Need to talk privately with Cilan? Send him a message via the crystal or carrier pigeon? Want to meet with him without posting a log for it? Here's the place to do it!
Well, thank you Red, I really appreciate hearing that.
[...And now he seems to suddenly turn his attention back towards the apples--or rather, the ones that Pansage is reaching out to grab after having already sneakily stuffed one into his mouth.]
Now, now, Pansage, we have to try to save some of those if we're going to use them for an apple pie... ah, speaking of which--[clapping his hands together as his focuses on Red again]--would you be interested in helping us with that? It would be a perfect opportunity to learn more about baking and desserts, don't you think?
[In fact, come to think of it, didn't he promise to do some cooking with you sometime? (...A promise that was made right before that thing that happened during Sosyne's attack, but let's not point out that latter detail, okay.)]
[Well, it wasn't exactly about you learning to cook solely for yourself, but...]
Yes, we've talked about it before... I said that it would be nice to find something that would have a fun taste when prepared with friends, if I recall correctly.
[And here, he holds up an apple.]
And I think this would be one such dessert that, while it does require some care and attention to details, I'm sure would be enjoyable for you to learn how to bake, if you'd like to that is.
[Red doesn't have to take part in this if he doesn't want to, but the offer is there all the same.]
[ There's a small part of his brain second-guessing what he thought to be Cilan as the older boy speaks, but there's no other time coming to mind, not including the line of thought he shares. Food with friends...?
On the other hand, that sounded exactly like the pancake thing. Which, either way, Red's looking from the apple to Pansage, then elsewhere when he doesn't want to watch any eyes of him. His lips part... ]
I... Sure! [ That went from 2 to 10. Just, one thing: ] Can you give me a sec?
[ He tips his head to the company curled up beside him, implying he'd like to deal with them first. There's a dark corner of the apartment just for them, much better than hanging around in his bag all day (which Red will need to find a bigger home for him soon. ...or just get him used to walking with him. ]
[If Cilan notices Red odd few seconds of hesitation there, he certainly doesn't comment on it.]
Oh, yes, of course! Please, take as much time as you need.
[You go take care of your centipede friend! Cilan's just going to check to make sure they've got the ingredients they need here for the pie, as well as getting out whatever equipment they'll need for preparing it.
...They haven't even started doing anything yet and Cilan is already sparkling with excitement as he gets everything ready, calm down son.]
[ Little 'pede guy needs little encouragement to unravel from his sulking state, which is less encouragement and more just the natural response to being picked up into arms without proper warning. But Red makes it a short trip from the couch and over to the spot he sleeps, kneeling down and leaving the slices of apple under the table that makes the roof of his own little room, the creature quick to scurry under with little whistling squeals. Seemingly content with that (as far as Red can tell), Red picks himself back up, finding Cilan already off in his world as he slowly makes his way over.
That guy has given the kitchen area more love than Red could ever in a lifetime or two. ]
So what do we do? [ We, right. There is a we in this, though Red doesn't know if it's truly safe to approach Cilan's spreading bubble of energy, or if he's really necessary to this. This is like seeing his mother bake... where are the videogames to play. ] Do you need to cut the apples? I can do that.
[Cilan is giving this kitchen the love that it has been neglected of for far too long. It's okay now, Red's kitchen, there is someone here now to offer the love that you deserve.]
Yes, we'll need to peel and cut the apples for our pie... but first--[And here, he points to the sink.]
You'll need to wash your hands first before we start doing anything. It's the very first and most important rule when it comes to maintaining proper hygiene in the kitchen, so once you've done that, then we'll rinse the apples and get started on peeling and cutting them.
[...So yeah, this is a little like dealing with your mother in the kitchen at first, sorry about that.]
[ Please stop flirting with the kitchen over there. ]
Oh-- sure, okay. [ That sounds reasonable, and completely like something Red would have skipped out on if not told. He's heading over to to the sink and turning it on to stick his hands under, though wondering at the same time: ] Why do we have to rinse the apples? They're not dirty. [ are they??? ] Aren't they going to be harder to peel that way? Why don't we leave the skin on?
[ Cilan what is this hassle, also this is why he told to play his games and not help with the cooking. ]
It's important to rinse fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking with them--like one's hands, we want to prevent the spread of bacteria, as well as the threat of contaminating the inner flesh with dirt or wax from the outside of the apple.
