Apologies for the delay, but I have been taking breaks from writing lately, as I'm still making fanart! And yes, the ending is coming, but there's a good chance I'll procrastinate it. For now, enjoy some of Cynthia's langues de chat! Yes, that's for DaX0315, the two honoured Guests, Ou7X, and darkwolf0909.
And of course, it's now been six years since I published the first chapter of "Culinary Rivals". So we've come a long way! A big thank you to you readers who have stuck around over the years and still are waiting for the story's conclusion. Of course, the world was a little different six years ago than it is now, and I'm on the job hunt.
Chapter eighty-two: Dinner Jacket
The following day was Thursday, the eve of the celebratory dinner that Steven and Cynthia had organised. As Friday drew nearer, the two chefs couldn't help but feel a little excited. They hadn't counted on that all those weeks of cooking, fighting, and competing had led to this. Things also appeared a little brighter too.
However, for a dinner that had this kind of importance, Cynthia knew she had to dress well in advance. When was the last time she had to do this sort of thing? Certainly not the cook-off. No. It was before that. It had to be… a month ago. Yes. That one night she stopped by the Stone Restaurant and Bistro for dinner in place of Diantha. She remembered how attractive Steven looked that night. How could she forget? Meanwhile, she herself was told she looked good.
The only difference between then and now was that she was intentionally dressing to impress. There was a set date and time, and she had to look good. Perhaps it might make sense to reuse her dress from that month-ago night.
So there was only one thing for it. Cynthia went out to the boutique to look for something nice to wear. Accompanying her was Roserade, who was acting as her consultant. They two of them walked around the shop, looking at dresses, but Cynthia was sporting a cardigan, sunglasses, and a sunhat at the same time. True, she really couldn't let go of the Cindy identity, as Cindy was literally her. But it appeared Cindy was a good way to hide her identity in public. Perhaps she should do this more often.
As Cynthia sifted through different dresses, she understood how Diantha felt whenever the Kalos Champion was out in public. Yet somehow, it was easier for Cynthia to hide in public than Diantha. Perhaps it was because that Diantha was an actress, and Cynthia was a low-level part-time historian. Then again, Cynthia only ever had two or three people who could see through her disguise. First there was Winona, who recognised her that time in Lumiose, and then there was Steven, whom she revealed her disguise to. If Cynthia could hazard a guess, Steven might have told Wallace or Martine, but she doubted either Wallace or Martine could actually see through it…
"Cynthia?"
Cynthia jolted. Looking beside her, she saw none other than Winona and Lisia. Of course. Only Winona would recognise her while in disguise as Cindy. Speechless, Cynthia merely muttered, "Bonjour. Um, what are you doing here?"
"Picking out clothes for Winona, of course!" Lisia replied. "It was either me or him who Winona would trust to decide for her! She wasn't taking any chances on Wallace of course, so here I am. Friday is the day tomorrow, so don't tell me you haven't picked out a dress already!"
Cynthia's lips broke into a nervous smile, which caused Lisia to gasp.
"You haven't?! This is not good! You know you need something impressive if you're the host, right?" Lisia said, then she dragged both Cynthia and Winona to look through more dresses. "You know, what sorts of colours does a host wear? Or what do you like to wear, Cynthia?"
Cynthia pouted. "Black, probably? It is a formal thing." She glanced at Roserade, who nodded.
"Then we just have to pick out a black dress that suits your style. That shouldn't be too hard!" Lisia replied. "Plus, something that will make Steven fall head over heels for you. I can see it now: the two of you are the hosts but he just can't keep his eyes off you. Then, he'll be so focused on you that he'll forget he was the host in the first place! Maybe I should tell that to Martine too…"
Winona sighed. "I'm not sure that's what we want to happen. Gosh, you're beginning to sound like Wallace there."
The three of them went about trying on different dresses and styles. Thankfully, Roserade was also by their side to provide independent and unbiased feedback on their choices. While Roserade had little need to choose clothes, she at least had a sense of style.
After an hour of trying and evaluating dresses, Cynthia's eyes wandered over to the blazers and other jackets, which included dinner jackets. The three of them were exhausted and needed a break. It was a wonder that they could manage staying in the boutique for so long.
"Um, Winona," she said, though she wasn't looking at her. "Do you think Wallace knows what sort of sizes Steven wears?"
Winona rolled her eyes. "He knows everything about Steven. If you knew him like I do, he is obsessed with Steven. It's almost like he wants to control Steven and his future. Say, if Wallace wanted you and Steven to get married, Wallace will try to make it happen. It's just like that match in Lumiose, you know? He made the arrangements."
