on being reserved at hollyheights

[godstongue]

I don't have time to be playing a part of your childish games, send me back home immediately. I won't repeat myself.

[ She crosses her arms, tapping her foot in the most possibly subtle way that she can at the moment. ]

Why? I have work that needs to be done, of course. And as soon as they realize someone from the Nakiri family has gone missing things will get even more hectic; so unless you want that hanging over your head you'll stop now.

Hm? [ Her foot tapping comes to a sudden halt, her gaze going ice cold before she speaks; ] I have no interest in living a 'normal' life. Stop asking.

Comments

[nagyka]

Unfortunately, it's never quite so easy as a request or demand. It is not such an awful place, however.

[godstongue]

It doesn't matter to me if it's awful or not, it's an absolute inconvenience.

[nagyka]

What I'm saying is that if you've no choice in the whether you go or not, isn't it better to approach the situation openly as opposed to standing your ground? If that can't change, your approach to it can. At the very least.

[godstongue]

I'd rather not. [ She's too stubborn, unfortunately. ] What's the point? I'm just expected to play house with complete strangers, how am I supposed to approach that 'openly'?

[nagyka]

I somehow managed to, but I can't very well give you a step-by-step introduction to accepting living with strangers. No one will make you take your role seriously, at the very least.

[ Quistis wasn't terribly thrilled about the arrangement, either. With any luck, she may not be stuck with an assigned spouse (or sibling) that nearly killed her like Quistis was. Hopefully. ]

I realize saying "look on the bright side" is cliche, but it is essentially the only option in this sort of situation.

[godstongue]

Well that's something that I can live with. [ Because even back home she was never really treated as a 'child'; and if someone were to they'd realize that they made a terrible mistake. ]

I suppose I can look at this as a vacation despite it being through force. [ And even if she'd much rather visit some place like Italy or France. ] And surely there's still a kitchen for me to use so long as I'm there, correct?

[solokun]

You're kind of coming off a little spoiled.

[godstongue]

Please. [ She brings up a hand, combing her fingers through her hair. ]

I have work that needs to be done and I'm being taken away from that for 'fun'. I doubt I'm the one who's acting spoiled.

[solokun]

[Yeah, nice hair. It's sorta the thing that made him speak up in the first place since she looks so much like his waifu.

Asuna can be a little spoiled too.]

... What sort of work?

[godstongue]

[ Be glad she's not a mind reader. ]

Unless you're familiar with me by name, why is it any of your business? [ Because meetings with chefs around the world is obviously meant to be a secret. But fortunately there's more to it than just that. ] I study and work at the worlds top culinary academy, Tootsuki Academy, so you can just imagine how busy my schedule is.

[solokun]

[It's definitely a good thing she can't read his mind since now he wishes he didn't even bother to speak since it's not really Asuna. Social interaction is such a chore sometimes.

Also... culinary academy?]

Gee, that sounds reaaaaaally important.

[godstongue]

[ His sarcasm is noticed and she furrows her brows. ] I advice you to hold your tongue and refrain from making any comments if you're unaware of what I'm talking about.

But enlighten me. What, dare I ask, do you do? Hm?

[solokun]

[Full-time student? Avid gamer? Either of these will probably just make him seem like a tool, so he just goes with his other job, the one he had for two years straight.]

Fight monsters, clear dungeons, finish quests. That sort of thing.

[godstongue]

[ He still sounds like a tool, unfortunately. ]

Are you trying to joke with me now? [ He doesn't have to make any comments about being an avid gamer for her to at least draw the lines to exactly that. ] You play games for a living, how pathetic.

[solokun]

[FROWN.]

Considering I could have died... yeah, you could say it was literally for a living.

How dangerous is cooking? Wouldn't want any stray lemon juice to get in your eye or something.

[godstongue]

Oh, and sitting in front of a screen is better? The only way you could have died is from starvation or dehydration, cry me a river. [ Obviously she didn't take the word 'literally' to heart. ]

Are you dismissing fires and accidental cuts from those who are stupid enough to make such mistakes? [ The ones who aren't truly fit to be in a kitchen, she might add. ] Or have you never stepped into a kitchen before? I certainly wouldn't be too surprised.

[solokun]

[Meh, like he cares about explaining that they were all trapped in the game and thousands of people actually died when their brains got microwaved all according to the plan of the game's creator.]

What, you're saying you're stupid enough to make mistakes like that?

[godstongue]

Of course not. I'm not an idiot. [ No, in fact— ] I'm a genius. A prodigy, so I'm incapable of making mistakes.

[ It's something that deserves a little flaunting; especially since she takes pride in the fact that she can crush a single persons dreams of ever making themselves a name in the culinary world just by a few words. Her skills giving her a seat in the Elite Ten and making her known around the world as both a joy and a threat. ]

[solokun]

[He just raises an eyebrow at this. She's really sort of full of herself, huh? At least that's how Kirito sees it.]

