[Folkmore IC Inbox][un: forestwatcher]

[forestwatcher]

forestwatcher

You've reached Tighnari. I'm not able to answer right now, so just leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can.

Comments

[descender]

[The time has come! He's glad that Tighnari opened the door as it truly is getting very cold and he's not the best at dealing with it. He also doesn't want to food to get too cold, making sure to wrap it and ask for Albedo's help.]

Happy birthday, Tighnari.

[He speaks normally as he knows yelling would hurt his ears. He enters Tighnari's house, holding the large basket filled with things for his birthday.]

I wanted to surprise you on this special day so I brought some food and gifts to celebrate. [His smiling is beaming, happy to share a birthday with a friend of his.] Where should I set this down?

[forestwatcher]

Aha, thank you...

[It seems that news travels fast, at least amongst his friends. Well, he does like Aether quite a bit, so he can't complain about the visit. Nor will he complain about the gifts even if he doesn't usually do too much when it comes to his birthday.]

It is a surprise. [Sneaky!] But come through here, to the kitchen.

[If there's food then the kitchen makes sense! He can pick out anything that doesn't belong there later.]

You'll be staying to enjoy the food with us, I trust?

[descender]

You're welcome. This is your special day after all.

[He follows along into the kitchen, looking around Tighnari's place and noticing the details. He's glad he was able to pull off the surprise, but he made sure he kept it quiet and he knows Cyno would do the same.

He sets it down. It's not too heavy, but he was carrying it for a bit.]

Of course. It would be rude if I just left, and I want to see how you like your gift.

[In the basket, there's a few containers of food. One has chicken-mushroom skewer, the other sautéed matsutake, and lastly a Folkmore take on the mushroom hodgepodge. Each container of food as a recipe card hand written by Aether with instructions for the recipe that is adjusted for Tighnari's tastes. There's also a dessert that's wrapped up in a clear bag, a recipe card also attached. Besides the food, there are three cases that look like TCG Casket of Tomes. There's a green one in the center, a purple one to the right, and to the left a plain brown one.]

[forestwatcher]

[He can smell the mushrooms. He could smell them as soon as he opened the door, but it only became more pronounced as Aether walked in and set things down. Tighnari hovers eagerly around the basket, clearly appreciative of what food has been brought before he even sees it, because he really just cannot resist when it comes to mushroom dishes.

As they get everything out and set it on the table in the kitchen his attention is drawn to the dessert alongside everything else. He looks at it for a few moments, thoughtful.]

Is that halvamazd?

[It's been a while since he last saw it! They don't make anything so fancy in the village.]

Did you make it?

[descender]

[He doesn't want to be a rude guest, so he helps where he can with setting things up and unpacking what he brought. It seems the star of the food he brought is noticed. He recalled Cyno's comments so he tried his had at the dish. It wasn't easy, but he's glad his attempt even catches Tighnari off guard.]

Yes, a friend of mine taught me. It's her favorite dish, and a certain someone told me you might like it. [Obviously being Cyno there.] It's the first time I've made it alone, and she is a wise teacher, so I hope turned out well.

[Wise is putting it lightly. When a country's archon teaches you their favorite dish, it's a little intimidating.]

The shape of hers was better, but the taste is the most important.

[forestwatcher]

Hmm, I wonder who that might have been.

[Obviously Cyno. Tighnari doesn't eat sweet things often but he does have a taste for certain desserts, and this is one of them. He examines it for a few moments more - the taste is the most important thing, in the end, regardless of how something looks - before his attention is inevitably drawn back to the various things that clearly have mushrooms in them.]

I'm impressed that you could find such a variety of edible fungi at this time of year. [That is definitely not a complaint. Tighnari gets most of his via foraging, and it is definitely not the time of year to be looking for mushrooms in the wild... especially when it's so cold.]

But it all smells delicious.

[descender]

[It seems unspoken that they clearly know the person, a little subtle humor between the two of them. So he just gives a little shrug rather saying anything back, his face matching the shrug.

With the mushrooms, he had to ask more than just a favor from Thirteen, but it's worth it; he's learned how food can bring back the sense of home and comfort.]

I had to do a special kind of foraging, but I think it's worth it. [When he was cooking it, the smell brought him back to Sumeru. ] I let a friend try it, but he prefers sweets over savory things. [And they were all edible and not poisonous. A very good thing.]

After the meal, there's something for all of us, but I think Cyno will enjoy it the most. [He points to the cases. He's sure Tighnari knows what they are.] That took the most foraging to get.

[forestwatcher]

A special kind of foraging? [He arches one eyebrow slightly at the other man, curious about the way he decided to phrase that. There are few foraging methods that Tighnari does not know about, and if Aether had found it necessary to do something dangerous just to put this together for him...

Well, he would be touched, but he's also going to scold him a little for it.

As for those cases, yes, he does immediately know what they are and smiles in amusement. No guesses needed to know which one would be his, so he picks up the green one.

And now he does understand what Aether meant by 'special foraging'. Not quite putting himself into danger.]

You didn't need to go to so much effort just for me.