Malcolm didn't remember whose idea it was to invite the Hargreeves to dinner, but he did scour the town for nice place settings earlier that day, dropping off some less fancy but functional and not broken dishes anonymously on the porch of the Boarding House, just in case they were still short.

He knew how to set a formal dinner table. It was his whole upbringing. Even though he'd never cared for dinner parties when his mother threw them, it seemed like such a Normal thing to do, that he was excited about the idea of them having one and he threw himself into it with gusto, helping Neal in the kitchen, helping clean up, helping anywhere he could. It kept his mind and hands occupied, too.

They were putting the finishing touches together while they waited for their guests to arrive.