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+---- Thread: Mwah, chef's kiss (/showthread.php?tid=12459)
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Mwah, chef's kiss - Kaisel - 02-01-2026
It has been a flurry of activity to prepare for the dinner, expecting the dads to arrive any minute now, based on the directions he'd given them on the invites mailed. Flora is out and should be gone for a few nights, making this the perfect opportunity, not to mention the window to accomplish this is rapidly closing. Danta and Astaroth's vacation is still ongoing, but they've been engaging in more ways than one and he's pretty certain they'll be out until the late night.
The spirits have managed to be both helpful and a hindrance. Some assisted with his cleaning and food prep, while others kept stealing the materials for him sending him on a game of hide and seek on more than one occasion. Muttering to the hallways, he flitted about to the offering stations, lighting small candles and leaving a stash of candied fruits for them to bother with instead. It put him enough behind schedule that he's now frantically whipping up the goat cheese mashed potatoes, which are to be paired with the pomegranate and maple alpina that's waiting to be cooked while the glaze finishes reducing. The asparagus is prepped and ready to bake, coated in lemon and cheese. On the counter is a bottle of the waterfall gin, plus the cucumber liqueur and mint leaves meant to go with it.
Not forgetting his apron this time, black with a similarly coolored dragon on it, flame letting reading turn up the heat, it protects the rest of his outfit. Decked out with a periwinkle button-up that's half-done up, the open chest revealing the light tan undershirt beneath, it's enough comfort to abide the Longheat here, although the kitchen work is setting a sweat to his brow. [say]"COME IN!"[/say] he calls when there's an arrival at the door, and the spirits will see to it that it swings open for entry.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Ronin - 02-01-2026
[say]"The gardeners I hired were on Mateo's recommendation,"[/say] Ronin is saying to Remi as the door swings open, the Knight clearly in deep and serious conversation,[say]"and they'll sit with Sprout in shifts throughout the night so they're never alone."[/say] He pauses briefly to yell a good-natured, [say]"HELLO!"[/say] in the direction of the kitchen where he'd heard Kaisel's call, before turning back to his husband.
[say]"Do you think that's enough? I could always leave halfway through if it would be better for one of us to be there--"[/say] He already looks halfway to backtracking out the door, Ronin only catching himself when he recognises the frantic overpreparation of, well, not a new parent, but a parent who has not been new at it in quite a long time. [say]"Sorry,"[/say] he adds with a purposefully deep breath, the Knight fixing the carelessly rolled sleeve on his pale linen shirt and reaching for Remi as if to keep him anchored.
[say]"Something smells good,"[/say] he calls out towards Kai, angling towards the kitchen and assuming that's where they'll all be congregating.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Remi - 02-01-2026
Remi nods, a quiet, almost weary motion, and lets out a breath that never quite becomes a sound. The threshold of the house still smells faintly of salt and citrus and something sweet he cannot name, and the contrast of it against King’s End sits oddly in his chest, like he has stepped out of one weather system and into another without quite adjusting. [say]"It feels really strange,"[/say] he murmurs, fingers curling briefly at his side before he reaches for Ronin instead, grounding himself in the familiar line of his body. [say]"Leaving Sprout."[/say] The corner of his mouth lifts despite himself, the admission followed by a small, helpless huff of a laugh. [say]"I know it'll be fine, it's just.."[/say]
When Ronin starts to angle back toward the door, already halfway into contingency planning, Remi’s hand rises without thinking, smoothing his husband's collar that has gone slightly askew, thumb pressing lightly as if the fabric itself needs reassurance. He draws in a slow breath meant to steady them both, though it wavers more than he would like. [say]"One of the gardeners is an Accepted, right?"[/say] he reminds him, voice low and even. [say]"If anything happens, they can channel faster than either of us could get back on our own if something happens."[/say] The logic is sound, rehearsed, something he has clearly told himself more than once already.
