Ask Let Him Cook

[Shaw Amaris]

This was so not the sort of place Shaw would ever choose to spend his weekend, but what wouldn't a guy do for a friend? Zessel happened to be that friend this weekend. The girl that was supposed to accompany the half arkanian to this annual baking convention had had to bail at the last minute after discovering that her dorm room had an infestation of obscenely large bugs. Leftovers from a certain cookout unbeknownst to her. So Shaw had agreed to tag along with Zessel so he didn't have to go alone.

Shaw felt honored, really, that Zessel would ask him of all people to come along since he didn't know the first thing about baking. The two had come a long way since their rocky start back on Shili. Shaw didn't know they had had a rocky start or that Zessel had carried a grudge over those cookies Shaw had tossed at the three headed dog. As a general rule Shaw was pretty unaware of stuff like that unless someone came right out and told him.

It was day two of the convention. A day and a half left to go. Shaw had to pat himself on the back. He had only dozed off four or five times. A guy that didn't know the first thing about baking could only listen to how to make your fondant smooth without unsightly ripping and how to get the perfect domed muffin top so many times before he checked out. It was like they were speaking a different language. Shaw saw lots of pictures of food but didn't actually get to eat any of it. That bothered him more than anything. Shaw really liked to eat.

When he wasn't nodding off he was trying his best to not distract Zessel by finding ways to keep himself entertained, mostly by bombarding Master Valtiere with text messages and memes that he never responded to. Shaw leaned over to Zessel as the next speaker climbed the stage to begin the next lecture and whispered, "What's this one about again?" @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

Zessel’s eyes were glued to the speaker on the stage. She was an Annfyn woman named Lita Lycion, a baker famous across the entire Galaxy and winner of several competitions, including the Teens Baking All’ Stars when she was a teenager. She was also the white-haired boy’s idol, because she also had ADHD like him. If she became successful with this condition, he could be too.

The half-Arkanian believed that the tips that she was giving could be useful for him to win the Teens Baking All’ Stars competition next month. Due to that, he was writing down in a notebook everything that she was saying. He had been doing that with all the previous speakers, but being more attentive with her. At the moment, he was writing down the details of how to make a sachertorte, the cake that made Lita win her last competition. Fun fact, this dessert was invented by a sixteen years old teenager.

This story made Zessel excited to make the recipe for himself. As always when he makes a new cake, his friends were going to be the first to taste it. He wondered if Caul, Roanoke and Shaw were getting tired of eating his desserts.

While his hyperfocus made him pay attention completely to what was being said by the speakers, the same couldn’t be said about Shaw. He knew that it wasn’t the type of thing that his friend liked, but he was nice enough to come with him after Malia bailed because of the bugs in her room. It seemed that some of the survivors from the party decided to stay around the Temple. He couldn’t blame her for doing it, but the white-haired boy was a bit disappointed. Zessel had planned a nice date in a carnival after the lectures.

“It’s the organizer, he is going to announce the break.” Zessel answered his friend’s question, while the man on the stage told the crowd exactly that. The Padawan closed his notebook and put it inside his backpack. “Now we can go eat and I’ll buy new confectionery equipment.” he got up from the chair and stretched, his bones cracking with movement.

“I also wanted to buy a copy of Ms. Lycion's newest book, she’ll launch it today and will be autographing!” he said excitedly. With how much Zessel talked about Lita during their trip here, by this point Shaw already knew who she was. “Her book ‘1001 Cakes and Bakes’ looks so good! Thanks again for coming with me, bro.” he smiled at his friend, grateful for his support.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

A break? That was the best news Shaw had heard all morning. The ballroom was a cacophony of metal chairs scooting across the floor, the ruffle of papers, and chatter as friends and coworkers chatted amongst themselves. Shaw jumped up too, stuffing his dataphone back in his pocket.

"Maybe you can catch a selfie with her," Shaw suggested with a grin as they joined the masses leaving the ballroom and flooding out into the vendor hall. All he had heard this weekend was Lita Lycion this and Lita Lycion that. To say that Zessel was a huuuuuge fan was an understatement. It would be a shame to get this close to one of your heroes and not snap a photo to remember it by. Which made Shaw think... why hadn't he taken a photo with Master Valtiere? Add that to the bucket list. "I can take it." He reached up to make the universal snap a photo gesture, hands forming a little box and index finger snapping down to take the imaginary picture.

