and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

[acherontiastyx]

[It... definitely takes a while for the weekly after-execution note to arrive, but it does --- kind of scrawly and on ripped paper rather than nice stationery.]

EY. YO. WE GOT EFFIGIES IN THE DINING ROOM AND WE'RE GONNA BURN EM.

FOOD TOO. THE USUAL AND HOT COCOA. GOOD FOR THE SOUL. GET SOME. MAYBE TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO. JUST GET SOME.

[Anyway, in the dining room, there's plenty of mugs set out, with a janky looking arrow sign pointing into the kitchen to where you can get your hot cocoa. On the table, there's Vichyssoise, a pot of green tea, and some booze. There's also a cookie tray on the floor away from the table on which to burn the Wordsmith and Kimbley effigies, which are handily placed near the food on the table.

...also if you go in the kitchen without shoes on just. Watch the northern corner. There's no kidneys, but there's a lot of broken plates there for some reason...]

Comments

[tsugomori]

I'm glad you do.

[ Mikazuki is always happy to be able to reach out and help someone -- especially those who need it the most, and even moreso those who he considers to be close to him. It was only going to get more tough from here on out, and to think it wouldn't is an incorrect presumption to make.

He carefully reaches out to gently wipe away a tear of hers, should she allow it. All with a gentle smile. ]

I think it's good to know that we have those we can rely on or be there to share such things with. If I didn't have companions like you, and didn't get a chance to know anyone, it'd be hard.

So, I suppose we've been helping each other out all along, haven't we?

[firstaid]

[She gives him a bit of a wider smile when he wipes her tears. Really, he's been so kind to her and everyone else here.]

Yes, this would be difficult either way. Without companions, we wouldn't have reason to fight, yet with companions we fear they may be... next.

[It's how this works. 4 weeks of being here and she's certain everyone has figured out this dreaded cycle. It definitely hurts to see her friends killed, but how lonely would it be if bonds weren't made.

Bonds are truly a double edged sword...]

[tsugomori]

[ Well, what can you do? Only the best you can in a situation like this, but...he's seeing the action has done some good, judging by the smile on her face. ]

Let us continue to move forward, and hope that we don't lose any more companions in this.

[ 'Hope' because they're powerless to prevent it. But it doesn't mean they're too powerless to try to do something about their situation... ]

... Now, where had we left off on? That is, if you still are interested in baking the cake. If not, I can at least help you clean up since this is quite a lot of things we have here.

[firstaid]

We can still bake it. It... would be a shame to waste the ingredients.

[She'll wipe the remainder of her tears away as she pulls away from him and back to her ingredients. And pulling the spoon out of the bowl.]

The butter needs to be softened a little more if you want to put it in the microwave for about ten seconds.

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki blinks and then... ]

So I just put it into here?

[ He places it into the microwave. He counts to ten in his head and takes the butter right out... spoilers, he doesn't know how to use the microwave yet so he didn't even press the buttons. ]

And then take it out now?

[firstaid]

[Oh Mikazuki...

She goes over to him and takes the butter from him and places it back into the microwave.]

Okay, we need to set the microwave for ten seconds.

[She presses the '1' and '0' buttons.]

Then you press 'start'.

[Then she presses that button. It goes for ten seconds and it's done. And viola! Softened button.]

[tsugomori]

Oh, ah, thank you...

[ He will give a sheepish smile of sorts. ]

I'm not used to some of this modern technology yet, so thank you. Did you have this sort of thing back at your home?

[firstaid]

[She shakes her head.]

What we have is somewhat similar, but not quite the same. I just learned how to use it on my own through trial and error.

[And maybe watching others.]

[tsugomori]

Ah...

[ He looks a little embarrassed. One of these things he'll learn too, he is just inexplicably incompetent with anything that has to do with cooking (or chores), honestly. ]

This is a little embarrassing, isn't it? I still have much to learn...

[firstaid]

To be honest, I didn't cook much until I got out of the castle.

[She smiles as she cracks open the eggs into the butter and mixes the vanilla extract and milk as well and whisks it all together.]

I practiced a lot, cutting up vegetables every day. I would give the shavings to Repede. [She giggles to herself a bit.] I wanted to be a better cook for my friends, so I practiced and practiced and here I am now.

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki watches her patiently, waiting for instructions, because he is sure if he touched something, he may create an accident. ]

So, practice... hm. Well, I have been practicing with some help, so eventually I believe I'll become as good as you. At least, someday, ha ha ha.

[firstaid]

Perhaps one day you will! When you're traveling, cooking is the only way to eat a lot of the times, especially if you're no where near a city.

[She pours the powdered mix into the batter and mixes it all in together, kind of forgetting that she's supposed to teach Mikazuki...]

I didn't want to be a burden, so I wanted to help, too. My friends never treated me like a princess, so I was able to. And I'm grateful for that. Being a princess means being lonely, but being a normal person means I get to be around such wonderful people.

[tsugomori]

Ahh, alright...

[ Pause. ]

...Am I supposed to be doing something, by the way? Or...?

[ Estelle, pls, he doesn't learn well by just watching!! Unfortunately... ]

[firstaid]

[Oh, oh right, she had forgotten. It's been... a night and her mind is practically scrambled.]

C-could you set that knob on the oven so the number 350 lines up with the arrow?

[That should be a straightforward request for now.]

[tsugomori]

[ That's understandable! Mikazuki heads over to the oven and turns it up to 370 at first, before changing it to 350 right after. Then he turns to face her with a smile. ]

It's done.

Come to think of it I believe this is the first time I've touched the oven.

[firstaid]

Is it? I've never seen an oven like this here before, however, it didn't seem terribly difficult to figure out how to use.

[And yay, he was able to do that much! At least she knows to give very specific instructions to him now.]

Now, two cupboards to the right of the oven are circular pans. Could you grab one of them? A medium sized one.

[Whelp, he's been reduced to a kitchen aid rather than being taught how to cook.]