P13; the 'evil imposter' just wants to be a baker!
Prologue: The Foodie turned Imposter?!
Part 13: Experiments in fictional ingredients
[ part 12 ] || [ masterlist ] || [ part 14 ]
divider is made by @/saradika-graphics
When you think about it, cooking in genshin impact is weird, it's ingredients and recipes? unreliable. Take snapdragons for example, it is described as a spice for food, but it can be eaten like an ingredient itself as long as it cooked.
Snapdragons were used in recipes to make stir-fried noodles, stir-fried fish, soup, stew, pudding and somehow dango?
Well unreliable might be too harsh, it is just a game, and it only ever cared about the ingredients not the step, not that it existed anyways. That's why, one night, you found yourself in the kitchen, taking a few samples of the local specialties and unique cooking ingredients in the game.
Like small lamp grass, calla lilies, snapdragons and the famous berries of mondstadt. Diluc also had tons of sunsettias and pinecones at his disposal.
Small lamp grass was used in only 2 recipes Sunshine Sprat and "Pile 'em up" which were the base recipes for Albedo's and Diluc's signature dishes respectively. The base recipes and albedo's special shows the flower's bulb acting as a design or topping, in Diluc's you couldn't find it in the artwork.
You stared at the faintly glowing plant, the bulb seemed to be the most important or commonly used part, but based on the art, it was intact. Was it boiled or fried? did it release any juices?
The two recipes seemed to focus on fire, whether it be frying or grilling it seemed. Would it enhance its sauce?
Hiding away the other ingredients, you decided to work your understanding on lamp grass. It seemed to be easy, it was mostly used as a garnish.
But what else you wondered?
"Maybe it can be made into something like a foraged smoothies like in those farming sims. ." you waved the flower around, maybe you can cut it up into a flower and deep fried it like an onion?
were you seriously going to buy a plant you have never actually tasted before?
You bit into it, like a person would eat an apple. It was a bit crisp, it didn't have that much of a strong flavor. "I should try the deep fryed flower cut method, but it'll need more seasoning to bring out it flavors.." you said to yourself, maybe some salt, pepper and paprika, and some chili flakes if you want it to be spicy, there were a lot of ways to try and cook it that you felt yourself get excited.
Then there's the dips, should you go with just ketchup or mayonnaise as well? Did they even have those here though? well they had pasta and spaghetti, for sure they can make a bottle of ketchup (that is to say if they didn't have one).
You yelped in surprise, quickly turning while chucking the small bulb in your hand. It was easily caught however by the owner of the manor. "D-diluc! I'm so sorry!"
The red haired tycoon or knight, stared at the half bitten bulb then at you, "it's okay, what are you doing exactly? In the dead of night?"
"Oh um. ." you stammered, embarrassed at how rude you must have been acting, considering this wasn't even your house! I mean, Adelinde said it was fine but. . "I just wanted to try and cook something."
You nodded your head slowly "Yes, I was thinking about improvising a deep fried dish that I know using lamp grass as a substitute for onions."
He threw the bulb back at you, to which you clumsily caught, almost tripping over as he observed "These are too small compared to regular sized onions." "Yes, well I could only find small lamp grass in your pantries."
"Sorry. . Adelinde said it would be fine when I expressed interest in borrowing the kitchens. She told me she'd make sure nobody would find out." He tilted his head "and apparently that included me?" "Wait- she didn't tell you?"
The man shook his head, "it's fine, she probably made the choice at her own discretion, just don't make too much noise. Although there are few people who live in this manor, it's best not to attract attention with noise."
Nodding your head, you tucked the bulb of the small lamp grass close to your chest, "I'm sorry to be bothering you like this, and invading your home-"
"You don't have to apologize," he had easily cut you off "It was my choice to open the winery to you. And I knew it was impossible to have you completely hidden away in the attic."
Silence briefly filled the kitchens, you didn't know how to respond to that, because despite his words, you still felt bad and guilty for disturbing them, for bothering them with your problems. He on the other hand didn't feel the urge to feel the silence.
"I know it's a little bit late but. . can I use your kitchens?"
"A little bit late?" he quirked a brow at you, you swear you almost saw him grin!
you flushed "Stop teasing me."
"Alright," he surrendered slowly "do what you need to do. Last question though." "What?"
he gestured at you with his hand "why are you in a maid suit?" Because, there you were, standing in the middle of his kitchens in one of the standard uniforms his employees wear! Did Adelinde give you that? Scratch that, of course she did, who else could give you that? Kaeya would with his personality (As a joke or tease) but he was in the city, and really, only she knew that you were here in the manor.
