astralcook

[astralcook]

"No no no." She rapidly shook her head. "I'm not good with speaking at all. This entire conversation is proof of that."

Without even realizing, she'd finished her bowl, and she pushed it aside. She wasn't hungry enough to go for seconds right now. Or maybe her stomach just didn't have as much room with how twisted up in knots it was.

"I'm fine up here just cooking for everyone and retreating to my room to write and watch anime."

"I guess that is a lot of risk for not even a guaranteed reward huh? Probably would have to stick to the towns already saved." If she were free to travel as she pleased, Evie would be a bit of a menace. So maybe the monitor bands were a good thing.

"Some people think nerds are hot ya know. You could certainly try wooing them that way. Could practice on me if you want. I won't judge you too harshly~"

[astralcook]

She shook her head. "It's not that I wouldn't want to, but leaving the Express to go on an adventure like that is always intimidating to me. And my path is Abundance. I'm not a fighter. I'd get mauled the first time I run into a monster or whatever."

And then she reached up and adjusted her glasses after they slid down her nose.

"And I'm kind of a nerd. I can't exactly woo someone with my knowledge of anime..."

She stared off for a moment while she ate. Maybe it was more than good luck after all. Could be she actually was in some sort of league?

"Mmmm yeah relationships are tricky when you travel a lot the way you do. If you had some confidence built up, could probably have some fun in every place you visit. Unless you aren't into that sort of life."

[astralcook]

"But he could get any woman he wants and he picked you, at least for a while," she mumbled into her stew.

She pushed her spoon around in it for a bit before saying, "I mostly stay here on the Express so it's not like I'm out finding relationships or people to sleep with."

"When you put it like that, I suppose I can see where you're coming from." It was just hard to see herself that way. "I'm still surprised by it myself. Maybe he just found himself in a desperate time." That was just her constant mode these days.

[astralcook]

"I'm pretty sure 'someone who can get the attention of a literal prince' is out of reach for me." She lowered her head and just focused on her stew for now. She didn't know why she was talking about this, but she couldn't stop.

That was sort of flattering to know she was even in a league. "Oh hun, I'm not that out of reach." She waved a hand while she took a bite. "Don't think so low of yourself. A girl that can cook this good is in a pretty high demand. Plus you've got such a pretty face, when I can see it anyway."

[astralcook]

Her cheeks went red as she stuffed a spoonful of stew in her mouth. It gave her long enough to gather the courage to speak frankly again, which seemed to be what Evie wanted.

"I think you're out of my league and wouldn't have even thought about it if I didn't say that just now."

She grabbed a biscuit and headed to one of the small tables set up for when they wanted to eat in the kitchen.

"Um, well..." Tomiko stared into her stew. "I could cook for you? I doubt after a guy like him, I could replace that for you so..."

[astralcook]

She grabbed a biscuit and headed to one of the small tables set up for when they wanted to eat in the kitchen.

"Um, well..." Tomiko stared into her stew. "I could cook for you? I doubt after a guy like him, I could replace that for you so..."

That caught her a bit off guard as she took the bowl. Someone actively wanting to spend time with her was… odd. “Yeah I won’t lie, it was a very big incentive.” It was probably unexpected of her to still be hanging around this long. “Those archives have some good info, buuuut it’s so much harder to get through all that reading when you don’t have a little treat waiting for you after.”

[astralcook]

"Well, I kind of did. But then I'd lose the chance to spend more time with you before you leave. You probably don't plan on coming back much since most of your incentive is gone..."

She held a bowl out. "Take as much as you want. I always make a ton because Caelus ends up sniffing around for snacks at midnight."

Damn, he really didn't settle at all. His little sister should be pretty happy about that too. Hopefully made up for the embarrassment she inflicted on her before.

"Why I would just be so honored." She said in an exaggerated voice. "Unless you're just really dying to go watch your show all by yourself." Evie was also very hungry and the smell was amazingggg.

[astralcook]

"Well... they're both also Emanators of Harmony, so they probably connect on a level us mere mortals can't understand." Finally she turned back around to pull out the bowls she'd been reaching for when March texted her.

"...did you want to eat with me? I was just gonna sit in my room and watch a show I've been binging."

Leaning in, she let out a whistle. "No waaaay. I do enjoy some good pop, but I mean even if I wasn't a pop fan, her face ends up in a lot of ads." It was a bit hard to tell what was going on in the photo, but there were certainly visible smiles.

"Guess it makes sense for the music prince to go after a pop star. Now that's some hot gossip."

