crescentview | jan event.

jan event.

summer has arrived

As the last of the sakura blossoms fall away and the leaves on the trees grow into ever more vibrant greens, the familiar buzz of cicadas begins to echo all throughout the isle. Summer is quickly approaching and bringing brighter days and blazing temperatures along with it.

Summer also signals the start of the wine production season. Grapes growing on trellises are a common sight on Crescentview during the summer and a notice on the town memo board from the local barkeep encourages farmers to consider growing some varietal grapes of their own.

Temperatures are rising, so put on a comfortable pair of shorts and head to the Town Plaza to see what’s cooking! While you’re at it, take a look at the calendar for Summer 1st through 15th.

This season’s crops are corn, onion, pumpkin, watermelon, and pineapple. Summer’s seasonal flowers are poppy, rose, sunflower, lily, and hydrangea. As for mushrooms, shimeji, trumpet, and common brown spores are available for the summer.

hot! ...or not

Posted prominently at the top of the Memo Board is a cartoonishly-written advertisement for the first annual Hot or Not hosted by the Goddess herself. Contestants will take to the stage while the audience votes on whether they are as hot as the blazing sun or cooler than a dead fish. Leave your egos at the door! ICly, this event takes place on Summer 8th.

task board

The task board is located in Town Square and changes from season to season. In real time, a season is one month long. The following tasks are available from January 1st to February 1st and more tasks may be added mid-month.

Certain rewards are only available through event participation, so please keep this in mind when planning your threads. Multiple tasks may be completed within a single thread, but when turning in, please link to the individual tags in which each task was completed.

Finally, rewards are per character, not per farm, so those with housemates may want to coordinate with one another with regard to what animals you’re bringing home to your farm.

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This month’s tasks are centered around getting to know your fellow neighbors on a deeper level. As such, the Goddess has put together a small human scavenger hunt to encourage people to learn more about the people they are living with — and hopefully falling in love with.

Find someone who...

1. Was born in the summer
2. Pours milk into their bowl before the cereal
3. Plays a musical instrument
4. Has more than 3 siblings
5. Works out 5 times a week or more
6. Doesn’t like animals
7. Would like to date the Harvest Goddess
8. Has traveled around the world
9. Speaks two or more languages
10. Is wearing socks that aren’t black or white

Each submission will earn you two random bags of summer seeds. Specify whether you want crop, flower, or mushroom spores in your submission. This task can be completed a total of 10 times.

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Many ingredients used in wine production grow in the summer, but so do a variety of tea plants and grains. Grapes, tea shrubs and grains like wheat and barley can all be grown on your farm or in your greenhouse, if you have one.

Complete the following tasks to earn yourself some nice beverage-producing crops for the farm:

1. Take something from last month’s harvest and gift it to a neighbor. You can give it to them directly, cook it into a meal, etc. Alternatively, craft them a bouquet, flower crown, or another gift from the flowers you grew last season. Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grape starters.

2. Share a piece of hot gossip with a neighbor or exchange secrets with them. It doesn’t have to be your secret! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 tea starters.

3. Exercise with someone. Go on a run, swim in the ocean, help them stretch out! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grain crops. You may choose from wheat, barley, rye, or rice.

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Summer is the perfect time to hang out on the beach and splash around in the ocean. Participate in some summer fun at the beach and earn more animals for your barn and coop.

1. Swim in the ocean, build a sandcastle, or bury someone in the sand. Do any of the following for one of the following animals: cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat. This task can be completed once.

2. Participate in Hot or Not. It’s an annual tradition! Submit yourself or comment on someone else for a single chicken or rabbit. This task can be completed once.

local happenings

The Crescentview Times newspaper has chronicled the latest happenings around the island. A physical copy of the paper will arrive on your doorstep early in the morning on Summer 1st.

Recently, a group of townspeople have taken it upon themselves to check out the abandoned mine. They’ve made good headway on opening up the path in the hopes that would-be explorers will be able to take to the mines and find some of Crescentview’s fabled gems and minerals buried in its depths. They expect to be done by Summer 15th.

