(open) i'm steppin' out

[expiera]

WHO: Ciel, Pleromas who have to deal with more Kenomas on their turf for a few days, various
WHAT: Foodventures ft. a girl who needs her fix, also general July catch-all
WHERE: Godsblood, Achamoth
WHEN: First half of/early Soviseri
WARNINGS: N/A

I. GODSBLOOD; MAY I OFFER YOU AN EGG BITE IN THESE TRYING TIMES?
[It’s a nice day in Godsblood, and there is loud arguing coming from the central marketplace. Between two joints selling street food, to be exact.]

All your dingy little booth does is slather everything in sauce with no respect to the ingredients, just close shop and save yourself the embarrassment!”

[On one side, a brown-haired middle-aged woman in a worn and greasy apron, manning a stall that seems to specialize in grilled seafood behind her.]

Hah! You're one to talk, old hag! Your prices are highway robbery, and your seasoning is as bland as plain rice! The only way you make a profit is con customers who don’t know any better!

[On the other, a young man of average build on the thin side is starting to go a little red in the face, his stall seemingly specializing in skewers instead.]

Watch your mouth, you little whippersnapper! My husband and I have run this business for generations, inherited from my great-great-great grandmother! Our recipe isn’t just tradition, it’s history, we didn’t establish this by bootlicking our way through the culinary guild and begging for handouts to set up our own shop!

[Oh, this is getting heated… They’re staring to attract a crowd, not a sizable one but people are stopping by. The general sentiment seems to be of… entertainment, for better or worse; some locals are even snacking as they watch on?! They seem used to this, for better or worse…]

That is NOT what happened, I worked my butt off at the guild fair and square! You’re just jealous I was a better student – AND a better cook than your daughter, who doesn’t even WANT to take over your tasteless grilling anyway! You ever think about why she never comes around here when you’re “open”? You should’ve retired a decade ago!

[THAT earns a few gasps among the audience; dragging the daughter in? Oh my.]

Sir! Ma’am! Please, a moment!

[Interrupting them both to the surprise of everyone present, is a young woman with short dark blue hair certain Pleroma Aions may recognize. Especially those from the initial group of awakened, she did do a bad thing™ back inside the Suffer Caves and had a bad thing™ done to her in turn. There’s not the faintest hint of that now, she’s actively stepping in between them with a pacifying smile.]

I didn’t mean to start an argument, I apologize. But both your stalls just smelled so good, I’d honestly love to try out anything you would recommend! I wouldn’t mind everything too, to be completely honest, so would that be okay? Just let me know the price, I’ll be happy to pay and wait while you prepare!

[Oh… Business. Business means jools. That DOES seem to get the vendors’ attention, so they both move on to eyeing the girl with a different flavor of skepticism instead of glaring at each other like before.]

With all due respect, miss, you don’t look like much. I don’t mind making a bigger sale, but I can’t condone wasting food.

Our grilled squid is a Godsblood staple, ask anyone here! [The woman haughtily glances at the gathered spectators, who don’t seem bothered at all by the callout.] I can get you one of everything and prove to you QUALITY is why we’ve lasted so long, girlie, long as you tell this upstart exactly how my food tastes better.

—Huh?! You can’t do that, that’s NOT how it works! Miss, you have to judge by yourself, there’s no way I’d lose to sensible tastebuds! [The man looks to be a mixture of indignant and flustered, gesturing at his client who is somehow still managing to keep her smile through it all.]

Ahaha. I’m no gourmet, but I can tell you if I think it’s tasty or not. If you’d like feedback, I’ll do my best! How much will one of everything be?

[The talk of payment once again appears to effectively deescalate the situation further, and it’s at that moment that the girl turns her gaze towards you, a Pleroma Aion. Were you passing by? Or have you been watching for a while? It makes no difference: she’s addressing YOU in particular, holding out a hand invitingly towards your specific direction as she makes her offer loud and clear.]

