Sleepovers with Someone to Cling to ((Verity))

[losthunter]

It has been a quiet week for Hunter. One of the advantages of the quiet is the fact that Hunter has had lots of time to work on his artwork. (Perhaps a little bit too much time, in all reality).

So receiving a message from Verity was a good thing, all things considered. Hunter really had wanted to speak to her, about some small things going on in his life. And just have a fun night with a great friend. So they had decided to have a good-ol' fashioned sleepover.

Knowing that Verity was going to stay the night -- and having no qualms with sharing his bed with his good friend -- Hunter had made sure to bring out his best rose-themed sheets for the King-sized bed.

He also raided the closest convenience store to stock up on a few snack goodies for the evening. But of course, for the wine selection of the evening, Hunter went to one of his favourite stores. There he also picked up some cheese selections of the evening.

Almost was ready for Verity to arrive. Hunter's apartment is very open concept. The kitchen, dining room and living room are all visible from the doorway. Of course, his art studio is a little more tucked away -- close to the balcony, and where Hunter grows his roses.

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

"Mm, that'll be delicious. You want a sauce or just olive oil?" She'll start slicing the mozzarella while he decides. "The white sauce is a basic alfredo but made with Greek yogurt instead of all cream. It's mild but a little tangy. The red is made with roasted tomatoes and bell peppers. It's kind of spicy."

[losthunter]

"I will go with spicy." Hunter selects the red sauce. "What should I do first?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"First, we turn on the oven," click! "and prepare the crust." She unwraps the crusts and slides them onto a sheet pan, then mists a little olive oil over them--a flip, and she does the other side too. "Now, take a big soup spoon's worth of sauce, put it in the middle, and use the spoon to swirl it around the crust. You can add more if you want, but not too much or else it'll be soggy and the toppings will slide off when you try to eat it."

She'll show him how on her crust, but really, it's not complicated. "Then take some spinach and hold it loosely with your fingertips. Rub your thumb up and down to break up the clumps while you sprinkle it over the sauce." Again, she'll demonstrate. The spinach isn't dried out, but it's dry enough to not make the pizza a soggy mess.

"Then spoon little mounds of onions around the top and use the spoon to smooth them out over the spinach as best you can. It's not going to be perfect and that's okay. Then you do the chicken like you did the spinach, put a layer of mozz over the top, then bacon, then parm."

Her own pizza deviates from his directions after the spinach: she's spreading prosciutto out, then putting down a thin layer of mozz before placing the berries around on top.

[losthunter]

Hunter listens carefully to her instructions, watching her at the same time. He follows along, first starting with the sauce, and then the spinach.

He then starts with the onions and the chicken. He is finding it a lot of fun. And he is having a great time, learning about pizza making.

"Is this homemade dough?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Mm-hmm. I made the dough yesterday and baked it this morning. The dough needs time to rise, like bread, so you have to plan ahead a little. But letting the dough rise doesn't take effort, just counter space. The patience sometimes takes effort."

Hers'll be ready first, but that's okay, that gives her time to wash the berry juices off her hands before getting out the grater to do the parm. "I can teach you how to make the dough someday if you'd like."

[losthunter]

"I understand a lot about the importance of being patience." Hunter laughed. He is taking his time now with the final toppings, trying to make the pizza look artistic in a way.

When he is done, he has a vase of flowers on his pizza.

"That would be great."

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity looks over when he's done and can't help smirking at him. "Yours is prettier than mine. Next time, you do the toppings, I'll do the cooking."

She's going to have to step things up for his birthday party. Honor demands it. "Now we put these in the oven for about five minutes. You want some salad or something to go with it? Or is healthy food verboten at sleepovers?"

[losthunter]

"What can I say, I was inspired." Hunter chuckles lightly. He had enjoyed making the topping design, so would not have minded making one for Verity too.

"I have always enjoyed a good Chef salad." And he actually does have the supplies in the fridge for it, in case those ingredients were not included in Verity's supplies.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're the artist." Whatever inspires him she figures must be a good thing.

