1133/Cookies for a Kaiju

Cookies for a Kaiju
Date of Scene:	18 February 2024
Location:	Cafeteria Plaza
Synopsis:	Kaori follows her nose and meets Katsumi in the middle of his pre-Valentine's Day cookie making. Cookies and conversation are made!
Cast of Characters:	Katsumi Cora, Kaori Jira

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Katsumi Cora has posed:
There's a warm and comforting smell that is eminating from one of the smaller 'guest' kitchens in the campus cafeteria. Humming cheerfully to himself, Katsumi is in his school uniform, but his blazer and vest are removed, so that he may wear a full apron. And he's working away in the kitchen. At the moment, there's a couple of sheets of cookies in the industrial oven and he has a couple of small pots set on the stove.

The smells in the air are of the sugar cookies that are baking - and of two types of chocolate. Working with a double boiler, Katsumi has a candy termometer out that he dips in one of the bowls of chocolate and waits for it to speak the temperature to him. Hearing it, he turns his attention to Kobo, his service dog, that is currently laying on the floor near the counter. "Couple of more minutes, and this batch will be done!" he promises.

There's an assembly process that's happened. There's a tray of cookies that are cooled, heart-shaped, coated in half white and half milk chocolate, while other cookies are cooling, waiting for their chocolate bath. With a pair of dark glasses set on his nose to hide his eyes, he probably comes across as it being too bright in the room.

Kaori Jira has posed:
Given that she was technically a homeless delinquent, it was perhaps suprising how Kaori managed to be here on campus. Perhaps it was charity, or they merely assumed that she was supposed to be on academy grounds because she looked about the right age and had been here before? Certainly, the fact that most of her clothing seemed to be a little too big or two small for her and had been taken from criminals in a moment that would make the Terminator proud made a little more sense now.

Of course, she -did- have money too, even if it had come from those same sources and most of the time that was sent feeding herself...and not for nothing, but the Kaiju Princess did have to admit that if there was ever anything redeaming about humans? It was their talent in the culinary arts.

She'd been wandering, a battered backpack carrying the clothing she'd intended to take with her to the campus pool to indulge in her other hobby of swimming when the scent had hit her and now...?

Well, Katsumi might spot the sight of the tall girl peeking through the door towards the work.

Katsumi Cora has posed:
As the oven beeps at him, Katsumi turns his attention towards the sound. "They're done!" he announces cheerfully. Feeling around on the counter, his hands find the baking gloves and he slips them on, just as Kobo barks, sitting up, tail wagging as the dog has noticed Kaori peering in.

<You have company, Katsumi!> Kobo's spirit voice sounds off in his head.

Katsumi 'ohs', his mouth making a little circle as he opens the oven door to reach in for the first tray. "Hi!" he calls out to the door. "You can come in!" That offered in invitation as he moves to set the tray to the side, using his foot to find the cooling tray and then sliding the tray into place on it's grooves.

And he listens for the door to open and close, before continuing. "I was making cookies for tomorrow. So hello!" he offers. "I'm Cora Katsumi, grade 9 and Cooking Club."

Kaori Jira has posed:
The girl looked older than him, likely like she was in one of the higher classes...the deep dark hair and leather jacket around her slightly faded uniform, it might make most consider her looking that much more delinquent at the moment. However, there was no immediate threat coming from her form before she makes her way towards the cookies, inhaling the scent lightly. "These 'cookies' are for an occasion?" she questions, frown on her features.

"Kaori Jira." No class mentioned.

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"They are." Katsumi offers cheerfully, listening as he hears the girl's voice. It gives him a vocal point. "Tomorrow is Valentine's, so I'm making cookies for those girls that may want to get a last-minute gift." he explains as he turns his attention away from the cookies and back towards Kaori.

And he looks straight at her - but his eyes are not lifted up to hers, instead, he's looking straight ahead at roughly throat level on her as he feels along the counter and finds the completed cookies.

Taking one that has been completely cooled, he turns to offer the dual-chocolated cookie to her. "Would you like one?" he asks her politely, figuring he has more than enough to spare a couple for a visitor. Plus, it may lead to good word of mouth. "It's nice to meet you, Jira-san."

Kaori Jira has posed:
Looking to her, the fact the tall girl actually looked bewildered by the mention of the holiday. Clearly she wasn't one who'd been treated to cards and confessions in her youth...maybe she wasn't from around here...

