Investigation 10

[afterthesky]

[Action: Mayfield shops]

[Sarah Jane can be found shopping for Christmas gifts. She occasionally picks up an item and places it in her basket.

Sometimes she picks something up and sets it back down.]

No, that's something Luke would like.

[Later in the day, her shopping expedition takes on much more focus and determination and she examines such things as paper supplies and makes notes.]

Yes, that might work...

[Action: In and around 2238 Stevens]

[Sarah Jane returns home from the shops and tucks her purchases into a closet before stopping in the living room to readjust the picture of her with Luke and his friends. Once she finishes there she goes back outside to hang a wreath on the door with a small shake of her head.]

Comments

Re: 2238 Stevens Road

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

Good afternoon, Figaro. I managed to get most of what I set out to do finished, at any rate.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful to hear, signora. I had a busy day myself today at the barbershop!

(Which mostly involved him being chased by angry patrons after he gave them an 18th century hair-do.)

In fact, I was just about to get the mantecados out of the oven. Would you care for one?

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

That sounds lovely.

[A man who bakes? Yes please!]

Was the barbershop very different from what you're used to?

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

Then come this way signora.

(He takes her hand and leads her to the kitchen, where there's a nice smell coming from the oven. There's a bowl full of black rocks on the table that on closer inspection are a whole bunch of burnt cookies. It seems it took Figaro a few tries before he figured out how to use the oven.

Enquiries about the barbershop gets her a very disgruntled look from him.)

Very different, unfortunately. For one, the people here do not appreciate my work. I was once renowned, even famous for the haircuts I gave. But here, it seems that such masterpieces are looked down upon.

(He fumes about it, but he brightens up just as fast as he gets angry.)

Never mind about that though. They may not appreciate me just yet, but I know my time will come when my genius is recognized!

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

Given how many different times and places this place draws from, I wouldn't be surprised if you eventually come across someone who has been looking for someone who can give exactly the sort of haircuts you're used to.

The ones in the oven smell lovely.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

I hope so myself. For the moment though, I'm trying to learn new haircuts from those...

(He pauses as he struggles for the word.)

...magazines, that's right! They have a few in the barbershop, so perhaps I may learn a thing or two. I must say that things have certainly changed; small seems to be the new fashion!

And thank you signora. I do apologize for all the burnt ones; the equipment in this time takes awhile to get to. Here, have some mantecados.

(And he's taking them out of the oven, and God do they smell HEAVENLY.)

I find it hard to believe that so few have heard of mantecados. You cannot have Christmas in Spain without them!

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's astounding how much fashions change over time. And sooner or later a lot of things tend to come back.

We usually have fruitcake in England. I never really had the knack for baking it though.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

Ah, you are from Inglaterra then, signora?

(He gets out a plate and puts a few pieces on them before he passes them to her.)

I never thought I would ever meet an Englishwomen in my life, but I must admit that you are not like what I expected them to be like. Well, in certain areas yes, but not entirely.

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

I am.

[Sarah Jane helps herself to a piece]

Really? What were you expecting?

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

(Figaro takes one from the tray himself.)

Well, you'll have to pardon me, but the English do not have a good reputation in Seville in my time. The general impression was of a people who didn't know the right ways of enjoying life and having fun.

(He takes a bite out of the cookie.)

Also, the womenfolk say that English women are dour and too serious, with a sick complexion and a tendency to act snobbish to others.

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

You get some people like that, anywhere you go. I've never been anywhere that it was truly a majority though.

[She takes a bite]

These are delicious.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

Neither have I. And I will honestly say, signora, that some of the women who hire me should look in a mirror before they make any further comments.

Though, I do find you very...ah, what is the word I am looking for..."prim and proper".

(He grins when she comments on his cookies.)

Of course they are! I made them. Though I am not a baker, it would not do for the factotum of the city to not be able to bake mantecados.

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

[Sarah Jane laughs]

You know, I think you're the first person to ever call me prim and proper.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

Oh, so you are not like that at all?

(Figaro pauses to think, munching on his cookie.)

Actually, we do not know much about each other although we are housemates. That...should be remedied!

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm a journalist by trade. Eventually that lead to investigating various phenomena that didn't originate on Earth with my son and some of his mates from school. I've always spent too much time asking questions and tinkering with machinery to really be called prim and proper.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

A "journalist"? What is a "journalist"? Is that an alchemist of some sort?

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

No, I write for... did they have broadsheets in Spain in your day?

Ah ha ha, I have no idea! OTL Just gonna fudge it, sorry...

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

Si, we do! So...you managed the printing press, signorina?

(Because what is a women who can write news articles. /sob for 18th century thinking.)

Totally had to google if it was even a reasonable question :p

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

No, I write the articles. It was still a controversial profession for women, when I started out.

[bravabarber.livejournal.com]

(Figaro just choked on his cookie, before he quickly swallowed and tried to play it cool. But still, a woman writing for the broad sheets? Cielo, what would the church say!!?? But to be polite, he won't burst out laughing or stare at her weirdly. Instead, he laughs nervously.)

I...I see.

[after-thesky.livejournal.com]

[That... well, that was more or less the reaction she was expecting, to be honest]

Things have changed considerably by my time. There are very few professions with any sort of gender restriction.