Baking by Touch (Finished!)

[carcinoGeneticist]

The feeling of dough in her hands was beyond satisfying, and she kneaded and punched it, shaping it with dextrous and skilled fingers. Her eyes, a clouded gray, stared directly ahead, unfocused and seemingly lazy when compared to her hard-working hands. Again and again, she tossed the pliable dough in her hands until she could feel its perfection, finally sliding it onto a baking tray and into the oven.

There was time to rest until she needed to make a new batch of dough, and she moved through the kitchen, sensitive paws brushing over everything, moving tools and containers into their proper places. A small smile flittered onto her muzzle as she found everything to be exactly where it belonged. She would have no more confusion between the flour and the sugar, not with the kitchen layout that her siblings had helped her to arrange. She could recite the location of each tool by memory, and often did as she felt them. Her kitchen was her palace. She ran upstairs to slip into her favorite dress in the time that was left, giving a twirl into a mirror that she would never see.

She knew that her father was expecting a visitor today, but she was the only one who would be home for a time, and as such she had easily volunteered to wait at home for them to arrive. Baking them something to welcome them seemed only natural.

And sure enough, just as the smells eminating from the oven had become as delicious as they should be, there was a knock on the door. Asha ran to it at the head of a pack of banders, opening it with a smile. "Hello! You're just in time, the baking's all ready![/b]"



((Hope this is okay @_@ I had an image in my head, and I don't know if I managed to do it justice.))

[Dark]

Elyse and she had never been particularly close--not in the traditional sense of mother-daughter bonding, anyway--but Minh did try to make an effort that they spent at least some time together each month. Which is why they were out today, wandering the marketplace. And Minh was also taking the opportunity to visit an old friend--she hadn't seen Kel in ages, and it seemed as good of time as any to introduce the woman to at least one of Minh's offspring.

She knocked at the door.

Minh blinked pleasantly down at the roaming mob of banders that spilled out, eying the gaggle for any untrustworthy sort. She liked banders well enough, but she'd never really been able to look at them in the same light since that day in the woods with Mnem all those years ago. She glanced at the young girl who had opened the door for them, taking in the milky, unfocused gaze with a faint stirring on interest.

"You must be Asha. Is Kel in?"

((*edits for pic* I never remember that damn thing. XP ))

[Kasatsu]

The mouse hummed happily to herself as she walked along side of her mother. It was indeed true that she had never been really close to her mother, not to say for a lack of love but rather a lack of interest. She had always gotten along better with Iphis and Mommy Mnem.

When Minh had suggested that they go see a friend together she had latched onto the opportunity. They had not spent much time together and with her work as a healer they had started to see less and less of each other.

When the door was opened it revealed the Skunk and a horde of banders. “Hello.” She greeted with warm tone. “That is a lovely dress.” She added as she took in the females clothes. She also noted that the female’s eyes seemed cloudy, though it did not bother her more then in passing. Spending so much time with Eilwyn had caused her to think nothing much of it.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The banders took great care to investigate the two visitors, snuffling around their feet until they were absolutely sure that the women meant no harm to the girl. Once they had made that distinction, they leapt up around their legs, little tails wiggling as they snuffed at pockets for treats or pets. The human was the most interesting, with her puffy-thing swaying.

Asha could hear them beginning to get excited, and she clapped. "Dahlia, Nikita, Velvet! Inside, now![/b]" there was a note of command in her voice, and the trio immediately let off and made their way inside. The skunk's ears twitched back slightly, her smile slightly lopsided. "Sorry, sorry... They get so excited sometimes.[/b]" So saying, she ushered the pair inside. She was a little nervous to stand in the open for so long - an Ace wearing a biped form wouldn't be looked on too kindly by everyone who passed by.

"That's me! My Dad's not in right now, no.[/b]" she replied, shaking her head a little sadly as she closed the door behind them, taking care to make sure she didn't trip over any of the still-circling Banders. That would be horribly annoying. "She told me you would be here, but she had some court business to attend to. I baked some bread, if you'd like to sit down and rest for a bit? I don't know when she'll be back, but hopefully it'll be before too long.[/b]"

She blushed at Elyse's words, running her hands over the front of it shyly. Hearing that it looked nice gave her a small feeling of joy. She loved the way it felt, but with no way to judge the way it looked on her... She often thought twice about wearing anything, and staying in her animal form any time they had company. "Oh! Thank you so much,[/b]" she replied. "My Mom got it for me when I first got my biped form... She took me out shopping and let me pick one that felt nice.[/b]"

[Dark]

Minh smiled; she hadn't had the pleasure of meeting Asha before, but she seemed like a sweet girl. Kel had been ever so upset when her child had been born a blind Ace, but Asha seemed to have grown up rather well, all things considering. She certainly seemed better adjusted than Aiolos ever had, at least. He was....troubled.

