piecrafts | ❥ prompt post :

_{( Salazar freezes. He’s got an awkward, spindly way of moving, and as he straightens up his long arms clamp to his sides. He hides his guilty expression by pursing his lips. )}

You seemed busy, Helga. I didn’t want to disturb you.

_{( Yes, that was an excellent cover. Good job, Salazar. Gold star for you. )}

It's not a problem, really.

[ Beaming at him, because it's Helga and she's doing her best to reassure him that he's not interrupting her at all. Dusting her hands off on her apron, she makes her way to his side. ]

I rather like seeing all of you stop by, though everyone seems to be convinced that they're the only one who has thought of it.

_{( Those smiles are infectious and he's about to give her one in return, really, he is. Except that then she mentions the others and he can't help but scowl. Because somehow if they're all sneaking in here without him, he thinks they must be conspiring against him in some way. Salazar: the paranoid guy who chills out in dungeons. )}

All of us, is it? And what did the illustrious Madame Ravenclaw and Lord Gryffindor have to say?

_{( He's sneering their names. It's not bad-natured, though certainly mocking. )}

[ That gets him a chiding look, before she's waving her wand and there's a plate floating in front of Salazar at a convenient height for him to grab. ]

That depends on the day. Rowena simply comes into chat and manages away with a few pastries now and again [ Read: she comes in to steal food and ends up staying for hours ] while Godric always announces his presence [ By which she means he throws the portrait open and disrupts everything by the time he's shooed out by the elves with arms full of whatever he can grab ].

[ No plotting here, Sally. It's Helga's kitchen. ]

_{( He considers not grabbing anything off the plate for about a second, but that urge doesn't last long. It's Helga's cooking, after all. No one can resist it. So he grabs an apple something or other and turns it over in his hands, looking sheepish. )}

You'd think they could find better ways to spend their time than bothering you.

I'd much rather have them come talk to me than exhaust themselves from constantly working. Everyone works so hard to make the school a success that no one should feel guilty about a well-deserved break.

[ Hard work is important, of course, but there's nothing wrong with the occasional trip to the kitchen. This also includes one (1) Salazar Slytherin, for what it's worth. ]

And set that kind of example for the students? _{( He breathes out through his nose in a huff. )}

I'll break when I've accomplished all I need to, and not before.

_{( But he does take a bit of his pastry. It is quite delicious. )}

Even students need to have fun once in a while, Salazar. [ Back to grinning at him. ]

Then you've finished whatever it is you've been working on for the past week?

[ Genuinely curious, because that's how Helga rolls. She likes seeing everyone around her get excited about the things they're doing - be it a new book or another victory in a dual. Or even a new potion that someone's cooked up. ]

_{( He shakes his head. A potion master's work is never done. )}

It needs a day to... sit. But I can't do any more with it at the moment.

_{( Which means he has free time. Which is a gross concept. )}

I'm sure you'll find something else with which to occupy yourself in the mean time.

[ So helpful and so encouraging! She's going to pile on a bit more food onto his plate while he does that, since he's probably going to vanish down to the dungeons again. Best to feed him while she can. ]

Undoubtedly.

_{( Because he doesn't waste time. But now he is grabbed the plate, and leaning back against one of the counter-tops. )}

And what exactly has been going on here, interruptions from our colleagues aside?

Nothing nearly as exciting - I've been trying to come up with some new recipes for the fall.

[ A wave of her wand, and a small chocolate cake shaped like a cauldron appears in one hand - filled with warm chocolate syrup and a solid chocolate handle. ]

Here, try it.

Edited 2012-10-23 07:31 (UTC)

_{( He wants to say that is exciting, but admitting you're into things is against the hipster-douche code. But he reaches for it nonetheless. )}

Well, if you insist.

_{( That seems to be something he says a lot. But he bites in and lets the warmth of it kind of fold out over his tongue, closing his eyes to savor it. But that lasts only a moment, and then he swallows, and coughs. )}

That's... quite good, I suppose.

[ Helga beams, and if she were someone like Godric would be swelling with pride. Instead she just radiates good feelings and happiness, which isn't really all that different from normal. ]

I'm thinking of serving them during All Hallow's Night. [ or whatever the historically appropriate word is. and if there isn't one, someone can bite me. ] Something out of the ordinary to celebrate.

Well, there's the treat. Where's the trick, then?

_{( I'm going to be anachronistic and if you don't like it, fight me. Anyway, Salazar has a sly smile playing on his lips. Clearly, he has an idea. )}

[ I would never. ]

I hadn't given that much thought at all.

[ A frown - and she twists her hands in her apron. Does it need one?! IS HER COOKING LACKING BECAUSE OF IT?!?! ]

Would you trust me to take care of it?

_{( So he can prank Godric shhhhh. )}

[ See Helga. See Helga think so highly of her friends that she wouldn't dare consider Salazar doing anything damaging with a cake. ]

I don't see the harm in it, so long as it's still edible when you're through.

Any additions will be colorless, odorless, and tasteless. I promise.

Then by all means.

[ A trusting grin. Don't ruin this, Salazar. Don't make her smile turn into a frown. ]

You're too kind. _{( He means that in the gentlemanly way, but he's also feeling just a tad guilty. Why must that grin be so trusting? )}

[ Because it's Helga, and trusting people is what she does best. ]

It's nothing, honestly. After all - you'll be helping me improve.

It's the least I can do.

_{( He shifts, about to make his getaway. After all, isn't this perfect? He can turn Godric into a mute lion's cub on Halloween, now, or something equally embarrassing and non-threatening. )}

You must be busy, Helga. I shouldn't take any more of your time.

Salazar, you're always welcome here. You spend so much time in the dungeons it's a pleasure to see you around.

[ A wave of her wand, and a very comfortable squishy armchair appears next to the roaring fire, and she beams even wider at him. ]

I don't mind at all, please - sit.

Well, my work... _{( He mutters, conjures his hourglass with a wave of his wand. It's still keeping the time on his latest concoction; half an hour left. With such evidence, the only choice is to sit down. Helga makes far more comfortable chairs than he does; all his end up backless three-legged stools. )}

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