1692/Alfred's Blintzes

Alfred's Blintzes
Date of Scene:	16 May 2020
Location:	Grand Hall - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Carrie, Dick and Stephanie enjoy Alfred's cheese blintzes while they catch up on Dick's job, Stephanie's graduation, and Carrie's love life
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Dick Grayson, Carrie Kelley

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie had been struggling with her geometry homework for much of the evening. It didn't help that the neighbors in her mother's townhouse were being really noisy. Usually they were pretty quiet, but tonight for some reason, they were blaring their stereo. And that might have been a positive since she was pretty sure she heard the sound of a bed headboard whacking against the wall repeatedly too.

So Steph had crammed her books into her bookbag and rode over to the Wayne Manor which wasn't all that far from where she lived in Widowstone, one of the Bristol neighborhoods. Not that far in distance, but a a lightyear apart in property values.

Stephanie rang the bell and Alfred answered, seeing her into the kitchen after agreeing he could try to help if she had issues with her geometry. So it is the blond high schooler, so near to graduation is hard at work on the kitchen table. She looks up and asks Alfred, "What are you making there?" as he is pulling some things out of the cabinets and fridge.

"Blintzes," Alfred replies. "I have a feeling some down in the lower levels might be grateful for having them before long."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick was visiting the manor, as he is wont to do, and had caught wind of Alfred cooking, also known as the main reason Dick would show up for non-business matters. He makes his way into the kitchen, still in his work clothes, a button-up shirt and tie with a blazer. "It seems I have arrived in time!" He grins and nods to Stephanie, "Alfred, I hope things are going well?"

Carrie Kelley has posed:
While most of the family had left Damian to his own devices for the most part, Carrie had at least been trying to check in on him occasionally. It wasn't terribly hard to ensure she could keep track of him. Typically the GPS on his comm showed him either at the Titans, school, or the island he chose to inhabit during his not-so-self imposed exile. When her phone beeps to notify her that his locator had moved to a very familiar location she gets a little concerned if only because... Well. Things had not gone so well the last several times he was there.

This is her reason for coming to the manor tonight.

Shortly after Stephanie settles in to study, she comes through the front door herself not entirely sure if she'd even be welcomed after the way things had been left. Still. She was able to get in. That had to account for something. It's more habit than anything which brings her by the kitchen first as it was often the unofficial gathering place for most of the family. Maybe, if she was lucky, he would be here instead of downstairs.

Carrie steps in just behind Dick tipping her head curiously as she regards those here. "Hey. What's going on with everyone?" A single eyebrow raises, and she looks toward Alfred expecting he would know more than anyone.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Alfred greets Dick with a gentle, "Master Dick. Things are quiet well. Would you like a cheese blintz? Perhaps with a bit of fresh boysenberry preserves on it?" Stephanie, meanwhile, flashes Dick a grin. "You are, just in time. So long as you can pass the entrance exam. Your first question, what are the differences between equilateral and isosceles triangles?" she asks him, without looking down at her homework page where that's the current question she's on.

Alfred gives a soft chuckle and then greets Carrie as she arrives. "Just preparing some Blintzes, Miss Carrie. I believe Master Bruce and some of the others are seeking a quiet space in the lower levels at present," he offers.

Stephanie flashes Carrie a smile and wave. "Hey, I should be hearing back on college soon. I got into Coventry Community. Been checking the mailbox everyday looking for the response from Gotham U," she says.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Yes please, on all parts," Dick says with a grin and a nod and looks to Carrie, "Hey! I got a hankerin' for some of Alfred's finest and it seems I was timely." He then walks over and answers Stephanie, "The length of the sides," being dead serious, just in case. Blintzes were on the line. "Everything going all right, though, Alfred?" The grin dissipates into a frown, "I hope it is, at least."

Stephanie's news gets a nod from Dick, "Good! I'm sure it will be here shortly. Got any big plans for the school year?" He gets a glass of water for himself and turns to the others, "Anyone else want something to drink?"

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grins at Stephanie's news with a dip of her head in agreement with Dick's remarks. "That's great! Even if Gotham U doesn't respond, that's not a bad college at all. And it allows transfers of credits to Gotham U for later if that's what it takes." Better Steph than her though; she was tired of college. A bit.

"Hello Alfred. I suppose I'll take one too if you're cooking. Thanks. And yeah, grab me a glass if you would, Dick."