Can I get that person over there to help me taste-test and eat everything too? I promise we won’t let any food go to waste, it’s fairer to have more than one person judge anyway. How about it? I already said I’d pay, so you don’t have to worry about how much it costs. Will you please help us out?

[That prompts some murmurs of interest and agreement among the audience, it’s indeed a fair and open proposition. Tier 1 Pleromas, don’t think too hard about how you were singled out specifically when it could have been anyone else. As for tier 2, figures that someone on the same level from the Kenoma side would have been able to spot you out, as the reverse is equally true. The woman whose dark energies also reflect the Martyr’s Legacy is still smiling warmly and waiting patiently. Well? It’s free food, and everyone’s attention is already on them both. Come on?]

II. GODSBLOOD; SNACKS DON’T SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER MEALS
[The food stall vendors didn’t get to find out the hard way, but local restaurants sure will! Over the next few days, a head of blue will be dropping by various restaurants in town during lunch or dinner doing the following:

A. Inquiring about their dish with the biggest kick,
B. Clapping her hands together reverently in front of enough food for two~three people, yet is by herself at the table,
C. Looking various degrees of satisfied depending on how good the food was, with an empty stack of several plates in front of her.

Fattydingdong… Approach? She’s quite open to recommendations, there may or may not be mild rumors brewing of some random girl not from around suddenly showing up and eating her way across Godsblood. It seems funny and harmless, plus it does fuel local businesses, so the citizens are largely fine with writing her off as some eccentric too willing to spend jool on food than most others. This Kenoma definitely isn’t here on official business or trying particularly hard to lay low. After all, she’s here for her own reason:]

III. GODSBLOOD; Y’ALL GOT ANY MORE OF THAT… SPICE?
[And no, NOT the one as defined by Urban Dictionary. To anyone observant who is familiar with a certain spice stand in Godsblood, they may be able to note that a blue-haired woman is often found in the general vicinity of that specific Pleroma funding point. She makes sure to never be in sight of the seller, so it may not be obvious right away, but she doesn’t stray far, occasionally glancing towards the spice stall’s general direction in a not-so-subtle way. These are still all public areas, though. Let her be weird on her own, or confront?

Don’t mind her sometimes making light and quiet conversation difficult to eavesdrop with local children, too. She may also be caught slipping a young boy or girl of elementary age a piece of paper and a small pouch, closer to an alleyway a bit more isolated from the main streets where the bulk of the foot traffic is. Nothing suspicious; move along?]

IV. ACHAMOTH; PRIORITIES
[One day during Soviseri, an unusual smell is wafting from the kitchen. Any Kenomie in its general vicinity may be able to catch the scent of something pungent and savory, those familiar with the dish may also recognize it right away for what it plainly is: curry. Even if they don’t, it’s not something the citadel’s kitchen staff normally makes, and if they do choose to look into it, they will effectively find Ciel by herself in front of a large iron pot at the stove.

Holding in one hand a ladle with a yellow/brown-ish sauce coating over chunks of meat, vegetables, and potatoes, she looks like she’s blissfully floating on cloud nine and completely phased out of touch with reality.

This is understandably at least a little weird, so feel free to 180 right back out into the hallway. Unless…?]

V. WILDCARD
[Godsblood, Achamoth, maybe elsewhere, Pleromies or Kenomies, if you’d like something different or a closed starter, hit me up via PM or in the game Discord! o/]

Comments

[expiera]

[Gross... Well, it's fine as long as he's not spitting chunks of food with enough force to reach her. It's not her job to correct his table manners, they're unlikely to do this again if ever anyhow.]

I've heard that's common among Godsblood merchants in general. I have my ways, I'm just doing a bit of research first. I do have a clear goal and a set budget, you know.

[It may not be obvious with how much this feast tonight may run her, but that's not his problem anyway, so!]

[inutilis]

[ nothing has gone flying across the table from his mouth yet, so it's fine? it's totally fine!!