"I think we can manage a chef's salad." She didn't bring quite everything for that, but between them, they should be able to manage. It won't take long for her to slice and dice everything; she's got mad knife skills from years and years of practice. "What kind of dressing do you like?"

[losthunter]

Hunter notes that one should be careful in their teasing, especially watching her with those mad knife skills.

"A light Balsamic would be enough."

[brave_heart_verity]

It's never a good idea to mess with someone who keeps her knives so sharp, no.

"That's easy." She'll add a garlic clove to her chopping, mincing it so fine it could nearly fit through a sieve. "I find one part balsamic to three parts oil is a good ratio. Then you just add some garlic, salt and pepper, and a little sweetness to taste. It's easier to scale the recipe when you think of it in ratios," she explains. The now-empty spinach container is given a quick rinse before being repurposed for the dressing.

"You want to plate the salad all pretty while I finish this up?"

[losthunter]

Hunter chuckles lightly and gets to work. He starts by slicing the cucumbers nice and thin, then using them as a little ring base to other components of the salad. He makes about a eight rings. The egg slices he puts around the plate. Then stuffs the rings with the ham, salad, avocado, tomatoes and cheese.

"How is this for pretty?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Showoff." She's been admiring it the whole time while he worked, and obvious teasing is obvious. "Looks perf actually. As you well know. Clear off the cutting board so I can slice the pizzas, please?"

[losthunter]

Hunter cleans off the cutting board easily enough. He also takes down some plates from his cupboards for them to use during dinner itself.

"Maybe there is a bit of a show-off in me." He laughs.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you. Don't all artists need to feel that compulsion in order to show their art in public?" No pizza wheels here, she uses her big chef's knife to cut the pizzas into wedges and transfer the slices onto their plates.

"There we go. It's a good thing you're so good at the things you like to show off about."

[losthunter]

"Not all artists. I know of a few who worry a little too much about being criticized to showcase their work."

"And I know I had to fight those fears, before my first art exhibit."

Hunter smiles, and does a little twirl on his way to set up the table. "Well, it was either my art, or my amazing dancing skills."

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity will hang back a moment, cleaning up and putting things away, making sure the oven's off, topping off their wine. "Well, I stand corrected. And maybe I just can't see what you'd be worried about since you're such a great artist."

Fun fact: Ver knows how to wolf whistle. Hunter knows that now. "You'd be a great dancer."

[losthunter]

"It is because of people like you, believing in me, that I feel more comfortable about showcasing my work." Hunter smiles in response.

He blushes at the wolf whistle. "Just wait until you and I hit the dance floor at our gay club night."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Then I'm happy to help, and the world can line up on the right to thank me."

His blushing only makes her grin and encourages her to tease him more. "Oh, I'm sure it'll be a show to enjoy. Why d'you think I'm willing to go with?"

[losthunter]

"Just promise no video taping or flash photography."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Scout's honor," she assures him. She was never a scout, so...

"I may want a picture of the two of us, but I won't spring it on you."

[losthunter]

"Those kind of photos are fine with me. And if there needs to be photographic proof of my dancing skills, I think I would be okay if you were in my arms." Hunter wraps his arms around her waist at that statement.

"I promise not to get all growly for friendship photos."

[brave_heart_verity]

Ver squeals and reaches up to lace her fingers together behind his neck. "Oh yeah? And why would it be okay when you're dancing with me instead of a handsome guy?"

Her tone remains sweet, but the question is pointed. He shouldn't be afraid of who he is.

[losthunter]

"The handsome guy might not want his picture taken." Usually taking pictures of strangers can have negative circumstances.

"But you know ... I actually do need a new photo portfolio for my exhibits."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I would ask first," she reminds him with a smirk. She's not the sort to start taking lots of random pictures after all.

"A whole portfolio of them? Well, I'm sure we can find a good photographer for you."