. I am super happy to plot something and set up a custom starter if you prefer so please feel free to PM me or ping me on discord @ bluebox#8972 or plurk @ geekorthodox ]

Comments

( open) the inn - proust's madeleine

[thedreamer]

[ The Doctor doesn't have much reason to cook often in his travels, his TARDIS providing everything he needs. Or his psychic paper, when he's planet-side and needs something in a pinch, but he experiences hunger much differently than his human companions so it's not generally a concern of his. But he's dabbled with cooking and fancies himself quite good at it.

If they're going to be stuck here for a bit, he's eager to stay busy and be helpful, and what could be more helpful than contributing to the provisions shared amongst their group? He works quickly, meals made swiftly alongside others in their group toiling about in the kitchen. But for anything the Doctor has personally made, there's no guarantee that there aren't some strange flavor surprises awaiting when taking that first bite.

When there's a moment of downtime, the Doctor wanders out of the kitchen to make conversation. In the upper left corner of his waistcoat, on a small bit of paper he's managed to find, he's scribbled his name The Doctor - along with a smiley face beneath it. Tree sap is helpful for keeping it applied!

Seeing a member of their group approaching a table in the dining hall to sit down and, presumably, begin to eat, the Doctor takes it upon himself to interrupt. ]

Hello! Good to see you - [ He points to his name badge, in case you don't already know him. But even if you do, it's worth a look. He's proud of it! ] Hungry, are you? You can't go wrong with anything here, really, but I can do a custom order just for you.

[ It's quieted down enough, so why not? ]

Tell me what you fancy - small snack, big meal, something savory, something sweet? Both?

[makemeasong]

[ It's days since their outdoor adventure, and Clara wanders in with a bouquet of roses in her arms, the petals all tipped with gold. It's beautiful, but she doesn't understand it, and she wants to get the Doctor's opinion. She waits until he's finished up with someone who seems to be pleased (relieved?) the first bite is palatable.

Once he's free she pops into his line of vision. ]

Can you chat for a mo'? Something weird showed up. [ She nods toward the roses, cradled in her arm like she's a pageant winner. ]

[thedreamer]

[ He's busy cleaning and prepping for his next round of meals, but he'll always take time for Clara. Of course, he's not expecting the large bouquet of...flowers? And no ordinary bouquet, either. ]

Showed up when, exactly? Just now?

[makemeasong]

A while ago. [ Whoops. ] Back when we first got to the inn, I left my room and then it was laying on my bed when I came back from supper. Super weird, hundred percent creepy. I never put them in water, though. They're real, I mean they smell like roses. But they haven't wilted at all.

[ Clara lightly touches a petal. It's soft, like a rose petal should be. ]

[thedreamer]

[ He reaches out to take the bouquet from her, because by now, surely, they have few boundaries left between them. She won't mind him further examining them, he's quite sure.

He sniffs, touches his tongue out to taste a little, then runs his finger around the edge of one of the petals. ]

Well, they're not poisoned!

[ Good...news? ]

[makemeasong]

[ It's a correct assumption, and she wrinkles her nose when he not quite licks a petal, but close enough. ]

So, no ghosts are trying to assassinate me, that's good. [ She smirks a little and while he's holding the flowers she reaches out to touch a petal. ]

But they are different somehow, have to be. They haven't even started to wilt, and honestly, they've been neglected.

[ Plucking off one of the smaller petals, she has no idea she's just gone invisible, and looks at it, turning it over in her fingers. The petal is invisible now too, every bit of her appears to be gone. ]

It's pretty, but...why?

[thedreamer]

Clara! Oh, Clara, you've just - oh, this is delightful.

[ He's suddenly giddy with joy and excitement, not even explaining anything to start with. Probably should have led with that. Right, yes, getting to that. ]

You've gone invisible! The moment you touched one of the petals. So, obviously correct: they are different.

[makemeasong]

What?! I'm invisible, seriously?

[ Of course, nothing has changed for her, and she holds up her hands, seven fingers displayed. ]

How many fingers am I holding up?

[She makes a funny face at him, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out. ]

[thedreamer]

Yes, I'm sure you are holding up some fingers and you're probably doing something ridiculous like -

[ He reaches out, trying to find her, trying to tap her nose, but...who knows where the tip of his finger will actually land since he can't see her. ]

[westviews]

[Wanda, trailing in to see what might be going on in the kitchen, blinks in surprise at such enthusiasm. It's simultaneously jarring and refreshing.]

A doctor that cooks? Talented.

[thedreamer]

[ As if nothing is at all unusual or unique about this, the Doctor barely misses a beat before responding. ]

What sort of Doctor would I be if I didn't? I'm a doctor of practically everything, I should hope it includes cooking. Though I haven't had a need to in a long while, admittedly. You're in good hands, though, not to worry. In the mood for anything in particular?

[ Blessedly, he pauses to allow her to speak. ]

[westviews]

[She lifts a brow. Strange. Not the strangest thing she's heard anyone say, but...]

Something warm.

