songerein | [08] i'm 'bout to celebrate, push my head into the cake

[ There's still sleep in her eyes on this chilly fall morning, and the sun's barely risen. She considers herself an early riser, but not even she can normally beat Jack into the kitchen for prep, especially not lately. They've already done a lot of legwork, adding new decor to the garden and the main dining area in the form of pumpkins and various hanging lanterns; but with the new menu being in place, it feels like the work has only begun.

One of the items had been an idea of her own: chocolate chip cookies inspired by Reaper, as a special for this month of "Halloween." Had she asked for his approval to use his image? Hell no, but Jack seemed quietly amused by the idea, and she was going to take that as his approval. Does the idea of asking forgiveness over permission extend to a manifestation of death who saw fit to pull out a large gun at the slightest grievance with some boys at the beach?

...Well, she'd find out. Either way, at the very least, Jack could be the one to show him and give him the first batch.

When he enters the kitchen, all the lights will be on. The tub of white frosting will still be on the counter, open, and Susato will be seen tying off a small bag of Reaper's Toll cookies with a thematically appropriate black ribbon. ]

[He'd made it a habit of turning up early, being as quiet as he could so as not to make any noise and disturb any sleeping above in the actual house part of the Harvest. Even the times when he'd already been inside of his own sectioned off room at the greenhouse. It had become habit, starting as a way to refamiliarize himself with working with a kitchen he helped keep fully stocked. Memorize things- and then it had become something he could enjoy.

A quiet but productive way to start the day, simple and helping get that foot up for when The Wild Harvest's doors opened.

... Then, far more recently, Reaper had been tagging along with him and going through that routine with him. No complaints, wanting to spend more time and get a feel for the change and step they'd taken in their time here.

Of course the lights on, once he pushed opened the kitchen door, was a surprise as he'd had it held open—]

Oh- Hey there kid, you're up early today.

[No mistaking the smell of cookies either, head tipped as he took in the sight and

chuckled. The sound warm.]

Getting a head start?

[Obviously, but still.]

Edited 2022-10-03 13:46 (UTC)

[ Susato turns her head at the familiar voice, expression as warm as the cookies safely nestled within the bag. Perhaps she heard Jack's footsteps coming, but Reaper's, naturally, would have made no sound, nor was he anywhere to be seen. As far as she is aware, no one else is up yet, not even Kazuma. ]

Oh, good morning! I hope I didn't make too much noise... I was doing the usual check on all the animals and then decided it'd be best to just get my day started.

[ No sense trying to crawl back into bed and risk waking Kazuma, or oversleeping. Both are terrible crimes. ]

I was thinking Mr Reaper should probably receive the first batch. ...You'll see him later, won't you?

[He let the door close behind him once he walked in past it- after some brief glance behind him of course before shaking his head with a sound of amusement.]

You're fine, kid. Sometimes you just feel like getting busy rather than trying to attempt sleep again- do it more often or not myself. [Habits—]

Everyone seem fine when you checked in on them?

[He knew that the flower wolves like to hang around on occasion, when not out in the forested area or following him around. The leaf-tailed cats turning up recently were an amusing sort of surprise- and with the snakes and koi around it didn't hurt to check if there was some 'fuss' and 'incidents' there.

76 approached the counter and stood just beside Susato, looking over the cookies.]

That's thoughtful- and it looks like they've turned out great. [No really, it felt fitting and he knew Reyes would get a kick out of the frosting mask.] I will, sooner or later today.

[Maybe sooner than later.]

[ Susato gives him a firm nod at the question. There's a man who gets it; but thankfully there were no such incidents to speak of, even with their new fall-themed feline friends. ]

Everyone seemed just fine. Here, then. [ She offers Jack the bag once the ribbon is tied. Since she still has some cleaning up to do-- ] Maybe you'd like to give them to him.

[ She opens her mouth to add something. "Tell him they're from me." No, "Tell him they're his favorite."

But nah. Jack's got this. ]

That's good. Never know when a critter decides to be sneaky and cause trouble at night.

[To put it lightly. So far they all seemed to get together save for a few hisses or falling into water incidents. Animals would be animals, all the same.

He took the bag, corner of his mouth twitching into something of an amused smile.]

I'll make sure to let him know they are your creation as well. Who knows, might get a laugh from the mask- which you did a mighty fine job of capturing it in frosting from what I can see.

[No regrets in letting Susato know what Reaper's favorite cookie was.]

[Sooner than later was right. Reaper hadn't followed 76 into the kitchen because he had sensed that someone was already there, so he did the adult thing and hid in a shadow. He had been hanging around like a stray cat a bit more than usual at the Wild Harvest, not that he would ever explain himself.

Today he had come in early to help 76 was meal prep for the day, thinking they would be alone. That had not come to plan, which would have meant he'd abandon the younger man to the day and slink off for reputational reasons. No one knew - or should know - that they had started dating yet.