While Zessel searched for some new confectionary equipment—whatever that meant—Shaw looked around. A high dollar commercial mixer caught his eye, and he stopped to play with one of the switches that adjusted the speed. You know, like a literal child would do. "Duuuude," Shaw muttered when he checked the price tag, "This thing better make magic cookies at that price. That's all I'm saying."

"HANDS OFF THE MERCHANDISE, YOUNG MAN!" a voice shouted from several rows over.

Shaw startled, and the switch snapped right off in his hand. "Bro!" he waved Zessel over quickly in a panic. "How do I put it back on?" The vendor was marching their way, yanking his high waisted dress pants higher and shoving his glasses further up his nose, torso and head bobbing above the tables as he drew closer. @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

”That would be amazing!” Zessel said, a large smile appearing on his lips. The half-Arkanian had been so excited with the fact that he was going to talk to Lita that he had forgotten about the possibility of taking a selfie with her. “I’ll ask if she allows me to post it on my social media. I want to make an entire review about the convention and of the things that I’m going to buy.”

He laughed when Shaw made the photo gesture. “Thanks, bro! I know that the convention wasn’t exactly your favorite place to be on a weekend, but you had been very receptive to all that.” Zessel was grateful for his friend’s company. “After Malia bailed on me, I thought that I would need to come here all alone.”

“I have two tickets for a carnival that will be open tonight. It would be my surprise date for her.” Zessel pulled from his pocket the two pieces of red paper. “Do you want to come with me? As friends, of course. This way we won't waste the money that it cost me.” it was pretty expensive and his budget wasn’t limitless. He didn’t want to throw it away. “And it’ll save you from the boredom of the afternoon lectures. Unless you are now loving to hear how to use the principle of balance.” he smirked, while elbowing his friend playfully.

When they entered the vendor hall, Zessel ‘s eyes became illuminated by the different types of products being sold in the stalls. He walked around, focusing on finding the ones that were cheaper enough for him to buy, but still had quality. His money came from his savings and from the first deposit that came from his channel, since he was finally able to have his content being monetized.

After he paid for a set formed by whiskers, spatulas and wooden spoons, Zessel heard Shaw's desperate voice. The half-Arkanian’s face got pale like paper when he saw that his friend was holding a switch of a mixer that was probably more expensive than the entire kitchen where he made his videos.

“I don’t know!” he said, starting to panic. “Try to press it back on the place.” if it didn’t work, they would be in a bad situation. The vendor coming toward them seemed to be with the same humor of a constipated rancor, which wasn’t good. He tried to help Shaw, but the switch slipped from his hand and went rolling thorugh the floor. "Shit!" Zessel shouted, before diving to hunt for it. When he did it, a guy that was distracted walking tripped on him and feel in a stall full of silicone bowls that went rolling around.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Shaw waved a hand at Zessel, making a face and saying, "Don't mention it, bro. I know you'd do the same for me." If Shaw were to go to a baking convention of his own, which... he would never do. A comic book convention or gaming convention—that was more like it. "Just wait until I drag you to the next gamecon," he teased the white haired boy, nudging him right back.

A carnival sounded like a lot of fun. Shaw was looking forward to it, provided he and Zessel didn't get drug off to baker's jail first. "Dude! I'm trying! It won't press back on!" Shaw was starting to panic now, catching a glimpse of the vendor's combover and glasses between stacked boxes of kitchen utensils. That was when the switch dropped and rolled like it was a rolling pin instead of a switch. Why did these floors have to be so incredibly polished?

Shaw dropped down too, scouring the floor for the lost switch, but it would be Zessel that would find it at the feet of a human girl about their age with long dark hair and white highlights. She picked the switch up and turned it over in her hand, dangling it out in front of Zessel. "Looking for this?" she asked between bubble gum bubbles, a knowing smile on her lips.

