Second Date ( Vin / Keela ) 7

[Shava]

In a few things, Vincent showed more of his mother's tastes then his father's and in this it was a mixture of both, heavily on his mother's end. A conquest of another human being, causing them to give into you was delightful enough to him that it thrilled his blood, but a complete surrender to bed time by a member of the opposite sex got him down deep inside provoking a thrill and satisfaction of a very complete kind. The year long pursuit of Keela Summerby with the goal of convincing her he was the best mate she would ever find was not just progressing well, he felt like he was walking on air today! He had felt immense contentment through out the morning, a dance in his steps that the regular morning of breakfast talk hadn't ground out of him completely. Even if he knew it had been because of his own efforts to change her mind, it still thrilled him down in his guts.

This morning they had off together though, a Hogsmeade weekend and a night she had no prefect duties. With the Yule dance rapidly approaching and their outfits already here, they had decided on the date for the second official date (though really, it was a mute point in a number of ways, but still worth the time from his perspective) and he was looking forward to it extremely! Now that she had lost her body shyness with him (and how could it last after a night like that who knew) he was expecting a lot more close contact, a lot more of a glimmer in her eyes when he said certain things, and a lot more permission to be possessive with her physically in little ways. And if he was honest he hoped he had been able to set enough fire in her that she would be thinking about a special ending for them as well before the date was over indeed!

She however by agreement at the beginning of all this, was in charge of this date. He had managed the first in the RoR and that had gone better then he would have thought in a kiss which she admitted later was the beginning of her giving in to him. Whatever she chose for this second date he was very curious, especially why it was to be at this hour and place. Standing in the hall he glanced at the doors and thought about what the weather was like outside right now. What did she have in mind he couldn't imagine, though images of building an igloo and spending the day making the ice melt had a slight flush in his cheeks by the time she arrived. Wiping thoughts from his dirty mind, he turned and looked at her approach with a broad smile and open arms. "Well hello there, beautiful woman of mine, come here and let me have a hug before you surprise me! I've been missing the feeling of you in my arms..." The hug was a good long one, feeling her relax into him entirely and knowing a thrill he had broken through that resistance of hers!

Now it was up to Vincent to make sure to make it permanent.

As they broke apart, his kiss lingering on her forehead, he looked into her eyes and saw something there of an anticipation for something. Curious, he said "Well, Keela, you're in charge. What happens next?"

[Shava]

Keela was decidedly nervous about this particular idea. What she'd first seen as a stroke of brilliant creativity now ran rampant as a series of mishaps. What if one of the teachers came and caught them? What if the elves were busy in the kitchens? For Merlin's sake what if she burnt down half of Hogwarts? Still, she was fairly confident despite her illogical worries that her plan would go off quite nicely. She knew he'd survived the confrontation with her brother, but she also knew he'd missed dinner. It was entirely her fault of course, she'd asked him to after all in favor of their second date. She'd mentioned it just before he'd left to go speak with Cern, telling him only that she had a surprise and that he shouldn't plan on eating dinner in the Great Hall. She hoped he liked what she'd picked out, that was the only hitch in her plan.

Still, her buzz from the night before hadn't been killed yet, not by her brother and certainly not by the rest of the day. She was dying to ask him how everything had gone, but had resolved to wait until after dinner. Or, at the very least, during dinner. She'd left early, planning to pace out some of her pre-date jitters, but to her surprise, he was already there. She gave him a once over, both to enjoy the view and to assure herself that is meeting with her brother had left him relatively unscathed. She had never cooked for anyone who wasn't family before, it was an adventure, she kept telling herself. Unless of course she managed to burn something, then it could be a disaster. His greeting distracted her, sending a warmth that was equal parts comfort and awareness of his presence.

