private psl

[foundfate]

["I want to be free of the ghosts to see. That is my wish: to not be burdened by them anymore."

"Unfortunately, I cannot grant that wish. But I can send you to someone who can grant it."

That answer gave Watanuki jack-all to go off of, though, and he was left standing in a field of pink flowers looking absolutely befuddled. How had he gotten there? Where was he in the first place? The flowers seemed to go on forever, and all that was around besides them was a floating tower in the sky.

Well, that seemed like Watanuki's best chance at getting an answer, so he tried to step in that direction, but found that his legs were tangled up in the flowers. He fount this out by tripping, somehow, and ending up face-first in the flowers with a yelp.]

What- why are they-

[Oh, to be tangled up in the Garden of Avalon. His sins weighed him down, and he didn't even know it.]

Comments

[foundfate]

I've touched a potato a million times before, I know what one is. I barely ever touch mirrors.

[They usually hang on walls, he doesn't carry around a hand mirror.]

I know that's an obvious characteristic, but that's just how it is. I'm more familiar with potatoes than mirrors.

[myrdd]

[Sometimes, not being specific backfires.

Merlin lightly pokes his forehead.]

Recall what I said earlier about developing your capacity to differentiate a conjured object from a regular one. I know my illusions and magecraft are so good that they put the work of other Casters to shame, but humor me.

[A five-lap run can't have made you that petulant, can it?]

[foundfate]

[He is poked! And he blinks a couple times before scowling. The run hadn't made him petulant, but Merlin's attitude is quickly driving him in that direction.]

I'm being serious! It feels like a normal potato, it smells like dirt. If you magic up a vegetable like that you're not exactly going to magic up the soil that clings to it, are you?

[Watanuki's irritation there could be insightful, though. His struggle with the mirror isn't because of what it has, but rather because of what it is lacking: that lived-in quality real objects tend to have. "Someone who magics up a potato won't magic up the dirt too" might be a succinct way of explaining that complex thought.]

[myrdd]

[It is, indeed, a clue, and the natural limitation of counterfeits.]

Good point.

[And a far more sensible way of detecting a fake, but in which case - Merlin makes another potato, with the exact same features as the original one. Down to the last speck of dirt. Having a visual reference sure does wonders!

He'll also juggle and mix up the two potatoes in his hands before holding them out for inspection.]

And these two?

[foundfate]

[He takes the two potatoes, and he will take his time inspecting them closely. He's actually trying to find some minute difference between them, some sign of which is real and which is fake. He already can guess at what Merlin is trying to teach him- something about feeling magic- but he's not going to get that lesson immediately. Instead, he holds up one of the potatoes, and-]

This one is annoying. I want to throw it out of the tower.

[He's holding up the conjured potato there.

And yes, he is being a bit shitposty with his answer. But he's identifying which is Merlin-potato, at least?]

[myrdd]

Perfect.

[Deconstructing how Watanuki got that answer can come in the days and weeks ahead. What matters is he got it right - with such deliberateness that didn't look like a lucky guess, but that can be compared to future results - and when Merlin claps his hands, the potato pops into confetti.

...it probably says something that he doesn't mind the shitposty answer, no?]

Now, Watanuki. It's your turn to do magic and make breakfast.

[foundfate]

[It's definitely something that he gives his own confetti-shaped shitpost answer, honestly.]

Gah!

[Watanuki is startled by that sudden pop, and he visibly jumps backs a bit. But that shock is quickly exchanged with irritation as Watanuki watches the confetti fall to the ground.

Then he throws the real potato right at Merlin.

Breakfast will come shortly, but potato-throwing is first.]

[myrdd]

--- bwuh!

[Guess who was too busy laughing to dodge.

The potato hits him solidly in the chin, making him stagger back.

And he's still laughing.]

So harsh! You're hurting the potato's feelings, throwing it like that after everything it's done for you!

[foundfate]

I'll throw more than a potato next time!

[And he's. Stomping out of the courtyard to go back to his room.

Because yes he's actually going to cook even though he's mad. He can cook angrily. And Merlin is getting something with eel in it because eel is salty and Watanuki is expressing his salt right now. Hopefully Merlin enjoys Unadon.]

[myrdd]

Looking forward to it!

[srsly though Watanuki how much do you want this to escalate

Unfortunately, the thought that the confetti was rude doesn't even cross Merlin's mind.

Anyway! He'll follow soon enough - the Bounded Field is staying as is in the courtyard. Merlin hasn't tasted eel at all. Jellied eels only became a thing in England in the 18th century. In his time, mutton and pork were more common - one had to travel to the coast for seafood, and while fish did reach Camelot on occasion, the royal treasury wasn't in the habit of overspending on food imports to the castle since addressing the famine plaguing the countryside was a bigger priority.

Has most of the salt been dumped on the dish? Or will it get saltier once Merlin decides to pay a visit and check what's cooking? Not to worry - he'll do the polite thing and knock on the door.]

[foundfate]

[Most of the salt was added during cooking, Watanuki is not a fan of salting after the fact. It's better to cook the salt in, it makes it feel like more of a complete dish.

Interestingly, his irritation has died down slightly while cooking. But when he opens that door and sees Merlin there, the irritation is back. Just not as strong.]

Ah. Here for lunch?