A strange “gurgling whisper” has been reported by some concerned townsfolk living in the mountains. The concerning sounds are coming from one of the lakes at the foot of the mountain. Supposedly, the voice is asking for offerings of... something. The townsfolk have yet to identify what exactly is being asked for.

A hurricane has been brewing off the southern coast of Crescentview. Meteorologists have yet to determine whether the hurricane will make landfall or not, so stay tuned for more updates.

mod notes

⬥ Welcome to our second event! We want to thank you all for participating in our game and contributing your efforts to it. Thank you for playing!
⬥ A second event post will go up in mid-Jan.
⬥ Please plot over at the Jan Plotting Post.
⬥ As a reminder, please keep all plotting on the OOC post as not everyone has Discord or Plurk.
⬥ Please submit your completed tasks at the top-level below.
⬥ Have fun!

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( while Amber appreciates how playful and kind his remark is, she feels a sudden tightness in her throat as if she has forgotten how to speak. the natural flow would be for her to exchange his lighthearted comment for one of her own, but she falls silent once his arms circle around her smaller frame. what she said to Diluc is the truth: that for years, all she has wanted was a hug. just to be seen - to be felt, heard, to have her pain soothed in some way rather than her running off directly into action in order to save the Outriders from the brink of collapse.

without a sound, she returns the gesture by circling her arms tightly around his body, nestling her face against his chest. for a moment, she wonders if he spent just as many nights as she did pining for his father, as she did for her grandfather - held awake in the dead of night with nothing but a pillow to cry into.

her lower lashes swell with tears, and the sniff she makes exposes that she's started to cry. when she blinks, tears roll down her cheeks, and if she isn't careful, she'll end up staining his coat. Amber brings up a hand to dry her eyes, her soft voice travelling out of her in a tremble as she speaks. )

Sorry- ( she apologises briefly, before wiping her eyes again. Amber feels a strong feeling of conflict overwhelm her - guilt over crying like a fool in front of Diluc, along with undeniable cathartic feeling of how good it is to let these emotions rise. )

Edited 2023-01-17 02:44 (UTC)

["Oh dear, oh dear. Gorgeous." —Gordon J. Ramsay

It's true, you know? He hasn't felt the warm embrace of another's arms in years, convincing himself that he didn't need it, didn't miss it, that it simply wasn't for him anymore. Being here has taught Diluc what a fool he is on too many levels, feeling how warm and slight and comforting Amber's presence is when she's here in his arms.

His hug serves as a very potent reminder of his loneliness, and yes, he's spent too many nights waking to the bitter realization that he's been left alone, his father gone, with an ever-dwindling number of people he can trust... but his own feelings take a back seat to those of the woman in his arms.

Diluc is quick to catch on. When Amber pulls back just enough to avoid wetting his coat, Diluc gently guides her back into his hold. How long has it been since Amber has cried? How long has she needed to? It's instinctual, the way his hand rises to stroke through her hair, remembering how Adelaide and his father would handle him as a emotional boy prone to the occasional bout of tears. Diluc always did crave affection through physical touch, but he isn't the boy he used to be, is he? No, perhaps he still is somewhere deep down.]

You have nothing to apologize for. Let yourself feel what you're going to feel, Amber. I doubt you get many opportunities.

[Not with the Knights being what they are, not with Amber being the sort to put everything before her own feelings.]

( he's completely right - she doesn't get many opportunities to think, feel, or cry. perhaps this suited her once when she was fiercely determined to take her grandfather's place to save the Outriders, but now that she's able to process things, there are many injustices coming to light. not just the ones brought upon Diluc, but the ones that she experienced firsthand too.

the regret she felt over not telling him sooner began to melt away, with her feeling sudden relief that it happened now of all times. with all of this experience under her belt, confronting it feels so appropriate that it's like exhaling a breath that she didn't know she was holding.

and just like Diluc, she's also a touch-starved individual, far too focused on work and her duties in order to find enough time to receive tender love and care. the comforting embrace of her grandfather and encouraging sound of his voice are two things that are no longer with her, and without any hesitation at all, she leans into his touch and places her hand over his.

it seems that her breathing is stable enough now, even though there are still tears rolling down her wet cheeks. )

... Thank you.

