✿ THE HOUSE ✿
Adra's house is a cozy stone cottage on the outskirts of Caissa, close enough to the sea that one can hear the breaking waves throughout the day.
This afternoon, there's light, cool rain falling intermittently, tapping in a rhythm at the windows and roof. Fortunately, the kitchen is warm, bright, and welcoming. Its counters and tables are covered with freshly prepared foods of all kinds, and there are plenty of chairs for visitors who might like to sit and relax.
A door from the kitchen leads out into the garden, which is not quite yet fully landscaped, but which boasts a promising array of flowers (orchids, roses, lilies, tulips, etc) and herbs. Adra's also cultivating strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, and so on; the strawberries and cherries in particular are ripe for picking. Adra has strung enchanted, floating fairy lights all over the garden; they cast a soft, ethereal glow over the paths and carefully tended patches of greenery. At the garden's center, there's a clear pond filled with red and pink lotus blossoms.
Back inside, a visitor might like to rest in the den. There's a roaring fire in the hearth, and sitting near it for a short while offers a boost to the weary spirit. Soft, plush chairs and couches fill this room, making it ideal for lounging. The tables are covered with books borrowed somewhat indiscreetly from the library; they deal largely with the magic and history of Enprise.
Adjacent to the den is Adra's study. In here are half-empty bookshelves and antique rolling desk covered with neat stacks of papers, boxes of quills, and numerous pots of ink, each one in different, brilliant colors. His journal is somewhere here, too ...
Finally, down the hall one will find a half bathroom and, across from that, the door to the second bedroom--belonging to one Gilgamesh. The master bedroom, belonging to Adrasteius, is at the end of the hall. There's a full bath in there, but this room is definitively locked.
✿ THE SPREAD ✿
As usual, Adra's gone over the top in his preparations. For drinks, there's a sweet, refreshing punch; delicately pink and decorated with sprigs of flowers. There are pitchers of sparkling ice water, jugs of wine and spiced mead, and plenty of glasses to share.
Though Adra does not eat meat himself, he prepares it ably; there's a honey-glazed, roasted turkey in the center of the table, right beside a carving board heavy with seasoned, hand-carved slices of fresh beef. Red potatoes, bright with paprika and salt and glistening with pats of melting butter, are arranged in wedges around the turkey. There are woven baskets of steaming rolls, flaky and soft; platters of carrots and broccoli and asparagus; enormous bowls of belly-warming soup filled with thick wheat noodles, sliced egg, and shredded cabbage. At one end of the table, there's a plate of burgers, along with small dishes to fix them--bacon, crispy onions, sauteed mushrooms, and all the necessary condiments. He has plates of savory pies, filled with beef or pork or chicken; steamed and fried dumplings stuffed with meat and spring vegetables, plump and perfectly shaped.
The desserts are similarly extravagant: he has a plate of meticulously crafted flower and fruit cakes; some look like ripe, blushing peaches, others, he shaped into red orchids, lotus blossoms, or golden roses. He's made a chocolate tart so dark that its smooth, sugar-dusted surface shimmers reflectively in the overhead light. Cupcakes of all kinds are scattered here and there, as well as an extravagant, multi-tiered confection dripping with fudge sauce, encrusted with sliced strawberries and vibrantly colorful, fondant flower petals. There are loaves of warm banana bread; fruit tarts glittery with rainbow sugar crystals; and, under glass, an assortment of flavorful macarons baked to look like something plucked right from the starry sky.
But the most important thing about Adra's lavish banquet is this: all of the food is enchanted, laced with magic meant to inspire feelings of comfort and security. Eating it may conjure up familiar, welcome sensations or memories--nothing sorrowful or painful, and only as specific as you'd like. It could be something as simple as the feeling of a fuzzy blanket on a cold day, or as complex as a particular soothing memory. In all cases, the intended effect is meant to inspire calm and ease.
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UBW
She can't take it. ]
What are you trying to make, exactly?
[ She finally appears at his side, looking over the ingredients he has laid on on his Fourth.... Fifth??? Attempt. ]
no subject
Gilgamesh rushes to cover up his string of failures, throwing everything in the trash in a big hurry.]
A pie! A most delectable pie, as could only be crafted by the King of Heroes! What else I would be making?
[Did... did something just explode behind him? Maybe you're better off passing him by here.]
no subject
What the fuck Gil
It's true, passing him by would be the better choice. Leaving him to his devices and such but Adra would be real upset if Gilgamesh actually caused his kitchen to explode. To spare her sensei and substitute father-figure that trouble, she is not leaving. ]
I see.
[ IN FACT!!! ]
May I watch you create this pie? I'm quite interested to see the King of Heroes skill when it comes to baking since Adra-sensei is very talented as I'm sure you know, Gilgamesh-san.
no subject
[Fizzle, fizzle, pop... oh, those were all normal kitchen sounds, make no mistake. Gilgamesh definitely wasn't hurrying to shove some smoking, oozing abomination of his into that same trash, no ma'am, and he definitely wasn't sweating and he definitely wasn't panicking because as everyone knows, the King of Heroes can do no wrong! Even in the kitchen, he excels at everything!