"In case a maid came to peek at the kitchen! Adelinde was getting annoyed at the ghost and thief rumors that were being shared by the other maids so she told them that you hired a new maid to handle dish creations so they shouldn't go in the kitchens at night." It was rather smart, an excuse so you didn't have to be known as a ghost or a thief.
Diluc seemed to accept the explanation as he nodded. "I'll be in my study then, make sure to keep track of the time."
"I will, and thanks again!" you smiled warmly at the man who stared at you for a bit ". . you're welcome."
The sound of the oil and the smell of something being deep-fried had made its way to his office. Despite the enticing smell, he tried to focus more on his work.
The next harvest, then sorting, then crushing-
he set his papers down, the savory smell was too hard to ignore.
But he shouldn't distract you. Not now. Not when you needed space and privacy, something that was almost a commodity for you.
Then a knock, he turned to the door, wondering if it was Adelinde. . "it's me." he could hear your muffled voice through the door, quickly he opened the door, wondering why you went to him.
Did something happen? did a maid see you?
"Hi" you greeted almost shyly as you held up a plate, on it was something golden broken, cute into pieces and resembled that of a small blooming lotus flower.
"Would you like to taste test with me?"
⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔
"What is this exactly?" Diluc had cleared his table, documents kept safely in his drawers, ornaments moved to his shelf, all in an effort to accommodate your experimental dish. He was curiously, to be honest, wondering what you had concocted in his kitchens using the bulbs of lamp grass.
"its a deep-fried lamp grass, I first prepared the batter where I marinated it, it contains flour, milk and some seasonings, since the dish is based off of a blooming onion flower, I had to get creative with the amount of spices because the taste of the lamp grass is different from that of an onion." You began to explain, as he prepared the glasses and the pitcher of [drink] you had chosen.
You then gestured to the much smaller bowls containing different sauces and dips "Of course even with all the seasoning, it wouldn't be enough so I also prepare some different dips. This is ketchup, this is ketchup mayo, this is just spicy mayo."
"Well you have to try one dish in different ways with different accompaniments." you huffed with a small smile, your features seemed to bloom as you talked about different foods.
Instead of feeling exhausted however, he strangely felt energized. Perhaps your bright demeanor was just that infectious.
He offered you a seat which you graciously took as the both of you began to eat. It was crispy, a bit hot and oily, the liquid stuck to his fingers but. .
"It's good." he said breaking off a piece to dip it into the slightly red-pink mayo. "And?" you waited for him to continue, to critique you "I prefer it with the ketchup mayo, if only it was a bit spicy like the spicy mayo." he commented after trying all the dips.
You nodded in a understanding, though you prefer the regular ketchup. Still, you smiled as you continued to eat. "I can't imagine this being healthy however." he added, eyes averting away.
Nodding, you said "Yeah, deep-fried dishes aren't healthy, especially these types-" however you didn't shy away from the fact "deep-fried food is one of the comfort foods that reaches your soul though, like fried chicken, and french fries."
"Oh, are french fries not a thing here? its like the chips in the fish and chips dish in Fontaine, but it's slimmer. From my experience chips are also harder compared to regular fries." Maybe fries weren't popular in Mondstadt, though it would be hard to believe considering a few potato dishes in-game came from the nation of freedom.
"Speaking of Fontaine, I'd really like to try their desserts and pastries" you couldn't help but sigh, suddenly craving something sweet.
"You are.. quite passionate when it comes to food." Diluc couldn't help but comment, it wasn't bad or anything, if anything it was quite the opposite, such passion was certainly invigorating and refreshing especially with the sour moods caused by stormterror and the imposter witch hunt.
You smiled once again, even brighter than before "Of course! I love food, and cooking is fun. I love eating too, but what I love the most about it is being able to make someone happy with my food."
Seeing your genuine passion and sincere kindness, he glanced away, staring outside the window, you were definitely not an imposter. Perhaps it was unlike him to decided all that within one night but, his instincts no longer failed him, he had learned from his mistakes and honed his observational skills. What he observed today, it was all he needed really.
Now he just needed to build a case for you.
Silence filled the room, as you both continued to eat the dish in content.
⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔
You two formed a routine, late nights were spent experimenting on different ingredients and then eating them up until midnight. Sometimes it was your dishes, sometimes it was his new beverages, non-alcoholic ones of course. Never both though, it would be too tedious to clean the collective dishes you two would have used.
If neither of you felt inspired or motived to experiment at all, you both taught each other simple dishes. You taught him mozarella sticks and French fries, he taught you the non-alcoholic drinks from his tavern.