The vendor had caught up with them by now, immediately taking assessment of the situation and the state of his high credit commercial blender. "MY BLENDER!" he all but screeched, hands dragging at the wisps of hair that remained atop his head and drawing the attention of a few of the other shoppers in the vicinity of his booth. Then, turning on the teenage boys still down on all floors, "HOODLUMS! Do you have any idea how much this cost? How much—"

That was when the third teenager interceded on behalf of the boys. "Calm down, daddy!" she snickered, "Your blood pressure!" Passing all three of them, she would fidget with the blender for a second or two before drawing back as if it was the easiest thing in the world. The switch had been replaced and looked brand new. "That happens all the time. Thought I'd fixed it." She cast her father a knowing look, whispering, "Besides you know that's just the display. Got damaged months ago in shipping." Zessel and Shaw wouldn't be able to tell if she was telling the truth or if she was making up a lie on the spot.

The vendor didn't look satisfied, but his daughter had placated him for the time being. He stalked away to help another customer, but not before throwing a look over his shoulder at the two boys and saying, "I've got my eye on you!"

His daughter just grinned at both of them, though her gaze did linger on Zessel's glaring white hair longer than necessary. "Looks like you boys owe me a thank you." @LouJoVi

dice roll 15/20

 

[Zessel]

Zessel went hunting for the switch, completely oblivious to the fact that there were several colorful bowls rolling in the floor around him. While most of the passersby were able to avoid the silicone utensils, an unfortunate Mon Cal ended up stepping on one of them and falling head first into a large wedding cake that was in exposition.

While this scene was unveiling nearby, Zessel could only think of how that damned switch was able to roll around. Was it a bottle cap in another life? This could only be the explanation for the sudden aerodynamics that the switch developed.

Finally, his chase ended when the switch stopped at someone’s feet. Zessel smiled and stretched his arm to grab it, but the owner of the shoes in front of him was faster. The Padawan’s smile disappeared and he slowly rose from the floor, prepared to fight the person for the switch if it was necessary.

The white-haired boy froze when he noticed that it was a girl that was holding it. A pretty one, by the way.

Before he could say anything, the vendor had arrived and he was screaming like a howler from Yavin IV. Zessel was sure that if he was a Sephi, he would be deaf. He also wondered what was a hoodlum. Was it some type of animal? Before the man could do anything with them, the girl calmed him down. The half-Arkanian’s eyes widened with the revelation that they were father and daughter. They looked so different from each other.

With this crisis averted, the two Padawans were left alone with the girl. “Yeah! Thank you for the help.” he said, after his mind finally rediscovered how to work properly. “I’m Zessel and this is my friend, Shaw. What’s your name?”

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

The teenager made a show of bowing and waving a hand at Zessel as if she were on stage following a once in a lifetime speech and Zessel and Shaw were the audience. "Please, please, boys! Just lending a hand like any kind hearted, selfless passerby would do."

Shaw just stared. He hadn't even said anything He was still down on all fours like an idiot. She rested an arm against the mixer, an impish grin lighting up her features. No confidence issues with this one. "Of course... who knows where you'd be if I hadn't stepped in when I did. I really pulled you two out of the frying pan. Right in the nick of time too. Daddy was about to sear your butts." She gave them a look. "Figuratively of course."

Had... had that even been in question? Shaw finally stood up, giving the girl a little wave as he brushed his clothes off and Zessel told her their names. Her face lit up when Zessel introduced himself, but she didn't extend a hand to either of them. "Hesperia. But don't bother with it—all my friends call me Ria." Casting the Mon Calamari gentleman head deep in a large cake an amused look, she would ask, "So does trouble follow you two or do you follow it around?" One of the attendants transporting the cake would apologize profusely to the unfortunate gentleman, dabbing away at the icing all over his face.

Then, as if she couldn't wait for the answer to her last question, "You two are the first interesting people that have stepped foot in our booth all weekend." She glanced over her shoulder at her father, giving the impression that that included him too, and that by you two she really just meant Zessel. @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

”Oh, if everyone was kind hearted like you.” Zessel said, a bright smile appearing on his lips. The girl really saved the two Padawans. If it wasn’t for her interference, the half-Arkanian was pretty sure that they would have been expelled from the convention. Or worse, they would have been imprisoned due to property damage.

Talking about being kind hearted, Zessel saw Shaw was still in the floor and immediately helped his friend to get back to his feet. He wasn't going to leave his bro down there after the problem was solved.