She registered the words 'beautiful' and 'mine' first. She went into his arms willingly, smiling. It was odd, she couldn't help thinking, how much he had softened since last night. Not that he was everything but disarmingly charming. But...she couldn't put her finger on it. Before, Vin had seemed mysterious, even a bit calculating. Now, now it was like a totally different person, the thought both intrigued and unnerved her. She shook her head, convinced she was over analyzing things. Of course he was different now, after all, so was she. Things had changed, of course he was going to act differently. Still, the feeling stayed latched to the edges of her mind for later consideration. In charge? Keela grinned, yes, she was, if only for the moment. "We're going to the kitchens", she informed him, waiting for his reaction. "Do you know how to get there?" She would be surprised if he didn't, but then, stranger things had happened. When they reached the portrait, Keela tickled the pair, which let out a high pitched giggle before swinging open. The elves seemed unsurprised by her presence, but that might have been because she'd discussed the situation with the head kitchen elf immediately upon her return to Hogwarts. "Missy Summerby's area is all ready, it is!" Said a small elf, tiny even by house elf standards, she wore a dress made from an embroidered blue pillow case. She was also Keela's favorite. "Thank you Dizzy", she said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."

The elf beamed, "We elves is happy to help!" The elf's euphoric tone left little doubt she meant what she said. "Such a clever idea for young miss to be..." then as if remembering that the whole thing was supposed to be a surprise, the elf went suddenly silent. Leading them to one of the many smaller stoves on which the elves made their food. Catty-corner to the small kitchenette area was a small wooden table which had been covered by a red cloth. The two chairs on either side were thankfully human sized, and though Keela hadn't specified the single candle at the table's center, she was no less grateful for the effort. "Its perfect Dizzy, thank you again." The elf spun around in three small circles before clapping her hands excitedly. "Miss is most welcome." When the elf had disappeared, Keela smiled. "Bet you can't guess where she gets her name?" She let her messenger bag slide to the floor, opening it, she freed a green apron from the confines. It had been a gift from her mother for Christmas two years prior. The plainly embroidered, "Kiss Me I'm Irish" had served to irritate her brother much to Keela's amusement. Sliding it over her head, she tied the back into a bow. "Figured it out yet?" she asked him playfully.

[Shava]

He delighted in his mind how his chosen future came into his arms willing and with a smile; how much a change that that trust made in another even if not entirely well placed. For Vincent did have plans on her, lifelong plans which he was laying to bring her into being his forever and that might not be in her best interest, but certainly in his. A fine line indeed! When he said she was in charge her return reaction was a grin and he chuckled softly. Looping his arm with hers, he nodded and said "Lead the way, Moza, I'm intrigued to see what you have planned."

Did the elves have a hidden dining room somewhere? He doubted it but still wondered. Had she somehow arranged with them a separate dinner for just the two of them? With elves serving? It was a unique idea he had to admit, though he didn't see how many variations there might be to what she had planned and he cautioned himself not to jump to conclusions. This one, as with that surprisingly daring underwear last night, still had the potential to catch him off guard. He remember it too, stopping to stare in complete shock at how risqué what she had was and that someone as straitlaced as she had been had even owned. Then she had kissed him and it had broken the spell, reminding him there was some serious seduction to do and had gotten back to making it an amazing experience.

But the fact he had misread something about her still got him a tad.

She seemed to know the house elves, though her focus was on another. He recognized most of them having retreated down here since his fourth year when he needed a solitary place to think. Being served so effectively always left him feeling good in his place in the world, reminded him to some degree of home. Osiris had brought a couple of house elves to serve in the house in Scottland, but the combination of ghosts and elves would always make him think of home. They were led to the side where a small table had been set up where he saw no food or dishware. Curious, he did respond to her comment with an amused smile. "Gosh, I wonder if I can even guess..." and chuckled again even as he watched her.

The apron made it all clear and crystal suddenly. He stepped up behind her as she tied the bow (letting her hands brush against his jean front) as he ran his hands up her arms and then around her waist pulling her back against him. Kissing the space right behind her ear he whispered "I think I have figured it out now and I'm looking forward to seeing what you whip up! make more then sandwiches or eggs and you've already got mum beat hands down lovely!" His tone was one of confidence in her as well as maybe sounding impressed, but really he was already thinking if she was willing to serve him this way as well he had picked better then he had ever dreamed.

