Closed Quiet Dinners

[Cooper Gates]

With takeout in hand, Cooper apparated home with Cyazarine in tow. He had a nice little place on the edge of town, unlocking the door and leading her inside. It wasn't an especially large home, but it was open and airy, each room spacious and decorated in a simple black and white. The living room, dining area, and kitchen, were all in an open space, with doors on the far wall leading to the single bedroom and bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable," He told her, motioing to the living room- several plush couches circling the fireplace and the large wallmounted television gave her plenty of options for where to sit. He moved towards the kitchen. "I'll get dinner served up and be right over. Want anything to drink?"

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine still wasn't totally sure about this, but she had agreed to it. She followed him into his house. it was a nice place, not too dissimilar to hers, though she had a slightly bigger place since up until recently had another person in it. She walked into the space that was the living area, and then sat down on one of the plush couches, noticing the tv on the wall. "You have a muggle television?" she commented lightly. She hadn't seen one of those in ages. "I'd love some wine if you have any," she said in reply. Just looking about the room as she spoke.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper had plated up their food, and took a minute to pick out a good bottle of wine to go with it. "Yeah, course," he offered back easily. "My mom was muggle, we grew up with it," He chuckled, and wine in hand moved to sit with Cyzarine. "I love watching movies. We could put something in if you like, just watch tv and relax?" He offered. He kicked off his shoes and propped his legs up on the couch, tossing her an easy smile.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a little smile, as he mentioned his mother being muggle. "Oh that's cool, must've been like a foot in both worlds then?" she asked before giving a little smile. "both my parents and grandparents were magical, the first time I saw one of these was at school," she motioned to the tv and then looked back at him. She shook her head slightly. "I haven't seen a movie since muggle studies, so probably best to not, I have no idea what we could even watch,"

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper nodded. "Oh yeah, it's part of what got me into cooking- comparing recipes and just being curious," He chuckled. He sipped his wine, not too fussed when she denied the idea to watch tv. "Oh no worries- I certainly watch enough on my time off," He laughed. "What hobbies do you have?" He asked, hoping that it would be a nice ice breaker.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine thought that was interesting about him and thought it was an interesting way to approach cooking in general. "Well, it's worked, because you're a great chef," she told him lightly, sipping the wine lightly. "I don't really have any anymore, I was just focused on my work, on creating the company and building it up...other things just became less important..," she felt a little silly as she said it. "Maybe I'll take up rock climbing," she joked trying to move away from her own awkwardness.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper laughed lightly. "I'd hope so- I'd hate to think you're just paying me for my good looks," He teased gently. He hummed as she mentioned rock climbing. "Well, all work and no play is never good," He sipped his drink. "Do you want to learn to cook?" He asked. "I might be biased, but I certainly enjoy it. Maybe baking?" He mused.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine blushed lightly and just shook her head a little, before sipping her drink. She hadn't really wanted to learn to cook, partly it reminded her of him and it just wasn't something she'd been good at. "Maybe baking, cooking is a bit much still," she said, saying hopefully enough for him to figure out why and where she wouldn't have to then say more.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper cussed at himself, fighting the urge to bite his lip. He was an idiot. "Oh, uh, of course. Do you like fashion?" He asked, twisting it around quickly. "I have a sister that went to school for it and my brother is a super popular fashion blogger," he chattered a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "If you wanted to know about like, clothes or something."

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a sympathetic smile as he changed the subject. "Sorry, I'm a bit of a downer right now," she said softly. "I like fashion, though I'm not the best at it," she said, sticking to this new subject that she knew about. "What magical school did you go to?" she asked him, thinking that too was a safe topic for them to discuss.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper shook his head. "Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for," He countered. He let her change the subject, sipping his wine and starting on his food. He smiled at her question. "Oh, I went to Beauxbatons. I just had to learn to cook the culture food there." He tried to explain, running a hand through his hair. "I swear, I spent more time in the kitchens than in class." He chuckled. "You?"

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine smiled slightly, but was glad for the change of topic. She didn't need to be lingering on such things, didn't need to be giving it too much thought. School was easier. THough she had memories of her and him there, it was easier to talk about. "Hogwarts New Zealand, Gryffindor," she said proudly. "I was supposed to go to the Russian school, but my dad teaches at Hogwarts and thought it would be a good idea for him and I to meet," she said smiling.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Coopers brow raised. "Oooh, that sounds like fun. How did that go?" He asked, settling in and holding his wine in one hand, waiting for her to spill the tea. He asn't sure why, he just thought it would make for a good story. He didn't really remember anything about his dad, having lost him when he was so young. But his mom had been such a lovely woman. He smiled softly at the memory of her, before shaking his head and turning all of his attention to Cyzarine.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine laughed lightly. "It wasn't nearly as dramatic as you'd think," she said with a little laugh and she told him the story of how she'd gone to her father's office on day one to introduce herself, and told him who her mother was, and just his reaction to finding out. How she was worried for a moment that she'd inadvertently stunned the man because of how still he'd stood. "But he's a good dad," she finished. "He wasn't around those first years of my life, but he has been since, and I think if my mother had told him, he would've been there, so I can't super fault him for not being there, you know?"