Cynthia shuddered. Marriage? Arranged by Wallace? Controlled by Wallace?! She couldn't think of a greater nightmare, as attractive as it seemed. "Anyway… What I meant was whether Wallace knew Steven's sizes and measurements like shoulder width…"
Winona brought out her phone and began to dial Wallace's number, though she questioned whatever Cynthia had in mind. Her best guess? Cynthia was buying Steven a present. And with that thought in mind, Winona smiled to herself.
Not too far away, Steven had asked Martine for help regarding jewelry. Martine already guessed that Steven would buy something for Cynthia at this point and was happy to oblige accompanying him. After Martine had completed her shift, she locked an arm around her boss' and happily went to the jewelry shop with him.
"You don't have to hold my arm, you know." Steven sighed.
"Get used to it, boss! You'll be doing a lot more once you and Cynthia go on dates. You and her have been on dates but never held hands or held arms? What a shame!" Martine said, cheerful as ever and clinging onto Steven's side.
They spent some time looking at the items on display, from rings to necklaces. From what Steven knew of Cynthia, Cynthia preferred wearing shades and not necessary colours. But he also knew that she had a liking for history and archaeology, just like he like archaeology but in the sense of fossils and rocks. At the very least Martine was here to lend her support, and even try out some of the jewelry Steven had picked out. But of course the difference was that Martine's hair was red.
Steven and Martine also concluded that Cynthia might not need a necklace either. It might be better if Cynthia had something more inconspicuous but also something that would look elegant.
"Head ornaments? That's possible," Martine suggested.
"She wears head ornaments for a living. Outside of cooking, that is," Steven quickly added.
"But you still want something flashy for her, boss. Something…"
Martine crossed her arms and continued to look. There had to be something that Cynthia might like and maybe resemble her interests too. That is, it could also be something that showed Steven's care and affection for Cynthia, right? Martine picked up another pair of earrings and held them against her ears in front of a mirror. It was a pair of rubies, but the red apparently blended with her hair too much.
Steven too was examining the earrings, deciding that a necklace was not inconspicuous. This was the problem of buying jewelry for someone else, in his opinion. It was hard to tell if it matched the recipient's tastes and whether she would even accept it. Something modest might have to be the way to go, but also something that still looked pretty nonetheless.
Martine then tried on a pair of rock-polished Unown earrings that were made mostly of diamond with pearls for where the eye would be. It was a start, but Steven figured that such an appearance was too flashy, not exactly attractive, and quite expensive too. Martine agreed.
"I think you'll want something simpler," she said. "Sophisticated, but simpler."
Simpler… What could be simpler than rocks or stones? Steven thought. Then he had an idea.
"Merci, Martine," Steven said, smiling like a lightbulb had gone over his head. "Tu m'as donné une idée."
That evening, Cynthia insisted that Steven drop by her villa for dinner, and Steven accepted the invitation hesitantly. Just the thought of going to her home made him nervous! While it was true that he was in a genuine relationship with her, just the thought of visiting her home was maybe too much to bear. Plus, it seemed odd to him that Cynthia invited him so suddenly. Was she in her right mind?
So that was when Skarmory and Metagross, his Pokémon, insisted he bring a kind of gift on the way. The two of them accompanied Steven on his way to the villa.
They were welcomed by Roserade who answered the door. "Bonsoir, Roserade," Steven greeted, and his Pokémon and Roserade also exchanged greetings before they went inside.
In Steven's hands was a little box. In no way whatsoever was it an engagement ring. No. Now was not the time to consider marriage. Perhaps in the future. But for now, it seemed reasonable to get Cynthia a little something to compliment her for tomorrow. The only question was whether she would like it, let alone use it. He had never been inside Cynthia's home before, so it was just as nerve-wracking to be setting foot inside. It was then Steven realised that this villa was on the outskirts of Cyllage City, like his own. Well, they shared a similar taste in that respect.
That being said, he wondered if it was a plot by Wallace to set up him and Cynthia for marriage by deliberately getting the two of them to share a bed in Lumiose. Then Steven was reminded that he and Cynthia had done that a second time at his own villa! Was it some kind of plot by Wallace and Lisia to control his love life? Or worse yet, a certain fanfiction author who was pushing him into that position. That was inconceivable. Marriage could wait, as Steven knew dating would have to come first and see if Cynthia was the one for him. Then again, how could she not be?
Cynthia's villa was more modest compared to Steven's. It had a lounge and a TV, which was perfect for watching anime, Steven thought. There was a well-equipped kitchen, some books, and a small table for eating. Given that Cynthia probably lived alone, not counting her Pokémon, he couldn't blame her. Steven also guessed there was a bedroom of sorts like his own.
"Bienvenue," Cynthia said. "Took you long enough!"
Skarmory and Metagross exchanged looks but decided to follow Roserade and mingle with the rest of Cynthia's Pokémon, while giving the two chefs some space.
"Bonsoir," Steven greeted. "Thanks for inviting me." He paused, then he held out the box to Cynthia. "For you."
