"Doesn't look like she'll be remembering anything tomorrow," says Tamsin. Bo jumps a little. "Sorry, did I startle you because I didn't mean to."
"No, well just a little. It's okay though, I just thought you were asleep, in the attic," says Bo, kidding.
Tamsin laughs a little. "No, I just finished up with the plants and went to wash-up upstairs. Sorry about earlier. When I was younger, I used to ask Kenzi so many questions, especially about this house. Really out of concern for us. I used to think that people needed to have money to be happy because that's what I saw on TV. I believe she told me to not believe everything I see on there because it's not real. It's not how life is. The poor get poorer while the rich continue to be richer. Then I looked at our lives, and I still think it's poor," she says, with a laugh which makes Bo laugh too at that last statement, not expecting that. "Sorry, I was going somewhere with that then I thought about reality," she says, smiling trying not to laugh again. "But long story short even though we weren't living like the people on the screen, I was happy. She tries her best to keep me that way, so I am, for me and for her."
Bo nods her head slowly in an understanding manner. "Wow, so different. You should tell her that sometime. I'm pretty sure it will make her very happy and proud," says Bo. "So, if you don't mind my asking, what are you up to now?"
"Oh. It's part of my routine I have. I check on her to see if she's okay from her medicinals," says Tamsin, doing a quote-unquote air sign on the medicinals part. "Then I make sure everything is secure. And while she's sleeping, I'll go over to the computer to study and research. After that I pretty much clean and cook. It's the least I can do."
"Doesn't sound like much of a life," says Bo. "I'm not saying that you don't have one, it just seems monotonous."
"Oh, I'm not saying that as if it's bad thing. I have to stay in the house, so I have to do something. She's just protecting me. I'm supposed be really valuable, so I have to be really discreet all the time. Well enough about me, it was sounding really depressing, but I'm kind of used to it. If you don't mind my asking, what are you up to?" says Tamsin, intentionally changing the subject.
"Oh," says Bo, snapping out of her thoughts. "I was reheating the breakfast that you made because Kenzi asked me to, and she fell asleep on me. So there's that." Bo gets a thought. "Are you hungry because I don't remember you eating much if any, and I haven't eaten anything at all."
"I'm okay. Can I ask you a question though?" she asks, with a pondering look.
"Okay. What's on your mind?" Bo responds.
"What kind of Fae are you?" she asks, really wanting to know.
"Oh okay, well I'm a Succubus," answers Bo.
Tamsin frowns. "Like from the movie Jennifer's Body?" Then she gasps. "Do you eat people and live animals?"
Bo laughs a little. "No, I eat food like everyone else. And what were you doing watching that movie?"
"I thought it was a scary movie. It wasn't. The credits were the best part. You know when she got revenge on the band." Tamsin sighs. "I have a lot of time on my hands."
"Noted. So, about the food?" reminds Bo.
Tamsin thinks about it. "Oh were you asking if I wanted to eat with you?" she asks, a bit surprised. Bo nods her head. "Yeah, okay sure. Not that I thought that you were going to eat me, I just forgot to ask you earlier about being Fae because you were able to fix the plants."
"It's okay. And, well never mind," says Bo, not wanting to explain her powers in any way possible. They walk over to the kitchen. "Just so you know, the food might be cold again," says Bo.
"That's fine," says Tamsin.
Bo sits down, and before Bo can lift her fork, Tamsin grabs her plate. "What was that for?" she asks.
"Sorry," says Tamsin as she grabs the other plate. "But I cannot allow you to eat that, especially if you haven't tried my cooking before," she says, with a smile.
Bo goes along with it. "So are you going to cook something different then?"
"Of course. This used to be a waste not want not kitchen. Well not anymore since I bought the groceries. But since I'm used to not wasting, I'm going to use this meal and change it into an entirely different one," says Tamsin, sounding like a magician. "You don't mind waiting do you, it won't take long?"
"I think I can wait," says Bo.
"Would you like me to put on a show for you?" asks Tamsin.
"Like watch TV?"
Tamsin laughs. "No, not the TV, me. I usually do it by myself, imagining an audience, and now I finally have someone to cook in front of."
"By all means. Razzle with your dazzle," says Bo.
"That was odd. That's what I call these meals, Razzle Dazzle because you never know what you might get."
"Interesting," says Bo, not wanting to freak out. "Interesting as in great minds think alike."
"I was just about to say that, but you beat me to it. Ready?" asks Tamsin. Bo nods her head yes. "Well without further ado, I would like to introduce to you the undefeated heavy weight cook of the world, me. Then she bows and the audience cheers."
"Oh," says Bo, embarrassed, "I didn't know I had to be a part of it. I'll just pat my hands," she says, doing so.
