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Moonprayer Night dawns upon Nod Krai. This year is no longer burdened by the "Moon Maiden's" apprehensions about the people and more importantly the Doctor's evil ambitions. For this year, the plucky trio of Ineffa, Jahoda and Aino were chosen to plan the festivities. Aino, expectedly utilized this opportunity to snack with impunity, citing that managing an event is tiring work. Ineffa growing fed up over Aino's overconsumption of sugars was only placated by Jahoda reinterpreting the gluttony into an actual part of the festivities. Given Columbina's open craving for many of the dishes served within Nod Krai, Jahoda suggested, what if Nasha Town holds a cooking competition this year, with the "Moon Maiden" acting as the judge. Ineffa who was an arm away from snatching the tiny genius by the scruff of her jacket, found the suggestion an "acceptable one". Far and wide, invitations were sent out to the greatest chefs of the land. Guest chefs from the other nations were also invited through the Traveller's intervention to weigh in on the contest. For all intents and purposes, everything was shaping up rather smoothly. Everything except one particular invite.
Sandrone received the invite through Katheryne. At first she thought it was silly, a cooking competition? For Columbina's first Moonprayer Night without complications? In her opinion, it was too stale. Bland. It didn't carry the same energy as the last Moonprayer Night organized by the Hexenzirkel, she exclaimed with the heaviest of grumbles. While she openly voiced these displeasures, the daunting reality of Sandrone’s inability to cook and the prospect of disappointing Columbina was kept within the confines of her consciousness. She kept denying that she'd participate in this “useless display of gluttony.” Katheryne, always the patient one, allowed her creator to go through the five different stages of grief in silence, Sandrone’s face contorting through sadness, anger, despair all at the same time. To the surprise of no one but Sandrone, she eventually relents and agrees to participate. Katheryne departs with a knowing smile, off to inform Ineffa about the former Marionette’s acceptance to the invitation.
Sandrone never acquired the acumen to cook up meals, she never needed to after all, she was a sophisticated meka creation by Alain Guillotin. Sophisticated enough to feel human but not too human in the minute details. If she did indulge in meals, she had dedicated cook-drones to make her dishes for her, finding the endeavor quite trivial in comparison to her grandiose mechanical inventions. Her only noteworthy experience in the realm of gastronomy is her acceptable baking skills, for the bread and treats she offers in her tea parties, but beyond that, it’s nothing to write home about, and especially nothing to bring into an actual competition. Her stubbornness to delve into “trivial” matters now came to bite her in the ass. What sort of idiot accepts a cooking competition invite when she doesn’t even know how to cook, she ponders. The answer to that question remains anyone but Sandrone. Either way, she is in quite a dilemma.
She had a couple of nights away before the competition kicked off and she’d see Columbina again, who by this time was off frolicking somewhere in Hiisi Island with the Scions for some pre-Moonprayer Night event. She thought it was kind of unfair because she’d be fed there and could have her vote swayed by it. The traitorous notion that she was jealous of sharing Columbina with the rest of her acquaintances reared its head and she had to chase it away. Jealo- Cheati- Unfairness aside, Sandrone decided that perhaps she could consult a Fontanian cookbook she received from Arlecchino’s latest visit. It was recently authored by the renowned chef Escoffier, who she heard would visit this year’s festivities along with the former Hydro Archon. Great… She sarcastically thought, if she was going to be embarrassed in front of Columbina and Nasha Town, she’d also be doing it in front of her fellow countrymen. Sandrone took a brisk look through the book, and frankly speaking many of the dishes were rather… Eccentric. She noted that the book’s creation was assisted by Navia Caspar of the Spina De Rosula and published under the personal direction of Furina de Fontaine. Their input explains the weird ingredients and the exuberant amount of sugar in some recipes. Questionable entries or not, Sandrone’s best shot of not making a fool out of herself was with this cookbook.
It's just following instructions like a technical manual she thought. How hard could it be… Extremely as it turns out. All the recipes she thought Columbina would like are all deceptively demanding. Even with technicalities aside, Sandrone can’t keep up with the rounds of cooking. She ends up misjudging tastes, lengths, texture and what more. She burns, shreds, liquifies, evaporates and destroys many of her dishes. Those that “survived” her blunders are not at all presentable enough for Columbi- the competition. Time was running out and it was becoming increasingly obvious that she won’t be able to acquire any notable cooking acumen in the remaining time before Moonprayer Night. As if to accentuate her predicament, all her “experimentation” with the food has left her with a critical shortage of ingredients. All that was left in any serious quantity was the bags of flour. With a begrudging sigh, she fired up her oven in defeat.
Sandrone decided on baking a genuine Fontanian baguette. A staple of the typical Fontanian day. Dense yet crisp, it is the pinnacle of gastronomy and she was sure it’ll bring her to victo… Who is she kidding, the baguette? Seriously? Wasn’t she just complaining to Katheryne that a cooking competition was too bland, too stale and too simple for Columbina like a week ago? Now the best she comes up with is a piece of long bread? Is this even acceptable within the parameters of the competition? Sandrone despairs long into the night, unable to rest knowing she is way out of her league tomorrow.
