Frankie exited out of his room with a large yawn that morning, immediately being greeted by Pyra, who moaned and strained herself as she stretched herself awake.
"Morning Frankie..." Pyra said, still a bit drowsy as she scratched her belly.
"Buenos Dias, Pyra..." Frankie responded back, cricking his neck rhythmically.
"A bit earlier than I would've cared to wake up on a non-work day... but I'm excited! How about you?" She asked, suddenly a lot more chipper.
"Hah... depending on what they got, I could teach em a thing or two about ethnic foods...!"
"Remind me to bring a pen and paper!" Pyra chuckled.
Frankie then sniffed the air suspiciously.
"Do you smell something burning?" He asked.
Pyra immediately shot herself awake and rushed over to Mythra's room... she wasn't there. Just as quickly, she ran out the door and into the kitchen, with Frankie- who was slowly catching on- following suit. When both of them entered the clearing, their eyes widened in shock at the absolute MESS the kitchen was in. Unspecified globs of food were splattered all over the walls, there was a large stock pot bubbling and boiling over, smoke billowing out of a strange substance stuck to a pan, and Frankie's air fryer had completely explodedsomehow. In the middle of all of it... Mythra, slumped over, defeated, in a chair at the dining table, her face in her arms.
"M-Mythra?! What happened here- what did you do?!" Frankie asked.
At the sound of his voice, Mythra lifted her head up from her slump quickly, revealing her tear stained face and bloodshot eyes.
"Dummy... D-Dummy!" Mythra quickly ran over to Frankie and shoved her face into his chest to bawl out in tiredness and defeat, holding him as tightly as she could.
"Oh Mimi... what's wrong...?" Frankie asked, unable to get too mad at Mythra after seeing the sorry state she was in... placing a hand on her head comfortingly.
"I think the answer is obvious..." Pyra asked, glancing around nervously before turning to face the two of them. "Mythra, you could've been hurt! What do you have to say for yourself!" She scolded, placing her hands on her hips.
"I-I was just thinking back on how I didn't totally suck the last few times I tried to cook- a-and I wanted to get ready for today s-so... I got up super early and wanted to surprise you guys with breakfast, but bad stuff happened and I dunno where I went wrong-" Mythra responded, sobbing harder into Frankie's chest.
"Mythra... it's okay... uh- let's see..." Frankie frantically looked around the messy countertop to try and salvage Mythra's mess, settling upon a bright green... substance in a little purple bowl closest to the fridge. "Like this guacamole! That looks pretty good!" Frankie took a pork rind and dipped it into the sauce and immediately took a bite... only to puff out his cheeks in disgust as he got ahold of the texture...
"It's 'Molee'... or whatever that sauce that was in your grandma's recipe book..." Mythra explained as Frankie tried his very best to swallow what was in his mouth, shivering and shaking in disgust. "You don't have to lie to me, Frankie... I know I'm stupid..."
Frankie wiped his mouth clean and cringed, unsure of how to respond, as much as he wanted to... but luckily, he wouldn't be the one to save the day, this time.
"No. You're not." Pyra stated in a sudden authoritative tone, turning both Frankie and Mythra's heads in shock. The red head walked over to her blonde sister and pulled her in close, looking her dead in the eyes as she continued speaking. "You have a passion, Mythra. As do I. The pen and paper have been calling to me for centuries upon centuries, and I still have yet to execute my plans in a way I'm satisfied with! Have I given up? Of course not! This is only the start of it all! Of course, I may be a bit more knowledgeable on what it is you want to achieve, but that's all the reason to get better! You have me on your side, and you have Frankie on your side- and BEFORE you start getting all mopey on us again, tell me, what made your last attempts nowhere near as... unpalatable as those that came before and this one now? Hm?"
"P-Pyra-" Mythra tried to interrupt, but Pyra was having none of it.
"TELL ME." She demanded, furrowing her brow even further.
"I...I had you two watching over me...?"
Pyra smiled widely and returned to her normal, signature peppy and bubbly look as she jumped back excitedly.
"Precisely! Either I didn't exist, I was being mopey myself, or you just weren't given the chance... but now you are! So you best pick yourself up, because if there's one thing I do not want my ensemble to get used to... it's delivering a disappointing show! Are you two with me?!" Pyra pumped her fists excitedly as she looked Frankie and Mythra's way.
Frankie was completely enamored by Pyra's vocabulary and sudden passion, flushing red and unable to speak, he delivered a similar unsure turn to Mythra, who looked at him with a confused, if a bit still moody, grimace. But looking deeper at Frankie some more only made Mythra more comfortable. She blushed and chuckled nervously herself before both of them turned back to Pyra.
"I...I guess so..." Mythra said.
"Then let's do this thing!" With a cheerful pump towards the sky, Pyra bounded out the door and slammed it behind her, causing Frankie and Mythra to jump in alarm, still frozen in their surprised states... but she was ready to go, all right... there was just one problem.
"...um... where is the place, again...?" Pyra sheepishly asked from the outside. Mythra sighed in annoyance while Frankie finally let out a naughty snicker of his own.
—
Frankie was familiar with Loma Linda. He recalled the times when he was just learning how to drive and took the responsibility of driving his mother to physical therapy appointments to help with a recent surgery she had undergone. It was strangely nostalgic... if a bit upsetting. But with the air brisk, and the sun shining bright, the trees at last starting to pale, a great big stage sprawling across a backlot was set up for the contestants... of which there were surprisingly few. As a matter of fact, Frankie, Pyra, and Mythra were the first ones there.
The large, burly head of the competition inspected the set dutifully, looking to his co-workers, double checking the stability and safety of the operations. When satisfied, they gave their boss the okay, who nodded heartily in approval.
"E-excuse me, sir...?" Frankie spoke up politely. The ginger headed man turned and saw the bright, younger faces of his first stars making the scene.
"Oh- hey! You three my first contestants?" He asked. Before any of the three could respond, he chuckled heartily and offered his hand to Frankie. "Name's Bruce, you'll be entering with these lovely young ladies today?" He asked again, as Frankie shook his hand timidly, but firmly.
"Uh... yes! I am!" Frankie responded. Bruce laughed once more.
"Good to hear! You're a lucky fellow, I'll tell ya that, just get the aspirin ready- you'll need it..." He told Frankie, leaning into a whisper at the last part.
"I- er... what?" Frankie stayed back, completely befuddled as Mythra walked her way up to the man.
"Alright, alright, let's skip the pleasantries, when do we get to the food?" She questioned, hands resting impatiently on her hip.
"Mythra- be nice!" Pyra gently scolded as she went up to Bruce with a bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir, my ward and I here would LOVE to take part in your show!" She smiled politely.
"Great! They say it couldn't be done, but you're the first folk to prove me wrong!" Bruce brought out a pen and clipboard, looking back to the three of them. "So what'll I put you down under?"
"Frank-"
"Mythra."
"Pyra!"
Bruce blinked in disbelief, pondering over Pyra and Mythra's... exotic names. Nevertheless, he shook himself back to his senses and penned them down immediately.
"Perfect! Feel free to take a look around and get yourself familiar with the set! But not too familiar! All this costs money!" Without even so much as a friendly farewell, Bruce turned and walked away briskly towards his fellow co-workers, leaving behind a confused Frankie and Pyra, and an unimpressed Mythra.
"I hate that guy..."
...
It was late morning now, and the contestants of the competition were lined up dutifully. Frankie, Pyra, and Mythra were at the very end towards the left of the stage, Kaito and Miko nearly flanked their rights, Irma and Ariel their rights, and a duo of slightly older ladies, one African American, one Native American. The former of which had pretty black hair cut into a bob, striking blue eyes and dark red lipstick while she donned a comfortable yellow business casual outfit; and her partner had long braided dark brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a standard white shirt and blue jeans, arms folded neatly over her torso as she watched Bruce loudly announce the event.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Loma Linda's 36th annual Comiday el Corazon de Amo!" He didn't even attempt an accent, an action which would normally make Frankie cringe, but in his own Spanglish knowledge, he read right through the language barrier. Pyra and Mythra, being ignorant, couldn't care less.
"Awww- how romantic!" Pyra chirped happily, clapping lightly.
Mythra couldn't be in a good mood as she caught Irma's eye, both blondes glared nastily at each other, Mythra scowling in disapproval, while Irma pointed directly at her, driving her thumb across her throat sadistically. Ariel eyed her girlfriend disapprovingly, cocking her eyebrow in reprimanding, immediately causing Irma to shrink down in embarrassment. Kaito and Miko delivered knowing smirks at each other, while Miko gave another sly smirk to Frankie, still red with embarrassment. Her look told him all he needed to know, and he was FUMING. Miko could only chuckle deviously as she turned back around to an equally giddy Kaito. The older couple stood proud and calm, respectively, wisely preserving their energy for the competition itself, their feet tickling the ground in anticipation as they waited to spring into action.
"Our brave contestants this year include Mia and Brianna!" Bruce stepped to the older couple and offered the microphone to Mia, the African American woman, with her hands still behind her back, she leaned forward and spoke proudly and with authority.
"Y'know if there's one thing mama didn't like, it was a slacker! That's why when my old man kept his shit all over the floor drinkin' his beers the moment he got home, she went, 'GET YOUR NASTY ASS OUTTA HERE!' And threw 'em to the curb! And she wasn't about to make the same mistake with me, uh-uh! I do the cooking, the cleaning, the washing, I go out there and pay the bills, and you got big mama back home in Louisiana to thank for that!"
"It's a miracle we had the time to make it at all- but we're excited!" Brianna chimed in as her wife went off proudly.
"Hell yeah! Damn straight!" Mia was beaming, affectionately grabbing Brianna by the shoulders and pulling her in close. The lighter skinned woman looked up at her fondly, her expression filled with pride.