“Nice to meet you, Ria.” he said, before following her gaze to where a Mon Calamari was being removed out of a cake. Zessel winced, both for the poor guy being all covered with the dessert and for the damaged cake. The decoration was too good for it to be wasted this way. Looking around, he also noticed that some workers were retrieving silicone bowls from the floor.

He wondered when these things ended falling on the floor.

“You can say that it does, sometimes.” Zessel said, before looking back at Ria. He wasn’t surprised with what she said about them being the first interesting people visiting the booth. It wasn’t as if there were a lot of bakers with their age walking around the convention. “Honestly, I thought that we would be the only teenagers.” he gestured for himself and Shaw. “But, I’m happy for being wrong.” he smiled at her. “Do you like to bak or is only here to help your father?”

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

That little compliment fanned the flames of Ria's ego very nicely and it showed. She beamed at Zessel, letting him know that she approved and that that was sufficient thanks, at least for the time being.

"Thanks, bro," Shaw mumbled when Zessel helped him to his feet. Zessel was a solid friend. He could have bailed on Shaw the moment Shaw broke that switch on the mixer, but the thought had apparently never even crossed his mind. He had jumped right into the thick of the chaos to try and help Shaw cover up the evidence. It wasn't lost on Shaw that Zessel didn't hesitate to touch him either, something that would have been a big no no for the white haired teenager a few months ago.

"I would say the pleasure's all mine," Ria replied, eyes sparkling, "But I imagine the pleasure really is all yours after that catastrophe." She blew another bright pink bubble before popping it and chewing. "Dad's the baker, but it's the family business so I've picked up a few tricks. I know my way around a kitchen if that's what you're asking." She winked at Zessel like it was the most natural thing in the world. Shaw just stared, eyes bouncing between the two of them.

"So were you just gonna wander around the expo?" she asked.

Shaw was quick to answer that one, not forgetting what Zessel had said about a dinner break. "We were actually going out for a bite to—" He had opened the door wide open, and Ria had stuck her foot in.

"Ohhh! I'm starving!" Shaw looked over at Zessel. "I mean, how can you refuse after what I just did for you? Be back in a little bit, daddy!" She blew her father a kiss, didn't wait for a response, and then led the way. Zessel and Shaw were left standing there.

"Bro... you never told me you had this kinda rizz game!" @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

Ria's smile was met by an equal from Zessel. The half-Arkanian had already noticed that she was interested in him. He could have problems with attention in some moments, but noticing that someone was flirting with him wasn’t one of them. It allowed him to react properly to the situation.

“No worries. Bros help each other.” they were friends now, obviously that Zessel would help Shaw and not allow people to stare at him while he was in the ground, like how he saw some already doing. He was sure that the other teen would do the same for him if the situation was inverted.

“Nice, maybe we could share some tips later.” Zessel smiled at the girl, replying to her flirting with one of his own. “We could even bake together. It could even become a video in my channel, if you are interested. You would make success there.” he said casually, before winking at her.

He watched Ria inviting herself to eat with them and went to lead their way toward a place where they could grab food. Zessel only smiled, since it would be really a pleasure to have the company of the girl a bit longer.

Shaw's surprise made Zessel smile, he didn’t think that his friend would be impressed with it. “I still have my surprises.” he said playfully, before raising an eyebrow. “But you are good at it, too. I saw how all the girls wanted a piece of you during that party.” he remembered how Theia was dancing with him and Regina couldn’t stop grabbing him. “My bro is so popular with the girls.” the half-Arkanian playfully tapped him on the back.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

"Maybe," Ria shrugged, throwing open the doors to the exhibition hall and letting the boys catch it behind her. The late afternoon sun bore down on the three teenagers. "Daddy's the real baker in the family. Mom's got the brain for business. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle." And in no hurry to find out where it seemed.

The unlikely trio wound their way through the exhibition hall's crowded courtyard. Ria did a double take when Zessel mentioned his channel. "Wait. Do you have your own holochannel or something?" she asked. She actually seemed impressed, her interest roused as she gave a little, "Hmm." Then, "I don't follow a lot of baking channels... Get enough of that at home. But maybe I'll subscribe."