He leans in then, pressing a kiss to the corner of Ronin’s mouth, lingering just long enough to soften the edge of his own nerves. When he pulls back, the smile he gives him is boyish and a touch sheepish, as though caught caring too much and deciding not to apologize for it.
An arm slips easily around Ronin’s waist as they move further inside, Remi’s blue linen shirt catching the light from the stained glass above, the colour an intentional echo of the eyes beside him. The house hums around them, spirits whispering along the walls, and he lifts the bottle of upside-down waterfall gin he’s brought in one hand as they reach the kitchen, turning it upside down in a gentle shake toward Kaisel like an offering and peace-treaty both. [say]"Smells good in here."[/say]
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Sunjata - 02-01-2026
The invitation comes at a time that Sunjata isn’t entirely sure whether or not he should still show. Regardless of it, he still arrives, looking a smidge worse for wear despite trying his best to keep his appearance mostly up to par. Colt’s shave had really helped keep everything in line and he hadn’t stayed much longer after that to venture to Torchline, opting for flying there rather than the Skyships from the Port in New Haven.
He arrives shortly after Remi and Ronin do, hands ruffling through his wind tossed hair to get it to some semblance of put togethered-ness. He slips through the door just before it closes, following the scent of food toward the kitchen when he finds the other demigods, flashing them a lopsided smile of greeting that doesn’t quite have all the bright ease it might have had weeks ago.
“[say]Hey guys. Good to see you both.[/say]” He murmurs, before looking toward the kitchen. “[say]Can’t wait![/say]” He calls after the lingering tones of Remi and Ronin’s compliments, figuring a third agreement might either inflate Kaisel’s ego a smidge too much or seem somewhat redundant.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Kaisel - 02-01-2026
They all spill in one after the other in a rapid succession of footsteps and announcements, each one brightening Kaisel considerably and causing him to whip it into second gear, literally in the case of the potatoes. [say]"Thanks! I put on a new cologne today,"[/say] he jokes with a laugh. As Remi kindly extends another bottle of the waterfall gin, Kaisel directs him with a nod of his chin towards the counter where the other drink assets are laid out. [say]"Oh fantastic,"[/say] he says in gratitude to the Bastion. [say]"Would one of you want to play bartender? I was thinking a cucumber-mint gin, should go well with the dinner, but there's other options in that cabinet over there if you prefer."[/say] Spice has also stocked up their ice box before departing with Flora, so they should be in good shape for beverages.
[say]"We're having pomegranate maple alpina with goat cheese mashed potatoes and lemon and cheese roasted asparagus,"[/say] he explains as he turns to set the bowl of mashed potatoes back on the prep counter. He dips a testing spoon in, glancing up as he considers the flavors. [say]"What do you think, Ronin? More pepper?"[/say] He fishes out a new spoon and holds it out to the White Knight expectantly. [say]"Shouldn't take much longer so make yourselves comfortable, and thank you all for coming. I know you've all been busy."[/say] Flora has kept him abreast of the family matters, and to that he raises his brows towards the Taliesins. [say]"Congratulations, by the way. How is the, uh, little bean?"[/say] To Sunjata, he glances with an unknowing happiness as well. [say]"I'm sure you're the most relieved that Hotaru came back home too, I hope she's recovering well?"[/say]
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Ronin - 02-01-2026
More than happy to be glued to Remi's side at least for their initial hellos, Ronin's arm slips around his husband's waist and he leans in to whisper a kiss against his curls. [say]"It does feel strange,"[/say] he agrees. [say]"But I guess we have to get used to this kind of anxiety again. And yes, at least one of them is an Accepted. I checked they were strong enough to channel us, too. I know Mateo would have gone himself if we'd asked, but..."[/say] But their son has just been permanently displaced from the region he'd called home, and it is not the time to be asking for favours regardless of what the answer would be.
And so, forcing trust into the hands of the people the botanist had recommended, Ronin commits to enjoying dinner and drinks with only a small part of him ready to be channelled at any time. They head into the kitchen and the Knight notices Sunjata at their heels just in time, turning to offer him a warm smile. [say]"Hey, Jata,"[/say] he greets, releasing Remi to let him put down the gin. [say]"How are you keeping? If you need anything..."[/say] He leaves it at that, clapping him gently on the shoulder before Kaisel is speaking, and Ronin turns to give him - and the food - his full attention.