Ah, I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Humble-san.

[godstongue]

Excuse me!? [ Who exactly was he!? ]

Who are you to call someone of the the Nakiri family something like that? Don't you have any sense of mannerism at all? [ Her once cool expression immediately breaks, unfolding her arms to place one firmly on her hip and the other to point at him. ] If you are to call me anything it shall be Erina-sama!

[solokun]

[Well, now it's just too easy. If she didn't react like that, he'd probably have just let it slide, but a reaction like that is just impossible to pass up.

So he claps his hands together and then bows respectfully.]

Ahhh, I messed up again. Forgive me, Humble-Erina-sama-san.

[godstongue]

Drop the 'humble' part immediately!

[solokun]

So, Erina-sama is admitting she's a little full of herself?

[godstongue]

[ ... ]

I'd hold my tongue if I were you.

[ She never said she wasn't... kinda. ]

[solokun]

[After a short pause, he sticks his tongue out and reaches up to hold it.]

[godstongue]

If you're trying to be funny, you're failing terribly.

[solokun]

Ewina-thama...

[Oh, right, he has to let go of his tongue.]

Seriously, lighten up. If it wasn't for your mun, you wouldn't be able to get out and do any cooking at all. Obviously that's important to you.

[godstongue]

I do plenty of cooking on my own. In fact, every meal I have is made by me.

[ Because if she were to eat someone else's cooking, she'd only be met with disappointment.

Sometimes. ] My mun is doing this for her own selfish reasons.

[solokun]

[All of the talk about cooking is making him hungry. Kirito is the type of guy who'd rather eat his wife's cooking than make out with her. Probably. She sure as hell can cook.]

At least she chose Erina-sama over others. That type of selfishness deserves a pass every now and then, yeah?

[godstongue]

[ She's not making him anything. Maybe. Only if he begged. ]

As long as where I'm headed still has a kitchen and ingredients for me to use, then yes. I'll take this experience as a forced vacation.

[solokun]

[Whatever. Waifu's food is better anyways.]

See? Not so bad. At least you won't end up having a lifetime debt like where I'll be heading.

Though, Erina-sama might be stubborn enough to argue her way out of any debt.

[godstongue]

[ Probably because it's made out of this 'love' thing that Erina has no idea of. ]

Of course not. [ Hair flip. ] The Nakiri family has more than enough money to keep ourselves from debt. Money is never a problem.

[solokun]

[Yeahhh, there's that. Also, she is definitely more spoiled than Asuna. Kirito realizes this now.]

I don't think it works that way.

[godstongue]

Then what exactly are you trying to imply?

[solokun]

That money can't buy you out of everything?

[godstongue]

Ah. [ She could argue against that, but— ]

I can say that I've experienced a few situations where money didn't help, but those were situations where I succeeded either way.

[solokun]

[Kirito's never been really materialistic. The most money he had was in a video game, and he gave it away so two factions could build better armies.

Either way, he can't help but smile a little. Even if she admits money can't help in every situation, she doesn't admit defeat entirely. Kinda funny.]

That was most likely because of Erina-sama's natural stubbornness.

[godstongue]

And natural born talent. [ He can't be leaving that out!! ]

How do you think I got to the top ten of my school? Money? Name? No, I could never let myself simply go through life like that.

[solokun]

Do you have fun?

[godstongue]

Of course. [ She nods. ]

It would be foolish of me to make cooking the center of my life and not have fun with it. My goal is to become the greatest chef this world has ever seen, after all.

[solokun]

Mh, you'll have to work really hard to even get close to how good my wife can cook.

I think I should judge a competition, be the taste-tester between you two.

[He really loves food, okay.]

[godstongue]

To even get close? After you've never tasted a thing I've made?

[ There's a hint of laughter bubbling in the back of her throat, but she quickly swallows that down. Instead, a grin replaces it, one of absolute confidence. ] If it benefits me, then I'll think about it.

[solokun]

Can you do spicy? The spicier the better. Asuna makes these spicy sandwiches that are amazing.

[godstongue]

Which part of "top ten in the world's best culinary academy" did you forget?

Of course I can.

[solokun]

[Just going to go silent and start thinking about all the food he could enjoy if he were to judge a food competition. He's practically drooling.]

[godstongue]

... At least close your mouth.

[solokun]

Ooooops?

[He rubs the back of his head and smiles sheepishly. Probably got a little carried away there.]

Ah, but anyways, good luck with your mun and all, Erina-sama. I won't be heading there, but maybe we'll get to have that cooking competition some other way.

I'm Kirito, in case you were wondering.

[Eh, nobody cares about his real name anyways. Might as well keep going with this one.]

[godstongue]

Possibly. [ She sighs. ] I'll try to keep this "competition" in mind for later thought. But please, keep enjoying the thought that it may possibly happen.

Good day, then, Kirito.