Abel's lightly prodding at his glasses in the habitual way at that, licking sauce from his spoon as he sets aside another now-empty plate in favor of another. ]

Is there something in particular you're looking to find, then?

[expiera]

[They really are breezily going through enough food for a whole party by themselves without sweat... Waste not want not as it goes, this is fine? This is fine.

She pauses at his prodding, having begun working on plate #3 herself before glancing his way.]

...

[Hmm.]

Why do you ask?

[Not that she's being defensive or anything, but why is he asking? :|a]

[inutilis]

[ he is, at least, pausing momentarily to give this some thought - or maybe he just wants to drink some wawa, whatever.

but after a few sips from his glass, his quizzical expression only seems to deepen. well, he figured it was pretty... you know, straight-forward... ]

You came all the way out to Godsblood, right? So-- I'm just curious what you were looking for, that's all.

[ he knows Gen and Amos had been here on 'business,' and Eustace after the pair of them claiming similar reasoning... time to wonder if Ciel is going to parrot the same claim of mysterious 'business' or might toss him at least SOME more plausible cover. ]

[expiera]

[At him taking a pause because she took a pause first, she goes back to decimating more of her active plate. Closing her eyes, her brows also begin to knit slightly as he elaborates.]

...I see. That's just like saying it's so minor that you can't believe it's the actual reason, isn't it.

[There may or may not be a slight grumble to her mutter. What is she going on about? Isn't it obvious? It's perfectly obvious in her own head. They WERE talking about it just moments ago, before it got glossed over only for him to double back and ask again. Hello??]

[inutilis]

What? ...I don't get it, what do you mean?

[ wh. what is she on about, goodness - Abel's looking even MORE lost than usual now, leaning a little further in as if he wonders if he is mishearing her. ]

I asked if you were looking for something, right? But... i-if you are, you haven't even told me! How could I believe a reason I don't know?! Don't make that face at me, alright...

[ sTOP CONFUSING HIM she knows he's very fragile....... delicate... in brain cells, ]

[expiera]

You're the one who started being vague first once I asked if there were any vendors you know. Well, that's okay. I'll just find them myself!

[HUFF! In which she puffs out her chest as she goes for another spoonful of her plate. Why would she want to preserve his (already endangered) braincells? It's not her problem? None of him is her responsibility? --Oh, this spicy seafood dish is really good, though. Maybe she should ask the owner here where they get their spice? Would definitely be more helpful than repeat to the idiot gawking in front of her what she's really in Godsblood for, :v]

[inutilis]

How was I vague?! What, are you on a first-name basis with every one you buy meat skewers from on the regular, hm?! G-goodness, you are SO testy today!!

[ actually she's always testy, tbh,

he's huffing petulantly and shoveling a heaping forkful of lamb into his piehole, whatEVER. ]

If anything, I find it highly suspicious you came here out of all the places in Horos you could've gone. Oh, convenient you choose the ONE place I happen to be, mm? Mm?

[expiera]

How would I know? I don't live off meat skewers or scamming other people for free meals. You're one to talk, after the scene you made just coming here!

[Is the show back on? The show is coming back on. Seems like it's time for their fellow patrons to take a wine break and watch That table bicker loudly in public all over again! ...With music backdrop too, apparently that started playing while neither of them were paying attention?!]

I didn't know you were here, and I wouldn't have cared even if you were! Is it a point of pride for you, wiling the days away like a good-for-nothing in the most industrious city on the continent? Do you really think the whole world revolves around you and whatever pitiful things you get yourself into!?

[Ah yes, a new round (??) is very much starting... Hope no one at the Siren's missed their peace and quiet tonight!!]

[inutilis]

[ yes, it seems that things are back to their usual cycle of ??? - and Abel is waving a hand in all too eager dismissal of her accusations. ]

You know, for someone who claims a deplorable lack of interest in my life, you sure are PASSIONATE when you speak on the subject. The lady doth protest too much, I think. Mm? Mm?!

