abraxaslogs | It's not a real party until something's broken! (Open/Closed Prompts)

Bay had conquered a large section of the kitchens, like she does on the regular. She had specs of flour on her cheek as she worked on something she missed from home but had yet to make here. Not sure why she waited so long on this, but now she was doing it.

Sauce, cheese, and toppings waited for her as she kneaded dough, rolling and squishing and spinning and flattening it into the shape she wanted. Slightly seasoned tomato sauce poured on next. Followed by a layer of shredded cheeses, a mix of two different kinds that felt they’d give her the consistency she wanted. Then small chunks of white meat, ending with finely chopped spinach (or what passed as spinach like here) for the final toppings.

She carefully put her creation into the oven and let the device do it’s job, and she waited.

[Kell doesn't wander into Castle's kitchen too often. Or rather, it would be closer to the truth to say almost never. It's been over a year, but he still holds a grudge over getting bitten by those stupid rabbits.

When he does venture there, it's strictly on Rhy's welcome party business. But he's been restless recently so somehow, against his own overt intentions, he does end near the kitchens. Surprised by the smell coming from one of the large, bread ovens, and even more when he finds out a familiar face there, but not the one he expected. Surprised enough to make him come inside and wave to Bay to get her attention.]

Is that a pizza?

[Bay quickly smiles when she finds a familiar face waving for her attention. She's not super worried about ruining the pizza as it cooks, her understanding of what she knows a lot better than her first arrival.]

Yes. I think it's my dad's recipe? Trying to work out what I want when I'm nostalgic for foods I've never had is still weird.

[Her mind just kind of dropped a bunch of flavors and sensations in her lap and said 'turn this into a pizza.' Which she knew she could do, what it needed, and more or less the measures of each ingredient. Which she had to provide through what existed in Thorne.]

Is there a chance you'd share?

I know a guy here in Thorne that makes it, but only him I always assumed it was something from his home.

[Look, pizza is undeniably one of the greatest inventions of humanity, and yet it did not exist in Arnes. Kell will remain grateful to Dante for introducing him to it here. But he pays attention, he noticed how she phrased her explanation.]

I bet it is. Weird, I mean. How did you figure out it was pizza?

I could be persuaded.

[That's definitely a yes, but she does feel a little thrill teasing it might be no.]

A lot of us come from similar enough worlds, I'm not the only on who knows what pizza is. But I've never seen anyone in here baking pies.

[Honestly apple pie is not nearly as American as pizza pies and she will die on this hill!]

I put together what flavors it was, and then kind of used that to work out what the ingredients were. And it just- made sense to make them a pizza? Plus I think this is the longest I've gone without having pizza in my entire life.

I what it would take to make my case with you?

[Look, two can play this game. Teasing was his and Rhy's favorite sport all their lives.]

Now you made me curious.

[Baked treats are nothing new to him, but the name is unfamiliar.]

What's a pie then?

[From the moment Dante had let them try his pizza, it's a sentiment Kell fully understands.]

Obviously, a tragedy that had to be rectified.

I think you should probably make an offer and I'll tell you higher or lower.

[Bay's poker face isn't the greatest, but she's excellent at presenting confidence through eye contact. ~~Because she has to.~~]

An older way to talk about pizza is 'pizza pie.' But if you need to know what pies are that is a topic for another day.

[Bay shifts her attention back to the oven and sniffs at the air. Oh yes, that's a scent connected to- a memory she doesn't have. But it feels like a memory of home, even if it isn't her home. The kitchen does have a giant wooden spatula, probably for bread, that she uses to get her pizza out and deposit it on a large serving tray for the moment to cool.]

Ah, you're a tough negotiator. How about I'll help you clean up afterwards?

[He'd probably offer anyway. There's always some mess involved in cooking, even more with baking. It's unavoidable, and Kell assumes that the kitchen staff let her use the place on condition that she'll leave it in the state that do not add to their workload.]

You find me at a loss. I am no culinary expert. It might be that I know what you're talking about, I'm just unfamiliar with the term.

[It's funny how little he ever had to think about food back home. There are so many little details like that he realizes only in their absence, or by the fact he suddenly has to pay attention to them or ask for them, now that he's not a prince of the realm.

Kell finds himself a tall stool to sit and observe as Bay takes out pizza out of the oven. Cooking is one of such details he never had to pay attention to. Not that he has much need to now. The Castle feeds them all. But it's moment like this that make him realize his experience is an exception more than a rule.]

That smells fantastic.

Hmm.

[She looks like she's sizing him up, considering the offer and if she can get more. This is play acting. She doesn't care, but the game seemed like fun.]