[To demonstrate, once Red moves aside after washing his hands, Cilan will start rinsing these apples under the water as he continues speaking.]
When baking pies with fruit in them, essentially you want to make a loose jam inside the crust, something that will remain firm and cohesive without resisting a fork or getting stuck in one's teeth. Apple skins can be detrimental to that, as they will prevent the apple pieces from melding neatly together with the other pieces inside.
But, not to worry, we can use the skins for something else, so they won't go to waste.
[The apples are rinsed and placed on the counter, along with a container to place the skins in. He holds up an apple and a knife and proceeds to peel it, somehow managing to get the skin off in one fluid strip because of course Cilan would show off a little here before discarding the peeled skin into the container provided. He then holds out another apple and the knife for Red to take.]
Alright, go ahead and take care of this one--be careful though, this knife has a pretty sharp edge to it.
[Red does already know how to peel an apple, right?]
Red has never peeled a fruit in his life. Slicing? Easy as pie-- actually no scratch that, if this is all the hassle that one has to go through to make a pie. Turning the apples into a loose jam? Were they going to have to mash them up like potatoes next?? Didn't you 'meld' metal???
Most of what Cilan says gets processed as one big 'okay, just do the thing' where Red doesn't question it any further (hey it probably sounds like sense--it sounds all technically correct, or something), withdrawing his wet hands from the sink to watch Cilan, which is the easiest of what he explains to follow. It's like a knife through soft butter, and though he hadn't tasted the fruit himself, he thought it was harder than that, was to cut through just moments ago. But he takes the knife and the fresh fruit, shifting it in his grip with a hum of acknowledgement. He'll be careful. ]
[ That's why the knife goes through a chunk of the apple and then catches into the edge of his palm, and both go clattering down with drops of his blood smeared along the steel. ]
Shiiiiiiit--damnit! [ He's hissing, moving back, pulling the hand close and face wincing as the pain shoots up with the gathering blood. It's the sleeves of the jacket he still wears that's kept his actual arms safe, but there's no worrying about that, ow ow ow-- ]
At first, Cilan almost doesn't automatically register that Red's accidentally cut his hand open--his first instinct is a twinge of displeasure at Red's swearing here, even opening his mouth to say something until he notices the blood...
There's a slight chill of fear that clings to the air momentarily, a second of freezing up at the sight of something that's making him think of the last time he saw someone else's--no, Red's blood, but thankfully Cilan seems to snap out of it quickly enough.]
...Ah! Hang on, don't move--[Red is probably too focused on his injury to notice Cilan walking away; there's the sound of running water in the background for a second, before Cilan is suddenly coming back over, grabbing Red's hand and pressing a wet cloth against the edge of his palm where the cut is.]
Here, hold this against your hand for a moment, okay? [He waits until Red's taken the cloth from him before he reaches down to pick up the knife and apple that clattered to the floor as he speaks.] This is quite an unfortunate taste... are you alright, Red?
[ He sips in the air between his teeth at the first touch of the cloth, then presses his lips down even harder as he applies the pressure over the cut himself. But Red nods to the question, a quick bob of his head, after his feet has moved back to give Cilan the space when he crouches. ] 'm fine.
[ It's cold, from the back of his arms down, though where alarms are going off in his body, it doesn't really dull the pain shooting and surrounding the cut. Good job there, great job--does Cilan mind if we just rest ourselves against the back of the couch, because there's a small pacing in the space Red occupies before he goes to do just that, keeping his hand up in front of a head slightly bowed. ]
I should've wiped my hands. [ His fault, there. He says it just to say something, to point it out, and not let it be any more awkward than him so soon ruining their plans with too much silence. Our bad, Cilan. ]
Oh, no, you didn't do anything wrong here! [Cilan's very quick to try to wave that away--it's not your fault, Red!] To be honest, I probably should have given a proper explanation in order to go along with our demonstration of the technique...
[Figures that the one time Cilan doesn't go into giving a paragraph of a speech, it probably could have been of help!]
So please, don't blame yourself--accidents happen sometimes, especially when you are first starting out: I can't tell you the number of times my brothers and I would cut ourselves or nearly burn our hands on the stove when we were learning how to cook in the beginning...
