special_rabbit | 6 Unicorn Street; Thank Goodness it's Tuesday! Morning, 12/21.

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6 Unicorn Street; Thank Goodness it's Tuesday! Morning, 12/21.

Amaya had woken up and got dressed and prepared with a heavy reluctance to face yet another Friday, but it didn't take her long at all to realize that this morning was, finally different.

Mostly due to the fact that Dwight was still there sleeping on her couch.

Really, now, that's the day they managed to get out of the loop with finally, huh? It couldn't have just been the one where they'd both gotten shot?

But he had ~~oh so handwavily because the last few days have been straight up dumpster fires~~ still showed up yesterday, despite finally being filled in by Miguel about what had been happening, and at that point, Amaya, too, had realized that maybe just being honest about everything was the best route (and, hey, it had only taken her four days!). And even though there was a good chance that there'd be some progress in the whole thing when the infiltration team hit up that island, maybe it would be better if they both just stayed put, they could maybe get some planning and work done in the shop and then she could make some tea and he could come hang out with the lobsters.

There'd been quite a bit of awkwardness--even arguing!-- about it, at first, mostly on account of the whole getting shot that one time part of it, but at least just spending time in the apartment was better than just shoving Dwight in the closet again--not that it had apparently done much good! At least until they were sure the infiltration had succeeded, and, if not, well, then, they'd just reset yet again, and she'd make sure to text him immediately after waking up again to not even bother!

And, of course, was there a part of her who knew that there was a good chance the excursion would be successful? Maybe. But she wasn't going to think about that.

She was, instead, mostly going to try to see if she could slip pass the sleeping lout on her couch to get to the kitchen and make her coffee, as quiet and stealthy as could be (which, to be fair, were not usually her strong suits), and then hopefully slip down to the shop before he woke up and get starting on some work that might actually stick now that things were clearly back to normal (time-wise, anyway! There was nothing normal about this situation!) to help avoid at least that particular bit of awkwardness.

[[ for the oh-so-shamelessly modded and handwaved houseguest, please! ]]

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Dwight studied Amaya for a moment. He remembered their conversation yesterday about it. But he still had no memory whatsoever about any of it. But Miguel had also told him as much (though in fare fewer words) and there was no real reason for Amaya to lie about something like this.

"Yeah, well I'm a bit more used to being shot and all that. Kinda comes with the territory" he said as he set the mug of coffee down and leaned over the grab his shirt off the arm of the couch.

Had he suddenly realized he had forgotten to put it back on ? Yes, yes he had. Was he trying to be casual about it and not make a big deal of it? Possibly. Did he have a slight flush feeling spreading over his face as he did? Absolutely ~~definitely~~ Not!

"Besides" he muttered more to himself than anything as he pulled the shirt back on. "It's not like it would have mattered much if I had been lost to the time loop shenanigans."

It was a bit funny, wasn't it, how, now that the shirt was back in the picture, Amaya was suddenly thinking that it wouldn't have hurt any if it maybe had been just a little more difficult to locate. She was just going to wash that thought down with more of her coffee, before returning that studious look back at Dwight and his mutterings.

"Well," she said, stoutly, as if deciding firmly not to even dignify that last part with a response...again; if it weren't for the situation, she'd almost think they were still stuck in some sort of time loop, because she was pretty sure they'd been over this yesterday, "either way, it's been taken care of and we can, finally, get on with our lives. Literally."

She looked at him again, mostly thoughtful, but clearly with an effort to look rather passive about the complicated mix of thoughts that entailed.

"Starting, I think," she decided, with another sip and a turn toward the kitchen, "some breakfast."

Dwight considered her for a moment then gave a nod as he stood, coffee still in hand. They had discussed that aspect of the time loop adventure at length yesterday... there really wasn't much point in hashing it all out again. Though it would be something Dwight would likely feel responsible about for some time to come.

"Breakfast sounds good" he agreed with as thoughtful a grin as he could muster. "Want to tag-team it out? Or can I at least partly repay your hospitality, and make up for you getting shot- by taking care of it all?"

Ah yes, because that is exactly what Amaya wanted and needed in the morning! The recent Community Center Culinary Class Graduate cooking in her kitchen!

To be fair, that Community Center never did end up burning down! That's nothing to shake a stick at!

But of course what was going to earn him a withering look from Amaya was his bringing up the whole getting shot thing...again...wondering if that was going to wind up being a precursor to everything now. "So I got shot," she said, "big deal. It's not the worst that's happened to me around here before!"

Even with the dying part!

"You said it yourself, you get shot all the time. Clearly, I've just got some catching up to do."

But, before he could make any arguments about that, she'd made it to the fridge and pulled out a carton of eggs and shoved it toward him.

