He does. I wonder if that's why he was so keen on reaching out to us?
[ Albeit in his own...unique way. ]
The reputations we've built for ourselves...
[ Himeka glances towards the snacks that she's created. This always has been herself, hasn't it? Her entire impetus to first travel to far off lands even beyond the Ruby Sea was a culinary venture. Nevermind all the magical growth and world-saving that went alongside that journey--food is her true love.
So she has to wonder, Have I never changed?
Or is her food just that good? ]
Well, I rather enjoy Alucard the Architect. And the chef.
[ She toasts to him with her mug before taking a much bigger drink, now that it's had a minute or two to cool. ]
Oh? Flowers are always lovely. Are they all red?
[ Thankfully the treats she prepared are not fish flavored. Alucard will find simple mochi with red bean paste, a light pudding or strawberries in the daifuku, and colorful nerikiri soaked in less traditional honey. ]
[Alucard's hunch leans towards yes, if only because he must see what is being done and it pings a note of familiarity. Speculating about that out loud though feels like an invitation to be contradicted, and Alucard is not especially inclined to enable that right now. So he lets it go.
In that time, it is clear that Himeka is also thinking, so he lets a comfortable silence settle for a few moments.
To hell with it. He clinks his mug against hers.
I also enjoy being that person instead of others.]
No, the flowers have a wide variety of colors, don't worry.
[He starts with the mochi, taking a bite and considering the texture. It is different. Not in a bad way or a good way, just in a Different way.]
That's a lot of versatility for a simple starch. Consider me impressed with the wide application and how well you are at wielding it.
Well, I wouldn't be surprise if this wasn't the last we'll hear of him.
[ It feels like once he got the Summoned's attention he has been more than willing to use it however he deems fit. Himeka knows that, inherently, being a trickster means that she ought not to trust him. But a part of her hopes that he's doing this not for his amusement, but because he genuinely cares about the Summoned. People he may have been before.
Only time will tell. Strangely, Koth is a bit easier to understand. ]
Well, I'd like to see it someday regardless. Anytime some place is given a name means that it was important to someone.
[ As such, she loves maps and road signs, even if she's keen on wandering about on a whim. Names can carry a lot of weigh and love.
Himeka drinks a bit more as he tries the mochi, always curious about his thoughts as a chef from a different tradition. She beams at his appraisal. ]
Isn't it amazing? You pound it with a mallet and fold it until you get the right consistency. The dragonets helped.
[ She's still teaching them all sorts of new cooking tricks in her domain. She flexes the arm that isn't holding her mug. ]
No, I don't think it is either. Especially if he was trapped with those swords for so long.
[Alucard has a vague concern that they need to worry about that too. About humans finding ways to trick and trap and manipulate them once they're more than human. But maybe that was always a false lead and Fred had just taken advantage of a legend.]
Perhaps one day. In happier circumstances.
[His only visit to Solvunn was under the most dire, after all.]
...Oh, there's hammers involved? [His eyes widen, fascinated.] I assume that it is similar to kneading a bread dough, but why the need for such force? Or is it simple what is required for the texture?
[ That's right--he must feel free as fuck right now, huh? Himeka hadn't considered it that way, but now that Alucard reminded her, she can't get the thought out of her head.
Yes...they certainly won't be seeing the last of him. ]
I think that day will come.
[ Himeka is very confident in that fact. The journey may be a difficult one, but they will find their way in the end. They will accomplish what they need to in Abraxas. Alucard will get to live the life he wants here, amongst new people with a new reputation, and Himeka will get to wander the stars. ]
Mhmm! You're right--it's partly so that it gets the right consistency which is easier to do with great force and also because it's believed to be good luck if you pound and eat the mochi.
[ She picks up one of the simple daifuku and pops it into her mouth. ]
I think we can use a little good luck coming into the new year.
[Alucard will laugh very bitterly about that day coming and neither one of them being able to enjoy the change in scenery. He'll mutter about of course he has somehow gotten trapped in Thorne again and she'll likely commiserate, and that will be that. No Red Path, no exploring Solvunn, only the worst return to the start of it all.
But for now, there's talk of food and the art of it and that is a far better thing.]
Is it because the pounding results in something delicious you get to eat, or is there something else I've missed?
[He takes another sip of cider before reaching for a daifuku himself.]
That feels like an understatement, given the rock.
[ Himeka is many things and an obligate optimist is one of them, despite the reasons she has accumulated to be otherwise. Joy is not achieved without effort, peace without pain. Even when the going gets rough--as it often does both in and outside of Abraxas--there's a way forward. If she doesn't think that way, she won't find it.