[...Chili in particular seemed to get burned a lot in comparison to Cilan and Cress, but that was probably due to his brother's fiery attitude in general...]
[ His mouth pulls at the corners at that all, a small thanks for the attempt of all that and not to be entirely unresponsive, and his face winces again quietly when he double guesses the pressure he's applying over the open cut. ugh-
But, well, now what. He looks back over to Cilan, then to the apples and the kitchen counter. ]
Did you still want me to help? [ Though--he laughs, short and mirthlessly. ] I guess I can't do anything until this stops bleeding...
[ And it doesn't even seem like Cilan's using a cookbook for the recipe. The cookbook is probably his head. ]
Oh, of course I still want you to help! We just have to rinse and bandage your hand here, and then everything should be fine!
[In the meantime, Cilan's getting out a new knife to peel with since the other one needs to be cleaned, and... err, well, considering this apple has blood on it and has some ice clinging to it, we'll probably just pitch it and focus on peeling the other apples instead, which Cilan will now begin to do himself as he speaks.]
Once these apples have been peeled and chopped, we're going to put them in a bowl and mix them together with some other ingredients I've got sitting over here. [Ingredients that Cilan certainly had to have bought and brought here himself... in addition to odd choices in clothing (...and even though I completely forgot to make a note of it, Cilan did take off that ridiculous cape and mask before he started working in the kitchen, Pansage went off somewhere with them), for some reason Cilan felt the other thing worth making sure to bring with us when staying over here was the contents of his kitchen...]
After that, the filling will have been taken care of, which brings us one step closer to reaching our goal of baking the perfect apple pie!
[After that they'll just have to do the outer shell, dump the filling inside, bake it and voila, there will be dessert.]
[ No, we are dealing with a Masked Cook now. No retconning!!
Red wasn't about to have any complaints about what Cilan wanted to put in the kitchen, or anywhere else, as long as it wasn't a meat grinder and other such... devices. For all the boy could know, the older one spent his time making confetti bombs.
(do you make confetti bombs, cilan.)
But Cilan makes it easy to dismiss the accident as nothing more than a blip, though the aching from the cut denies Red that luxury in its fullest. It's nice though, in its own way, to focus on the easy way that the blade goes around the fruit in Cilan's hands, listening to him speak.
The guy was in his zone. It's obvious. ]
You really are a connoisseur of a lot, huh? [ Movies, pokémon, baking... ] How do you do it?
Also don't even suggest something like that about confetti bombs, for all you know Cilan could end up causing an emotion effect where confetti suddenly explodes or rains down from nowhere.
Not that it matters, because Cilan's so far in his zone that he almost missed Red's question.]
Well, you peel the apple by slipping the sharp edge of the knife under the skin, near the stem of the apple. Then, you rotate the knife around, gradually sliding the knife downward so that, if done with proper care, the peel should come off in one long strip....
[...Wait, you meant "how does he manage to be a connoisseur of a million things" didn't you. Uh, give him a moment here before he responds.]
A lot of my time back home is devoted to the gym, or waiting tables for our restaurant patrons, but even so, I still try to find time to spare so that I can expand my knowledge as a connoisseur--not just with Pokemon, but with other subjects too. There are a lot of things in the world that I find interesting, so I try to learn as much as possible about them and what kind of taste they may have.
[It's hard to imagine how on earth Cilan manages to juggle what is essentially three jobs and yet still have time for hobbies, and yet, it seems perfectly simple to him: if he wants to become a connoisseur of something, he just does it.]
[ Cilan please. Red would have interrupted the guy during that if he hadn't done it himself once apparently realising the mistake, though the small sense of regret that comes doesn't leave entirely with the new answer. It was... a weird question, really, one that as Cilan finished, it was clear enough what made him do what he did. Because he wanted to. Red could have figured that one out for himself if he thought about it.
(But geez, he sure is a busy guy.)
He dabs the cloth and then removes it from over the cut, the stain of blood on his skin but the flow of it ending. Let's wait to make sure Cilan isn't cleaning off another apple before approaching the sink. ]
You know, I think...I'm jealous when I hear that. [ It's a little strange to admit, isn't it, and the reason why Red smiles. ] I don't remember feeling that way for anything until I took the professor's quest to complete the pokédex. Here-- there's nothing I can do about that.
