likethelight | IC Contact @ Deer Country

[ Shimmering gold drips up from his shoulder where a pair of mismatched eyes appear. They zero in on that saucy grin with observant eyes that hold far more intelligence than her current form might convey. ]

Three of them are no good.

[ His eyes stray to his omen for a second, her sudden appearance throwing him off for a second. ]

The rest look like the pictures.

[ Oh no, he's been caught. While Timcanpy's grin disappears and he becomes more thoughtful instead, he also leans down to meet Kizu's gaze directly. He wags his wings lightly at her. ]

Ehh, really? [ Allen's voice pitches up in slight awe, linking their hands together warmly with a small tug. ] They tasted good too.

[ To his credit he doesn't sound shocked, just pleasantly surprised. ]

You're pretty good at this.

[ Kizu makes no acknowledgment of that movement, merely keeping to her Sleeper's side meeting Tim's stare without blinking.

His fingers twitch slightly in his grasp, still feeling off-kilter. ]

I don't know if it's good yet.

[ Whatever Allen tasted wasn't the finished product, a dozen things could have gone wrong between then and now. ]

[ And probably a dozen more things that could go horribly wrong between now and the time they eat them, but hey. The bar was also super low to begin with. He just smiles warmly at the response though.

It's his own good mood, but also wanting to help re-ground him. And Tim just sits back and poses cutely, his cheeks warming visibly in a rosy fashion. ]

We'll find out soon.

[ He'll be upset to know the exact height of that bar. For now, at least, he believes the ones that didn't get ruined by water, taste decent. As for good, well, he did grow up with Fuyumi's cooking and he doesn't know anyone aside from top chefs who make food better than her.

He nods in turn, looking over at his station. ]

Do you need any help?

[ Kizu, for her part, keeps staring at Tim, unmoved by his cute little poses, albeit she does consider them cute. It's hard not to considering. ]

[ Timcanpy is immune, puffing up for a moment with what seems a giant internal smile even though he shows nothing outwardly, before he looks away while looking slightly proud and pleased with himself.

Allen hums thoughtfully, turning back to what he had been working on. The dango have been seared and just need to have the sweet soy sauce poured over them, the dipping sauce prepared... the pot to boil the noodles in having been boiling for a while now and getting a little low after Tim's distraction.

He gives a small tug, glancing over his shoulder at Shouto with a smile before he lets go and moves back to his station at the stove. ]

Do you want to cut some scallions? And some fruit. You can help me make some ice water to chill the noodles in too.

[ Her eyes narrow on him. Don't think he can't read the little puffer fish. Toxic. That's what he is.

The suggestion gets him moving again, soul touching forgotten when he has something to focus on. He goes to the sink to wash his hands as usual and gets to work, chopping up those scallions in the most terrible manner with some pieces not fully cut all the way and clinging to each other in a ribbon of plant matter. Job well done, he moves onto the fruit and chops it up into large chunks, maybe a little too large, and sets that aside too before cleaning up the mess of juice he left behind. At least he cleans up after himself... >_> ]

[ How mean, he is nothing of the sort!! He's pure sunshine.

But hold on there mister, right before he thinks he's done with the scallions Allen is going to just... lean over his shoulder and right up into his personal space while watching how he's cutting those. Or rather, not cutting. Allen might not know a lot, but: ]

You need to make sure you cut them lot more thinly. [ said gently but very seriously! ]

[ Pure toxicity even predators throw him back with a 'hell no'! ]

Thinly?

[ He asks, turning his head his way. ]

How thin?

[ He loves you too. ♥ ]

Like this-- [ He holds out his hand for the knife so he can demonstrate. They're not sliced evenly thin, but they are very thin and regular cuts. ]

Make sure to cut all the way through too, so they're like little rings.