Stepping to the table she tugs out a seat to sink down in it with a long sigh. On elbow props on the table so she can rest her chin in her hand. "Damian's downstairs. I'm not sure what's going on but the last few father/son chats they've had, have not been great."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
"Me three," Stephanie adds to the offer of some water to drink. She looks down at her homework and jots down some notes from what Dick said, though in pencil and lightly so she can erase it after she comes up with her final wording for it.

Stephanie smiles to the pair and says, "Thanks. I'm still not really sure what I want to do. What major, I mean. If I go to Coventry, well, I'll just focus on the core stuff that should all transfer," she agrees. "I don't know... kick-ass crimefighter isn't really a major choice at either school, you know?" she says with a little grin.

Alfred remains silent about the father-son chats, but not Stephanie. "Yeah? I still don't really know a whole lot about that situation," Stephanie says. "Anything you can share that won't, you know, result in a glowering look cast either of our directions?" Alfred continues cooking, not interjecting anything.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Sounds good," Dick says and carefully brings the three glasses over to the table, along with a fourth for Alfred. Reasons to have a decent dexterity score, number one. He sets them down and takes a seat with his own glass, "That's... not good." He frowns, "I hope it breaks the streak, then." The eldest of the Batspawn takes a drink, "If there's anything we can do to help, Alfred, let me know." He frowns and gives some thought to Stephanie's remarks, "Good place to start from. I don't miss doing the gen eds."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley watches the rather silent position of Alfred momentarily. She'd known him long enough to know he was listening but with holding any judgement. At least none he would vocally provide--Yet. Glancing back to the others she gives a small shake of her head. "It wasn't so great with me, either. I threw a box of Chinese food at him, remember? On his birthday at that." A little sigh comes, and she reaches up to rub the spot between her eyebrows.

"What the situation breaks down to is this: He feels if he steps in too much it will play into Talia's plan to make Damian hate him. And that if he were to just take him in as a Robin or other trainee he would be dismissing the work all of us have put into earning our places in the family. He wants Damian to prove himself."

"And Damian is trying to do so except without any guidance or idea of what is expected of him. Which really isn't how we all got our chances."

"But that's... I don't know what the current situation is. I've been kind of 'out' of the family myself. Except for the issue with Sauron and Grodd."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie smiles over to Dick at his comment on her plan being a good start. She looks back down to her homework, calculating angles from problems with various crisscrossing lines, triangles, and different figures with various numbers of sides and shapes.

She takes a sip of the water, looking up as Carrie elaborates. There's a look of commiseration from Stephanie. She hadn't been any part of the family for most of a year, until Barbara had taken it on herself to bring Spoiler in and train her. Not even two months ago, and there are times it's pretty obvious Stephanie still isn't sure how she fits in apart from with Batgirl.

"Well, I hope they are able to work it out," Stephanie says. "Maybe it's good if he has others there to help speak to things," she says, glancing to Alfred. "I'm sure everyone is doing their best, Miss Stephanie," he says. The blintzes are mixed and beginning to cook and should be coming out soon.

Stephanie looks back to Dick. "How are things at work? I haven't been over to Bludhaven in some time. Might have to drop in on you with some Big Belly Burger sometime," she says with a grin.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Oh, I wasn't aware of that," Dick says to Carrie as he works on his glass, "That is certainly an interesting approach." He taps on the table, "That is certainly something that should be discussed." The eldest ponders and says, "I will give it some thought." The cooking odors catch his attention, but he returns his attention to the table and says, "Well, you are part of the family, once you're in, you're in, it doesn't wash out."

Dick shrugs to Stephanie, "Things go well enough, I think. It's Bludhaven, it has its odd quirks and problems that I can't fix inside the system, especially when I spend nights and off my regular shifts on my hobby. But I have an idea." He finishes his drink.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley smiles faintly at Dick's remark. Maybe she just needed to hear that a little bit. "Yeah. Thanks. Just... not really something I expected I'd ever do. Or NEED to do," she adds a bit quieter with a small shake of her head. Then she grows silent to think while just listening to the others talk. It was kind of nice being around familiar faces and voices again.

"Yeah? Ideas are good," she pipes in with a small nod. "Sorry I've not been around much to help. Kind of... distracted. With things."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie continues to listen, splitting time between the conversation and her homework. "180 degrees for the line, 64 and 23 and... 40... 127, so that leaves 63. No, 53," she says, murmuring to herself and then filling in the answer in the appropriate angle.

