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[finalsteps]

does he actually answer his phone tho???

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[peacetalks]

Aymeric the Blue: I am amenable to meeting for supper.
Aymeric the Blue: Shall we meet at the diner?

[menphina]

Last one there is a rotten morbol!


[ Which means they have to all arrive together! Nyoom! She plans on trying to get them learning how to "selfy"... let's hope that goes well. ]

[finalsteps]

[ Estinien takes the scenic route anyways. So he will pop in probably last. ]

[peacetalks]

[aymeric arrives shortly after, and he's already looking through the kitchen for ingredients because he's assumed he's cooking dinner]

Any requests?

[menphina]

[ She is letting Aymeric look for ingredients, but- she places a hand on his. ]

Let me, today. We're going to have something I can make.

[ Sashimi and donburi are very easy. ]

But I'll need your help with the meats. Have you ever had raw fish, my loves? I'll be searing it, but not much. 'tis worth a try.

[finalsteps]

I've had raw meats before, aye.

[ He's useless in the kitchen. ]

I could possibly remember how to smoke meats, but...I can leave the cooking up to you two.

[peacetalks]

I cannot say I have, but I've heard excellent things about a dish called "sushi" eaten in Hingashi and Doma, which I understand involves raw fish. Is that what you are making?

[menphina]

Something like it. 'tis the same principle of sort, but this is just the raw fish with a hint of garnish. It is called sashimi.

[ Standing on tiptoe to kiss Aymeric's cheek, smiling at Estinien. ]

We'll still need rice, and 'tis usually served with miso soup. I can instruct in that, if you'd like to help make it, Aymeric? And Estinien, I'm going to ask you to keep an eye on the dashi. Chop chop, everyone.

[ She's going to make them do the easier things while she handles what she knows. Feesh! ]

[finalsteps]

[ Estinien will do as he is told, and keep an eye on that dashi. He is very good at this. ]

[peacetalks]

[aymeric will put on his apron (and drape one on estinien too. don't get your nice clothes dirty!) and patiently follow megumi's instructions]

[menphina]

[ And they'll be treated to a very, very yummy sashimi presentation after it's been readied. Some of it will be partly seared, with some garnish similar to negi and sauce they may have to use forks but you know what.

Add the rice and soup and it's a pretty filling meal. And she will teach the both of them how to! Fish on rice and garnish with each bite. ]

We'd use chopsticks normally, but this is good to begin with. What do you think so far, my loves?


[ She might have also taken a picture of the presentation Shh. ]

[finalsteps]

[ Fine, fine. He aprons up for watch duty. Mostly just to entertain the thought of being just a *little* domestic.

When they finally get it served he's going to enjoy it thoroughly. ]

The flavors blend nicely, very much feels like a delicacy.

text | un: baelsar (maybe day or so after canon updates happened)

[forgarlemald]

While she refuses to speak of the details, Megumi assures me that you are, in fact, alive and well.

[Clearly tho this is something he apparently needs to confirm for himself, so.]

[finalsteps]

[ One day people will figure out Estinien is so bad at keeping his phone on him.

Good luck waiting an hour Gaius. ]

I’m alive. I think.

[forgarlemald]

[ur terrible and u should feel terrible.]

Your awful sense of humor is alive, at the very least.

Had you made me wait any longer I was going to come over there myself.

[finalsteps]

You could have. You know where I live.

[forgarlemald]

Aye, I suppose I could have.



[...well, and he guesses with that being said:]

Would you mind the company, then?

[He's seen Megumi. He's at least confirmed she isn't hurt. (physically, at the very least.) It'd be nice to be able to say the same for Estinien, too.]

[finalsteps]

I'm still at Bugbear right now.


I would not mind the company.

[forgarlemald]

Then I shall be there shortly.

["Shortly". After he makes sure he doesn't look like he hasn't slept for a week.]

[...which sadly he still does, but. That doesn't stop him from eventually knocking on Estinien's door regardless.]

[finalsteps]

[ He opens the door, see? He's in one piece! ]

I am alive, see?

[forgarlemald]

[Oh look, he IS alive. So that's one question successfully answered, at least, though he gives a soft snort.]

Not from a lack of trying, I would assume.

[Now, maybe it's because Megumi's own worries ended up rubbing off on him. Maybe it's because he's still feeling that emotional vulnerability from his talk with her at all.]

[Maybe he's just tired of losing, or nearly losing, the people he actually cares for.]

[Whatever the reason is, that sure is a hug he's pulling Estinien into.]

[finalsteps]

[ He can't say he didn't expect this. More than once has he gotten reactions from being an absolute fool. But it seems lie perhaps Megumi hasn't given Gaius the full story.

So while he takes a moment, an arm DOES come to secure itself around Gaius. ]

You would likely call me a fool, but I did what I had to do, do you understand?

[forgarlemald]

[Damn right you better hug him back, because his imagination has been left to fill in the blanks of what happened and everything he can think of is not great.]

Of course I would call you a fool. That was never in question. [Too bad even now he has a hard time letting the embrace actually linger. There are still boundaries he's hesitant to cross, but his hands stay on Estinien's shoulders even when he back away again, and he shakes his head tiredly.]

However... I do understand, much as I may wish I didn't.

Whatever it is that happened, I'm simply glad to know you still remain hale and whole.

[finalsteps]

Hopefully this is nothing you are losing sleep over, my decisions were solely my own. Those of the dragonstar needed the push. Megumi needed a path to move forward. I did what I knew was right at the time.

[ Though he knows how upset it made both Alphinaud and Megumi. He heard about that one later on. ]

I've no intention of leaving the star again.

[forgarlemald]

Estinien, I dare say I've lost more sleep in the last two weeks than I have in decades, between those "final days" and you, Alphinaud, and Megumi flying off to your Twelve only knew where.

[THANKFULLY though, now that he's seen for himself that all three of them are seemingly unharmed... Estinien's shoulder gets a squeeze. And then Gaius finally lets go entirely, so he can find somewhere to sit instead.]

...what was it like? Out there.