[Open] The Mapo Tofu affair

[showsnopiety]

Who: Everyone! If you can smell it, you can find it!
When: 6/8-610
Where: Hall of Glory Parlour in Caissa
What: Caren found out she can make mapo tofu and is sharing with everyone. Heaven help us all.
Rating: So far none but will change when things happen.





THe Halls of Glory smell a little different today. Instead of the usual fare that the others might know from the weekly menu, there's a different scent. Something that may remind heroes of Airy, Ma Jiang dishes, or maybe, more simply, of home.

This was the result of Caren's cooking and some hunting on her part. And the results may be quite appealing. There are pots of rice, still steaming, and various bowls filled with the result known as mapo tofu. Some of them are spicer then others, and she hasn't seen fit to label which are very spicy, and which are quite mild. The only thing she has labelled, with a rim of green around the bowls, are the vegan variations, for those who can't, or do not, eat meat or meat by products.

Consider it a game of spice roulette. Because there are other bowls as well, with crushed cucumber-hot pepper salad, spicy tofu, and something that has spewed spinach and garlicy noodles within. But hey! You may be able to cool off with one of the pots of tea around the place-or with one of the rare tubs of ice cream of various flavors, kept chilled with an icy spell.

The cutlery and bowls are disposable, and there are trashbags to clean up after yourself. She's not going to do it for you!

But hey. Who can say no to free food?

Comments

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh doesn't mind that, necessarily... more information meant more insight on just who and what she was, absent the awkwardness of asking himself. Or, rather, absent the loss of dignity and certain hit to the ego he'd incur from doing so. By offering it freely, he's able to digest it on his own terms, nodding along.]

Still, you seem a bit helpless. You're quite a scrawny creature, so without my aid, you surely would've perished.

[It isn't disparaging. Not necessarily. It's more that he's observing she must've come from a dangerous world to face such foes—and must've been rather convincing if she managed to make him follow her all along the way. For what reason, he wonders? He suspects a Command Seal or two must've been involved, but beyond that...

Well, even if she was helpless, she's indeed a survivalist. And that's something to admire, even in a mongrel.]

Do not worry over it. You are simply experiencing the pains of life. It is certainly preferable to the alternative.

[To endless death, or the eternal embrace of the Throne, or a lonely sea of infinite ones and zeroes.]

[sealeted]

Mhm.

[Are her eyes drooping, or was that just a slow, lazy blink?]

No, that much is for sure. I'm lucky you were so bored, or you probably wouldn't have agreed to let me be the one to decide whether or not our contract would dissolve before we got back to the Near Side.

[That means nothing to him, she remembers belatedly. He doesn't know the first thing about the Moon Cell.]

I had the chance to, once, you know.

[Why is she still talking? Is this some sinister after-effect of over-eating in a mortal coil? It's not as though she wants to confide in him, after all...]

BB straight up offered to send everybody back to our normal War if I did. But I didn't.

[babbylon]

You wished to stay.

[No, Gilgamesh didn't have all the information. He was all-seeing and all-knowing, but that didn't mean he had full access to every timeline, to every possibility; his visions of the future were ever vague, intangible at best. So the world she's describing was very far away to him, beyond even his capacity to grasp.

But he grasps just enough to arrive at one conclusion.]

You wished to stay with me.

[Did I wish to stay with her, as well...? That goes too far, so he doesn't suggest it.]

[sealeted]

[She chokes on the breath she just took in, fighting against the wild, insane urge to laugh in his face. It almost hurts, she tries so hard, but she manages to keep it together.]

At that point? No way. Leaving was what we all wanted, more than anything. Even if death was the only thing that awaited me on the Near Side since I didn't have any Command Seals left, I wanted that too.

[She shakes her head, a wry grin tugging at her lips.]

He didn't understand why I chose that either, at that time. He found my answer pretty funny, though.

[babbylon]

[Red floods his face before he can suppress it, and Gilgamesh whips his head away, clearly embarrassed to be caught in such a misstep.]

I dislike your use of "we", as if our wants could be one in the same. Do not imply such familiarity again.

[But maybe he'd been guilty of the same just now. How was he to know what took place and what didn't? This girl was a mystery him. She was too bold, but in the same breath, she seemed a little too adept at navigating around him. As if she really did understand his tastes. He dislikes that, too.

Mostly, as with Caren, he dislikes the idea of coming to trust someone that closely and failing to remember how it happened.]

Thinking it over, I dislike everything about you. What you tell me, of these adventures, strikes me as more impossible by the minute.

[sealeted]

I wasn't, actually. "We" referred to all of the surviving Masters on the Far Side.