[say]"Well, your cologne smells delicious,"[/say] he says, grinning. [say]"Normally I'd recommend Sunjata as bartender since he used to run one, but for waterfall gin? Remi will insist, so I have to nominate him."[/say] He winks towards his husband, then accepts the offered spoon with gusto. His verdict comes moments later.
[say]"Holy shit those are good,"[/say] he announces. [say]"Maybe a tiny bit more pepper, but only if you think you'll lose the flavour with everything else. Let me know if you need help with anything."[/say] He's just offering to take over with the mash if Kai needs, in fact, before Hotaru's name drops like a weight into a bucket of water, loud and messy and sinking. And Ronin doesn't have a single bit of silver in his tongue to save that faux pas; like an accident in slow motion, he's forced to simply watch it happen.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Remi - 02-01-2026
The brush of Ronin’s kiss against his curls loosens something in Remi’s chest, and the gratitude that spills through the bond has no shape to it, no words, only relief and thanks tangled together so tightly they might as well be the same thing. He exhales, slow and uneven, and tugs Ronin closer by the waist, forehead angling briefly toward his shoulder as if borrowing steadiness by proximity alone.
Sunjata ’s arrival draws his attention back up, and the Bastion turns, taking him in with one quiet glance that lingers a second longer than polite, the way one does when tallying trauma rather than appearances. He nods along with Ronin’s greeting, and when he speaks it is without flourish, without forcing brightness where it does not belong. [say]"If you need a distraction or if you need time away from everything, we are very good at pretending the world is not on fire."[/say]
The kitchen pulls them fully inside then, all warmth and clatter and the faint hum of the house watching them. When Ronin nominates him for bartender, Remi lifts both hands as if surrendering, a soft huff of amusement escaping him. [say]"Flora made me tend bar often enough at the Hanged Man, so I think I can manage."[/say] He reaches for the gin, movements practiced, familiar, the ritual grounding in a way few things are lately. The mention of Hotaru lands like a dropped plate, sharp and sudden, and Remi’s eyes flick wide before he can stop them. There is a fractional pause—nothing anyone could point to, but enough—and then his hand tips the bottle a little longer than necessary, the clear liquid climbing higher in the glass than he'd originally intended to pour.
One drink becomes another, each poured with the same generosity, the same quiet insistence, nearly triples by the time he is done. When he straightens, the boyish edge of his earlier smile has softened into something steadier, more deliberate. He glances between Kaisel and Ronin, then back to Sunjata, before holding out a glass for him. [say]"Drink,"[/say] he suggests mildly, as though it is the most reasonable solution in the world, and for the moment, perhaps it is.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Sunjata - 02-01-2026
Hearing Ronin’s voice alongside Remi’s own quiet condolences and the clasp to his shoulder starkly reminds him just how fast demigod news travels amongst them, and without having the pretense of having to pretend the smile softens a touch. “[say]Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.[/say]” He tells Remi, feeling momentarily charmed by the extension of kindness, even if he has no reason to think they’d be anything but right now. He lingers on the mention of the little bean and what Ronin had said as he departed from helping with the banshee, though, something he still has to thank him for. But it seems like his news is the one everyone’s hanging onto at present.
It does become apparent that the news hasn’t traveled quite as fast for everyone else, though, as Kaisel’s question cuts through and he looks toward the younger man with a blink of surprise and a huff of a laugh as the room gets way too fucking quiet.
“[say]Well, uh,[/say]” He starts while Remi’s pouring the drinks, the sight of the waterfall gin already losing some of the tension in his shoulders. Murmuring a soft “[say]thanks,[/say]” he looks back toward Kaisel once he’s downed a hefty gulp of it, knowing it wouldn’t do much to him these days. “[say]I wouldn’t know how she’s recovering.[/say]” He admits, almost like he has to tiptoe over the fact.
