(no subject)

[adistraction]

[ cravings are a thing that cannot and should not be ignored.

This is what had led Hunter into getting up at the ass crack of dawn and going to the grocery store to buy chicken and vegetables.

He can be found in Jaspers kitchen either transferring grilled chicken into a baking dish or mixing up the Honey/Sriracha/Garlic marinade to pour over the top. Rice is in the rice cooker, too.

Or, you can find him flipping through a dessert cookbook while he’s waiting for it to cool. He wants something sweet, too, but he absolutely cannot do the things in this book. At all. Hopeless. ]

_{…you are my spirit animal…you’re my totem of love…you are the child of the moon…} Ew…no orange marmalade… _{you are the ruler of the sun…}

[ he closes that recipe book and grabs another that’s basically all chocolate. ]

Comments

[faeshim]

[her language is creaks and coos, and hard to get out sometimes. but uncle hunter seems to understand her anyway, even better than baba. she likes that - and him. 'unconditional' is not a word that she will learn or even hear for some time, but she already knows what it means from the feeling that she gets from him.

yes, they're asleep now. no, she is not tired. and can she have some of what's in the cooker over there?]

[adistraction]

[ vibrations, energy, mood are much easier to understand than words sometimes anyway. And Hunter has been in touch with this little creature long before she opened her eyes. She may not remember any of that or even be aware of it but that’s okay.

He noses her cheek and smiles. ]

Hungry, hm? I was going to make pancakes but if you want some sweet rice instead I can make that? It’s one of my favorites and I don’t make it enough honestly.

[ Carrying her to the fridge he grabs a stick of butter, a can of cream and the sugar jar. ]

Don’t tell papa, though, okay? Cause it’s really sweet and you’ll be bouncing everywhere if you have it.

[faeshim]

[she has daeshim's eyes - bright and curious, and they watch everything that hunter is doing and taking out of the fridge. butter, cream, sugar - her fae blood instinctually knows what all of these things are, and craves them.

she makes her own version of the homer simpson drooling sound, and slobbers onto her chin. sweeeeet.

it'll be their little secret ♥]

+ 1 inky shroom

[adistraction]

[ he peeks over at Mushy (and if you think he has no already started calling you that, you are wrong Mushy). ]

Yep. And they’re delicious. I’m going to make sweet rice for Lavy, though. Is that okay?

[ Hunter pauses to smirk at Lavender and the drool on her chin. ]

You’re a cute little menace. I love you.

Re: + 1 inky shroom

[inkspot]

O-of course... why are you asking me if it is okay?

[ baein draws further in to join them both, smiling quietly at the child, wiggling his fingers in a greeting for her. ]

Hi, Lavender.

[faeshim]

[mushy mushy mushy! lavender is still trying to master her own body, but she tries her best to give hunter a smile, and then turns her head to share it with bae too. her baba told her about him while she was still in his belly, all the baes really, but how this one was practically a big brother to her.

it's by accident that her hands connect in a clap. and for the next for moments, she's awed and distracted at how she can do it again and again.]

[adistraction]

Because I want to make sure you would want to eat it, too. If not, I can make you something else.

[ Hunter melts a little with that smile but it warms when she starts clapping. And clapping. And— he chuckles and kisses her cheek before moving over to Mushy. ]

Here, play with Mushy while I get the secret going.

[inkspot]

Oh...

[ the fae flushes slightly. he's not sure he'll ever get used to other people fussing over him when all he's known his entire life is the opposite. but... he likes it. it's like wrapping himself up in something warm and cozy. that, and dessert food has quickly become his favorite thing.

when lavender claps, baein almost startles before he watches with wide eyes, mouth curling into an uncertain smile that quickly morphs into a delighted one he can't hold back when lavender laughs and giggles at her own hands. the child is adorable, and her awe is contagious, even for a mushroom fae.

he fumbles a little as he suddenly has the baby in his arms, but he secures his hold on her quickly, making sure she's safe. ]

I like panckakes...! Ah— [ his voice quiets and ducks his head. ] And chocolate.

[faeshim]

[clap, mushy, clap! she buzzes her lips at him, because he surely wants to hear all the hot nursery gossip. the invisible feathered snake things in the high corners of her room have told her about a wolf baby. a wolf! like her papa! isn't that fascinating, mushy??

she turns her head to look at hunter again as he works. well, isn't it?? wolf baby!]

[adistraction]

[ Hunter is moving the cooked rice into a separate pot where he’s slowly adding the butter, the cream and a not-so-healthy amount of sugar to let it melt away together.

But he does tip his head and look at the other two with an arched brow. ]

Are you talking to strangers, Lavy?

[ and he looks up to focus on Mushy for a moment—-]

I’ll make you chocolate pancakes then.

