starshower | 🌠 escordvi inbox.

Cooking lessons?

[He shrugs.]

Every so often, but I dunno anyone who's teaching.

Seems like a lot to ask when we can get by.

[There's a looong pause as Tifa gathers the rest of the ingredients, setting the food colouring on the table and popping open the lid.]

... I could try.

[Roxas looks up at Tifa, his expression serious.]

You mean that?

Of course I do.

[Sliding the bowl and a whisk over, she offers it to him.]

You seem surprised.

[He takes it up again.]

Guess I just wasn't really expecting an offer.

I mean, it's not like I came here looking for that. I just wanted to make ice cream.

But I'd appreciate it.

Well. Why not make this our first lesson? Ice cream's a pretty easy one, if you ask me.

[Tifa holds up the tiny bottle of food colouring.]

Now, it was supposed to be blue, you said?

I know I'll probably get a lot of use out of it.

[He nods.]

Yeah, it's like a light blue.

[She'll mix it with a bit of cream to give it that lighter colour, rather than the very vibrant and dark blue that it is now.]

How's this? Thought the original was a little too dark for ice cream. With it being called seasalt, I assume it's meant to remind you of the sea?

I guess so? No one really explained the meaning. I just know that it starts out salty, but then turns sweet.

[But he regards the colour thoughtfully, considering.]

But that looks right. Or at least, closer than I've seen.

Alright. Now, we pour this in...

[She'll hand him the mixture.]

... And then we gotta let it cool for a couple hours in the fridge. So, if there's anything you wanna do to kill some time until then...

[It's very focused as he puts it all together. There's something special about it. He's not just eating ice cream now. He's making it. And then he's going to share it with friends.]

I dunno.

I guess if there's any other, like, cooking basics I should know, maybe. Start there?

Hmmm, well that depends.

[She watches him with fondness and pride as he pours in the mixture, the cream turning that bright, vibrant blue in the process. She hopes that she got the colour right...]

On the sorts of things that you're looking to make. Some meats? Or a good sandwich? Or cakes...

[Maybe once it freezes, he'll get a better idea. It's a little less vibrant, at least in his memories.]

I mean, I wouldn't mind learning all of it, eventually.

But, Meat might be good. I think most of us know how to make sandwiches.

[But if he knew how to make a good dinner.]

Hmm, a staple meal is always some good protein, like chicken, and some steamed vegetables. Honestly... Considering that there's so much fish around here, I'd have thought that fish would be the popular thing, but nope.

[A laugh.]

It's mostly steak I get people asking me for. Steak and beans, or potatoes. Guess it's a universal thing. People looking for little taste of home...

[There's a distant sort of look to her eyes, a wistfulness that is there and gone in an instant.]

[Roxas is nodding, wishing he'd brought something to take notes with.]

I guess I sorta know how to grill fish now, so I can practice with that.

But that also sounds like a good dinner.

[Putting the mixture into the fridge~]

I can send you some of my own recipes if you want them. They're pretty easy to follow, especially if you already know how to work a grill.

In the meantime, while we wait for this, I could use some help with decorating cakes. Not a super useful skill to have around here, but it's fun.

Yeah, I...I'd really appreciate that. Actually. Thanks Tifa.

[It does mean he'll probably be back with a million questions]

And yeah. I guess I could help with that. I don't know much about decorating though, so I don't know if they'll look good.

I'm sure they'll be fine. Not about how they look anyway, but how they taste.

[And so while the mixture cools for a while, they get to work on the cakes. Strawberry, lemon, vanilla, chocolate, a whole myriad of them to decorate with whatever they feel like, and she'll let Roxas get creative with it.

In the middle of it all, it'll be time to pour the cooled mixture into the popsicle molds for the freezer, and the nice thing about Seventh Heaven's kitchen is that a lot of their things are powered by magitech, including the freezer, so what might take a night in a normal fridge only takes a couple of hours in theirs, and so by the time they finish the cakes, the ice cream is done, and Tifa pulls them out from the box.

Setting them down on the counter, she pokes the top of one.]

Well? Do they look alright?

[Roxas attacks the cakes like he does everything that requires delicacy. With intense focus and concentration that should probably be a little more relaxed. If nothing else, they look very careful.

When the ice creams are done, he scrutinizes them.]

They could probably be a bit lighter, but I guess it comes down to taste as well.

We can eat them, right?

We'll have to try again with the colouring... but as long as they taste good.

[And they did follow a recipe, so—!]

Pop one out and give it a try. You should have the honour of the first bite.

[Roxas nods, almost a little hesitant to take one of the bars. It's been a while since he's had his favourite treat, after all.

But then he bites in and considers.]

It's close!

It's not like...exact, but it's close. I think it could be saltier to start!

[She waits expectantly for the verdict, her eyes wide and shimmering with anticipation...

...!

Well, that's about as much as she can ask for on the first attempt!]

Just saltier? Is it missing anything else?

[Roxas has to think.]

Yeah, it's mostly the salty-sweet balance. And I guess the colour could be lighter? But I think getting the exact shade isn't always the easiest.

Yeah, think my hand went a little too hard on the colouring, but that's an easy fix for next time.

[She pops one out of the mold for herself now, and she takes her first, small bite.]

For a first attempt, I'd say these turned out pretty good, though. Could even make it a regular thing at the bar once we master the recipe a little more. Maybe even turn it into an ice cream, too.

That would be great! But it has to be a bar. That's the best way to eat it.

[He's biased. But there is also a way things are done.]

But I'm glad you like it.

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gonna timeskip a bit :)

Sounds good

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seems like a good place to wrap? 💜

I think so