[ is he digging himself even deeper into this hole? absolutely.

is he doing it intentionally? you bet.

does he care? no, not particularly. what else is he going to do? NOT annoy her...?? like, lol lmao what ]

[expiera]

People don't need to take interest in tornadoes and tsunamis to talk about them while sifting through the wreckage they leave behind, it's the same thing. Believe what you like, I already know which shop to visit anyway!

[Other restaurant goers are now taking bets for how long they've known each other. A few months? Half a year to a year? Or several years? They sure argue with the sort of familiarity one would only expect out of certain groups of people, though no one seems to mind that it will remain a mystery since no one in their right mind would ask either of them the question directly. smh...]

[inutilis]

[ he sees fit to shove an entire piece of bread dipped in sauce from the other plates into his mouth before answering this time. with his mouth full, as per usual, ]

Oh~? Typical. Typical, typical, now you've resorted to insults again. Though maybe there's some unintentional flattery in there for me? A force of nature, something to be reckoned with? Do you see me that way, darling?

[ don't mind him if he just

spits crumbs everywhere as he goes. ]

[expiera]

...

[...

What, she's busy eating. Politely, unlike him, so he's just gonna have to deal with a bout of silence while she goes at her pace. No way she's letting her precious spicy food go cold because of this FOOL.]

You're a disaster, and no one can help you. It's as simple as that.

[Gross... She's leaning back a bit at that, and pulling her glass of water closer to her too between bites of her food. She is going to [redacted] his ass the next time public opinion is no longer a concern, swear to God the Kenoma,

In the meanwhile, another plate is down. Onto the bowl of (seafood) soup! Her expression does soften briefly after scooping a spoonful and bringing it to her lips; ah, this place really does spice justice... It's truly a shame, the racket she must endure and the quite literal price she has to pay in order to enjoy this. Really need to figure out a way to peel this leech off her in the future... :/]

[inutilis]

Do you have anything to say that isn't along some vein of derision? I'm just curious.

[ look, she could mix it up a little?? just a little? for flavor? she IS a fan of spices, so you know... she of all people can appreciate a well-flavored conversation?? maybe?

no?

okay then never mind. he's eying the rest of the table as if deciding whether or not he is permitted to continue inhaling its contents, eyes straying toward Ciel at her place. um, i-is he...

is he, like. just supposed to finish all of this? is she going to take a pound of flesh in return?? he's mildly concerned now that he thinks about it. ]

[expiera]

Maybe if things didn't end up like this because of your doing, after you conned your way to my dinner table and made a big and noisy scene out of it. You should be grateful I haven't gagged you or ripped out your tongue, but seeing how much of a glutton for punishment you are, you'd probably just end up enjoying it.

[Ok then, how about they go back to the masochist part of the conversation? Is that the kind of spice he had in mind? Yes? Maybe? Nyes?

She doesn't seem to pay him any mind either way, still chowing through her side of the table (or well, sipping down soup) at a healthy pace. Given the large gap in their... income, it makes sense that he may be eating faster than her; she's not the one living off cheap street food, so maybe he WILL go through "his" half of the (doubled) order before she's done. Is that what's happening? Is he finished already, and moved on to eyeballing what she hasn't gotten around to touching just yet? Or is he suddenly having second thots, despite already eating so much and not being entirely done with "his" half just yet? There's a big difference between the two scenarios, naturally. How bad Which is it?]

[inutilis]

[ gagged him or ripped out his tongue...? Abel's staring at her and pointedly, with great and excruciating slowness, lowering the spoon in his hand back down to the plate before pushing it aside.

h-horrible. she's horrible. wretched, even? deplorable. absolutely beyond fathoming, the depths of her cruelty. ]

Now you've gone and ruined my appetite. Is that what you were after, hm? Hm? Are you satisfied with yourself, now? Talking about tongue-gouging at the table? For shame, Miss Ciel, certainly you were raised with better manners than that. I'm, frankly? Appalled.

