LOG: Vance meets Lorna (Slightly backdated)

[x-justice.livejournal.com]

Considering that it’s Spring Break, the hallways of the Mansion were hardly what one could call quiet.  With students all over the place, not to mention teachers with free time, Vance found himself surprised to be looking down at a somewhat elderly dog sitting in the hallway. The dog, of course, looked back up at him expectantly, and when Vance finally said, “Uh, hi there. Who are you?”, it was clearly a sign that he would be the one to fetch her food.

The soft clack of nails on a hard floor preceded both the dog and Vance into the massive kitchen, the latter having followed along at a slight remove. The new resident looked around the kitchen, putting a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it while he spoke out loud to no one in particular (except maybe the dog), “Now, if I were a dog-- where would I keep my food?”

Vance, apparently unused to the ways of dogs, completely overlooked the fact that the king cocker spaniel was sitting directly in front of a very specific cabinet, watching him.


Lorna was in her office, as always. She wasn’t a teacher so she didn’t have a break, constantly making menus for the inhabitants of the people that lived in the mansion. But she liked it, it gave her something to do and she was thankful that the Professor allowed her back after her stay on Muir Island. Her loss of powers a year ago was defiantly something to worry about, but slowly but surely she recovered, but not to the same level of strength she had displayed in the past. Hearing someone in her kitchen, she got up and peeked out.

“Is she asking for food again?” Lorna spoke out, making her presence known. The green hair chef walked out and towards the newcomer. “Hi, we never formally met. I am Lorna. This is the kitchen and this is Lili, the dog that loves to eat.” She pointed down at her dog and looked up at the man. “Vance right?”


Vance turned at the sound of the new voice from just beyond the kitchen and brought his hand down from behind his neck. His eyes couldn't help but be drawn to look at the bright green hair for a moment before returning back to her face. He took her hand in his and shook it in greeting, then offered her a smile, "Yeah-- Vance. Nice to meet you, Lorna. And your little dog, too."

He glanced back out the hallway he had just come from, then looked back to Lorna. "It was like she knew I was coming or something. She doesn't have precognitive powers, does she?" he asked in a slightly teasing tone of voice that implied he was making a joke. "Or is this how you lure people to the kitchen?"


"It is natural and going through dye is very expensive so I grew it out. You will notice that are others with different hair color or skin color, even skin type." She said to him when she noticed he looked at her hair - she got that a lot. Lorna laughed. "No she doesn't. She is just a normal dog. And I hope to lure people into the kitchen by the smell of my cooking. Speaking of food, I haven't had time to chat with you about if you are allergic to anything or if you don't' like something. I double as the school nutritionist as well - got to make sure these kids and sometimes adults eat their greens."


"Yeah," Vance replied to Lorna's first comment. "It's just taking some getting used to. I grew up in a more conservative environment, so green hair and orange skin-- or whatever, might be a little curious at first. No offense, I hope," he said reassuringly and offered a slight smile.

"I'm Jewish. And while I wasn't raised in a strict household, we did my best to be as kosher as possible," Vance explained. "Most of the time, it's not a big issue. It's about knowing what foods I shouldn't be eating. But other than that, I don't know of any allergies."

There was a slight pause, and then Vance added with the flash of a grin, "Greens are pretty much fine by me. Haven't met a vegetable I haven't liked."


Lorna put her hands up, "None taken." Looking down at her green tips. "Before I came here, I dyed it Brown but I was going through dye like there was no tomorrow." Lorna nodded, pulling out her phone and making a note that Vance didn't have allergies but make sure there was kosher items around the kitchen.

Smirking, "Good. I tend to serve vegetables with dinner and lunches. Breakfasts are mostly on your own unless I surprise people. Has anyone shown you the kitchen? It is truly the best place in the entire mansion."


“I haven’t gotten the full tour,” Vance admitted with a slight grin. “Layla brought me here when I first arrived, but there's wasn't much touring involved. I did get a first class tour of the paper towels, though-- so you can just skip that part."

He looked the kitchen over and paused as he noticed Lili still sitting there patiently in front of the same cabinet. "Uhh--" he started, then looked back up at Lorna, "And I am guessing that your lovely assistant there is telling me where the dog food is, yes?"


Lorna was confused on the paper towels, as she raised an eyebrow - but didn't ask about it. Lorna looked down. "Yes." She went over and opened the cabinet that was higher off the ground. "Here is the dog food, some of the people living here like to bring in their own." Looking down at Lili. "No Lili, you already ate." She said and looked back at Vance. "I am not sure if you met Sharon, she is the actual assistant to me. She has purple hair, cannot really miss her in the halls."


Vance glanced up at his own, plain brown hair as Lorna talked about her assistant with purple hair, then back to Lorna, "Not in person, no. I saw a message from her on the boards the other day." His lips curled in an amused grin, "I think she offered to bring me fresh meat rather than cookies as a way of welcome."

He moved past the dog food cabinet and gave Lili an idle scritch as he passed her, moving through the kitchen slowly with Lorna's tour. "Did you grow up here too?" he asked curiously when there was an appropriate lull to bring up new material.


Lorna laughed and shook her head. "Yea Sharon loves her fresh meat. If she does end up bring you bring fresh meat, do not be alarmed that it is still in the animal shape that it is." She gave him a friendly warning.

