Almost like alchemy [Finished]

[just_like_nii]

Characters: Fletcher and Lily
Content: Baking chocolate. It's adorable.
Location: Library Hotel
Time of day: February 10, early afternoon.
Warnings: The usual: Cute overdose, etc.

Comments

[lilium_parvum]

For the umpteenth time Haine had told her to avoid wandering around too much. While the power had come back on, Lily still hadn't gotten the chance to go out much, and there was no way her brother was going to chance it. That, and she had been utterly serious with him when she told him the reason for this trip was a secret.

Because it was. A very very very important secret that Haine wasn't allowed to find out until Valentine's Day

[just_like_nii]

The bandages were a bit unusual, but Fletcher wasn't one to pry. Besides, the hat he wore constantly could be seen by some as a bit eccentric, especially paired with the modern American clothing he'd taken to wearing since arriving in the city. She seemed nice enough, anyway.

Fletcher looked a little surprised; maybe it was normal for children to shake hands where she was from, but he had only ever done it once before, when agreeing to a business contract, and that had been under less-than-ideal circumstances and he hadn't been fond of that old man even when they'd first met. Still, he shook her hand, continuing to smile. "It's nice to meet you, too. I set up all the stuff we need in the restaurant kitchen, it's this way." He gestured, and went to lead the way.

[lilium_parvum]

"Thanks for doing all of that," she replied cheerfully, following him. "I would have helped, but I've never cooked anything before. I barely know where to begin."

Despite admitting her lack of experience Lily sounded eager to try. Chocolate couldn't be that hard to make, and their reason for making it was important.

She continued gazing at the hotel as they walked through the lobby and headed into the restaurant. Even this was new to her, and she had to hold herself back from just stopping and staring at the lavish decor.

[just_like_nii]

Fletcher couldn't blame her for staring; this hotel was far more lavish than any he'd ever seen back in Amestris. Though, the thing that got his attention most often was the bookshelves littered around. He'd gotten distracted many times since moving in.

"It's nothing," he replied. "I can explain the basics, I've cooked a little since coming here, and sometimes I helped out back home, too." He was no expert, but it helped that cooking was so similar to alchemy. Either way one had to measure the ingredients in the proper amounts and mix them together just right. And as long as they were careful they wouldn't cause any disasters.

[lilium_parvum]

"Great~! I'll try my hardest to help!" She grinned and nodded, though once in the kitchen her attention drifted to all the stainless steel supplies and ingredients that Fletcher had set up.

And of course, the cute tiling on the floor.

"So... what's our first step?" Lily glanced over at the boy after a few moments of admiring how shiny everything was, twining her hands behind her back.

[just_like_nii]

He had two stepstools set up at the counter, figuring they might come in handy. He pulled one over to the sink and stepped up, pushing his sleeves up above his elbows. "First we have to wash our hands. You always do that before cooking." He turned on the water and grabbed the bar of soap that rested on the counter near the sink and started rubbing his hands together. Once he was done he cleared the way for Lily, then went over to the ingredients he'd assembled on the countertop.

"I wasn't sure what exactly we should make, but I looked it up and fudge seems pretty easy. We could make cookies, too," he went on. "Whichever you prefer!"

[lilium_parvum]

Lily hopped onto the stepstool and mimicked Fletcher's actions, scrubbing her hands hard to make sure they were super clean. And as he went on to explain, she tapped her chin in thought.

"Hmm... Let's start with fudge. That sounds good." There was a greater chance of the fudge turning out delicious since it was easy, and since it would be for lots of people she didn't want to take any chances.

[just_like_nii]

It was Fletcher's first time baking in quite a while, and fudge would be easier, so he was glad she'd chosen that. He hadn't done this for... wow, almost a year now; the last time being a lemon pie he'd helped Mr. Belshio with a couple of months after moving in with him.