[expiera]

Is that so.

[She nonchalantly reaches for the bowl of her soup, then lifts it to her face with both hands without looking at him.

...

Then just brings the bowl's rim to her lips, and casually finishes off the whole of the broth as if this was ramen. Once done, the empty bowl is deposited back onto the table, she then reaches for the napkin towel to daintily dab at the corner of her mouth. Taking her sweet time through it all, she's not the least bit fussed that her dining partner is watching her with greatly exaggerated "horror".]

When was the last time you had a proper meal? Are you really going to waste food like this? That's disrespectful to the chefs, you know.

[inutilis]

As if you care in the least about disrespect?! I don't want to hear admonishments from you after all this.

[ he's huffily folding arms over his chest, averting his gaze from the table as if he is simply Done with this and her. yes, he is just so well-known for his manners that he is so very far above this?? honestly. ]

Well? Are you quite finished now you've had enough for at least seventeen fully grown men? I don't know where it all goes but I have a feeling you'll only threaten to do something truly heinous to me if I were to ask.

[expiera]

You have to respect yourself before you become respected by other people. Since you don't have an ounce of dignity in your body, of course respect is wasted on you.

[Among what's left are what appears to be samosas, were those supposed to be the appetizers? Well oops, they're getting eaten now instead of being first. She picks one up with a bare hand.]

If you can't finish everything because you're full, does that mean you don't want desserts?

[inutilis]

[ and where a certain man had been fully prepared to lean into the Obnoxious treatment he's been indulging thus far, he goes very still once more--

but this time, his eyes have slid right to hers as if she has said a word... a word that has frozen, seized him from top to toe. and he repeats it, whispered, hushed, as if it is sacred. ]

D... dessert--?

1/2

[expiera]

...

[This is downright pathetic. She JUST called him NO DIGNITY, and he immediately goes on to prove her right. Is the audience seeing this shit? Ugh. WHY does he do this on purpose? It's silly and makes it tempting to bully him more.]

2/2

[expiera]

We can get dessert, but on two conditions. Are you paying attention?

[inutilis]

[ it's the terrible fault of all men without shame nor pride: without dignity to speak of, one does not particularly mind acting utterly undignified...... mm, shame, shame. a real shame.

which is to say that Abel is leaning in over the table as best he can without disrupting anything, head bobbing in an eager nod. ]

--Yes! Yes, yes? I'm paying attention?

[ WHAT IS IT?? say the words, Ciel. tell him. he's all ears.

but not literally, because ears can't eat desserts. obviously. ]

[expiera]

[She holds out her index finger.]

One, you have to finish everything you ordered here.

[Which probably isn't going to be hard, given how his pace didn't slow in the slightest until he stopped for the express purpose of being dramatic at her. Moving on, she unfurls her middle finger towards him, a clean V sign that has nothing peaceful going for it.]

Two, I want information. It's the least that a mooching loiterer can offer if he simply spends all his days pestering other passersby, hmm?

[The casual and foregone front she puts out at her 'demands' belies the sharper glint in her eyes. Is "information" a negotiable thing for him, or does he recognize the risks with enough gravity to back away entirely?

Desserts are on the line.]

[inutilis]

[ w-well. there isn't all too much left on the table, and truthfully... he had been abstaining not because he were full or felt that he was finished, but.

...well, it isn't important, is it?! it's fine! it's fine, because Ciel is encouraging him to go on and finish what he started; so he's abruptly shoving a mouthful of well-flavored, spiced meat into his gob with vigor. ]

Information--?

[ he said that with his mouth crammed with food, so. like. good luck deciphering it?? ]

...What kind of information? Are you looking for my astrological sign~? My favorite color? Are we going to talk about whether we're cat or dog people~?