Chapter Text
Ding! The oven is done, time to get it out, she thought. Pulling out a fresh yet petite bread, it smelled amazing with a crisp crust. Vinestaff, the one who cooked it, happily set it aside to rest as she opened her phone and began taking pictures of it. When she posted it, many people came to like and comment about her well-made food. Often it is her brother Shuriken who comments first in her photos, always appreciating her food and won't stop asking for a bite despite never being able to eat one at all, he's always away whenever she cooks. Regardless she appreciates his comments and so do the likes, many of whom are her followers she amassed after a while posting foods every so often. But despite it all, the likes, the comments, her food and its quality, she yearns for those photos where she would cook a ton of meals stacked on a plate but alas, her appetite can only hold so many she couldn't possibly eat them all in one go. Because of this she sighed yet gracefully ate her food.
She then went out to her greenhouse not far away from her, which contains all sorts of plants ranging from flowers, trees, and plants all grouped harmoniously with one another to bring out their benefits. It's a piece of information she has learned about gardening and farming where three different kinds of plants can work together to form a group of plants that cultivate the best nutrients while also offering each other protection from dangers such as pests and insects. The rose willows, she noticed and quickly pulled her staff from behind, were engraved with a vine pattern and at the top was a pink lotus complementing her pastel pink kimono. Aiming at it, she shot at the rose as magic did its part and as expected the rose slowly regenerated its lost health and turned back to its normal state: a blush red and a bright green stem with thorns on it. Vinestaff would then carry on admiring other plants while also inspecting them.
At the church’s cafeteria comes a deadly inphernal with a high body count. A deadly assassin who has had killed many threats to her church, deadly was she, it was no other than Scythe. Her boots made noises along the way as other lowly members bowed down to greet her stepping aside to make room for her. Holding up a plate, she waited in line as the cook served each of them an appropriate amount of food as for today's meal: Dinuguan with Fufu on the side. Just before her, an Inphernal was served with a full size and went along however the moment it was her turn, the newly recruited cook placed only half of what the previous inphernal had. Angered, she slammed the table and glared at the cook who was scared to the bone dropping his ladle and held his hand up in the air, afraid of what's about to happen next.
“Oi, my meal’s less than that guy.” She gritted her teeth, not letting this slip by.
“A-ah! Ma'am, you uh folks like to eat less. I ah thought that you would ah waste it so I uh gave you half!” He confessed, shyly looking away embarrassed.
The whole commotion caused nearby inphernals to stare and start whispering amongst one another. Followed by a low giggle in the distance. But she was treated unfairly and slammed the table once more, louder and stronger than the last. You could've sworn the table would break but to their luck it stayed intact.
“Give me the whole thing!”
“Of of course ma'am!” he hurriedly took her meal and came back with a full size.
Now that her meal is appropriately served she sat by the table alone with Broker opposite of her and began chowing down in big bites. If there's nothing she likes more than assassinating (and torturing) her victims is a full meal field with delicious meat. Broker stopped to look at her and giggled.
“You eat like a man.”
Back at the crossroads, Vinestaff is heading back home after dealing with her clients; she has a business of healing after all. At the crosswalk, she gazed at the taller inphernal next to her but to her horror it was Scythe. She dropped her staff and stood in fear, she couldn't believe she's right next to the deadliest inphernal in town but all that fear vanished as she observed her bag: two buckets of turkey legs. She can't help but wonder who is this for so without fear in her face she asked.
“Is there an event at your place?”
“No, it's all for me.”
She crosses the road nonchalantly as she is left there stunned. How can an inphernal like her be able to eat all of that? She shook her head and tried to forget about it, continuing on her way carrying her own set of ingredients for tonight's dinner. At home, she began cooking, a plain ol’ chicken soup with chicken and its broth, some fruits, and some spices tossed in but to her dismay she has made too much of her meal, she alone can't eat it all and lest Shuriken hasn't had dinner for tonight (likely not) she'll not be able to eat it all in one sitting. Panicked, she remembered that inphernal back at the crossroads and but she possibly can't be here, it's too late at night and her place is far away from home. It was until she heard commotion downstairs, she opened her window to see important church member figures walking down the road, they must have come to have some business meeting with someone important too, she thought, then amidst them all, Scythe. Perfect timing, without a care, she hurriedly put on her clothes and ran down the stairs and came close to Scythe. She turns to look and cocks an eyebrow.
“What are you doin’ round here?”
“I'm from this place, well, I live over there,” she points at her house, “and y'know since you're here and all, after you're done with whatever you're doing I thought that I could invite you for dinner…” she stops, “but it's because I made too much! My brother, Shuriken, can't eat it all either! So I had to come to you if you want to eat the rest, only if you want to of course!” She bows, not wanting to be rude but also wishing she accepts.
“...I suppose? I'm free after this meeting.” She lets out a sly smile, “I'll see you later then.” She waves a goodbye as she carries forward.
She did it. She actually did it. She manages to invite someone to eat her food. She feels excited but hides it with a soft smile as she walks back to her home to prepare the table. Setting it up, she puts in the cutlery, the cloth, the plate and finally a glass to ease up the food when eating. Then, a knock on the door, it must be her, she thought. She opened and saw Scythe standing in front of her, she never realized she was a few centimeters taller than her making her seem scary, she gulps but lets her in as the Inphernal sat down and inspected the items at the table. The plate was then served with the meal, it was more than she can eat but to Scythe’s eyes it was enough, as she stared at the food, she turns to look at her as if she's contemplating on the food. She smiled, then back to the food, she shrugged and decided to give it a try. Chowing down she took each bite in large amounts as the meal slowly got less and less and in all of it. Vinestaff can't help but feel something warm, fuzzy, and comforting. Alas, she has found the passion of her cooking, to cook and see others eat it with such delight. She can't help but stare in awe, her blinks slow and steady as she stared at the Inphernal just taking large bites of her food happily, messy it was but to her it wasn't of concern if it meant she could stare at her and the food. Soaked in her fantasy she hadn't realized the plate was empty and Scythe cleaned her mouth with her bare hands and stood up.
“Thanks for the food, your food tastes pretty darn amazing.” she added, “what's your name, dear?”
“Vinestaff, and you?” she replied, her bubble of fantasy popping as she heard her voice.
“Nice to meet you, Vinestaff, I'm Scythe.” She held her hand and shook it, “I'll be going now,” she added, leaving through the door with nothing but an empty plate and a satisfied sly smile.
With the food gone, she can rest blissfully knowing that the meal isn't going to be in her fridge for too long. As she took the plate and began washing them, Shuriken came back and knocked, preceded by her opening the door to greet her brother. The two had a casual chat about their today’s event, of course Shuriken always went on to do something stupid but she can't help but laugh, at least he's safe and while she did mention what happened during the morning and afternoon, she never said anything about inviting Scythe to eat her food. Luckily for her he never questioned about it and instead just listened before deciding it was time to sleep. As he headed to his room, he didn't forget to say a goodnight to her.
“Aight, night night bro,” he said, closing his room.
“Goodnight Shuri.” She waves goodbye as he continues washing the dishes.
Alone once more, she reflected on what had happened, from her daily routine to a sudden break when she met Scythe and then inviting her in for dinner. She can't help but wonder how she was able to invite a dangerous person, let alone a church member of that dangerous cult, whatever, she thought, she thinks everything will go smoothly and might even be safe from their shenanigans if she got on her good side. She breathed a sigh of relief and she kept on washing the dishes. For now, she's found a way to be happy though her hobby and a new acquaintance she soon becomes fond of.