But that's not really the same, [ he's quick to say, shaking his head and voice brightening with amusement, ] I didn't want to be the best at it. I just wanted to complete it. It was the professor's dream--Professor Oak's dream. When he told me that...it became my dream too.
[ It twists at his stomach to remember at all, the words earnest but not helping, and he's coming over now close to the side without realising the sinking feeling that surrounds him. Red moves up his sleeve from over the amulet he wears around his wrist than over his neck, clean from the blood. He pushes pushes it farther up his arm, just to get it and the crystal--a colour close to treacle, dark yet hinting the golden shade it can be--away from the water, and once it's wet enough he steps to the side to focus on dabbing softly on a cleaner side of the cloth to begin getting the area clear of mess. ]
I haven't wanted to be anything but a great trainer since then. --well, I like fishing too [ haha ] but not like that.
[Cilan's rather quiet while Red's talking, but when Red turns back around away from the sink, he'll find that Cilan has temporarily set aside peeling the rest of these apples, reaching out so that he can check Red's hand now.
But, what he says isn't anything to do with Red's hand as he looks the injury over--]
There's nothing wrong with simply wanting to be a great trainer, Red. In your case, I'd even say that it's a goal that you've done an excellent job of keeping up with--not only have you and your Pokemon proven themselves capable enough to obtain the title of Pokemon Champion, but you've done your very best to complete the Pokedex on behalf of Professor Oak, and thus helping another to try to make their dream come true... it's a sweet and heartwarming taste.
[And then, he suddenly begins to sparkle again as he looks up and offers a bright smile.]
Also, you have good taste when it comes to interests: not only does fishing provide a means of relaxation on a warm sunny day, but there's also the exciting flavor of energy and passion that you experience through a chance meeting between the two worlds of land and water... so, even if it's only a hobby, I say that it's one that's worth continuing with here. [A pause, as he considers something] Granted, some of the fish living in the lake are a little stale in comparison to what we're used to, but they do make for good practice and maintaining one's fishing skills all the same...
[...Yes, he's also a connoisseur of fishing too, in case you're wondering...]
[ Red doesn't take his hand away, allowing Cilan to hold it, his own gaze kept downward with it now being the other boy's time to speak. And though there's nothing but kindness in his words, Red's stomach twists a little more all the same, and for that reason, replacing the pride he had promised himself to feel when looking back on his achievements.
But he smiles away, bringing it into view as Cilan does his own much brighter one, accompanied with that physical glow about him that makes his eyes flicker away, at the same time he speaks. ]
Can people go to the lake right now? [ Actually, that's a reason to look back, his smile dipping. ] I thought Sosyne went there... aren't people still trying to get through to her?
Ah... yes, that's right. [Damn, he had almost forgotten about that... but, Cilan manages to smile again, even if it's not quite as blinding as before.] But don't worry, I'm sure that the lake will be accessible for fishing again once Sosyne's had a little more time to simmer down.
[Then again, considering all of the fish that had died from the boiling water a month ago......]
...In the meantime, there's probably another spot that has a suitable taste to it until Sosyne is taken care of. Once I try checking with the local fishermen about this, you and I can go spend a day there, if you'd like to?
Sure. [ There's only a small pause between the question and his response. He wants to do things that make Cilan happy. ] There's some rivers to the north of here-- and some close to the ruins. I don't know if they're connected to the lake, but we can check them out.
Okay! [ Let him match this enthusiasm!! ...And take his hand back, giving it a twist and turn before sliding his sleeve down to his wrist. ] I'll put a bandage on this and finally help you out. Leave me some of the apples to do.
[ Absolutely no more messy accidents from now on. ...but there is no promise those apples are going to get delicately skinned. ]
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no subject
[...And now he seems to suddenly turn his attention back towards the apples--or rather, the ones that Pansage is reaching out to grab after having already sneakily stuffed one into his mouth.]
Now, now, Pansage, we have to try to save some of those if we're going to use them for an apple pie... ah, speaking of which--[clapping his hands together as his focuses on Red again]--would you be interested in helping us with that? It would be a perfect opportunity to learn more about baking and desserts, don't you think?