"No. I came here in May of 2003 and it mostly been a roller coaster ride. Have left a couple of times and came back. I just recently came back at the beginning of the year and I don't have any intentions of leaving anytime soon." Giving him the short story of her life here.


"Good to know," Vance said gratefully, his tone light. "As long as she doesn't try leaving it somewhere like-- on my pillow. Or in a clothes hamper. Blood doesn't wash out easily, you know."

"From what I've been reading about the school so far, sounds like that's what the Professor does for people. Helps them get back on their feet, and gives them a home when they need it," Vance settled against one of the counters and leaned back against the top, his thumbs tucked into the pockets of his jeans.

"I didn't expect such a large number of people affiliated with the school, though. There are a lot of people, past and present. Wish I'd heard about this school years ago."


Lorna nodded. "Tell me about it." At his mention of that blood doesn't wash out easily. "A lot of people come and go. There are quite a number of people that are not here right now, but you never know if they will return." Lorna smiled at him. "Better late than never."

"So the kitchen tour. All the pots and pans are hanging out everything in the cabinets is usually plates, bowls and tuba wear." Opening a drawer. "Silverware is located here and here." Looking around. "And we have a huge walk in pantry." Pointing over to where it was open. "And my office is right next door to it."


Vance made a non-committal sound at Lorna's 'Better late than never' comment, but forced himself to offer a slightly weaker smile in return. Maybe being here late was a little sensitive for him to talk about, and he looked like he regretted saying anything about it, as much as he tried to make it seem like he didn't care.

He looked a little more relieved as Lorna moved back into the kitchen tour, and made appropriate 'oooh'ing and 'aaaah'ing comments as he was shown all of the features. "And does your office have hours? Or are you just here when you need to be?"


Lorna shook her head. "No offices hours. I get in here around 9am and then stay here until sometimes after dinner. If I am not in the kitchen or in my office it means I am off doing something else. I'll usually put a note up or make an announcement if it is fend for yourself day." She explained. "And the door right there leads to the back patio, sometimes we have BBQs and parties back there."


"Fend for yourself day?" Vance queried before he offered a sudden grin. "We always called it a Yo-Yo night. You're On Your Own," he explained as he followed along, noting the back patio as it was pointed out. "So, you plan meals for everyone? Or is it just something you enjoy doing and people are happy to have a guide teaching them to eat properly?"

He paused for a moment thoughtfully and tapped a finger against his lips, "Though, it does make sense to have a nutritionist on hand. I know that when I was the age of a lot of these kids, I would have just eaten junk food all day every day without my mom looking out for me."


"Yo-Yo Night." She repeated. "I might start using that one. I like the sound of it." Nodding. "Yup, everyone's meal. Or at least try and get the stuff that people like. A lot of the students and staff has special dietary needs. I basically make sure it is available for them."

Putting her hand on her hips. "You have no idea how often I try to get green into people's meals without them realizing it. I do try to make things tasty though. So tell me what you like and I'll make sure it is stocked in the kitchen."


Vance laughed at Lorna's sneakiness and waved a hand in dismissal. "As long as that something green is food and not hair," Vance joked with the flash of a grin. I'll make sure to get you something shortly. I'm not /too/ picky, and I bet you have plenty of others to worry about with more restrictions than I do, so don't worry about me too much. I appreciate the thought, though."


Lorna had a mock shock look on her face, "Hair? Never." She smirked. "Okay when someone says 'don't worry about me too much' I'll worry. We'll set up a time later to discuss what you need more in your diet. Anything else you like to know about the kitchen? Besides the awesome coffee pot in the corner that makes the best cup of coffee in the world. It does other stuff too but coffee is what is important."


Vance arched an eyebrow skeptically, and his voice sounded hesitantly dubious, "Best cup of coffee in the world?" Vance looked over at the piece of machinery and stepped up to examine it, eyeing it this way and that. "Looks a little fancy for coffee. And complicated. Please tell me it's at least a one touch device? I'd hate to break it on the first try." He glanced over at Lorna, and smirked slightly, voice playful, "I'd hate to be lynched over a coffee machine."


Lorna smirked, "Can't break it. If you break it I'll cry. It is all labeled so you'll be able to figure it out. Also comes with a manual." Lifting it up. "Dr Hank created the machine a year ago. It also creates soda too..." She scratched her head. "I don't drink soda so I don't know how that part works."


Vance eyed the manual as it was lifted, his eyebrows climbing his forehead. “A manual... for a coffee machine. I think maybe I’ll stick to working a pot of coffee for now,” Vance said with the trace of a grin as he stood up. “But I think I can get the hang of everything else. Thanks for the tour, Lorna. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around soon. After all-- this is probably one of the most popular places in the mansion.”


Lorna laughed, "Just press this button and coffee comes out." Putting her hands on her hips again. "You are most welcome Vance. Just one of the most popular. But I am usually here."


Vance gave Lorna another smile as he turned to leave the kitchen, pausing only when he passed Lili. He stopped long enough to reach down, and offered a quick scritch behind the dog's ears. "I'm sure I'll see you around too, Lili." Just before he passed through the doorway, he offered another look back and wave to Lorna before he disappeared back into the hallway.