[It's a little flat, but not completely rude. He's more irritated with himself that he thought a knock could have been anyone else.

Also he is wearing a pink apron over his outfit.]

[myrdd]

I am indeed. The smell's too good to resist!

[He didn't actually smell anything behind the door. Now he does as he wanders over, clasping his chin as he peers over Watanuki's shoulder.]

What's this?

[Also Merlin's not going to tease about the apron - has Watanuki seen how many pink flowers Merlin surrounds himself with? Not to mention the pink and pastel accents on his clothes and staff.]

[foundfate]

Of course the smell is too good to resist, it's MY cooking.

[Watanuki is only so ego-inflated over his cooking because it's Merlin. If it wasn't someone who already irritates him, he would have more humility.]

It's unadon. Don't mess with anything, it's not done yet.

[Notably, he isn't kicking Merlin out. Just warning him not to mess with the food.]

[myrdd]

[He doesn't quite laugh, but the line of his mouth is rather wobbly. The thing is that, had he not tasted Watanuki's cooking the night before, he would've taken out the metaphorical needle and be a little mean.]

Of course, apprentice mine. I bet if you put your heart to it, you could woo even a goddess.

What's unadon?

[foundfate]

It looks like we're short on goddesses here.

[One half-incubus will have to do.]

It's grilled eel covered in unagi sauce and placed over hot rice.

[myrdd]

Oho. [Look who's brimming with sparkling curiosity!] I can't even imagine what unagi sauce tastes like, and neither have I tasted eel.

Then, as what is becoming the usual, me and my tongue will be in your care, Watanuki.

[foundfate]

Don't say it like that.

[He had been about ready to say something about how today is a day for trying new things, but not after that tongue comment. Watanuki is a teenager and his mind is as dirty as any teenager's mind.]

[myrdd]

Like what?

[It's an innocent comment! Honest!

(While he doesn't have any designs on Watanuki's virtue, Merlin can't help the occasional innuendo. Alas, if his student's reacting to like this, he'll be tempted to sprinkle more into their future conversations just for entertainment.)]

[foundfate]

You know what I mean!

[He sees that smile! But he's also busy scooping rice into bowls and getting the eel on top of the rice, so. No time to shake his fist at Merlin or anything.

He is absolutely making it obvious how to best tease him, though. That is one of Watanuki's weaknesses: easy 2 bulli.]

in which the teacher ends up being similar to his student /stares at Arturia

[myrdd]

Do I, really, when all I've done is to express my faith in your cooking?

[It might even be a conceptual weakness!

Merlin heads over to the dining area and sits down, clasping his hands on his lap with an easy smile. Time to behave! Maybe.]

Now: come and bestow upon me your blessings, o lord of the dining realm.

She rubbed off on him more than he realizes

[foundfate]

Flattery will get you nothing special.

[It's true: he would cook for Merlin regardless.

But soon there are two bowls of unadon, one in front of Merlin and one at Watanuki's seat. He starts eating right away- all that exercise earlier has made him hungry- but he is definitely watching carefully to catch Merlin's expression as he eats the food. Watanuki knows his cooking is good, but seeing someone else genuinely appreciate it is something else entirely. Especially if that 'someone else' is a trickster like Merlin.]

y e p

[myrdd]

That remains to be seen!

[Look, his old job is consists of giving advice, BS, and schemes. Flattery is always on the table.

This new dish is certainly new - and he hasn't had rice before, too! Merlin breathes in deeply, trying to pick out the nuances of dish through smell, and it's very apparent that the ingredients and the cooking style aren't ones he's familiar with.

Picking up his spoon - Watanuki eats a bit of the eel with the sauce-covered rice, does he? - Merlin copies the portioning when he scoops up a mouthful and puts it into his mouth.

The way his eyebrows lift speaks for his surprise.]

Oh.

[You bet he can taste the salt - the frustration's hard to miss. But so, too, can he pick up everything else in this dish. It's a slightly different kind of warmth he felt from dinner, and he sucks the corner of his mouth, trying to pick something out.]

You're quite the earnest worker, aren't you?

[...there's something about that warmth he can't put a finger on. That said, it doesn't stop him from eating with obvious enjoyment, humming as he takes the time to imprint this savory flavor and new texture into his memory.]

[foundfate]

[He tries not to show it- he doesn't want Merlin to think his praise actually works, after all- but seeing Merlin's reaction there fills Watanuki's chest with warmth and pride. The way the wordy mage suddenly has trouble finding words is a real treat to see.

The praise is nice too, Watanuki won't deny that. But it's that first bit of a visual reaction that leaves Watanuki smiling, just a little bit. He doesn't ever say it out loud, but he does like it when people enjoy his cooking.]

It's worth doing right, isn't it? Good food is one of the few things that anyone can indulge in, regardless of who they are.

[myrdd]

I'll say that's far more useful and universal than magic.

[He says it so casually, but Watanuki's words bring to mind all sorts of things, such as the earnest wish of a King who wanted to bring her people happiness without partaking in it.]

I think Arturia would've liked meeting you - and not just because of her appetite.

[foundfate]

Yeah? Are we alike?

[Watanuki doesn't know much of the legends, and even if he did it wouldn't compare to what Merlin knows. So Merlin can explain that, and he will listen.]