“[say]Some not so friendly dinner chatter shit happened and I broke the engagement off and moved back to the House of Midnight. So..[/say]” His nose wrinkles, the urge for a cigarette stronger than it’s been in recent hours. “[say]I guess I’m not really a part of this whole Dad group by extension anymore, so I can go if that’s the requirement..?[/say]” Regardless of whether or not he’s a part of the immediate family anymore, he does think he’s offered Flora enough dad advice to be included. And maybe he could still ride by that where Hotaru wasn’t involved.
But his gaze finds Kaisel as the question leaves his lips, seeing as the Accepted had been the one to put it all together for this dinner in the first place.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Kaisel - 02-01-2026
He doesn't mean to lean in, anticipation coiling in his chest as Ronin tastes the spoonful of potatoes, but he notices it the moment he springs back with relief that they're approved of. With a mental phew, Kaisel's smile immediately doubles. [say]"Oh good, I've only made this particular type once, and the spirits were playing some keep away earlier, so I wasn't sur—"[/say] About to launch into a whole retelling of the culinary chaos and woes he catches himself and instead inhales deeply and steadies. [say]"I'm glad you like them, and that you won't bullshit me,"[/say] he chuckles, already reaching for the pepper. Nothing worse than being lavished with so goods when he knows something is off, which is rarely a worry in this house, especially not when spirits have no problem tossing a distasteful dish out the window. [say]"Everything is mostly in hand, now, but you could pop the vegetables into the oven if you'd like. I'll get started on the alpina in a moment."[/say]
If only food had stayed his greatest worry for the moment. There's a noticeable shift in the room when his last comment lands, and he's acutely aware he's just overstepped, but from one helpless glance to another between the dads, Kaisel can't imagine where. Not at first.
Happily taking the stiff drink that Remi doles out, wiping his hands on his apron first before sipping at it, he tries to keep a smile pressed into place like it could be a knife for this tension. As Sunjata begins, confusion instantly wrinkles his brow, because how would Sunjata not know how she is? Had he misheard Flora, is Hotaru not back? Shutting himself up with another sip of burning drink, trying to find comfort amid the burn, he listens as the Flood continues.
Kaisel's eyes widen around the rim of his drink, and one glance toward the other dads reveals their prior knowledge has left him here with his foot in his mouth. Reeling from the shattering truth of an engagement called off that had seemed as certain as dawn (what up, Longnight), he doesn't have enough time to express his apologies for that before Sunjata's query forces a fresh hell for Kaisel.
Admittedly, he had his reservations about Sunjata now, after learning that all this time he's known Jack's secret and seemed to do little to protect or help Flora through it. He'd been half a mind to run down and douse Sunjata with angry words, maybe a fist or two, his own detriment be damned, but Stormbreak's splintering had tempered his immediate anger into a cooler resentment. It'd be so easy to tell Sunjata to go ahead and fuck off now then, but Kaisel has enough practice boxing away real feelings and sprinkling on a smile to do the same now. [say]"Sunjata,"[/say] Kaisel begins with a patient expression, brows rising briefly. [say]"If you think a ring on a hand is all that makes you a father to Flora, then you've put far too much faith in some shiny metal."[/say] He sets his drink down, features tilting into an almost amused disbelief. [say]"You'll always be a part of her family, so long as you always keep her best interests in mind when you're making your choices."[/say] It's up to Sunjata, how much to keep caring for Flora, because he knows that her love is not one she takes away easily once given.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Ronin - 02-02-2026
Ronin never bullshits when it comes to food, as Kai ought to know very well by now, and as the conversation hits a bump in the road he's more than happy to take care of the vegetables on the soldier's behalf. It will give Remi time to pour everyone a very generous measure of gin and it'll give Jata time to decide how much of his woes he wants to air this evening. The Flood has just grown quiet again by the time he steps back from the oven, in fact, Ronin moving to join Remi at the counter and accepting his own glass, taking a large gulp from it.