The night of the competition arrives and every contestant is divided into several enclosed stalls. Their dishes will be plated outside to ensure no contestant will be able to sway the judge’s opinion. The Traveller and Paimon visited Sandrone’s booth ahead of Columbina. With a scowl, she begrudgingly let the two enter. The Traveller simply wanted to check on Sandrone, while Paimon wanted to indulge in all of the treats this year. It didn’t escape Sandrone’s notice that the Traveller’s companion seemed not at all enthused about Sandrone’s meagre offering of bread. The Traveller sensing that Paimon was about to be befallen with the ire of Sandrone, offered to go ahead with her tiny travelling buddy, which dispelled much of Sandrone’s immediate fury.
The next visitors were the organizers, it’d be rude to turn them away. “Greetings, Miss Sandrone. I hope you are well today.” Ineffa rang out. Sandrone made a small noise of acknowledgement as she disinterestedly allowed the three to taste her baguettes. Aino, always the vocal one, complained where is the “Pizaz! The flavour! The spices!” Sandrone retorted that she could add butter on it or jam if she is so inclined. But it wasn’t enough for the whiny tiny genius, drawing comparisons with the other contestants. Ineffa yanked her away before Aino could’ve ticked Sandrone off even more. “You should really put a leash on that kid…” Sandrone mused. “Leashes on children are a violation of several human rights laws across Teyvat. In Fontaine, this could warran-” Jahoda embarrassedly yanked her robot partner out of the stall before she could yap Sandrone’s ear off.
Aino’s comments and Paimon's disappointment gave Sandrone another helping of anxiety. How can she compare? Columbina will be tasting the very best that Nod Krai has to offer and she’d remember every single one of it. Sandrone meanwhile? She offered the same stuff she’d been offering to Columbina every tea party they had. Sandrone began to spiral into self doubt, on how on Columbina’s second Moonprayer Night, she couldn’t even provide her a memorable experience. Her loathing was interrupted by the cloche pinging outside. She could hear Columbina open her offering, the crackle of the bread and the crunch from her chew. Hauntingly, she heard Columbina ask for a bag. Did she puke? Did she slip in something unknowingly? Did she burn it? Sandrone once again spiralled into deep anxiety. She ruined this year’s Moonprayer Night for sure!
Sandrone was about to pack up and run away into her lab when she was called up by Jahoda. She was sure she’d be lambasted for her offering. Right in front of Nasha Town… Escoffier, Furina and wider Fontaine… And most importantly by Columbina. With a sigh of surrender, she walked up to the podium, her eyes averted... She isn't being laughed at... Wait what is going o-
“AND PRESENTING THE WINNER FOR THE FIRST EVER MOONPRAYER NIGHT COOK OFF, MISS SANDRONE!”
She bore witness to the crowd applauding her.. It took several seconds for Sandrone to register what was happening, only being brought back to reality by the kamera capturing a commemorative photo with a flash. After which, she dragged Columbina behind the podium, away from general view.
“Alright. Fun’s over, who is the real winner?” Sandrone inquired
“Hm? It’s you.” Columbina answered“Haha. Funny joke… No seriously. Who is it?”
“It really is you.”
“So you’re telling me my stale bread won a nation spanning cooking competition?”“Its actually not stale, its quite crisp while still being dens-”
“Columbina… Seriously.”
“What’s so hard to believe?”
“How did I compare to all those exotic dishes out there? This is the same stuff I’ve been giving you at our tea parties… Objectively speaking, I should’ve lost. If you’re picking my “dish” to placate me… Then I hope that you'll reconsider.”
“Oh Sandrone… While I won’t lie, that part of my decision making was influenced by your participation. I assure you that my choice in this year’s winner was because I truly thought your offering deserved the victory.”
“But why?”
“Sandrone…”
“What’s with the smirk?”
“Have you forgotten that my birth was drawn with me eating a loaf of bread? My favorite food is bread and yours is the best.”
“Oh.”
“So don’t worry Sandrone… I truly did enjoy your baguettes.”
“So why did you ask for a bag?”
“I asked Jahoda to bag it for me so I can snack on it later when we go around Nasha Town.”
“Oh. That’s a relie- Wait? What do you mean we?”
“Moonprayer Night festivities still aren’t over my dear, would you really leave me alone tonight? I was so lonely this past couple of days without you…”
“Who thought you to be this brazen…”
“I ain’t wasting more time beating around the bush with you my dear…”
“Fine.. Let’s go…”
The two set off, leaving the competition behind, Columbina giddily skipping along her beloved partner. The rest of the participants and guests began to debate amongst themselves in their absence. Jahoda suggested that they bar Sandrone from future competitions if Columbina is judging, receiving a unanimous vote of yes. Escoffier on the other hand was fuming that the winner was just bread. Furina interjected that she thought it was quite charming and cute. Escoffier thought that the bread was a deserving winner actually…
All in all, for Columbina’s second Moonprayer Night, it couldn’t have ended any better. Hand in hand with her beloved, watching the fireworks and snacking on genuine Fontainian baguettes. She wonders how Sandrone will outdo this year’s Moonprayer Night, next time.