JP - The Keep - The Kitchen - Comfort Zone

Over the last month, Bjorn had turned the kitchen into his comfort zone, always going in and helping out with dishes and cleaning, wanting to be involved and helpful. It helped that Ila was so kind and didn’t judge him, despite his unicorn horn and lack of memory. She had not sent him away or given him some crude comment like those guards on the day he arrived.

Plus, the work kept him distracted from his frustration over not being able to remember anything. No matter what they did or how hard they tried he just could not remember anything. Alex couldn’t help, the doctor couldn’t help…he didn’t understand why he couldn’t remember, but he still retained some strange physical memory when it came to combat.

He fended off a few nasty things over time and just let his body do the work, but his mind honestly had no clue what he was doing.

A part of Ila envied Bjorn, she wished she had no memories of her own past. He was one of the few guys she felt comfortable around, and one of the few guys to spend so much time in the kitchen. He did not seem to care that she used to work in the Crimson Dove. Though it was possible he did not know what the Crimson Dove was, or that she had worked there. He seemed to spend most of his time down here and the Crimson Dove was one of those unspoken forbidden conversation topics in the kitchen.

“Morning Bjorn.” Ila greeted, scrambling some eggs.

Bjorn smiled. “Good morning, Miss Ila!” He chimed as he dried a few of the dishes, his horn sparking with little bolts of joy. It never did more than that, honestly, so no one had to worry about it.

“How are you today?” Ila asked.

“Quite well,” He admitted. “I slept a whole three hours last night for the first time!” Even if it was a short amount, the fact the unicorn man slept at all was a surprise half the time. He seemed to always have trouble sleeping, but that sunny disposition never went away.

“Wow, three hours.” Ila smiled. “Did you have any dreams?”

Bjorn shook his head pitifully. “I’m sure I will one day, though!” He grinned at her and put the dried dishes away. “Maybe if I get a full eight hours one day I’ll finally be able to dream. I hope I will, anyway.”

“Has anything Difyr given you helped you sleep longer?” Ila asked. She envied the lack of dreams too.

“Not yet, no…” Bjorn shrugged and stretched to put a few things away that he knew would not be used for the day. “How are you doing, Miss Ila? Sleep well?”

“I slept well enough.” Ila said, scooping the eggs from the pan to a platter. She had dreams and remembered them.

“You still suffer bad dreams, Miss Ila?” He asked, frowning with concern. “Have you tried the dreamcatcher I made you?”

Ila shrugged. “It doesn’t always work.” Ila suspected the dreamcatcher did not work because her bad dreams were memories, not just nightmares.

Bjorn thought for a moment and tapped his unicorn horn, wondering if he weaved some chips of it into the dreamcatcher it might work. It had worked when he used it to heal a nasty leg wound a week ago - one he never told anyone about…

“It’s okay, I’m used to it.” Ila told Bjorn.

“I still want to help.” Bjorn admitted. “You have been very kind to me and I merely want to do the same in return. As a friend.”

“I know. But it’s okay.” Ila said. “It’s been like this for a while.”

“You shouldn’t have to be used to it, Ila. No one should have to be used to it.” Bjorn replied with a sullen expression. “No one deserves to suffer…”

Ila flushed slightly. “It’s not as bad as it has been. Really…”

“You sure?” Bjorn looked concerned for her, but he also looked a little silly holding a wet plate in hand as he did so.

“Yeah. The nightmares were much worse when I was living them.” Ila said.

Bjorn grimaced and thought for a long time. “Have you ever had blueberry pie, Ila?”

Ila smiled softly. “Yes. Though it has been a while since I last had a slice.”

Bjorn perked up. “Well, that’s awesome! I can make you one! I don’t know how I know, but I know I can make an amazing blueberry pie.” He looked truly overjoyed to do something for a friend.

“That sounds good.” Ila was just happy to see Bjorn so happy.

Bjorn nodded quickly, the little sparks around his horn dancing with joy as he got back to washing dishes, even humming as he went through mental notes on what all he’d need to make the pie.

Ila got back to work, serving up the last of this morning’s breakfast on trays to be brought up to the dining hall.

Bjorn kept humming happily as he found the ingredients for the pie and got to work. The wonderful smell filled the kitchen as he worked, those sparks still dancing around his horn like lightning bugs.

Ila got to work cleaning breakfast dishes as they were sent down.

While waiting for the pie to get done baking, Bjorn helped with the dishes and spoke with Ila about silly and daily things to make time go by faster for them.

Ila chatted with Bjorn and started prepping for the midday meal.