Cynthia raised her eyes curiously and took it without a second thought. She looked back at Steven's eyes, as if asking if she could open it. Steven merely nodded, so Cynthia opened the box.
"Oh!" she gasped.
It was a pair of small earrings in an intricate shape of a Dawn Stone. The edges were laced with diamond and it carried the brilliant shine that only a Dawn Stone could have, and it wasn't glaring to look at either. It did not look cheap but was not expensive either, given its size.
"I know you have a knack for history and runes, so I thought you might like it," Steven explained. "Dawn Stones are naturally occurring, but they do have archaeological value. Ah… haha… Desolé."
She swallowed, wondering what to say next. Finally, she said, "Is this something you expect me to wear? I… well… merci beaucoup! Sorry! I didn't mean it that way, but still. Is it?"
What Cynthia did not expect was that Steven's answer was not immediate. Instead, she saw his cheeks evidently start to blush pink.
"I… uh…" he stuttered, his breath short and voice tight. "I need you looking fabulous. If you know what I mean, you need to look like a woman who can stun the crowd, so that half of the guests will be thinking of you. Can you do that for me?"
Cynthia smiled at Steven, genuinely, in response. "I'll try my best, Steven. And yes, these are quite pretty."
She could tell Steven had probably spent a lot of time in picking this out for her, judging from the huge expression of relief on his face. Besides, she actually liked the earrings herself, which was more than enough. Cynthia wondered how much time he had spent on picking these out, and guessed he must have had help too. Not that he was the only one picking out gifts.
"Merci," Steven said, nodding back.
The smell of mushrooms and garlic in the air was enough to make Steven's mouth water. The aroma, the seasoning of salt and pepper, the tingling in his nose; suddenly, he had an appetite. He looked at the meal before him, which was a homemade quiche. Zucchini, egg, De Cyllage, and milk were the main ingredients. While Steven prepared that filling, Cynthia went ahead with the pie crust. She knew he could trust her to make one, as she was the dessert expert and had made pie crust countless times. Cynthia had plenty of batches of crust that were refrigerated too, so all she had to do was take one out and roll it.
Nevertheless, baking still took at least half an hour. So while the quiche was baking, Cynthia prepared a treat by baking a set of mushrooms seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic. Just from the idea alone, Steven already craved some, knowing how tasty mushrooms were. Now he wondered just how they would turn out when baked. The mushrooms were harvested in Route 7, near the Battle Chateau as it happened. Now that Steven thought of it, could Laurent and Sophie have a craving for these?
What he hadn't counted on was that the mushrooms started to shrink in size in the oven.
"That happens. It makes you wonder if it's a waste, that you take these mushrooms but then they reduce to like a third of their size when they're done," Cynthia explained. "Still! You can't complain about the flavour though."
Soon enough the two of them were having dinner at the table that was a little small for two people to share. The Pokémon were content with having their own space and their cooked meals, so all that was left was for Cynthia and Steven to eat theirs. The two of them cooked together, just like when they were in Steven's villa in the past weekend. In front of them each was a slice of quiche, filled with zucchini and egg, and layered with pie crust at the bottom and cheese at the top. It was mouthwatering.
The dried mushrooms were tastier than Steven had anticipated, and Cynthia could tell, judging by his reaction when he first ate one. Within seconds, Steven had helped himself to three more and it was only a matter of time before the ones on his plate were finished. Cynthia really couldn't blame him, though, because she herself was eating too much of them. The earthy flavour was probably too much for Steven as he had finished them all rather quickly.
"Ah… I might even say that these mushrooms may as well be my dinner," he joked. Cynthia rolled her eyes and she started on her quiche, and Steven followed suit. The quiche was no doubt a result of their combined efforts, and the moment Steven took the first bite he could tell there was a difference in his cooking at Cynthia's. For a start, the pie crust was simply delicious. Cynthia normally used this sort of pie crust for her desserts, but she wondered also how it might do with a savoury filling like Steven's. The flavours did not disappoint. Egg, zucchini, and de Cyllage was all they needed, plus the occasional need for cream to make it better; albeit fattening.
"This is really really good!" Cynthia said. "You know, I don't recall you ever making this at your restaurant."
"It's because I never do," Steven replied. "It is my mother's recipe. Well, kind of. She made the filling herself but never tried putting it in pie crust. So I made the crust and we worked on it together." He briefly closed his eyes to reminisce. "Still, your pie crust is much better than mine."
A short distance away, the Pokémon watched the conversation unfold between the two.
After Cynthia had washed the dishes, she came out of the kitchen to see Steven who was wiping the table. Taking the earrings with her, she said, "I'll be trying these on, and see how they look," she said, smiling. "You know, you're not the only who bought a gift. I got something for you too, in my bedroom. Oh, and Roserade!" she called out to her Pokémon. "Care to give me some input?"