The trash promptly tips over and spills its contents out, all over the floor. What has been seen cannot be unseen.]
I've no need for spectators! Begone with you!
[But what he's really saying might just be help, please help.]
no subject
Okay, besides the fact that this kitchen is a mess no matter how you slice it, Asuna can tell Gil actually needs help with the whole cooking thing. Unsure as she is, if she's able to help someone she can't exactly turn her back on him. There has to be something, SOMETHING some kind of quality that has someone like Adra wanting to live with him. Someone like Setsuna being friends with him.
She wants to find out. And what was up with him saying he liked her anyway? That too. ]
Then, I won't be a spectator.
[ CALM AS A CUCUMBER she picks up the trash and slams it down, upright, pointedly. Move over, Gil. Asuna is taking the stage as Head Chef in this quest. ]
By the way, are you making this for Adra?
no subject
I see. Very well; I will permit it.
[As for Adra, Gilgamesh shakes his head, and spills the beans. Figuratively. The floor didn't need any more food all over it.]
Someone challenged me to craft them a dish worthy of true renown. I made a fair enough start, but...
[Somehow, he's gotten lost along the way. Very lost.]
no subject
And if she notices his obedience, she doesn't mention it. She just rolls up her sleeves a little, tucking them away so they don't get into the food. An apron would be nice too but they can forgo that sort of thing. She doesn't want to look like a waifu in front of him.
As she reaches for a pan, entire body stills at the mention of why he's doing this. ]
... Hooh? [ It sounds disinterested. So someone challenged the King and he didn't back down. She knew Gil had a lot of pride, AND EGO, but she had no idea that extended to something like cooking. Not wanting to back down ─ that was something she could understand very well about him. Although, she would think he would have scoffed and said "Cooking is beneath a King! I need not dirty my hands!"
Or something along those lines. ]
The important thing about a challenge is not to give up. So you have that, at least. [ Is she... being nice? Hard to say. SHE CLAPS ONCE. ]
Alright! We begin with ingredients. Why don't you tell me what kind of pie you're trying to make, first.
no subject
I had my sights set on a meat pie. We are trying to please a carnivore, so I thought that route would be best.
[Gilgamesh gestures to the cooked meat that's sitting on a nearby carving board. Gilgamesh at least hadn't managed to foul that up, because in that case they may as well have given up outright with a key ingredient ruined. He then, more sheepishly, shows her the half-prepared pie crusts. Some are burnt from premature attempts to bake them, some are a little oddly shaped, and some... don't even resemble a pie at all.]
Those were the fruits of my efforts thus far. They didn't turn out so badly.
[Of course they did, Gilgamesh, that's the whole problem.]
no subject
Meat pie?
[ Sure enough, he has all the ingredients laid out. The meat at least looks edible but the crusts leave something to be desired. After giving it all a thorough look over, she decides he's not... completely hopeless. The key ingredient is definitely acceptable in all this. A meat pie needs more than meat, though. It needs potatoes and other vegetables to give it a savory, hearty flavor.
Asuna picks the most promising of pie crusts, an oddly shaped one, not wanting to have all of his hard work go to waste. He did look rather sheepish. She's more used to that expression on someone else, not Gilgamesh. Maybe that's why her tone is unconsciously a bit softer. ]
This one is good. [ If she was grading it on a curve and she says this just as off-handedly. As if she needs to stroke his ego even more. ]
They might be a carnivore, but just having meat in your pie isn't nearly enough. You'll need potatoes, onions, and spices to give it flavor. Could you please find those ingredients?
no subject
The idea of additional ingredients did not occur to me. I find your suggestion very fair.
[Praise, if worded in Gilgamesh's typically upright way. But to his credit, he kicks up no fuss in obeying her; he goes to search through the appropriate drawers and cabinets, and sure enough Adrasteius has plenty of everything in stock. He pulls out the potatoes, the onions, and spices, utilizing his psionics to send it all floating over in a neat pile for her inspection and approval.
He stands by them a moment, staring and studying hard, then confesses:]
...I am uncertain what should go in first.
[And, shock of shocks, he looks to her for help! It may be their very first instance of actually getting along.]
no subject
Efficient, she admits to herself. Maybe impressive, a quieter voice adds. Everything looks in order so she nods in approval with an expression that's a little brighter and less icy.
Is Gil really admitting he doesn't know what to do? Her shoulders twitch once their eyes lock.
Is she getting along with Gil? IS THIS HAPPENING? ]
Oh. Um, well, we should probably prepare the filling first. Things like cutting and steaming the potato, seasoning...
Here─ [ A knife is pushed towards him slowly. Will she regret this? ] The potato needs to be cut into bite size pieces. Could you do that while I work on the onions and seasoning the meat? I know you're capable of using sharp objects... [ Shouldn't have said that THEIR DUEL
Meanwhile she's going to search around for a saucepan, muffled banging around coming from a cupboard and a muted mutter of "ow" when one lands on her fingers. ]