Post by devilinthedetails on Jul 8, 2022 0:39:24 GMT 10
Series: Pepper and Passion
Title: Sweet Tooth
Rating: PG-13 for flirting and sexual content.
Event: Easy as Pie
Words: 624
Summary: Yuki and Neal discuss desserts both Yamani and Tortallan.
Sweet Tooth
It was the closing of one of the long sessions in which curious Yamani and Tortallan participants met in cozy chambers off Midwinter ballrooms to explore and explain the manifold differences between the Yamani Islands and Tortall. Teaching and translating their languages to their languages to each other. Describing their cultures. Illuminating the richness and textures of their societies as if in a monk’s manuscript or a lady’s tapestry.
The flickering candles–scented with evergreen–were burning down to their stubs, and the flames licking the logs in the marble fireplace were losing some of their intensity. Though they were still strong enough to warm the upholstered sofa where Yuki sat next to the sarcastic Nealan of Queenscove (who could sometimes be more charming than he had a right to be given the distressing irreverence of his tongue) with a golden glow.
“What desserts are commonly consumed in the Yamani Islands?” he inquired. Eager eyes and tone suggesting that he never wanted their conversation to end. He had a sweet tooth, Yuki had noted at these sessions. Watching him gobble his way through an impressive array of tarts and cookies. Sometimes forgetting in the boundlessness of his excitement that it was considered rude in both Tortallan and Yamani cultures to talk with one’s mouth full of food. Showcasing the progressive stages of one’s chewing. It was, she decided, remembering and reflecting on this, no surprise he had asked about Yamani sweets.
“Desserts are rare in Yamani cuisine.” Yuki felt more apologetic than she should about disappointing him with the sparsity of Yamani treats. “Often the dessert course is nothing more than platters of fresh fruit.”
“Oh.” Neal’s green gaze swept over her. Lingering over the plump swell of her breasts and the plumpness of her hips in a manner that tempted her to punch out all his sweet teeth. The sweet teeth that obviously yearned to eat her. “That is why Yamani women are so light and willowy.”
“Excuse you for your offensive ignorance!” Yuki slapped his wrist with the ivory handle of her fan.
“Ow.” Neal gave a satisfyingly sharp intake of breath. Massaging his wrist where she had struck it. “What was that for, my fair lady?”
“Your appalling and offensive ignorance as I said!” Yuki waved her fan in a threatening manner. Making it clear as spring water that she would not hesitate to hit him again if need be.
“So educate me.” Neal’s palms rose in surrender. “Preferably without whacking me with your fan if you can manage that.”
Yuki considered punishing him again with her fan but decided against it even if he did make a most amusing yelping noise when she chastised him thus. Instead she answered only, “We do have some desserts in the Yamani Islands, of course. There is anmitsu, an agar jelly served with peaches, cherries, and satsuma orange. There are sweet rice mochi balls, and my personal favorite taiyaki–pancakes shaped like fish and filled with red bean paste.”
“Hmm. Interesting, but I suspect none of them are as delicious as Tortallan pies.” With no more warning or invitation than that, Neal was romantically rhapsodizing about the wonderful variety of Tortallan pies. Apple pies spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Delicate peach pies. Blueberry pies that tasted of summer. He elaborated on them in mouth-watering detail. Ranked them from his favorite (blueberry) to his least favorite (peach).
“You’ll have to bake me one of these delicious Tortallan pies one day,” she teased him when his rambling reached its conclusion. Knowing her words would make him sputter. Relishing that.
“I don’t know how to bake a pie!” he gawked at her. Squawked like a chicken. Missing the joke. Unaware that he was its punchline. “That’s what cooks are for!”
Title: Sweet Tooth
Rating: PG-13 for flirting and sexual content.
Event: Easy as Pie
Words: 624
Summary: Yuki and Neal discuss desserts both Yamani and Tortallan.
Sweet Tooth
It was the closing of one of the long sessions in which curious Yamani and Tortallan participants met in cozy chambers off Midwinter ballrooms to explore and explain the manifold differences between the Yamani Islands and Tortall. Teaching and translating their languages to their languages to each other. Describing their cultures. Illuminating the richness and textures of their societies as if in a monk’s manuscript or a lady’s tapestry.
The flickering candles–scented with evergreen–were burning down to their stubs, and the flames licking the logs in the marble fireplace were losing some of their intensity. Though they were still strong enough to warm the upholstered sofa where Yuki sat next to the sarcastic Nealan of Queenscove (who could sometimes be more charming than he had a right to be given the distressing irreverence of his tongue) with a golden glow.
“What desserts are commonly consumed in the Yamani Islands?” he inquired. Eager eyes and tone suggesting that he never wanted their conversation to end. He had a sweet tooth, Yuki had noted at these sessions. Watching him gobble his way through an impressive array of tarts and cookies. Sometimes forgetting in the boundlessness of his excitement that it was considered rude in both Tortallan and Yamani cultures to talk with one’s mouth full of food. Showcasing the progressive stages of one’s chewing. It was, she decided, remembering and reflecting on this, no surprise he had asked about Yamani sweets.
“Desserts are rare in Yamani cuisine.” Yuki felt more apologetic than she should about disappointing him with the sparsity of Yamani treats. “Often the dessert course is nothing more than platters of fresh fruit.”
“Oh.” Neal’s green gaze swept over her. Lingering over the plump swell of her breasts and the plumpness of her hips in a manner that tempted her to punch out all his sweet teeth. The sweet teeth that obviously yearned to eat her. “That is why Yamani women are so light and willowy.”
“Excuse you for your offensive ignorance!” Yuki slapped his wrist with the ivory handle of her fan.
“Ow.” Neal gave a satisfyingly sharp intake of breath. Massaging his wrist where she had struck it. “What was that for, my fair lady?”
“Your appalling and offensive ignorance as I said!” Yuki waved her fan in a threatening manner. Making it clear as spring water that she would not hesitate to hit him again if need be.
“So educate me.” Neal’s palms rose in surrender. “Preferably without whacking me with your fan if you can manage that.”
Yuki considered punishing him again with her fan but decided against it even if he did make a most amusing yelping noise when she chastised him thus. Instead she answered only, “We do have some desserts in the Yamani Islands, of course. There is anmitsu, an agar jelly served with peaches, cherries, and satsuma orange. There are sweet rice mochi balls, and my personal favorite taiyaki–pancakes shaped like fish and filled with red bean paste.”
“Hmm. Interesting, but I suspect none of them are as delicious as Tortallan pies.” With no more warning or invitation than that, Neal was romantically rhapsodizing about the wonderful variety of Tortallan pies. Apple pies spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Delicate peach pies. Blueberry pies that tasted of summer. He elaborated on them in mouth-watering detail. Ranked them from his favorite (blueberry) to his least favorite (peach).
“You’ll have to bake me one of these delicious Tortallan pies one day,” she teased him when his rambling reached its conclusion. Knowing her words would make him sputter. Relishing that.
“I don’t know how to bake a pie!” he gawked at her. Squawked like a chicken. Missing the joke. Unaware that he was its punchline. “That’s what cooks are for!”