A small thank you

[champagnedelis]

Characters: Francisca and YOU
Setting: Kitchens
Format: Starting prose but happy to switch to action~
Summary: Francisca decides to make cake for her friends and loved ones in the tower.
Warnings: None (yet)

Tired-looking but immaculately dressed, Francisca set out the ingredients for her cake, the strawberry jam and bowl of fresh strawberries from breakfast joining the lot for garnishing. For a moment she'd stood there, staring at the food and utensils, absently trying to remember how to make a basic cake of all things... She'd chuckled to herself thinking on how England would react at seeing France at a loss in the kitchen of all places, and started making the batter.

After a moment her hands went on auto-pilot, and the familiar feel of a mixing bowl and spoon in her hands was... comforting. As she stirred the batter into smooth submission, her mind recalled her non-present loved ones, a painful tugging in her heart accompanying the memory of their faces, and then she thought on the new friends she'd made here. Warmth seemed to suffuse her, bringing a pleased flush to her cheeks and a content smile to her lips, as she thought absently on how they might enjoy the cake. Small, simple, not the most elegant of 'thank you's, but still.

Without realizing it, she'd started to hum, checking the batter for lumps before pouring it into the prepared cake-pan.

Comments

[faithstaynight]

Jeanne was still fairly new to the tower. This meant that there was much of it that was unfamiliar to her, and the kitchen was no exception. She was making it a goal, though, to mentally map out as much of this place as she could, so why not start from the bottom up?

So here she was in the kitchen, more or less wandering aimlessly, when she spots the woman. The girl thought she was alone when she entered, so she couldn't help but feel curious...

"I was unaware we were allowed to make food for ourselves."

[champagnedelis]

Francisca glanced up at the voice and smiled in greeting. "Ah, bonjour!" she answered, putting down the now empty bowl. "You must be new... well yes, we are allowed to but they only ever have the ingredients for the month's menu."

With a shrug Francisca picked up the full cake-pan, stepping towards the walk-in oven. "Still, one can make varieties... Ah, did you want something to eat?" she asked, popping into the oven and setting down the pan carefully before getting out and shutting the door. As she dusted off her hands she took a proper look at the girl's face and froze, frowning slightly, something ringing in the back of her mind, dulled by her lengthy stay at the tower. "... I'm sorry, have we met before?"

[faithstaynight]

The girl seems to perk up a little at that. Another native of her homeland? It's... a nice bit of nostalgia. Her second life was spent in a bustling district of modern-day Japan's capitol, so it's refreshing, having someone she can connect with even in such a small way.

"Ah, no, I was simply exploring a bit. I hope I'm not interrupting you, mademoiselle..." She trails off at that, also frowning at that last bit.

"If I may ask... what is your name?"

[champagnedelis]

"Non non, not at all," she answered, lips twitching in a smile again. "Ah, where are my manners? My name is Francisca Bonnefoy, though many just call me France... And you are...?" she trailed off, coming around and extending her hand towards the girl.

[faithstaynight]

"Ah..."

So... this was the woman that France - the male one - had told her about? There was definitely that certain strange air about her. A hint of nostalgia, perhaps, or familiarity... but it was the same feeling she felt when she was talking to that man. There was no mistaking that. So that's what helped her open up a little more.

"Most here know me as Ruler. But that is... more of a title, than a true name." She pauses, so she can brace herself. It's less emotionally overwhelming for her, but she remembered how the other France reacted, so she has to prepare herself for how this one will react as well.

She takes the lady's hand to shake, looking her straight in the eye as she speaks again. "My true name is Jeanne. Jeanne d'Arc."

[champagnedelis]

There was a sharp intake of breath, eyes widening and hand clenching down hard over Jeanne's and somewhere in the subconscious part of her mind Francisca knew not to grab too tight because humans are delicate and Jeanne was no ordinary human but mortal nonetheless as the flames consumed her and-

Her face was as white as the flour dusting the counter top and she took a shaky inhale, eyes glistening with tears that she would not shed after centuries of mourning. "Ah."

She sank to her knees gracefully and held Jeanne's hand to her lips, shoulders trembling with the effort to keep a rein on her emotions. "It's been a while, ma petite ange."

[faithstaynight]

This was... certainly not what she was expecting. For all her preparation, she could not stop herself from looking a bit flustered. This was a... spirit? Embodiment? Representation of her country, the homeland she had fought so fiercely to save... she should be the one to bend her knee, not this woman. So she crouches down, placing her free hand on the woman's shoulder.

"P-Please, rise up! There is no need to do such a thing..."

[champagnedelis]

She kept her gaze down, voice mournful as she answered, "I can't. I was but a girl myself at the time but to see exactly how young you were now..."

Her voice dropped to a whisper, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

[syncingdoll]

As a habitual voyeur of life in general, Kohaku had stopped in the midst of going to gather ingredients for something-or-other herself, to simply watch Francisca at work. It's clear the woman's operating from the ease born of years and years of experience, less conscious thought and more pure reflex.