"But alright," she said, "if you're going to insist, let's see what they've been teaching you in that community center class. I've got some bacon, as well, and plenty of greens and veg from the greenhouse, too."

Dwight was about to point out the fact that he got shot a lot more because he was, ya know, a literal frigging bullet magnet! But he thought better of it and simply took another drink of the coffee before taking stock of what all he had to work with.

It didn't take long for a recipe Ignis had ~~handwavely~~ talked about in one of the classes to come to mind. And just like that, Dwight knew what he was going to make- Southwestern Style Omletes!

"Sorry, no meats on sticks this time" he said somewhat apologetically with a smirk directed Amaya's way as he started on the eggs.

And if Dwight would have pointed that out, then Amaya would have pointed out that she wasn't about to let some tiny little detail like that stop her!

So it was probably overall a good thing he decided to focus on the cooking instead.

"Well," she noted, going to top off her coffee so she could be better prepared to just sit back and watch for any hints that Dwight was about to utterly destroy her kitchen, "it's not like I'm looking for anything as fancy as all that!"

"Ah well that's good" Dwight chuckled after fiddling with the food for a bit. "Because all I have to offer for breakfast today is this."

With that, he brought over the skillet and and a hot pad and set it on the table in front of Amaya. He was grinning proudly, though he was doing his best to hide it as he watched her for a reaction.

He thought it looked pretty good and there had been no smoke or fire so that was always a good thing too! Looks like the lessons were sticking!

"Hey, now," Amaya remarked, sounding impressed as she leaned in to breathe in a full hit of the aromas that had been filling the kitchen since he got started. "That actually looks like it might even be edible, too!"

And since she figured, by now, he'd take as the praise it actually was underneath the teasing, when she went to fetch a few plates from the cupboard and handed one over to him, her grin was far less apologetic for it than it could have been.

And you know what? He would gladly take Amaya-esque praise any day. He dished up the food and handed the plate to Amaya before dishing out his own.

As they ate, Dwight couldn't help but think that he was going to be in debt to Ignis for some time. He was far from Michelin Star chef but he at least wasn't setting off smoke alarms for once.

"Well," he said finally when he had finished and was enjoying another cup of coffee. "I don't think that turned out half bad, really."

And it was a good thing he wasn't, considering smoke alarms wasn't exactly something Amaya would have thought to have installed in the place, really.

"Could have been worse," Amaya allowed, since, really, he'd set himself up for that one, and, apparently, the meal had been good enough that they hadn't bothered having any conversation between him dishing out the food and apparently finishing it up. But they did say that was the sign of a good meal, when a person's mouth was too busy chewing to be chatting.

"Eh, if it had been bad it would have been because of the cook," Dwight said with a slight nod. "Because there was absolutely nothing wrong with what I had to work with there! How much of that did you grow yourself?"

"The peppers were particularly nice, weren't they?" asked Amaya, her face lighting up a little for the chance to talk about it. Not unlike when she talked about her weapons, but it was a different, softer kind of pride....perhaps to go along with the softer sort of talent. "They came in great this year, though I think I might need to do something a little different with the tomatoes. We kind of lucked out with the one you used there, but I've been having to toss more of them than I've been able to use. The eggs, now," she smirked a bit at what she thought was a truly hilarious joke over here, "those I did have to get from the store."

"could always build you a little coupe or something out back for you to have your chickens if you really wanted" Dwight offered. Military buddy of mine said he raised chickens and pigeons in the city. Evidently they had a coupe built on the top of their apartment complex for the birds.". Dwight gave Amaya a grin. "I'm sure we could figure something out here easily."

"Not much room out back except for the alley," Amaya pointed out, "though I think they used to have chickens at some point on the roof of the animal shelter. The plants keep me busy enough as it is, and besides....what would the lobsters think?"

If Dwight's introduction to Dave and Diane thus far was any indication, the answer to that question would be 'not much at all, really.'

"True... true... D & D would probably stage a hostle take over if any other critters tried to move in" Dwight acknowledged with a nod. "Thinking about it... the island as a whole really isn't conducive to farm-life. I mean other than the school grounds there's not a lot of open space... and I'm not sure i would trust the students with farming chores..." he added with a general handwave.

"Oh, you'd be surprised," said Amaya, amiacably, with a little glance around the room. "They're mighty resourceful, those kids. I think I told you at some point, they helped built this place you're sitting in right now. And I had at least one student who was a farmer; I'd have trusted him with any of those kinds of tasks easily enough...

"And now," she added, with a glance toward the plants in the window overlooking Unicorn Street, "you've got me wondering if maybe I should teach a course on gardening one of these semesters. Not exactly farming, and definitely not my usual line of lessons, but it could be a bit interesting, get a little more horticultural appreciation around here!"

