it's a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake

[allconsumed]

Who: Velvet Crowe & Waver Velvet (aka The Victim)
Where: Floor 6, Room 1 of the apartment building
When: Day 178-ish
Open/Closed: Closed

[The kitchenette doesn't offer much counter space, but it shouldn't be an issue; Velvet has cooked with much worse conditions to contend with. She has most of the dry ingredients out and ready, along with the butter, which has been softening outside of the fridge. The oven is in the process of preheating, and Velvet has a nice shiny pan for them to use. It's all arranged rather neatly.

There's nothing left to prepare, so Velvet folds her arms and waits for The Victim to arrive. It ought to be an entertaining, and perhaps messy, afternoon.]

Comments

[allconsumed]

[She does know, generally, but her mind is in baking task mode right now. For him, that's both good and bad.]

Well, get over it. Magilou can be pretty picky, and if I do all the work, then that makes the gesture useless.

[There's just enough room for the chocolate, which she sets down, then she makes room for him at the small counter.]

Here's what we're working with.

[teratias]

[Well the pickiness is obvious. But Waver makes sure he's closed the door before he walks over to the counter, and observes the set up. It is all very nice and neat, and frankly, it reminds him of how he sets up his alchemy experiments.]

Right. Can I look over the recipe too, please?

[allconsumed]

[Ah, good. He has the right priorities so far.

Velvet produces the recipe, then tapes it over a cupboard that's above the counter so that it's at about eye level. It's a slight variation of something fairly basic – especially since they're going to stick to one layer. Magilou doesn't need the extra calories, does she? Although she's thin and Velvet has never seen her gain weight, despite her enthusiasm for various foods. The recipe for the frosting is separate and at the side.]

Wash your hands, then butter the pan first. Just spread it around the inside and it'll help make it so the cake doesn't stick. I'll start boiling some water.

[teratias]

[Reading the recipe actually means Waver reads it thrice over so he knows exactly what's going on. It's not hard, but he's rarely spent time in a kitchen so the techniques are all new. Satisfied with that, he goes over to wash his hands and then....right. Butter. Pan.

Waver picks up one of the sticks of butter, unwrapping it carefully. It's clear that the whole stick isn't going to be used, so what he does instead is press one end of the butter onto the pan, and then rubs it in careful circles starting in the center and then moving outward.]

Do I do the sides too, or just the pan's bottom?

[allconsumed]

Sides too.

[Velvet takes a small pot out from below the counter, then pours in some tap water before setting it on the stove top and starting up the flame. The way he's buttering works just fine.]

Once you're done with that, use a little flour and sift it around so that it coats the butter in a thin, even layer. Whatever sticks is enough, so you can empty the rest in the sink after.

[teratias]

Sides too. Got it.

[That just meant holding the butter in one hand and then rotating the pan in the other. Mission accomplished, and he ends up doing something similar with the flour.

Hell, he even does it over the garbage can just to avoid a mess.]

Where should I put it?

[allconsumed]

[Smart. He's actually being intuitive about this.

This lack of counter space, though. She takes the pan from him with steady hands.]

I'll hold it. We need room for the mixing bowl. It's under the counter, so grab it then follow the recipe. Measure out the dry ingredients and mix them together. There are measuring spoons and cups in the cupboard next to where the recipe is hanging.

[teratias]

Wait, what counts as dry ingredients?

[He does hand the pan over and takes out the right bowl and whatnot, but he isn't measuring. Not yet.]

[allconsumed]

[That's not the worst question, but Velvet still turns to give him a look.]

Think about it. Anything on there that isn't wet to touch. Flour, baking soda, cocoa powder – yes. Not the eggs, the milk or the oil. Get it?

[teratias]

....Yeah, I think. What about the sugar though? I know it's hydroscopic.

[allconsumed]

[It's what. Velvet will just pretend she knows what that means.]

It counts as dry.

[teratias]

[Water-loving!]

I...okay? The recipe said to mix it with eggs and stuff?

[allconsumed]

Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately before you combine it all. Don't ask me why, that's just how my sister taught me to do it. There's another bowl down there, and you can put the ingredients away once you use them to make space.

[teratias]

Okay, okay. Got it.

[He's intrigued by the sister comment, but that'll probably just get him yelled at. So Waver goes about mixing all the dry ingredients together, working quickly and quietly.]

[allconsumed]

[Velvet lurks behind him and watches his progress. After a bit, the water she put on the stove starts to boil, so she lowers the heat.]

… I thought you'd have made a mess by now.

[teratias]

[Waver glares, unamused and insulted.]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, jerk.

[allconsumed]

[She waves a dismissive hand.]

You should be proud that you're exceeding my expectations.

[teratias]

How low were they?! Did you just drop them on the floor?

[allconsumed]

Look, don't get so defensive. Not everybody is given a chance to prove themselves like this, so consider yourself lucky.

[Can he tell that she's enjoying herself? The shit-eating grin probably gives it away.]

[teratias]

[Waver just growls, and huffs! Fuck this! He's going back to mixing the stupid cake!]

Why do you care anyway?

[allconsumed]

[Hey, the cake didn't do anything wrong.]

I have my reasons. Do you really need to know?

[teratias]

...I mean, I've been wondering for a while.

[allconsumed]

Maybe I just enjoy having a masochist around.

[OK, OK. A real-ish answer, even though she's going to keep it vague.]

… I suppose it's good that you're still spending time with Magilou. She could use it.

[teratias]

I'm not a masochist! How can you assume that about someone?!

[The realish answer is....actually satisfying though. Waver blinks, slowing the anger roll.]

Well...we...yeah. I like spending time with her too.

[allconsumed]

That's what makes you a masochist. There's other evidence, too.

[Turns out she's not really so great at helping him calm down.]