"So where are we going?" Shaw asked, not sure if he was asking Zessel or Ria. He supposed it didn't really matter, so long as they were headed for food. He was really hungry.

"I know the perfect spot down along the boardwalk," Ria answered. "Their fried shrimp is to die for!" Food. Excellent. @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

The two Padawans followed Ria out of the exhibition hall and toward the street. The sun was shining high in the sky, signaling that it was already midday. The half-Arkanian was listening to everything that the girl was saying, paying more attention to it than Shaw.

“You are too pretty to be simply someone in the middle.” Zessel said, before smiling and winking at the girl. “But I bet that you can bake some good stuff. “I could also teach you some of my own recipes.” the half-Arkanian wondered if Ria would notice that he was basically inviting her to a sort of date.

“Yeah! I post videos teaching baking. It already has a lot of followers.” the half-Arkanian hoped that this number would increase after his participation in the upcoming holenet show. Remembering the show made Zessel look back at the girl. “I’ll participate in the Teens Baking All Stars soon.” he said casually, wondering if she would watch it.

Shaw’s question was one that Zessel had forgotten completely of asking. They were already walking for some time and the half-Arkanian didn’t even remember to question where Ari was going with them. Well, it seems that pretty girls also made him get distracted.

“Oh! I like fried shrimp.” he turned to look at Shaw, not feeling good for having his friend being left out of the conversation. “Do you like it, bro? I remember that you didn’t have a problem in eating seafood in Ellora.” probably the local shrimp was normal if compared to the bizarre stuff that was served in that planet.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Zessel knew just how to stroke Ria's ego, didn't he? And she didn't hesitate to let him know that she approved of his approach. Looking over her shoulder, she fluttered her eyelashes at the arkanian teenager. It was hard to tell if this was how she actually flirted or if she was exaggerating for comedic effect. Shaw had a feeling it was some kind of weird combination of the two. Either way, she and Zessel appeared to be having a good time with the little back and forth they had established. Shaw just shoved his hands in his pockets as they walked and thought about lunch.

"Forward, aren't you? There's no such thing as too pretty, Zessel. Remember that." Then, challenging him, "And just what recipe would you teach me? My father's been baking my whole life. I've tried just about every pastry, cookie, bread, pie, and cake the galaxy has to offer. You got something to offer I haven't tasted?"

"I love seafood," Shaw answered Zessel's question, "So long as it doesn't look like it could eat my face off." Whatever that thing on a stick had been back on Ellora had still been moving—you wouldn't convince Shaw otherwise—and definitely could have eaten his face off if it had wanted to. He didn't even like thinking about it.

The three teenagers crowded around a vacant table right by the water's edge and placed their order with the waiter. That was when Ria finally addressed what Zessel had said earlier, "The Teens Baking All Stars is serious business." At least in the world of baking. "You'll be going up against some preeeetty tough competition. Think you're up for it?" @LouJoVi

 

[Zessel]

”I’ll have that in mind.” Zessel said, smiling at the girl. Her challenge made the half-Arkanian raise an eyebrow. “I have been learning some non-conventional recipes. Manaan cakes, Mon Cala cookies and a lot of regional bakeries that aren't well known outside of their planets.” he said, not showing any desire in baking down from this.

The Padawan was very competitive and Ria had instigated this part of him. He would do anything to impress her now.

Zessel nodded, agreeing with Shaw. “I basically couldn’t eat anything from there because of how that stuff was still moving.” he grimaced, feeling nauseous even by remembering it. The half-Arkanian knew that sushi existed, but even in these cases the seafood was dead, different from what the Ellorans ate. He couldn’t forget the noodle-like worms. It was repulsive.

The place where they would eat was very nice, with a view to the nearby lake. “This place is really cool. You have a good taste.” Zessel winked at Ria, before giving his order to the waiter. “I’m prepared for it, training a lot with new recipes.” he smiled, feeling confident of his success.

“While the experience will be fun, the prizes don’t stay behind. It’s an entire kitchen and an article about you at the Baker Magazine, with your picture at the cover.” he turned to look at Shaw, remembering that he didn’t tell his friend about the prizes. “I’m really more interested in the equipment, most of it is pretty expensive.”

@throwitintothefire