"Ho-ho! A feisty couple, I love it! And what about you fine ladies? What's your story?" Bruce asked, offering the microphone to Irma and Ariel.
"We're here to win- that prize is as good as ours!" Irma stated, matter of factly.
"And we're gonna do whatever it takes, right, hon?" Ariel asked Irma, who grunted and nodded harshly.
"Well- me-ow!" Bruce chuckled aloud, getting quite a bit of ire from both Irma and Ariel, who glared daggers into him as he walked off towards Kaito and Miko.
"Food. Miko like food." Miko stated blankly, staring straight ahead in determination.
"YEAH! YOU TELL EM BABE! WE'RE GONNA GET YOU ALL NICE AND FULL!" Kaito cheered on excitedly, while Miko nodded softly and intimidatingly, her normally soft hazel eyes darkening and growing sharper by the second.
Bruce blinked quickly and shivered before heading on over to Frankie and the girls, the former of which was still red with... so many emotions.
"And what about the lucky stallion over here? What can you and your VERY lovely ladies tell us about yourselves?"
"E-excuse me?!" Mythra barked in a fluster, while Frankie was still tongue tied, all eyes now directed towards the lot of them.
...Pyra, on the other hand...
"It's a pleasure to be at this event, Mr. Bruce, sir!" Pyra responded peppily, heartily shaking his hand. "You see, me and my two very close companions here have just been ITCHING to try something new and exciting ever since we first arrived in this wonderful little piece of earth of yours! So I'd say the three of us are very much ready, willing, and able to tackle whatever it is you have to throw at us!"
"A-ahh... immigrants, eh...? Well- a little spice of life never hurt! So there you have it folks! Let's let our contestants get ready behind the curtain before we get our first course started! No longer than five, so sit tight all you beautiful people, the show will go on!"
With a flick of the curtain, and a raucous applause from the anticipating crowd, planning... would be in full swing, but there were other matters to discuss.
"Pyra... what are you doing...?" Mythra growled through gritted teeth, her entire body turning red in both embarrassment and anger.
"Y-yeah! Explain yourself! You're not any worse than we are!" Frankie shot back, trying and failing to hide his obvious fluster.
"Mmm... yes, you're right, I'm not exactly... the most comfortable with our current standing..." Pyra admitted, shifting around nervously and shyly, eyes shut weakly. Her demeanor changed quickly as her stance stiffened and eyebrows furrowed. "But regardless of any misinterpretations, the show must go on!"
"The show? What are you on about? Do you want the world to think we're a couple of thirsty courtesans?" Mythra asked back, hands clenched tightly at her sides.
"No! Heavens above, Mythra, have a little more faith in me!" Pyra responded, more cross than she was used to. "Unlike you and Frankie, I haven't had much of a chance to broaden my wanting horizon! Whatever these people want to view us as... as mortifying as it may be... that ultimately doesn't matter when putting on a show! Allow me to roll with the punches today, and get myself ready and used to the environment for the future! The best kinds of shows are those that revel in their fiction! So, if you don't mind me being so brutal, please... do me a favor and lend a helping hand... just for today... if you don't mind, that is..." Pyra tucked her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth nervously, waiting for Frankie and Mythra's response.
"She's got a point there, you two." Kaito called, as he and Miko came closer to the trio.
"No one asked you!" Mythra barked.
"Big sis, humor Pyra a bit, why don't you? It's all just a show at the end of the day, just like she said... and between you and me, I don't think you would mind what the outside looking in would see~" Miko pleaded, getting close and whispering to Mythra's ear at the last part, getting the taller woman to shut up and flush pink all over again, stiff as a rock.
Frankie nervously looked to all his peers surrounding him before taking a deep breath to regather himself. As he did so, he felt a twinge inside his brain. A breezy, soothing twinge that sounded like a melodically bell echoing over yonder. Pneuma wasn't shy about reading right through what her outside selves were thinking, nor what Frankie was thinking. As such, she sent a wave of nostalgia through Frankie's conscience, as if she was reassuring him that, indeed, they would enjoy all this. With that message being sent loud and clear to him alone, he spoke up.
"Okay, Pyra... but ONLY for the camera!" He said. Pyra's face lit up considerably, quickly darting her gaze over to Mythra, who still stood stiffly in place.
"Remember what we talked about, big sis? Working hard? Living the life you want?" Miko's teasing demeanor, while still present, toned down considerably as she relaxed her body and face, her deep brown eyes softening up with genuine support. Mythra caught onto her act quickly, and looking at both Pyra and Frankie ready to tackle this next little challenge was enough to get her to reconsider. She sighed heavily through her nose before taking Frankie's hand in a firm grasp.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you down with me... 'Darling'...!" She muttered loudly, her cheeks still rough with blush.
"That's the long and short of it... 'Mí vida-'" Frankie replied, wearing the very same expression of Mythra.
"Yay! Let's give em a show they'll never forget!" Pyra cheered, pulling Frankie and Mythra into a big hug. Kaito and Miko looked pleased with each other as they continued to listen in to the trio's light and jovial squabble. Irma sneered at the lot of them and rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Mmm- that Bruce guy is a real piece of work, but he's right, Frank's a lucky guy." Ariel pointed out fondly.
"Going all harem master in front of a crowd sounds more like showboating to me." Irma spat.
"I don't mean like that, babe... you and I both know he was a lonely kid... it's nice to see him so comfortable."
"...whatever."
Irma turned away in a huff, but Ariel smiled down at her anyway. Jealous or refusing to admit her pride, she was unsure of. Nevertheless, the project she was, Ariel placed a gentle and loving hand on Irma's head. As for Mia and Brianna? No time to make chit chat with the other contestants... they were planning their sure fire way to victory.
...
"Alright folks! We're back with the happy couples! Today, they'll be making a four course meal of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert!"
As Bruce announced the battle plan proudly to the contestants, Mythra's steely exterior quickly began to melt away, as she sweat profusely and felt her lips quiver in nervousness. Knees buckling and eyebrow furrowed, she could already see the reactions of her disastrous end products- something to brush off amongst two or three people... against the eyes of hundreds, maybe even thousands though? She was terrified.
Frankie and Pyra, quick to notice Mythra's unease, flanked her swiftly and held her hands reassuringly, with the former tracing her knuckles with his thumb caringly, smiling warmly at her while shooting a reassuring wink, and the latter delivering a pleasant smile as was so familiar of her. Mythra took a deep breath and calmed down slightly, still looking over to the ingredients already out on the counter and those that waited in the fridge. She gulped nervously once more as the host continued.
"Let's get the most important meal of the day out of the way first! Contestants! I'm in the mood for something sweet! You've got your tools, you've got your canvas, you've got one hour- on your marks... get set..." To start the competition at last, Bruce blew an air horn loudly as the contestants all went to their corners to gather ingredients for the first meal.
"I was hoping to make chilaquiles... but we're gonna need to make some adjustments. Any ideas?" Frankie asked.
"Oh! How about some muffins?!" Pyra suggested.
"Muffins, Pyra? That's not breakfast!" Mythra protested.
"It is if you throw some fruit in there! Bananas and walnuts, let's go!"
As Kaito quickly prepped himself up, Miko wasted absolutely no time digging through the fridge, pulling out chicken drumsticks and oil, slamming each down with extreme vigor before moving to the next ingredient.
"Uh, Muffin-" Was all Kaito said before Miko interrupted him.
"CHICKEN AND WAFFLES, KOKONUT! GET TO WORK!"
"Y-yes ma'am!" He got right to work.
"Get the batter ready hun, we've got crepes to make!" Ariel shrieked as she rummaged through the fridge.
"Don't forget the strawberries this time!" Irma shouted back.
"Whaddaya think, babe? Give 'em a taste of my home or yours?" Mia asked Brianna calmly. The shorter lady pondered for a moment before playfully hitting her wife on the shoulder.
"Well you've been saying you'd make those beignets for me for months now, so get to it!" She joked.
"Ha! You got it, hon!"
And they were off to the races.
With such little time to cook, as Miko whipped up the batter for the waffles in record time, Kaito couldn't afford to get too fancy in the egg drenching and coating process. He had to resort to working with the drumsticks. 14 minutes in total to fry, a few more to cool off, it would be a cinch! Time was being wasted, however, as he mulled over if he should trim the fat or leave it on.
"¡Mita! Plátano. Puré." Frankie ordered as he left a small bunch of bananas right in front of Mythra, who stared at them and then him blankly.
"...What."
"He wants you to mash them-" Pyra said hastily, not looking up from her bowls in which she was busy making the dough as Frankie chopped the walnuts finely.
"Oh, of course you know..." Mythra spat immaturely as she turned back to the fruit.
"I've been dabbling~" Pyra boasted lightly. Mythra continued to stare unsuredly at the fruit and then back at her partners, who weren't having any trouble at all in their respective roles, making her feel even more incompetent than before.
"You'll be fine, Mythra... trust us..." Pyra said cooly, delivering a sympathetic glance to her sister, who turned away shyly.
"We're right here, Mimi... just keep to the stuff you know... now ¡Andelé, andalé!" Frankie added before quickly returning to the task at hand.
With a gulp and timid reach of her sweaty hands, she peeled slowly and breathlessly and anxiously prayed through her insecurity.
Irma eyed Mythra and Miko harshly, eagerly waiting for one of them to screw up so she could sneak in and take the win for herself. Miko's diligent performance ticked her off to no end. Even as Kaito struggled to coat the chicken just right, the way he was able to somehow replicate Miko's meticulous nature was truly an eyesore for her... as such, she was all too satisfied to see Mythra struggle to peel a banana so much. She chuckled darkly to herself as she sliced her strawberries, never letting her sight wander, this simple activity was second nature, so she decided to enjoy the show... until-
"Irma!" Ariel shouted in concern and frustration. Before the shorter woman could turn to respond, she brought the knife RIGHT down on her finger.