Moving to one of the chairs where he could watch what she did he had an expression of real curiosity on his face. "Mom was and never has been a cook. She can do the simple stuff, but dad is our cook most of the time when she doesn't have someone in to do it for her. I think she got so wound up in her book research she never learned beyond making the very basic foods." He watched her move as she readied the space for work and thought that her wearing nothing but the apron would end up being a request of his sometime in the future, the apron framing her rear more then just nicely and drawing his eye.

[Shava]

The nickname made her smile, and her excitement rekindled. For the moment, she was able to forget about her doubts and the issues with her brother and simply enjoy the moment. She was proud of her surprise. She'd actually put a fair amount of thought into it. She laughed at his cheek as she secured her apron, surprised when he pulled her backward. The kiss was innocent enough, but the tone in his voice as he whispered in her ear still made her shiver. She grinned, and turned to press her lips to his briefly before shooing him back into his seat. With her back to him as she started pulling pots and pans, she enlightened him. "I was going to try something Egyptian, but I didn't have time to practice so I thought I'd stick with something I knew." She pulled the box of shells from a cabinet above her head, and then turned to him, her tone apologetic. "Normally, I'd make these from scratch, but it takes forever and I don't think we have that kind of time." She turned again, filling a pot with water and setting it on the stove. Turning up the heat so that the water could reach a boil, she finally turned to face him. "Is three cheese manicotti okay? Its fairly simple, but I wanted to do something I was sure about."

She gave him an anticipating sort of smile. "I do have a little surprise though, one of the cheeses comes from Egypt. I think its called Gib-na Do-mi-at-i." She said the words slowly, as though uncertain weather she was pronouncing it right. "I didn't expect them to have it here, but apparently since some of the students are from different countries they have a bit of most everything, just in case. Though I wonder if your dad might have something to do with their stock of Egyptian fare." She shrugged, "anyway, I was thinking I'd try that, mozzarella and Parmesan. Should turn out nicely...if that's okay?" If it wasn't, she was sure she could whip something else up, she was nothing if not flexible. She removed the specified products, the cheese would have to be melted down enough to get it into the shells. She knew the Egyptian cheese was softer than the others, it might have to be melted separately. Rummaging through more pots, she came out with two more, which she sat on the counter and began combining ingredients.

When he spoke of his mother, she smiled. "Mum says its every DiAngelo's responsibility to know how to cook. Its a family thing." She shrugged, "magical or muggle, Italian food is an art, I've been learning since I could reach the stove on a step ladder." She caught him looking at her rear when she turned, and she faced him, waving the spoon she'd been using to stir the shells at him threateningly. "Hey now! If you're not careful I'll make you come help me with this." The dough would need to go into the oven soon. The elves had done the basics, all she had to do was spice it, mold it, and get it into the oven. The cheese was melting nicely, another few minutes and it would be ready to come off the stove to cool before she stuffed it into the shells. Dusting her hands, she began kneading the dough into shape, sprinkling garlic and other such spices as she went. "I guess I should have asked before, but you don't have any food allergies do you?"

[Shava]

He felt the shiver run through her as he whispered in her ear and smiled; every little detail about her was interesting to him. He let her shoo him back to his seat, content to be taken care of indeed, though she did things different in the kitchen then dad did. Of course, he didn't do much Italian either. Could it be that even the habits of cooking were passed down based on the cultures? Interesting thought! "Wait a minute, you can make pasta yourself??" Now he was impressed! he had heard that real cooks did everything from scratch, but he had no idea that she was that talented. "Man-i-coti? What's that?" He looked non-plused for a moment never having heard of the dish before, though the three chesses sounded interesting.

