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[abyssions]

Comments

[thelaw]

In this? Well, there was a type of pepper that Alphen had introduced me to. I couldn't find it again, nor the powder I had used during the cooking tournament. I didn't realize they were the sort to be in short supply, or I would have purchased more... As for the vegetables, I got these at the market instead of foraging for my own.

[abyssions]

[Yuri knows exactly what peppers Flynn is referring to, and his eyes go wide for a second. God, it's a miracle Flynn hasn't killed him.]

Who taught you to forage for the plants here?

[Please say someone taught you...]

[thelaw]

One of the locals.

[He isn't trying to kill anyone.]

I think I've been fairly successful in the past, it just seemed to be bad timing on my behalf this time.

[He picks up another spoonful of food but then thinks better of eating it.]

I should really stop, this is meant to be yours.

[abyssions]

Nah, we should share it. It's better that way.

[What he means, but isn't quite saying, is that it means more to split a birthday dinner Flynn made. A little sappy. But down to the real mystery—]

Did you like Alphen's food at that competition?

[thelaw]

[Well, he's not going to insist again, since he's pretty hungry himself, even if this doesn't quite meet his standards, it's still decent.]

Of course. He had the best item there, in my opinion. Although Law's burgers were rather good too. I should show you that one, I think you'd like it.

[abyssions]

[He's not sure how to feel about that recommendation, in all honesty, so he just skates past it.]

Flynn, how the hell didn't Alphen's food kill you?

[thelaw]

What do you mean? It wasn't dangerous. Just spicy.

[abyssions]

It almost killed me. It wasn't spicy, it was agonizing.

[thelaw]

I may have cried a little.

[abyssions]

Don't make that face.

[Admittedly, it's a frustratingly cute face.]

You cried a little?

[thelaw]

I didn't make a face!

[He did.]

Yes. It's a natural reaction to something so spicy.

[He was full on ugly tears, with snot running.]

[abyssions]

So you had a natural reaction, but no pain?

[Hmm. Concerning. Yuri reaches out to pinch Flynn's arm.]

[thelaw]

It might have hurt a little- hey! Ow!

[He pinches back, retaliatory!]

[abyssions]

Hey!

[He lets out an offended little huff.]

I was making sure.

[thelaw]

Making sure of what??

[abyssions]

Making sure you're not immune to pain and I didn't know.

[thelaw]

[Flynn reaches over, and pinches Yuri's ear, pulling it a little.]

Where would you get that sort of idea? You've seen me in pain before!

[A few times, really.]

[abyssions]

[Ow??? Yuri is successfully yanked, bending forward as he tries to swat Flynn's hand away.]

Quit it! Look, if you think Alphen's food only hurt "a little", what am I supposed to think?

[thelaw]

[Alright, he pulls his hand away, but only because Yuri's the little birthday boy.]

Don't jump right to 'can't feel pain' to start! I just happen to like spicy food. Did someone put an idea like that into your head?

[abyssions]

There's a difference between liking spicy food and whatever that was.

[And he wasn't really making a connection between what Lloyd told him about Colette and that. The cooking contest was before Flynn's transformation anyway. But now that he's thinking about it...]

This wasn't why I was asking, but how are you feeling after the mask thing? Anything different?

[thelaw]

[Um, Actually,]

They were scotch bonnets.

[And for how he's feeling, he goes quiet again.]

The scales haven't gone away yet, if that's what you mean.

[abyssions]

[Yuri's quiet for a moment too, considering. His next question is much more gentle.]

Can I see?

[thelaw]

[Flynn swallows hard, mouth feeling dry suddenly at the same time.]

If you're certain you want to. They aren't nice to look at.

[abyssions]

[It feels a little dismissive to say that they can't possibly be that bad when he hasn't even seen them, especially when Flynn is so obviously uncomfortable, so he doesn't.]

I want to.

[thelaw]

[Flynn exhales quietly, and begins to unbutton his shirt, staring down hard at each button he undoes to avoid looking at Yuri.]

They don't hurt anymore, at least, but... They haven't changed at all either. I have some concerns they won't be going away.

[His shirt undone now, he slides both arms out of his sleeves carefully, worried it'll tear if he moves too fast. Both arms, from shoulder to just above the wrist have a layer of metal along the outer arm, scale-like in the way plate armor consists of pieces as well. A strange fusion of metal and organic material, fused to his skin. What once was swelling and redness around the edges of where skin and metal meet, now has grown accustomed to the new addition.

Flynn looks away from it as he holds his arm out to Yuri.]