Deal.

[She quickly slices the pizza up with a knife, not the correct tool but what she has, and serves a plate to Kell quickly before taking her own.]

I was like you, in a different life. My mother cooked basically everything. So I never learned, mostly out of pride. And a little obstinance. I don't think I'm the one to teach you, but learning to cook isn't the worst use of time.

[She considers the variance between her two pasts, which are both her's. But hard to hold in her mind at once. The Kennishes wanted her to be like them, because they thought she was. And it never worked. And she was like them, in some ways. And so far removed in others.]

I'm glad I made it correctly, helps I've spent a while learning all the ingredients natural to Abraxas.

[Bay didn't provide utencils because it's pizza. She just picked up her slice and started eating. Like this was normal and the way of things (because it is).]

This is really good.

[Kell did not expect utensils because he's already been introduced to the etiquette of eating pizza. Or rather the lack of. Eating with your hands is part of the fun.]

I know a lot of alchemical ingredients, but I think I'd rather stay with tea and leave cooking to people who actually can cook.

[While it would probably be practical to learn, Kell likes the fact, he doesn't have to. Or well, rarely is in a situation where he'd need to. It's been once until now, and happily never think about it again.]

So, what are other things you'd like to make from home?

Adora's supposed to eat, Istredd and Rhy have made sure she's taking care of herself. She feels a little better, enough to actually go to the kitchens and try to figure out a combination of foods that taste good together.

When she sees Bay, there's a hint of a smile on her lips, waiting until she's away from the hot oven to carefully walk around so she's facing her. When she waves, it's not very energetic, but her eyes slide down to where she'd been preparing, and then back at her. Tapping her temple, she thinks.

What are you making?

Bay smiles, warmly at first. But the more she looks at Adora the more her look grows concerned. Aware there's something wrong, but not sure what it is right away. "Pizza. Bread with sauce, cheese, vegetables, and meat on top of it. Would you like to try some when it's done?"

Simple, mostly accurate, explanation of the dish. She knows Adora's experiences with food are less... nice, than what Bay is used to. So it helps to explain what she's doing.

That takes the thought out of having to figure out what to eat, and she nods. All of that sounds good, and why wouldn't it be fine together? She sits down, and doesn't say anything else for a few moments, but then she realizes she should probably show some gratitude.

Thanks, by the way. I'm still figuring out what tastes good together, but it's getting easier. This'll be my first pizza though.

"I apparently like to cook, I think." Fun of not fully knowing oneself, but slowly Bay is working out all of her... gaps, trying things, seeing what she feels. Bay keeps glancing back to check on Adora, her attention is on the oven mostly. "So I'm happy to make something if I'm in here."

It might just be the 'using the Network of it' but something feels off about all of this. Adora feels off. Which can wait until after she extricates her pizza from the oven. "Give it a moment to cool first," Bay quickly adds as she puts the pizza onto a serving plate she'd set out, then goes to collect two plates, a quick work since she's been using this kitchen long enough.

Using a knife instead of a pizza slicer to cut the pizza is weird, but no disaster occurs. She puts a plate with a slice in front of Adora while she sits with her plate and slice across from her. She did not provide utensils. And proceeds to just- pick up her slice and bite into it. Her turn to use the network as she chews. What's bothering you?

It takes energy and effort to open her mouth and talk, and so much of her energy was used up just making it to the kitchen. She watches Bay quietly, and really, this is the most telling sign that yes, something is amiss.

Putting her hand over the plate, she can feel the warmth radiating off the pizza and heeds Bay's advice for a few minutes, bending down to smell. It makes her mouth water, so that's a good sign. She has no problem using her hands either, so she'll do as Bay does. At the question, she chews on the inside of her bottom lip.

Catra left.

It's easier to not say that out loud, too.

It takes Bay a second to figure out why that matters as much as it does. She knew Catra from their few interactions, and she knew Adora. And she knew they were friends, but the context of it didn't quite land on her.

Possibly due to Catra avoiding her for a time because Bay knew something about Catra that was... Awkward. For Catra, Bay thought it was adorable and a little sad.

So she has to stop and look at Adora to finally get it. What she's seeing, how it works together. To find this pain's proper name. Such a double edged four letter word.

Love.

Bay puts down her pizza. Wipes her hand off awkkwardly on her apron, and steps over to put her hand on Adora's. "You'll see her again someday. Hold onto that."

It's not a real party until something's broken! (Open/Closed Prompts)

October | Castle Thorne's North Wing Kitchens (Open)

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