Couched in Terms I Understand [Edward]

[Ferris Macklin]

It was the last day Ferris would bring in goodies to the Staff Lounge till the new school year started in... August? Had to be. He was one of the few staff members staying around over the break, though his hours would be a little different. Ramadan was going to be interesting, but there weren't too many kids who were participating in it. Still, he wanted to make things bearable for the ones who were, so he was going to come in extra early for suhoor. Hopefully the lack of kids would make prep go quickly and he could leave after lunch service. Ferris didn't mind being busy; he didn't know what he'd do with a month off if he had one. He hoped he could help out Abe Milton a little in the evenings, and looked forward to finally playing Fable and Skyrim.

For the final treat of the '12-'13 school year, Ferris had brought in Rice Krispy bars, but as ever, on his own terms. The marshmallows had been melted in browned butter, and over the tops had been sprinkled a few flakes of sea salt. They were gooey and rich and had just a hint of savory, and were one of the few dessert recipes Ferris could not make on a regular basis because he would just eat them all. He'd brought in two batches, one plain and one with chocolate chips, stacked in the now-familiar giant plastic bowls, with a sign on them that said 'Happy Vacation! Congratulations on surviving another year!'

As a sort of concession to the students for finals week, the lunch that day was pizza. Ferris brought his own into the Staff Lounge and sat back to eat.

[Edward Davenport]

He had finally finished unpacking all his things, and in only three days to boot. He had joined the faculty at the end of the term and would use the time students were not in class to familiarize himself with the grounds once again. It had been nearly fifteen years since he was last on campus and much of his memories were lost to more recent ones.

He headed to the one room that he had always wanted to see as a student, but never had the chance to go; the Staff Lounge. As he made his way down the corridor to finish his self guided tour around the place, he couldn't help but thinking that he remembered it being a much bigger place. Then again, everything seems a lot bigger when your a small 4 foot something fifteen year old boy.

Edward opened the door labeled "Staff Lounge" expecting to be greeted by numerous teachers and professors, but it was quiet. In fact, there was only one other person in the lounge and he was sitting in a chair eating a few slices of pizza.

"Hello," Edward greeted the man as the door closed behind him. He was about to continue the conversation when his nostrils detected a most pleasant aroma. He saw a large plate of delicious looking Rice Krispy Treats. Davenport walked over to the counter and inhaled. It smelled delicious. "Excuse me," Edward called out to the man eating a slice of pizza. "Is this for everyone?"

[Ferris Macklin]

With his mouth full, when a man Ferris didn't recognize walked in with a greeting, he could only wave back. With the pizza he had two cartons of skim and a container of homemade pickles from his duckie lunch bag. He ate a few pickles while surreptitiously glancing at the new guy, or who he thought was a new guy. Odd to come in right at the end of term like this, but he understood transfers didn't necessarily choose their entry dates.

"Excuse me. Is this for everyone?"

Smiling, Ferris replied, "Yup! Everyone who can come in the Staff Lounge, anyway. I doubt the kids would appreciate browned butter."

Wiping his hands on a napkin, he got up and went over to the table where his bowls of treats sat and held out his right. "We haven't met, I don't think. I'm Ferris. Kitchen staff."

[Edward Davenport]

"Oh right," Edward had totally forgot to introduce himself. It must have been the delicious smell of the browned butter that made him overlook the pleasantries. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ferris." Edward gave a half smile as he shook the man's hand. "My name Is Edward. I was brought in as the new Side-Effects Specialist."

He didn't care much for the title. Though he wished to help people keep their power in check, he was more interested in the origins and the functions, more or less everything about Meta powers. To say he was specialized in side effects was only a part truth.

Edward grabbed a paper plate from the stack beside the treats and with the aid of a spatula placed two on his plate. "Normally I don't eat too many sweet things, but today, since they smell so good, I think I'll make an exception. I have this problem you see; once i start eating sweets I just can't stop."

[Ferris Macklin]

Ferris's eyebrows went up when he heard Edward's title. "Wow. That's... impressive. You'll be busy here."

Ferris didn't have side effects himself, but then, he didn't really have a power. Save for a few incidents during training, he had yet to see his meta ability in action (or... inaction) in the real world. As those in the power suppressor category went, Ferris was unusual in that he had no range and enough specific provisos that his power had the meta usefulness equivalent of peeing in different colors.

"Normally I don't eat too many sweet things, but today, since they smell so good, I think I'll make an exception. I have this problem you see; once I start eating sweets I just can't stop."

Grinning, Ferris didn't bother with the spatula and just took a cube of Krispy goodness from the top of the pile. "I have that problem with these," he said, nodding at the bowls. "I could eat a whole pan for dinner. That's why I brought them in. They're not safe with me."

He took a bite of his bar, chewing thoughtfully. "How does one become a side effects specialist? There's... not a college course for it, is there?"

It had been awhile since he'd been to school. Who knew?

[Edward Davenport]

Edward chuckled lightly. It had been a while since he had a normal conversation with someone. He was used to running around the world and interviewing young kids about their powers. It was a good change of pace.

"Not exactly," Edward responded as he took a small bite from one of the tasty treats. He enjoyed the creaminess of the delightful snack as he continued conversation with the cook. "I always had trouble with my own ability when it came into fruition. The side-effects were specifically bad. Always had trouble with it and still do, I just learned to manage it better.Went to school for psychology and taught myself a bit about physiology and after I graduated from Hammel, I traveled around the world to help those having trouble with the side-effects of their abilities. I then ended up here after wanting to stay close to home."

Edward took another bite from the buttery deliciousness of the marshmallow and cereal treat. It had been so long since he had ever talked to someone about himself in such detail. It was usually the other way around. Normally he had other's open up to him in order to get a better understanding of the effects and development of their power.

[Ferris Macklin]

As meta abilities went, Ferris knew he'd both been cheated (in a sense) and gotten off light. It was difficult for him to relate to other metas on a powers level, though he could certainly sympathize with being ill or injured. "I'm sorry you had such a hard time," he said, "but it looks like you turned it into something that helps others, and that's commendable."

It was another thing he understood, turning something unfortunate into something productive, at least in theory. It was what he'd been trying to do when he left home for Europe, and what he thought he'd done when he'd started his first line cook job. It was successful in that he'd found a career path, but less so in that it didn't take into account all of the schooling he'd had previously. Ferris finished off his treat, which might or might not've been his fifth that day.

"How do you plan to study here?" And then he nodded toward where his pizza sat. "You wanna sit? Or should I bring my food over. I have to finish lunch." Ferris smiled apologetically. "Back to the grind in fifteen."