"Gibna Domiati, yes now that I know. Good stuff, it's from Northern Egypt. Did you see the age on the can? the older it is the better. Long as it's older then three years..." Osiris used that stuff all the time and Vincent could remember several times reading off dates for his father. Egyptians were apparently proud of the older cheeses and he happened to know his father had a few more then twenty years old. "Sure, sounds good actually, though I don't know how the dish normally tastes, but it will be nice to try it. And I'm sure they make a few dishes for him at the staff table. I've had a few with taro dips before at the table, tho no one else would touch them. I guess we stick more to middle eastern and Scottish dishes at home." And he had had Italian food before, but not very often and never before fresh.

This was going to be very interesting!

Chuckling softly to her explanation he explained "I think Egyptian food is more tradition and reputation then art. Dad is always saying how it has to be made an exact way to be really good. " Of course thinking about that his eyes dropped and then she threatened him with a spoon at where his eyes had been! "Okay sorry! Can I help it if you are that attractive I have a hard time not looking? I kinda assumed you would want me looking at you and not other women." Inwardly he smiled, sure that when she thought of it she would be flattered, but he'd better play the innocent on this point right now. Besides, he did want to eat! A glance around and while she rolled out bread one of the elves inched over as he said to Dinky "Dinky, can I have some water? I don't know what she has planned for drinks, but I know I'm going to need something. Keela? What do you want?"

That took little to no time at all really, though Keela may not have noticed beyond her an elf watching how she prepared things; though whether to make sure she did it right or cooking tips he had no idea. Deciding not to mention it, he shook his head no to her question. "Nope, none that I know of, I think Darius has one to something, but since he does most of the cooking with dad only he knows what it is besides dad." Darius had an unhealthy fascination with cooking which Vincent was convinced was why he did so well in potions so far. It was fine to love Potions and cooking, but Vin had an idea it went much farther then that in what he was learning...

[Shava]

She laughed at his reaction, but shrugged. “Sure”, she affirmed as she turned back to check the noodles. “Family recipe”, she explained. “My great grandmother sent it from Italy with my grandfather when he came to England. Since then, it’s passed to each family as a sort of badly kept family secret.” She grinned in amusement. “Don’t worry, dad reacted the same way the first time mum cooked for him. She did something with lobster and ravioli though I think.” When he asked her about the shell, she dipped the spoon into the water, lifting it out a moment later. “It’s easier to show you than to try and explain” she motioned toward the shell balancing precariously. “That’s manicotti, but there are several other kinds too. These are just easier to stuff.” She eyed it critically before dropping it back into the water. They would be ready soon, and she needed to get to work on the stuffing mixture before it cooled too much to be useful.

She nodded as he spoke. “I think this has been aged around six if I remember reading it right, I read up on it a bit this afternoon. Did you know the Hogwarts library actually has a stash of cultural cookbooks?” She blushed, “I’ve been tossing the idea of what to do for date number two since the train, I just wasn’t planning on throwing it together this quickly.” She laughed softly. “I’ve always had a ‘try anything once’ policy when it came to food.” She wrinkled her nose, “except for haggis. Dad made the mistake of telling me what it was first, I won’t touch the stuff. She transferred the cheeses into one bowl, and then began chopping scallions. “I’m pretty familiar with most Scottish food, but middle eastern would be a whole new world for me.” She put everything in the bowl, stirring it together as it continued to cool off slowly. The bread would be out of the oven soon. She’d worry about dessert when the time came, since it was already chilling. Small talking with him felt odd, but not all together unpleasant, she’d grown used to his intensity, and was a bit thrown off by his casual manner.

“As goes the culture so goes the food, or that’s how granddad puts it anyway.” She shook her head, “Great grandmum always told us if we had to follow a recipe we weren’t cooking the Italian way.” She laughed, remembering. “It made things interesting when I was first learning.” It struck her that in many ways the cultural differences had played out in the two of them. Vincent prided himself on control of all kinds, made a practice of cultivating skills and giving the appearance of perfection. Keela hardly ever had a plan for more than a few days ahead of time, her professional goals not included, and generally enjoyed being as spontaneous as she could manage comfortably. She grinned as she returned her attention to stuffing the pasta shells, swishing her hips at him as she went. “I was teasing you, caro. Aren’t you always telling me to lighten up?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. She laughed, “I think it would be a bit unrealistic to expect you not to notice if a pretty girl walked by”, she told him honestly. “Beyond that, I know a few variations of some very handy hexes mom learned during her time with the DA”, she smiled nonchalantly as she drizzled what was left of the cheese mixture over the stuffed shells.

