26 - video/action for beach house

[firstaid]

[The device turns on, obviously with its owner unaware of it doing so. The pink haired girl is in the kitchen pulling out a cookie pan of croquettes and placing them on the counter to cool for a bit as she removes the pink oven mitt from her hand. Picking up a fork, she impales one, then brings it up to his lips as she blows on it to cool it down. Taking a bite, she chews on it for a moment before proceeding to look sad.]

They don’t… taste the same…

[And the device turns off on its own.]

Comments

[oceantrauma]

What's wrong, Estellise-san? What should they taste like?

[firstaid]

They don't... taste like Yuri's croquettes.

[oceantrauma]

I apologize. I don't know Yuri-san. Do you know what they use in their recipe?

[firstaid]

Yuri is my friend, but he... went home. [Her smile falters for a bit.]

This is the recipe he used, I'm absolutely sure of it.

[negativegate]

He probably just had a secret ingredient that he wouldn't tell anyone.

[And she is so not going to consider that it's love.

Meanwhile, Rita is sort of trying to pretend she's not that unhappy about Yuri leaving, too...]

A-anyway, they're just croquettes, right?

[oceantrauma]

Oh.... I'm sorry to hear that.

Are you sure? Sometimes people add their own thing, don't they?

[firstaid]

But he said it was 'love'.

[And she still believes that right now. They don't taste off, they just don't taste the same.]

They are, but...

[She wanted to make them to comfort herself.]

[firstaid]

He always said he added 'love'.

[And she believes that to his day. All of his food was good, but his croquettes were exceptional.]

[negativegate]

That can't be a real ingredient!

[She comes over and grabs one--then drops it, because it's hot, and she makes a face as she picks up a piece more carefully with a fork.]

It probably tastes fine, look...

[firstaid]

I think it is.

[Though she smiles at Rita's attempt to cheer her up by taking one to eat it. They are edible, but they just don't taste amazing.]

[negativegate]

How would you even put that in food?

[She blows on it, pops it in her mouth....

...It really doesn't taste the same.]

.....I-it tastes normal, like any croquette! See?

[firstaid]

[Rita's lying, and Estelle knows it, but she won't call her out on it. Instead, she smiles for her, the best she can right now.]

I'm glad you think so!

[negativegate]

[It is definitely edible, at least... Rita eats the rest of the croquette, slowly, thinking Estelle must be hurting.]

Of course. You might not have his secret ingredient, but they're still fine.

[oceantrauma]

But...how would that change the taste?

[blackshadow]

[ Tyr tries to give her a little smile. ]

They still smell great...

[firstaid]

It just does. They simply taste better.

[firstaid]

[Which means they don't taste nearly as good as Yuri's croquettes. But that's okay. Nothing will be as good as his croquettes.

She grabs another one with a fork and blows on it before eating it. They did taste fine...]

Yes, they are.

[firstaid]

[Estelle simply smiles back at him.]

I'm glad you think so!

[blackshadow]

[ And it's nice to see Estelle smile. ]

So are you making lunch for everyone today?

[oceantrauma]

Are you sure? [Can't believe that possible!]

[firstaid]

If you want me to I can.

[It would keep her mind off of trying to be sad.]

[firstaid]

I'm absolutely positive.

[blackshadow]

[ He walks further into the kitchen. ]

That's your call. I can help you prepare if you want to, though.

[sacredpenance]

If you would like.

[Her voice starts to lose her normal enthusiasm. It's hard to keep up pretending for this long. But she feels awful that she's sad because... she'll see Yuri again when she goes home. She knows that.]

What would you like for lunch, Tyr?

[negativegate]

Estelle...

[Rita looks at her for a moment, not sure what to say...besides the obvious.]

He was bound to leave sometime, you know. I mean, he'd been here even longer than I have...