[inkspot]

[ baein is occupied both paying attention to lavender and curiously glancing over to what hunter is doing. baein can't cook, but it's endlessly fascinating to watch it happen. but lavender is equally fascinating to watch, and he smiles at her, nods along. ]

You heard about something... new, Lavender?

[ he knows lavender has a million and one things to say, and he knows he doesn't quite understand it all, but most of the time, baein swears he knows exactly what she's saying, even if she's not using words.

but he can't help but fluster in thanks at the offer because hunter doesn't need to do this for him, but he is anyway. it feels... warm. ]

Thank you, Hunter.

[faeshim]

[she squeals, because she wants to tell mushy all about it. but that's before uncle hunter asks her that question. her blue eyes are suddenly wide and completely innocent, and maybe it's just the sweet smell of rice in the air, but her fist suddenly seems very tasty again too.

she doesn't want to stop talking to the invisible snake things. they're her friends!]

[adistraction]

[ Hunter smiles fondly at Mushy - he’s Mushy, okay? Always will be. Even if Hunter knows he’s a Baein.

He’ll get the pancake stuff ready once the rice is finished.

For now, he narrows his eyes playfully and leans against the counter to watch Lavy put her fist in her mouth. ]

Ah-ah…no secrets with us, remember? Those innocent eyes aren’t fooling me. Just be careful, okay?

[ he moves again and stirs the rice a bit before sneaking to grab the mix for pancakes and the cocoa powder. ]

[inkspot]

[ baein gives hunter a small and lopsided smile back. it's very gentle, hesitant, but genuine. he didn't smile before the ruinwood, and he's still learning to do it more often. turning the smile at the child, baein bounces her gently in his arms. ]

Oh? Who told you?

[ the idea is vague, but that's the feeling he gets from her gurgling and giggling, at the very least. ]

[faeshim]

[ok! she'll be careful. she'd never leave the house without one of them!

she goes back to telling mushy about the snakes in the corners, how they slither up the walls and across the ceilings, and watch her with slitted eyes. do they come to his room too? she stops her sounds at that, as if waiting for an answer as she stares up at him.

and then she gives a little gurgling giggle. she likes mushy.]

[adistraction]

[ Hunter is listening, paying more attention than he lets on while he measures out and mixes the pancake batter.

He sets it aside to settle and takes the rice from the stove to give it a few stirs, a taste test and then pours it into another bowl to cool off and thicken.

He glances over when Lavy giggles.

Sometimes he wonders if the people in this house realize how much they mean to him. Each one, different.

Mm.

Another pan warms and he tests it with some butter before starting on the pancakes. The first two are always weird so he sets them aside and finally brings over a smaller bowl of the rice and a baby spoon. ]

See if she likes it. Make sure it’s cool.

[inkspot]

[ he just nods at lavender, and can't stop smiling. he doesn't quite understand, but he feels like he does agree with lavender on everything really. ]

Mm, that's right. You're doing good.

[ maybe he's just randomly talking at her, but it doesn't feel wrong. when hunter comes over, baein looks up, blinking, surprised. ]

Me? Ah...

[ he looks around himself, because he has an armful of baby and no hands to accept the bowl with. should he sit down? ]

[faeshim]

[food. she might make a little growling sound as hunter brings the bowl closer. but it smells so good and sweet!

but when she looks from the bowl to mushy, he seems to be having some sort of dilemma. don't worry, she'll help you! her small body suddenly feels lighter as she tries to float up and out of his arms to free up his hands again. now, if you'll just guide the spoon to her mouth...]

[adistraction]

[ Hunter blinks but then slowly smiles. ]

Smart girl.

[inkspot]

Oh! That's so clever, I didn't even think about that.

[ it's the perfect solution, and baein smiles up at the child before he takes the bowl and spoon from hunter. he's quiet as he reaches out to feed her the first spoonful of rice. ]

[faeshim]

[the kitchen lights go a little bit brighter after that first taste. lavender vibrates, the table vibrates, everything vibrates.

it's so sweet and creamy and delicious. no other food will ever compare. mushy, mushy, you try it too!]

[adistraction]

[ perhaps he should question the vibrating but he doesn’t because she likes the rice and that’s all that matters.

He chuckles and decides it’s safe to move onto the pancakes. Mushy can handle Lavy…and vice versa. ]

You’ll have to have your baba try it too.

[inkspot]

[ for a second, baein blinks and looks around in belated alarm at the state of the room, but when hunter doesn't seem to be bothered, baein's nerves calms again and he looks back to lavender, just in time to see her imploring little face, staring up at him. ]

Do... you want me to try it too?

[ he understands if she wants daeshim to, but... that sure felt like a nudge to him alone. he takes a bit on the spoon and goes to taste it in turn, and then his eyes widen. with his sweet tooth, it's a clear winner. ]

This is so good—