026 [Video/Action for Cherrygrove PokéCenter]

[soggypastry]

[Hi, Johto. Hve you been enjoying your...odd weekend? Hopefully so, because it's about to get weirder. Enjoy your view of Lightning hunched over a stove in the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center, stirring something in a pot. It's an odd sight, both with her hair twisted up into a messy bun and the fact that she's...actually cooking. Anyone who knows her knows that's not a good sign. Especially when she's starting to look a little bit frazzled.]

No, no, no...come on. Don't you dare burn.

[Yes, she's talking to her pot of...something. Unfortunately, this doesn't help her with the cooking and it's with a rather frustrated sound that she takes that pot off the stove, camera tracking her movements while she places it in the sink before scrubbing her face, leaving smears of chocolate down her cheeks as she takes a breath to regain her composure. Is she giving up? Not on your life.

She's just turning back to the counter, where there's enough ingredients for one more try along with a recipe book she's looking back at.]

You could always help, you know.

[A startled "Pika!" and...end feed. Spark still enjoys being Camera-chu, it seems.]

Comments

[soggypastry]

[That...makes some sense. Kind of. It makes Lightning shake her head as she starts mixing things together, though. At least this she can manage.]

Easier to kill a Behemoth than do this stuff...

[Yes, she means that. Even after they had to run from several Behemoths or end up gutted and bleeding on the ground thanks to those stupid saw things. Give her a monster to kill and she's golden. Have her cook and you're smoked.]

[lif]

[ And the pot is on the stove and starting to heat. Fang grins at Lightning, only half-sympathetic with that comparison. ]

Bit simpler, I'll give ya that. But it ain't like you chose the easiest thing to make.

[soggypastry]

[Fang would have normally earned herself a look for that grin, but as it is, Lightning only shrugs a bit and continues to mix. She gets it, she gets it.]

Like I said, it's important. Nothing important is ever easy.

[Well. Other than some battles. But they were together with others in those so it's different.]

[lif]

[ She can't help herself. Lightning, the cool, competent soldier, is currently struggling trying to make chocolates for her boyfriend. It's sweet, and both totally like Lightning and completely different than anything Fang's seen from her before. ]

Course not. Still doesn't mean it's gotta be life or death.

[soggypastry]

[Well, this is what nearly a year and a half out of combat does to a girl. And falling in love helps, too, as do the good vibes. This is the Claire Lightning might have been, if life hadn't happened. Maybe.]

Maybe not, but it feels that way sometimes.

[lif]

[ Fang likes Lightning just the way she is, even including the times she's exasperating. ]

Relax, Light. The worst that happens is you burn it again. So what?

[soggypastry]

[That's good. Because Lightning likes Fang just the way she is, too. Teasing included.]

If I keep burning this stuff, I'll run out of time to get it right and--[full stop. siiigh.] It's just important I get it right today.

[lif]

[ She's curious about that pause, but she can fill in the blanks at least a bit. Oh well. Valentine's Day is still new enough to her that it doesn't seem like such a big deal, but obviously Lightning's taking it as such. ]

Moment of truth then - water's ready when you are.

[soggypastry]

[It's a big deal to Lightning because she's got a boyfriend who she needs to kind of sort of apologize to and that's what this is for since she's terrible with words and--ready when she is? Good. Down goes the bowl onto the pot, which Lightning will be watching like a hawk.

Yes, she's treating this almost like a combat situation. Go ahead and laugh, Fang.]

[lif]

[ To (perhaps) her credit, Fang is biting the inside of her cheek in order not to laugh. As funny as the scene is, if it's so important to Lightning Fang should at least try to respect that. ]

Remember to stir it - don't let anything just sit at the bottom of the bowl.

[soggypastry]

[Lightning is grateful that there's no laughter for the moment, because it means she can focus on what she's doing. That is, following Fang's advice and making sure to keep stirring, even as she reaches back to check the recipe book again. It would probably be best if she's not allowed to reach that; multitasking in combat is one thing. She's good at that. While cooking? Not so much.]

[lif]

[ Yeah, Fang realizes the problem, scooping up the book and leaning against the counter near the stove. She's just within arm's reach, but considering the way she's currently looking at the recipe, the page is probably hidden from Lightning. ]

Focus. Ya can't let it get burned again, right?

[soggypastry]

[The page is indeed hidden from Lightning's sight, and this causes her to shake her head before she turns back to the chocolate. Focus, huh? Not hard, since it's practically done already.]

Then you're going to have to tell me what to do once it's melted.

[lif]

Assuming you're makin' these hearts, usually you pour the chocolate into the molds next.

[soggypastry]

[Nod. That would the logical next step, after all. Still, Fang might want to move back a bit; the mold is on the counter behind Lightning and that's one very hot pot on the move to get the chocolate where it should be, and burns do still suck.]

I think we both know by now that usually doesn't mean always, Fang.

[lif]

[ She's moving, she's moving. Plus Lightning would probably kill her for ruining the last batch. Injury to injury. ]

Fine, the book says it's the next step. Better?

[soggypastry]

[Have a small smile, Fang. Much better indeed. Still, once the chocolate's in the mold and in the fridge, that smile's getting just a hint wider...and yes, that is gratitude in her eyes.]

Thanks. For helping out.

[lif]

[ As much as Fang's laughed through this, and as much as she likes teasing, it's hard not to respond to that smile. It's not often that Lightning shows this side, at least not to her, and so for once the teasing answer doesn't even cross her mind. ]

You're welcome, not that I did anything. Ya just needed the right pot.

[soggypastry]

[A shrug, and the smile's gone from her face as she starts to clean up. Pots and pans and stuff.]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean you had to help me with it. Could have just told me which pot to use and left.

[lif]

[ There's a quiet, amused sound as she shakes her head. ]

You really think I'd do anything different? Just for that I'm stickin' ya with all the clean up.

[soggypastry]

[A quietly amused sound that earns her a half-smirk. Leaving her with all the clean-up? Nothing really new there.]

Be glad you didn't end up with chocolate on your face, then. You wouldn't want me to have to clean that, I'm sure.

[lif]

Now you got me all curious. Any of that burnt chocolate left?

And after I was all nice about it with you.

[soggypastry]

Only if you want to go digging through the pipes.

[Or perhaps Lady Luck does smile upon Fang even after all this time. There's a pot still on the counter by the sink. It does have some chocolate left on it, amazingly. She might want to grab that before Lightning can.]

[lif]

[ She'll do just that, then. After running her finger around the pot, aiming for the less burned chocolate, Fang pauses, considering mischief. But no, Lady Luck must still like her: no matter how good a mood she's in or how relaxed Lightning seems, she can tell it's not a good idea. Vanille pouts but takes things in good humor; Lightning doesn't.

So Fang just tastes the chocolate instead. ]

Pretty good once you get past the burnt taste, and I don't even like sweets.

[soggypastry]

[Then Lady Luck shines on them both; if Fang had decided to make mischief, Lightning would have done something that involves the soapy water she's elbow deep in. Hard to say how that would have gone.]

I'll remember that the next time I make something for you, then.

[Fang, be afraid. Be very afraid. Letting this woman into the kitchen is a bad idea.]