[thedreamer]

Naturally! Excellent choice. Now - a warm beverage or a warm meal? No, never mind, don't answer that. Silly question. Why not both? Okay! Won't be long.

[ As promised, he produces both a warm beverage and a warm meal. The beverage, at least, is fairly normal, just hot sipping chocolate. The meal is, perhaps, a bit more questionable depending on one's taste. Of course, the Doctor thinks it's a brilliant combination: crispy potatoes, onions, an overly generous helping of sauce that tastes like a combination of sour cream and lemon. By generous, of course, it's...difficult to see anything at all left under the sour-creamy-citrusy sauce. But he returns with a bright grin, eager for her assessment. ]

Told you, I'm a bit rusty, so all your feedback, just lay it on me.

[westviews]

[The hot chocolate on its own? Fine.

The meal? Probably fine on its own.

Paired together? Wanda looks openly hesitant. She looks from the plate to that bright grin, not having the heart to give voice to her concerns.]

That's... definitely a lot of warm things.

[Maybe wine would have been best to drink, but maybe she has no idea what she's talking about. Slowly, Wanda delivers a forkful of potato and sauce into her mouth. There's a clear reaction in her eyes--okay, that's very sour--and she can't help but squeeze her eyes shut as she swallows it down.]

[thedreamer]

[ He's taking note, of course, watching her reaction carefully. And as her eyes squeeze shut, his smile wavers just a little. Perhaps he miscalculated on a few things, though he meant it when he said he's open to feedback. Even if he always wants and hopes that whatever meal he puts forth will be exactly what the recipient was most wanting. ]

Was it the lemon, the cream? Not enough potatoes?

[ That he even needs to ask is, perhaps, answer enough that he's still learning his way through this cooking thing. ]

[westviews]

Um. [She'd love some water to wash that down with, but there's only the drink he provided. Wanda decides to just lick her lips, instead.]

I think the sauce is a little too... tart. Is that sour cream? [Her fork prods at it.] Maybe less lemon, next time.

[But!!!]

It's not terrible.

[Please, she's no monster.]

[thedreamer]

[ He wants to say something to the effect of hot chocolate being a perfect counterpoint to the tartness of the lemon, but miraculously, he manages to hold his tongue. ]

Less lemon...okay, hadn't thought that - can there be too much... [ He trails off a little, his voice getting progressively quieter, as though considering this with some deep thought. ]

Suppose anything, even if it's good, could be too much. Well, there we are! Less lemon, back off the sour cream a bit perhaps. I'll have this sorted for next time, not to worry.

Now, over to you! I'm glad we've met officially now. Getting along alright so far?

[unas]

You're working here?

( una says as if she hasn't found her own ways to be useful around the place but she couldn't honestly say that this was what she'd expected from him. he cooked? that was a new thing to find out about him nevermind that he was cooking for everyone here or so it seemed )

I didn't know you could cook.

( no she's not yet answering the question )

[thedreamer]

Oh, come now, is that really so surprising?

[ Of course it is, but he would never see it that way. He's the Doctor of nearly everything, after all. Why not cooking, too? Except his brand of cooking is, perhaps a bit unique, considering he rarely does it. ]

You know, I once won a cooking contest in Prague! I was locked in a battle for the fate of the Earth with a Drak called Drakos. Everything hinged on this cooking contest. Naturally, I won.

[unas]

Not everyone on a ship knows how to cook.

( though she supposes that he's in a unique situation with time travel, being able to cook would be useful, especially when he's familiar with earth )

What did you make in the contest?

[thedreamer]

Quite unfortunately. Though, I haven't generally needed to know, myself, technically. It's been useful, practical, even a good bit of fun.

[ He doesn't have the need to eat as often as humans, certainly, and his dear old girl provides when he is in need, but it's a skill he's managed to retain. With...middling competency. ]

Slugs, actually, giant ones. Seasoned with salt, garlic, olive oil, and paprika.

[ Never mind that they weren't 'cooked' the traditional way; rather, he'd set out salt at the entrance to the TARDIS and when the slugs had entered with Drakos, Sarah Jane had thrown the rest of the ingredients on the slugs to 'season' them. It had worked out, though! ]

[unas]

I hope that's not what you're considering now.

( she'd be a little put off by that suggestion even if she didn't a specific reason to dislike it )

It's not any 'delicacy' I've come across and I'm not changing that now.

[thedreamer]

Una, honestly.

[ Only using her name because there's no one else around. He's careful about that, at least. ]

Look at my face. Would I make slugs for you? They're dreadful! You deserve better, you deserve—yes, I have just the thing. Wait, first, tell me how hungry you are.

[unas]

Should I be concerned about this?

( because she is, una lets few people cook for her if only because she's had uncertain food experiences before and few people know anything about illyrians. she trusts him but he's not chris )

Let's try something small.

[thedreamer]

Of course not! Ten minutes from now, you'll be regretting you ever doubted me. You're not allergic to anything, are you?

[ He has a few things in mind that he can whip up quickly, but he's mindful of ingredients and certainly wants to be careful. ]