✿ 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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Not much of a cook Bolin?
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Whoa! What gives you that idea? I actually can cook! [ He'd never had anyone but Mako to cool for him for most of his life, and his brother could get busy so Bolin learned to cook for himself. ] But I can't make fancy cakes and pastries...
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[A beat. And:] If you wanted to grab some right now, I'm not about to stop you.
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But he does expend a lot of energy. Though Bolin is fairly carefree and easy going, he works his body quite hard. It had been made very clear to him when he'd arrived here that he wouldn't survive otherwise, after being stripped of his bending.
And a pastry certainly would be nice, but he gives Caren a look. ]
Yeah? Are you trying to get rid of me?
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[He's a growing boy! And one that's very well muscled. Muscles that would mean that he would need to eat more, and more often. Really, he's right: he would have been better off as a tank position, unlike her. But she also knows that she won't cringe and step away when it comes to the hits.
Caren gives him a look back.]
If I was, I would have done so already. Just bring the food back.
caren looks like such a mean girl in that icon
Not even bother with the pretence of a napkin, he grabs a full plate or morsels before walking back to Caren. ]
Here.
[ A total gentleman, he offers the plate to Caren first. ]
clearly someone didn't wear pink that day
But she doesn't. She just uses a bit of her shawl as a bookmark, before setting it beside her.]
No, thank you. Go ahead.
[She waves him off politely, motioning for him to eat. He's a gentleman, but she's being weird about the food. She might grab some punch or water later.]
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[ He looks a little puzzled, but doesn't fight her on it, instead helping himself to one of small, savoury pies. ]
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[She raises her eyebrows.]
Consider it an empathic overture.
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[ He's all jolly good demeanour as he addresses her, brimming with contentment.
Of course, he is. He's in a warm home, surrounded by people that he likes, sampling great food. His mood is ridiculously cheerful. ]
So you do like me? [ Staring right at her. ] Are we friends?
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She huffs softly, before leaning back a little.]
What do you think we are Bolin?
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Maybe, co-workers? [ Of the army type, like his friends back in Kuvira's army.
But that's not all, and he juts out a hand, fingers held straight a karate chop going forward. ]
On the way to becoming friends.
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It may be accurate. Though you don't want to be a friend like myself. That's treacherous.
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[She eyes his plate for a moment. It would have been a pity if she knocked it over but...no. She wouldn't get much from it. The consequences weren't worthwhile.]
At least, no more than I have with telling you about myself. I might have killed any crush you were forming. Pity.
1/2 thanks caren
What? What—no.
[ Great. ]
No, that wouldn't. What?
2/2
I didn't have a crush on you. I thought maybe... you were hot... [ WHICH SOUNDS AWFUL but c'est la vie. ] I mean! You still are. But I couldn't feel attracted to you after what you said about sex, it made me feel guilty.
[ Then, composure fully regained, he rolls his eyes. ]
I don't think you're an awful person, c'mon.
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Well, I am hot.
[She normally wouldn't have put it like that, but WHATEVER. She knows this, other people know this, it's pretty much a given.]
Like I said, I haven't been that awful around you, not yet. Though...you know, I am capable of enjoying it.
[Her smile widens slightly.]
Did you want to see how much?
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Then, he realises she's talking about sex. He raises an eyebrow. ]
I dunno, do you want to be my girlfriend?
[ He knows for a fact that she doesn't, which is why he can ask so easily. She'd already told explained to him the unlikelihood of her entering a relationship, and he hasn't forgotten, nor is he interested in changing her mind. It's just a way to answer her question while explaining his opinion on the matter: even if he found her attractive, he's not interested in casual sex. ]
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It would be fun to torment you daily.
[She muses this, as if actually considering the matter. Thankfully for them both, she shakes her head.]
No. Too bad. I could have gotten you a customized collar and a leash. It would have been fun.
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I'll pass. I've already been there and done that with one of my exes.
[ Though to be fair, proposal necklaces are a real thing in the Water Tribes, but the one he'd received from Eska had really felt more like a collar than a proposal.
He shakes his head, determined to put that in the past. ]
We should focus on our friendship.
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[Is she making fun of him again? Yeah, she's totally making fun of him again. Sorry Bolin, Caren can't help herself.
Or she can, but this is too much fun.]
But, very well. We'll focus on what we have instead of fantasies.
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It's all in good fun anyway. ]
Yeah. [ But they're talking about friendship. ] So, what's your favourite colour? What position do you sleep in? If you could pick one animal to start talking like a human which one would you pick!
[ These questions are exciting. ]
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Give her a second.]
You're a strange man.
[But what the heck.]
Silver or red, on my back, and I have no idea. I've never given that one any due consideration.
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I'd probably say a bird or something. [ In response to that last question. ] Something that would make a good spy.
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