Third Floor Common Room - Sunday afternoon - 12/21

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

As Lurlinemas was looming, Liir was in the kitchen in his common room, working on a gift for his father. It was a candy Three had made once, not for Lurlinemas but for a summer holiday he couldn't remember; he hadn't gotten any, but he knew what it looked like and the smell had kept him watching even when he'd been called to play.

The brightly colored candy was just right for pulling and so that was what he was doing, wondering if he'd be able to get it looking as he'd seen that candy look. He didn't know if his father would like it, but hopefully the effort would at least count for something.

And, of course, it was an interesting exercise in cooking.

[open like a common room!]

Comments

[heromaniac]

Momoko found herself wandering into the common room, looking for something interesting and wondering who all was still at school. Oh look! People! People making... was that candy? She stepped closer.

"Hi! Can I ask what are you making? It looks like Christmas candy; I've never seen someone make candy before."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He smiled and nodded.

"I'm trying to make some, yes. I've made little candies, and you're welcome to them."

He pointed at the white and the green.

"Amaretto and pearlfruit, if you like those."

He looked down at what he was working on.

"The ribbons, however, are a little difficult."

[heromaniac]

"Ah! Thank you! I love candy! Yes please!" Momoko looked over at the candies already made. "I've never heard of pearlfruit, though! What does it taste like?" She wasn't going to turn down free candy, but she was curious. She picked up a piece.

"Ribbons? Is that what you're holding, ribbon candy? Why is it more difficult than these? Isn't it just a squiggly shape?" She waved her candy in the air to demonstrate.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but I have to form the squiggles, and make sure I keep them even," he said as he pulled the candy carefully to prepare it.

"And pearlfruit is lightly sweet, a little acidic, and... well, they're unique. Feel free to take a few if you like them."

[heromaniac]

"Hee! It's dangerous to offer me candy! I'll take as much as you'll give me!" She popped the candy in her mouth and spent a moment tasting it. "It is good! It tastes slightly familiar, but not like something I really know. More like I should know the flavour but I don't." She was definitely taking a few back to the stash in her room, she decided.

She tilted her head and watched him work. "I hope I'm not bothering you, but why does it matter if the squiggles are even? Isn't the second best thing about homemade things that they aren't perfect? I mean, if you wanted perfect you could always just buy machine-made."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Because I'm making them for my father, and I want them to be as nice as they can be."

He worked the candy carefully.

"And you're not bothering me. I don't mind explaining. I would like to know your name, though. Mine is Liir, if you didn't know. I cook a lot. And bake too, honestly."

[heromaniac]

"Eeep!" Momoko's eyes grew big and she slapped her forehead, then bowed in apology. "Sorry! Sorry! I'm Momoko. Momoko Akatsutsumi! Nice to meet you, although I've seen you around, we've never actually talked and I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself and I even ate your candy first and you're busy making a gift for your dad and that was so rude of me." She smiled cheerfully. "It's really really good candy though, the piece I tried! And even if it wasn't perfect looking, I'm sure that the taste would make up for it, especially if it's for your dad because my dad says that it's what your heart puts into a gift not what your hands do and I'm sure that's right because I can't make anything!"

She paused and scratched her cheek, still grinning. "Wait, you bake? That's a coincidence!"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I work in the kitchen a lot," he said.

"And it's all right. I can get carried away myself. It's very nice to meet you Momoko."

[heromaniac]

"I especially get carried away when there's baked goods or sweets involved!" Momoko winked and gave a cheerful thumbs up. "I'm a sucker for food! And if you ever need a taste tester, feel free to look for me! Room 307, just down the hall!"

"Right!" She clapped her hands, rocked back on her heels and smiled. "So! Is there anything I can do to help with the gift for your dad? I understand if not, but I'm willing to help to pay for the candy I'm eating and to make up for being rude. Although you probably don't want me to actually cook anything since it won't be fit to eat afterwards."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep that in mind. And really, nothing needs be paid back. Just... tell me it tastes good?"

[heromaniac]

Momoko blinked in surprise, then nodded eagerly. "It does. It really does! You can't tell? It's not too sweet at all, which is good for hard candy, since some of it can taste like pure sugar and have no real flavour, and the texture is really nice, too. I really like the amaretto, because it seems a bit of a fuller flavour, but they're both good and very Christmassy!"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I always like a second opinion. And thank you; I thought the colors might be nice, considering."

He took a few of them and put them into a little baggie that he tied.

"Here. For you. Happy Lurlinemas."

[heromaniac]

"Ah! Yay! Thank you, thank you!" Momoko bounced and accepted the baggie. Yay candy candy HOMEMADE candy! "I don't have anything to give you for returns, I'm sorry! I'll find something, though." She beamed and clutched the candies. "Is Lurlinemas the same as Christmas? Or is it a different holiday?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"It's a different holiday," he said, "but it's about the same time. I'm not particularly religious, though, so it's just a holiday."

[heromaniac]

"Then a happy Lurlinemas to you, too! Are you going home then, to deliver your present and spend Lurlinemas with your family?" She paused and fiddled with the baggie. "Uhm, I don't have to wait until Lurlinemas to open this, right?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"It's Lurlinemas today," he told her with a faint smile.

"And my only family is here in the town, so I won't be going anywhere."

There was, of course, Trism, but he wouldn't endanger him right now. It was too soon.

[heromaniac]

"Wah? Then I definitely wish you a happy Lurlinemas! I'm sorry that I didn't know, but it's not on my calendar. I'll have to add it. Yay! I don't have to wait for days and days and days to eat the candy!" She grinned and tilted her head. "And your family is in town? I didn't think I'd ever meet anyone who's actually from here; everyone seems to be from somewhere else - another world, usually. It must be nice having your family nearby! And it probably saves on phone calls!"