A week or so had passed, time seemed to fly with the company of Adelinde and Diluc, and finally you reunited with Kaeya once more.
"I'm jealous." He said after you told him what you have been up to, "To think, while I've been slaving away in the city, you two were having fun, without me." he placed a hand on his forehead as if feeling faint.
Diluc rolled his eyes "stop with the theatrics, let's go."
You chuckled as you carried a backpack with all your items, you turned around, finding Adelinde to be the only one to see you three off. Quickly, you approach her, taking her hands as you smiled "Thank you for your hospitality, and for risking your life by helping me. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused, but I made some cookies for you and the others, you can just say it's from you though."
You honestly felt bad for scaring them with all the ghost rumors. Adelinde smiled warmly at you, thanking your kindness and wishing you a safe trip.
The walk to the city was long, the three of you planned to leave around 9pm, and get there by midnight. Aether, Bennett and Razor (As well as paimon of course) were aware of your plans, they were tasked with leading the knights away by having one of them disguise as you to get them far from the city.
Honestly the plan was good and all but you didn't account for the bag to trigger your electro fueled scars every now and then. The straps of the bag would dig into your shoulder, and because of that it would rub around your scars, irritating it, shocking you like being zapped by static electricity every now and then.
It was manageable at first, but you no doubt had to slow down, causing you to lag behind the two brothers, which didn't go unnoticed.
"are you okay?" Diluc glanced back as they both slowed down so you could easily catch up to them. "Yeah, I just need to catch my breath." You said fanning your face, feeling stuffy inside the cloak they stuffed you in.
"Here let me carry it-" the moment he rest his hand on your shoulder, you almost jumped, it almost felt embarrassing but the added weight on your shoulder, the contact, if you could, you would have cursed but you turned to Kaeya whose eyes widened slightly at your reaction.
"Sorry" he managed to say after quickly pulling his hand away from you, as if he burned you.
Quickly you shook his head, "no no, you're fine, you just scared me that's all, but can I take you up on that offer?"
It was probably stupid of you to not tell them about your scars, about the injuries especially since they were so nice and helpful. . but you just couldn't bring yourself to.
Kaeya had taken your luggage, carrying with ease as you continued tour trek to the city, and just as planned, there were very few guards in the area.
"About the characters. . no the vision holders in Mondstadt," Diluc glanced at you as the three of you stared at the approaching city, its cathedral stood at the very top, and you could vaguely make out the silhouette of Barbatos' statue "who are the ones that have not left the city?"
"Jean is still in the city, though at this time, she's most likely drinking her sorrows away." Kaeya replied nonchalantly, as if the thought of the acting Grandmaster didn't bother him at all, "apart from her, Barbara and Rosaria aren't accounted for. It seems that the Church has yet to make a formal statement about your existence."
You shivered at the thought, you didn't want to be targetted by Rosaria of all people, and what about Venti? he hadn't yet made his appearance, what if he too decided to burn you at the stake?
You could barely save yourself from Jean and Lisa, what more could you do against an Archon? Seeing your pale face, how your lips trembled, they slowly responded "He's one of the more docile believers, during the whole witch hunt, he's been focused on easing everyone's moods with his music."
"Unless he's too busy getting drunk." Diluc's flat tone made you grin weakly.
That was comforting, at least he didn't seem to be actively hunting you. "Do you know Venti?" Diluc asked as you began to get closer and closer to the city.
"I-I heard of them" you felt your chest get tighter and tighter as if a snake coiled around your body. . the sight of the gates, the city's walls. .
"Other than those 4, I suppose the others we should be wary for are Albedo, Klee, Sucrose and Eula. I heard that Albedo took his apprenti. . . ." Kaeya informed you but his voice began to fade away.
All you could hear were those venomous voices directed at you, stabbing your heart.
What if someone attacked you again?
You stopped, hunching over, nearly collapsing really as sweat began to ran down your skin, you couldn't focus, you couldn't hear the two brothers, all you could hear were. .
"—You committed the most grave blasphemy, heresy against the most divine creator!—"
That self righteous voice.
"Why don't you settle down—"
You could hear the storm, the winds rattling the window, the sound of the water crashing against the cliffs. . It was like you were drowning again. .
Aight so I heard yall out on the romance thing, so for now any romance will be placed in oneshots so you can consider them as canon or not, but I'm still considering on a few canon love interests (probably displayed in a yearning way, nothing to direct, might even be just one sided) or some very fluffy friendship and found family set up
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