"OW!" She yelped as she reeled back in pain. The cut wasn't serious at all, but a piece of skin was dangling quite concerningly, causing her to panic and frantically search for a bandaid.
"Oh! What rotten luck, folks! Just goes to show you always need to keep your eyes on the game!" Bruce announced.
"That bastard needs to learn how to shut his mouth..." Irma muttered lowly as she wrapped her finger protectively.
"And show sympathy..." Ariel added as she helped her up, only to immediately reprimand her. "And YOU need to pay closer attention to yourself! You're lucky a light bleed is ALL that came out of this. Now get back to work and FOCUS. You can worry about Frank and Miko later... or not at all if you ask me..."
"...fffffiiiinnneeee... but you better make it up to me later..."
"Just shut up and get to work."
Meanwhile on Team Pyra's table, Mythra was starting to really get into the rhythm of things. Seeing Irma, someone she begrudgingly considered to be far superior to her in the kitchen, make such a blunder had seemingly given Mythra a serious boost in confidence. So much so that she attempted to take over Pyra's duty on preparing the dough-
"W-what happened? Why's it all lumpy?" Mythra shrieked in horror as she tried in vain to take over.
"It's alright Mythra, don't panic-" Frankie held her concoction, squishing it to test the consistency. To Mythra's dismay, the mixture broke up into dry chunks. "-just get some more aguita, you'll be fine."
"B-but I..."
She was cut off by a sneering chuckle coming from Irma's direction. "Looks like someone's not quite cut out for this-"
Irma's mockery was cut short by Ariel lightly slapping her hand, but the damage to Mythra's morale was already done.
"Don't worry a smidge, Mythra! We'll handle the dough, you just get the fruit prepared!" Pyra came over and patted her teammate on the shoulder.
"But...will there be enough time to-" Mythra looked at the ground in contemplation. This was the first thing she was tasked to do in this cooking competition, and not
not only did she take far longer than ideal on the batch of dough, what she produced as a result was virtually unusable.
Mythra's attention was caught by a gentle familiar hand patting her head. It was Frankie's.
"It's okay, Mimi... we're right here." His and Pyra's gentle smiles and reassurance, even in this competitive atmosphere, set Mythra at ease more.
"I...okayDummy."
While Pyra and Frankie got to work making another batch of dough, Mythra proceeded to start mashing up the fruit for their breakfast muffins, making sure Irma could see her efficiency at the more tactile task.
Meanwhile, the eldest and most experienced team, Mia and Brianna, were downright flying through the preparation of their dish.
"How's the batter lookin' babe?" Mia asked, coming up to Brianna with an electric whisk in hand.
"Raft formed- ready for the good stuff!" Brianna responded excitedly, making way for her wife, who smiled cheekily.
"Oh-ho yeah! Now we're talkin'! Might not get it exactly like mama used to make, but we are gonna make HISTORY, I guarantee!"
"Let's forget about the old diet and really wow them with the toppings, eh, hon?"
"Sweetheart, you read my mind! Go and fetch the honey and the powdered sugar, we got ourselves an iron to strike!"
With the oil heating up and the surface of the table lightly floured, the women worked in perfect sync together, never missing a beat, impressing both the crowd and even Bruce.
"Well, folks, with our first round off to a rocky start... it just goes to show that love transcends all ways of life!" He spoke proudly... not enough to avoid side eye from Mia and Irma and Ariel, however.
The breakfast round soon came to a close. Pyra and crew's muffins were a bit lighter than they would have liked, but they seemed very presentable. Not like it would have stopped Mythra's angry and upset judgemental looks toward them. Team Kaito added the last bit of garnish on their dish, Team Ariel stuffed each crepe to the brim at last, and with just barely enough time to dress up the puffy and hot golden brown beignets fresh from the frier, Team Mia was ready as well. Each team displayed their plates for the judges to walk by and sample.
For Kaito and Miko's chicken and waffles, points were deducted due to a messy presentation, neither the waffles nor the fried chicken exactly brimming with high class with the dripping oils and uneven coloring. However, due to an excellent cohesion of flavors, the taste of the dish was absolutely divine, with Kaito and Miko's expressions shifting from nervous to prideful between the observing and tasting phase.
For Irma and Ariel's crepes, their greater experience showed in the cleanliness and style of the plating, the fruits elegantly aligning the confection in a near symmetrical fashion. Unfortunately, seemingly due to Irma's mishap, the volume of fruits themselves was far lower than desired. And given the fruits were intended to be a large source of the sweetness, the flavor was a tad unbalanced as a result, a fact that left Irma fuming, albeit with no one to properly direct the anger towards other than herself.
Mia and Brianna's beignets were definitely the most skillfully constructed dish of the lot, their years over the competition shining through in the perfect texture of the pastry. Crispy, moist, fluffy, a delightfully shocking sensation provided by the honey and powdered sugar that topped the food, it was comfort food straight from the bayou and 'slap your mama' good... at least that was how Mia put it as she presented it.
Then came time to judge Team Pyra's muffins.
Mythra sat by anxiously, fiddling with her hands over whether her blunder would have serious repercussions on their result, and while Frankie's reassuring hand on her shoulder was certainly appreciated, it didn't do much to assuage her concern.
"Hmm...I do love what you did here, breakfast muffins are certainly a nice treat. However, they're a bit chewier than I would've liked, it seems like they didn't have enough time in the oven."
There it was. Mythra hung her head in shame at the mention of something having gone wrong. The judge mentioning the lack of time that more clearly footed the blame on Mythra's mistake with her first batch of dough just twisted the knife in further.
"Like we said, Mythra, it's alright!" Pyra stated, her pep not in any way affected by the judge's criticisms. "We just need to get back in there and do even better with the next one, alright?"
Frankie nodded in agreement with Pyra's sentiment, but Mythra was...less convinced. Frankie and Pyra looked at each other sadly, silently pondering to each other.
...
"Here we go, folks! The lunch round is hot under way! I think we should check in with all the lovebirds, get their thoughts out there for the world to hear! Mia, Brianna, how're you two lovely ladies feeling so far?" Bruce asked, as Brianna was busy soaking a cedar plank in a tub of water while Mia, not breaking an ounce of her concentration as she pat some salmon flesh dry, answered.
"You know, somethin', big man? Bri over here's part of the Serrano tribe- born and raised into it! You could say we get ourselves outta the house pretty damn often!" She explained heartily.
"And yet, tall dark and gorgeous over here absolutely INSISTS on being the breadwinner when there's no reason too!" Brianna chuckled heartily, rolling her eyes over to her wife playfully.
"Hey now, mama likes to move her body- THAT'S what pays the bills, you just keep that li'l nest egg good and tucked away for our next little vacay, alright?" Mia shot back, an equally large teasing smile on her face.
"You move your body plenty fine when you're working that grill! Believe me, I've looked~"
"Oh- hush up! Got dozens out there thinkin' I'm a freak now, thanks to you!"
"Anytime, hon~" Brianna ended their playful squabble with a childish extension of her tongue before reaching over to two small bowls, filling one with Dijon mustard, and placing the other next to a bag of brown sugar.
"Couple of rich folks, I see! Some ladies have all the luck! And speaking of ladies, can any of you girls tell us a bit about yourselves?" Bruce hovered above Ariel and Irma, who shared equal looks of disapproval at his presence. Irma turned away and chopped the walnuts at her disposal even more vigorously. Letting out a sigh, Ariel forced herself to give an answer.
"We were a couple of jerks back in the day... and... well, some of us are still working on it- but it's those little hurdles to jump over that keep things interesting, you know? Not to mention the little adventures we get to go on~" Ariel's sultry euphemism struck Irma noticeably as she flushed red and turned to scream at her.
"DON'T MAKE ME PUT YOU ON THE SAME BUS AS LITTLE GIRL AND BLONDIE OVER THERE!" She shrieked.
"See? Just like that. It's adorable. And don't worry, Bruce- I'm keeping a close eye on her after last round~" Ariel responded coolly, setting the vegetables she was washing aside and taking some walnut oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon to the side, ready to seemingly get to mixing.
"Well... you're lucky it's a real good eye..." Irma responded.
"Hah~ keep an eye on the chicken, babe, don't let it burn."
"Spicy as spicy can be, love it!" Bruce then took a good whiff over the oven the two were working over. "Mm- and those chicken breasts smell just delightful! Now how about the little guys, over here? We all love a good underdog, am I right?"
As Bruce walked over to Kaito and Miko, the latter slammed a knife down with such precision and force that it scared even Bruce with how effortlessly and violently she cut through the vegetable. The brown haired girl had a dark expression on her face as she slowly turned to face the much taller man.
"Underdog is an abhorrent term, coming from your mouth, mister Bruce..." she began. Kaito, who was busy heating up the griddle and looking over the balls of ground beef beside him, slightly glanced over to his girlfriend as she continued. "I'll have you know that though we are smaller than average, that doesn't inhibit us in any way whatsoever, and I WILL thank you not to suggest otherwise. We are here to show our skills and indulge in good food amidst mostly good company, if you ever judge us so foolishly like that again, you'll have major egg on your face- not from us, but those who listen to your incoherent drivel, so let us work and do NOT get in our way..."
"R-right then, miss!" Bruce shakily turned his head in Kaito's direction, hoping for a less abrasive comment.
"Heh! Daww, don't mind her Bruce! She's just getting into the competitive spirit of things, ya know?" Miko's partner placed his hands on the lady's shoulders, her glare at Bruce not breaking a smidge. "I see it as one of her best attributes, really! She's always honest and takes the things she cares about seriously. Most people try to act aloof and above caring too much, but not Miko here! It's the sign of a truly kind and genuine soul that I've become so dedicated to over the years-"
"YOU THERE! FLUFFY! STOP GAWKING AND GET BACK TO WORK!" Miko suddenly screeched at Kaito, pointing harshly his way as her eyes remained as sharp as ever.
