𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞.“ i think enjoy is an understatement. i can tell how much care you put into it. “ for us. a voice slowly unraveling into the sweetness that existed all along; barred by literal and metaphorical thorns and unspeakable pain. kisara was like the hearth fires; a place for all to return; and shionne the constant flame that would not extinguish her light for the wayward. both women with no limits to their own ways of showing tender mercies that were clearly second skins to them.
“ i had no idea that me enjoying it…made you so happy though. i’m — glad. how could i mind that? if anything , i can’t remember eating food so delicious.“ no impatient tapping on her arms this time in discomfort or annoyance. the true soul before her burned brightly at both ends .
“ i’m hardly as good as you are in cooking but , i feel you do so much for everyone. myself included. it’s obvious you’re most skilled at the task, yet . . um, i was thinking — “ she looks away with pause then purpose; opening herself like this at all was a harrowing and painful experience as much as it was natural to be in the steadiness of her companion. her friend.
“ well, i’d like to help cook with you if that’s alright? i know i’m essentially a novice, i pretty much only knew porridge starting this whole thing, but? i learned a lot last time we were ‘training’ together; and i’d like to ease your shoulders and well, um, just…spend some time alone. i suppose it’s a bit weird to hear that from me.” her smile – is it mirthful almost?
“ that alright with you, ‘captain? ‘ “
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. how could she hide such an immediate burst of happiness that swelled from within her at no warning? the depth of shionne’s own well was so deep with love and understanding, her kindness knew no bounds. how she was able to contain it for so long was a curiosity, but then again, kisara was the same. she had never cooked with so much love. the way they all made her feel so appreciated and needed. kisara could feel the layers tearing away, showing new sides that she was unaware of. how far they had gotten. kisara had always wanted to be a friend that shionne could count on in times of need. but she didn’t know that in return she would get the same out of shionne. she was a bit naive in the way that she felt she was the only person who could care for others in a way that convey love through actions and doing. it had been her duty for so long. she felt foreign to allowing others to take on that burden—burden, that word didn’t feel like it belonged in with acts of kindness and love. because, she didn’t feel burdened at all when doing for others. how had she allowed the word to shift as it was —as if having someone do for her was a task worth complaining about. she felt at ease now, wanting so much to convey herself in an intimate way. one that she would not often partake in, but in this case, shionne’s thorns kept her from embracing her to express her love and acceptance.
❛ i can’t even begin to tell you how happy it makes me that you want to cook more for my sake. ❜ captain? she emits a soft chuckle, before seating herself and making certain there was a place for shionne that kept them at a comfortable yet close distance. kisara absently wondered if there would be a day that she could take shionne’s hand in her own to properly express how she felt. the thought was enough to sadden her at times. how lonely shionne must have felt for so long. how shionne is still capable of so much compassion is enough to baffle anyone. ❛ i would appreciate that a lot. ❜ kisara admitted, her smile glowing now. could shionne feel the warmth that she wished to share? ❛ but, how about this? i give you a few new recipes so you can practice on those. that way you're also learning something new. ❜ a cant of her head as her smile grew. she liked to hand out challenges, and she thought that the challenge would be something that shionne would enjoy. a way to help and perfect her own way of cooking. ❛ so, what do you say to that, shionne? ❜