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[She does remember his advice!

She's just swallowing the alcohol anyway. Rebel! She can do it! She can drink it.

Another light cough, and she rubs at her cheeks, laughing a little sheepishly.]

Wow! I've never tasted anything like that!

[ Is she getting tingly? Very normal, still cute. He laughs, washing out the shot glass and placing it next to the two glasses he has set up for them. ]

That's a white rum. Light and black rums are fermented longer, which lends a richer flavor and a more significant alcohol content. It's a bit sweet and strong, but it's light enough for casual drinks.

[ He points at the other bottles on the table. ]

For a mojito, we'll need that, along with simple syrup, mint, the lime we cut earlier, and soda water. Would you like to try any of those as well?

[ Y'know... just to cleanse the palate. ]

[Absolutely she is. She's at least aware that that's what alcohol is intended to do, so she's just determined to not Show It. We'll see how that goes for her.

Regardless, it still burns a little, so a palate cleanser sounds delightful, and she is perhaps in a little bit too much of a hurry to nod.]

Definitely! Um... maybe the soda water first? I've had lime before here, but not simple syrup, I don't think.

Mm... Simple syrup is a bit oversweet on its own, and soda water a touch bitter. Let's have both.

[ So when he pours the soda water, he does so over a bit of syrup, letting the two swirl together before pushing the glass to her. Not too much, it is essentially just sugar water, and they're about to make something much more tasty, anyway. ]

There you are. Just a mouthful. Have you tried mint, then?

[ ... It strikes him as very odd that someone might not have tried something as simple as a lime, but she's young, so he makes room to consider that she just hasn't seen a lot of the world yet. ]

[She's engrossed as she watches him; somehow, he makes even the act of pouring the two together rather visually lovely. But she scoops up the glass as he pushes it towards her, and obediently takes only a mouthful of the drink.

... Oooh!]

Fizzy and sweet--it's good! [Basically just sugar water, but she's a simple girl and anything sweet is good in her book.

She perks up at the question, eager to be able to say yes for once (there is truly so much here that she's never seen before, never gotten to touch), and nods.]

Oh, yes! I've had mint before. It's very refreshing, isn't it?

[ Well, this is one of the first recipes he learned, and he does rather try to do everything correct... Which, of course, means that everything he does is kind of pretty. Which is completely unfair and it is completely right to resent him for it. ]

It is, isn't it? It's the basis for most light drinks. One only needs to add as much sweetness as needed to offset the rest of the drink... But that's up to one's taste, of course.

[ Midnight isn't the sort to relish sweetness, but notes that sweetness goes down well for Miss Caster. Things to remember for the future.

(He thinks of Miss Popukar and Miss Catapult all of a sudden. Tugging at his coat, asking for money for sweets.) ]

It is, it is. It's very strong, so we'll only need a few leaves...

[ He takes a stem of mint and plucks three or four leaves, adding to it to the shiny metal tumbler in front of them. He hands a small mixing stick to Miss Caster, pushing the cocktail shaker to her. ]

Crush the leaves at the bottom with this. It doesn't need to be a pulp, you just need to release the flavor a bit.

Edited (my brain gave up on english temporarily) 2024-01-05 02:01 (UTC)

[She accepts both carefully, glancing between them. Of course, while she was at the host club before, she'd watched Midnight work his magic with both the tumbler and the mixing stick, so she's at least confident she knows what she should be doing.

It's just a matter of... doing it well, isn't it?

Don't pulp it, just crush it a little. Restraint, Altria, show a little bit of restraint. It's not her strong suit, but she thinks she can manage to not pulp these poor leaves.

So, carefully... she sticks the mixing stick into the tumbler, squinting down into it as she does. She is, perhaps, being a little too cautious... more poking the leaves than actually crushing them. But eventually, she tries a little harder. And a liiittle harder... And--oh!]

Um. [They are a little smooshed. Probably a little past the point of crushed. But hey, they're not pulped, at least.]

Like... like that?