( she's showing Diluc a side of her that, frankly, she hasn't shown to anyone before. perhaps those who witnessed her past unfolding as an in-progress girl with nothing to her name caught a glimpse of it, but these are the true vulnerabilities of the Crimson Knight. Amber is so resourceful, outgoing and kind - but she carries a heavy burden from her climb to the top of her post. one that the Knights could've done more for her with. younger and naïve, how could she have known any better? )

I thought that the struggles I faced were to be expected of a traumatised young girl who lost her family. But looking back ... I had guidance, but I also had no protection from the harsh slander I received from the other Knights. I used this slander to motivate myself to be better - the best Outrider that the Knights could ever wish for. But no matter how hard I tried, I ... couldn't change every person's mind. Who on earth would look at a girl with no family who is trying so hard to save her courageous Grandfather's squad and think that it's appropriate to berate her? When my Grandfather disappeared, it's as though they forgot everything that he brought to the Knights overnight. Like ... he didn't matter any more.

It took me so long to get them to take me seriously. The ones who showed me the most kindness were the senior Knights, but ... many in the other ranks weren't so hospitable. Because of this, I never let them see me cry. I thought that if I don't show them any weakness, they'll take me seriously.

They still don't. Not fully. But like I said, I don't do this for the Knights. I do it for my Grandfather, and for Mondstadt. He threw everything he had into protecting his homeland. And now throughout Mond I'm known as The "Crimson Knight", credited to the Knights of Favonius.

But I know that deep in my heart, it was myself and my Grandfather that got me here. Not them.

[...Of course the knights would slander her. Of course they'd see Amber trying her best despite her nigh-insurmountable struggles and would choose not to extend compassion to her, but to judge instead. Diluc exhales harshly through his nose, but the ones he points his judgment at aren't here, can't feel his scornful gaze bore into theirs. To that end, there's no point in stewing in frustration.

All he can control is the here and now, though Diluc thinks his options for doing anything meaningful on this island are effectively none... rather, he had. Gazing down at Amber, he realizes there may be something worthwhile he can do during his time here after all, lifting his hand to bite off his glove and thumb away her tears. His hands are heavily scarred and calloused, but so it goes when you heft around a Big Damn Sword.]

And they may never show you the respect you are owed, but you're the stronger person for rising above their taunts and jeers. Unfortunately, the Ordo Favonious has a ways to go before the roots of corruption have been unearthed and cut away, but it's people like you who stand the best chance of ushering in reform.

[Which is to say he doesn't blame her for staying. What's more, he believes people like Amber are necessary to bring pride and honor back to the Knights.]

...Amber, let's continue our conversation elsewhere. My home is a much more comfortable venue for conversation than the mountains.

( Amber can only blink while pleasantly surprised when she feels his ungloved hand reach her eyes to gently wipe her tears away. when was the last time someone comforted her while she was crying? her grandfather would've dried her eyes when she cried after getting in trouble or hurting herself, but in her incredibly lonely years of womanhood, she's had no other choice but to swallow her sadness and try again another day. this became her routine, her normalcy. but this ... feels amazing. it not only soothes her emotionally, but it warms her heart from the inside out. to be listened to, acknowledged, and heard.

although she is a little bit embarrassed about crying in front of him like this, she cannot deny how utterly cathartic it is. it's as though she has given herself permission to be vulnerable at long last, especially when most of her time is spent being so strong for other people without most knowing the hardships she's faced. her heart dances with warmth in her chest, and a small smile forms on her lips while some of that familiar brightness returns to her eyes. )

Thank you, Master Diluc ... ( she sniffs, freeing another tear. ) Thank you for everything. I'd love to see your home.

