adoringpast | ic inbox for recolle part deux;

No, I don't. Actually a friend made me a cupcake, but that doesn't really count, does it.

[ bless akechi's soul ]

I'll let you use the kitchen... depending on what kind of cake you'll be making. You do know I don't accept any other flavors except one, right? I still have to maintain my calorie intake even during my birthday.

Nope. Too small, doesn't count.

[ He's a little surprised at being pre-empted at making something but he's still confident in his own skills. Thanks, Mom! ]

Matcha, of course. Even if it looks really weird still. I tried to look up low carb recipes online but... none of them seemed very appealing, lots of artificial sweetener recipes, and it's a cake for a real birthday. No fake stuff. I know you know how to pace yourself.

[ And so he starts setting up on the counter--flour, sugar, an entire dozen eggs... and a round tube pan. ]

But I have an idea.

[ he watches him arrange the materials onto the counter; he knows that his mother is a damn good cook since he's had her dinners on occasion, but it's not everyday that he gets to see mao cook for, well, anyone really. consider his interest piqued. ]

Idea? Like what?

[ It's not Mao's strongest skill, sure, but he likes it well enough since it does remind him of his mom and he's gotten better over time. Today's plan is a little ambitious but luckily, he trusts Mizuki's skills a lot more than Ritsu's when it comes to helping. ]

Angel food cake! It takes way less flour so it's less carby, and no butter or dairy so it's pretty much fat free, and the recipe I got from Mom isn't too sweet so you'll still really be able to taste the matcha. What do you think?

Huh.

[ he certainly didn't expect matcha angel food cake... but he's grinning. ]

You might actually be on to something... All right. I'll help you make this, but you better follow my instructions to a T. It's actually my first time baking a cake, though...

[ since he hasn't regained his cooking skills just yet. but he can at least cook basic healthy meals, so at least he knows that he'd be much better at it than fucking ritsu of all people. god. ]

Set everything up while I go grab aprons. Show me the recipe too while you're at it.

[ Ahhh, that smile! Mao's thrilled to see that smile because it means he got it right. He was pretty sure this would be a good idea but seeing Mizuki's reaction solidifies it. ]

I will! It's not super hard but I've never made it before, either, so we'll have to work together to get it right.

[ Do either of them know how to make what is essentially meringue? Time to find out. And Ritsu supposedly has skills, they just sound more like witches' brews than cakes to Mao. ]

Ahhh, here. [ When he returns from getting aprons, Mao's got the recipe up on his phone. ] The eggs should be warm enough, I had them out for a while at home to make sure they weren't too cold.

Edited 2017-11-09 02:52 (UTC)

[ he's back, tossing a red apron at mao and tying a blue one around himself as he narrows his eyes at the recipe on the phone. seems easy enough, he guesses. just gonna walk over to the oven first to preheat it to 350 degrees as instructed. ]

Okay. You combine the cake flour and matcha and sugar and all that stuff; I'll go get the beater for the egg whites.

[ he has to reach the topmost part of one of the cupboards to get it, and separate all the egg whites from the yolk, but he does the job very efficiently, as if he knows what he's really doing. ]

[ Mao manages to catch the apron, wondering vaguely if it's red because of the outfit he showed Mizuki, but of course it could just be that there were only two and naturally Mizuki wants the blue one. He nods and turns to find a bowl. ]

No problem. You're better for that anyway, I don't think I'd get it right.

[ No false modesty here; he'd been counting on Mizuki helping with that part when he picked the recipe in the first place. He starts to measure the dry ingredients, mixing them gently as he goes. ]

[ sena wouldn't think he himself would get it right the first time either, given that he doesn't always eat sweets aside from his ice cream brand - but they're doing well for a couple of first-timers. he adds the orange extract, water, and cream of tartar into the egg whites and starts blending them with the beater until they form soft peaks as instructed.

okay, good. throws in the sugar before beating the mixture again until they form much firmer peaks. ]

Think I'm almost done here... Are you? We're gonna have to sift your flour mixture into these egg whites.

[ Mao can manage the basics of baking but real technique is usually left purely in the hands of his mom. He's feeling pretty lucky that Mizuki came through with the egg whites since they're crucial. He nods and brings his bowl over to where Mizuki's working. ]

Yeah, all set. You want to mix and I can sift?

Sure. [ he readies the bowl of egg whites and hands mao the sifter. ] Ready when you are.