"Good enough. "Let's get ready to gumbo."
Bo laughs because it's so un-Tamsin.
"And to the audience members, even the one that's asleep, this is all impromptu, even the words. Now the Master Chef only has ten minutes to create a delicious meal so flavorful that it will savor every taste bud so much so that you would beg for seconds. The MC looks at the clock on the microwave, the audience silent in anticipation. The five second countdown begins as the audience count down to one."
Bo counts down with her fingers.
"Begin," says Tamsin. And it's like Top Chef except she is by herself, rushing to get ingredients and seasonings to add to the meal. Grabbing pots and pans, bowls, cutting boards, knives, strainers and spoons. And this is when the magic begins. She starts to do tricks with the pots and pans like flipping them behind her back as they land on each eye of the stove. She juggles bottles of both oil and wine so that every time it looks like one is about to break on something she catches them. After pouring the required amounts, she places the caps back on them and throws them behind her as she starts slicing and dicing things so fast that you'd think she chopped off her fingers while doing tricks with the knives, then the bottles land in place without breaking.
Bo is looking like WTH, on edge, worried, entertained and amazed all at the same time.
After the cutting is done, Tamsin frisbees the slices and tosses the diced, all landing in their respective pots and pans. She treats the seasonings like maracas, moving as she shakes them. She looks at the clock on the microwave to see if she has enough time to make beverages. She does. And do tricks with that as well. After, plate setting. She spins two plates one for each hand, alternating her fingers underneath them, only to flip them over, catching an inch from the counter, and begins arranging the food, garnishing them with radish flowers. And last, two lemon peel twists to garnish the drinks.
Tamsin places two champagne flute glasses on the table, then the plates. With a couple minutes to spare, she spends them cleaning all the dishes and utensils that were used, wiping the stove, counters and sinks. Done. She sits down at the table. "Et voila."
"Well, brava." Bo claps her hands, smiling. "That was amazing," she says, nodding.
"You really think so?" asks Tamsin.
"Trust me, I've never seen anyone do any of that before, and just to cook. I mean I was jumpy a lot, there were a lot of close calls, I'm sure for the dramatic effect. I thought you were going to hurt yourself, several times actually." Bo thinks about it. "I just cannot believe I sat through all of that, but I'm glad I did. It was quite the show. You get a ten out of ten for performance, and the presentation. I guess, now for the taste." She tastes it without a revealing look. After. "What is this?" she asks, referring to the drinks.
"I had time to make non-alcoholic champagne," answers Tamsin.
"It's pretty," says Bo. Then she sips some. "And actually bubbly." She goes back to eating while Tamsin sits, awaiting some kind of response. Bo looks up. "Why are you not eating, I thought you were hungry?"
"I don't know," she says, in a peculiar mixed with defeated manner.
"Well, you better hurry up because I might want seconds," says Bo, to which makes Tamsin's whole demeanor change. "It's really good, and I don't even know what it is. And that's saying a lot. Razzle Dazzle is the perfect name for it though. And I can't believe you made champagne, and it tastes better than the alcoholic kind. All tens."
Tamsin smiles. "Thank you. It means a lot to me," she says, now eating her food.
After. Tamsin has just finished cleaning and tidying up the place again. She sits down and sees Bo yawning.
"Are you sleepy?" she asks.
"Honestly, I haven't been able to sleep. I know that I should though, I just can't." Bo shrugs. "What about you?"
"I don't know. When I was younger, I used to have I guess nightmares, now it's more like daymares."
"Daymares?" says Bo, with a look of concern.
"It's like seeing and hearing things as if you were asleep while you're awake. And it feels like I'm in two places at once, like I'm being pulled."
Bo frowns. "That doesn't sound good. Have you talked to Kenzi about that?"
Tamsin shakes her head. "I don't want her to worry, she worries too much already. It's weird because I only seem to fall asleep when I'm about to age. I sometimes wonder when I do become an adult if I'll ever be able to sleep again."
"That's really sad to hear Tamsin," says Bo, feeling disheartened.
"I'm sorry, I don't want anyone to feel sad. I'm not. I'm more concerned about what I will be like when I retain my memories."
"Why is that?" asks Bo.
"It's just a feeling. Plus, I'm a Dark Fae. I know it's all politics, but it's the way people are always talking about them in a negative light, and the way I'm treated sometimes. And I don't like feeling caged. Everyone else gets to come and go as they please, but I have to stay here most of the time. Like yesterday, I mean I go places on my own, but that was the only time I was able to leave without anyone stopping me, but I didn't go anywhere because I had nowhere to go. So I just went to a field and sat there for hours, just thinking. And I don't want this to be my life. I actually want to enjoy it instead of finding meaning in the things that I do to make me feel better about this situation. I get it, I'm valuable, but isn't that everyone's life. I think I can take care of myself, I mean I take care of Kenzi whether she knows it or not, and she's an adult. Not taking away from her caring for me when I was a youngling. Just returning the favor I guess. And she's human, and I don't want anything to happen to her. I don't know, I just have a lot of emotions, I guess that's part of growing up."