( her heart feels so full, and she's glad that he wants to spend more time with her. if she went back to her cottage alone, she imagines that she would've just cried herself to sleep, but having company from someone who understands her on such a profound level will undoubtedly lift her mood. when he starts to lead the way, she'll gladly follow. )

[In his youth, he'd stop at nothing to see a smile on the face of someone he cared for, to dry their tears away and comfort them in times of need. He was generous, caring, compassionate, but all of that changed when Father died. Rather, it's as if that part of him was caged and locked away when the cruelties of reality smacked him full across the face.

He'd thought that part of him long since dead and buried, but holding Amber has made Diluc realize just how much he's missed contact like this. How long he's yearned for it. His lips twist, uncertain if it's the urge to speak that stirs him or something else entirely, his thoughts muddled. He almost doesn't hear Amber's response, lost in his own thoughts, but— right. Going home.]

Of course. I would rather see you with a smile on your lips than tears in your eyes. A smile suits you much better.

[He's slow to let Amber out of his embrace, but he does and straightens up to take the lead and guide her back towards his house. When they get there, Diluc glances at the coat rack and hums.]

Seems Kaeya is out at the moment causing problems elsewhere. Well then, please come in.

[Their home is tastefully decorated and rather large, a staircase leading to the second floor with two separate bedrooms. Before they head upstairs, he tips his chin towards the kitchen.]

Would you care for anything to eat or drink? Our fridge is well-stocked, so don't hesitate to make any requests.

( when Amber steps inside of the shared farm between Kaeya and Diluc, she's more than a little dazzled. it's different to how her farm looks - and there's just something so sentimental about visiting a shared space between two people she knows fondly from home. she removes her shoes at the door before stepping inside, already looking a lot more cheerful after her little cry earlier. )

Hehehe! I wouldn't be surprised if Sir Kaeya was out getting up to mischief. Hopefully things haven't been all bad with the two of you living together. ( she loves u, Kaeya, but she knows u can be a cheeky fox!! )

Oh! Uh ... ( she scratches her chin bashfully. ) To be honest with you, I really haven't eaten all that much today. I've only had an apple, so ... I think food sounds good! If it's no trouble.

[...Diluc pulls a face. A little one! Living with Kaeya has been a pain in the ass more often than not, and for a period of time, he'd stormed off to go live in the inn, but that's all water under the bridge now baybee. They're something resembling functional now even if they haven't fully settled their issues... but anyway.

With a nod, Diluc guides Amber into the kitchen and seats her at the island bar, pulling open the fridge. Just as he said, it's very well stocked. Look at all these tomatos.........]

Living with Kaeya comes with its own share of problems, you might imagine. Still, his efforts are what keep our pantry well-stocked, so I'm not complaining.

[Whipping out a pair of steaks wrapped up in parchment, Diluc reaches for his trusty skillet.]

Well, how do you like your steak?

Yeah, I'll bet.

( Amber can't help but giggle fondly. it's nice that he's keeping the house stocked. it's just like Kaeya to be the most interesting combination of responsible and mischievous. the outrider definitely hopes that she has a chance to catch both himself and Diluc at the same time, because company from home is always good.

at the mention of the word steak, however, she immediately lights up and gasps in pleasant surprise. )

Did you say ... steak!? That's my most favourite food ever! ( her eyes are practically sparkling! ) I like mine on the medium side! Just a little bit rare suits me. ( AHH! this is soooo wonderful! she is one happy lady right now. ) Thank you so much, Master Diluc!

[Oh dear, yet another commonality they share... Diluc can't help a brief laugh, amused, as he heats up the skillet and seasons the meat.]

You and me both. Would you care for some potatoes and onions on the side?

[Mond folks are so simple, aren't they... meat n taters......]