It took a considerable amount of effort to smooth out the crinkled lines of a frown from her face, because even though Asha might not be able to see it, her daughter would surely pick up on the gloomy turn her thoughts had taken. She shook herself free of them, and forced herself to reply jovially:

"Clothes being comfortable is definitely a must, even if it's at the expense of fashion. But, yes. It is a very lovely dress."

She gingerly made her way across the kitchen, stepping over and avoiding the milling banders as best she could before settling into a comfortable looking chair. The kitchen was warm and inviting, and she felt herself relax.

"It smells wonderful in here."

[Kasatsu]

Banders! She knelt down to give them the attention that they were begging for, before Asha called them off. She really like the cute little things, except for Monty that was, and even wanted one; that was going to be something she should look into too. It sure was lonely now that most of her other siblings were off doing their own thing. “Those are really pretty names.” she said as she watched them obey the female.

Following her mother into the kitchen she had to agree, it really did smell very nice in here. Breaking bread was always a nice smell to have wafting through a house. Taking an empty seat next to her mother she took in the kitchen.

“Indeed, you picked out a very nice dress. It looks as nice as it seems to be comfortable.”

Other then that said she was not quite sure what to say or do.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Asha was, as predicted, completely oblivious to the woman's distress. Her tail waved cheerfully back and forth as she bustled around in the kitchen. Her shyness was easily masked by her excitement over having visitors. She opened the oven, peering in and taking a deep breath. The scent of the yeast was one that delighted her, and she slipped her hands into a pair of thick gloves, sliding the loaf out.

"This loaf has peach syrup baked into it... It should give it a subtle kind of fruity flavor.[/b]" she commented as she carried the loaf to the table, taking care to set it down in the center of the table, using a long and serrated blade to cut it open. She worked very slowly, and with the care that was required. She didn't want to add her own blood to the mix, and she had no doubt that the pair would not enjoy it either. The scent of bread, and sure enough, peaches filled the room as she put the knife back into its proper place.

"Please, help yourself.[/b]" she said, slipping into a seat at the table and leaning forward, head in her hands. Her ears stood tall, and she smiled. "You'll have to forgive me. I'm... Not really used to entertaining. My mother would be ashamed.[/b]" she laughed a little shyly. This was the first time that she had been home alone when they had visitors.

[Dark]

Minh snatched up a piece of the delicious smelling bread without much consideration of its internal temperature, giving a tiny start when she realized just how hot the steaming slice of deliciously aromatic carbohydrates really was. She juggled it between her hands and tried not to yelp. The minor burn was worth it, though, as she discovered upon taking her first bite: the comforting taste of bread with an underlying tang of sweet, peachy goodness. She gave a hum of appreciation.

"Oh, I think you're doing just fine, m'dear. Better than I would in the same situation, at least, I imagine. My family informs me I possess all the courtesy of a cardboard box. And what you might lack in the way of social niceties--though I don't have the foggiest what they might be--you by far make up for with such a delicious welcome."

She took another bite of bread. It really was delicious.

[Kasatsu]

“Wow, that really doe smell good. It is sure to taste as good too.” she gave a nod to accent her words.

Watching as Minh burnt her fingers by taking a slice of the loaf, the mouse waited for a moment to let it cool off before taking hers. As she bit into it she discovered that it really was as good as it smelled. “This really is good. Do you like baking a lot?” She had never really been one to bake, though Iphis had taken it up a few times in order to prepare snacks for their tea parties when they were younger.

“And no worries, Ms. Asha, you are doing a wonderful job.” She took another slice before continuing, her tone full of mischief and humor, “Mom here does much worse with company. There has many times when I have had to come in and help recover . . . or even just entertain them while mom was oblivious” By oblivious she of course was referring to the times when Minh was locked in her lab and forgot she had appointments.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The praise was going to her head, the Ace was sure. As it was, her ears flipped back slightly, and she could feel her cheeks growing hot with a blush. She covered it as best as she could by moving to turn off the oven, closing the door and setting the bowl into the sink to be washed later. "It might be soon to say, but if that was the case you're the most interesting cardboard box I've ever met, Miss Mihn.[/b]" the young woman replied, moving to sit at the table again. Her ears twitched as they spoke, a clear indicator that though her eyes were roaming, her attention was fixed on the pair.

"It means a lot to hear that it turned out well.[/b]" the skunk commented, smile glowing. It was a new recipe, an idea that had been born after her half-sister had remarked how good bread tasted when served with peach jam. It was, in truth, an experiment with a huge amount of risk involved. She wanted to make a good first impression with her father's friends, after all.

"I love to bake. I've been trying to find a job doing so, actually.[/b]" her tone changed slightly, taking on a hint of sadness and bitterness. "Rank seems to win over skill, though.[/b]" she reached out, sniffing at the air and taking a slice of the bread, chewing it thoughtfully. "...But that's not your fault. I'm sorry. I'm just getting frustrated with how things have been going lately.[/b]"