Steve is definitely familiar with the crushing fatigue that comes from being an inmate. He thinks he can see some of it in the line of Faolan's shoulders, but of course he can't be sure. He doesn't know the man well. The most he can do, he thinks, is try not to add to it, if that's what it is.
He offers Faolan a grin and hands over the knife without hesitation, handle first. "Then you're on chopping duty until further notice. I admit, I'm definitely better - or at least, more practiced - with the baking, so that works out."
He makes sure the other man is set up with all the vegetables that will need chopping, then gets himself over to where he's set up the ingredients to get started on the dough. "I guess I've always been better with just using my hands." Or at least mote comfortable. "Much to my knuckles' complaint."
It's not Steve's fault that he doesn't know Faolan well yet. Faolan is still new to the Barge, and beyond that, he's not the most sociable of people, even when he's not going through a crisis. Which, as it turns out, dying (or, in Faolan's case, ending one's life) only to find yourself brought back to life in a place like this -- that certainly qualifies as a crisis if ever there was one. It may not be nearly as obvious to those around him (especially those who don't know him well like Steve) but Faolan has been Struggling, and every little bit of normalcy, like a routine and a job, however ill-suiting, is helping him hold on by a string.
Thus, he ignores much of the other man's fussing over setting up his workstation in favor of just being allowed this much. He's just setting himself to work with the chopping when he realizes that -- yes, Steve is looking for conversation. Normally there would be others here to help buffer this, but since it's just the two of them...
He glances up across at the other man, mindful of his fingers.
"I'm no baker, but if your knuckles are hurting then it sounds as if you're going a little too hard on that bread," he quips, understanding that Steve had meant his hands were his weapon of choice, as blades are Faolan's own.
Steve had indeed meant as his weapon of choice, but he chuckles softly at the comeback. "That's a fair point. But there isn't a whole lot else to punch around here, so maybe I do take it out on the bread a little."
That much is true, too - Steve's always found it more than a little frustrating that he can't just punch a problem to fix it around here. It would certainly make things a hell of a lot simpler.
And he is looking for conversation, though far be it from him to make someone uncomfortable while at their job. He just hasn't gotten a chance to know Faolan well, and maybe that's intentional on the other's part, but maybe it's not. He's not always the most tactful, though he tries to be mindful of whether the other wants him to just shut up and back the hell off.
He hasn't quite gotten that vibe just yet, though, so he ventures on: "I didn't know a thing about baking until I got here. It's actually more relaxing than I would've thought. Although anything repetitive can be relaxing."
Including cutting vegetables... or punching a bag.
Faolan doesn't mind the chopping. It is somewhat soothing. And he is somewhat used to being talked at, although doing the talking back takes a little bit more effort on his part. He isn't exactly what one would describe as an easy conversationalist, at the best of times. Still, he does his best to make an effort when he needs to, as he does now, for Steve's sake.
"I'm sure there's plenty around for you to punch, and plenty who would have earned it for that matter, but I suppose it's for the best that you know where to focus your aggressions," Faolan returns.
He flashes the other man the quirk of a smile to indicate that he is only being facetious before continuing, "What did you do to relax before baking, then?"
"Not as much as I'd like," Steve admits, sounding just a little rueful. "Punching solves a lot fewer things here than out in the rest of the universe."
It would be nice if things were simpler, but it's the Barge. Nothing is simple. He's learned that.
He doesn't have to consider the question long before he admits, "Not much, really. I'm not actually very good at relaxing," he laughs, self-deprecating. "I mostly just get restless and rougher around the edges than usual, if I have to sit on my hands too long. What about you?"
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He offers Faolan a grin and hands over the knife without hesitation, handle first. "Then you're on chopping duty until further notice. I admit, I'm definitely better - or at least, more practiced - with the baking, so that works out."
He makes sure the other man is set up with all the vegetables that will need chopping, then gets himself over to where he's set up the ingredients to get started on the dough. "I guess I've always been better with just using my hands." Or at least mote comfortable. "Much to my knuckles' complaint."
no subject
Thus, he ignores much of the other man's fussing over setting up his workstation in favor of just being allowed this much. He's just setting himself to work with the chopping when he realizes that -- yes, Steve is looking for conversation. Normally there would be others here to help buffer this, but since it's just the two of them...
He glances up across at the other man, mindful of his fingers.
"I'm no baker, but if your knuckles are hurting then it sounds as if you're going a little too hard on that bread," he quips, understanding that Steve had meant his hands were his weapon of choice, as blades are Faolan's own.
no subject
That much is true, too - Steve's always found it more than a little frustrating that he can't just punch a problem to fix it around here. It would certainly make things a hell of a lot simpler.
And he is looking for conversation, though far be it from him to make someone uncomfortable while at their job. He just hasn't gotten a chance to know Faolan well, and maybe that's intentional on the other's part, but maybe it's not. He's not always the most tactful, though he tries to be mindful of whether the other wants him to just shut up and back the hell off.
He hasn't quite gotten that vibe just yet, though, so he ventures on: "I didn't know a thing about baking until I got here. It's actually more relaxing than I would've thought. Although anything repetitive can be relaxing."
Including cutting vegetables... or punching a bag.
no subject
"I'm sure there's plenty around for you to punch, and plenty who would have earned it for that matter, but I suppose it's for the best that you know where to focus your aggressions," Faolan returns.
He flashes the other man the quirk of a smile to indicate that he is only being facetious before continuing, "What did you do to relax before baking, then?"
no subject
It would be nice if things were simpler, but it's the Barge. Nothing is simple. He's learned that.
He doesn't have to consider the question long before he admits, "Not much, really. I'm not actually very good at relaxing," he laughs, self-deprecating. "I mostly just get restless and rougher around the edges than usual, if I have to sit on my hands too long. What about you?"