#dr jasper

She snorted, peeling off her mask from privacy. “You’re adorable. That makes you cute.”

“Well, I guess that’s better than nothing… A Christmas miracle.” The chef prepared two plates on the steel bar with a softened clatter.

Dr. Jasper did the same, taking off his mask and folding it away into his pocket now that he and Penfield were in private for the most part. “You get more from her than I do.”

“Hey now, I let you screw that last one all by yourself. Don’t say I don’t gift you nothing.” She swiped a breadstick from the counter and slouched, curling a ringlet of hair around her finger. “He was pretty.”

“You’ve lowered your standards if you like the ones who sob the entire time.”

“My standards are still higher than yours. Remember last year's Christmas party?”

The Christmas party he relied on remembering from first person accounts. He wanted to protest, however he backed down immediately. 

That poor festive display.

“I guess you’re right… shit, give me the whiskey you hide on the bottom shelf.”

The chef chuckled, but it was more pity than humour. “Hell, I won’t even charge this one to your personal account. This one is on me.” He shivered. "I remember that party… that poor display.”

He began to dish up the plates, christmas trimmings, potatoes and seasonal vegetables he always peeled with precision. The kitchen sat at ease whilst the gravy poured and cranberry sauce glistened under the cafeteria lights. 

“Hell, it was Chuck’s fault for bringing that aphrodisiac chocolate.” Penfield took the bottle the chef left on the counter and poured her own glass. “Put this on his tab.”

“Wait, who the hell is Chuck?” The chef stopped, tilting his head to the side. 

“You know, the guy who sits around at the rebirth desk, crossing his arms and looking broody because he’d rather be anywhere else apparently.”

“Oh… Yeah I know him. I think I had him for secret santa last year.”

Penfield disagreed. “No, that was some other guy I think. This guy is cute.”

Dr. Jasper knocked back his whiskey. “Pretty sure that ain’t his name, Pen.”

“Whatever it is. It suits him.”

“You’ve only seen his eyes, we couldn’t pick him out in a line up.”

“Either way, whoever sold him that freaky chocolate needs a raise.” Penfield took up her cutlery and started tucking in.

Dr. Jasper took his too, and shook his whiskey glass. “Put this one on me, Christmas Party is tomorrow, might as well enjoy our day off.”

“A day off? Tomorrow is gonna be a blood bath. Look at what they did to those reagents last year. The Christmas party always lowers everyone’s inhibitions.”

“So no change there then.”