"Right on it!" Kaito quickly and cheerily responded to her demand, not missing a beat even after having been interrupted. He turned and made his way back to his post, but not before one last tiny, "yey, Miko-"
"Tch. Show off." Irma muttered from afar.
"Well... that was certainly... EXTRAVAGANT!" Bruce breathed loudly as he accentuated his speech with his hands. His face shifted quickly to a horrendously cheesy smirk as he made his way to Pyra's table. "Aaaaaand what about Señor Frank over here? Does he and his menagerie of VERY healthy ladies have anything to say on the matter at hand?"
Already feeling inadequate, Mythra turned away completely from Bruce's off-color remark as Frankie, who was busy stirring a pot of spicy smelling red liquid turned her direction as well, a worried frown on his face. As such, Pyra had completely turned away from her skillet of browned potatoes to answer Bruce in his stead.
"If I may be so bold, sir, this is really the first time I, myself, have ever taken part in such an event! For the longest time, I've always held cooking in high regard and didn't let much of anything pass me by! And it's all thanks to this big lug right here that I can finally share my aptitude with the world!"
Pyra's words and her smile were confident... but her body certainly wasn't. One wouldn't notice it at first glance, as she stayed as still as a board. That was because every bit of insecurity and nervousness had transferred all down to the hand that was gripping Frankie's INCREDIBLY tightly, sweating and shaking profusely. Frankie stopped looking at Mythra to turn towards Pyra in a bit of embarrassment and... something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Pyra- that's a little too tight-" He squeaked, unsure if he enjoyed this sensation or not.
"No it isn't. Hush." Pyra responded as 'cheerily' as ever.
"Aha! The work ethics of you Españoles never fails to amaze me!" Bruce cried happily as he walked over to Mythra. Frankie's pain suddenly shifted to a poisonous glare as his gaze turned to Bruce.
'Mexican, you Fox-haired bastard...' He thought to himself with a vicious scowl.
Pyra's own squeamishness vanished at his terrible language, covering her mouth in shock with her free hand.
"And what about you, huh? What's your story, little lady?" Bruce asked, barely disturbed as he lowered the microphone to the back of Mythra's head. She stayed turned around and didn't bother with an answer. "Cmon, sweetie, smile for the camera!" Bruce prodded, but both Frankie and Pyra had enough.
"She's not in the mood." Frankie said, to the point. Surprised at this quiet young man's sudden harsh mood change, turned around in slight surprise as both he and Pyra delivered him equally disapproving looks.
"We have our boundaries, sir. If you would be so kind to respect our own, we can continue with the rest of the competition, that's not too much to ask, is it?" Pyra's expression softened just the slightest touch as she spoke, as to not come across too aggressive, but she certainly was aiming to be more pushy than she would otherwise.
"Right... guess a throuple like you would know best- whatever- let's get back to the game! 30 minutes on the clock, chop chop people!" Bruce walked away energetically as Frankie and Pyra eyed him cautiously.
"Did he just say...?" Frankie asked, flabbergasted at his vocabulary.
"That's the problem with muscle-heads like him- work on the middle, nowhere near enough on the top... and too much on the middle if you ask me..." Pyra shuddered in disgust as she finished her and Frankie's thought. ...and that was when Frankie realized he and Pyra were still holding hands.
"Uh- Pyra...?" He said with a blush. Unaware herself, at first, Pyra looked to Frankie curiously before glancing down at herself. With no need to keep up the charade so immediately, she flushed red herself and quickly retracted her hand behind her back.
"Sorry-!" She cried, eyes tightly shut in embarrassment.
The two of them redirected attention to Mythra, who had taken to very slowly and quietly grating some cheese. With her head hung low and eyes drooping in shame, it wasn't a look either Frankie or Pyra wanted to bear witness to for much longer... and if there were any people to get her to open up...
"Mimi... what's going on...?" Frankie asked in a gentle whisper.
"S-something that'll hold us back, don't worry about it... and look... I got those tortilla things we need out... I did stuff..." Mythra answered, still turning her back on them. But Pyra finally put her foot down.
"Mythra Guosmán! Your sister and dearest friend are VERY worried about you and you WILL tell us what's wrong- no, scratch that, I'm fairly sure we know what's wrong, so by all means... be as emotional as you want... but don't leave us in the dark... we worry... you know...?" Her harsh tone quickly diminished as she placed a caring hand on her sister's shoulder. In response, Mythra turned around, tears in her eyes and looking at both Frankie and Pyra sadly... without another word, she dove into both of their arms and hugged them tightly.
"Oh you big crybaby, come here..." Frankie cooed as he and Pyra hugged gently back. Pyra was the first to smile as she joined in on the hug, followed quickly by Mythra... who, while still upset over her follies both this morning and now... just felt good in this cozy little space the three of them formed. Not even Bruce's insensitive commentary could ruin this moment. While most of the couples kept a close eye on their food- though Kaito and Miko snuck in quick glances at the trio and smiled sweetly at each other with how things were progressing- one couple in particular took quite a notice at them.
"Poor girl..." Brianna cooed sadly as she and Mia turned their attention away from the heating cedar block to keep an eye on Mythra.
"And that couyon with the mike ain't helpin' matters- last thing I need after making a screw up is some asshole making a scene outta it..." Mia growled in response.
"I wish there was something we could do to help her... heh... in a different way than her guy over there, of course..."
Mia turned back down to the warming wood, looking down wistfully. Her eyes brightened considerably as she raised her head back up in realization.
"You know what, hon...? I think there just might be...!" A bright smile drew across her face as she raised a hand up to flag down Bruce. "Yo! Mister big TV man!" At the call, Bruce made his way over to the two older ladies, who each looked at him rather knowingly. "I think we got a way to spice things up~"
Best way to tickle his fancy? Play his game. However, the lunch round would soon come to an end before said game could be played. The results were displayed before the judges just as the breakfast plates were.
Team Kaito-Miko were up first this time with their smash burgers. And to say they were presentable would be a...polite way of phrasing it. Kaito was decent at sandwich-making, but less so at the creation of the patty for such a dish. As such it felt like there was too much "smash" and not enough "burger" in this combination, the patty nearly falling apart as the sandwich was picked up. And while Miko's work on the bread and other toppings was well put-together, it wasn't quite stylish enough to make up for. However, the taste was once again sublime, making it somewhat akin to a burger one would find in a local joint where flavor was a higher priority than cleanliness.
Team Ariel-Irma's chicken walnut salad meanwhile was bereft of the issues that plagued them in the breakfast round, with a sleek presentation that looked right out of a 5 star restaurant and the taste nearly matching that standard, and the cherry on top was the delightfully tangy and sweet dressing both had put together. There wasn't a hint of bitterness at all, just pure unadulterated flavor. Put next to Kaito and Miko's burgers that looked more like sloppy joes was a less than ideal contrast for the shorter pair, and Irma was sure to sneer mockingly at Miko as a result.
But even their stylish salad paled in comparison to the Mia-Brianna team's Cedar Plank Salmon, which didn't just look gourmet, but tasted even better. Rustic and beautiful in its appearance, the smell alone was absolutely tantalizing. A strangely delicious musk filled the area as the fresh cool feel of the river the fish had come from shone through magnificently. The taste itself... crispy... tangy... smoky... sweet... delightfully creamy from all the fixings... and oh so tender... it was to DIE for. Clearly once again, the experience and passion of the two older chefs was shining through in them making such high level dishes with extreme ease.
Which made the potato enchiladas that Frankie and Pyra created even more impressive. Simple in appearance as they were, they had just the right amount of kick and flavor to not overwhelm the other, and the tortillas themselves were absolutely SWIMMING in the sauce that coated them. The cheese was delightfully melty and plentiful, and the potatoes were terrifically soft, not disturbing the texture of the rest of the dish at all. It was a taste from home to be absolutely sure. They practically matched the Mia-Brianna team's salmon in terms of flavor and construction, with maybe a slight dip in presentation... it WAS missing the onions, after all... but Frankie was very adamant in not putting them in. Such a result was frankly more surprising for the judges...but less enthused was Mythra, who had less input on this dish than she would've liked. She sulked in the back a bit, and even with Frankie and Pyra's encouragement otherwise, she started to get the impression that her team's success was inversely proportional to how much she contributed.
But her attention was caught, as was the rest of the contestants, by Bruce ringing in.
"Halfway through, folks! But before we get started on dinner time- I'd like to make an announcement!" Bruce shouted loud and proud for all to hear. "This play-by-play? Til death do we part stuff? That's all a bit too standard!" Mia rolled her eyes as he continued, "What I think we need is a little bit of a switch up! Before we begin the next round, you each have one minute to find a new partner, go!"
"WHAT?!" All but Mia and Brianna shouted at once. Mythra is particular, swiftly clung to Frankie's arm, looking up at him in concern with a large pout on her face.
"M-Mythra..." Frankie tried to find the right words to say in this situation, but he was already getting huffy himself. It took Pyra to save them both.
"Don't worry too much about me, Frankie. I'm taking this all in stride, as you know!" She cried as she grabbed ahold of Mythra, gently prying her off Frankie and leading her away. The blonde pouted even harder than before and reached and grabbed out toward Frankie in frustration. "Mythra, please! Try to remain calm... it won't be for a very long time..."
"Mmm... leaving him be isn't the only thing that worries me..." Mythra grunted as she feebly turned away.
"I know, I know... come on, it's all part of the game, I'm still right here..." Pyra soothed her sister gently as they made their way across the stage.
