Casual Culinary Soiree (for h_hollister )

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya's had a field day with the recipes Hippolyta printed off for him from the Great British Bake Off. The Crossroads Cafe has been full of all manner of European desserts, rolls, pies, and breads while the officer has tried his hand at as many things as he could reasonably make in the time since Hips had shown him the show.

Sadly, he's unable to watch it since. Sumaru, Japan is still at least a decade behind in video streaming services or even the invention of the concept. He really hopes after dinner and dessert Hippolyta lets him watch more of it tonight. Katsuya's got a bag of ingredients in hand (and a couple more issues of that manga for Frankie to read) when he rings the doorbell at the agreed upon time.

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[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya freezes mid-bite and gives Sammy a long look. All three of them are staring at him, Sammy as though he's grown a second head. And considering the bits Katsuya's seen on him before he almost wonders if he should be offended.

"I don't change, no. It's a summons, of a sort." A physical manifestation of his willpower and strength of his soul. But that sounds awfully philosophical to explain to a child, so...excuse him while he hides behind his going to be empty glass of wine for a moment.

"It's a powerful tool I use to protect people. Mostly back in my own world." Again, given the makeup of the house Katsuya's loathe to admit that his first and foremost hobby for the last several years has been exterminating demons and monsters.

[h_hollister]

"Cool."

Sammy has a starry look in his eyes, one that was worn by Ramon so very often. That sort of dreamy lust for power not for its own sake...but because it's cool. That was how so many of the demons that used to haunt this castle came to be there. Hippolyta has long, dark memories of the weird snake lady Ramon brought back once, and of course there was that weird little snow demon with the annoying laugh, and Barong of course.

....Ah, smeg. She should warn Katsuya about Barong. Not that the leonine demon ever emerged from its wing of the castle, and not that it would do anything, but he deserved a heads up.

"Could I get a Persona?" Sammy continued without missing a beat, and Hippolyta held up one finger and shook it back and forth a few times.

"No. Absolutely not. You're already fine just the way you are, kiddo. You can turn into an eight foot tall spider-plaga. That's plenty."

Sammy groaned, but in a playful way. He was always so pleased when his mum acknowledged his awesome powers. Hips turned back to Katsuya, saw his glass magically empty.

"Want a refill, luv?"

[sumarusfinest]

"You don't want one, trust me. Having one is nice and infinitely useful, but getting one is...not something I'd ever wish on a child or anyone else, for that matter."

Despite the fact that he's seen several children over the years manifest one. That kind of fate so early squeezes painfully at Katsuya's chest. His brother was too young to have that thrust on him. Others he's seen were even younger still. He's only half listening to Sammy and Hippolyta now, mind somewhere and somewhen else for a moment until Hippolyta addresses him directly.

"Uh?" Pay attention, Suou. This isn't the time or the place to get somber and depressed over the capricious nature of the gods. "Actually, could I just get some water please?" The idea of not being in full control of himself in case of an emergency isn't one that sits well with him right now.

"Are you all ready for some dessert?"

[h_hollister]

She smiles warmly at him as Sammy practically vibrates out of his chair, already rushing into the kitchen to wash his hands and get ready for baking. He's apparently been looking forward to this all day. Hips follows to get that requested water, leaving Katsuya and Frankie alone for a moment.

"Was it my brother's plaga sonics that triggered your Resonance?"

He says it in such a small, quiet voice. Very calm and self-assured and way way way too fucking smart for his own good.

"Is that going to be a problem for you? I can tell him to be very careful, if it is."

[sumarusfinest]

The small moment of reprieve has Katsuya sighing slightly and touching at his chest once more just to make sure Helios is alright. It's not normal for his persona to react like that, but there's no danger here. He just has to remind himself of that and--

"His what?" Katsuya hadn't expected the quiet boy to speak up and turns to give him the officer's full attention. "No, no. Sammy's been nothing but a delight. Both of you boys are. I'm fine really. Helios...it's just going to take some time to adjust is all. I've done a lot of fighting over the years, there's bound to be some crossed wires affecting my and my Persona's reflexes occasionally."