Two thoughts were running through Dwight's head at that moment. And both found their way out of his mouth as he mulled things over for a moment.

"Kinda wish some of those kids were around now" he said giving another appreciative look around the very impressive setup Amaya had. "Lord knows I could use that kind of innovation and elbow grease over at my own place." It really was quite bone bare basic and boring still.

After a couple moments thought he continued to add. "And I think that kind of class would be a perfect fit for you actually. And it's a class that would be well received and much needed I would think, what with all the focus these days on technology and digital this and smart-tech that...." he really wasn't a huge fan of technology if you couldn't tell. "It might do the kids some good to get back to nature a bit more!"

"Maybe for the summer session, then," Amaya allowed, her faint smile llingering as she thought about it and, really, just sort of appreciated the support and the feedback. "If it doesn't work out, then at least I'm only commited to seven weeks rather than the full fifteen of a regular semester. And, really, just run a building class over the summer yourself! That's what I did here, and it turned out great. Obviously, had to hire out some of the more technical stuff, still, but I think it was a good experience for everyone involved."

"Good idea, with the summer class... though, I seriously doubt there would be an issues. But it would be a good way to get a feel for how the kids react to that kind of class" Dwight offered.

"And if I go that route with a home building class or something, I might be picking your brains a bit for idea or at least what to avoid this time around" he said with a grin. "I've held shop and woodworking classes but never anything more advanced than like a wooden plaque or something simple and fairly easy."

"Yeah," Amaya couldn't help snorting a little, "too bad someone around here seems to have monopolized the market when it comes to shop classes."

But she obviously couldn't imagine who that could be!

She did teach other things, though! Just usually in the summer! And one math class that one time.

"Yeah, I wonder who in the world that could be?" Dwight said, barely keeping the broad smirk off his face.

"Will have to see how things go at that point. Kinda got to survive my first class before I start thinking about a second one to teach" he said with a somewhat somber nod.

"Look," said Amaya, holding up her hands in defense as she leaned back in her chair, "if it works, it works, and me teaching shop class for the past..."

Her eyes rolled up a moment as she tried to count, and then regretted it.

"Ooof. Several years...apparently works...pretty well! So why change it? Although I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give someone else a chance...But what do you mean?" She leaned forward again now with intrgiue. "First class? You teaching in the spring and didn't tell me, Dwight?"

To be fair, Amaya, you were sort of stuck in a time loop for the better half of a week...

"Ah, must have slipped my mind" Dwight said rubbing the back of his head. "But yeah, figured I would give teaching a go, see how it went. See the kids and I survived it alright," he added with a chuckle. "Going to teach a PE/Health Class. Got Gladio teaming with me so I at least won't be going at this totally solo."

"I'm doing Weaponry with Diaz again," Amaya offered with a faintly fond smile, "so looks like we've both doubled up. Can't say I've had much of a chance to get to know Gladio very well, though."

Which was a shame, really, considering his arms. And his Arms.

"Good. I think after recent events *ahem* we can all agree the island needs to be better prepared... For everything from mistletoe to shooty people in a time loop" Dwight said matter-of-factly. "Someone has to make sure we can protect ourselves. And I the two of you obviously make a good team when it comes to that."

"Eh," said Amaya, with a broad grin and a wave of her hand as she leaned back in her chair, "you're just saying that because it's true. But Diaz and me, we go way back, and she's got a weapon collection that almost makes the weapons wall downstairs look sparse!"

"And when things work, why fix them, right?" Dwight said with a slight wink. "Sometimes people just click together and work better than they could have expected."

Did Dwight give Amaya a quick side glance before filling his cup with more coffee? Maybe. What if he did?

You know what? Amaya was just going to blame that one on the fact that Dwight had just slept on her couch, and she was pretty sure that thing still probably had traces of fur clinging to it from that one time Seivarden was a cat. It was very logical that perhaps he was a bit allergic, or that a little bit might have just irritated that eye a little bit.

Forget those goggles; perhaps she should just get him an appointment with an eye doctor for Christmas.

"Maybe not fix 'em," she said, a little wary now regarding things like context and suggestion that were clearly not there, why would they be, "but there's always room for improvement. For example," she lifted her mug, "you improving my coffee by topping me off while you've got it, if you don't mind."

"Coming right up" Dwight said with a grin as he topped her off and then raised his mug to hers. "Here's to the ending of the year and to a better one ahead."

The year wasn't completely over yet, but it was winding down. And Dwight had a lot to think about. There was a lot to be thankful for a lot to look forward to for the year ahead. And sitting there in Amaya's kitchen he knew there were quite a few things he was very thankful for....

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6 Unicorn Street; Thank Goodness it's Tuesday! Morning, 12/21.

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