Return of the Chef (Jay/Castle)

[KARP KARP!]

So many thoughts filled Joel von Meijer's mind as the castle neared his view. Hopes and memories--both good and bad--flooded his mind. A classic chef-hat graced the top of his head, and he had a large suitcase in his hand.

It was obvious there was a festival going on, but the man was uninterested in that. Only one focus was on the man's mind. Finally, he made it to the castle's large door. Lifting a large hand, his fist rapped on it heavily, though nervously.

The man closed his eyes tight; so many fears flooded him. Were they even around anymore? Would they let him back? If not, what would he do? That...he honestly didn't know...

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/taibanner.png);][atrb=width, 500][atrb=height, 300][atrb=style,border:0 blueviolet none,b,Table][scrolly:h(220),w(230),sy,as(padding:4px 10px 0px;margin-top:56px;margin-left:233px;)] Suddenly the a knock came ranging through the room. DX He was going to cook for Rosa and stopped before he actually did. He started to walk towards the door rather quickly. Tim hadn't been feeling well, so he figured that he could get it. Tai opened the door and smiled. "Hello, sir. ^^ May I ask who you are?" Tai asks in his more serious voice. He needed to know who they were and what they wanted to tell Felis. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel stared at the butler; already deciding for some reason that he didn't like this guy.

"Just go get the man of the house," he said simply, adjusting his hat. "That's who I need to see. Tell 'em it's Joel von Meijer." The heavy-built man crossed his arms over his chest, dropping the suitcase by his feet. "The name should ring a bell."

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/taiandtimposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(248),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:16px;margin-left:145px;color:#230221;)] Tai listened to him and found himself nodded. "Yes sir." Tai says rather quickly before walking off. Shortly after, a butler came across him and looked at him. " Why are you just standing there? Did Tai answer the door?" the butler asks in a deeper voice. This one appeared to be Tim. Tai was going to Felis at this time, and knocked on the door. "Uh, sir. Joel von Meijer is at the door and says he would like to see you." Tai says rather quickly before walking off again. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis was not in a good mood. He'd spent the last three hours sorting through papers from irritated commoners and other nobles, and it was one hellion of a headache. For the past ten minutes, however, his forehead had been resting on his desk, and he was simply groaning to himself. However, when a voice caught his ears, Felis realized that Rosa's butler was addressing him. Wait. Joel....but... no... it couldn't be? Could it? For all he was worth, Felis seemed to shove himself upwards and quickly took a step towards him before nearly brushing past the butler and quickly moving down the hallway.It was the that he caught sight of a rather familiar rotund form near the doorway. He was still a distance off, but Felis was closing the gap quick. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel blinked at the other butler. "...Either you're a brother to the other one, or you instantly grew a set..." The cook muttered, not moving. "Yes, the door was opened, but I know my place. And maybe I'm waiting to be welcomed in. Or maybe I'm waiting for someone in particular." If his wooden spoon wasn't in the suitcase, Joel would have popped the guy on the head with it.

Then, he saw a tall, lean, familiar figure walking towards him down the hall. "Felis!" he shouted, suddenly excited and happy. Leaving his suitcase there, the man started inside, heading straight for his long-time friend.

[Caden Bunny]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/taiandtimposttable2.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 purple none,b,Table][scrolly:h(210),w(248),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:16px;margin-left:145px;color:#230221;)] Tai and Tim were both wandering off elsewhere now. It seemed there job was done. As much as Tim didn't like the man, he said nothing back and just moved away. >.> He hoped to Arceus that this man wasn't coming in. It seemed he insulted both of the butlers already. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis's eyes grew wide, his body grew tense, and in another second, he was running straight at Joel. "JOEEEEEEEEL!" was the shout that vibrated the walls of the castle, and in another moment, Felis literally glomped the man right then and there hugging him and grinning huge. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel met the hug halfway, laughing heartily so as to avoid crying. "FELIS! I've missed you so much!" Pulling back from the hug, he looked as serious as he could.

"It's been quite some time, and I know things have changed, but...you think there's still room in your kitchen for an old cook?"

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis had been about to say something, yet he was cut off when Joel spoke first, and suddenly his eyes light up greatly. Joel... wanted to come and work here? Really? A familiar face- one that wasn't so hateful or hard to look at more or less because of pain upon remembering- since before the castle fell was something that Felis couldn't help but smile at. "You mean it, Joel?" Felis asked grinning ear to ear. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel gave a nod, his face more solemn now. "I mean it, Felis. Every word. I missed being here; I worked here thirteen years, and this is like home to me. My family. If you'll have me back, that is," he said. "It would be an honor to work for you again."

