[The Kitchens, The Abbey] Best Day of My Life (Invite)

Halloween... Just what was Halloween? Jun’s perusal of the Abbey Library proved to be somewhat fruitless, at least in regards to the preparations she saw in New York for it. Supposedly it was a mixture of a Gaelic festival to mark the end of the harvest with feasting and celebrating the dead and the Christian All Saints’ Eve with prayers to the dead before the celebration of their Saints the following day, but, why did people put up decorations that made their places look abandoned? Where did dressing up in fake uniforms or as monstrous creatures come from? What was this “trick-or-treating” she heard people mention?

- ”Happy Halloween, Dark Watch.” - A voice from down the hall stopped Jun in her tracks and drew her off the route to the barracks. Anwir? Was he talking to someone? Maybe he could help her. Slipping through the doorway she heard his voice come from, something would stop Jun dead in her tracks. That was definitely Anwir, but what was he wearing? It looked kind of familiar, like some of the dolls and shirts she’d seen people with. Wait a second, this room, was it a kitchen? She could have sworn she passed this way before and there wasn’t a kitchen.

”Gachi...” (Seriously) A quiet mumble of frustration escaped Jun’s lips as she looked about the room, no doubt drawing attention to her if her footsteps hadn’t already. The utensils were modern but this was definitely a kitchen. How did she miss this? She was dressed much like the last time Anwir had seen her, though her hair was free to frame the rather perplexed look upon her face and her white cotton shirt was not tucked into her pants today. ”Was this always here?” She’d ask herself, though certainly loud enough for Anwir to think it was directed at him.

- ”I swear it wasn’t, but I also have no proof it was not. Magic seems to be like that more often than not, ya know? You think you have an understanding of the reality around you and then it just shifts into something else entirely.” - Jun’s attention returned to Anwir as he began to speak, remembering that he was the reason she came here in the first place. So she wasn’t the only one that found the kitchen so elusive? ”How odd...” She’d chime, musing over the whole ordeal as she moved to inspect what looked like a dry storage.

Doors opened with a soft creak. Large glass jars of assorted grains, beans, nuts, and herbs lined the shelving. They looked old but in good condition. How fresh were they? Perhaps she could ask Miss Wharton. Ooo, maybe she could get permission to build a garden? Or even a greenhouse! Wait, was there one already and she just didn’t find it yet? The pouring of liquid drew Jun back out of her quiet pondering, the odd smell in the background stronger than before. That was called coffee right? It seemed to be the morning drink of choice outside of the far east, though it did not seem all that appealing to her. Perhaps it grew on people? A bit like roasted barley tea.

- ”Whatcha doin anyways, Jun? Are you gonna get ready for Halloween? I kinda got excited and dressed up early.” - Jun couldn’t help but smile at Anwir’s enthusiasm, shutting the dry storage so that she could shift her full attention to the young man. - ”I’m going out as Spider-Man. The costume’s colors are a bit different, so I doubt anyone will think I am the real thing, but you also never know.” - Spider-Man! That was the name she’d seen, he seemed quite popular in New York. - ”Do you have plans tonight? If not, do you wanna come with me?” - Oh? Was he inviting her to a function? Perhaps this trick or treating thing she heard of?

”I was hoping you could help me with that.” She’d start, tone earnest, as she walked closer to Anwir so she wasn’t talking across the room. ”I am from a rather remote and traditional region of Nihon, err, Japan.” Jun’s cheeks flushed a little in embarrassment as she reminded herself to use the exonym. ”I am unfamiliar with the tradition of Halloween, the historical texts seem quite different than what people have been preparing for.” Jun would pause for a moment, stopping about five feet from Anwir before performing a traditional keirei bow of about 45 degrees. ”I would be honored if you would show me the ways of Halloween...” She’d continue, tone polite and formal as one asking for a favor, holding the bow as long as she spoke before returning upright. ”Please.” She’d tack on to the end as she rose, flashing Anwir a warm smile.

- ”I would be honored to show you the ways of Halloween. The old texts aren’t going to give you a good idea of what the holiday looks like now.” - ”Ariga... Thank you!” With a radiant smile Jun would bow once more in thanks, catching herself mid sentence having switched back to Japanese again in her excitement. Though for a moment there would be a slightly surprised look upon her face when she rose back up to find Anwir seating himself on the counter. That was odd, but it is not as if they were cooking right now so there was no reason to make an issue of it.

- ”The holiday is now just a celebration of things most consider scary or spooky. We have a more wholesome and kind version for children. That is where trick-or-treating comes in. Kids get to dress up as scary creatures from ancient myths or as things from scary movies or literature. Sometimes, they dress up as heroes instead. They then go through a neighborhood to show off their costumes and collect candy or treats from strangers.” - Jun listened to Anwir attentively, a soft ‘un’ escaping her lips along with a nod to show she understood as he paused to take a drink. Interesting is the ‘trick’ of ‘trick-or-treat’ the costume then?