"You are making cookies, for girls to give away to someone else? Why do they not prepare their own?" she questions, though the offer of the cookie to her own hand has her blinking and taking the treat in her hand. She was hardly going to refuse, given that sweet scent. A shrug, there was no ceremony to it as she claimed a large bite for herself...and her eyes went wide.

She hadn't tasted chocolate before.

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"Because most people don't know how to make tuxedo cookies." Katsumi offers with a small chuckle. And he feels her hand brush against his, and he tilts his head for a moment. She was tall. At least judging by her hand size.

Reaching up, he takes off his glasses, and Kaori will notice - he has startlingly pale blue eyes - that are just staring blankly ahead. There's nothing in them, as if they are just blank screens.

"You don't know what tomorrow is?" he asks curiously. "It's Valentine's day. So... girls buy gifts for boys or girls that have feelings of friendship or romance for. Usually something small. Like candy, chocolates, or cookies." he explains. "And then a month later, on White Day, the boys do the same for those that they have affections, friendship and romantic for." A grin is offered, and he hears her take the first bite of the cookie.

And it's probably a damn shame he can't see her reaction. "So, what do you think?" he asks her curiously, pausing in his work to hear what she has to say - she is his first customer, after all!

Kaori Jira has posed:
She didn't know he was blink, the thought hadn't really crossed her mind. Such things where she'd came from ended in death for creatures at the claws and teeth of predators. Still, whatever her couldn't see he'd certainly hear the noise of delight that came from the taller girl and the sigh that followed. "This is wonderful..." she utters, lifting a hand to point towards him. "This is practically sorcery."

A frown, she tilts her head to the side. "Why would someone offer small treats? Surely a greater prize would offer a greater proof of attraction?"

Katsumi Cora has posed:
He definetly could hear and Katsumi smiles warmly. Though a scent catches his nose. "Ack, my chocolate!" he's turning quickly to feel his way to the stove so he can take the chocolate he was melting - that had started to scorch - off the fire. "Oh no..." he manages. That batch of chocolate is probably ruined, as he removes the other pot as well. Apparently a set of cookies is only getting one type of chocolate.

But his attention returns to Kaori's question. "I mean, I assume that if a girl really had an attraction to a potential love interest, yes, they would offer a better gift. Most of what I make are for friendships." he explains. "If you're buying my cookies, you really are realizing at the last moment you forgot someone." There's amusement in his tone as he makes his way back over to her.

"Is this your first Valentine's Day, then?" he asks curiously. "Is there someone that you have an interest in that you would want to offer a gift to?"

Kaori Jira has posed:
A frown, Kaori folds her arms, tilting her head to the side. "It is new," the yougn woman speaks, considering this new knowledge and then stepping close to sniff the chocolate lightly, even if it was burned. "Is this why people were running around with plants so much as well?" Puzzling, more and more puzzling. "These seem a far better option."

His second question? That doesn't get a verbal answer, but the small verbal 'hmmm' suggests not so much.

Katsumi Cora has posed:
When she gets closer, Kobo stands up for a moment, and kinda intersects the pair, sniffing around at the young woman - and then backing off. She's safe. At least in the spirit animal's opinion. "I wouldn't suggest eating that." he points out as he realizes where she's roaming towards. "Burnt chocolate is very bitter."

And perhaps, to dissuade her from the idea further, he gets a small plate. Setting a few of the still warm cookies on it, he feels his way over to her. And then sets the plate down.

Taking the small bowl of white chocolate he had salvaged, he sets it down. "You can dip these cookies in this and eat." he offers. "I can't sell those, so they're freebies. Payment for the company of a pretty girl." Not that he can tell that, he's just going off voice.

Kaori Jira has posed:
Kobo was...a strange creature to Kaori, if only for the fact that he didn't seem to be as unnerved as many other animals were by her presence. A blink, the chocolate offering along with the cookies bringing a little noise of confusion to Kaori's lips. "Aren't these intended to share attraction or friendship?" she questions before she finally notices something she hadn't

The lack of fixation of his gaze, the shade...she comes to voice the thought considerably less sensitively than a normal human might. "How would you know if I was pretty?"

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"So. I can't see you." Katsumi admits. "I mean. I can see the outline of you. But that's about it. When I say pretty, I am not speaking of your looks." He takes one of the cookies, breaking it and eating it without the chocolate. A soft sigh, yep, they're good. Almost as good as his mother's.

