The Test Kitchen

“I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other.” - Charlie Kelmeckis from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

[ambercast]

"I want to try," Lacy admitted. "I'm trying to break out of the bubble I've been raised in." She inhaled deeply as he mentioned her family. "I don't think they will mind. I think we're all sort of unlearning things." She twisted her wedding ring around on her finger anxiously. She still hadn't worked up the courage to remove it. There was a part of her that was worried that her husband would show up looking for her, and if she didn't have the ring on it would make the whole situation worse.

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden nodded handing her the bottle of ale, "The only thing to keep in mind would be to stay hydrated, especially since we're out in the sun," he warned. He'd been in his own bubble growing up but his was by choice, occasionally dragged out of it by Dawson. His eyes flickered down to the ring before back at her, reminded of someone else for a moment unsure how to describe her. "Someone I'm close with also had a complicated relationship with her jewelry, there's no rush either way, whether you need it for comfort or just out of a sense of obligation."

[ambercast]

"I've never had alcohol ever in my life," Lacy admitted, trying to imagine what a margarita would taste like based on his description. "I know it has liquor in it and that's stronger than, say, beer or ale, right?" she asked curiously. She wasn't sure if she wanted her first alcohol experience to be with something really strong.

[bakingwithjaiden]

"It is stronger," Jaiden agreed as the move up the line, it was a bit of work to get the drinks on a tray but he managed. "You can try the ale first if you'd like, it's supposed to be sweet," he said pointing to the bottle next to the margarita, "Or if you'd rather stick to juice that's fine also." He'd gotten all three just to have options, if she didn't like any he was fairly confident he could pawn the alcohol off onto Marisol's brother. "You said you had family here today, are any of them going to mind if you indulge or are they are also venturing out more?"

[bakingwithjaiden]

WHERE: Lake Party WHO: Lacy (@ambercast)

"I'm not much for alcohol, but I've had margaritas before and they taste more like fruit," Jaiden said giving a small shrug. "Though I know they can also make ones that are non-alcoholic. They taste more like a snowcone if you've had that before." After the coffee shop he hadn't minded trying to help them be more comfortable with new experience."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden Lake Party 2024

[callofthxvoid]

Zarina's lips quirked up into a small smile. "It is impressive that you can identify them as duck feathers," she commented casually as she parked herself in front of the stove. "She has a friend with two ducks. Unsurprisingly, evidence of that has made its way into the house." Another beat of silence followed, during which she stirred the contents of a large pot, before looking up at Jaiden. "Perhaps, but this is your home and Halley's home too, at least part-time in your case. We want you to be comfortable here. Having a say in who else lives in the house, however temporary that may be, is part of that."

[bakingwithjaiden]

"The coloring is distinctive, and I've found a few in the woods. So not quite as impressive as it seems," Jaiden replied with a small shrug. he nodded at her explanation even if he made a mental note of keeping the door to his room shut. He'd been moving the last of the vegetables into the pot before he glanced at her. His brow furrowed tilting his head to the side, "Oh...I'm sorry I'm not use to my opinion on house guests having much weight to it," it wasn't like Pamela Taylor had ever consulted him before bringing someone over.

[ambercast]

(continued from here with @bakingwithjaiden)

Lacy jumped as the door suddenly opened in front of her, not expecting it. When she saw the young man standing there, she immediately averted her eyes. "Oh, um, I-I hadn't decided yet," she admitted apologetically. "I've . . . never actually had coffee before."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden paused, holding the door semi awkwardly as neither moved before deciding to step fully out for the time being. "We do have other beverages, tea or just plain milk," he said, "Though if you wanted to try it, I can request a sample? We're a bit low on supplies compared to normal, so we can do our best if you have any dietary restrictions."

[ambercast]

where: outside the daily grind who: open

Lacy was definitely overwhelmed. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting when she showed up in Huntsville a couple weeks ago. It had taken her nearly that same amount of time to decompress at the Commune before venturing into town to find a job. She’d just managed to secure one at the daycare when she’d come across the coffee shop.

She hesitated outside the door. She hadn’t been allowed to drink coffee, though she’d always wondered what it’d taste like. Technically, she was still a part of the faith, but she’d run away from the rules and regulations she’d been raised under, with no apparent way to return, so surely a little one wouldn’t hurt . . . right?

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden had given Pyotr a small wave goodbye, glancing down at his watch, since Marisol graduated she had more free time but that also meant more time spent working for her mother. Walking out he paused when he almost ran into someone, "I'm sorry, I didn't hit you with the door did I?" he questioned. He was pretty sure he hadn't but wanted to be sure. Opening the door wider, "Were you headed in or just window shopping?"