What's interesting, though, is the natural happiness that routine seems to suffuse Francisca with. A private little smile and a happy hum... it serves to illuminate to Kohaku all that's still missing from the facsimiles of scenes like this, that she's enacted countless times in the past.

It would be cruel to interrupt. As she is, though, Kohaku feels free to act with impunity - and secretly even to herself, with a little bit of selfish vindication. "You're very experienced at this. Is cooking your career, or a hobby?"

[champagnedelis]

Francisca twitched at the verbal interruption and glanced up at the girl, a polite smile automatically coming to her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," she chuckled, setting down the now empty mixing bowl.

"Ah, well, I've had many jobs and at various points I did work as a chef, but alas I'm afraid it is more of a hobby than anything." she answered with a sigh and a shrug, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I take it you are about to cook yourself, ouai?" she noted, taking in the ingredients gathered. "Hobby or career?"

[thisclinchesit]

Shoutarou had come to the kitchen area seeking out coffee - perhaps some sort of wishful thinking that it might show up before the actual month rolled over. However, what he found - who he found - caught him completely off-guard, especially given how their last meeting went. He stumbles backwards upon seeing Francisca, and comically fumbles for something to brace against, only succeeding in knocking a metal bowl off the counter and into the floor.

So much for stealth.

[champagnedelis]

Francisca jumped at the loud clatter, nearly dropping the bowl of batter in the process. As it was she nearly dropped the bowl again, staring with wide eyes at Shoutarou.

"Oh. You were real..."

[thisclinchesit]

He stares right back at her, clumsily fumbling at his neck to try and loosen his tie, as it seems that breathing is a fair bit more difficult all of a sudden. He swallows hard, and when he speaks up, it's a bit strangled-sounding.

"Of course I was real...! I tried to tell you!"

[champagnedelis]

She was deathly pale and wary, stepping closer and closer to him, as if afraid that if she moved too quickly he'd vanish. When she was finally only a couple of feet away from him, she reached a hand for him, trying not to notice how badly it was trembling, pausing mid-air, still not sure if she should touch him.

[thisclinchesit]

Shoutarou stayed where he was, though he worked his way back up into a proper standing position. Once she pauses, though, he reaches up with his own hands to take her one - carefully.

He then hangs his head, with a heavy sigh.

_{"Again... I'm sorry."}

[champagnedelis]

Shaking harder, she stepped forward slowly and reached out with her other hand, pressing to his shoulder, making a quiet choked noise when she can feel him, actually feel that he's there.

Her fingers curled into his shirt and she stepped forward again, hiding her face against his chest as she pressed herself to him. "It's not- You're alive, that's more than enough-"

[thisclinchesit]

Once she got close, he hesitated for a moment, then his arms closed around her tightly - almost vicelike. It went beyond the kind of hug you give someone you haven't seen in a while - this was stemming from months without any kind of human interaction. Months of being alone, not knowing if he'd ever see anyone else ever again.

_{"...is it too late to admit you were right about the 'stupid' part?"}

[champagnedelis]

Her laugh might have sounded a bit choked but she clung to him, shaking her head slightly. She lifted her face, hands moving to cup his cheeks, and stared up at him, smile a bit wobbly and eyes a bit too bright, before she let out a hushed laugh and kissed him hard.

[knightime]

Dave didn't really frequent the kitchens very often since he was pretty much useless when it came to cooking. Once in awhile, he'll go in though, although it was usually a useless endeavor or Dave was just wondering the tower.

It was better than doing nothing all day and it was good to revisit the floors and places once in awhile just to make sure it hasn't suddenly changed since last time he's been there. It's not hard for him to spot her though and he halts to a stop. "I haven't seen you in awhile."

He's not sure if that's good or bad though considering this place.

[champagnedelis]

Francisca glanced up and stared for a moment before smiling. "I was forced to take some bed-rest."

Batter all poured in, she set down the bowl and paused, staring down at the counter. "I'm... sorry. For being such a nuisance."

[knightime]

"Bed rest is pretty good in this place." Dave really should invest more time in that shit. Nope, too busy wandering the tower.

He leans against the counter, propping his head up on his hands. "Seriously, you are probably the least nuisance thing in this place. I've dealt with worst. It's cool. You look like you're doing better." Which he's glad, because you kind of freaked him out last time.

[champagnedelis]

She smiled apologetically, silently conveying how sorry she was that he had to see that. "I am. Or at least I'm getting there. Have you been staying out of trouble?"

[knightime]

"Of course. I've been a very good boy. Eat my veggies and brush my teeth after." No. He's lying. He's been pretty miserable.

[champagnedelis]

"Of course you have," she answered smoothly, not believing it for a second. "The kitchen's been stocked with rather horrendous ingredients this month but there's enough for me to make some spiced mash potato. Care to join me for some?"

That's her way of saying you're looking a little peaky, maybe some hearty food will do you some good.

[knightime]

"They're pretty bad at giving us decent food apparently."

He kind of keeps his eyes downcasted at her hands and what she's doing when he replies. "Yeah, okay. That sounds good."

She's right though. He's been kind of shit with how he's been eating, and the week of eating strange and weird things during June didn't help.