[astralcook]

The noise Tomiko let out wasn't quite a whine. Okay, maybe she did like knowing the gossip around the train. She'd been this way back home as well.

Finally she turned the stove off and touched the pot. It glowed for a moment. "...um, I figured out a trick to use my fire powers to keep food warm, since everyone doesn't usually eat at the same time." Why did she feel the need to justify herself?

Her phone went off, and she pulled it out to see a text from March. The photo was angled a little weird, like she was hiding to take it.

"Speaking of..." She turned the phone around for Evie to see. The message that went with it was March celebrating her sleuthing skills. And also to keep her lunch warm because she'd be back soon.

The photo was in Golden Hour, with Tempera sitting on a bench with a woman, seeming to be conversing.

"I guess he didn't settle. That's um... I guess her name might not mean much to you if you don't follow pop music? She's a huge star. We met her during the incident in Penacony."

"Yep, I have no shame in it. I wasn't really that sneaky about it either so it's fine. " She snickered a little. "I can see you enjoy gossip. Don't worry about offending me. I am also a connoisseur of it."

[astralcook]

"I don't know the answer to either of those," Tomiko said just as the timer went off for the biscuits. She quickly went over to take them out of the oven and set them on a cooling rack on the counter. "He apparently went back to Penacony. That's all I've actually heard from him."

A pause, and then, "So you were sleeping with him." Another pause. "S-sorry, I shouldn't say that, should I? It's just, my room is near his so I'd see you go in there."

"A date huh." She continued to swirl her hair around her finger. "Wonder if that's an assumption from March, or if he's finally found someone." Letting out a little sigh, she leaned against the counter even more. "Guess the fun's over, but good for him. He better not be settling either."

[astralcook]

"Maybe a little," she said. "But he's not here right now. March said it sounded like he had a date." She ducked her head.

"Not that it's any of my business. She just. Seems to like talking at me."

She laughed. "Doesn't sound silly at all. I'm sure he makes a lot of people swoon and act all nervous. He's hot and friendly, double threat." She crossed her arms, lifting one hand to toy with a strand of hair. "I guess I don't have trouble talking to a lot of people. Otherwise my current job would be verrrry hard."

"Dooooo you wannnaaaa talk to him?" She glanced over at her with a little smirk.

[astralcook]

"Sure, but he just has this... sparkly aura that makes you want to make sure he's happy." Tomiko ducked her head. "That probably sounds silly to someone like you. You don't seem to have any trouble talking to him at all, either."

"Mmmm, I thought I smelled something meaty. Guess I only just now noticed that there aren't always a lot of meat options here when I visit." And now she knew it was because her visits normally correlated with him being here too. "Guess it's a good thing he's away then, but... ya know, I think he'd probably be fine if you did. Cook whatever your cute little heart desires."

[astralcook]

"Oh. Um. I'm just making lunch. March requested 'something hearty that will let her power through her training' so I'm making beef stew." She turned back to the giant pot. "And there are biscuits in the oven."

This was good. As long as she was just talking about food, apparently she did fine.

"I um, feel bad making stuff like this when Tempera's around since he doesn't eat meat." Oh there it was, of course she ended up mentioning him.

For once she came on board and had to actually do research since her pretty boy was missing. Her eyes were going cross from reading so many entries, so she decided to walk around when she smelled something from the kitchen.

"Heeeey." She leaned on a nearby counter, watching without getting too close. "Hope I'm not bothering you. Just smelled so good I had to see what was goin on."

[astralcook]

@stealthsleuth

Tomiko hadn't really approached Evie, considering whenever she saw the woman, she was with Tempera. There was no way she was going to try to compete against the likes of him for Evie's attention.

But an opportunity arose when Evie boarded the Express and, for the first time, Tempera was off somewhere else. So when Evie showed up in the kitchen as she was making lunch, Tomiko turned.

Gotta play it cool. You can do this.

"Um. Hi."

[astralcook]

((Sets Tomiko down for anyone who wants her.))

[astralcook]

(text) That and I’m not sure what else she would want to do at this point

She shook her head. Of course Roxy was teasing her. That was her thing.

(text) I don’t think I have to worry about what she might do to me.

[astralcook]

A hand raised, gentle kneading Evie’s chest. And yes, her cheeks remained red.

“Well, then that’s just… not fair, isn’t it? Sex is supposed to be something both people enjoy…”

She took a deep breath before moving with her, kissing her again. Lips went lower, pressing kisses to her collarbone and then her shoulder.

“I want you to feel good, too,” she murmured against Evie’s skin.