[callofthxvoid]

Zarina paused to fully consider her feelings on the matter, which was still a fairly new practice for her, before responding. "I would prefer if you did attend," she concluded with a nod. "I believe that your presence will be helpful to me. Thank you, Jaiden."

"How are you getting along with Julie living here?" she asked, looking over her shoulder as she moved around the kitchen. It wasn't often that Zarina assumed responsibility for dinner, but she wanted her husband to have one less thing to worry about. "Ideally, we would have had a longer conversation about it before she moved in, but things have been hectic around here." That was a severe understatement. Between Xander and Lia moving back to the commune, Morgan's passing, and Kirby's recent predicament, things had been more than hectic. It was nice to have a moment of relative quiet.

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden was chopping various ingredients, occasionally lifting up the cutting board to push things into the bowls Zarina held out to him. He blinked, brow furrowing at the question, "Fine. She seems to be adjusting well, though I have been finding duck feathers scattered about." His confusion grew as she continued, "Why would we have a discussion? I assumed decisions like that are between you and Toby."

[bcckmcskcd]

"Thanks - I'll make sure he gets it." Pyotr had been feeling immensely guilty over the entire situation, but he didn't need to bog Jaiden down with that information. "I'm glad he was too. I'd hate to know that she was all alone that whole time." He paused, giving Jaiden an amused look. "That's really funny - but I can't imagine the dance hall was hit that badly, if everyone was able to stay inside. I don't know why Lui would need to pick up.... what's her face. Scarlette, was it?"

[bakingwithjaiden]

"Scarlette Albright, her father was a famous actor in Hollywood," Jaiden rattled off, "He calls Lui, Mario because he wears overalls and is a plumber." Numerous family dinners had him trying to keep the various going ons in his memory. Family was important to Marisol so he was doing his best. "Her feet did get slightly burned by the water, he does seem to feel guilty over it," pausing as he shifted a bit in thought, "You...you don't feel guilty do you?" Frowning when he realized how the question sounded, "I mean over not being with Wendy during it. You also don't have to answer if you don't want to I just...you always listen to me so I can try if you need it."

[endlessreruns]

"So you're a math guy? That's cool. I was always terrible at it in school, so I find math people fascinating." Oatmeal cookies had been popular. She wondered if there was a reason for that. Did it have something to do with the effects of the water from the eruption. "I am" she nodded "I've always liked flowers. Ever since I was a little kid. I don't think interest in being a florist started til later though.

[bakingwithjaiden]

"Math guy is the nicest way I've been described over it," Jaiden said raising a brow, "Were there any subjects you actually enjoyed or were you just happy to be finished with school?" He'd grabbed a few cookies setting them in front her, "Coffee or would you just prefer some milk?" he asked. He was mildly grateful he'd actually remembered her job correctly, "My...um...cousin's wife, she's had me become more interested in the flora in the area. Do you have your own garden or just one for work?"

[exmcrtis]

the latest heavy event had been an eye-opener for dawson. she knew that jaiden had marisol, and knightley, and zarina to take care of him, but that didn't stop them from worrying. after all, he was all they had. "would you be okay with me taking that room?" they asked softly, a sad look flashed in his direction. "i don't think i want to live with strangers anymore, and the commune just feels...different, i guess. there's a lot of weird shit going around huntsville in general, and being close to my best friend would put me more at ease. it's nothing against the commune, i just don't want to be there anymore."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden nodded his head before they even finished the question, "Of course you can, you're one of the few people I'd actually enjoy sharing space with," he said. His brow furrowed as they continued, "I know they're currently in the middle of expanding, Marisol's father also has relatives living there. Knightley and Zarina's friends moved back in with their children and they seemed...wary? I'm not quite sure to be honest. As much as I may enjoy the people here, I do sometimes miss the simplicity of when it was just you and I."

[callofthxvoid]

Zarina had started jotting down notes again when Jaiden's story caused her to pause. Unlike his first question, this time she looked up at him. "I didn't know that," she said, her tone neutral. She was neither upset that she had not known nor was she surprised by it occurring in the first place. She gently tapped her pen against her notebook as she thought through her next words. "You are one of the few people whom I believe would understand," she mused. "I am sorry that happened to you. Regardless of your relationship with Pamela, that was a cruel and unnecessary reaction for her friend to have. I suspect I will have to put in extra effort to react properly when we attend Morgan's funeral." She paused. "Will you be attending with us? For the record, you are not required to, and I will not be upset if you choose not to. But you are welcome to."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden wasn't exactly sure how to take the look on her face when she finally met his gaze, more than a bit relieved when her tone remained neutral. He gave a small shrug, "She was grieving, from my understanding most people have reactions of lashing out, regardless of whether they find it necessary or not." He wanted to say she didn't need to go if she didn't want to, but he understood the social expectations sometimes trumped over what the person wanted. His brow furrowed at her question. "You wouldn't be upset if I didn't, but would you prefer if I did?" Pausing briefly to think over his next words before adding, "If my presence would actually be helpful to you then I'd like to, but if it would just add to your stress for the day I can stay home."