But it gives him a chance to gather his thoughts. "You stopped in. You were not mean to me, even with my obvious issue. You've kept me company, you enjoy my cookie, and you sound pretty. Hence. Pretty." Sound logic in his mind.

The young msn at that turns his attention back to his work, going to the cooled off tray, and he takes a cookie. He feels the edge of the bowl, dips it in the milk chocolate, and then turns it so that he can quickly get it into the white chocolate before setting on the cooling rack.

Kaori Jira has posed:
"You were wounded?" she questions, even as he take the bite of the next cookie was claimed and the Kaiju bound in human form actually looks to Katsumi. She'd seen him before, but she couldn't place it right away...such was the nature of their transformations. She folds her arms, behind her back before considering. "You seem to be doing well, regardless of the 'issue'."

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"When I was younger, I was really big into sports." Katsumi offers as he continues as he works on the cookies, coating them and setting them aside to dry. Despite his lack of sight, he's adept at this, something suggesting he had practiced this, alot. "...I was playing baseball when a ball was hit back at me and struck me in the head. I spent three weeks in a coma, and when I woke up, my world was permamently static."

"So. No more sports for me. But my mom didn't want me to just sit around and feel sorry for myself, so she taught me to bake by touch. And here we are!" Despite it all, he seems chipper about the whole thing.

"By the way... you can call me Kat. If you want." She doesn't have to. "What's your story? How did you end up here?" he asks curiously. "You didn't tell me what grade you were in."

Kaori Jira has posed:
How to answer? That she was kidnapped, forcibly transformed into the form standing before him rather than being a creature that would stand against the skyline of the city. Instead? She simply nods her head before gesturing to herself, even if she'd have to realise he couldn't see such a thing. "You may call me Kaori," she offers lightly before a soft chuckle cross her lips. "I simply found myself here..."

A beat, she lifts a hand to munch on another cookie. "And your mother should be proud to witness your skill."

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"Ah. I see, Kaori." Look, humor. Katsumi finishes off the cookies, and with that done, he moves his foot, and finding a stool, pulls it over to climb up on. That. That puts him at eye-level with the young woman, as she compliments him on his cooking.

His cheeks warm at the words, a blush showing up on his pale skin. "I hope so. She lives in the United States and has a cooking show there. My father plays baseball over here." he explains. "I always wanted to visit his homeland. So that's how I ended up here."

He's clearly trying to find some ground to cross over to get to know her a little better, but is not really all that great at it.

Kaori Jira has posed:
Fortunately perhaps for him, Kaori wasn't exactly a master of interpersonal skills. She'd at least gotten good at not threatening people or breaking things without cause. Most of the time. Another cookie dipped and crunched audibly, before she comes to shrug her shoulders gently. "I was coming here to swim in the pool, but I am glad I caught the scent of these 'cookies'."

Katsumi Cora has posed:
"Oh, you like swimming?" Katsumi asks, a lift of his brow. "I used to. Now I'm afraid I would get disoriented and if noone's around to help, I'd probably drown." he confesses, a little shudder that goes through him at the thought.

"Just remember to wait thirty minutes after you eat before going on a swim." That said in a slightly teasing tone as he feels over, a brush over her hand on accident before he finds the little box of bags he was feeling around for.

Now found, he starts to bag the cookies that are completed, three to a bag, and tied off.

Kaori Jira has posed:
"The pool is not so deep," Kaori offers, although she herself was well aware that her human form wasn't quite so good for amphibious travel. Perhaps her henshin'd form would do better, but she'd yet to test its limits.

She pauses, considering before she extends a hand, drawing to rest on his shoulder. "If you wish, I could help you. You could keep to what is shallow."

Katsumi Cora has posed:
There's a little blink when she offers to take him with her. Katsumi considers this for a moment, and then shrugs. "Sure!" he offers optimistically. "At worse, I can sit on the edge and kick my feet in the water." There's a light tease in his voice, the feel of her hand on his shoulder is a bit of a comfort.

"Just let me finish bagging these up and we can go?" he offers to her, humming to himself a little as he works to complete his task. It'll only take a few minutes for him to bag them and get them in the box for tomorrow. "I'll need to stop and get my swimsuit."

Kaori Jira has posed:
"It is only fair, given that you have treated me to these excess cookies of friendship and romance," Kaori offers, seemingly shrugging her shoulders given the touch of her hand before coming to withdraw and retrieve yet another cookie. "When you are ready, I will escort you."