Work Text:
“This is the fifth enrichment class I’ve tried,” Stede said glumly as he surveyed his lopsided cake.
His therapist had recommended finding a new hobby to help him through his post-divorce, post-coming out malaise, but life drawing had been mortifying and pottery downright dangerous.
Stede being Stede, he kitted himself out with everything he’d need before he ever took a class. It looked like the Ultimate Cake Decorating Tool Set would be gathering dust with the yarns, paints, and charcoals in his overstuffed hobby closet.
“It’s not that bad, mate,” said the instructor, Ed, whose demo cake was simple but perfectly executed.
Ed made it look effortless. Stede had spent most of the class admiring his technique. And his form.
“You've never seen an uglier cake.”
“Naw, it just needs a little… did you mix in every color?”
“I was hoping to achieve a rainbow effect.”
“Ahhh.”
“Yes. I should have learned that lesson from Unwind with Watercolors.”
“And the consistency’s just a touch thin.”
A glob of frosting slid down the side of the cake and plopped onto the counter.
“I think you’ve angered it,” Stede whispered.
Ed had fetching laugh lines. Stede wondered if he provided personal tutoring.