[It's difficult, like only having half a conversation, because he just doesn't have the right context. And... for some reason, it feels like a defeat if she gives him too much information at once. As though she'd come off as desperate to have his regard, or something.]

I suppose it should have been impossible. I mean, he was never meant to wake up. I was never meant to become a Master, let alone win the Grail War. The Grail was stolen before we were ever taken from the Near Side. It should have been impossible for me to escape deletion at the end.

[The look in her eyes is fond and far away, but then she blinks and it's calm and unreadable again.]

I told you before, I don't have any expectations of you. If you want to dislike me, disregard me, disdain me, that's fine.

[It isn't completely fine, not really, but she can pretend it is.]

[babbylon]

[It is difficult. Too difficult, and therefore too taxing to waste much more thought on for the moment. Another time, maybe, when Hakuno wasn't currently hunched over and fighting the urge to hurl. At least Gilgamesh doesn't appear angry. More perplexed, than anything else, and the slightest bit frustrated at himself for failing to comprehend. And he did recognize, did take some ownership, that eventually he would need to meet her halfway in order to understand.

Eventually. But not now.

Without another word, Gilgamesh reaches over to Hakuno. It's a little unclear what he intends, at first. As a Pawn, she's all too breakable for a ranked Hero such as himself. Queens weren't known for their strength, but he could still hurt her, especially in this state, with ease. He even considers it, briefly, just for fun.

Instead, he places that hand on her stomach. A warm glow emits from it. And healing magic flows from his fingers, sinks into her flesh, and will have her feeling better in no time at all. His features remain stern throughout, as if the very act of doing all this placed a great burden on him. It might have, but it's unlikely.]

[sealeted]

[Her stomach jumps under his fingers—new nerves, apparently she's ticklish, now—but she doesn't jerk away or flinch. It isn't her Gilgamesh, there's no guarantee he won't harm her. Hell, there was no guarantee her own Gilgamesh wouldn't harm her.

Still, she trusts him. Damn it all, she shouldn't, but she does. At this point, it comes as naturally as blinking or breathing.

She lets her eyes fall shut and rests her head against the wall, frowning faintly as the warmth flows through her and melts away the discomfort. She's not sure if what it leaves behind is better or worse. When she speaks, maybe because she doesn't have to look at him, her voice is a little softer and even a bit wistful.]

...I wish he had a skill like this, back then. Once, when something left me reeling and in a bad way, he told me that if it was going to end there, it should only be by choking the life out of me with his own hands.

[It certainly woke her up lickety-split, but this is nicer.]

[babbylon]

You were deceived. I would not even waste the effort.

[Not unless... no, he doesn't want to think about that, either. He doesn't want to think about this at all, having yet another woman in his life who knew him at a level he apparently didn't even know himself. But he's stuck with her. Even if she says he's free to disregard her, he doesn't doubt their paths will cross time and time again. Best they make the best of it, or else figure out how.

Hakuno has done more than enough talking—her voice was kind of annoying, actually, add that to the list of things he doesn't like—so Gilgamesh takes over.]

Have you met Adrasteius? We occupy a residence together, some distance away from here.

[Hesitating. Should he extend the offer, or...?]

You may visit, if you wish. I could use a "guinea pig" for a few of my side projects.

[sealeted]

Waste the effort, huh?

[Her lips curl, briefly, because after her talk with Caren Hakuno has connected a few dots that she honestly should have before that point. Gilgamesh wasted a hell of a lot more than a scant few minutes of throttling on her behalf. But for now, that's just something for Hakuno to lock quietly in her heart to tide her over until they get past this part of their acquaintanceship.]

Yes, Sensei's going to teach me how to heal.

[And maybe cook, but she hasn't asked him about that part yet.]

...you aren't going to try and matchmake me, are you?

[babbylon]

So you found out about that.

[Gilgamesh breaks into an easier grin, at once more casual and relaxed. He doesn't look at all ashamed, because shame just wasn't in his capacity generally speaking, but he looks... sillier, sort of. More like a boy than the wise ancient, more like a young man Hakuno's age than a Servant that towered above all the rest.]

And why shouldn't I pursue such an enterprise? I am well-suited for it, you must admit.

[Gilgamesh gives her a nudge with an elbow, wiggling his eyebrows.]

And Adra makes all sorts of delicious cakes for us! He's truly an incredible individual; you should endeavor to be more like him.

[sealeted]

Yeah. A really nice woman named Vietnam and I talked about all sorts of things.

[It's strange, but it sets him a little further apart from the Gilgamesh she fought with. It makes it easier to look at him and smile back, even if something sad and a little cold twists in her belly despite his recent ministrations.]

Well, you certainly can be convincing, when you have a mind to be.