[ Even before Viktor tricked him into being his kitchen assistant, one of Allen's part time jobs at the Order was in the kitchens. And he's a connoisseur who takes food very seriously. ]

[ That was not the implication at all. ]

[ He hands over the knife, hilt first, and watches him very carefully. He stands a breath away, chin just above his shoulder, completely in his personal space. ]

You're good at this.

Edited 2023-03-13 00:53 (UTC)

[ Ehehe. ♥

Allen looks over at Shouto with a sheepish little laugh, even if he is right there. He doesn't seem to mind or be flustered at all though, not by this point, and just waves the compliment off with an offhand gesture. ]

Not that good. I just used to work in a kitchen.

You did?

[ Hands up, hands up!! He sets the knife down so he can more properly try to downplay any importance Shouto thinks that has!! ]

Just part time. Mostly I'd help with serving and cleaning.

[ Too late. He looks over at the noodles. Made from scratch. The dumplings. Sweet soy sauce. That was more than serving and cleaning. He should know. ]

You're a cook.

[ There's a sort of amazed look in his eyes as if seeing him for the first time. ]

That's amazing.

[ oh my GOD ]

I'm really not!! [ cooks are amazing and wonderful magicians of taste who need to be protected and revered and that is not him!!!

...is he becoming one by accident?!?!? oh god!! ]

—ah! The noodles!

[ Seeing foam bubbling over the side of the pot, he realizes woefully late that he got distracted, they've been in there too long. He swoops in to whisk it off the heat and looks around in a panic for a strainer where did he put the strainer. ]

Quick, cold water!!

[ Yes, you are. He could have gone longer without realizing it but having Allen actually try and teach him how to cook, it finally clicked.

The sizzling pot saves him from further question, and the command has him moving. Reaching the side of the pot with his right hand, he shocks the water with a drastic temperature drop just above freezing.

Have cold noodles Allen. ]

[ Well that-- is one way to do it. ]

O-oh. [ Blinking a touch owlishly, his search for the strainer (that is literally right in front of him) momentarily forgotten, Allen stares for a moment. And leans over to confirm that the pot didn't just suddenly become a block of ice (he was kind of expecting that).

He looks up to Shouto then, one side of his mouth quirking up in lopsidedly sheepish little smile. ]

That works.

Edited 2023-03-13 02:05 (UTC)

[ Ice isn't the only thing he can do. He reserves that kind of extreme output for fights, but heroes don't just fight. They save too. And extreme temperatures aren't conducive for the average citizen. In the case of hypothermia, he can't just light up his fire and expect not to damage the delicate tissue of human flesh. He knows how to control his output. Something like a boiling pan isn't any different than making tea, except he's using his right side instead of his left and he's always had better control of his right side.

Shouto steps aside, giving Allen room to 'cook'. ]

Are they ruined?

[ It's more that Allen would have half-expected it because that's how his luck tends to go, not so much as a statement on Shouto's abilities. You kind of get used to things going weirdly wrong even when there's no earthly reason they should have gone that way.

He peers in as if that might tell him one way or another, before reaching for the strainer that is so obvious now that he isn't panicking and draining the noodles. ]

No, not ruined... [ He knows that much even from just sight, it's a matter of experience, but his tone is still lamenting. He quickly fishes out a single one to test and chews on it, looking both relieved and a little crestfallen. ]

Just a little soft. [ He overcooked them on Christmas, tragic... his shoulders droop a little. ] Sorry.

Edited 2023-03-13 02:27 (UTC)

[ A quizzical look. ]

Why are you sorry?

[ ? Is that strange?

He looks up and shrugs lightly with a slightly awkward smile, not seeming particularly upset. Just sheepish and a bit disappointed. ]

It's nothing. I just wanted to make them properly.

They look proper.

Do they taste bad?

[ Is that why he's upset? ]

No they taste fine. [ He's got that part down!!! His saving grace is he always gets things to taste pretty good, even if not always what they're supposed to taste like.

He deposits the drained needles into a bowl he had already gotten out to serve them from though, and holds it out towards Shouto. ]

Here, try it.

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