He doesn't view Samual as a threat. Katsuya doesn't. Helios reacting like that...Katsuya doesn't know what to make of it. His frown is more worried than he knows.

"I do truly enjoy looking over you two."

[h_hollister]

Frankie is still peering at him owlishly, and he tilts his head a little.

"I believe you may have misunderstood my intentions," he says, still in that same, soft voice. "I know you like us both. We like you, too. I'm questioning whether or not the particular sonic frequency that plaga song occupies might be inimical to your Resonance. If that's the case, I can tell Sammy to, ah. Put a sock in it."

And that makes the little alien boy smile ever so slightly, a sly sort of twinkle in his eyes.

[sumarusfinest]

They do? They believe him?

For a man used to his every action being judged and called into suspicion, Frankie's quiet admission startles Katsuya. He's not used to affection being given so freely. The smile that flits across his face is uncertain of himself but he nods.

"It might have been what affected me, yes. I didn't know what it was. But I don't want him to worry about upsetting me, either. You're both...thank you. You're both very kind. All of you are. Your mother too." Making him feel welcome in a home that isn't his own is so unheard of. He's not even welcome in his own home, not really.

It means so much to him.

[h_hollister]

Welcome to Castle Salazar, where the woman who's raising these children is determined to give them the sort of love that her own childhood lacked. Hence both of these boys understanding empathy and morality at a startlingly young age. Hips was always telling them the one lesson that had shaped her own moral awakening.

People are more important than being right. No matter what shape or size or color those people came in.

Frankie's blinking again, as part of the puzzle that is Katsuya Suou slots into place. Ah. That makes sense.

"It's alright," he says, stepping up and gently taking Katsuya's hand and leading him toward the kitchen. His green fingers are thick, even at his young age. He's his bio-dad in miniature, after all. At least physically. Temperamentally, he couldn't be more different if he tried.

"What are you making for us for dessert? Or is it a surprise?"

Hips is just stepping out of the doorway with a glass in hand, and there's almost a comedic collision, but she stops herself in time.

"Good question!" she asks, handing over the glass and pretending not to notice that Frankie has Katsuya by the hand. "What are we making?"

[sumarusfinest]

There's such warmth in Katsuya's smile at being led back into the kitchen by Frankie. Hearing the smaller boy speak more than he has ever before even. He feels as though he's been gifted something precious and he's determined to appreciate it for what it is.

A gift.

He startles slightly at Hippolyta's sudden re-entry but the smile doesn't leave his face. If anything it's only grown a bit wider. He thanks her for the glass and peers around her to where Sammy is drying off his hands.

"Ah, well. I hope you all like chocolate. I thought I'd try my hand at one of the recipes Hippolyta looked up for me and have us make chocolate cannolis. It's an Italian dessert and not something I've had back home. I tried a few at shops in the Nexus to get an idea of what they were like but I thought that chocolate might be better than coffee in flavor for you boys."

[h_hollister]

"...Oh, we are ambitious."

Hips' eyes get super wide for a second, as she ponders the necessary things needed for that sort of dessert. Mainly a big pot, a thermometer, and lots of frying oil. Lots more than she has immediately on-hand, anyway. Unless Katsuya managed to smuggle in an entire gallon of canola oil under his suit, somehow. Which she rather doubts. (But is funny to picture.)

"Um. Should I PINpoint to the store and get the oil?"

Frankie's eyes are similarly wide. He knows that having his mother and brother around boiling oil is not the best idea in the world.

Sammy's oblivious.

"I love chocolate everything!" he proclaimed, giving Katsuya two thumbs up.

[sumarusfinest]

"Actually..."

Katsuya gives Hippolyta a quick reassuring gaze before pulling out a shoebox sized tupperware container from his bag and opening it on the counter. There's two layers of shells already made sitting between sheets of wax paper.

"I already made them at home. I didn't think you all wanted to wait half the evening just to eat dessert, so we're just making the filling to put in them tonight."

And if there were any worries about children and hot oil, well, Katsuya isn't going to confirm or deny it. They're only a couple of hours old after all. He doesn't think it will affect the flavor any.