However, his keen hearing picked out Susato's voice, which was good. Then he discovered that he was the topic of conversation and something about cookies. That's no fair at all that there was apparently cookies made in his honour.

So, he ghosted his way into the kitchen, curls of black indicating his presence as he reformed from smoke to solid. He set his hands on his hips.]

Did I hear that Susato likes me enough to make cookies with my mask upon it? Come now, that deserves a personal show of your work.

[It was too early for cookies, but he'd make an exception.]

[ BUT REAPER, WOULDN'T YOU RATHER RECEIVE THEM FROM YOUR HUSBAND--

Totally unfair by the way that they get to know the kids are dating, but not the other way around, but it's fine. For the moment Susato is blissfully unaware, both of their relationship status and of Reaper's presence, but her ignorance to the latter doesn't last long. Perhaps she's become more sensitive to the shadows as of late without realizing it, but she can feel the hairs on her body stand on end as Reaper's smoke seeped into the air and started to take shape. ]

...!

[ Well. She was not prepared for this. It's certainly too early for cookies, but of course he is here.

Now what? ]

A, Ah, it's... they... They're... for Halloween...!

[ Jack, why didn't you just tell her?! Susato shoots him a brief panicked look, though she seems to turn back to Reaper easily enough. ]

I didn't know you were here.

[Would probably figure out the dating status on her ow eventually- Susato was a sharp one, perhaps a bit more so than she'd give herself credit for in some situations.

Jack was used to the dramatic entrance, and there was a brief half amused/half apologetic look shot towards Susato. A little bit of a mystery to if 76 knew the man was there or not.

He did hold the bag out towards Reaper for him to take, other gesturing a little between them, the kitchen, and Susato—]

They are for Halloween, and you can see for yourself how well she managed to reproduce the look of your mask in frosting. No small feat.

[Definitely a lot sooner than expected.]

Even came up with a good name- right, Susato?

[Voice calm, even if a little exasperated with Reaper but- well. It was okay.]

Everyone knows that Halloween is a holiday best participated in for the full month. It's practically a season.

[He was used to scaring people with his entrances, and it was over half of the reason that he did them like that. He noted 76's look, and he instead reached out to take the bag of cookies in hand. It was hefty enough to let him know that it wasn't just one, which already elevated his opinion of Susato higher.

He set the bag down on the counter and opened it, peering into the shady abyss. He could see the white icing that made up the mask, identifying one cookie edge so he could push his hand in the bag and pull it out.]

I happened to be in the area on my morning rounds and heard my name. I have excellent hearing.

[Out came the cookie in question and he examined it. The work was very good, and it looked almost exactly like his mask. Well, well, someone had an even better artistic hand than he had first thought.]

I can see how much you like me, Susato. Dedicating a baked good to someone can be very personal. I'm pleased to be your big dumb soldier.

[ It's like Reaper waits until she's nearly forgotten, just to bring it up again. Absolutely insufferable.

But, rounds. Sure, that's totally what he was doing. Just like it was a coincidence that Cherry happened to catch him lingering around the back, when 76 left for his usual evening stroll one night, or that other time when he'd scared the crap out of Ziggy in the garden. It hasn't gone unnoticed that the man had taken a special liking to the place as of late, though she hasn't really put together why it was so.

......Just gonna silently look at Jack pleadingly for help, doing her best to sound unaffected. ]

I, I call them "Reaper's Toll." I'm glad that you approve; it'd be quite a pain, having to change our menu again so soon. [ A pause, and she folds her arms. ] I was just telling Mr 76 too that you should have the first taste, so you'd better like them. [ Or else. ]

[It was incredibly hard to miss how much Reaper was growing to like Susato, even if it could be extremely hard to tell with those unfamiliar with how the man looked. Sure, it had a much rougher and darker touch to it at times these days; threatening as well in some parts. Enough that 76 could pick it out, however.

Poor Susato, he could tell it was a little much. So he moved to stand more to her side, some brush of shoulders with Reaper as he did.]

She was, and has been working quite hard to get this recipe right. [Chocolate chip cookies were both simple and hard when it came to getting it the exact way you wanted.

Right there beside Susato as he spoke, offering a bit of support by being there for now-]

Go ahead and try one.

[Reaper was taking his time examining the cookie in question, as if considering his judgment already of the cookie that was named and themed after him. He made no noise and no motion when 76 brushed passed him either, keenly aware of the younger man's closeness for that brief moment. He knew anyone else would likely miss the gesture.]

Chocolate chip cookies are notoriously easy to put together but difficult to get perfect. [He turned the cookie over in his gloved hand.] We'll see how your recipe measures up to mine.

[He turned his back on the pair as he broke unwrapped and broke off a piece of cookie. Then he tucked the piece up under his mask into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. It had a not crunchy outside and a soft inside, just the way he liked them. Good flavour.]