Most of the ingredients were out already, he only went over to the large refrigerator to fetch a tub of margarine they'd managed to get in their weekly rations. Already on the counter were the sugar, evaporated milk (not quite as good as real milk, but more convenient in this environment to be sure), marshmallow creme (Fletcher had been wary of this stuff when he'd found it after reading the recipe, but some quick alchemic tests had proved it to be harmless, if sugar-overdosed), walnuts, a small container of vanilla flavoring, and chocolate chips, as well as all the utensils they'd need, a baking pan large enough for the amount they were going to make, and a large stovetop pan to mix all the ingredients in.

He pulled the recipe from his pocket, unfolded it, and set

[lilium_parvum]

"You," she replied right away, though the girl faltered in trying to think of more people. Thanks to Haine she hadn't gotten out much, and since she still didn't quite understand how to use computers she was limited in meeting other people.

"Umm... your brother too, and Tatsuki. She seemed nice... Oh! How about we double the amount you were planning on making? That should be enough for lots of people, right?" Lily was only guessing here, as she didn't know how many people were in this 'Team Science'. But if it was a team it would have to be more than a few people....

Peering over, she glanced at the recipe Fletcher had. It made squares too, so for the batch they were going to be handing out freely (not the ones meant for their brothers and people they knew), she bet they could easily hand out lots if it was one square per person.

[just_like_nii]

He did the calculations in his head and scribbled down the proper numbers on the recipe. "We should have enough for that," he said, looking it over one more time. He left the recipe where they could both look at it and started reading the instructions again.

"First we line the pan with foil so the fudge doesn't stick to it." There was a box of tin foil on the far side of the counter; he fetched it and pulled out enough for the pan, then started lining it. "And we have to put margarine on the foil so the fudge doesn't stick to it." He read further along in the recipe. "Okay, while I do that how about you put the sugar and margarine and milk in the saucepan?"

[lilium_parvum]

"Sure!" Her eyes scanning over the ingredients, Lily picked out the three needed and turned to the measuring cups and bowls. Let's see... she had seen Haine do this before, and several days prior she had gotten explanations on what all the shorthand like lb on recipes meant. So despite the lack of experience, it only took her several minutes to manage adding the ingredients.

Stirring came much easier, especially when she was a bit stronger than normal. "You live in this building with your brother, right?" She asked idly, looking around again as she stirred.

[just_like_nii]

Once Fletcher had finished with the pan and Lily had started up the mixing and stirring, Fletcher started in on chopping the walnuts. They were small enough that it went pretty quickly; they'd be ready by the time they needed to be added.

He nodded at her question. "We just moved here." Then something else occurred to him: "Um, but please don't tell anyone. Aside from your brother, I mean. We don't really want too many people to know." He hoped she wouldn't question that; it was too worrisome to explain why.

[lilium_parvum]

Lily carefully watched the mixture as she stirred, glancing over once more to reread the recipe so she would have an idea of when it was finished. So far cooking didn't seem difficult at all.

She blinked at the request. It was unusual but it was something she readily agreed to regardless.

... But not without asking why, of course. The reasoning must be important for something like that. "Sure. But why? Is it because there's lots of dangerous people around?" she asked, tilting her head a little.

[just_like_nii]

Luckily, she'd given him an answer. "Yes," he replied, nodding. "My brother got attacked once, so, well..." That wasn't the full story, of course, but he was hesitant to explain further. On another note, if the brothers' research was targeted a second time... well, he didn't want to get anyone's hopes up.

After finishing with the nuts he looked over the recipe, then at the mixture. He smiled at her. "Wow, you're better at stirring than I am. If I was stirring it it'd probably still be all clumpy."

[lilium_parvum]

Attacked?? No wonder Haine didn't want her going outside alone. If Fletcher's older brother had gotten attacked, then even her own sibling wasn't safe....

"...!" She started at the compliment, before grinning back. "Thanks. I guess I'm better at this than I thought. What's next?"

[just_like_nii]

"Well, everyone has something they're good at," he said. "Let's see, next on the recipe... we add the marshmallow stuff and the chocolate chips, then stir until it's all mixed together and smooth."

He had to fight with the lid a little, but he did managed to get the marshmallow creme open. It was completely alien to him, but it couldn't hurt to try new things; but he did have to use a spoon to get it into the saucepan. It didn't pour so much as it fell out in clumps.