[ Midnight peeks in... laughs. ]

Very thorough. Next time, about half what you did will do. Don't make too much work for yourself, mm?

[ ... He does not realize that holding herself back was the work. Well... Maybe he'll pick up on that another time. For now, he's set up the lime in a hand juicer, and hands it off to her, putting it over a small bowl. ]

We need enough lime juice to fill a shot glass, darling. Both lime halves will be more than enough, so don't fret about squeezing every drop.

[ And he'll walk her through every step very carefully, with the correct ratio for every ingredient double checked before being poured into the tumbler. He's memorized the whole process, is very gentle and careful with her mistakes. The sort of person who is a good teacher because he's also a good student. ]

[She flushes a light pink at that (got it, that was still too much force, oops)...

But the juicer she can handle. She's confident in this one! Just gotta not overdo it. That's totally fine--!

She accepts the limes and the hand juicer, nodding firmly.]

Okay, okay! I've got it for sure!

[And so she sets to juicing. This requires a decent level of force, but not too much--which is perfect for Miss Altria "trying to be gentle" Caster.]

A lot of work goes into these drinks, huh?

[ Midnight nudges the shot glass neatly under her work, but is otherwise perfectly content to let her at it. She's so earnest! He's very fond already. ]

Mm. And this is just one of several different drinks one might order at a bar. Bartenders are expected to know not only classics and favorites, but to serve them well, promptly, without any glaring errors, and at a large scale. Some even come up with their own specialties.

[ It's impressive work. Midnight has always had respect for the bartenders at his old host club, but stepping into their shoes has been an eye-opening experience. ]

[It is impressive work. She comes from a place where food, especially exotic and well-made food and drink, is generally an afterthought.

This is exciting, but also fascinating.

She moves on to the second half of the lime, juicing it as she thinks that over.]

People are amazing! All of these creative foods and drinks, all because trying different kinds of things with different tastes makes people happy... I really like that about this place!

Mm. We are all the same, in spite of the worlds that bore us... In spite of our similarities, we've our differences. All of these create tension, but from those tensions, beauty flourishes. We've a new world on our hands... I intend to make a happy one.

[ Midnight begins unscrewing caps for the next steps, setting the open bottles next to each other. Honestly, the opportunity to learn is one of the best things that have happened to him here... about both the world and other people alike. ]

[She laughs a little at that--not at his words, not at him, but in simple delight.]

You have such a lovely way of speaking, Midnight. [Like poetry, like warmth, like the stars.

She passes over the shot glass full of lime juice, putting aside the juiced halves of the lime carefully and just as carefully holding out her now sticky hands as she shuffles to the sink.]

But planning on making a happy new world... that's really ambitious.

Thank you. I am quite good at putting my thoughts into words...

[ Most of the time, anyway, but he's put in enough practice to make it a solid "more often than not". He accepts the shot glass, then sets up another, watching her wash her hands. What a dutiful child. When she gets back, he'll direct her to pour the lime juice into the metal tumbler, then take the shot glass back, pulling the bottle of rum back to him. ]

We'll need one shot glass of rum, same amount as the lime juice, then we need about half a glass of syrup. They all go in, any order you like. As for making a happy world... Well, why not? So long as we're all here, and as long as I like a happy face, there's nothing wrong with giving the endeavor a try. And I do so love trying new things, and persisting at things I like.

Edited 2024-01-10 22:59 (UTC)

[Lime juice in! He's got the rum, so she reaches instead for the syrup.]

Half a glass, half a glass... [Where are the glasses, she's gonna rummage for one.

In the meantime, thoughtfully:]

I guess that's true, though. It's just... everyone has a different sort of happiness, don't they? So it's hard to make them all come true at once.

Ah, just wash out the lime juice glass, then fill it halfway with syrup.

[ Efficiency! He pours the rum, then pushes it to her. He is going to let her do the honors. ]

Of course. This is a directive, an ideal, not a reality. It's the sort of thing one aims for. Like perfection. Not the worst way to spend one's time.