Salted or unsalted butter, hmmmm?

[ Man. Even Jack takes off his mask in private. She wonders how Reaper would react if she told him to get over himself and just take his off already, but perhaps that's best left for another day. On first bite, there's no telling how he truly feels, so she simply watches him.

Waiting. ]

...Salted.

[ Whether she or not she knows the modern meaning of the term, this is one salty, salty man. Dreamotion helped, at least on a purely aesthetic level. ]

[76 rested a hand carefully on tp of one of Susato's shoulders, a brief little squeeze as his head tipped a bit. His expression was briefly amused as his eyes flicked towards Reaper's back; an attempt to show this wasn't as dramatic as the man was making it all out to be.

Still, he was playing along a little when the expression fell into something more his usual.]

Reaper knows a good chocolate chip cookie when he tastes one, given how many he's had over time. Name brands and homemade.

[Bit of salt was needed in one, all the same.]

[It was probably a good sign that he took a second bit off of the cookie and slipped it into his mouth to chew thoughtfully again as he made a big deal out of a baked good like this. If it was to have his brand upon it, he thought that it had to be the best and also very dramatic.

He knew that 76 knew what he was about, given how many chocolate chip cookies the man had been forced to endure him waxing and complaining about over the decades.

Finally, he fixed his mask properly in place and turned back, still holding the rest.]

It's good. Salted butter accents the chocolate, and you've cooked it to perfection. I approve.

[ Truthfully, when Jack told them they were his favorite, she didn't expect anything like this. Despite her best efforts, she seems to let out a quiet sigh of relief, because the approval feels good, even from someone she was originally warned to stay away from. ]

Well... Call it the Mikotoba brand, if you wish. There were plenty of other creatures and haunts we could have chosen, you know, but we chose you.

You've been hanging around a lot lately, haven't you?

[76 patted Susato's shoulder with a firm little squeeze before his had fell back down to his side. Eventually it'd find it's way behind his back to join the other, him assuming some loose 'at rest' sort of stance out of habit.

Very, very old habit-]

She's been working to get them just right- along with the mask.

[Added support to it, and even with his visor still on Reaper could probably know eyes fell on him briefly at the question. Really, no surprise Susato noticed that. Sharp girl.]

[Reaper was busying himself re-wrapping his cookie to enjoy the rest of later. He also busied himself putting it back in the bag to avoid the scrutiny of his actions when it came to making more appearances - subtle or otherwise - to the Wild Harvest.]

You must think very highly of this stupid soldier to give him such notoriety.

[He'd bring the conversation back around to the old insult that Susato had given him which had been so damn amusing. Even now, if he thought about it, the whole thing made him laugh to himself.]

No more than usual. I just let you see me more than usual. This place is getting busier each day, and I expect a little added protection from unruly patrons would be valuable to a place based on customer service.

[He could lie his way out of most situations where his integrity was called into question. Except from 76. The man knew him well enough to see through his lies.]

[ She is going to IGNORE his attempts at baiting/trolling, thank you very much (though they are both free to enjoy her visible wincing). Please let it go. ]

Is that all it is. Still treating us like royalty, then. [ Flower Fest ended months ago, OK. She doesn't sound convinced. ] And here I thought we had adopted a rather large, shadowy feline friend.

[It didn't much help that 76 already knew the reason why Reaper was hanging around more often, visibly so.

... Didn't help that 76 had been encourage it either, letting the man into the kitchen with him those early mornings while others were still asleep. Always made himself appear scarce once he could sense life outside of 76 and the animals that kept around. Easy enough to appear as if it was nothing unusual given 76's own habits either.

He shifted weight back onto his heels, even if briefly.]

Even without that particular set of armor, man strikes an imposing and dark figure. [A little dryly. Certainly remembered how that last day ended for him—]

The smaller ones in the garden area probably wouldn't oppose.

[The leaf-tailed cats.]

Well, I seem to recall that no one has retracted the titles, so you two are royalty. I'm nothing more or less than your knight. My armour has just changed.

[He had had a good time at the flower festival, getting into character better there than he had anywhere else. The stone armour was imposing but just not the same as his leather and far more high-tech additions.]

Does that mean you are giving me permission to lounge around in high places in here, Susato? [An invitation to the place would mean he could legit come around more and be more obvious about it.]

[ It would probably be preferable to sneaking around behind their backs, honestly. He is imposing for sure. Jack isn't wrong, though at the question, Susato finds herself sighing. (He does appear to be less imposing the more she spends time with him.) ]

Perhaps if you clean up there while you are at it.

...No scaring our patrons, either.

[Reaper was probably goin to take that as an invitation and permission both-]

At least we all know he can be quiet as well. Better to surprise someone that does, for whatever reason, decide to make an ass of themselves during business hours.

[Majority that worked at the Harvest could handle themselves, but still.]

[08] i'm 'bout to celebrate, push my head into the cake

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