Like most, Nina took well to praise. Now, she didn't go to drastic lengths to get such a thing; Nina wasn't that desperate. Back in her days in the Deeprealms, she didn't deliver a big bag of money to the slums just to see all the people falling at her feet, wailing words of gratitude... But feeling like some sort of mythical hero wasn't the worst feeling in the world, she had to admit.
It really didn't matter how much Nina did or didn't like praise; she wasn't getting any at dinner.
As it could be seen from miles away, when everyone had come into the mess hall, the room quickly went quiet, especially when all looked down at their plates. Seated where they usually sat, thinking they would have another routine conversation with their friends and allies, everybody was frowning.
Everybody.
Even Soleil.
"I dare say." on, Jakob, scoffed. "This is offensive."
It was an equal sight for everyone; on their plate was a small square of... Something. Something gritty. And soggy. Whatever it was, everybody was reluctant to even touch it.
...And tonight was one of those nights when everyone knew who was responsible for their supper. All eyes went to her, standing behind the counter with her chin propped up by a fist.
"Young lady!" called the butler. "What sort of atrocity is this?"
"It doesn't look very good..." agreed his son lowly, poking at it with his fork.
Nina, hearing the calls of her beloved customers, perked.
"I call it rice bread." she answered simply. "Take it or leave it, I don't care."
That's when the room fell into an uproar, the sound of chatter smothering the awkwardness of silence.
"I'm not sure if this is edible..."
"Will it be good for my skin? I don't think it's good for anything."
"That's all the meal is? Where's the protein? The vegetables? The fruit?"
"Well... I've seen worse on the road, but this definitely isn't far from competition."
"Maybe it's not so bad after all?"
"I think I'm just going to be hungry tonight."
"Yikes; my village had to eat whatever they could to survive the winter, but it was always better than this..."
"Who let this person cook? I oughta give them a piece of my mind."
"Someone worked hard on this. I can't let it go to waste, but..."
"What a waste of resources."
Nina listened to it all, all with a dull face. She was expecting it. She was expecting all of it, so it didn't come as a surprise to her. Because of this, it had no effect on her whatsoever, not even wound her fragile feelings.
A while into supper, it became clear that nobody was interested in eating Nina's food, seeing that the majority neglected to do anything with it. Instead, they went on to talking, laughing, telling stories just like every night. It was during that time, Corrin approached her, holding a plate with only a few crumbs left behind. The sight baffled her, causing her to lift her gaze from the counter.
"Wow. I'm surprised you actually ate it..."
"And it's all I will eat." he said stiffly. "You're relieved of your kitchen duties after tonight, Nina. Don't worry about working here ever again."
The sound was like music to her ears, but it didn't keep her from hearing a clink of a platter sound at her side. When she turned to look, she found Shigure, lightly placing his plate on the counter with an uneasy smile. Though the uneasy smile was worth a glance, what was truly worthy of attention was the loaf of rice bread on his plate; a few bites had been taken out of it. Ever so slightly, Nina raised a brow.
"You look like you actually dared to try some too... What's wrong with you people?" she commented, equally amused. To this, Shigure released a slightly chuckle, hiding a hand behind his head.
"Well... Nina, I have to say that I wanted to like your cooking, but I... I just couldn't bring myself to take a third bite I'm afraid. By no means do I insult you, I hope you realize."
"Hm. Thanks for being honest, but ask me if I care." she shrugged. "I take no offense at all, trust me. I saw this coming a mile away. Heck, I'm surprised you and Corrin even bothered to give it a chance, if not slightly flattered..." she made a strange noise afterwards.
It didn't take much to see Percy walking by at that moment, carrying an empty platter himself. He looked up at Shigure, much taller than he, before furrowing his brows, pooching his lips, then puffing out his little chest.
"Hmf!" he released. "If you can flatter her just by trying it, pretty boy, I'll bet I can blow her socks off with this!" he reached up to the counter, where he slapped his platter; it was sparkling clean, not a crumb left behind. "Don't worry, Nina! Even though other people apparently seem to hate it, I like your cooking! Hit me with another!"
Nina, while lowering her eyelids, looked down at him.
"Percy." she began lowly. "I know what you're doing, so stop forcing yourself. Don't eat anymore if you think it doesn't taste good... Which I'm sure it doesn't."
"Sounds to me like you haven't tried it. How do you know it's bad?"
"I listen to what people have to say."
"Okay, okay, fine. I promise, though; I like it! I really do like it! Will you please give me some more?"
Shigure watched the two the entire time with a smile, chuckling down at the boy as he watched Nina reluctantly serve him another square of her rice bread. In the meantime, while Percy proceeded to gnaw on his second portion, he crossed his arms.
"It would sound as though you've made a new friend, Nina." he commented lightly. "A night stuck out in the woods together is a good means of bonding I hear."
"You bet cha!" cried Percy from below after swallowing his first bite. "And in doing so..." he reached up to jam his index in Shigure's chest. "You've got yourself a rival! Um... Assuming you're going to try to get back together with her..." he looked over at Nina, then back to Shigure. "Well? Come on, don't leave me hanging; are you going to reconcile with her? Give me a hard time?"
Shigure, momentarily taken back, blinked a time or two, eyeing up to the ceiling.
"An excellent question." he glanced at Nina, whose face was reddening. "I just might take it into heavy consideration. Yes, I believe I shall if she is willing to humor it." he nodded, then held his hand down to the boy. "In such a case, it seems that you and I are, in fact, now rivals. How about we shake to play fair and square? This isn't a place where foul play is smiled upon after all."
Without a moment to spare, Percy set his plate, clean once more, back on the counter. His hand went to Shigure's, returning his gesture with a tight and curt shake.
"You're on!" he complied.
While the two were far more fixated on each other and their newly-formed pact, they neglected to pay any attention to she that stood behind the counter. Her face had grown deathly hot, red as a tomato in its prime. When Shigure and Percy finally turned to look at her, they were in for a flood of concern, watching her stand stiff as a board, trembling as though she were freezing.
"Oh dear." Shigure commented. "Is everything okay, Nina?"
She blinked quickly, taking in a huff of air.
"A-Are you two... Making a d-deal to fight over me fairly?"
"If you don't have any better way to put it, I suppose so."
They were also in for a surprise when she suddenly released a squeal, cupping her burning cheek with her palms. Her form grew flimsy, eyes gazing off into a completely different world.
"Then that would mean I'm in the midst of a love triangle!" with nothing more, she collapsed then and there, lying on the ground with a river of drool spilling out of her mouth. The sound of her falling brought up the heads of many; a few rushed to help, and others simply rolled their eyes.
"Holy cow!" cried Percy, who had begun dashing to the opposite side of the counter. He held the fallen girl in his arms, gazing down at her with a worried face. "She just fell like she got knocked out! Is she okay?"
In came Niles, who plowed through a few surrounding shoulders; all it took was a single look at her face to make him shrug.
"Meh. She's fine."