[... ah, right. That's smart. She laughs a little sheepishly, but obediently snags the lime juice glass instead, puttering over to the sink again.

And as she does:]

Aiming for perfection...? Is that really something people can do?

[She returns with a clean glass, carefully measures out the syrup, and pours that in--followed by the rum, equally carefully, as if she's afraid she'll ruin it through a lack of concentration.]

It doesn't get... overwhelming?

Not at all. A directive, an ideal, are simply those things. Directions, dreams. Now, a goal...

[ He says, opening the minifridge to set a small container of ice on the counter, handing off the small plastic scoop inside to her. ]

One small scoop of ice, then the ice goes back in the freezer. It's all right for an ideal to be unattainable. A goal, in contrast, should be realistic. And one must have both.

[She grabs the scoop, carefully measuring it out and dumping the ice into the drink they've been making. Some of it splashes due to her haste, but thankfully not much, and she winces a little as she snags the rest of the ice to put it into the freezer.

... A goal and an ideal, huh? She can't help but wonder which of her aspirations is the goal, and which the ideal. They'd both felt equally impossible for so long.

She returns from the freezer, leaning against the counter.]

Then... what's your goal?

My goal...? To make you smile during this date, of course. At least once, but as many times as I can afterward.

[ Midnight grins, then seals the tumbler shut, sliding it over to Altria. ]

Here we are: shake this for ten seconds, then pull this part back so the liquid filters out.

[ Midnight sets up the first of two tall glasses for her to pour the mojito into. Shake time! ]

[Oh, he gets her every time. Lulls her into a false sense of security with interesting discussions of various things and then bam! A sincerely sweet comment that brings color right to her cheeks immediately.

She looks away from that grin, accepts the tumbler, and starts to shake, shake, shake.

Her cheeks are still red.]

Really? Is that really it? That's so...! [She's delighted even though she's embarrassed, floored by his charm.]

It is. What? Did you imagine something more grand?

[ The little filter should be able to handle the dregs of mint and the ice, so Midnight simply nudges the first mojito glass to her and allows her to do the honors of pouring the drink out. ]

What could possibly be more grand than the happiness of a lady? Happiness is a precious commodity by itself, after all; to have the honor of being the cause of one's happiness is nothing less than the rarest of privileges.

[Aaah... she can understand the truth behind those words. Happiness is a precious commodity... it's like he said before. He's helping grant people dreams of a beautiful, wonderful time.

She lifts the concoction they've made, and carefully pours it into the glass, eyes fixed on the drink.]

... Well... you've made me really happy. Teaching me this... and talking with me, and always being so nice to me... I feel really happy! So--thank you, Midnight!

[She sets the mixer down, and peers at the drink. All finished?]

[ A peer on Midnight's part, then a nod. It looks beautiful, the product of a good teacher and an excellent student. He reaches over, pulls the small nozzle for the sparkling water from its receptacle, and hands it off to Altria. ]

You're welcome. Fill it up to here, garnish with a fresh mint leaf...

[ And there, a perfect mojito. He winks at her. ]

That one's mine, by the by. I do want you to try it first, since it's yours, but you did so well... Forgive me, I'd like such a perfect drink for myself.

[And there, a perfect mojito. She takes a moment to admire it, looking at it from all directions with an appropriately impressed expression.]

Perfect?

[She perks up from where she was peering around it, blinking at him.]

Is it really? [The things she does are usually... well, far from perfect.

Still, he said she can try it first, so she reaches out for it cautiously to take a sip.

... Oooh!!]

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crawls back in. i've been sick and on a road trip. i am alive but at what cost

opens arms to. you've been through a harrowing battle

the battle continued for another month.......... but i'm back(ish)

WELCOME BACK opens my arms to you again

runs in... so much has happened...

i feel that... i feel that so much. BUT HERE WE ARE

you 🤝 me: everything happens so much

TRULY... the void is just so enticing...

man can someone turn out the lights in the world for a week so i can nap