Sibling Rivalries: Chili Edition

[brave_heart_verity]

Flyers have been going up around the Forum and Commercial District for the last week or so. This morning,the lights in the VSW Meadhall came on. By noon, anyone getting close enough to an open door would know: chili's on!

Inside, everything's set up and waiting for the hungry and the curious: Clint's cooking in one corner, and Verity's in the other. Between them, tables are laid out with the necessities: bowls, plates, spoons, and plenty of napkins. There's beer and iced tea, some lovely tres leches cakes provided by the Nexus' favorite Japanese detective, and various toppings for the chili: bottles of sriracha and sweet Thai chili sauce, red pepper flakes, green onions and red, lime wedges, diced bell peppers and jalapeños, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. Cornbread and tortilla chips round things out.

Long tables with a mix of benches and chairs fill the hall on either side of the fire pits. One has board and card games stacked neatly at one end (they were neat when they were put out, at least). Another has two boxes, one wrapped in purple paper and one in pink, for depositing voting slips.

Poll #17301 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

View Respondents

Who gets your vote?

View Answers

Clint--Avengers Assemble!
3 (42.9%)

Truthfully? Verity.
4 (57.1%)

The fire pits are lit, the food is waiting, and there are games in want of players. What are you waiting for?
((There will doubtless be further Cupid-based shenanigans, but this weekend, it's all about the platonic relationships. Bromances, BFFs, and family ties rule the day! Let's celebrate! Threadhopping, tangents, games, and mischief are all encouraged. Just don't start a food fight or Verity will have to yell.))

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

The smile helps, and gets a little one from her in turn while she looks around. "Uh... looks like it's under the table there, by your foot? There's a coffee maker here, we don't have to go out and buy any. It all looks really good. And three cakes? You're spoiling us."

[sumarusfinest]

"Ah! Thank you. I'd been searching for it." Katsuya kneels down to scoop up the hiding bag with a triumphant smile on his face when he stands back up. It's a good thing Verity found it, because he'd been nearly ready to hurry back off home and get it, worrying he'd forgotten it entirely.

"Oh, that will be good. I'll get started on that once this is all done." The beer may go well with the chili, but Katsuya's guessing it won't mingle as nicely with his cakes. "Ah..I..didn't know how many people would be coming? Once I finished the first, I was rather worried it wouldn't be enough...."

Don't tell her about the one back at home in case he runs out that was his trial run of the recipe he intends to take to work. He has a habit of going overboard when he bakes.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome." Ver thinks about it for a moment, then reaches out to touch his arm briefly. "Calm down. Everyone's going to love the cakes. I'm the one getting judged, remember?"

He takes everything so seriously. It's cute and frustrating at the same time, and she's really not sure what to do with him. "It'd be kind of you to take care of the coffee. I have no idea how many people are going to show up. But I want to be ready..."

Oh, no, do tell her. She'd think it's cute.

[sumarusfinest]

"Well, I came prepared for more rather than less. Knowing your cooking prowess, I had assumed this place would get rather busy rather quickly. It's no trouble to take care of the coffee. I'm just here to help." He gives her a small shrug and a slightly sheepish smile. He's not nervous exactly, but he does wonder if he's perhaps overdone it.

"If we do run out, I just need to make a quick trip home and back. I have one spare cake at the apartment yet, though admittedly it was a trial run of the recipe. I've only had one small piece of it. I intended to take it to the station if it wasn't needed."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I hope so. I want everyone to have a good time. You, too." It's hard to pull off the stern look and the arm-poking when she's smiling. "This is a fun day. Let's try not to worry, okay? We're both too good at worrying, no need to prove those skills today."

When he's done with the things in the bag she'll show him where the coffee maker is; the kitchen isn't exactly hidden, but it always helps to have a guide in an unfamiliar place. "We wouldn't want to deprive your fellow officers. I'm sure your baked goods are the highlight of their work day."

