(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]

...

[...

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~?

[expiera]

Don't talk with your mouth full.

[Gross... She's leaning away again because he is shameless AND disgusting, the mixed smell of spices and cheap perfume is also a unflattering one tbqh,]

No, I want to hear about the people a penniless itinerant like you may run into. The most depressive and aggressive ones that probably always get into fights with each other. You would definitely know about those kind of pitiful people, wouldn't you?

[That asked, she goes back to nibbling on her samosa. Yeah, just wanna hear about other hobos because... Godsblood can get dangerous at night? It's a weird inquiry, but not too suspicious to onlookers either, probably?]

[inutilis]

[ ah. ...ah, he catches her meaning. he catches her drift, and he's chewing the contents of his mouth at the least, swallowing and even doing the great service of drinking some water to wash it down before replying. ]

Oh! Well, why didn't you say so from the beginning...? I'd be happy to tell you what I know, but-- I'm afraid there's only one such person here in Godsblood that I run across on a semi-regular basis. Honestly, he has such a reputation I'm sure you know precisely who I'm talking about, don't you...?

[expiera]

[Chew, chew, swallow.]

Because you were too enamored with the sound of your own voice and being a public disaster to give me a chance to.

[Shrug.]

No. I'm a traveler staying briefly in Godsblood for personal matters, why and how should I know about what sort of gossip and rumours are going around town? Those kind of people sound like trouble, so I just thought it would be safer to be in the know.

[She's still eating, not exercising or doing gymnastics. Safety concerns are totally legitimate?]

[inutilis]

[ don't mind him as he just ignores the entire first part of that,

and... fixes her with an increasingly dull look. ]

You're doing this on purpose, right? You're trying to slowly drive me insane by insinuating something and then pretending you weren't insinuating what you're clearly insinuating. To see how long I'll last. How long I can endure. How long I can survive your sick games.

[expiera]

[In that case, she'll take the liberty of leaning one elbow onto the table and use that hand to prop her face up, then pop the remaining bite of that samosa into her mouth as if one was snacking on grapes. She has table manners unlike him, so he's left to brood at her in silence until she's properly chewed and swallowed her food before answering him without looking at him.]

You are still playing. Are you enjoying yourself?

[inutilis]

No, actually~! If it weren't for the meal, I think I might've expired on the spot and surely turned to dust or ash by now.

[ a long-suffering sigh, another enormous portion of meat in his piehole, another graceless talk through chewing, ]

I can't believe this. You know, you're quick to throw around the worst 'masochist,' but what about 'sadist,' Miss Ciel? Hm? Hmm??

[expiera]

And mentioning 'dessert' will have you perk back up like a stray offered treats all over again. What's your point?

[Pulling a mostly done plate of seafood back in front of her, she idly dips her spoon in to gather the bits of vegetables and fish left to polish it off completely.]

Hm? You would know more than me, you're the one who still reeks of cheap perfume. Is that what you've been up to in your free time, here in Godsblood?

[inutilis]

Oh, come now. You no longer have any right to make that face where the company I keep is concerned, mm? That ship sailed long ago, and I wasn't the one who saw it leaving port, I'll remind you!!

[ it seems he really is dedicated to this whole narrative of this messy and complicated divorce scenario, huh, as he finally swallows what's in his mouth to speak more clearly. ]

Are you saying you're jealous? Hm? Is that what all of this has been about? You treating me so callously, so coldly, playing games with my heart knowing I'll always hold a flame for what we had, even if I've been forced to move on...? Ah. Ciel...

[expiera]

I see, so you don't want desserts after all. And I was going to let you pick where to go too, figuring you would know the sweet shops here better than a passing traveler would. Alas...

[Having filled up her spoon, she pops that into her mouth next while the other side of her cheek remains resting atop her knuckles. If that makes her face look hamster-ish while chewing, then ah well, so be it!

Not much left to go before they really clear out everything, now. Enough food for 4~6 grown adults. Are they freaks? They are definitely freaks. At least a few of the Bloodites present agree...]

[inutilis]

[ --excuse him?? he is almost choking on the last bite he's managed to cram between his lips, making a sound of utter protest and indignation-- ]

What do you MEAN I don't want desserts?! Th... that wasn't part of the deal! It's YOUR fault for playing games with me, Ciel, alright?! You asked for information, and-- instead of asking for something REASONABLE, you go and say something cryptic you KNOW I'll take for one thing and pretend you mean another and NOW I'm rambling and you know perfectly well this was going to happen so maybe YOU are a sadomasochist after all--?! Yes. YES, I think that's absolutely what's happening here, and instead of DESSERT, perhaps I ought to recommend you to a THERAPIST!!

[expiera]

...

[Nice, now they have the entire restaurant's attention all over again.]

I'm going to take care of the bill and stop by the restroom. If you haven't calmed down and cleaned up the table by the time I'm back, no desserts. Understood?

[On that note, she gets to her feet and saunters her way to the front counter without further ado, where the polite and gentlemanly manager owner waiter is already waiting for her with a smile.

What will this shameless dinner crasher/forlorn and rejected ex-husband/dramatic hobo do now?! Their surroundings are deathly quiet. It's almost as if the entire establishment is holding its breath... It's a great chance for a clean getaway if he just wanted to dine and dash, isn't it?!]

[inutilis]

[ this feels a little bit like he were a toddler being chastised by his mother rather than a grown man and member of the opposite sect sitting at the table, here,

but perhaps that is appropriate. Abel is watching her as she lifts from the table, straying toward the restroom, and then... he is, to his credit, trying to make the manager owner waiter's life easier by beginning to stack the signs of their Food Slaughter to one side of the table to make the dishware easier to collect and tidying it all.

which is to say... he definitely isn't going anywhere despite the open invitation he's been passed to leave if he were to so wish. perhaps a wiser man would've taken that offered hand and run with it if they'd known what were good for them, but--

d-dessert...? dessert. he... he cannot, he simply cannot, alright??

by the time Ciel gets back, Abel is leaning an arm over the back of his chair and cheerily chatting up a pair of women at a nearby table, laughing merrily as they gossip about something or another and there is a low buzz in the dining room as people have begun slowly beginning to place their bets over what'll happen next between these two idiots strange folk. --oh, it looks like she's coming back!! all eyes are suddenly turning toward a blue-haired woman, aren't they, ]