Bo doesn't know what to say herself. She feels sad for Tamsin. Her heart starts to ache. "I think you should get out more. It's not healthy for anyone being cooped up all the time."
"I have to wait until I mature. Well at least that's what I'm told. Sometimes I'm not looking forward to that because well never mind."
"It's okay to talk about things Tamsin. You don't have to feel that you have to bottle up your emotions to protect someone else's, at least not all the time. And that's healthy too."
"Okay. It's like ever since I told them my name it's like I was automatically treated differently. It makes me wonder if I was a good or bad person. I know that Kenzi cares about me, that's probably because she took care of me, I would like to think otherwise though. But is there no one else? And why exactly am I here like at this house, it's not like someone gave birth to me. And I have to listen to people, I don't mind Kenzi, but I don't like being told what to do, especially by Dyson. I know he doesn't like me. He tolerated me until they remembered you. I don't think I'm going to like him even when I get my memories back." Tamsin pauses. "Sorry, I was getting upset thinking about him. Anyway, I don't see how anyone could forget about you in the first place, especially how Kenzi described your friendship, being more like family. I wonder why I don't have one, you know a family. That would actually be nice if I did. But back to memories, everyone except me has their memories, but I do, it's not like I have amnesia. I mean it was a past life and past memories equals past person, not current me. I'm sorry am I talking too much?" Tamsin asks. Bo shakes her head no. Tamsin sighs in relief. "You probably can tell I was sheltered. Still working on social skills, kind of hard to have them when you're mostly alone and have no one else to talk to. And I don't want to be that one creepy person slash pyscho serial killer. I mean how am I doing so far?" she asks. Bo nods an okay nod. "That's good, I feel a little better about myself. I guess back to the story of my life. The part that I find weird about it anyway is that they all seem to want to know about you when it comes to me, instead of me. That's particularly not a good feeling to have, quite the opposite. It's not like I can remember anything faster, and it's like they're rushing me to. That's like rushing a baby to grow up when you know you can't because there are different stages of life. Well at least for everyone else, and just because I'm different doesn't mean I can be rushed. I don't know, I mean I do, I just don't like this, and no one wants to tell me about myself, but expect me to tell them about a past me and you," says Tamsin, with a frown now. "Sorry that took so long, it's just that after this, I don't want to talk about it anymore. I know this all sounds very complicated and convoluted. So you probably can understand my frustration."
Bo is looking like she needs to see a therapist, get a lobotomy, and prescribed medication immediately. She doesn't know what to say. It was a lot to take in and try to process. She can only imagine how Tamsin must feel. She wants her to continue talking, seeing as she can tell that Tamsin doesn't talk to people about how she feels. Bo is not even used to it herself. But it's making her sad, angry, and hurt all at the same time. "I can understand your frustration. I just wished you didn't have to go through all this alone. It's a lot, and I'm surprised you're still sane. I'm joking about the being sane part, not about your life. I wish I could provide at least some answers for you, but like everyone else, I have to wait until you remember. Sorry."
"It's okay. Can I ask you something?" asks Tamsin. Bo nods her head yes. "Did I even know you? I mean did we know each other, and if so, how? I only ask because everyone wants me to tell them something about you, which seems ridiculous right? Because you all know each other."
"Um," says Bo, like hoping, wishing, and praying for that question to not come up, but she had a feeling it would from the direction this conversation was going. She's trying to figure out a way to respond without being revealing. And now she's feeling uncomfortable again. Still thinking. "We did, know each other. And it's very complicated as well. But as you said, you are you until you become who you are meant to be. I know it's not much, but that's all I can say," says Bo. Tamsin looks a bit disappointed. Bo notices. "Okay if it helps, well we're not family," says Bo, like that did not help. "I mean like you were like a…I mean you had your ways about you. Let's just say we had a different connection than you and Kenzi," she says, feeling exhausted. She sighs. "And you…we like looked out for each other."
"So we were friends?" asks Tamsin.
"We were friendly," says Bo. She sighs. "You know what, can we just put a pause on this for now? I suddenly feel like watching television."
"Oh okay, sure," shrugs Tamsin.
"I mean you can watch it with me if you want to, even pick out what to watch.'
"Really? Thanks. I know I haven't known you for that long, but you're different and pretty cool, I'm glad I met you."
"Um, back at you."
They go over to the sofa and watch television, next to a heavy sleeping Kenzi.