[In fact, come to think of it, didn't he promise to do some cooking with you sometime? (...A promise that was made right before that thing that happened during Sosyne's attack, but let's not point out that latter detail, okay.)]
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[ ...wait ] ...were you the one who said I should learn to cook for myself? [ Something something pancakes...?
Oh, crap. He totally forgot about that. ]
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Yes, we've talked about it before... I said that it would be nice to find something that would have a fun taste when prepared with friends, if I recall correctly.
[And here, he holds up an apple.]
And I think this would be one such dessert that, while it does require some care and attention to details, I'm sure would be enjoyable for you to learn how to bake, if you'd like to that is.
[Red doesn't have to take part in this if he doesn't want to, but the offer is there all the same.]
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On the other hand, that sounded exactly like the pancake thing. Which, either way, Red's looking from the apple to Pansage, then elsewhere when he doesn't want to watch any eyes of him. His lips part... ]
I... Sure! [ That went from 2 to 10. Just, one thing: ] Can you give me a sec?
[ He tips his head to the company curled up beside him, implying he'd like to deal with them first. There's a dark corner of the apartment just for them, much better than hanging around in his bag all day (which Red will need to find a bigger home for him soon. ...or just get him used to walking with him. ]
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Oh, yes, of course! Please, take as much time as you need.
[You go take care of your centipede friend! Cilan's just going to check to make sure they've got the ingredients they need here for the pie, as well as getting out whatever equipment they'll need for preparing it.
...They haven't even started doing anything yet and Cilan is already sparkling with excitement as he gets everything ready, calm down son.]
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That guy has given the kitchen area more love than Red could ever in a lifetime or two. ]
So what do we do? [ We, right. There is a we in this, though Red doesn't know if it's truly safe to approach Cilan's spreading bubble of energy, or if he's really necessary to this. This is like seeing his mother bake... where are the videogames to play. ] Do you need to cut the apples? I can do that.
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Yes, we'll need to peel and cut the apples for our pie... but first--[And here, he points to the sink.]
You'll need to wash your hands first before we start doing anything. It's the very first and most important rule when it comes to maintaining proper hygiene in the kitchen, so once you've done that, then we'll rinse the apples and get started on peeling and cutting them.
[...So yeah, this is a little like dealing with your mother in the kitchen at first, sorry about that.]
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Oh-- sure, okay. [ That sounds reasonable, and completely like something Red would have skipped out on if not told. He's heading over to to the sink and turning it on to stick his hands under, though wondering at the same time: ] Why do we have to rinse the apples? They're not dirty. [ are they??? ] Aren't they going to be harder to peel that way? Why don't we leave the skin on?
[ Cilan what is this hassle, also this is why he told to play his games and not help with the cooking. ]
no subject
[To demonstrate, once Red moves aside after washing his hands, Cilan will start rinsing these apples under the water as he continues speaking.]
When baking pies with fruit in them, essentially you want to make a loose jam inside the crust, something that will remain firm and cohesive without resisting a fork or getting stuck in one's teeth. Apple skins can be detrimental to that, as they will prevent the apple pieces from melding neatly together with the other pieces inside.
But, not to worry, we can use the skins for something else, so they won't go to waste.
[The apples are rinsed and placed on the counter, along with a container to place the skins in. He holds up an apple and a knife and proceeds to peel it, somehow managing to get the skin off in one fluid strip
because of course Cilan would show off a little herebefore discarding the peeled skin into the container provided. He then holds out another apple and the knife for Red to take.]Alright, go ahead and take care of this one--be careful though, this knife has a pretty sharp edge to it.
[Red does already know how to peel an apple, right?]
no subject
Red has never peeled a fruit in his life. Slicing? Easy as pie-- actually no scratch that, if this is all the hassle that one has to go through to make a pie. Turning the apples into a loose jam? Were they going to have to mash them up like potatoes next?? Didn't you 'meld' metal???