Bending down, she slid on a pair of oversized green oven mitts and took the bread out of the oven. Nodding to Dinky, she spoke: “Lemonade would be really great if you’ve got it”. To Vin, she added, “I thought you could choose that for yourself once you’ve tasted it, I wasn’t really sure what would go well.” She nodded, relieved. “All right”, she hummed to herself as she plated everything. Setting his plate in front of him next to the place setting the elves had provided, she sat her across from him and untied the apron strings. “Mangiamo”, she declared, smiling. “Let’s eat.”

[Shava]

Listening to her speak about recipies, he wondered if any of his father's had been passed down. Darius would know; he made a point to search him out and ask him later that evening. "That's cool, I don't know if we know any of those or not. I've never done much cooking, I'm probably on about mom's level plus a little." It was hard to admit that, but what he knew should work for on the road stuff which is what he planned on doing a lot of soon so it should be okay. Besides, you got experience by doing and that was the most important, right? "I should know enough to get by on the road and doing that I suspect I'll pick up a lot while doing that."

Looking at the pasta he felt a bit surprised that you stuffed something like that. It made sense, but he didn't remember them doing that at home, more making up sauces to go on top of the pastas or with it mixed into stews and such. "Okay, this should be interesting. It sounds good, I'm not sure what it's going to taste like yet though." He nodded at the six years comment knowing that was a good time for it and listened to her explanation of how long it had been in planning. So that idea had worked well then, setting a number and alternating the people in control! He felt smug about it, as the idea had apparently yielded the success he had wanted. "Really? That long?" He felt the smile on his face and tried to keep it from being self-satisfied, but wasn't sure if he succeeded.

"Trust me, Haggis is a lot better then some of the things people eat. For me it's liver. I mean, it's what takes the bad sh!t out of your body to protect you. How the heck can people consider eating that? Haggis is mostly oatmeal more then anything else." Noting she hadn't done much with middle-eastern, he resolved to remember that when it came time to have her at home or traveling. He watched her giving the preparations a critical eye and in that moment saw her as pretty skilled, judging things by eyes alone. "I have to say you certainly look like you know what you are doing, I'm starting to get pretty excited to see the end result!" As she mentioned no recipes were used he felt his brows come down in confusion.

"Hold it. You're doing this off the top of your head then? Like, you didn't plan this out and write it down or anything, just throwing stuff together to try it out?" Okay now he really was impressed! This sounded way more like an art form then he would have guessed; to him cooking was like baking and you had to follow the recipe others had laid out before you to get good results. He became a bit thoughtful and quieter as she finished up preparations. At least until she swung her hips at him getting a leer back as his attention definitely shifted. "So basically I can look long as that's it right? Seems reasonable if we're both on the same set of rules. Is there any problem with me telling you what I think is attractive on other girls when I see it?" Mischievous thoughts ran through his mind at that thought, wondering what all he could get her interested in.

When the finished product was put in front of him, Vincent gave it a calculated look, leaning over it to smell as well. It was certainly an unusual looking plate and as she spoke about digging in, he flashed her a smile. "Looks good, smells good, and the preparation was certainly entertaining so I'm thinking this is a winner to begin with." Picking up a fork he used it to cut the end off one of the rolls and put it in his mouth experimentally. A very rich flavor, he immediately knew this was going to be something he was going to like very much! Vin could recognize where the Egyptian cheese came into it as well and took a second forkful quickly. "Oh yeah, that's good. I think I definitely need to keep you," he winked with a smile as he chewed.