jikan_rpg | January catch-all

Henry was so enchanted that Gaura wanted to adhere to some of his New Year traditions. He, in turn, went with his fiance to the New Year's Eve party at Pete and even shared a kiss at midnight! In front of everyone! Though, most people were too busy kissing someone else to notice. This was a big step for Henry, who still found public displays of affection a little difficult.

He's also glad that so many among their acquaintances were attractive young men. It made finding their first footer easy. Porsche definitely fit the bill and Henry was glad for the opportunity to get to know him a little better. He didn't mention that the first footer was supposed to bring a gift; it seemed rude to ask for someone to do the honor and also bring something. Instead, he offered breakfast -- which Gaura cooked because Henry's a disaster in the kitchen. He did help his fiance set the table and make the tea for their guest, though, while waiting for Porsche to arrive.

Edited 2023-01-01 18:16 (UTC)

When Gaura cooked, you could be sure that he'd prepare far more than was strictly needed. Always. Without fail. It just seemed to be part of the core of his DNA at this point. How food never went to waste was a mystery really because there was always so much of it. Eggs and toast beans and bacon and handmade sausage and muffins and fruit and freshly squeezed juice and tea and...

With the food spread out on the table, he smiled over at Henry and then went back to getting some more things from the kitchen while they waited for their guest. After all, he had a cake finishing in the oven. He needed to make sure that was just right for later. For another tradition that Henry had told him about.

Porsche stood before the door, raising his hand to knock. The house and neighborhood looked different in the morning light and he grinned as he thought about the private spot he and Kinn had found the night of the party. It was far less private with the bright light of day. But that was for him and Kinn and had no bearing on this morning's invitation.

As he knocked, he wondered if he should have brought something. Wasn't that a thing in some cultures. If Kinn hadn't been still recovering from the night before, Porsche would have asked. Ah well. He was here now.

He put on his most charming smile and waited for his knock to be answered.

Henry perked up at the knock and made his way from the dining room to the front door. He pulled it open with a warm smile. Yes, Porsche definitely fit the bill of a handsome young man perfectly! As he'd told Gaura before, so many of their friends are attractive. It's a little ridiculous at times!

He stepped aside and made a gesture for Porsche to come inside.

"Welcome to our home, again," he added with a sheepish grin. "How are you feeling?" The party at Pete's had gone pretty late.

Gaura heard the door and noticed that Henry had gotten it so he didn't go over. Instead, he just put the final touches on the breakfast, well, feast. Ah maybe he did go overboard like people said he did... Well if it was too much he could have visitors to the garden get some for free.

When the two came into the dining room, he smiled at them both. "Thank you for coming, Porsche. I hope that I made something you'll like. I wasn't sure so I sort of...made a little of quite a bit."

Because if he wasn't taking care of everyone around him who was he?

Porsche gave a little bow, hands held together in front of him. "Thank you for the invitation," he replied as he stepped inside. "I am doing well. It was a great party. I was able to meet more of our circle of friends."

His attention turned to other host as they entered the room. "Thank you for having me," with another small bow, he greeted Gaura. "I'm sure it will be wonderful. Really, I'm not picky."

Looking around, he was a bit in awe. He didn't exactly grow up in the slums and he had made certain to keep the sense of home his mother had established. "You have a very lovely home."

Henry smiled. Porsche seemed like a nice guy. Well, he wouldn't have invited him to be their first guest if he'd gotten a bad sense of him. And that compliment to their home? That just endeared Henry even more.

"This house is Guara's doing. I tell you candidly, it would be a true disaster if not for Gaura picking up after me." He leaned over and dropped his voice as if sharing some important secret. "You should see my study!"

Henry chuckled softly and gestured for Porsche to make himself at home. "If there's something you particularly like, we can box some up for you to take home with you." It was good to be generous with what they had.

Hearing the two come in, Gaura gave them both a warm smile. "I'm sorry that there's so much. I've learned it's my bad habit to make...too much."

But this way no one ever went hungry and they could always send food home with Porsche. The others might enjoy what he'd made too. Waving for him to have a seat, he busied himself a bit.

"What would you like to drink? Tea? Coffee? Juice?" Because yes. He had coffee there.

"Tea, please," Porsche answered as he sat down. "Thank you." Had Kinn been there, his fiancé would be ecstatic at the mention of coffee.

