nexus_sages | Sibling Rivalries: Chili Edition

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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Normally I'd suggest waiting until everyone has had a chance at one piece..." Katsuya starts, but looking around he gives a bit of a nervous chuckle.

"But I think it's safe to say I've brought more than enough dessert. Go right ahead. So long as you save room to sample both of the chilis, I doubt Clint or Verity will mind."

Katsuya's closest Nexus friend gets a warm smile from the officer.

"How about I cut a piece of each in half, to leave a little more for everyone else to try? And, you know, to leave room for chili." He's incorrigible, really.

"You certainly did bring quite the dessert spread. I'm highly impressed." And that's without having tried any of the desserts!

"Seems reasonable." He doesn't want to be blamed for people filling up on cake and not having a chance to properly vote, after all. This is supposed to be starring the two chilis.

"Well, the cake is the same in all three. I've added fruit and a raspberry sauce to the top of the first, cocoa in the whipped topping to the second, and a milk caramel sauce to the third which is another Mexican dessert." There's a hint of pride when he discusses the cakes. Baking is quite serious business, after all.

"It's the only reasonable option, really." He chuckles and cuts a piece of each of the cakes in half, scooping them into his bowl when he's done with the task of cutting.

The pride is noted - and gets a big grin from Hughes. "I'm flattered you went to such lengths for everyone coming to visit today. That sounds like a hell of a lot of work."

Now, however, it's time to try the cake. A bite of each is in order before decides which is his favorite. "Mmm, I think I like the one with milk caramel sauce the most," he says after a long moment of debate. That one will now get saved for last, so he can savor it just a liiiitle bit more.

"Verity didn't have time to prepare a dessert station, and I was more than happy to help." The work was worth the effort of a start at rebuilding his friendship with her anyway.

"It is the sweetest." Katsuya admits. His personal favorite is the fruit, but he's glad Hughes is enjoying the cakes. If there are extras, would you like to bring some home to your family?"

"Your desserts are always welcome," he says with a grin.

"Mmm, no wonder it's my favorite, then." Hughes can't deny his sweet tooth, not around Katsuya. The officer has seen him chow down on obscene amounts of sweets before, after all.

The offer gets a wide eyed response. "Really? You'd let me take it back with me? That would be great." He'll think of an excuse for all the sweets later, because it's so worth it to share Katsuya's treats.

"You are rather easy to please in that regard." Katsuya quips back, but he's still smiling. He's glad to have people to feed, really.

"As if I could stomach the idea of your little one not getting cake when her father does?"

"Guilty as charged." Is that cop humor? Damnit, Hughes!

"I can tell you already she's going to love you for it. Just be careful giving me too much - she might start asking me to bring home more." He certainly wouldn't want Katsuya to go too far out of his way just to give him more cake to bring home every week.

"I wouldn't want her clamoring for my food over her mother's." Katsuya shakes his head. "Besides, too many sweets and she'll get all chubby. I could never do that to your little one."

Eat your vegetables and exercise, says officer Suou!

He saw what you did there, Hughes. He's grinning.

"I don't think I could slow her down long enough for that to happen," Hughes admits with a slightly nervous chuckle. "I can hardly slow her down long enough to go to bed most nights." He can't even imagine what it's like for Gracia, spending all day with their rambunctious daughter. He reminds himself to stop and get her some flowers on the way home, just because.

"If Gracia-san enjoys it, I will happily give you the recipe. Then she can make it for your family." It's not as though it's a secret.

And really, food is made to be shared and enjoyed.

Hughes smiles brightly at the offer. "Thank you, Katsuya. I'm sure she'll appreciate that. She has plenty of recipes for more savory desserts, but she's always on the lookout for something sweeter to try."

He may or may not be the cause of that desire. ~~Okay, he totally is.~~

Sibling Rivalries: Chili Edition

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