sheridan | [closed] Gotta do the cooking by the book

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[closed] Gotta do the cooking by the book

[The air felt different today. Senel couldn't quite explain it - after all, Werites Beacon was a floating island. It was entirely possible that the Legacy had shifted towards another part of the world. Entirely possible... and not the proper explanation. It couldn't be, because it didn't explain the unsettling feeling in his stomach.

He and Shirley were out today to run errands. Typical brother-sister stuff. They'd get groceries, put them back in the kitchen, and then treat themselves to hot chocolate ~~because it was kinda cold today~~.

Except, while they're paying for groceries, someone inevitably recognizes Senel. Not as a Coliseum champion, mind you, or as an Alliance Marine. Oh, no, they ask him for advice on chocolate chip cookies. Senel gives it, absentmindedly, before turning to stare at the woman as she leaves the store.]

Uh.

[He glances over at Shirley.] Wait, why're people asking me this kinda stuff?

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Hm...

[She walks a little more slowly now, giving him an appraising look.]

You seem happy with the things you do for Will, so I think that could be a good step for you. I'm not sure about the baker, but it wouldn't hurt to help out there more to see how you feel about that too.

Might as well get paid for it too, I guess. [With both of them, really - though Senel's not sure if he'd last long as a baker. Too many people wanting to know why their pie crusts shrunk or why they can't just seem to get the perfect cookie.

Don't mistake his slightly-apathetic tone for indifference: he's not used to genuinely wanting something for himself like this, and the idea kinda scares him. What is this kind of personal responsibility?]

I'll see if I can talk to Will about it tomorrow. [beat] We got the marshmallows, right? For the hot cocoa?

Yes, we have the marshmallows. It should only be a few more minutes until we're back, so it won't be too long until before we can use them.

[Good thing, too. They've been out longer than expected, even aside from the sudden influx of baking questions, so it's starting to edge towards evening. And speaking of that...]

You ought to retire early tonight. If you're going to make things official with Will, you should start waking up earlier in the day.

[Senel breathes a sigh of relief. Good, good, he hadn't forgotten it like he thought he might've.

His relief melts into slight anger, though, at the idea of going to bed early. He has stuff to do! And things to accomplish!

Not that he'll vocalize said anger, because it's coming from a good place. He sighs, blowing his bangs out of his face.] That's asking a lot, Shirley. Like everything else, I'll... I'll see what I can do.

[Exasperating, but...not unexpected. That's Senel, all right, so Shirley just sighs.]

I'll remind you when I leave for Musette's.

[His sleep is super important to him! Honestly, if he could marry his bed, he probably would.]

Th...thanks.

[She means well. She really does. So he forces a smile as they approach his house. Fumbling for the keys for a few seconds, he unlocks the door and holds it open for her. The kitchen's probably the neatest room in the entire place: Senel's left it spotless, even though he'd spent most of the week baking something or another.

Once they're both inside, he grabs a pan and starts to warm up the milk and chocolate. (Because it's him, he's making it entirely from scratch.)]

[Shirley hangs back and lets him work - Senel's well practiced at this sort of thing, after all, and she doesn't want to interfere. She busies herself handling the groceries instead, setting out the marshmallows where Senel can reach them easily.]

[She wouldn't interfere! At least, he wouldn't consider it interfering. Senel quickly gets down to work, gathering the ingredients together and making what he hopes is the best hot chocolate they've had in a long while.

For him, this is as much of a distraction as any fight: the kitchen might as well become his new battlefield. It's a lot less violent, but there's always new appliances to play with and new recipes to try out. Boredom wouldn't happen here often.

Once he's done, he pours two mugs for them, careful to add just the right amount of marshmallows before he hands one over to Shirley.] Here. Let me know if it needs anything.

I'm sure it's fine.

[She blows on it a bit before taking a sip, then nodding her approval.]

It's good!

Yeah? [Even now, confirmation makes him sigh in relief. His "skill" doesn't matter if the people he loves aren't enjoying the food.] I'm glad to hear that.

Thanks for helping me with errands, by the way - even if it went a lot slower than we expected.

You don't have to thank me. I'm glad we both had the time to spend together today. It's been getting busy, with the preparations for the Ferines migration going on.

[She takes another sip of her hot chocolate and sighs, relaxing a little more as she enjoys the drink.]

It seems like we've both been getting busier lately.

[That's right! It's hard for him to forget about the migration, and he knows Shirley's work means a great deal to her people. He wouldn't even think of standing in the way.