Roserade, who had been chatting with Skarmory, bowed apologetically to the bird before following Cynthia to the bathroom. Steven opened his mouth only to close it as Cynthia had given him no chance to respond. Sighing, he went to check on Cynthia's bedroom for her gift.
Cynthia's bedroom was modest, to say the least. Like his room, it was sparsely furnished. There was a closet built into the wall, a desk, some books, and several photographs. One photograph was of a certain Sinnoh town, which Steven supposed was Cynthia's hometown. There was another photograph of the Sinnoh Pokémon League, with Cynthia standing with the Sinnoh Elite Four against a waterfall as a backdrop. Then there was a photograph of the regional Champions back home. That is, Lance, Wallace, Cynthia and of course, himself.
I remember that picture.
And it was no surprise, since Steven kept the same picture at home too, though he never displayed it like Cynthia did. Now that he thought of it, he never noticed having feelings for Cynthia at the time. Perhaps it was because of League business that he refused to do so? Why then did these feelings start to surface only when he started cooking here? He never really noticed how attractive Cynthia was until he started seeing her more often in Cyllage City. Maybe it was fate that brought him here that his feelings for her actually surfaced. Or, and Cynthia would probably agree, it was because of a fanfiction author who placed him in this position.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Steven went to attend to the gift Cynthia had placed on the bed. It was flat, it was sealed in a bag the size of his jacket. But Steven could only stare at it suspiciously, and his expression fell the moment he unzipped the bag.
Cynthia was busy checking herself against the bathroom mirror, seeing how brilliant the Dawn Stone earrings looked on her ears. She first held them only against her ears, then she put them on. Roserade, who was standing beside her, only squealed with delight as she saw how well those earrings looked. In Roserade's opinion, she wondered just how dazzling Cynthia would be once she had makeup on, among other things.
Even Cynthia looked satisfied. That was really thoughtful of Steven to give this to her!
"What do you think?" she said.
Roserade was all smiles. Even she could agree that the Dawn Stones looked impressive. Now the real question was to find a dress that would complement these. But however the dress looked, the Dawn Stones would stand out whatever the outcome. She held out her rose-like hands as if wanting to try the earrings too.
Cynthia scoffed. "I can hold them against your head. That's the most I can do," she said. She held the earrings against Roserade and then looked at the mirror. Wow, so Steven sure knew what he was picking. After a minute of contemplating, Cynthia started to put on one earring starting with her right ear.
But she was interrupted.
"I have a dinner jacket," Steven said indignantly as he walked into the bathroom, not bothering to knock on the door. Well, Cynthia had left the door open. As well, he brought the dinner jacket with him and held it in front of him. The dinner jacket was slim, charcoal black, and Steven wondered if it would even fit him, given he doubted Cynthia had time to measure him.
Cynthia, knowing he might come in, turned to face him with a smug smile. "There are dinner jackets and dinner jackets. This is the latter," she said, before turning back to the mirror to try the earring. "I need you looking like a man who looks like he belongs there."
Steven couldn't think of a good comeback at what Cynthia just said. "It's tailored, Cynthia." His voice remained indignant.
Still not looking at him directly and still facing the mirror, Cynthia replied, "I had some help from Wallace to size you up. You have really great friends, Steven."
It was impossible to recover against that remark. Steven admitted defeat and walked away in silence, muttering nonsense to himself. Meanwhile, still looking at the mirror, Cynthia's lips broke into a grin, as if one step short from laughing. Roserade too smirked and attended to Cynthia.
Outside the bathroom, Steven decided to have a go at the jacket anyway. Since Cynthia probably wasn't interested in checking his appearance, he put the jacket on and went to find a mirror. Like Cynthia, Steven sought the help of his Pokémon for input, although Skarmory and Metagross weren't the only ones interested. There was Cynthia's Milotic and Garchomp wanting to weigh in too.
But Steven merely ignored the Pokémon altogether and instead focused on himself in the mirror. He shifted his body from side to side to get a feel for the dinner jacket. It didn't look too bad, and it did fit nicely…
"Snnnrkkk.. heheheh…"
That sound of a suppressed laugh could only come from Cynthia, so Steven looked to see Cynthia looking back at him. He merely rolled his eyes and went back to look at his appearance. Now was the time to think of what to wear to complement this dinner jacket. For once, he had made Cynthia laugh without needing to say anything, as if that remark he made about workplace romance before wasn't enough. But this was different, because Cynthia was laughing at him.
Smiling, Cynthia went back to trying on her earrings. Surely Steven appreciated her gift just as much as she appreciated his?
Fun fact: that zucchini quiche can be made in real life because I make it at home a lot. It's really, really, good! You can have a slice too, by leaving a review (haha). Anyway, stay safe, everyone!