WEEK 5 MINGLE - AMARANTHUS

[foundationmods]

Another trial, another horrible outcome.

This time, it affected so many people...and yet, they still weren't done.
Who would be killed next?
Would they be able...to handle whatever happened?🗈

Still, things were just the same as they had been the past few weeks.

The goats and servants were still around, and so too were the witches.
It was all becoming routine at this point.
Was that a good thing, or a bad one...?
It was...too hard to tell, now...

...Either way, they were now closer to the end.
So, like always...they had to see it through.


MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

CALENDAR | LOCATIONS | PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS | NIRRTI PC POST | WATANUKI PC POST

Comments

[cryosurgeon]

[Erhard is actually out of his room again today, and he looks... different. Same clothes, yes, but could it be that he actually appears less exhausted, the perpetual melancholic expression traded for something more neutral?

What could've caused that, especially after this weekend's trial?

Early in the day, he can be found in the library, looking through (of all things!) cookbooks. He seems to be copying down specific recipes, namely cakes. Huh. If Ann approaches, he'll quickly try to hide what he's doing, otherwise he won't bother.

After lunchtime, he's back in the kitchen, and hoo boy he's kind of a mess. Not emotionally this time, physically, as in he's got flour streaked on his face and in his hair, and the apron he's wearing has various splatters on it. After a while, four round cake layers in various states of disaster are lined up on the counter: one burnt, one slightly underdone, one massively cracked, and one painfully lopsided. He's frowning at them as if he's interrogating them but not getting the answers he wants. (Of course he's not, they're cakes, they don't talk.)]

I can perform spinal tumor resection but I can't do this? What am I doing wrong?

[Later on, he can be found in the bar, contemplating the various bottles. He doesn't look interested in getting drunk, at least?]

cake

[keydomhearts]

[ Peeking at the wreckage. ]

Hey, they aren't that bad. You should have seen my first attempts!

[ He'll poke the lopsided one. ]

Want to try again together?

[cryosurgeon]

[Is it strange that he's not avoiding Sora's presence like he was doing for the last week or so? He doesn't quite smile, but he looks calm as he nods at the teen.]

I'd appreciate the help. It's supposed to be for Ann, since I've seen her eating cake often. I probably shouldn't encourage it, but she seems to be in good health and I wanted to thank her anyway.

[keydomhearts]

[ Eating cake every day seems like a good idea tbh ]

That sounds like a good idea! What kind of cake do you want to make?

[ GOod news, it doesn't seem like Sora is particularly bothered. ]

bar

[improbablenotimpossible]

[After trying a few of the top-end drinks - just enough to taste. As Erhard comes, he notices the change in the man's demeanor]

Anything catch your attention?

[cryosurgeon]

[There's that small but genuinely warm smile he offered Holmes in the kitchen the other day, but this time there's something different in his eyes, too. Something more... human.]

I'm not looking to be intoxicated this time. I want something I can sip and enjoy. And your timing is excellent, since there's something I need to tell you.

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He nods, going to join him at the bar, resting his chin on his hand]

I noticed a tiramisu liqueur that might be interesting... so I believe this thing might be the reason behind your good mood?

[Sherlock ventures, giving a small smile of his own, leaning in to hear]

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow runs into the doctor in the library. Despite what happened there... it's still a peaceful place]

Doctor Muller. You're looking well this morning.

[cryosurgeon]

I feel better, Shadow.

[He tilts his head slightly, giving the hedgehog a curious look.]</small. When Watanuki grants a wish, do you know anything about it, or even that it's happened?

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow tilts his head in response, taking a seat near Erhard]

I... don't know, actually. I've never asked him about his wish-granting business. Why do you ask?

kitchen

[sotoshini]

[ Part of the footman's duties are to assist in serving during mealtimes, so the kitchen is part of his domain. In the middle of cleaning up after lunch he comes back to all of this and audibly gasps. ]

Excuse me doctor—you look like you need...help.

[cryosurgeon]

[For the first time since his talk with Watanuki, Erhard flinches. Even without turning around, the voice is so familiar. It hurts more than he imagined it would. He can't ask why Natsuno told Anon about their deal, and he can't tell the teen what he remembered. The politeness of this person, the "doctor" rather than "sensei," reminds him this isn't Natsuno.

He has to take a deep breath and steady himself before glancing back.]

It's a learning process. I'm alright, really.

[sotoshini]

Are you sure? Well, I don't want to push you into anything. [ The voice is similar but the tone is all wrong. Too light yet lacking any real substance at all. ]

I thought doctors would be good with their hands. [ A beat. ] But I suppose cooking and medicine are different.

cakes

[rikuchi]

[ ...Of all the places, Riku doesn't expect to find the Doctor in the kitchen.

He's making his own food, and seemingly not about to pay him much mind, but he'll say off to the side: ]

Maybe you're going at it too hard.

[cryosurgeon]

I'm pretty sure you're right. But this is something I want to do.

[He owes a lot of people here, but Ann's the one who started him on his current path on that first day.]

[rikuchi]

[ Yummy yummy ravioli over here while they're chatting. ]

What made you decide to do that?

library

[goldenmaniac]

[Though he's dealing with the day in a haze, Takumi still knows he has two duties he has to fulfill:

Make sure Erhard and Holmes are eating and healthy, and support Watanuki. Those are the only things keeping him from going back to bed, honestly. So when he sees Erhard he walks over]

Cookbook?

[cryosurgeon]

[Erhard glances up at Takumi, trying to keep his expression neutral. He can't even imagine what the redhead is going through right now. It's a credit to the teen that he's functional at all.]

Yes. I wanted to thank Ann, but I've never baked before. It can't be too difficult, all the instructions are here.

[goldenmaniac]

Oh.

[He ponders sleepily]

I'd offer to help, but I can't bake either...

Kitchen

[earnahappyending]

[She was just passing through, but the comment gets her attention, and the smell of less-than-perfect cake fills the air. Oh. Well then...]

Baking's something you get proficient in with practice. It won't be quick, but it's worth doing nonetheless.

[Although perhaps she should inform the mistress they may need more ingredients]

[cryosurgeon]

Just like surgery.

[He can't help a small pang of guilt when he sees her. She was one of them once, but Erhard never spoke to her before she was turned into Furniture. He barely approached anyone at all, once upon a time.]

I apologize for the waste. I'll clean up after myself, don't worry.

bar

[clearumbrella]

[ He looks at all the shiny, glittery bottles with interest for a few seconds before turning his attention to Erhard. ]

Are you enjoying the scenery, Erhard-sensei?

[cryosurgeon]

Scenery?

[He glances up at the bottles again.]

Most of them are aesthetically pleasing, part of how they market the product, but I wouldn't call it scenery. Then again... you collect glass, don't you?

kitchen!

[fullbodied]

[honestly... Ann is pulled into sweet smelling cake traps.

and she pokes her head in the kitchen]

Erhard...? Whatcha making?

[cryosurgeon]

[He actually makes a guilty, startled little noise and jumps a bit, trying to hide something on the counter behind him. He's still a mess, he'd just finished writing the note, is she a bloodhound for sugar??]

I... ah....

[He's either blushing just a smidge or it's the lingering heat of the kitchen.]