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper listened to Cyzarine with a smile, sipping on his wine as she regaled him with stories of her father. He listened happily, refilling their drinks as they dwindled. "He sounds like a good man," He offered easily. "Are you two very close?" He asked. "I remember mom and I used to have a blast, watching competition cooking shows and holding our own little mock battles in the kitchen with her friends over to judge." He chuckled, heart aching as he remembered his mother.

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a little nod and then smiled as he talked about his own mother. "That must've been fun," she said, though she sensed from his tone that perhaps the mother was not around anymore. "Are you two close?" she asked, returning the question that he had posed about her and her father back to him. Thinking this would be the easiest way to talk about it, if he actually wanted to talk about it.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper smiled, noticing how she doged his questions. He sipped his drink, sighing softly. "We were, though she was probably closest to Damien," He murmured, smiling at the thought of his brothers. "I have two older brothers- the eldest, Jason, he's a great guy, and so's Damien. They're both married with kids now, older kids, but I always wanted to just focus on my career. I have enough kids in my life to spoil that I've never felt rushed to have any of my own." He looked to her. "What about you, anyone in your life?"

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a little smile and listened as he talked about his family. "Not really, my dad fostered a girl, but she's at school, so I don't really see her," she said, "He's got a new girlfriend, so hopefully no other siblings. My mother lives in Volgograd, but I see her often enough," Cyzarine said, she hesitated thinking about her lost love. "Mostly though, since, I've been focusing on work, trying to get things back into order,"

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper was glad she seemed a little more open with this subject. He nodded, sipping his wine and feeling more relaxed the more he drank. "Do you spend much time with the girl he fostered?" He asked, curious if she'd consider her a sister. "If they did have babies, would that upset you?" He wondered. He thought he'd like a younger brother- or a sister. Maybe he should adopt one of his own. That could be fun. He smiled at the thought but just watched Cyzarine. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. "Sometimes talking out a plan helps. Have you thought of picking up a new hobby?"

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a little smile as he asked more questions about it and she gave a warm smile. "we've not, but it's mostly because she's at school, and I've been working a lot," she said. "And no, I want him to be happy and if that includes getting some new siblings I won't mind that at all." she was honest. She didn't and would never mind it. "Hobbies are....maybe in time, I think right now, work is important and it helps keep me focused. Do you have hobbies?"

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper couldn't say he was surprised with her responses. He gave her a soft smile, chuckling. "Does wine count?" He asked, swishing his glass gently. "That's still food related though... I also like going to wine tastings, binging medical dramas, corny romance movies, any kind of seasonal events. Farmers markets, ren fairs, anything with booths and food and I'm there," He snapped. "That's it! Work adjacent but not work." He leant forward a little, giving him a winning smile. "There's this really good winery doing this really fancy party next week that I was going to go to- its a black tie event, lots of mingling, wine tasting, potential clients," His smile turned a little wicked. "Want to come along?"

 

[Cyzarine Haden]

Cyzarine gave a little laugh and nodded. "Wine could count," she told him. She hadn't considered that she could use the fact that she did need to know wine for her work, to be able to have a hobby in it. "Yeah, that sounds like good fun," She replied. it felt odd, but she was a little excited at the prospect of getting dressed up and spending the night with Cooper. She felt als a little bad about being excited for it. "Thanks," she said.

 

[Cooper Gates]

Cooper smiled, pleased that he'd gotten this tiny little victory from his boss. He was just glad to see she was at least seemingly better- he didn't like knowing she was upset. Or at least... he just wanted to help. It was a bit of a quandry for him, he supposed- was he just sad she was upset, or was he genuinely concerned for her? He finished his wine and put down the empty glass, thinking the liquor was getting to his head if he was hyper-focusing on his emotions. He relaxed against the couch, feeling sleepy. He gave her a tired smile. "Great, remind me to get you the details tomorrow." He stretched. "I have to admit, the wine is getting to my head," He ran a hand through his hair. "Did you want to stay tonight? I have a guest room you can crash in," He offered. "I think I need to sleep soon though," He told her in way of explanation.