@far-from-common, your snacks continue to bring me equal parts joy and sorrow...
[ CORN ] - A new strain of corn has been bred in Bergliez with a curious trait—it pops when exposed to heat, becoming light and fluffy! Help yourself to a bag; it's a little bland on its own, but you get the feeling you could find something to spice it up. If there is anyone L'Arachel would like to have try this delightful snack, it would most certainly be Ferdinand von Aegir! Managing to track him down, she offers a curtsy before holding out a bag of popcorn alongside one of her flowers. "Greetings Ferdinand! I hope you are enjoying these lovely festivities! I have for you a bag of the popcorn that everyone has been raving about; yet only I truly know how to perfect." She says with an incredibly cocky smile. "Melted butter poured over the popcorn,salt sprinkled generously throughout, and then the bag vigorously shaked. I promise you, it shall utterly delight you. Oh, and of course, one of my flowers is included for you as well, it would be quite pleasing to exchange blooms together." She smiles.
“L’arachel!”
his delight arrived immediately, bright as sunlight breaking across stained glass, and just as swiftly, his eyes are shattered by the blaring attire she chose to wear for this occasion. Ferdinand accepted both the flower and the offered bag with visible intrigue, turning the strange puffed kernels over in his hand as though examining some rare delicacy from a foreign court. (and as a distraction from the obvious.)
“so this is the marvel everyone has been whispering about.” his amber eyes widened slightly. “I confess, when I first heard that Bergliez corn had begun exploding under heat, I feared catastrophe rather than cuisine.”
the rich scent of butter drifted upward as he opened the bag, and whatever noble composure he had been maintaining softened almost instantly into genuine curiosity. he sampled a piece, thoughtful at first—then visibly brightened.
“ah!” he laughed warmly. “light, crisp, salted just enough—my lady, this is exceptional. no wonder you speak of it with such confidence.”
he lifted the lily she had given him, carefully twirling the stem between gloved fingers before selecting one of the deep rouge roses from his own arrangement to offer in return. its petals picked up the dimmer blue tones of the ballroom lanterns overhead.
“then allow me to honor the exchange properly,” Ferdinand said with a graceful bow of his head. “a bloom for a bloom—and my sincerest admiration for your culinary innovation.”
another piece of popcorn disappeared promptly afterward.
"———and I really do hope I am the first to comment, but even innovation cannot distract me. are you aware that what you are wearing does look..." he gestured. "jarring?"
"if you are in need of another set of eyes for your next ball outfit, consider me. I will do it without exchange, even." a pause. Ferdinand Von Aegir did not beg. but this was as close to begging as he would allow. "please."
