Everything I dish, three star, Michelin
Leaving each dad to the task and the opportunity to recall what should be happy memories, Kaisel focuses on the finishing touches of dinner. The alpina cooks up nicely, the glaze sealing in flavor as it sears, and he’s just easing it from the pan to rest when Sunjata reappears, looking lighter than he has all evening. Kaisel scrubs the grease from his hands on a towel before reaching out to retake the item with a fond smile. ”I sure hope so,” he says in return to the heartless flood. It’s no protective pendant or safeguard against the dangers of their world, something he regrets on certain days, when the risks they all face come sharply into focus, but there’s meaning to it all the same.
He rolls it back into the onion bag, tucking it carefully away, even shielding the glass shine beneath a few loose husks. “I’m grateful she’ll always have a small piece of you all now,” he adds, smiling over his shoulder. ”Now please, sit. Dinner will be right up.” The table in the adjacent room waits, familiar to Remi and Ronin from the last time they were here. Napkins and silverware are already set.
Shooing them along with a flap of the towel, Kaisel turns back to pull the vegetables from the oven, setting them beside the meat and potatoes. A helpful spirit opens the cupboard, and he retrieves four plates, beginning to portion everything out. Not quite chef-level, but neat, finishing with ladling the glaze over the alpina where it pools warmly beside the potatoes.
Leaving towels and apron behind, he inhales once, steadying himself, then carries the plates into the dining room balanced on arm and hand. ”Hope everyone’s hungry!” Setting a plate down for each man, including himself, he settles in to dine. ”Dig in, please,” he encourages, doing just that. He peeks up to gauge their reactions, and his own appetite doesn’t last long, not with the nerves continuing to creep in. He reaches for his strong glass of gin and takes a few steady pulls, gathering the courage he needs.
”The…second reason I called you all here,” he begins, gaze briefly fixed on the glass as if addressing it instead of the room. He exhales quietly then looks up. No stalling now. ”Flora and I have been dating, as you know, and she is the absolute light of my life." His voice doesn't start steady, but it manages to stabilize once he begins to describe how she makes him feel, earnest in his fondness. "She is truly special, and there’s not a day where I don’t love her more than the last, or put her in my future. We make each other happy, and better, every day.”
It should be easy given he’s already married her, but that deceit makes it worse, and this part has always been what he worried about, not the ones with her. They surely know how incredible she is, but is he enough? If he isn’t, and he’s already done it, then what? ”I know how extraordinary she is. You all do," he continues, gaze sweeping from man to man a timid smile finding room to grow. "I just...hope you believe I can be worthy of her." A breath, enough to bring his chest up noticeably, then the truth laid bare. "Because I want to marry her, and I'd be honored to have your blessing. All of you.” He wants to puke.
He rolls it back into the onion bag, tucking it carefully away, even shielding the glass shine beneath a few loose husks. “I’m grateful she’ll always have a small piece of you all now,” he adds, smiling over his shoulder. ”Now please, sit. Dinner will be right up.” The table in the adjacent room waits, familiar to Remi and Ronin from the last time they were here. Napkins and silverware are already set.
Shooing them along with a flap of the towel, Kaisel turns back to pull the vegetables from the oven, setting them beside the meat and potatoes. A helpful spirit opens the cupboard, and he retrieves four plates, beginning to portion everything out. Not quite chef-level, but neat, finishing with ladling the glaze over the alpina where it pools warmly beside the potatoes.
Leaving towels and apron behind, he inhales once, steadying himself, then carries the plates into the dining room balanced on arm and hand. ”Hope everyone’s hungry!” Setting a plate down for each man, including himself, he settles in to dine. ”Dig in, please,” he encourages, doing just that. He peeks up to gauge their reactions, and his own appetite doesn’t last long, not with the nerves continuing to creep in. He reaches for his strong glass of gin and takes a few steady pulls, gathering the courage he needs.
”The…second reason I called you all here,” he begins, gaze briefly fixed on the glass as if addressing it instead of the room. He exhales quietly then looks up. No stalling now. ”Flora and I have been dating, as you know, and she is the absolute light of my life." His voice doesn't start steady, but it manages to stabilize once he begins to describe how she makes him feel, earnest in his fondness. "She is truly special, and there’s not a day where I don’t love her more than the last, or put her in my future. We make each other happy, and better, every day.”
It should be easy given he’s already married her, but that deceit makes it worse, and this part has always been what he worried about, not the ones with her. They surely know how incredible she is, but is he enough? If he isn’t, and he’s already done it, then what? ”I know how extraordinary she is. You all do," he continues, gaze sweeping from man to man a timid smile finding room to grow. "I just...hope you believe I can be worthy of her." A breath, enough to bring his chest up noticeably, then the truth laid bare. "Because I want to marry her, and I'd be honored to have your blessing. All of you.” He wants to puke.
Kaisel
Comin' in hot like a pot when it hiss
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
