Chapter Text
• 27 May 2348 •
“...Florian Schneider-Esleben, you would!”
The words escaped Elizabeth in a soft laugh as he had snuck up from behind her to plant kisses on her cheek and neck. But if she were honest, she wouldn't mind the slight distraction as Vertical Horizon played on the classic alternative radio station. After all, it was another morning in the kitchen of the Korinn house and this time Franzbrötchen was being prepared.
“When wouldn't I, Eliza?” her beloved Mensch-Maschine replied with a smile. “You love it.”
The Quartet Captain grinned. “No arguments here, Flori.”
Somewhere there's speaking — It's already coming in — Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind / You never could get it unless you were fed it — Now you're here and you don't know why
Florian then looked at the pastry dough. “No Apfelstrudel today, mein Liebling?” he asked with a curious smile.
“Nein, mein Liebe” she replied. “Been wanting to make Franzbrötchen for some time, but I couldn't find Mama's cookbook.” Mama Korinn had plenty of German recipes in her cookbook from all over the country, but the Franzbrötchen was a particular favorite. Elizabeth wanted to learn how to make it, and now would attempt it years after Mama's death. It would take a good two days to recall where she and Florian put the cookbook — but once they found it, Elizabeth set to getting the ingredients right away. The woman was determined.
The recipe itself was an intricate two-day affair, as she prepared the pre-dough the night before. Now it was the preparing of the puff pastry dough and making the cinnamon sugar filling, which she took great care in making sure she had it all sorted.
He's everything you want, he's everything you need — he's everything inside of you that you wish you could be / He says all the right things at exactly the right time — But he means nothing to you and you don't know why
“Is that why you had us hunt through the shelves for two days straight until we found it?” Florian inquired.
Elizabeth nodded. “Ja. I mean don't get me wrong. I love Apfelstrudel, and I love making it.”
“But sometimes different is good.”
“Exactly.”
The Mensch-Maschine smiled and watched as she mixed the cinnamon sugar filling and prepared to spread the filling on the dough. He had missed when she had to put the dough in the fridge for an hour, and the puff pastry dough for yet another hour. This he would regret sleeping in a bit, but now that he was awake he could appreciate it all the more.
Playfully he dipped his finger in some flour and tapped the tip of Elizabeth's nose with it. She blinked and giggled at the surprise, and smirked at him — “Ooh Florian Schneider, how dare!”
He grinned. “You love it... you love me.”
“Oh, absolutely” she replied as she leaned for a quick kiss on the lips.
Now came the tricky part as she needed to carefully roll the dough tightly. She took a deep breath and tried to get the dough rolled up.
“Here, Liebe, I'll help you” Florian said with a gentle smile. “My Mother used to make this often, and she had me and Claudia help out in the kitchen. So I know how to give this a tight roll. Lightly flour your fingertips.”
Elizabeth smiled in gratitude and did what she was told, carefully heeding his wisdom and instruction. He and Claudia had made this several times, and so for him it was a bit of second nature. He would make Franzbrötchen whenever he had the chance, especially for Ralf and his fellow Mensch-Maschinen. And now, to make it with Elizabeth for the first time? Florian was in heaven.
Out of the island, into the highway, past the places where you might have turned / You never did notice — but you still hide away — the anger of angels who won't return
“Now, we are going to cut into pieces, more like a trapezoid.” The Mensch-Maschine watched on as Elizabeth would get a sharp knife and carefully cut the dough into 12 pieces. Once that was done, he then showed her how to use the handle of a wooden spoon to press into the short side of the piece, making the pastry's distinct butterfly shape.
After all 12 pieces were shaped, she covered the baking sheet and set it aside to let them rest for half an hour. She set the timer and smiled at the progress (and the mess) made. Flour, sugar and cinnamon — the kind of mess that was easy to clean up and yet, one that could almost spell disaster considering the company! That however would be after breakfast, as Florian snuck another kiss to her cheek.
I am everything you want, I am everything you need — I am everything inside of you that you wish you could be / I say all the right things at exactly the right time — But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
“Flori!!” the Quartet Captain giggled. Quickly she took a pinch of flour and playfully threw it at him, much to his amusement. He gleefully retaliated with a pinch of cinnamon, before trying to capture her hands in his. But she was swift to lightly dust her fingers with flour and take his face in her hands, and pull him in for a kiss on the lips.
The moment was momentarily broken by the sound of two joyful people singing as they rode a bike down the street and passed the house. Florian and Elizabeth chuckled to see Johannes and Ralf on his bike, taking in the joys of their morning bike ride together through the streets of Düsseldorf. “There they go” the two bakers sighed together, watching the view from the window in the main parlor.
It soon became yet another perfect distraction as he lightly dusted his fingers with cinnamon and sugar, before trying (and succeeding) to lightly smear them on her face. “Flori!!” Elizabeth squealed in laughter as the two then threw flour at each other. Sure that would mean a bigger mess for her to clean up later on, but she didn't mind it at all.
Florian quickly leaned in and kissed her mouth — “And now you taste like cinnamon sugar!” The Quartet Captain saw this as the perfect opportunity to get him as she lightly dusted her fingers again in the flour... and ruffled his hair with her fingers, which surprised him. “ELIZA!!” he laughed in shock as she floured his hair.
Elizabeth grinned proudly, giggling as she pulled him to kiss him. “Ooh Elizabeth Korinn, how dare!” he chuckled after the kiss.
But she grinned as she made her way to lean back against the nearest wall, her beloved Mensch-Maschine leaning in to sneak another kiss before she responded. “You love it... you love me.”
Florian could not help but smile lovingly at her. “Oh, absolutely” he answered as he gently pinned her to the wall and one kiss became another... and one more... and another, the two softly making out as the timer quietly ticked the resting of the Franzbrötchen before baking.
And in the kitchen of the Korinn house, all was well in their world.