[ when mao starts sifting, he will do his best to fold the two mixtures as best as he can. look at them, working like a well-oiled machine. ]

[ And off they go. It's nice, at least to Mao, actually working in sync like this. It's not something that happens a lot with Mizuki, after all. Maybe they're even good enough to talk while they do this? ]

So how'd I manage to catch you at home? No big birthday plans?

[ He doesn't even seem to be in a rush about this... is he not going out?

I already did. I claimed my presents somewhere.

[ akechi's cupcake was positively delicious and ngl he can't wait on how this angel food cake will turn out. ]

But other than that, not really. I don't mind though. I can't stand birthday parties.

[ that and, you know, having broken up with keito has thrown a wrench at his birthday plans overall lmao ]

If you say so. It's your birthday, you should spend it how you want to.

[ Even if it does make him kind of wonder if he's... the only person coming to Mizuki's place for his birthday. It's great, he's glad to be here, but it seems like kind of a bummer too. ]

What would you do if somebody threw you a surprise party, though?

[ technically lelouch did come over to give his birthday present but only at the flat building's lobby; lulu has been banned from sena house until further notice, actually. ]

I'd nope the fuck out of there because I hate surprises like that. I need to emotionally prepare myself for shit like that first? It'd be worse if the wiseguy who planned all of that brought a lot more people than intended, like what happened with Keito's.

[ Wow... there's a story Mao is not likely to ever get to hear but that must have taken some serious effort. ]

Birthdays are weird. I don't know anybody who likes having their own birthday celebrated but people seem to like doing it for other people. I think part of what happened with Keito's was just Leo, though. I only met him a couple times but he seems to like bringing people together.

He does that. Maybe it has something to do with being a "king" in our previous lives and all.

[ just. casually drops that bomb as he continues sifting the ingredients together. ]

Anyways, it doesn't matter at this point.

[ Yeah, that's not something Mao expected to hear. ]

A king? I guess that makes sense, kings lead knights and bring kingdoms together, but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to get into violent battles. [ Even metaphorical musical ones. ]

Why doesn't it matter? He could still show up here for all you know. [ The night is young, Mizuki. ]

I know right? He's not the type to harm anyone at all.

[ which is why it's confusing that someone as free-spirited as leo could be the king of knights in the first place. ]

But uh... [ crap, did keito really not tell him? how annoying. he stops stirring but only to rest his hands for a bit, and sighs. ] He's not coming. We broke up a few days ago.

[ y i k e s ]

[ ... Mao stops his sifting, too, because he was definitely thinking of Leo showing up. Keito never does anything spontaneously so there'd've been plenty of time for Mizuki to warn him off.

If it was still necessary. ]

That sucks. I'm really sorry, Mizuki. Do you wanna... talk about it?

[ He's pretty sure he knows the answer but he can't not offer. ]

No, it's fine. It was kind of inevitable, given our pasts. It got complicated.

[ and he's still pretty hurt from all of it, even if he knows that it's all his fault. but to show mao that he's not bothered about it he lifts a hand to ruffle at his hair, forcing a tiny smile. ]

We just need some space and all. Come on, let's get this over it.

[ and he goes right back to sifting. this should be enough, right? ]

[ It feels weird to get his hair ruffled right now and Mao can tell Mizuki's deflecting, but he's being honest enough that Mao can accept it. He's still curious, especially about the pasts being hinted at, but he can let it go. ]

If you say so. You know where to find me if you change your mind.

[ Mizuki won't, but Mao wants to offer in case nobody else has. He lets Mizuki take the sifter and nods, moving to bring the round pan over. ]

I think it's just about ready to go in.

Right.

[ The tube pan's right over there, so it's all in the matter of carefully pouring the mixture into it. ]

Go open the oven for me. [ 'cause he's gonna toss this baby in there ]

Yessir.

[ Mao's one step ahead of him, checking the recipe and setting the timer once the door is open. What a well coordinated team.

With maybe one link being a little weaker than the other. ]

What did you mean about your pasts? Is this about memories?

[ Because if it was about their actual pasts, Mao figures he'd have some inkling what Mizuki was talking about. ]

[ he hops onto one of the island chairs, sighing. ]

Keito was... I dunno how much he told you or if he even told you anyway, but he was more than involved in the war that happened in that school.

[ he's not about to say that keito himself did all that nasty shit since it's still pretty up in the air, but. you know. ]

ic inbox for recolle part deux;

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