Irma noticed Mythra's discomfort and chuckled darkly as she slinked away from a slightly frantic Ariel, ready to swoop in and upstage her herself in front of dozens, get back at her rightfully for the humiliation she caused up the mountains and thensome- rub it in her face that no matter what, she was the superior-
Then she felt someone jerk her downwards. It was Miko, whose head was initially held down before she slowly lifted it up with an intensely venomous glint in her eyes.
"You leave them alone. This is between you and me, Cutthroat..." She growled lowly.
"Yeah! You tell 'em, Muffin!" Kaito cheered on as Irma blinked in disbelief, anger, and fear as she and Miko stared each other down in completely different manners. Kaito let out a deep sigh as he watched Pyra and Mythra walk away from the lot of them. "Good luck, big sis-sises... you're gonna do great..." Kaito didn't have much time to settle down as Brianna suddenly bumped into him. She wasn't very tall herself, but compared to Kaito, she was HUGE! A sight that even she found rather amusing.
"Aww, well look at you! Aren't you just the most adorable thing!" She cooed motherly, getting a blush from the smaller man.
"O-o-oh, well, I'm not really all that-" Kaito rubbed the back of his head sheepishly right before a raging fire suddenly warmed his backside. He rolled his eyes over to see Miko practically cloaked in flames as she breathed heavily and shot daggers right into Brianna's soul.
"Callll the poliiiiiiccceeeee..." Irma silently mouthed as Miko's iron grip on her hardened even greater than before, Irma's own hands turning blue from exhaustion.
"Oh dear... she has quite a fancy for you doesn't she...?" Brianna asked, hardly phased at all.
"Yeah... she's just... the best..." Kaito dreamily swooned. Brianna laughed in response.
"It's always nice to see such young love blossom so fervently... but she doesn't have to worry- I have this-" She flashed her wedding ring at the smaller man, "And I like playing on your team just fine, if you catch my drift."
"Dawww- yeah!" Kaito cheered as Miko settled down... somewhat.
Mia looked fondly over to Brianna, satisfied that things seemed to be working out. And that was when she finally laid her eyes on Pyra and Mythra.
"Well, hello, you two! I've been watchin ya the whole game all the way over here, it's nice to finally meet ya! Pyra and..." Mia turned her head over to Mythra in particular, keeping a firm but friendly gaze on her as she raised an eyebrow. "Mythra, was it? It is Mythra, isn't it?"
"That's right!" Pyra answered, while Mythra nodded shyly. Looking at Mia now, she was just as tall as Frankie, and what made him so comforting to Mythra, made Mia so intimidating.
"D-don't think of the extra set of hands like it's cheating or anything... I'm not much help, anyway..." Mythra said lowly as she turned away. Before Pyra could console her, Mia placed her hands on her hips and reprimanded her gently.
"Now what kinda talk is that? Listen, sweetie, we all got a place in this little competition, you can have your self doubt and what not, but you better not be bringing that into the game, ya hear?!"
"Yeah yeah- cuz it'll slow you down, I've heard it all before, lady..." Mythra responded back, more cross than upset.
"No. Because that kinda talk will bring YOURSELF down, and I don't want that- you little ladies are a good sort from what I've been lookin' at, so just let Big Mama Mia show you the ropes, you won't be missin' a beat, honest!"
Pyra chuckled before responding.
"Big Mama Mia... that sounds funny~" She giggled childishly. Pyra's innocence forced a fond smile and headshake out of Mia as she looked over at Mythra, still looking away from them again. This time, she placed a hand on her shoulder and got down on her level.
"Look, baby... we all gotta start somewhere... if you really wanna keep it goin, that's what you gotta do yourself... keep it going...! I'll make sure we do, alright?" She smiled warmly at Mythra, who met her gaze briefly before shifting it away again in nervousness. She just nodded shyly once again in response. With a more prolonged smile and glance, Mia stood up proudly and patted her shoulder. "That's what I like to hear... now, c'mon! Lemme show you a quick 'n easy way to do a Louisiana Classic! Mama's Homemade Gumbo! Oh! Better not say that too loud- it ain't Mama's Homemade Gumbo unless we get at LEAST five times the time we got here..."
"Lead the way, Mia! Oh! But do show me the recipe, when you get the chance!" Pyra hopped up and down excitedly. Mia laughed heartily as she turned away.
"Can't promise you that, honey!"
"Aww man..."
The little back and forth got Mythra to chuckle a fair bit more as she timidly followed Pyra and Mia to their cooking spot.
That just left Frankie, who was nervously trudging around the stage, not exactly keen on this sudden switch up himself as he had hoped to at least get paired with Kaito or Miko... but the former had already been spoken for and the latter was pretty adamant on keeping Irma FAR away from anyone else... and that's when he heard her.
"Hey, Frank- looks like it's you and me now, eh?" Ariel chuckled as she walked up to him.
Frankie, unfamiliar with this... acquaintance? It was elementary school all over again... simply nodded quietly in a feeble attempt to pretend like he recognized this person. Ariel caught on right away and laughed lightly as she led him to their station.
"You don't hafta be so shy, Frank, I know it's a bit shocking seeing me... well, like this, but you and I got a bit of history, I know that for sure!" She said.
Frankie, still confused, erected himself in curiosity, raising an eyebrow as he tried to put a name to this woman's face.
"Frank, come on! Don't be such a dumbass- she's looking right frickin at- YA!" Miko once again tightened her grip on Irma's hand, getting her to instantly shut up. Not that it made the tension between the two any lighter. Even Mythra, from afar, glared Irma's way the moment she heard her insult Frankie, chuckling once again at Irma's misfortune.
Frankie turned back to face Ariel, who sighed and shook her head.
"Don't worry about her too much, Frank, you and I both know how she is- but she's right. Then again, not like I'd expect you to know any girl called Ariel... nah, you're more familiar with... Ari, I take it?"
"W-wha?!" Frankie finally spoke.
"Surprised you, huh?" Ariel chuckled.
"W-well... h-how long have you-"
"Ahhh, didn't figure it out til after High School... that and I wasn't sure how the folks were gonna react... but, hey, five years without any lip isn't too bad!" Ariel laughed again before shifting her focus back to Frankie. "And as for you, you don't gotta worry about a thing, Frank. I know Irma and I were jerks to you when we were kids but I'm willing to lend you a hand here! ...so long as you don't got a problem with the new me." She raised an eyebrow at him expectantly.
"Well... no, of course not! I couldn't have! I-I-I've been reading some old history books- ever hear of Addam Origo? A real piece of work if you ask me but he is... whof...!" Frankie cried nervously.
"Haha! That's what I'm talking about! We'll get along just fine then! But you better be careful who you're makin' googly eyes at- you don't want your ladies to be getting jealous~"
Frankie flushed red yet again as he immediately tried to defy her claim.
"N-n-n-n-nonononono! Pyra Mythra and I aren't- we- we haven't even... I mean... I certainly wouldn't like it if- butbut we got tricked into this! We're super close but not THAT close!"
"Mmm... I don't think that's what anyone else out there, sees~"
"W-well, I mean..." Frankie shrunk into himself and looked away shyly, his blush softening.
"Don't worry about it, Frank. I'm just messing... you tell em when you're good and ready..."
Frankie breathed heavily as he looked up to the sky.
"Would you believe me if I said I had this exact conversation with someone else not too long ago?"
"Absolutely... got a date~?"
Frankie shut his eyes gently, again feeling a calming breeze flood his veins as he stood up and smiled gently and fondly towards his forehead... he could hear and feel her up there so very well...
"C-Christmas..." He admitted. Ariel smiled.
"Wily like a coyote... wait til they're begging, eh, Frank?"
"NO!" Frankie's blush deepened once again as Ariel laughed at his expense.
"I-I hope you don't mind I'm... not too advanced at all this stuff... Miko really wanted to do this and I didn't wanna let her down..." Kaito explained sheepishly as Brianna scanned the area for ingredients readily as the round was about to start.
"Don't worry about a thing, sweetie. I'm sure we can think of something. Those burgers back there looked mighty tasty."
"Ha...haha... just got a lot of practice with the beefy stuff, yknow...?" Kaito timidly rubbed the back of his head, still a bit awkward in the presence of an older lady.
"Do you, now...?" Brianna looked up in thought for a brief second before she kneeled down to his level with a light smile on her face. "Tell me some of the things you and your family like to cook. Oh! Keep it at a whisper... don't wanna give anyone else ideas..."
"Well... there is... ONE thing..." Kaito cupped his hands over Brianna's ear, who nodded intensively as Kaito described his dish, she smiled pleasantly the more descriptive he became. When he finally finished, she looked him straight in the eye and asked.
"How are you with Buffalo...?"
...
With the bell ringing for the next round, the audience was on the edge of their seats seeing all the new teamups. Viewership was at an all time high on the live feed, and Bruce couldn't be more excited. With his usual brass and bombastic attitude, he narrated cheerfully over the mix-ups, saying things like,
"Young and old meet at last! What a turn up! Will this impede our contestants, or will it erupt in a sensation of flavor like never before!"
"OWWW! It's getting HOT here tonight! Look at the fire sparking between those two!"
"Hoho! We got us a real dynamic duo here, folks! Flowing just as naturally as before! The ethics of all these different cultures culminating at once never ceases to amaze me!"
"Team Mia is undeterred! Look at the sheer dedication on that chopping! They're mad, I tell you, MAD!"
Indeed, Mia handled the chopping of the celery, carrots, and onions with insane precision, so much so that Pyra, who was very keen on her making of the roux, peered over her shoulder to sneak a peek. Mia winked playfully her way and chastised her lightly, reminding the 'younger' lady to get back on track. Initially embarrassed, Pyra let out a small laugh before she continued to give her arms even more workout as she took big, intuitive whiffs of the flour and oil mixture... then there was Mythra.