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]He had been wary of others, indeed. Felis hadn't hired a butler in nearly two years because of his paranoia that everyone he turned to would burn the castle down again. However, thirteen years was enough to make Felis believe every word out of Joel. He remembered overhearing his mother send the cook away to lay low for a while while his father worked at the capital to try and soothe things out, and it was becuase he knew why Joel had gone that Felis was sure that the man was fully honest (as if there had ever been a reason to doubt). Grinning ear to ear, Felis was fighting down the urge to squeal for joy. "I missed you, and... and of course you can come home!" he laughed after a moment finding himself exasperated for words. Of course he wanted that familiarity... He hadn't even said coming back to work... he'd said coming home....which was what it was, to Felis. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face, or the tear that rolled down his cheek, then sort of hung on the end of his mustache. But he shook it off, quickly going to get his suitcase.

"This means so much to me," he said as he headed to the kitchen and unpacked all of his cooking stuff before going back to Felis.

Now back to his usual demeanor, Joel spoke. "Tonight, I will whip up a meal unlike any other." The man adjusted his hat again, flicking away the stray tear still stuck to his mustache.

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis was simply beaming even when he watched Joel walk off to the kitchen. A part of him had thought to follow the man, yet the other part was pretty sure that Joel would come back that way, for whatever reason, and so he simply waited. When the chef had, in fact, come back, Felis grinned even more (if that was even humanly possible) and suddenly hugged Joel again. "Now that means so much... I missed your cooking Joel... I kept up what ya taught me in your spare time, but it's never as good as yours!" he answered back. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel hugged the man back. "Well, I'll be sure to refresh your memory quick," the chef replied with a grin. "And maybe I can find the time to teach you the rest of what I know," he teased, letting go of the hug.

Something worth noting, was that the man now had a wooden spoon on his belt. For now, he just looked around, getting his bearings of the castle he had left all too long ago. "So, ya been okay these past few years? I've missed so much...I wish I could've been here for ya."

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis breathd out a little and found his eyes darting around rather quickly. It seemed that the butlers had gone, and Rosa was nowhere insight nor was anyone else. After a few seconds, he looked at Joel and breathed out allowing his face to fall a little. "So much has happened..." he sighed a minute. "Can we talk in my office?" he asked looking at Joel. He really didn't want to have the off chance of others overhearing... He... didn't want to dump them with all his problems... but... but Joel had been around and knew what it was like and and and.... [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel said nothing; the man only nodded. He knew the family had fallen upon hard times since the day he had to leave, but Joel only really knew what he'd heard from rumors.

Finally, the hefty man spoke. "You know you can talk to me. I'm here for you. Just lead the way." Usually, Joel wasn't this serious, but Felis was like his little brother more than anything. He'd practically watched the boy grow up.

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis simply nodded his head and then started down the hallway towards his office. Upon getting there, he opened the door and waited for Joel to go inside before finally following suit. After closing and locking the door behind himself, Felis gestured to a chair before sinking into his own and sighing outwards. "It.... just sucks...." the blond murmured. Though he was never one to use such foul language, Felis was hurt and wasn't able to express himself in any other way at the moment. "So... what all have you heard.... should I just give you the full story or?" He wasn't sure how to tell it, yet he had to try... had to figure out a way to explain it all to the man that knew from the inside what had been going on right up to that very last point. [/scrolly]

[KARP KARP!]

Joel put a hand on Felis's shoulder, firmly yet comforting. "I know it does, my boy," he said, not having Felis 'my boy' in several years.

"It would probably be best if you started from the beginning, if you can. Something I've learned over the years is, away from the castle, stories get jumbled and mixed together. Makes it hard to separate fact from Tauros shit, ya know?" The hand stayed on Felis's shoulder; obviously Joel wasn't so strict about foul language.

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/felistable2.png);color:#8eaea5;][atrb=width,434][atrb=height,355][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][scrolly:h(245),w(205),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:2px;margin-left:214px;)]Felis breathed in and nodded his head a little in understanding. "Alright.... I came back from the gardens, and the fire had already started... I .. watched it eat up pretty much everything... and was too scared to even run in and stop it or try to help....I...I..." Felis suddenly found himself fighting back tears, yet they were already starting to make their way down the side of his face. Reaching up with a gloved hand, Felis brushed the stray ones away and breathed inwards. "After the fire finally stopped, I went searching and...." he bit the inside of his mouth and fell silent for a good moment. "Found my mother's body.... with Celio's and Maria's... and..." A sob escaped from Felis's throat, and for a moment, he fought it back only to give into it as tears trailed down his face, and he simply sat there crying. [/scrolly]