MCA #1, Friday Evening

[mistressofblack]

Lulu bustled around the kitchen, organising a few different ingredients for recipes she thought might be fun to try. The door was propped open slightly, so that the expected guest could come right in (not that she expected him to, but he could). ... And also so that cooking smells could waft out when the evening began.

[Open! Although expecting a

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[new_to_liirness]

"For once," he said, his hand curled around the door as he peeked in with a faint smile, "I've brought you something. Unfortunately, though, I've only got the one left. They seem to have gone over well. May I come in?"

[new_to_liirness]

He nodded, looking a little bashful at being difficult.

"May I have some juice?" he asked thoughtfully. Then his eyes went to the table and Andrew and he expanded the request.

"A small bowl of water and some cilantro as well, if it isn't too much trouble."

[mistressofblack]

Lulu nodded. "Of course," she said. "Help yourself." She paused. "He might like some banana, as well. If his tastes are anything like a rabbit's. There's a ripe banana in the freezer he can have."

[new_to_liirness]

"We didn't have those," he admitted, "so I didn't think of it. He probably will like it, now that you mention it."

He pulled that out as well before cutting it into tiny slices for the rabbit to work on. It was all put out for Andrew before Liir stroked the little bunny's back.

Then he breathed in and pulled away to head back into the kitchen. Perhaps in that moment Lulu could see a bit of the strain on him. But only that moment as he gave her a bright smile a second later.

"Where do we start. Flour, yes? And what kind of chocolate is it using?"

[mistressofblack]

"The original recipe calls for cocoa," she said, "and I've got a bar of bittersweet chocolate that needs to be rendered into chunks, if you'd like to start with that?" She indicated the bar in question on the counter. "I'm sure there's a more efficient way to do it, but I'm rather fond of taking a knife to it and breaking them apart manually."

[new_to_liirness]

"That sounds sensical to me," he said with a bright smile as started in on the chocolate.

"There's a lot of people on this campus who seem utterly boggled at the thought of cooking anything," he said absently as he worked.

[mistressofblack]

"Cooking is... as much a mystery to some people as mathematics, or literature," Lulu said. "It's remarkably easy for some of us, but... some people can't ever move beyond the basics. Or have a bit of difficulty early on, and so never try to."

[new_to_liirness]

"Or turn the bloody flame down," he said with a snort. "They all seem convinced that if it isn't turned to cinders within three seconds..."

He shook his head.

"I did manage to help one girl," he continued, thinking of Annette. "With pancakes. She got it easily enough after a bit of help."

He looked over at her.

"I have to say, I'm very glad you did a cooking class this semester. It's definitely helped me find a niche."

[mistressofblack]

Lulu nodded. "I am, too," she said. "Certainly, I think it was a good thing for me to teach what I did last year... but I'm enjoying this semester much more."

Part of that, she thought, although she didn't say it out loud, was having the opportunity to work with Liir.

[new_to_liirness]

"What do you think you'll teach next semester?"

He'd try to take it if he could. He liked Miss Lulu.

[mistressofblack]

"Honestly, I haven't yet given it much thought," she said. "Do you have any suggestions? Perhaps a more advanced cooking class?"

[new_to_liirness]

"That would be nice," he said cheerfully. "I'm sure I've got a lot to learn. But I don't suppose I could guess unless I knew what you know."

[mistressofblack]

Lulu laughed. "There's still a lot for me to learn, as well," she said. "I'm far from an expert."

[new_to_liirness]

"I can't believe that," he said with a shake of his head. "You know so very much about so many things. And what's better, you teach others."

It was one thing to horde knowledge, keep it locked away in your rooms or your book or beneath the skins of monkeys. Another to share it.

[mistressofblack]

Lulu shook her head. "I know a lot, yes, but there's still more for me to learn." She smiled softly. "One of the most important things to know is that there's always more to learn."

She paused. "And knowledge isn't worth anything unless it's shared. I would say that, depending on the knowledge, sometimes it is better to hold it close for a time -- sometimes it's better to keep a secret for a while. But all knowledge should be shared eventually." She grinned. "And that kind of knowledge, thankfully, is quite rare."

[new_to_liirness]

"I meant only that I'd consider you an expert," he said. "I'm the last person to think there's an end to learning."

"And some people don't feel the way you do about knowledge. I'd even call you an exception, in Oz anyway."