Most of what Cilan says gets processed as one big 'okay, just do the thing' where Red doesn't question it any further (hey it probably sounds like sense--it sounds all technically correct, or something), withdrawing his wet hands from the sink to watch Cilan, which is the easiest of what he explains to follow. It's like a knife through soft butter, and though he hadn't tasted the fruit himself, he thought it was harder than that, was to cut through just moments ago. But he takes the knife and the fresh fruit, shifting it in his grip with a hum of acknowledgement. He'll be careful. ]
no subject
Shiiiiiiit--damnit! [ He's hissing, moving back, pulling the hand close and face wincing as the pain shoots up with the gathering blood. It's the sleeves of the jacket he still wears that's kept his actual arms safe, but there's no worrying about that, ow ow ow-- ]
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At first, Cilan almost doesn't automatically register that Red's accidentally cut his hand open--his first instinct is a twinge of displeasure at Red's swearing here, even opening his mouth to say something until he notices the blood...
There's a slight chill of fear that clings to the air momentarily, a second of freezing up at the sight of something that's making him think of the last time he saw someone else's--no, Red's blood, but thankfully Cilan seems to snap out of it quickly enough.]
...Ah! Hang on, don't move--[Red is probably too focused on his injury to notice Cilan walking away; there's the sound of running water in the background for a second, before Cilan is suddenly coming back over, grabbing Red's hand and pressing a wet cloth against the edge of his palm where the cut is.]
Here, hold this against your hand for a moment, okay? [He waits until Red's taken the cloth from him before he reaches down to pick up the knife and apple that clattered to the floor as he speaks.] This is quite an unfortunate taste... are you alright, Red?
no subject
[ It's cold, from the back of his arms down, though where alarms are going off in his body, it doesn't really dull the pain shooting and surrounding the cut. Good job there, great job--does Cilan mind if we just rest ourselves against the back of the couch, because there's a small pacing in the space Red occupies before he goes to do just that, keeping his hand up in front of a head slightly bowed. ]
I should've wiped my hands. [ His fault, there. He says it just to say something, to point it out, and not let it be any more awkward than him so soon ruining their plans with too much silence. Our bad, Cilan. ]
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[Figures that the one time Cilan doesn't go into giving a paragraph of a speech, it probably could have been of help!]
So please, don't blame yourself--accidents happen sometimes, especially when you are first starting out: I can't tell you the number of times my brothers and I would cut ourselves or nearly burn our hands on the stove when we were learning how to cook in the beginning...
[...Chili in particular seemed to get burned a lot in comparison to Cilan and Cress, but that was probably due to his brother's fiery attitude in general...]
no subject
But, well, now what. He looks back over to Cilan, then to the apples and the kitchen counter. ]
Did you still want me to help? [ Though--he laughs, short and mirthlessly. ] I guess I can't do anything until this stops bleeding...
[ And it doesn't even seem like Cilan's using a cookbook for the recipe. The cookbook is probably his head. ]
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[In the meantime, Cilan's getting out a new knife to peel with since the other one needs to be cleaned, and... err, well, considering this apple has blood on it and has some ice clinging to it, we'll probably just pitch it and focus on peeling the other apples instead, which Cilan will now begin to do himself as he speaks.]
Once these apples have been peeled and chopped, we're going to put them in a bowl and mix them together with some other ingredients I've got sitting over here. [Ingredients that Cilan certainly had to have bought and brought here himself... in addition to odd choices in clothing (...and even though I completely forgot to make a note of it, Cilan did take off that ridiculous cape and mask before he started working in the kitchen, Pansage went off somewhere with them), for some reason Cilan felt the other thing worth making sure to bring with us when staying over here was the contents of his kitchen...]
After that, the filling will have been taken care of, which brings us one step closer to reaching our goal of baking the perfect apple pie!
[After that they'll just have to do the outer shell, dump the filling inside, bake it and voila, there will be dessert.]
no subject
Red wasn't about to have any complaints about what Cilan wanted to put in the kitchen, or anywhere else, as long as it wasn't a meat grinder and other such... devices. For all the boy could know, the older one spent his time making confetti bombs.
(do you make confetti bombs, cilan.)
But Cilan makes it easy to dismiss the accident as nothing more than a blip, though the aching from the cut denies Red that luxury in its fullest. It's nice though, in its own way, to focus on the easy way that the blade goes around the fruit in Cilan's hands, listening to him speak.
The guy was in his zone. It's obvious. ]
You really are a connoisseur of a lot, huh? [ Movies, pokémon, baking... ] How do you do it?
no subject
Also don't even suggest something like that about confetti bombs, for all you know Cilan could end up causing an emotion effect where confetti suddenly explodes or rains down from nowhere.