"Everything looks wonderful. And thank you for the generous offer. I think I will take a little something back for Kinn if that's alright?" Was Kinn capable of looking after himself? Absolutely. Did that mean Porsche would ever stop taking care of him? Not in the slightest.

"New Year's traditions are really interesting," Porsche commented. "I haven't heard of this one. Would tell me more about it?"

Henry waited for Porsche to get settled into a chair before he took his own seat. He reached for the teapot to pour their guest a cup and he nodded at the initial question. "I don't have any objections. My dear Gaura often cooks like this so we're used to letting others take some away."

He held the pot toward Gaura to see if he'd like a cup of tea as well. There were so many things to choose from, he didn't want to assume.

"If I presume we're from the same earth, it's my understanding that I'm from... Well, Gaura's past, at least. I come from England in the 1880s. It's said that first footing in the British Isles is a way to have good fortune in the new year. The first footer is traditionally a handsome, dark-haired man. Supposedly, this preference goes back to the time of Nordic invasions where the arrival of a fair-haired person on your doorstep bode ill."

He nodded his thanks for the tea then waved that Porsche was welcome to start eating. Gaura smiled at him as he served himself some food as well, breaking apart a pastry to enjoy a bite of it as he listened to the tradition. With that explanation it actually made a lot of sense.

"Porsche does have dark hair so that works well for us."

He couldn't speak on how handsome he was because, well, he literally couldn't see if he was or not. "If you'd like to stay for us to throw cake at the door in a bit, we'd love to have that. Henry tells me that's another tradition."

History wasn't Porsche's strong suit but he remembered enough to understand Henry's reference. "I think we probably are from the same Earth. Or at least ones that are close enough since I remember learning about Nordic invasions in school. Didn't know that a tradition was created because of it." He turned to Gaura, answering, "I would like to see that, thank you."

Porsche was more than a little delighted by the fact that something from a class as boring as history was actually factoring into his current events. To his plate he added links of sausage, some fruit, and pastry. In the spirit of sharing he described some of his cultural traditions. "In Thailand we go to temple to make merit and offer food to the monks. Then, we sprinkle water on Buddha statues and one another as a way to wash away past sins and bad luck."

Henry was so thrilled Porsche was going to stay for the cake-throwing. He smiled while picking out a few more of the breakfast items to place on his plate but paused to listen to Porsche share his new year traditions.

"Is it individual food items you take to the monks or a meal?" It seems like it would be a lot to eat if many people brought them full meals.

It was interesting to hear about the New Years traditions in Thailand. He really didn't know much about the country aside from the fact that they had people from that country here. And he really wasn't sure how many of them were from here. The trials of his condition really.

Quietly eating, he watched both men with interest. Though he did keep glancing at Henry since, well, his was the only face he could see and read now. Which meant he found himself relying on him for cues at times.

"Individual items mostly. And they share with those in need of course. Temples will sometimes take in those who don't have anywhere else to go. And if you don't want to bring food, money is always welcome too. Being generous is a good way to earn a blessing in return."

Pausing to enjoy the food, Porsche smiled after the first few bites. "This is really good. We're usually left to our own devices for breakfast at home and none of us can do half as good as this"

Picking the conversation about traditions back up, he asked, "Is there a certain type of cake that should be thrown?"

Henry bobbed his head as Porsche spoke. It all made sense to him. It was a nice way for people to support their local temples and the temples, in turn, to help the needy.

The compliment to Gaura's cooking earned a bright smile from Henry. Gaura's the best cook he's ever known, after all! He's very proud of his skills. "Gaura's an amazing cook," he squeezed into the conversation.

THe question about the cake brought him back to the topic and Henry shook his head. "No, it doesn't have to be anything specific. It's one of those old pagan traditions that made it into my people's collective thoughts. It's like a kind of sympathetic magic, showing that you can be wasteful because you'll have abundance in the upcoming year."

His cheeks colored at the compliment and he bowed his head to thank him. It always made him so happy that people enjoyed his cooking. He worked hard at it, after all. Was constantly learning new things to improve so that way everyone he cared about would always have delicious and nutritious food.

"I made a very nice cake for it so we can properly represent having an abundance. And I made a smaller version for you to take home to share with those you love, Porsche."

January catch-all

FOR GAURA & PORSCHE - NYD

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