Alfred brings over three plates, each with a pair of cheese blintzes on it, adorned with boysenberry preserves and a tiny dash of whipped cream, and there are other berries surrounding it as garnish. It looks like it could be served at one of the cities top restaurants of course.

Stephanie just stares. "Alfred, if they had a Louvre of food, these would be in there," she says in awe, looking up to smile at the gentleman's gentleman and getting a smile back. "Bon appetit" he tells the group before going back to prepare more for those downstairs.

Stephanie picks up her fork and grins over to Carrie. "Yep, ideas are good. What is it you came up with?" she asks, directing the question over to Dick.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"We'll move forward as we can," Dick says to Carrie, though he is then distracted by Stephanie rattling off mathematics and Alfred bringing over the food. "Alfred, as always, you exceed yourself!" He begins tucking in, and is rather pleased with it, and makes no effort to hide it.

Dick then says in regards to the ideas, "Maybe looking at going corporate, but it is something I will have to consider heavily, having just gotten detective and able to wear street clothes again instead of a uniform," he gestures to his attire, "Could be worse, though."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley turns to smile up toward Alfred as the plates are offered. In spite of her apparent turmoil on other topics, this one was one she had no qualms about: Alfred was always wonderful. "Thank you. This looks fantastic," she gushes along with the others as she plucks up her fork to prepare to assassinate the blintz. Blitz the blintz? She carefully cuts a part of it off to spear with her fork.

"Corporate? Well I guess I've had a similar idea. I thought I might help out with the charity side of things. Lots of free time there, but still a useful job."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown cuts off a corner of the blintz and brings it to her mouth, setting it on her tongue and then closing her mouth to savor the flavor of it. The girl who grew up pouring her own cereal and making her own meals as often as not, just basks in the flavor of the gourmet cooking.

When that first bite is clear, she sighs happily and then asks, "Corporate? As in at Wayne, or thinking like Barbara and go start something up of your own?" she asks Dick.

Steph glances over to Carrie as she mentions she's considered it too, though in that case Stephanie can guess which corporation she means more easily. "I can't even guess what it must be like there. I mean, I guess I picture it like in a movie or something. Um, Office Space?" she says, giving a little grin and laughing as if that was clearly a joke.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Yeah, more free time, better pay, but almost throwing away what I've worked for so far," Dick says as he eats. He then says, "Maybe, I'll have to talk to Bruce about it, but I think it might be an option." He looks to Carrie, "That's a good idea, should be pretty feasible and it does serve a useful purpose on several fronts. Also probably means spending more time at the Hellfire Club."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grins faintly at that remark. A little impish grin around her fork of food. It's swallowed and she lets out a sigh. "Yes, which always intimidated me a bit. But man they make a great steak. At the very least I have a potential escort for events there, and elsewhere." She shrugs slightly. "I was intending to go to the Stark Expo as well but got a bit beaten up the night before. It'll allow me to have more contacts with other groups, potentially, though without necessarily revealing my identity."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie is not the type to eat her food with extreme deliberation normally. But this? She's taking her time. Savoring every bite as if it might be a long time before she tastes something so wonderful again. Because it very well might.

She looks up from another bite and grins a bit towards Carrie. "Yeah? That place is pretty amazing," Stephanie says. "Even after, well, the things I've seen with Tim, or here... it kind of makes me realize how very different life can be," she says. The lives of those with wealth like the Wayne's, and then the rest of the world. "So, come on, dish," the girl says, a flash of bright blue eyes given to Carrie. "Who is this escort you have in mind?" Stephanie asks with a grin.

She swings her gaze back over to Dick. "Good luck when you talk to him. Hope it works out well. Either way, I can swing that Big Belly Burger by. Not that it's going to compare to this," she says, motioning with her fork towards her cheese blintz.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"They do, not up to Alfred's level, but that's not a fair bar," Dick says with a smile and continues eating slowly to enjoy his food. "Yeah, it is certainly a different life, better than the circus though." The topic of Carrie's escort gets a raised brow, "I'm with Stephanie on this one, who is this escort?" He gives a grin and says, teasingly, "Anyone we know?"

Dick gives Stephanie a nod, "Thanks, I hope it'll go well, or get some insights of how to proceed from here." He resumes eating for a moment and turns back to Carrie, "But yes, who is this mysterious stranger?"