[endlessreruns]

where: the daily grind

who: Fallon and Jaiden ( @bakingwithjaiden )

"so what got you into baking?" Fallon asked as she watched some of the new baked items being brought out from the back to be placed in the display case for customers to see. "Ooo that one looks really good" she said pointing one out, followed up by a drink of the iced latte she'd already purchased.

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden usually didn't hang around the counter, but Fallon knew Marisol so he wanted to at least make an effort. "Clear instructions and math," he said with a small shrug, "To me it's fun to be able to see what one change can do to a dish." Following her gaze he nodded, "We're still a little limited on stock but oatmeal cookies have still been popular. You're a florist right? Was that always an interest for you?"

[bcckmcskcd]

"I'm sure you'll have fun," Pyotr agreed, before hesitating at Jaiden's question. "Well.... I know the de la Luna's pretty well. Vero is one of my close friends. They take each other's opinions really seriously. Wendy's sister never really liked me - which was hard, but Wendy liked me. So you have to decide if the fact that your girlfriend likes you is enough despite what her family says - hypothetically, they might love you - or if you feel like their possible dislike is too much for you to handle."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden handed off a jar of ointment, "For your friend, it's good that he was there with Wendy," he explained. "So her family seems to like me or at least enjoys using me to make fun of her Uncle Lui," he said, "When the water rushed in I lifted Marisol up without thinking, her uncle's girlfriend and the others have been making fun of him for not doing the same. Though a bit unfair considering I'm over a foot taller than Marisol." It was easier to talk about this than the heavier subject that hung around the Knightley house right now.

[callofthxvoid]

Zarina did not look up from her notebook, but she did stop what she was doing to fully consider his question, which was more than she had done for almost anyone else who had tried talking to her about Morgan. "You can keep them to yourself," she replied. "Enough people have already offered them to me and I am not entirely certain what I am supposed to do with them. I feel like people are looking at me like they're expecting me to have a different reaction than the one I am giving them." She shrugged. "I've thought about it, but I would be doing it entirely for them and not for myself."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden had slowly nodded even if she wasn't looking at him, waiting for her to finish through her thoughts. If he was honest, there were still days he worried that she and Knightley would change their minds about him. That he'd say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time and everything would come crashing down. It didn't happen as often but he had his own history for why the fear existed. "I can understand that," he replied pausing as he thought over his words, "Dawson and I were kicked out of Pamela's funeral. I said the wrong thing to her friend, she was upset and slapped me." It hadn't really hurt, nor had her words bothered him too much, more the embarrassment at having acted incorrectly. "I know my relationship with her is different than the one you had with Morgan, but I can understand others expecting a reaction out of you that you're unable to give them."

[exmcrtis]

"i don't really see anything, no. and you don't need to buy me anything, even if you're being nice and offering." there had been a lot on dawson's mind as of late, but it wasn't anything they'd been outwardly sharing, especially given that jaiden had just as much happening in his life. "it's funny you should mention the commune," they sighed, their gaze meeting jaiden's. "i was thinking about moving out."

[bakingwithjaiden]

Jaiden had stopped at one of the booths in the trader market, fiddling with a pot before setting it back down at Dawson's words. Turning to them and giving them his full attention, while he knew the Commune hadn't been hit by the water it hadn't done much to keep his anxiety from rising over it all. "I still have an extra room at my apartment," he said trying to keep his voice light, he didn't want them to feel like that was their only option, "Or there's still a few free ones. Not on the ground floor so would be safe if this happens again." Pausing his brow furrowed before asking, "Why did you start thinking about moving out?"

[bakingwithjaiden]

WHERE: Knightley Household WHO: Zarina ( @callofthxvoid )

Jaiden was slowly grinding herbs using a mortar and pestle, glancing over at Zarina who was reading through her notebook. For the most part Knightley had been acting as a buffer, and really other than the Lunas dropping off food most people seemed willing to give her space. Still it felt odd not to at least acknowledge what had occured. "When I arrived you offered me condolences for Pamela Taylor, and I replied you could have them back. Should I actually offer mine to you or would you rather I keep them to myself?"