Not that it matters, because Cilan's so far in his zone that he almost missed Red's question.]
Well, you peel the apple by slipping the sharp edge of the knife under the skin, near the stem of the apple. Then, you rotate the knife around, gradually sliding the knife downward so that, if done with proper care, the peel should come off in one long strip....
[...Wait, you meant "how does he manage to be a connoisseur of a million things" didn't you. Uh, give him a moment here before he responds.]
A lot of my time back home is devoted to the gym, or waiting tables for our restaurant patrons, but even so, I still try to find time to spare so that I can expand my knowledge as a connoisseur--not just with Pokemon, but with other subjects too. There are a lot of things in the world that I find interesting, so I try to learn as much as possible about them and what kind of taste they may have.
[It's hard to imagine how on earth Cilan manages to juggle what is essentially three jobs and yet still have time for hobbies, and yet, it seems perfectly simple to him: if he wants to become a connoisseur of something, he just does it.]
no subject
(But geez, he sure is a busy guy.)
He dabs the cloth and then removes it from over the cut, the stain of blood on his skin but the flow of it ending. Let's wait to make sure Cilan isn't cleaning off another apple before approaching the sink. ]
You know, I think...I'm jealous when I hear that. [ It's a little strange to admit, isn't it, and the reason why Red smiles. ] I don't remember feeling that way for anything until I took the professor's quest to complete the pokédex. Here-- there's nothing I can do about that.
But that's not really the same, [ he's quick to say, shaking his head and voice brightening with amusement, ] I didn't want to be the best at it. I just wanted to complete it. It was the professor's dream--Professor Oak's dream. When he told me that...it became my dream too.
[ It twists at his stomach to remember at all, the words earnest but not helping, and he's coming over now close to the side without realising the sinking feeling that surrounds him. Red moves up his sleeve from over the amulet he wears around his wrist than over his neck, clean from the blood. He pushes pushes it farther up his arm, just to get it and the crystal--a colour close to treacle, dark yet hinting the golden shade it can be--away from the water, and once it's wet enough he steps to the side to focus on dabbing softly on a cleaner side of the cloth to begin getting the area clear of mess. ]
I haven't wanted to be anything but a great trainer since then. --well, I like fishing too [ haha ] but not like that.
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But, what he says isn't anything to do with Red's hand as he looks the injury over--]
There's nothing wrong with simply wanting to be a great trainer, Red. In your case, I'd even say that it's a goal that you've done an excellent job of keeping up with--not only have you and your Pokemon proven themselves capable enough to obtain the title of Pokemon Champion, but you've done your very best to complete the Pokedex on behalf of Professor Oak, and thus helping another to try to make their dream come true... it's a sweet and heartwarming taste.
[And then, he suddenly begins to sparkle again as he looks up and offers a bright smile.]
Also, you have good taste when it comes to interests: not only does fishing provide a means of relaxation on a warm sunny day, but there's also the exciting flavor of energy and passion that you experience through a chance meeting between the two worlds of land and water... so, even if it's only a hobby, I say that it's one that's worth continuing with here. [A pause, as he considers something] Granted, some of the fish living in the lake are a little stale in comparison to what we're used to, but they do make for good practice and maintaining one's fishing skills all the same...
[...Yes, he's also a connoisseur of fishing too, in case you're wondering...]
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But he smiles away, bringing it into view as Cilan does his own much brighter one, accompanied with that physical glow about him that makes his eyes flicker away, at the same time he speaks. ]
Can people go to the lake right now? [ Actually, that's a reason to look back, his smile dipping. ] I thought Sosyne went there... aren't people still trying to get through to her?
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[Then again, considering all of the fish that had died from the boiling water a month ago......]
...In the meantime, there's probably another spot that has a suitable taste to it until Sosyne is taken care of. Once I try checking with the local fishermen about this, you and I can go spend a day there, if you'd like to?
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Yes, that would be perfect! Just let me know when would be a good time for you and we'll go take a look together.
In the meantime, however, it's baking time, so we should get back to preparing this pie!
[And this time there should be hopefully no injuries, right...]
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[ Absolutely no more messy accidents from now on. ...but there is no promise those apples are going to get delicately skinned. ]