( MEAT N TATERS!!! clearly there's something about family trauma and loving steak, huh )

Yes, please! ( she'd offer help but her cooking is. mmm. (thumbs down emoji) )

[Mm, steak... You know what else bleeds when you cut into it? his dead daaaaaaaaaad]

Of course. I'll have your meal prepared momentarily.

[...Or in like, you know, several moments that are really more like minutes. At some point, she'll notice Diluc grabbing more meat from the fridge and gradually crafting an enormous tower of steaks, potatoes and cheese that he then presents to her on a platter. They can (and probably should) share this. This thing is fucking imposing.]

Here you are. Feel free to have a bite and let me know what you think of the flavor. This is a specialty of mine.

Oh...!

( excuse me?? SIR??? WHAT IS THIS PERFECT TOWER OF MEAT BEFORE HER EYES!?! Amber may as well have died and gone to heaven because this is too good to be true. her voice hikes up to an (incredibly adorable) excited squeak, and she covers her mouth with both hands. the kind of reaction a woman would have if a man got down on one knee and proposed to her ... except it's, y'know, a tower of meat. )

Master Diluc...! I can't believe this is your speciality! ( SHE LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE IS ABOUT TO BURST INTO TEARS, TBH!! (but the good kind) ) This may be the best day of my life-! Okay. Okay, I can't go another moment without getting to try this...!

( she severs a bit of the meat off with her fork before putting it in her mouth. her expression then melts into one of utter bliss as she swallows, practically glowing with joy. )

This is ... the best steak ... I've ever eaten! Oh my gosh! ( and she'll just go ahead and keep eating it!! ) Sooooooooooooo good! And there's three of them!? ( mmmm! ) Y'know, my speciality is a steak too. The Outrider's Champion Steak! ( (don't eat it) ) But I never would've thought to pile three steaks on top of each other! This is just ... the best meal ever!! Aaaaah!

( suffice to say, she really likes the meal, Diluc. excuse her as she happily consumes it! )

Edited 2023-01-23 03:50 (UTC)

[good to know amber loves Big Meat

Ah... Her praise is almost overwhelming, but he's spared from a fraction of embarrassment by the massive pile of meat towering before them. Makes for a good shield to guard the tiniest hint of pink that sneaks onto his cheeks.]

You've got a healthy appetite, don't you? That's good. With as much running around as you do, it's important that you eat well.

[And a woman who isn't afraid to shove thick slabs of meat in her mouth is pretty sexy, but you won't catch Diluc admitting that out loud.]

...I'm glad you like it. Not everyone is as fond of the staples as us Mond folk are, so I'm pleased to be in such good company.

[He'll gladly shove his meat in your mouth any day, girl.]

( he can shove his meat in her mouth later HEY-O )

Mm! That's probably why my appetite is so big. Being an Outrider means you're constantly moving. All the land I cover, the investigations I do, the Hilichurl camps I take out, the bad guys I drag back to the city to throw in jail ... it's all done on foot! You need to have pretty good stamina for a job like that. Luckily, I was blessed with a very high one. ( ;))))))))))))))))

but also ... god, she works SO HARD!! does this woman deserve a break?? YES. yes she absolutely does. it's crazy to consider that she does the entire outrider's squad work all by herself. she somehow has the energy to achieve it, but this place is definitely teaching her a thing or two about having time off. being able to enjoy meals after work in mond was always a luxury, but now this is just enjoying a meal for the sake of enjoying it. it couldn't have been a more perfect one, either.

once she finishes her meal, she places her knife and fork together neatly on her plate before reclining with a satisfied sigh. )

Wow, Master Diluc ... I'm speechless! There are no words to describe how good that was. That was the most incredible thing I've ever eaten!

( that's high praise!! it even knocked her beloved sticky honey roast out of the park as far as her food rankings go! )

I cook my own steak a lot of the time, but my speciality is nowhere near as good as yours! ( (it sucks) ) So if you ever want to share some meat cooking secrets with me ... I'd really like that!