Only now had she actually gotten to putting the rice on boil... and she did nothing else. All she did was stare anxiously at the pot containing the bubbling combination, any minute now it looked like it would overflow, and it threw Mythra completely off. She felt herself breathing quickly in a bout of confusion, already envisioning the future of what disastrous results would come thanks to her own carelessness and stupidity. She almost grabbed her head- but then she remembered that that wouldn't be wise at all- contamination would be imminent, which made her even more concerned. She looked around in fear and confusion, sweating profusely as the steaming pot shook faster and faster, matching her own wild movements, both just about ready to burst and then-
"Mythra! What're ya doin, sweetie?" Mia asked authoritatively. Mythra was so much in a tizzy that she couldn't even blow up at Mia. Instead, she stuck straight up in fear as she gingerly turned herself around to face the taller woman, expecting to see an expression of anger and annoyance coming her way... but all she saw was one of great concern.
"Listen to me, kid... I get you're stressed about all this junk... but we're all here to have a good time, alright? Just as much as we're here to win- and I know you wanna win, right?" Mythra just nodded silently, still unsure of... everything. "Heh... thought so. Cmon, the rice'll be just fine- but you gotta get a handle on things- I'm putting you on sausage cutting duty- then you'll sauté them til they get nice and browned... think you can do that?" Mythra looked nervously at the pre-cooked sausage and then back to Mia, who still smiled warmly at her.
Looking past her, Mythra saw Pyra immediately slap a few medallions of chicken breast on the grill, searing them hot and fast. She worked with incredible speed and handiwork, stabbing the meat every so often to check for doneness... how was she supposed to match up with that? Pyra glanced over at her just in time and closed her eyes gently... that's when she heard her voice.
'We're rooting for you, Mythra... it's not over yet... practice makes perfect...' She told her telepathically. Mythra looked down briefly in consideration, then quickly turned to watch Frankie work with Ariel. The latter of which was busy sifting through different kinds of oils, trying to decide which one would be best for their own dish.
They were making Carne Asada tacos. And as the flap meat rested in a bowl of freshly squeezed oranges and crushed garlic, Frankie quickly came to Ariel's aid, grabbing some grape seed oil off her, gently and happily explaining what the real application of the stuff was going to be. Ariel was shocked and slightly embarrassed, but laughed the mixup off quickly, putting away a very deep pan she had pulled out and instead replaced it with a more shallow one, of which Frankie seemed to improve of. He handed her some cilantro and a knife while he took out various veggies, placing them next to the food processor, and immediately measuring out some mayonnaise, sugar, and lime juice. Ariel, still a bit confused, looked over to the still marinating meat and back to the empty pan in slight concern.
"All we gotta do is warm up the tortillas... carnita takes no time at all... so we can be a little extra."
"Ah- okay- got it."
That's what she heard from so far away... and if Frankie could adapt so fast... She turned back to Mia and gave her a sharp nod.
"That's what I like to hear... now get to work, hon, every minute counts!"
Mythra took a deep breath and took out a knife of her own, staring down the sausage confidently, still sweating just a bit... but with a better lay of the land and her head cleared out considerably more, she took to the cutting board and worked as precisely as she could. Cuts weren't perfect, each little medallion of the sausage all came out at different sizes, but they looked the same shape nevertheless... she just had to keep working... that was all.
On the other half of the room, Kaito and Brianna had gotten to work on what they discussed: Bison Kebabs. After having taken some ground bison, the two had mashed it up and mixed it with oils, herbs, onions, and other seasonings, before taking a few long metal skewers and kneading the meat around them.
"J-just so you know, I haven't done this myself a ton of times, and there ain't no way the stuff I make will compare to what my dad would-"
Brianna lightly knuckled the top of the shorter man's head to cut him off. "Oh, don't worry too much about it, okay? Have I said you're doing anything wrong?"
"No-"
"And do you think you've made a mistake yet?"
"Not exactly-"
"Then keep it up!"
With Brianna's encouragement, Kaito proceeded with some more confidence, lightly pinching the skewer of meat evenly to create the distinct shape of the kebab. Brianna followed suit, chuckling at how diligently the scruffy younger man was at making sure he did his part.
So far it seemed that, despite the swapping of team members, each new combination was already working really well together.
...or perhaps it only seemed that way because all of the lack of compatibility was siphoned into one group, being Irma and Miko's.
The two had spent nearly half of the time they should have been planning their dish on bickering with each other, at this point preparing ingredients for a meal they still had no clear ideas for.
"Hey, focus on your own area!" Miko chastised Irma for constantly glaring at the Frankie-Ariel and Mia-Pyra-Mythra tables, annoyed at the former for seeing Ariel be so friendly with the enemy and the latter for Mythra not messing up as much as she was expecting.
In response, Irma snapped back, "Well why don't you quit sneaking peeks at your scruffy idiot's table?"
Miko, wanting to argue back but unable to deny that she had in fact been glancing at Kaito and Brianna periodically, searched her mind for something else to poke at Irma.
"Seriously, how insecure can you be? If you're that worried he'll dump you maybe just-"
"That's not it!" Miko shouted with some force. To anyone outside of their area, it would just seem like their bickering was escalating at the expected rate, however something about Miko's tone forced Irma to pause.
"Kaito's not that type of person...he always places what other people want over himself." Miko spoke coldly as she continued chopping vegetables. "That's what I'm worried about."
For the first time in as long as she could remember, Irma didn't view Miko with spite. She wasn't aware of their history, but something about the level at which Miko cared for Kaito felt...familiar to her.
"Ahh...well you don't have much to worry about, it seems like this Brianna's letting him take the reins on what they're making." Irma gestured for Miko to take a closer look.
"Heh...yeah, I guess she is." Miko smiled with some relief.
"Course, it's a mistake since that scruffy idiot's gonna be the reason they bomb this round, soooo-"
And just like that, the two were back to quarreling and quibbling, still having not decided on what they were even making.
"BACK OFF, YOU CREEP! AND IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A SLOPPY YOU KNOW WHAT WE'D BE DONE BY NOW!"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR SASS LITTLE GIRL! IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, I'D STILL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU IN CLASS!"
"IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT YOU JERK! YOU HAD WHAT WAS COMING TO YOU! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT COMPARING MY KEEPING UP WITH YOUR ACADEMIC INEPTITUDE!"
"YEAH?! WELL YOU'RE UGLY!"
"NO! YOU ARE!"
"SWEATY ASS!"
"BRASSY BOARISH BLONDE BIMBO!"
"SWEATY ASS!"
" LACKLUSTER LIFELESS LAWBREAKER!"
"SWEATY ASS!"
"STUPENDOUSLY STUPIDLY SICKENING PSYCHOPATH!"
"Oh yeah? SWEATY ASS!"
They threw blows at each other like children, neither successfully landing a hit on each other at all. It was a humorous squabble for the crowd at the very least, as their wild swinging wound up blocking each other in a nonsensical flurry.
A bit under an hour later and it was the dinner round's turn to come to an end.
The hectic nature of the team swapping ended up being quite a good decision for the show, as seeing how each contestant matched with someone they weren't as familiar with led to compelling results.
First were Kaito and Brianna's bison kebabs. And thanks to the former's familiarity with the dish and the latter's strong guidance, it came together wonderfully. Kaito only wished they could've served it with a plate of rice to complete the set, but bread was also a very common staple and the sheer heft the rice would've added to the meal would've likely been overpowering. Plus bundling the pieces of meat in the pita bread made for an engaging eating experience. The older woman ruffled his hair proudly.
Frankie and Ariel's Carne Asada tacos were another wonderful pairing. Ariel's lack of knowledge on how to really prepare what came from Frankie's own culture did set them back a little, but he was more than happy to guide her along and show her the ropes, of which she caught on quickly... even if she could feel Mythra's icy cold glares from the distance, it didn't disturb her from getting back on track decently enough. The meat was marinated as much as it could and the char wasn't the most spectacular, but the beautiful... succulent... JUICY flesh accentuated by a vibrant red color and acidic taste, topped off with a creamy cilantro dressing... poetry in cuisine...,
Then of course there was the one 3-person show, with Mythra practically biting her nails with anxiety over how their gumbo turned out. She recalled vividly how the browning turned out... a little too crispy. Even with Mia's reassurance, she couldn't help but feel like she screwed up big time... and the absolute mess she made when plopping all the ingredients into the stew... oh lord have mercy... This was easily the most contribution she'd made to one of these dishes, so given how the previous rounds went for her alongside how seasoned Mia was, she knew any issue the judges had would sting for her the most.
However, in a small miracle, the judges absolutely loved it! The flavor and texture were beautifully melded together, the chunks of meat and veggies being an absolute joy to chew through, the wonderfully spicy flavor the broth itself produced offset any and all imperfections of the crispier meat, making it just as juicy and flavorful as the rest of the stuff. The moment Mythra saw the reaction of the judges, her shoulders slumped in some relief, and Pyra grasped them in celebration.
"We did it, Mythra! They love it!"
"Y-yeah! They sure did-" Mythra said shakily. While she was certainly happy, she fought her brain to not chalk up this success to Mia and Pyra's work. It seemed as though anything short of Mythra succeeding completely by herself wouldn't be enough to convince her of her own skill.
"Alright, baby!" Mia offered the two of them a congratulatory high five, which shook Mythra out of the slump.
'Well, at least I didn't mess anything up-' She thought to herself. And that thought permeated as the judges went over to the last..."dish"?
"Erm...what would you call this...contraption, ladies?" One of the judges asked.
"Uh...soup...I think?" Miko slowly contemplated her words.
"What...kind of soup?"
"...yes-"
The large bowl in front of them contained a concoction so odd that even calling it soup seemed like a stretch. It was the only thing one could conclude about it, to be fair, but...even still.