He just... doesn't like the (metaphorical) gulf it's creating between them.] Yeah, sure seems that way.

You don't need me to help out with anything, right? I'd feel weird asking Will for "official" work otherwise.

Working with Will might actually be helping on its own. Even with the Ferines gathered together on the Legacy - no, especially with that beginning soon...there's still a lot to do, if we want the Ferines and Orerines to trust each other. Looking after the town and keeping everything in order will be important to making that happen. A lot of my work is done with Musette and Will, after all.

[More Musette than Will, but...that's okay, really. She has no desire to be a stranger to Senel, of course, but having a little space is good for her right now.]

[Not quite the answer Senel was looking for - and it's fairly obvious - but he can understand why she'd push him towards Will. Politics wasn't even remotely in his scope. Even if he eschewed sheriff work for baking, it would still be something separate. Something uniquely his.]

Just like that, huh? If that's all you need from me, I can manage it. [beat]

The stuff with Will, at least. Not sure if I'll actually talk to the bakery.

[Shirley giggles, but she drinks again and nods.]

Do whatever feels right to you, Senel. As long as you follow that, I don't think it's my place to say anything about whatever you do or don't choose.

[What feels right to him? Senel takes a sip of his hot chocolate (mm, it's better than he remembered) as he thinks about it.]

Even when I sleep in "too late" for you?

Well...if you're working more with Will, I won't have to wake you up as often.

[Since Will'd just kick him awake instead.]

[LOW BLOW, baby sis. Senel groans, trying to hide it by hastily sipping some more hot chocolate.]

Hey, I'd get up in time.... That stuff matters. [Or he'd fall asleep on the suspect he was trying to interrogate. Same difference.]

In that case, I won't have a reason to want to say anything at all.

[Call it revenge for all the times she's had to wake you up, Senel. Shirley loves him, but that particular habit could be improved a lot. But hey, maybe he actually will if it's for the town? ...Maybe.]

[Or he'll just earn a reputation as the narcoleptic sheriff. Which may be a worse fate than actually being the town protector, if he thinks about it too hard. Maybe he should actually go to bed early one of these days...]

When you put it like that... [He sighs, pretending to busy himself with another mug.] Need more marshmallows?

[Shirley recognizes that he's changing the subject, but she can't blame him for needing time to think. Not everyone has near-catastrophic failures to propel them into civil service...thankfully.]

No, I have enough.

[She takes a long sip of her her own drink, watching Senel to see how he's feeling right now. If it looks like he needs support, she's ready; if not, that's really even better.]

[The truth hurts, baby sis, and it hurts more than Senel cares to admit. As of now, he's frustrated (and a little defeated) - but it's nothing he hasn't battled before. Early bedtimes are impossible for someone like him!]

Oh. If you're sure. [He blinks back surprise, helping himself to a fistful of them. Normally, he won't even touch them - someone might be emotionally eating, just this once.]

[That's unusual for Senel, so Shirley's going to go ahead and edge a little closer. She's not the one with a bedtime problem, but she gets how change is.]

It's hard to get rid of old habits. But you don't have to do it all at once, you know. Maybe you can start working with Will just part-time, and see how you do then.

[She's trying to be supportive, and he gets that, so he musters as much of a smile as he can - and he'll put down the fries.

Especially since he's not actually that hungry.]

Yeah. That's feasible, maybe ask him if I can start after lunch and see if we can move the time earlier as I get used to... not sleeping in until noon.

That's a good start. Do you want me to come with you? I have a meeting first thing in the morning, but I should have time in the afternoon.

[Which is the only time he'd go see Will anyway.]

Sure. [He'd take more offense to it if it weren't true.]

What kind of meeting is it, anyways? More migration stuff with the other Ferines?

It's not with the Ferines tomorrow, but I'll be meeting with Musette and some merchants from the mainland to discuss the potential effects on trade the migration will have. I'll have to go back and make some last preparations later.

[Shirley wouldn't give it up for the world, but jumping feet-first into the role of ambassador takes a lot of work.]

Oh. That's definitely more important than me figuring out if I'm gonna follow through on the sheriff thing.

[Which he will, and he knows it. Even though he'll miss sleeping in.]

Let me know if you think it'll take a while. I don't mind waiting, or going ahead and asking by myself.

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[closed] Gotta do the cooking by the book

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This got buried, sorry!

it's all good!

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the notif for this never came....

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oh wow this took too long

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