- ”Do you want to go trick or treating? We can get you a costume!” - ”I would love to! If I’m not too old for it.” Jun would reply with a bright smile and a soft enthusiastic tone, the best way to learn of a new tradition was to take part in it after all. But, he did mention it was something the children did, she did not wish to break tradition just for her sake. Perhaps they were lax on that rule?

”I hope they aren’t too expensive, I do not have much to spend.” She’d finish, blushing a bit in embarrassment. Maybe she could make one if they were? Though, she only had two sets of clothing to her name right now to work with. Regardless, she was eager to see what variety of costumes were available. Where would they go? New York City? ”Where did you get yours? It looks well crafted.” She'd inquire with a tilt of the head as she inspected the make of his costume.

- ”No, no. You’re not too old. Plenty of teens and young adults still go too. Don’t worry about the price. I’ll pay for it. Consider it a gift.” - ”A gift?” She’d start, a tone of and look of pleasant surprise. ”That is most generous, thank you.” She’d continue with warmth in her tone, and a heartfelt smile on her lips. What could she do to return the favor? Now that she’s found the kitchen perhaps she could make him something?

- ”I worked really hard for a very long time to afford this. I bought it down in Nashville last year for my birthday. Buuuut, we’ve got all of New York to explore for a costume. Maybe DC? Have you been to DC?” - ”I have not. That is the capital city, right?” Jun would inquire curiously. She also hadn’t heard of Nashville, but in all fairness she’d only been to a few major and minor cities since flying to the United States, by his wording it was somewhere in the south probably. His birthday must be near the holiday, but didn’t think much of it as only the first birthday was a time of celebration for them. She thought about asking how much it cost, but was worried it was impolite here.

Jun watched as Anwir scooped up a pair of matching gloves from the counter beside him and stuffed them into what she recognized was the trademark Spider-Man guise, only to notice that his fingers were dirty with what looked like ink? Was he writing? Perhaps doing a lot of reading? ”Wh...” Jun started softly, reaching forward slightly in warning as Anwir went to rub his face, but she was too late. Ink smudges dotted the young mans’ visage. - ”I didn’t get any ink on my face, right?” - ”A little...” She’d respond with a sympathetic smile, before stepping closer with her hands outstretched towards his own.

”Here, may I?” She’d ask politely. If Anwir offered his hands she would gently grab the back of his right hand with her left and hold it palm up, then with a wave of her right he would see the ink being eaten away by a soft white light, accompanied by a brief warmth and a slight tingle. She’d then repeat the process en-mirror for his left hand before shifting her attention to his face, holding her hands about a foot away and sort of mimicking wiping away the ink from a distance, cleansing magic carrying out her commands upon his face. ”There.” She’d chirp warmly, a satisfied smile upon her face as she took a step back and let her arms rest. ”Do you know how to get to DC? I’m afraid I only know how to get back to the Sanctum in New York.”

- ””Yeah! It’s the country’s capital. I’ve never been there myself, but that’s what GPS is for. What’s life without a little adventure?” - Gee pee es? Jun wondered to herself. She’s heard the term before, some sort of map or transit system perhaps. She’ll have to ask sometime. She smiled warmly at the mention of adventure, the sights she’s seen, the people she’s met. Her journey has all been very worthwhile. She giggled lightly when Anwir leaned forward a bit for her to clean his face, it reminded her of herself when her mother wanted to fuss over her.

- ”Thank you for that. Is your magic always so... sunny?” - Jun couldn’t help but smile knowingly as Anwir mentioned sunny. She knew he was referring to the lightness of it, but he was more right than he could know. Perhaps in time she’d let him in on her nature. ”I come from an order that dedicates themselves entirely to light magic.” She’d answer with an affirming nod. She hadn’t been there long enough to learn much else yet, other than direct teleportation to here and the Sanctum.

- ”If you can get us to New York, I can get us to DC. Have you been on a train before? There’s one that travels between the two cities and we can take the train over. Oh! And we can trick or treat while we’re there. I hear Halloween there is actually quite fun due to all the history the city has.” - ”I have not, that sounds nice.” She’d reply happily, though she’d look somewhat confused as he offered his hand to her, but she’d take it nonetheless.

- ”So, do you teleport or fly?” - Oh! He meant now, but he wasn’t standing? ”Both, but I like to fly more. It’s how I got to the United States.” She’d start, with the casual nature she gave to flight being easily mistaken for the airplane equivalent. ”We need to teleport first, you might want to stand.” She’d say, a faint bit of confusion in her tone. They were in a pocket dimension after all, couldn’t properly fly out, and if she teleported them as is he’d be sitting mid air.