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grows quiet. It's not that she's trying to be enigmatic, it's just that her jaw has locked up because of the sudden rush of blood to her cheeks causing her to go red. Yet she's still grinning, perhaps a bit silly to do so. Her fork fiddles with a berry on her plate as she considers responding to the questions with a little clearing of her throat. "It's newish," she mumbles uncertainly. This was the first time she'd really been on this side of such a conversation, darnit. "He's a mutant," she starts to explain only to glance between them uncertainly. "So don't make a big deal of it okay?" Then with a deep breath she mumbles out his name.

"Dr. Henry McCoy."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown shares a grin over with Dick as they both push Carrie for the name of her mysterious possible other. As the blond girl hears the answer though, she gasps and gives Carrie a little shove. "Get. Out," Stephanie says. "Really? Roberto's teacher? That's awesome. He's so well-spoken. Seemed like a really nice guy," Stephanie says with a big grin.

She takes another bite of her cheese blintz. "That whole being an Avenger thing? Also not a negative, I'd say." She grins over to Carrie.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Henry McCoy?" Dick says as he is caught off-guard a little by the comment, "Well, at least it could be far worse," Dick says with a laugh, "What does he teach, and where? Then the Avenger thing is mentioned and then things click, "Oh. Well, it seems he is a decent enough guy. So good on you," he gives a thumbs up and continues eating. "No big deal will be made, though, if that is what you want."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley rocks to the side a little at the shove from Stephanie only to result in a warm laugh from her in response. "He is. He's very sweet, and enjoys a good pun. Also likes to do parkour," she adds with a solemn nod as that was one of her preferred past times outside of patrolling. "And musicals. We're going to one for our first official date."

To Dick she grins again with a nod. "Thanks. He teaches biology and physics I believe?" Come to think of it she didn't know the specifics there, exactly. "He's the one that developed the serum to reverse Tim and Jason being gorillas. He did the same for the dinosaur version for those he knew turned into them."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie continues to eat slowly, getting a strawberry and dipping it in the fresh whipped cream to savor. "It's a school in Westchester, north of the New York. Up by Salem Center. Haven't actually gotten to see it, Roberto's mother mentioned it's really private, even the graduation ceremony," she says. "Though there's a graduation party I'm planning to go to."

Stephanie eeps. "Oh god, that reminds me, I forgot..." she says, digging in her bookbag. She pulls out a handful of envelopes and goes through them. "Figured I'd hand deliver rather than mail," she says with a smile, passing one over to Carrie, and one to Dick. "Alfred, this is for you," she says. "And... ah, here's Bruce's," she says, chickening out on and giving it to Alfred instead of doing it personally.

Dick Grayson has posed:
"Nice," Dick says with an approving smile, "Good gig, then. Probably will be tenured, which is always nice." He gets up and refills his glass and sits back down to get the envelope from Stephanie, "Thanks!" He opens it and reads it, "Well, I will clear my schedule, then. Should be a good time. Haven't been to a hog roast in a while, never been to a bad one, though. You've earned it."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley takes the card from Stephanie with a grin as she reads the invitation over herself. "I don't think I've ever been to a hog roast. That sounds awesome... I'll definitely be there," she assures while reaching out to give Stephanie's shoulder a squeeze. "It's a great reason to celebrate, after all."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie smiles to both Dick and Carrie, and adds in Alfred when he says, "I shall endeavor to attend. And if I might bring something..." Stephanie waves him off. "You don't need to Alfred, just looking forward to seeing you and letting you relax and enjoy yourself." Though knowing Alfred, he'll probably show up with something anyway.

The blond high school senior - for another week or two at least! - says, "One of the orderlies where my mom works, he does a lot of hog roasts, and is going to handle that end of things," she says. "And there'll be volleyball and music and a bonfire later ate night," she says. "No need to dress up."

Dick Grayson has posed:
As Dick finishes his meal, he nods, "Should be fun, then. Though I apologize in advance for thumping you all at volleyball," the eldest Batkid laughs, "But I will definitely be there, work permitting." He notes the comment about not needing to bring anything, fully intending to ignore it, and says, "But I had best get going, early shift tomorrow, it got me another open evening. My advice, be careful getting a big kid job."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grins a bit at the mention of all the activities. "No dressing up, gotcha. That sounds like it'll be fun. And," she adds with a glance toward Dick, "Looks like we'll have to show him we know how to play volleyball, too." Chuckling she settles in to finish off her blintz in a far better mood than before.