[sumarusfinest]

"I'm already having a good time." Katsuya points out, gesturing to the table. "These were quite fun to make, actually. And being invited to an event you were holding again...means a lot. I've been looking forward to it."

Following her through the building to where the coffee maker is stored does wonders for Katsuya's need to plan things accordingly. He'll be sure to get on that once he's had a look around.

"They have grown rather fond of them, once my hobby became common knowledge. It's good to have people to serve, else much of what I make would go to waste. I can't eat whole cakes and the like by myself."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I mean talking to people," she points out. "I'm really glad you came, but I hate that you think you needed my permission. I'm not the Queen of the Nexus, I can't banish anyone."

It's not a big or complicated kitchen. But it's nice, clean, and everything works. Really not much more you can ask for when renting a place like this.

"I know the feeling," she reminds him quietly.

[sumarusfinest]

"I didn't need your permission to be in the Nexus. What I mean to say is...I'm glad for the permission to speak with you again. It had been one of this place's selling points." Katsuya points out quietly, giving a small shrug.

"You've got a lovely family to cook for now. Isn't that something to look forward to?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh. That." She blushes and rubs the back of her neck. "It's hard to get over the little things sometimes because there's such big things in the way. I'm sorry that it, that I upset you so much."

"Mm, true, I've been lucky to have them. But getting them together at the same time to sit down and eat can be a challenge. I mean. With their schedules."

[sumarusfinest]

"Forgiven already. We...were not right for each other. But we did make quite excellent friends, if I do so recall. I hope to come back to that point in time." Katsuya wants to apologize back, but they can't keep having this cycle. Not if they're going to move on.

The latter remark makes the officer smile wide.

"And here I thought you'd just continuously slip them food so the pair of bachelors didn't starve to death or survive on naught but chips and take out." That's what his brother eats if left to his own devices, at any rate.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Nobody could be right for a woman out of her mind with grief," she points out gently. She has a long ways to go yet, but at least, she can see there's a problem. That's the start. "I hope we can be friends like that again too. You have no idea how many times I wanted to call you for advice while I was making Jül candy."

She laughs at the idea, but she doesn't refute it. "Oh, I try, but sometimes I like to actually get some time with them. As a sort of reward for my efforts in sisterly care."

[sumarusfinest]

"I can commiserate. Your brothers are much less socially stunted than they could be. I hope they show you the gratitude you deserve for your efforts." Or at least help with the cleanup every now and again.

"They're doing you good, too. I can tell." It makes him happy to know she has people looking out for her as well. She needs that. Being alone is something no one needs, especially after so much loss.

[brave_heart_verity]

"They've been very good to me." Of that, she's certain. She's not going to fault Jim for sleeping through cleanup so often. He can't even make it to dessert half the time!

"Yeah, they look after me. It's what we have each other for." They're almost one stable person, between the three of them. "We invented a holiday, for our family. They took me out sledding. My sled got stuck in a tree."

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya can, but not if he doesn't know about it.

"Did you attach rockets to the sled or something?" How does that even happen? Katsuya has no idea. Then again, he's never been sledding before. Maybe that's a common occurrence?

"I'm glad you're alright, rather. It sounds like it was a good time."

[brave_heart_verity]

This is why she tries not to gossip. It's not anyone's place to judge when people fall asleep in her family except her family's.

"No, I just fell off. I'm really good at sledding, clearly." It doesn't bother her that she's bad at it. It was fun, and that's what's important to her. "Are you all set here? I should get back to the chili."

[sumarusfinest]

"Clearly." Katsuya gives his station a once over before nodding. "I'm good here. You go on. I'm going to make some coffee and then try out these infamous chilis. That is why we're all here today, is it not?"

It shouldn't take him too long to make coffee.

[brave_heart_verity]

"That's the idea. Part of it. Thank you again for everything." She will leave him to his work now, with the hope he can enjoy himself.