Jun giggles inwardly as Anwir takes a moment to process her words before sliding off the counter, poor guy did look like he had a rather long night. - ”I’ve flown once with Dr. Strange, I want to try again, but I don’t even know how to start.” - ”Oh? How did you do it then?” Jun asked curiously as Anwir readied himself. Was is the cloak? Perhaps a spell Strange cast? It must not have been something he cast or made directly if he didn’t know how to try it alone. She could show him how she does it, if he knows how to make and move barriers that could be a good place to start.

- ”I think it’s awesome that you come from an order like that. Light suits you, ya know? I don’t rightly know where my magic all comes from. Constantine told me I was a Homo Magi, which means I just have an inherited connection to magic? Means I didn’t have to make any deals for it.” - A gracious smile formed upon Jun’s face, and she blushed a bit from his compliment. It’s probably the result of her matron's influence, but light magic just felt... right? She’d nod in affirmation at his understanding of Homo Magi. His parents must not have known themselves? Or kept him from it? Perhaps he was an orphan? She’d ask, but that might be a painful subject.

”Yes, we have a natural connection to the ebb and flow of mystical energies.” She’d start, tone warm and affirming, using we to imply she too was a Homo Magi and could help him understand it if he wanted. ”With the proper training and caution we can tap into and shape a great variety of forces, though some of us are more inclined towards specific currents of energy.” She’d offer in brief, happy to explain more if he’d like, but they were currently getting ready to teleport.

- ”Ready when you are, Jun.” - Jun would nod in acknowledgement, then close her eyes and take a slow deliberate breath. The spell she was using was a bit like the one that they all were taught to get here, well, it was that one and she kind of experimented with the flow of it to attune herself to the Sanctum Sanctorum. Took a little more focus than coming to the Abbey, as there was no dedicated keystone to teleport to, but was simple once she established that telepathic visual of sorts for their destination. Best not to teleport into someone else should they be standing near the entrance.

There would be little sensation to it, save for a slight shift in temperature. In an instant they would simply be standing just inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, swapping places with the air that was once there. Then she’d let go, both of the breath she had taken to focus herself and of Anwir’s hand. ”Here we are, New York City.” She’d say happily, a faint sense of pride that it went so smoothly. ”I’m not very familiar with the layout, you’ll have to guide us from here.”

- ”So, you know that cape he has with him all the time? Well, I introduced myself to them and they took a liking to me?” Jun nodded at the first question, so it was the cloak. Though, she was not sure the second was a question towards her or just uncertainty in general. Either way she was just as lost as he seemed to be as to how living artifacts chose their wielders, perhaps just the polite recognition was enough? Maybe there was a spirit in there? Regardless she gave a bit of a shrug at that question and he continued.

- ”And then Strange, who is a real Doctor by the way, put the cape over my shoulders and it kinda gave me a squeeze like it was hugging me. Then he just floated up into the sky and took off, telling me to keep up! I’ve never used a magic like that, but the cape helped me. I asked it to help me and then we were flying after him. I couldn’t just let him leave me in the backwoods of China like that.” - ”I see, sounds like quite the experience.” She’d reply warmly, wondering what it was like to actually levitate like that, with the aid of a living cloak no less. That and what exactly a doctor was. It wasn’t a title she heard of until leaving Japan. Some seem to be educators, others surgeons, others researchers?

- ”Oh,” - Anwir’s surprise followed by a grin of childlike joy elicited another soft giggle from Jun, that youthful wonder was a breath of fresh air. - ”Most excellent, Jun. Come on, we’ll head out to the streets while I pull up my phone. Have you ever taken the subway?” - ”Thank you.” She’d reply with a faint blush and a slight bow, though more of a performer's bow this time. ”I have not. That is the underground transport, right?” Jun would ask as she followed Anwir outside, pausing to make sure the door latched.

Short of the occasional cave den and subterranean storage she’d never really been underground. She knew these large cities supposedly had massive tunnel networks for quick transit, but, as curious as she was, they costed money. Both walking and flying were free. She watched curiously as Anwir pulled out and worked his phone, tapping out names which were then entered into some sort of mapping system? Quite the useful little thing to have if you were lost, though she still had no idea how it functioned. The face seemed to be cracked though, perhaps she could fix it? But, her repair work might be just as hard to see through as the cracks.

- ”It will be faster to hop on the B ride out to where it connects with 3 and that will take us all the way to Moynihan Train Hall. When we get all the way out there, we can hop on a train all the way out to Washington Union Station.” - Those must be names of subways? Named after letters and numbers? What exactly would they get onto down there? - ”Read for adventure?” - ”Hai!” She’d respond with an eager smile and sort of politely reserved enthusiasm, though Jun's face would immediately contort in a soft grimace as she caught herself using Japanese again. ”Yes.” She’d correct herself, ready to follow Anwir’s lead.