[She cants her head to one side, as if trying to hide the way her eyes glimmer—eagerly, almost hungrily—at that last sentence of his.]

I'm... certainly going to try. There's so much to do here; all sorts of hobbies, and foods, and places. things that the Moon Cell never recorded, or that I never had the time to try. I want to heal, and cook, and Vietnam is going to teach me how to sew. I have a bow I need to learn how to use, and... and a pet to take care of. I like this world.

[babbylon]

[Positively crowing:]

WAHAHAHAHA! You two must've been like gossiping harpies over me. I don't trust that Sen one bit.

[However, his adulating tone makes it apparent he's actually quite fond of her. And Adrasteius, as well. Like Hakuno, Gilgamesh didn't have much in the way of family himself—no mother to love him, no father to aspire to—so he could only ever rely on his relationships with others, which were difficult, few and far between.

But something about this world had him more open, more honest, more affectionate. It had been a nice change, if one he still denied in part on account of pride.]

Aren't you energetic? As to be expected of a rodent, rushing about. But if you are very good, I will show you a few tricks with that bow.

[It's all a rather long-winded way of saying I like this world, too, and maybe I could learn to like you.]

[sealeted]

Well, I guess we spoke about you a bit. She wanted to know about the 2030s and my world, too.

[She's not going to compulsively feed his ego, but she won't starve it entirely, either. But she's not going to mention the kindness, the coddling, or the offer of family; that's too new. Too personal. She wants to treasure it a little while longer before fully accepting it was actually extended to her.]

I suppose I'll have to be on my best behavior, then.

[...wait, shit, did she just give him loose, tacit approval for matchmaking—]

[babbylon]

Good.

[Wow, it's almost like he's approving of her or...]

I honestly would kill you otherwise.

[...nope.]

[sealeted]

About what I expected, yeah.

[Ah, nostalgia.

...she hasn't missed this at all, goddammit. Aren't the good old days supposed to be pine-worthy?]

You know, Caren gave me some advice, but I honestly can't imagine implementing it.

[babbylon]

[Man, that smug mood lift just instantly crashes to linefacing. Instantly.]

I would strongly urge against doing so, considering my suspicions what said advice entailed.

[sealeted]

Mm.

[Hakuno stretches casually, arms straight up as she takes a moment to enjoy not having what feels like a stomach full of lead.]

I can't begin to imagine you blushing from me yanking your tongue, let alone her other suggestions.

[babbylon]

Did she also suggest to you how she was howling like a whore in my embrace?

[Here's Gilgamesh. Here's Gilgamesh shamelessly discussing his sex life. Here's Hakuno trapped in the middle. Pity poor Hakuno.]

[sealeted]

The way she phrased it, she wasn't the howler.

[Gilgamesh, if you think that's enough to discomfit Hakuno, you've got another thing coming. She survived BB, and the Alter Egos, and even Kiara, okay, as long as she isn't literally trapped in the middle of his and Caren's sex life, she should be able to manage.]

[babbylon]

...!

[Well, that sure shut him up good. Enjoy your moment of victory over Gilgamesh, Hakuno, it is undeniably sweet. As even the great King of Heroes has found himself undeniably silenced by that unexpected bout of sass. Honestly, turning the conversation around like that was grounds enough to slay her on the spot.

However, she may have begun to seal her own fate by a different measure, because it was the sassy women that Gilgamesh favored the most.]

[sealeted]

[Holy shit, she shut up Gilgamesh.

Holy shit, she just shut up Gilgamesh.

For a moment, Hakuno just lets the amazing, hard-won feeling wash over her. Truly there was no triumph, no victory greater than moments like these, when the King of Heroes was at a loss for words. However, much like all the other times, she knows it won't last. But, damn it all, if it ends it ends on her terms.

Bracing herself for just about anything, Hakuno widens her doe eyes and turns to look at him in (apparently) earnest curiosity.]

You know, she mentioned something else too, just in passing. Something about high heels, and stepping on you...?

[babbylon]

DON'T GET ANY IDEAS!

[And that, quite frankly, settled that.]

[sealeted]

[It should have settled it.

It really, really should have. Hakuno bites her lip, struggling with all her might internally. Don't do it, she cautions herself. No matter how much you want to, just

don't

do

it—]

So I guess that means, even if I'm really, really, really good, you won't show me those bow tricks while you're wearing the maid costume I heard so much about?

[Welp.]

[babbylon]

Certainly not.

[That indignation fades entirely, replaced by something like... inordinate pride?]

You'd be far too distracted. The flawless legs of the King would blind a pitiful woman as nubile as you, and that is to say nothing for my stellar derrière.