[OOM] Oswin, Moriarty and Hangovers.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Alcohol is a fiend. A tempting, beguiling fiend.

Moriarty blinks awake at roughly dawn with an impressive headache, a dry mouth and an ache in his side. The latter he was expecting - he'll deny it until the end of time (which, in the bar, gives him considerable flexibility on the duration of his denial), but sleeping on a tough leather sofa is not the best idea when you're injured.

Rubbing his forehead, he shrugs on a dressing gown without bothering to do it up and stumbles into the kitchen to pour himself some water.

Comments

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"And appalled, I've no doubt," Moriarty replies cheerfully. "Maybe I should teach a lecture in this garb, just to see what they say. What do you think?"

He's peering at the griddle, because those pancakes do smell pretty delicious.

[souffle_girlek]

"Lucky students." She mutters, and smacks at him with her spatula when he gets too close to the griddle.
"Go and be useful, we're going to need plates." The sizzling rises in pitch when she flips the pancakes over, one after the other.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty's expression is that of a wounded puppy highly aware of the injustice of the world, but he plucks out two plates on a cupboard and - maturely resisting the urge to balance them on his head - places them on the worktop near the griddle.

[souffle_girlek]

He is swiftly rewarded for his maturity with the arrival of four golden brown pancakes, dropped in neat precision across his plate.

The other two she claims, while waving at the spare butter and maple syrup with her free hand.
"Breakfast is served. I have plenty more batter... if you want more later, that is."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Thank you," Moriarty says dutifully. The pancakes are duly drizzled with maple syrup before he grabs a fork and takes his plate through to the main room.

It does not take him long at all to start digging in with remarkably little grace or delicacy.

[souffle_girlek]

After dressing her pancakes, she follows, clutching her mug of coffee. Her own assault on the pancakes is much more reserved - they're not bad, if she does say so herself, but she doesn't want to tempt fate or her hangover with too many of them.

The coffee, however, is clutched like a lifeline.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Cheerfully: "We should have hangovers more often if I get breakfast out of it."

[souffle_girlek]

"Possibly with less hangover? I think some of my brain is still liquid." She asks piteously, her coffee mug almost empty.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"The amount of hangover can be negotiated," Moriarty says sagely, finishing off his own coffee.

[souffle_girlek]

"Indeed? Negotiation implies there is some other factor at play to create mutual benefit - care to share that factor with the class, Professor?" The coffee must be working - she feels capable of putting effort into her teasing again.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty considers this. "My excellent coffee?"

You know. The instant coffee.

[souffle_girlek]

"... What do they serve at this university of yours?" She sounds worried - while the coffee is possibly life-saving, she's not so sure she'd call it 'excellent'. Actually, she's definitely sure she wouldn't call it excellent, it's instant.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty just sticks his tongue out at her.

[souffle_girlek]

She snorts, and regrets the move - the crazed thumping Dalek was certainly encouraged by that.
"I almost feel like you need care packages, like a first-year student - or does your ex-military friend cook? Someone must, you aren't starved."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty considers this, then sticks his tongue out even more.

Beat.

"Mrs. Hudson - er, my landlady - is always very eager to feed me. I assume Moran can cook too. Besides, I'm not totally useless, I can make toast and brew tea." Beat. "Cooking knowledge has never been overly relevant."

[souffle_girlek]

"You know, it is traditional that those who do not cook do the washing-up." She threatens, before finishing her coffee.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Aye, ma'am," Moriarty says. "I can do that."

[souffle_girlek]

"Oooh, formal." It's her turn to stick out her tongue at him, and she collects her plate and mug to return them to the kitchen. "Feel like I should salute or something."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty ruffles her hair with surpassing solemnity as she passes, then picks up his own plate and mug to take them to the kitchen.

It's not long before he's washing up, proceeding with the task with considerable efficiency.

[souffle_girlek]

She slips away long enough to straighten her appearance to something almost approximating normal - close enough to fool anyone who isn't paying attention, really. The rest will just have to wait until after. She's back for the drying bits, which she can be rather effective at since she's the one who found all the things and knows where they go back.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Feeling any better?" Moriarty asks.

[souffle_girlek]

"I'm fairly sure at this point that my brain isn't actually liquefied and intends on staying inside my skull." She grins, wanly. "You?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Clear-headed enough that I'm not going to be running into walls," Moriarty says. "Which is a significant step forward."

[souffle_girlek]

"Definitely an improvement - you don't need any more battering." She smirks. "Now, I don't know about you but I do know me and I know I have the ability to natter on until the world falls down around my ears, and I have a definite need for a shower and a change of clothes and probably sunshine would be a good idea though not on my to-do list 'cause it snowed, inconvenient thing, weather, and I can't do any of that if I stay here so I'd best be off before it really is noon and I end up proving there's a lunch in that pantry as well."

The Oncoming Babble. It's a gift, really.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty laughs. "Of course."

(That was quite an impressive babble, he feels.)

He walks her to the door, and holds it open with a wide smile. "Thank you for the breakfast, and for, er," slightly awkward pause, "last night."