Open Post.

[sugarsyrup]

Miz Deliverance is in the kitchen, and has apparently been there for quite some time. Most every available surface has something set on it to cool -- apple pie, scones with cream and jam, chocolate chip cookies, and other sweets -- and on the stove is a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup, nearly ready, and water heating for tea

Comments

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin walks into the kitchen with a soft smile, and immediately stops when he sees all the cooking that's been done, smile fading into surprise. It's been so long since he's seen anyone else doing more than just an occasional spree of baking that he's nearly forgotten it isn't actually his own private kitchen. He blushes softly, not sure what to do with himself now.

[sugarsyrup]

She sets the brownies on top of the stove to cool. "Hello. Would you like a cup of tea?"

[alcuin_delaunay]

"No, I..." He stops, blushing. He's uncomfortable being waited upon, it goes against his entire upbringing. "Yes, thank you. If it's no trouble."

[sugarsyrup]

"It isn't." Deliverance smiles, reassuring -- she doesn't mind, she enjoys looking after other people. She pours two cups of tea and hands him one, setting hers aside to cool while she checks on the soup. "There's cream and sugar on the table there, if you like."

[alcuin_delaunay]

"Thank you," Alcuin murmured, taking the tea and stirring in cream and sugar while it cools, still unhappy about not being the one baking and serving others in the kitchen.

[sugarsyrup]

She's certainly noticing that, and so, fetching a few things out of the refrigerator, she asks "If it isn't too much trouble, would you like to lend a hand here? I was going to make frosting for the brownies, but I'm afraid the soup will burn."

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin looked up, surprised but hesitant. "If you like. I do a little bit of baking myself sometimes, though I'm not very skilled at it." He's underestimating himself, although his sweet tooth is evident if you get close enough to smell him--even his shampoo smells of sugar cookies.

[sugarsyrup]

"I'd be very grateful." In truth, she's very good with multitasking, especially in the kitchen, but she's happy to give him something to do. She ladles up a bit of soup, sniffs at it, and adds a bit of something, though what is anyone's guess. "The recipe is on the table. The book should be open to the right page." It's a very thick book of recipes, all of which (those for food, anyway -- there are others) sound like they could stop a person's heart in seconds. Somehow, they never do.

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin tucks his hair back in a quick braid to keep it out of his way, bending over the pot and paying careful attention to the recipe, setting to work without hesitation and asking her questions now and then to make sure he's in the right place.

[sugarsyrup]

"You're doing well. Thank you." The instructions near the bottom of the page may get a bit stranger -- referring to herbs not normally used in a recipe of this kind, or words to be said over the pot.

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin stops when the recipe becomes questionable, giving her a worried and slightly frightened look. "What is this?"

[sugarsyrup]

She peers over at the book, scanning the page, then laughs. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm so used to my recipes I forget other people aren't. It's just a few little extras -- charms for health and emotional well-being, things like that. I've run into a lot of people who need them, around here."

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin watches her carefully for a moment, then nods. She isn't lying, he's sure of that, so he'll trust her. "I've never heard of such things. Do they truly work?"

[sugarsyrup]

"If you let them."

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin smiled, fond of the idea. "I should very much like to learn such things. Is it a sort of sorcery?"

[sugarsyrup]

"Some of it. Other bits are just herb lore -- easy enough to learn."