The color was an...unsettlingly bright shade of purple, with various chunks of ingredients that definitely were not designed to go together popping out and sinking back into what was supposedly the broth. The lack of coordination between the contestants when making it were utterly painful to see just by looking at it.
"...witch's brew is more like it-" Irma quietly whispered.
"Oh hush you, I did what I set out to do and kept you from making Mythra's day worse." Miko snapped back, but just as quietly. Clearly the results of their lack of teamwork weren't really settling in.
"Aww c'mon, it can't be that bad!" Kaito cheerfully stated, walking over and dipping a far too eager ladle into the liquid.
What he had spooned out of the bowl was a decent summation of the rest of the brew, floating chunks and all. This hardly deterred the man as he took a gracious sip and swallowed, much to the dismay of the contested ladies as Miko and Irma's attempts to stop him fell on deaf ears.
"Hm..."
"Mhm..."
"Hm..."
"Kaito...?" Frankie asked, joining in the rest of the crowd's observation of this impromptu taste-test.
"Mhm...yep. Excuse me for a moment."
Kaito used his considerable speed to beeline for the nearest restroom, in which he would remain for the next 15 minutes.
Having seen this, the judges collectively agreed that tasting the dish was unnecessary for its appraisal. And so Mythra walked past the embarrassed Irma and gently comforted the embarrassed Miko, hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah...I've been there-"
"...I appreciate it Mythra, but that's not exactly comforting coming from you-"
"Just shut up and let me comfort you..." Mythra demanded as she stuffed Miko into her person, catching the younger woman by surprise as they both entered a close hug. Unable to break free, Miko relented and hugged back all the same.
Once the tables had been re-organized for the contestants (and Kaito had returned from his sickly venture), the competition began its fourth and final round.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am STUFFED! But you know what they say, there's always room for dessert- AND! Since last round really got you guys steaming- let's throw in another big surprise for our contestants!"
As hushed whispers fell the crowd, all the teams up on stage looked at each other with insecurity, Mythra especially, who instinctively latched on to Frankie's arm again.
"You've seen them all work together in teams... now... THEY'RE GOING IT ALONE!"
The crowd whooped and cheered with excitement, while the people on stage either groaned, rolled their eyes, cursed at their 'illustrious' host, or froze in terror... All that work Mythra did with everyone... now everything would fall on her and her alone... she didn't even have words to express how she felt... all she could do was stand in the cold... dead... silence... and then Frankie placed his hand over hers.
"You got this, Mimi... I know you do..." Frankie said.
"You're gonna make us proud just like you have been!" Pyra added.
"Heh... can't wait to see how she'll mess this one up." Irma snarked to Ariel, who wasn't impressed in the least.
Mythra gulped and breathed in heavily... the encouragement was nice... but the final stretch was already here...
Another nice yet brief comfort for Mythra however was the fact that the other less-experienced contestants, being Kaito, Miko, and Irma, were similarly discomforted at the thought of handling such a task all on their own (seeing Irma so nervous in particular definitely helped distract Mythra from her own worries). Each of them got their own rounds of encouragement from the more experienced contestants leading them into this finale.
"You knocked it outta the park last time, baby... don't worry so much, you'll do fine."
"You haven't let me down, Frankie, but you'll still have me on your side! Good luck!"
"Keep your chin up, kids... you've been impressing us all so far... just try not to send anyone to the latrine this time around...!"
And just like that, the bell rang, and with no distractions of the other person at their side, each contestant took off.
Like a whip, Mia turned the oven on quickly and then took out some bananas, peeled them with ease and began slicing them up with the same level of proficiency as the vegetables for her gumbo. When that was over and the oven heated to the right temperature, she laid out some pecans on a baking sheet and popped them in, then turned on the flame of her stove in a flash... medium high... just perfect... rum was on standby for the finishing move.
Frankie overlooked a menagerie of ingredients quite nervously. Flour, eggs, vanilla, butter, sugar, brown sugar, salt... chocolate chips. It had been some time since he last made his and his dad's signature chocolate chip cookies. He knew in his heart that's what he wanted... but he worried all the same, wasting his time trying to figure out how to go about it... as he did so... an old memory resurfaced.
"Mijo? What are you doing?"
"I'm daddy's 'a-system!'"
"Oh! You are, are you?"
"Let the kid help out, babe. He's excited... just look at him."
"Okay, mijo... just make sure you listen to daddy, okay? We're sharing this with everyone!"
"Okay mama!"
"Frank! Put that down! What are you doing?!"
"W-well... we got the mixing done! Right son?"
"Mm-hmm!"
He chuckled lightly as he remembered his messy little mouth, covered all over with raw cookie dough. As far away as they were... he wanted to honor those memories as best he could... no more time to waste... just get to it.
It seemed as though many of the other contestants had the same idea as Mia and Frankie, leaning into their cultural backgrounds to make desserts they were familiar with.
Brianna's dish seemed unassuming at first... milk, molasses, ginger, nutmeg, cornmeal, and sugar? The ingredients all looked like they'd be a mess. And Brianna heard the whispering among the crowd, but she didn't care. As a matter of fact, the unsure hushed of all these peers gave her all the more motivation to keep going. With the oven preheating, she immediately started whisking some eggs and rapidly switched over to the other ingredients, throwing them all carefully into a large saucepan. Keeping a nice warm temperature all the while, mixing up everything all together in such an odd and transfixing kind of way...
Kaito decided he'd make what was called Sesame Halva, a sweet made of sesame butter and honey that had the texture akin to a dry marshmallow. These types of confectionery were always a bit too sweet for his tastes, but that didn't mean he wasn't well familiar with how they were made. They were also commonly served with tea, as were most sweet things in his culture, which gave Kaito a rare chance to truly show off his tea-making skills.
Miko meanwhile decided to dive right back into her wheelhouse and make big fluffy pancakes, the ones commonly seen in Japanese restaurants and the like. It may have been retreading some of the same ground as the chicken waffles she made with Kaito in the breakfast round, but after the disaster that was the dessert round, Miss Iino was not taking any chances. She knew exactly how to make the batter and exactly how to stir it to get that signature fluffy and almost gelatinous texture, which is what she was banking on to make her dessert stand out.
Pyra had to admit that she was getting rather tired of cooking so many meals in succession, though the only expression on her face was one of a big hefty breath, trying to decide what to do by herself... the world was her oyster, but she didn't exactly have a lot of time to ponder... buñuelos, maybe? No, that would involve a hefty dough making process, and she was already losing time as it was... maybe the secret wasn't to "cook" anything at all...
"What were those things on the top shelf, Frankie?"
"Oh! Those are some no-bake cheesecake balls, keto friendly and sugar free- good for a sweet tooth if you're on a diet."
"No-bake...? What are you on about?"
"Well... get the oil started for these buñuelos... we'll split a couple and I'll be happy to tell you all about it..."
"Okay!"
A glint appeared in her eye as she shot out of her memory and leapt into action. She didn't write the recipe down, but she remembered the whole process step by step... she'd have to be quick though, she needed to allocate time for freezing.
"Peanut butter... cream cheese... monk fruit sweetener... chocolate chips... parchment paper..." She spoke to herself as she slammed everything down on her workspace dutifully, ending by grabbing a large knife and swinging it upwards as she eyed the set of chocolate chips below her. She let out a deviously confident chuckle, looming over her unsuspecting prey... then happily began to chop them up into manageable pieces at incredible speed. Her knife skills were impeccable, and her nonchalance to the whole thing only made the show more impressive.
Ariel took to her own devices rather quickly as well, taking as many dry ingredients as she could in addition to some cocoa powder and whisked them together vigorously. Once she was finished, without much concern of her own, she grabbed a pot and... plastic bowl? She was making a double boiler! Some of the local populace eyed her curiously. As simple as the technique was, it was an interesting sight for the less informed to be sure, all the more reason to get out and watch the fun.
Irma panicked as she frantically dug through the cabinet, only finding a packet of instant jell-o and marshmallows to really work with. She looked back over at Miko, working diligently and barely breaking a sweat.
"Damn that brunette... trying to steal my thunder AGAIN!" She thought to herself before she looked over to Mythra, who stood completely still, frozen at the mercy of all the watching eyes of the audience. A smirk crossed her face at the sight. "Whatever... as long as I beat the side piece over there... I'll be satisfied... heh... I can work with this..."
Unable to really make a big show, Irma grabbed a pot, filled it with water, and set it to boil while chopping up some walnuts she had leftover from hers and Ariel's salad.
And then...there was Mythra.
What few strands of confidence she had in making a dessert on her own completely vanished once the round proper had started. Watching everyone, even the less skilled contestants immediately get to work made her frozen state spiral into even more anxiety.
Because of course...she could never do this sort of thing. She just wasn't designed for it.
Mythra slumped slightly as she went through the motions of looking through the pantries, a shallow attempt to spark some ideas that she knew weren't coming to her.
'That's right...I'm Mythra after all...I'm supposed to mess up at this stuff...'
As the seconds ticked passed and Mythra hadn't even started, more and more negative thoughts started to cloud her mind. All of the fun energy and sounds of the competition started to blur in her mind, leaving her own self-critical voice being what she heard most clearly.
'I'm the Aegis...I'm a fighter, I don't...this isn't something I'm meant to do...'
She gripped the sides of her apron. The phrase 'simpleton' entered her mind from a place she knew was familiar, but still couldn't fully recognize.
'Heh, yeah...I'm just a simpleton, right...'
She could recall people referring to her as that. And she knew in her heart that they never meant any harm by it, it was all in good jest. But...a small part of her deep inside was still hurt by that word. Not by how people used it, but by how her own mind pitted it against her. This was what she was, it was what she was always going to be.
She felt awful. She felt guilty.
All of that work put in to help Mythra grow and actually achieve something she thought was forever beyond her, all of that would go to waste because she just couldn't find it in herself to break from what she felt was meant for her.