Edited 2023-01-25 16:14 (UTC)

[Man. Sometimes you have a type and you don't even realize it until she's sitting across from you shoving your massive tower of meat in her mouth. Life sure is strange.

Amusement tugs his lips into a smile, and while he gets up to take her dish to the sink, she's given him an idea. Well... He'd left the massive meat tower up to her, but perhaps he should eat something too? Amber's cooking can't be that bad, but he's............. also not gonna take his chances.

After washing her dish, he rounds the counter to offer her a hand, a thin smile still on his lips.]

Well then, why don't I teach you now? I'll even sample the result and let you know my thoughts on how it came out.

[He'll even take her hands and guide her through it! It'll be like that movie where the dead dude helps the lady sculpt pottery except it'll be Diluc helping Amber sculpt a steak that won't fucking kill him.]

( the same can certainly be said about Diluc though, can it not?? like, while on duty in the city, Amber always heard gossip from the local women about how oh so dreamy Master Diluc is~! but she never paid any mind to it. after all, chasing men wasn't in her job description, all of her energy and focus got spent exclusively on her work. any men she did chase were criminals. of course she'd been on a few crappy dates with simps in the knights, but they never went very far. ultimately, she decided that men just aren't worth her time at this point in life.

but here ... something has changed. has this generous meal of a perfect steak tower ignited something inside of Amber's chest? absolutely. and it's surreal - because she wasn't expecting this. there's no denying that Diluc is a very handsome and well respected man in Mondstadt (not to mention filthy stinkin' rich), which is bound to be attractive to many potential suitors. but Amber doesn't care about money or status. the way to her heart is a good meal and, well, he's certainly achieved that.

during the washing up, she turns to smile at him with a bright twinkle in her eyes. she definitely looks so much happier after her little cry earlier - now she's satisfied with a tasty meal and something ... just a small little something tickling away inside of her chest. )

That would be perfect. I definitely want to experience this sort of steak again. Just once isn't enough, you know? ( with a light giggle, she is happy to assist him with drying the plates and stacking them on the side, and returning any apparatus where it needs to go. Amber can't seem to stop herself from smiling, either. she's usually always smiling anyway, but ... the warmth she feels inside is undeniable. )

Edited 2023-01-25 16:52 (UTC)

[Truly, her mirth is infectious. Even his steps feel a bit lighter as a result, moving about the kitchen to ready the pan and grab another steak and a good selection of seasonings. He'll remain at her side while she... tries to cook, and when things start going south, he'll be right behind her to assist. Literally.]

I can't blame you. This was a recipe my maid Adelinde taught me as a boy, and over time, it's only gotten more sophisticated.

[in what world is a massive tower of meat sophisticated]

Well then, go ahead and show me what you can do. I'll be here to guide and instruct you as necessary.

[Surely nothing could go wrong with allowing Amber to heat the pan and season the steak? Surely??]

Edited 2023-01-25 17:44 (UTC)

( this is the moment where Diluc will very quickly learn that certain people should not be allowed to cook ... and Amber is one of those people. )

Well, usually I just ... sort of wing it! ( DOES TEYVAT HAVE E.COLI????? SALMONELLA??????? AMBER IS PROBABLY IMMUNE TO EVERY ZOONOTIC DISEASE BY NOW )

I cook my steak outdoors while I'm on duty! Every time I do it, I just kinda - whoop! - throw it right in there. While it's cooking, I'll go occupy my time by looking at the birds or doing some stretches ... and when I smell smoke, I know it's ready!

( GOD HELP HER )

[And at that moment, Diluc knew he fucked up. Very, very calmly:]

...I see.

[How is this woman still alive? How is anyone around her still alive? What were the archons thinking giving her a Pyro vision? So many questions, but with that poor steak's deliciousness hanging in the balance, there's no time to answer any of them.