His own objection is locked and loaded behind his teeth at the idea that Sunjata should take so much as a step towards the door, but as his lips part Kai is already speaking, leaving Ronin feeling a curious mix of grateful and bewildered (the kid is twenty years old and spouting hella wisdom, so sue him). [say]"Way too late for you to get out of being family now,"[/say] he agrees, raising his glass in a toast. [say]"So shut up and drink."[/say]
And with that tucked away, he recalls what Kai had said prior to the unintentional faux pas. [say]"Sprout is doing good,"[/say] he says belatedly, glancing to Sunjata again. [say]"We're, uh... taking advantage of that baby garden you've got up in King's End,"[/say] he explains, voice growing soft and almost bashful. [say]"So if you see us around a lot more often, that's why."[/say]
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Remi - 02-04-2026
Remi stills as Sunjata speaks, the glass warm in his hand, shoulders holding a fraction too tight. There is a wince there, brief and carefully contained, smothered before it can spill anywhere it does not belong. Whatever curls through the bond is muted down to something manageable, something that will not add weight to what Sunjata already must be feeling.
He listens without interrupting, eyes softening rather than sharpening, gaze dipping once to the counter as if to give Sunjata room to finish without being watched too closely. When Kaisel answers him—calm, steady, impossibly sure for someone so young—Remi glances sideways at Ronin, something like quiet awe flickering between them before he turns back again. [say]"Even if you are not her stepfather,"[/say] he adds, nodding once, the line delivered with gentle certainty rather than debate, [say]"you are basically a godparent at this point."[/say] Which did beg the question of why Kai had invited the three of them here.
For the moment, though, he lifts his glass, angling it toward Sunjata with a small, crooked smile that manages to be both sincere and light. [say]"So, cheers to not going anywhere."[/say] Remi takes a sip, the gin burning cleanly down his throat before Ronin’s mention of King’s End draws another shift, one that leaves the Bastion clearing his throat, colour creeping faintly up his neck.
[say]"We may have altered the grazing patterns of your highland cows,"[/say] he admits, a touch bashful now, one corner of his mouth tugging upward. [say]"If anything important gets trampled, you are welcome to send us the bill."[/say]
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Sunjata - 02-05-2026
So used to being shunned out of things simply by not quite fitting the mold where he should, Sunjata does find it surprising alongside Kaisel’s own wisdom creeps in. Especially someone that had gone against any advice he’d had when it came to Safrin at the time. But, none of that matters with the fact that he wasn’t with that daughter of the starry goddess anymore.
He’s very unaware of any residual feelings Kaisel has regarding Jack and that whole ordeal either, but there’s relief when Kaisel’s answer comes. He feels like he’s become a statue, waiting for the dismissal especially with the tension that thrums through the air and the fact the other demigods alongside him still with the question too. His grey gaze focuses on the young man, though, exhaling a small sigh of relief with the twist of a smile.
He doesn’t have a chance to respond, though, because Ronin and Remi are both adding their two cents in and gods it’s been so fucking long since it felt like any of them were on the same page that Sunjata finds tension in his bones leaving that he hadn’t realized had grown back up. “[say]Thanks.[/say]” He says with the sighed out relief, the glass lifting in the toast so he can down a healthy sip of it.
Drawing quiet to hear Ronin and Remi mention an unknown sprout, Sunjata’s gaze dances between the two Taliesin’s with a raise of his brows. “[say]Oh.[/say]” He says as the realization hits. “[say]The Garden, right?[/say]” Which implies that y’know, Ronin and Remi are having another child and his smile brightens as he looks between the two men. “[say]That’s great. Congrats, you guys. I’m glad it’s getting used.[/say]” He’d pretty much forgotten it was there – though whether that was by choice or because it was a contribution from his ex-wife Phoebe, it’s hard to say. "[say]The cows can deal.[/say]" He tacks on a little wearily, the joke slipping from him with an exasperated roll of his eyes.