This has, of course, gotten her into trouble several times. A little bit of sobering, universe-ending despair helps rough up the edges of that optimism a bit. But it will take more than that to destroy it completely. ]
Yes, it's all about the right texture. You want to be able to pull it so that it stretches, but doesn't break--also, it's kind of fun.
[ And because this is the Horizon, Himeka looks behind them and manifests a large wooden bowl and mallet behind them. Just casually all up in Alucard's house. ]
Here! Maybe you can try it sometime.
[ When he wants to hit something a hundred times but also get a snack after the fact. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Albeit in his own...unique way. ]
The reputations we've built for ourselves...
[ Himeka glances towards the snacks that she's created. This always has been herself, hasn't it? Her entire impetus to first travel to far off lands even beyond the Ruby Sea was a culinary venture. Nevermind all the magical growth and world-saving that went alongside that journey--food is her true love.
So she has to wonder, Have I never changed?
Or is her food just that good? ]
Well, I rather enjoy Alucard the Architect. And the chef.
[ She toasts to him with her mug before taking a much bigger drink, now that it's had a minute or two to cool. ]
Oh? Flowers are always lovely. Are they all red?
[ Thankfully the treats she prepared are not fish flavored. Alucard will find simple mochi with red bean paste, a light pudding or strawberries in the daifuku, and colorful nerikiri soaked in less traditional honey. ]
All are made from rice. What do you think?
no subject
[Alucard's hunch leans towards yes, if only because he must see what is being done and it pings a note of familiarity. Speculating about that out loud though feels like an invitation to be contradicted, and Alucard is not especially inclined to enable that right now. So he lets it go.
In that time, it is clear that Himeka is also thinking, so he lets a comfortable silence settle for a few moments.
To hell with it. He clinks his mug against hers.
I also enjoy being that person instead of others.]
No, the flowers have a wide variety of colors, don't worry.
[He starts with the mochi, taking a bite and considering the texture. It is different. Not in a bad way or a good way, just in a Different way.]
That's a lot of versatility for a simple starch. Consider me impressed with the wide application and how well you are at wielding it.
no subject
[ It feels like once he got the Summoned's attention he has been more than willing to use it however he deems fit. Himeka knows that, inherently, being a trickster means that she ought not to trust him. But a part of her hopes that he's doing this not for his amusement, but because he genuinely cares about the Summoned. People he may have been before.
Only time will tell. Strangely, Koth is a bit easier to understand. ]
Well, I'd like to see it someday regardless. Anytime some place is given a name means that it was important to someone.
[ As such, she loves maps and road signs, even if she's keen on wandering about on a whim. Names can carry a lot of weigh and love.
Himeka drinks a bit more as he tries the mochi, always curious about his thoughts as a chef from a different tradition. She beams at his appraisal. ]
Isn't it amazing? You pound it with a mallet and fold it until you get the right consistency. The dragonets helped.
[ She's still teaching them all sorts of new cooking tricks in her domain. She flexes the arm that isn't holding her mug. ]
It's a good workout.
no subject
[Alucard has a vague concern that they need to worry about that too. About humans finding ways to trick and trap and manipulate them once they're more than human. But maybe that was always a false lead and Fred had just taken advantage of a legend.]
Perhaps one day. In happier circumstances.
[His only visit to Solvunn was under the most dire, after all.]
...Oh, there's hammers involved? [His eyes widen, fascinated.] I assume that it is similar to kneading a bread dough, but why the need for such force? Or is it simple what is required for the texture?
no subject
Yes...they certainly won't be seeing the last of him. ]
I think that day will come.
[ Himeka is very confident in that fact. The journey may be a difficult one, but they will find their way in the end. They will accomplish what they need to in Abraxas. Alucard will get to live the life he wants here, amongst new people with a new reputation, and Himeka will get to wander the stars. ]
Mhmm! You're right--it's partly so that it gets the right consistency which is easier to do with great force and also because it's believed to be good luck if you pound and eat the mochi.
[ She picks up one of the simple daifuku and pops it into her mouth. ]
I think we can use a little good luck coming into the new year.
no subject
But for now, there's talk of food and the art of it and that is a far better thing.]
Is it because the pounding results in something delicious you get to eat, or is there something else I've missed?
[He takes another sip of cider before reaching for a daifuku himself.]
That feels like an understatement, given the rock.
no subject
This has, of course, gotten her into trouble several times. A little bit of sobering, universe-ending despair helps rough up the edges of that optimism a bit. But it will take more than that to destroy it completely. ]
Yes, it's all about the right texture. You want to be able to pull it so that it stretches, but doesn't break--also, it's kind of fun.
[ And because this is the Horizon, Himeka looks behind them and manifests a large wooden bowl and mallet behind them. Just casually all up in Alucard's house. ]
Here! Maybe you can try it sometime.
[ When he wants to hit something a hundred times but also get a snack after the fact. ]