Diluc coolly slips behind her, arms wound over hers, and takes her hands to guide the pan and spatula around. Help.]

Our cooking techniques are starkly different. In that case, just let me lead your hands, alright? This is the most effective teaching method.

[IT IS NOT, but Diluc had to throw that last bit in there to avoid Amber's feelings potentially getting hurt?! Just let him hold those dangerous hands, bb.]

( help is right, because when Diluc puts his hands on her, she feels a bright blush flood her cheeks. her face may be hotter than the fire in the pan!! how is she supposed to learn anything in these conditions!? ("these conditions" being having Diluc standing so close to her and holding her. help her, barbatos!!) )

O-Oh...! Thanks! I'm really grateful. My Grandpa never had the time to teach me how to cook ... ( NOT THAT ANYONE WOULD'VE GUESSED ) And I really didn't have anyone else around to either, so ... ( aww, Amber. her inability to cook is kind of understood when her past is taken into account. but it's okay! she's here to learn as much as her brain will allow her to take in while experiencing this ... very interesting teaching method. )

Well, if there's any way to make my steak taste like yours, I'm all ears for it.

( she's been through harsher critique in her life than a cooking lesson! she's a big girl. she can take it!! )

[Yeah, it's. Painfully apparent that dear old pappy didn't teach Amber how to cook, but by some miracle, she's still alive despite consuming so much half-burnt, half-raw steak. Clearly some archon or another is looking out for her.

...Not that Diluc isn't also a bit distracted? He swears he can feel Amber's heart beat against his chest, or maybe that's his own? In either case, he's committed himself to this, remaining right behind her to carefully guide her through the process of making an edible meal. God, it's fucking hot in this kitchen.]

It's never too late to learn. If you ever need instruction, you can feel free to call upon me.

[He can't guarantee he'll literally hold her hands through the process every time, but he also wouldn't... mind........... cough.]

...As far as making your steak taste like mine, my recommendation is that you season it well and flip it regularly. Leaving it to sit on one side while you rush off to do other things will result in that side burning while the other remains raw.

Oooohhh ...

( when he explains it like that, the penny drops. Amber notices that he's turning it often and keeping a close eye on it, which is not how she cooks hers. just like she explained and as he pointed out, she runs off while it cooks which causes the sides to be uneven and poorly made. as she's watching, she's starting to understand that she may need to pay attention while cooking in the future if she wants her steaks to taste anything like his. it's definitely enlightening! )

You know, I always did wonder why the steaks I make never turned out like the ones I'd eat elsewhere. Mine would always be really squishy on one side, and super crunchy on the other. ( yikes ) But yours, though? ... Mmmmm. It was like pleasure in my mouth.

( what? that sounded lewd? she can't tell. she's just being honest! )

Maybe when this is cooked, you should be the one to eat it. I'll try a bit, but ... I did just eat three steaks. You deserve a meal too.

[Big yikes, but this is certainly... illuminating. With any luck, Amber will retain what she's learned here and not cause anyone's untimely death (or her own) through the power of her very deadly cooking.

But like— yeah?! Did that have to sound so lewd? Unfortunately for Diluc, his mind goes there, heart beating noticeably faster against Amber's back before, blessedly, it's time to plate the steak and withdraw. He should've opened a window in here.]

That's the plan, is it not? Though I did intend to eat your cooking, we'll call this one a collaborative effort.

[He's just gonna slide open a window to bring in some fresh air before heading to the dining table to eat their mutual handiwork. He... feels a bit silly saying this, but—]

Good work, Amber. It's delicious.

I think I definitely needed the assistance. It wouldn't have been made possible without you!

( she sits opposite him comfortably, just ... absolutely beaming. she looks so happy! the traveller never told her that it's delicious!!!!! he just nodded his head with his mouth full of food. this is the first time anyone's said it tastes great! which has made her more than a little smitten. )

I have you to thank for that! And I think I'll definitely take you up on the offer to call upon you for further cooking instructions.

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