A/N: Just a random little short I wrote while bored in lectures. Presea never succeeds in cooking when I play the game…

-

-

"This was an ill-thought out idea," muttered Presea to herself as she gazed at the bubbling pot on the stove before her. The meat stew returned her stare defiantly; the impossibly thick substance bubbling around the wooden spoon that had become stuck fast within.

Taking a quick peek out from the kitchen, the pink haired girl checked to make sure everyone in the lounge was still preoccupied from dressing the wounds inflicted on them from the latest battle. Closing the door with a sigh, Presea returned to the work surface beside the stove, confused. The purpose of cooking post-battle was to recover strength, and she had included about a dozen gels to intensify the healing properties of the meal, but for some reason the additions had only served to thicken the stew to the point of being inedible. She had wondered at the time whether it was a good idea or not, but everybody else seemed to embellish their dishes with other items, and it did seem a practical use of the gels.

Putting every ounce of strength into the effort, Presea finally pulled the spoon from the pot. Unfortunately the stew had decided that it, too, would rather leave the pot than relinquish the spoon and now wobbled on the end of the wooden implement like a giant grotesque lollipop.

"Presea, do you need –"

The kitchen door had opened, and Genis was stood in the doorway, his eyes wide open in amazement.

" – uh, a hand?"

Presea looked from the meat stew lollipop at the half-elf and shrugged. "Perhaps I can turn the meal into some kind of dessert."

Genis stared blankly at the grotesque substance. "That's a…meal?"

Presea frowned. "Affirmative," she replied defensively. "I was focusing on the healing properties…"

The young half-elf flustered visibly. "Ah, oh…I didn't mean to…I mean, that's a great idea Presea – using the gels and a-all. You're r-really clever!"

Presea looked up at the stew. "Negative. It was an ineffective idea. The food has been rendered inedible and our supply of gels has been reduced needlessly. Recommencing task." Tossing the viscous creation to one side, the pink haired girl searched the cupboards for more ingredients.

"How were the rice balls?" she asked after a moment's pause.

"Ah…um…w-well, they were really nice Presea." Genis seemed to be trying to avoid her gaze, but before Presea could question him further Lloyd burst excitedly into the room.

"Genis, you gotta see this!" he cried, and dragged the half-elf out. After a few moments, a collection of muffled voices could be heard from the other room.

"What, he broke a tooth?"

"Yeah, and then dropped the thing and it went straight through the floor!"

"Outstanding density – why these even seem tougher than polycarbonate!"

"Mmph! My poor beautiful smile will never be the same again."

The voices quietened to a hushed conference of whispers, before Genis re-entered the kitchen, looking awkward.

"Uh…um, Presea? The o-others wanted to know…well, um, what did you, um, put in those rice balls?"

Presea sighed and removed her apron, crossing the room to thrust it at the half-elf. "I am retiring from the kitchen," she announced moodily. "I leave the preparation of food in your hands."

"W-wait Presea…I was only…" Genis watched her leave and sighed. "Stupid Lloyd, why did I have to ask?"

Presea failed to make Meat Stew

Presea failed to make Rice Balls