So when life gives you lemons, make some lemonade

[notimmortal]

[So yeah, that trial was totally a thing. But if there's one thing Jansen knows, it's how to deal with crap like this. You gotta move on and try to do what you can do rather than getting upset about what just happened. Right now, they don't need to be mulling over this too much.

So he'll go around and slip some papers under the doors of everyone still alive. On each he writes the following: Let's meet in the Great Hall in about an hour. I think we could all use a good meal and some company right now.

And true to his word, he'll have some food prepared. Nothing too special, but it's warm and tasty and there is no fruit involved in its making. He cooked up some meats and also made some rolls and simple side dishes. There's enough to feed everyone so dig in!

Also, thanks to Ayumu there will be cookies and other not fruity baked goods available as well.]

Comments

[breakingthrough]

It's definitely a welcome touch. But shouldn't we be the ones making comfort food for you?

[Teasing aside, she knows he went through a lot.]

The gender isn't the important part. [SHRUG.] It's just the way you act.

[godinsolitude]

How in the world do I act like a wife?

[Utterly deadpan, though there's some irritation to it. If she says 'cooking', Ayumu has Opinions on that....]

I don't need comfort food. Doing this is relaxing enough.

[breakingthrough]

You're taking care of everyone before taking care of yourself. You're trying to be strong for the sake of others.

[See: Hiyono.]

Also, cooking is relaxing for you.

[CASE IN POINT.]

Well, I suppose you could also argue "Mom"... But it still stands.

[godinsolitude]

[Is he more irritated by 'wife' or 'mom'? It's hard to tell, really, from the grumpy scowl on his face and the firmness of his response.]

I am not a mom, either. I'm just doing what I want to do, that's all.

[And trying to help people recover from the aftermath of a long, ghastly trial, because it's better for the good of everyone that they find some equilibrium--

That wasn't really a defense, though. He starts moving the cookies to the cooling rack, still gooey warm, to set properly. They'll be the perfect level of chewy when they cool, since he already had a batch of crunchier ones.

.....Just a slightly obsessive level of detail.]

Everyone handles things like this differently. This is mine. It doesn't indicate anything whatsoever.

[breakingthrough]

What would I know, I've only lived a couple hundred thousand years longer than you.

[There are so many things here working against him here, she's just going to keep smiling at him in a knowing fashion. What she says next might come as a small surprise because it's a small bout of seriousness after a whole lot of lighthearted teasing.]

Sure. There's nothing wrong with that. But just remember-- the more you look after others, the more they'll come to rely on you. In turn, don't be surprised when they start worrying about you. Even if you think you have it all locked up in a box, people are going to look even if you don't want them too.

[Edna bites into a warm, perfect cookie and grins, seriousness finished.]

Umu's homemade cookies. You can just taste the love.

[E D N A.]

[godinsolitude]

[Unfortunately, Ayumu liked to think he was more subtle than he actually was-- a sentiment some chose to respect, but clearly Edna wasn't one of them.

He doesn't drop a cookie, he drops the entire pan on the counter. Luckily the poor cookies only get dislodged a little. He gapes at her, a telling flush of embarrassment coming to his cheeks.]

You--

[Damn it, he's speechless. It takes him a second to find the words, what even was this girl--]

....Sure are a brat, for being a couple thousand years old.

[breakingthrough]

Denial like that isn't healthy you know.

[Nothing says she's right more than the look on his face. It's incredibly satisfying.

Is this the power of a Seraph? Maybe. Or maybe this is just the sign of what over a thousand years of watching humanity will do to you. In reality, they're more alike than he probably realizes. Edna shrugs, smiling wryly.]

Spending a few hundred years alone on a mountain will do that to you.

[godinsolitude]

[And he just scowls in response to that satisfied look on her face. Damn it--]

It give you a bad attitude? Seems like.

[Then again, maybe he could identify with that, just a little.]

[breakingthrough]

No.

[Edna shrugs very casually.]

You can blame my brother for that.

[YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT, RIGHT AYUMU?]

[godinsolitude]

Oh?

[HE SURE CAN.....]