Soup's on, but who's cooking it?

[greatcleavage]

[After a productive day out in the fields earning money, Roy heads back down the streets of Mac Anu, his arms laden with sacks and piled high with -- groceries. Did he really expect to eat them all by himself? Of course not -- he had guild members to feed!]

[But the fighter Edge Punisher had a faint frown on his face as he made his way carefully to the @Home...]

I hope someone can figure out some way to cook all of this...

Comments

[greatcleavage]

[Roy falls silent, struck with the profound insight that he knows very little about Shinon after all. Her quiet and distant demeanor just naturally makes him assume she doesn't have many friends, and it's never occurred to him that she might have people she's missing in turn.]

You're right. I'm sorry, I was being selfish, just thinking about who I was missing.

[tank_sniper]

[She gives him a slightly puzzled expression.]

What's there to apologize for? It's better if the others aren't here anyway. It means they aren't trapped.

[greatcleavage]

But you have to be missing your friends, even given that.

[tank_sniper]

[There's a pause before she speaks.]

That's why I have to find a way out.

[greatcleavage]

Well...

I still don't agree with your perception of our situation. But that doesn't mean I won't help you look for one.

[tank_sniper]

[That gets a small look of surprise.]

...You will?

[greatcleavage]

Of course I will. I could be wrong, there might be a way back for you. I'm not going to not help a friend just because I might be proven wrong by doing so.

[tank_sniper]

[Oh. Well then.]

...Thanks.

[greatcleavage]

You'd do the same for me.

[He just grins, cheerfully.]

[tank_sniper]

[There's yet another pause. Would she really?]

...If I could, probably.

[greatcleavage]

[Yes, you would, Shinon, even if you won't commit to it in words. Closed-off as you are, Roy believes he has a measure of your loyalty.]

But until the opportunity comes up, we have some cooking to do!

[tank_sniper]

Mm. Right.

I can show you as I cook and write down the instructions afterwards. Will that work?

[greatcleavage]

Your guess is as good as mine. Normally if I wanted to improve my cooking skills, I'd go out and earn some XP in a dungeon.

[tank_sniper]

If that turns out to be the case, we'll both have to do some level grinding.

[greatcleavage]

It's not a very flattering statement about my life choices that I consider that both reasonable and substantially easier than actually learning to cook, is it.

[tank_sniper]

It's really not that hard, you know.

[greatcleavage]

It can't be, or else the human race would have starved to death, but... Combat and tactics? That I understand.

Skills and Powers, on the other hand, I'll never comprehend how that got released.

[tank_sniper]

It's all formulaic. If you follow the instructions, there shouldn't be any problems. Think you can do that at least?

[greatcleavage]

[There's something of a mental ping as it falls into place and Roy looks up, brightly.]

THAT'S what bothers me about it!

Sure, of course I can handle it. Now that I know why that's been nagging at me I feel a lot more confident suddenly.

[tank_sniper]

...What, because it's formulaic?

[greatcleavage]

Precisely, and in that one respect it resembles wizardry enough that I was unconsciously associating the one with the other.

Now that I realize it, I recognize that's silly and I can put it aside.

[tank_sniper]

You really hate wizardry that much?

[greatcleavage]

Oh, don't misunderstand me, I don't hate wizardry itself. But it IS a path I've explicitly and repeatedly rejected. Despite certain pressures on me to do so, I have absolutely no desire to learn it.

[tank_sniper]

[She considers this a moment before shrugging.]

As long as it doesn't impede you, I guess.

[And they have probably reached the kitchen by now.]

So, ready to start?

[greatcleavage]

Yes!

[From a side cabinet, Roy produces -- a large chef's hat, which he promptly dons. It looks fairly comical, to be honest.]