All of the work...he...
"...enough of this crap, Mythra..."
Stomping her foot to the ground, Mythra regained her composure.
That's right. Frankie had put in so much effort to help her do this. He was the one person who never once took her attempts at learning how to cook as a joke, the one person who fully believed she could do it if she tried from day one. Through all of her screw ups, all of the times she made some mistake only for him to turn around and say it had its own charm...
There was no way...no way she was about to let his care for her go to waste. Maybe in the past she might have considered giving up in such a way but...not this time.
'C'mon...think you Dummy...think!'
Mythra wracked her brain for something, anything to give her a direction. Some ideas for what to make, something that she could pull off really well, something that was truly her own.
Every so often the "simpleton" nickname flashed in her head seemingly to taunt her, which she had to stamp out with some effort.
'No...I'm not just a simpleton, I'm not..."
"...wait a minute."
Suddenly something occurred to Mythra. As if recalling the nickname had spurred on a different memory.
"Could I...?" Mythra looked through her pantry again, this time actually taking in what she had access to and compared it to what she needed.
"I'd...need to replace some of the ingredients, but...maybe-"
And suddenly, after having spent a solid 5 minutes mulling it over, Mythra had sprung into action. The audience and the other contestants took immediate note as Mythra had gone from slowly pacing around and not getting anything done to moving faster than any of them could.
Lactonuts were definitely off the table, but walnuts should be a more than a suitable substitute.
Nest extract...that definitely had the same texture and density as tree-sap, so...maple syrup!
Melosian honey, ruby pineapples, moonbeam bananas, those were even more simple to find replacements for.
All that was left were the eggs and cream, which were easy enough to make.
Kaito and Miko were shocked but grinning ear to ear. Irma was slack-jawed. Ariel was chuckling in sheer surprise. Brianna was impressed.
Mia gave an all too knowing smirk, "I knew you had it in ya, blondie-"
"Go Mythra!" Pyra cheered on, using this as motivation to pick up the pace.
And Frankie...he just smiled. Because he noticed something more than just Mythra's newfound vigor.
She was smiling too.
It was the first time throughout the whole competition that Mythra seemed genuinely happy to be there, without a hint of anxiety across her face. She constructed her dish with a level of passion and assuredness that Frankie couldn't help but just...smile at the sight of it.
"Good work, Mimi..." He said quietly to himself as he returned his focus to his own work.
And thus, the dessert round, the final round of the cooking competition, was now over.
In a stunning turn of events, every contestant's dish looked divine. Miko's pancakes, Ariel's chocolate pudding, Kaito's Halva, Mia's Banana Foster, Irma's jello-marshmallows, Brianna's Indian pudding, Pyra's cheesecake balls... and then there were Frankie's cookies... were horrendous to say the least... flat as a board... the run off from the batter was ever present on the shape itself... the chocolate chips stuck out pathetically on top... to say he was disappointed was an understatement. He mulled over his dish sadly and sighed heavily.
"Baking powder... baking soda... who in their right mind..." He felt like throwing a tantrum... much like the one at camp with the tent that only Pyra was witness too. She felt his pain and turned sadly toward him, trying to figure out how to console him... luckily...
"It's cookie brittle, Dummy..." Mythra suddenly said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder, rubbing it gently. His eyes already misty, he turned to look at her, she was smiling brighter than she ever had before... that alone was enough to settle him down a fair bit... and that sweet... wonderful chuckle she let out could have stopped a war... "It smells real good too! Give it a chance..."
"...okay..." Frankie sniffed. Pyra smiled tiredly and headed over to the two of them, wrapping them up in a congratulatory hug, to which the other two joined in slowly... just as exhausted... but happy... the audience, and even Bruce cooed in delight. Irma stuck her tongue out and jabbed her finger in her mouth in disgust. Ariel laughed and gently patted her head.
"Those three are going places... don't you think, Mia...?" Brianna asked, looking up fondly at her wife.
"Welp... I sure as hell know one of 'em is..." Mia responded, grabbing Brianna's hand tightly and lovingly, the wedded couple now smiling warmly at each other...
"Mm...Mythra is it?" One of the judges called, prompting Mythra, Frankie, and Pyra to all walk over.
"This one is yours, right?" The judge asked, still observing the taste of Mythra's creation.
"Yeah...?" Mythra slowly responded.
"Oh heavens, I dare say this is the best dessert of the lot! What do you call it?"
Frankie and Pyra, giddy at the judge's high appraisal, gestured for Mythra to answer. The blonde chuckled at their eagerness, and thus put her hands to her hips and announced with confidence...
"A Miracle Parfait!"
...
And so, the final tally of the judgements were made. It was a close race...or so it might've seemed from the outset. But as the judges pointed out, every contestant save for two were involved with at least one mistake-riddled dish. And even if they had a stand-out round like Mythra's dessert, it was clear as day to keen viewers who the proper winners of the competition were-
"The lovely team of Mia and Brianna!" Bruce gave his announcement with great energy as the elder couple received their trophy together, happily accepting it while making mention of the great efforts by the rest of the contestants.
Much applause was given in particular to the uniqueness and passion put into each and every dish the two had made... all of it came from their roots... and every bit was absolutely delicious. As the other contestants, even Irma, albeit much more slowly, clapped in congratulations, Frankie and Mythra had a small moment together. Both of them smiled brightly at each other, small blushes on their faces, acknowledging silently between the other just how much... they really liked having the other right there with them.
And with that, the competition at least came to a close with the sun already starting to set and the TV crew began to pack up.
"Ugh. FINALLY! Thought Muscle Man over there would never shut up!" Mia groaned and stretched wildly, careful not to drop her and Brianna's trophy in hand.
"Next time we enter into one of these, we gotta make sure we look out for him..." Brianna added, tucking the cash away in her purse.
"Yeah... but it was dang-ass good time!" Mia cried once again, before turning to the other contestants, who trudged along, just as tired and even more full. "You kids sure are somethin' else! Hope next year we can get into this all over again! Thanks for the competition!"
"You're welcome..." the younger contestants said tiredly. And that's when Mia turned to Mythra, who was trying her very best not to fall asleep.
"Hey, Mythra." She said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hm...? Something up...?" She said, drowsily.
"You're gonna go far, kid, don't let those little screw ups weigh ya down. You've got a good guy and sister over there lookin' out for ya, and trust me... a sensitive type like you... that's exactly what we all need sometimes. You're doing great, just keep on chuggin'..."
"Mmm... okay... thanks..." Mythra yawned loudly before at last collapsing onto Frankie's shoulder. The young man blushed while the rest of his peers, Pyra included, laughed teasingly.
"Ready whenever you are, big brooooo~" Kaito teased, whispering into Frankie's ear.
"Sh-shut up..." Frankie quibbled back.
"Mythra... honestly... you're such a little kid..." Pyra chuckled lightly, lifting Mythra up from Frankie's shoulder and onto his back, where he proceeded to keep her steady and safe.
"Dios Mio, she's heavy..." Frankie groaned.
"You know you don't mind~" Pyra giggled.
"And I don't either~" Pneuma suddenly rang out in Frankie's conscience.
"What?! You're here too?!" He asked back in his head. He had to catch himself from actually responding to her out loud and making everyone think he was hearing voices in his head. Which...he was, but he didn't need them all to know that-
"Haha... you better take good care of her, Frank, she's a keeper..." Mia stated. Frankie said nothing and turned away in a huff.
"We'll be off now... you all get home safely..." Brianna waved goodbye lightly, as the rest of the still awake crew bid her adieu just as well.
"Meh...Kokonut..." Miko grumbled as she, too, fell asleep right on Kaito's shoulder.
"Aww Muffin... I think we're out too... she's in her food coma..." Kaito laughed as he wrapped an arm around her, carrying the both of them to the car.
"Don't get too crazy now, you lot~" Kaito teased Frankie and Pyra.
"WE WON'T!" Frankie shouted angrily.
"How crass... them and their little make believe fairy tales..." Pyra shook her head in disapproval as the shortest duo left.
"Hey, Frank." Ariel suddenly called, getting his and Pyra's attention. "Irma's got something she'd like to say, don't you?" Ariel pushed her partner forward, prompting a grunt and grumble from her seething face. Nevertheless, the blonde walked up and looked Frankie straight in the eye.
"...you guys don't totally suck..." She said through aggressively gritted teeth.
Frankie simply nodded, and Pyra bowed politely, neither saying a word in response which seemed to slightly aggravate Irma even more. Frankie still hadn't made peace with her in the least... today certainly didn't give him any more reason to.
"But this isn't over! I'm gonna get you one day, just you wait!"
"Yeah, yeah, keep moving, we got job hunting to do..." Ariel prodded, pushing Irma away from her one-sided skirmish.
"What- NOW?! But I'm tired..." Ariel didn't bother with a response and turned back to the trio.
"See you guys later!"
"Bye, Ariel!" Pyra waved excitedly as Frankie delivered a sharp and happy nod her way. "We all really have grown up in our own little ways, haven't we...?" Pyra asked Frankie, turning sweetly to him. With a light blush, he nodded, as happy as ever.
"We have..." He turned to a sleeping Mythra, who smiled so serenely in her slumber... enough to widen his own smile and bring a few satisfied tears to his eyes, "...a lot..."
"Mmm Dummy" Mythra cooed in her sleep, sinking into Frankie's back even more.
"Okay, Frankie...! Let's head home and turn on the big screen! I gotta get my creative juices flowing!"
"Still going? I don't know whether to laugh or cry." Frankie teased with a laugh.
"Hush up, you! Make sure it's high fantasy! Mama's got a classic brewing!"
"Oh... so that's what we're calling you now?"
"Why- do you wanna~?"
"...NO!"