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Kaisel - 02-05-2026
Ronin and Remi are much more polite about the whole affair, averting their attention elsewhere as it starts, adjusting to the discomfort, but not Kaisel. Whatever reluctance he’d first felt dissolved the moment Sunjata offered to leave, as if it’s that easy to just walk away, as if the tether between him and this family is so easily snapped. Though there’s no lie in Kaisel’s words or sharp edge to his smile, he has no issue pinning Sunjata down with the steady weight of his gaze. He does wonder, is Flora’s best interests being considered by the man willing to just give up so easily?
The rousing words of affirmation by the other fathers and the call to a toast jostle through the thickness of the moment, and Kaisel’s shoulders break their stiff seat as he grabs his glass and raises it up too. [say]”To family,”[/say] Kaisel offers up, easing out of attempts to discern how trustworthy Sunjata is with a tilt of his glass, the strong wash of gin finalizing it.
Moving back into the flow of the kitchen, Kaisel begins to prepare the alpina for cooking now that the glaze has finished. Ronin has masterfully handled the vegetables, although that reminds Kaisel he needs to pull out the dessert broccoli from the fridge for after dinner. With that type of sprout already in mind, hearing Ronin call their child that earns a short laugh and quickfire glance his way. [say]”Is Sprout going to be the name?”[/say] he asks seriously as they explain, [say]”or maybe bud?”[/say] A nickname at the very least.
[say]”Appreciate you coming out here given everything,”[/say] what with cows afoot and all. [say]”I do have a reason for gathering all three of you. Well, two reasons, but let’s start with one at a time.”[/say] Letting the pan warm on the stove, Kaisel reaches into the bag of onions where he’s expertly hidden the crystal ball from Flora (bitches hate onions). He sets it down on the table with a thud, eyes lifting and shifting from dad to dad in turn.
[say]”I need your help completing her birthday gift. This will store memories and replay them later, so I’ve been asking her friends and family to hold this and think of their happiest moment with her, or of her. That way come her birthday, this will be filled with all the best moments by the people she loves the most.”[/say] Slipping back to the kitchen to get to work, he absently gestures towards a side room. [say]”I might encourage you to step away to do this, as it can be a bit, uh, private.”[/say]
If you have a thread the memory is from, please link it on the bottom of your post!
Everkeep | a handheld glass globe that can hold memories to be replayed later and include sight and sound.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic | Cost: (None)
RE: Mwah, chef's kiss - Ronin - 02-06-2026
Grinning around another sip of his drink as he spots the flush creep up Remi's neck, with the matter of Sunjata's place at the table (i.e. the fact that he still has one whether he likes it or not) resolved, Ronin is happy to let the mood buoy back up. Impossible for it not to for the Taliesins, in fact, given the subject of their addition to the strange garden up in Meadowreach. [say]"The very same,"[/say] he confirms to Sunjata, his arm slipping around Remi's waist to tug him close against his side. [say]"And thank you. To family,"[/say] he echoes, raising his glass as well.
Scoffing at Kai and shrugging to Remi as if to ask what he thinks of such a name, Ronin evidently doesn't hate it by the boyish smile on his face. [say]"It's their name for now,"[/say] he says. [say]"Maybe it'll stick around as a nickname when they arrive. Who knows?"[/say]
But then they're getting into the meat of it, seemingly, and it's more than just alpina. With a raise of his eyebrows towards Kai, at first he believes they're about to be offered an onion as part of some weird dad hazing ritual, but no. It's a crystal ball, and Ronin's expression slowly clears from befuddled to understanding. [say]"That's sweet,"[/say] he says, reaching out to carefully accept it. [say]"I know just the one, I think."[/say]
His and Flora's relationship hasn't always been easy, but he likes to think that there's enough water under that bridge now. The immediate memory that springs to mind cements that, in fact, and he steps briefly into the side room (not that there's anything he's afraid to share in the memory) before returning to offer the crystal out to Remi. [say]"Your turn."[/say]
Ronin offers a memory from & everything nice when Flora first bonded to Spice!