A foreboding feeling fills this place... (Feb - March Closed Threads for He Xuan)

[esurientabyss]

🌊Who: He Xuan, and peeps.
🌊What: Dating, other potential misc. stuff that's coming up.
🌊When: February - March.
🌊Where: Boat, various places on the island.
🌊Warnings: Some NSFW, alcohol. Fun times~



🎃 fall events

childe (tartaglia) | link to trio shenans

mundane/misc. activities
jack vessalius, kaveh, appreciation

⛄ winter time
a talk

Comments

[alcazarzaray]

First, we need to mix the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Then we gradually stir the milk into the flour mixture until you have a smooth dough. If I dump the flour in, you can pour the milk. I'd say around ... half a glass or so.

( Notice how he isn't measuring or weighing anything? Yeah. This is how he bakes. Measuring is for squares! He can wing it, it's fine! Anyway, once Kaveh prepares all the dry ingredients in the bowl, he holds it out so He Xuan can add the milk and stir. )

[esurientabyss]

...Hm. Like you said, doesn't seem all that hard.

[ What's measuring when you've got baking skill to back it up? He Xuan has literally none, though.

But at the least he's learning something here. He adds the milk just fine, and stirs it quick and hard enough that the bowl is only barely surviving. But the dough should be soon enough, so his stirring doesn't last long. ]

Done.

[alcazarzaray]

Yeah! They're easy.

( Kaveh peeks at the consistency, and it looks good! )

Now we just need to use our fingers to roll the dough into balls on the counter. ( Kaveh dusts the surface with flour (assuming it's clean, if it's not then oh well LMAO) before he gathers some of the dough and moulds it into a round shape. )

Just about the size of your palm, like this.

[esurientabyss]

[ He's doing well so far...cooking lessons have all paid off.

Also, fortunately! Things are clean. No messiness happenin' round these parts. ]

Should be simple enough.

[ Picking up the dough carefully and beginning to copy it; albeit in a slower motion, but his memory is plenty good. He Xuan is a bit rough with it all the same, but it looks okay? Could be worse.

He holds it up silently to Kaveh to see what he says. ]

[alcazarzaray]

Looks good! Great thing about scones is that they really don't have to be perfect. I like to take the imperfect ones and craft them into little buildings in a big plate of hummus. ( Canon and real. He's so fucking weird. )

Let's pre-heat the oven and line these on a baking tray.

[esurientabyss]

...A what? And why would you do that?

[ He Xuan has no idea what hummus even is, and why someone would make little buildings from food...

But he looks over at the oven. He probably knows what 'pre-heat' is thanks to Satoko, and then he will grab out a baking tray, putting it out, leaving lining them out to Kaveh.

Then he starts up the 'pre-heat' phase on the machine. ]

[alcazarzaray]

A building! You know ... architecture! I'm an architect. It's what I do! And crafting structures out of food is extremely fun. ( a beat. ) But I'm not going to build anything out of these. Don't worry.

( When the oven is ready, Kaveh slides the tray of scones into the oven. )

It'll take about twenty minutes for these to bake. What would you like to do in the meantime? We can chat, maybe get to know each other a little better.

[esurientabyss]

...Suppose I won't. But, I've never had hummus before.

[ He says, idly. Because it involves food.

Some things don't change. Though, some other notions do. When Kaveh makes the suggestion, He Xuan considers it properly, instead of dismissing it. ]

We've nothing else better to do. You can start off by talking about why you decided to become an architect.

[ There is real curiosity here when he says as much. ]

[alcazarzaray]

Y-You've never had hummus!? ( GASP!! ) Well, I hope you can remedy this! It's life changing! ( HONESTLY )

And, er ... ( THERE'S NO CANON LORE FOR THIS SO WHOOP WHOOP TIME TO IMPROVISE. ) I can't remember ever not wanting to be an architect, ehehe ... as a child, I love constructing. The technicality and artistry always spoke to me. Not only this, but I loved the idea of giving back to the community. Providing someone with a home I've designed that they can love and make a life in ... that really motivates me.

[esurientabyss]

You can always send some to me and then I'll have it.

[ He Xuan has no idea how to obtain it otherwise... but also clearly he is willing to try it out.

Especially if Kaveh is hyping it up. He has to know if it is truly as life-changing as he says...! Also, potentially getting free food. That too. ]

Hm. Your answer suffices. There are far worse reasons to be motivated into anything.

[ Though, it makes him reflect a little on what he wished to do when he was younger. What he had always dreamed of being. If he could still grasp it in some way, no matter where his future was headed...maybe that'd be nice. ]

[alcazarzaray]

If I can find a way to bring hummus to you, I can guarantee I'll do my best!

( Little does he know, He Xuan will end up living in Teyvat...!! Clearly, himself and Childe need to visit Sumeru. )

Heh, I suppose that's true. It's hard to compare it to anything else when you've only ever wanted to do one thing in life. How about yourself? What do you like?

[esurientabyss]

Will hold you to it, then.

[ The irony of that makes this extremely funny...

But yeah, the two will actually probably make a visit to Sumeru for reasons, so he will potentially get a chance to broaden his horizons in new cuisine and other things. ]

Some things that I like? Reading books, some quiet, painting, the ocean, and various foods.

[alcazarzaray]

You like painting and books? My boyfriend could never dream of having such an open mind!

( AHEM. What he means to say is ... )

Aha, sorry. We're just quite a "one or the other" sort of couple. He's an academic, I'm an artist. But now that I know you enjoy painting ... clearly, we must paint together some time!

[esurientabyss]

[ Feeling a bit of amusement come at those words, he will let Kaveh carry on.

Though, well, that's interesting. ]

...Differences can help make for a good contrast. Though, it wouldn't be disadvantageous to have an interest in both.

[ Being a scholar back in ancient times in his homeland...one was expected to know and have proficiency in academics, but the arts as well. He has certain, uh...un-academic reasons for picking back up painting now, though, and has found that he's enjoyed it more than not. ]

We have a good amount of time on our hands, so whenever you'd like, we can do so.