one may smile

he's   nervous. granted   ,   he   knows   sebastian   would   never   be   rude   or   mean   about   him   trying   something   new   ━━   hell   ,   he   might   even   lie   just   to   save   his   feelings.   that's   exactly   the   reason   why   mason   asked   him   to   be   as   honest   as   possible   ,   as   he'll   never   get   any   better   if   he   doesn't   get   some   honest   feedback.   staying   at   home   for   the   season   until   the   next   show's   rehearsals   begin   has   been   good   for   both   of   them   ,   especially   since   it   gives   mason   time   to   try   new   things   &   try   to   improve   upon   his   less   than   stellar   cooking   abilities.   he's   been   making   small   meals   here   &   there   for   sebastian   to   try   ,   but   this   is   his   first   big   meal   &   cooking   meat   has   always   been   a   struggle   for   him.   pulling   out   his   chair   ,   mason   waits   for   sebastian   to   begin   to   sit   so   he   can   scoot   his   seat   behind   him.   a   napkin   is   then   placed   on   his   lap   in   preparation   for   his   dinner   ,   then   the   plate   itself is presented   ,   a   steak   with   creamy   mashed   potatoes   ,   homemade   gravy   &   brussel   sprouts   cooked   in   the   air   fryer.

❝   remember   ,   be   totally   honest   with   me   ,   ❞   mason   reminds   him   ,   still   wearing   the   silly ❛   kiss   the   cook   ❜   apron   sebastian   got   for   him   in   jest.   his   own   plate   is   still   back   in   the   kitchen   ,   but   he   can't   focus   on   eating   right   now.   instead   ,   he   waits   for   his   husband   to   take   a   bite   of   his   meal   ,   hopeful   he   sees   a   light   of   delight   in   his   eyes   &   not   one   of   disgust.

this means a lot to mason. sebastian can tell. @greenelight lowers the plate in front of his husband, setting it perfectly between his fork, knife, and napkin, and then backs away, anxious and ready for the verdict. it's as tense as a courtroom in that kitchen — mason, waiting to hear a yes or no. is it good? is it bad? is the steak cooked through? how did the gravy turn out? did the air fryer cook the brussel sprouts all the way, or leave the middles cold and limp?

sebastian pretends he's on a cooking show, seated at a panel with two other esteemed judges. he lifts his fork and knife, cuts a small portion of steak, and brings it to his mouth to taste.

silence as he chews. his facial features, so often an easy glimpse into his feelings, now conceal his true emotions in a stone-faced expression. once he's finished with the bite of steak, he tries the potatoes, then the brussel sprouts. still silent. after a moment of tension (all intentional; all to rile mason up and make him nervous), sebastian sets his silverware down, turns to mason... and beams. the smile explodes across his face. "that's the best steak i've ever had. you cooked it perfectly!" he points to the potatoes. "creamy, buttery... not rough, not sandy... and the brussel sprouts are pretty good. never would have thought to put them in the air fryer. who taught you that?"

you don't understand. i need you. i can't win without you.

you expecting a kiss?

i didn't need your help.

that's not what it looked like from where i was standing.

i think you should do what he says.

it'll be a shame to get blood all over my nice new outfit.

have you ever seen a flower die? watched something that was once so beautiful, so full of life, collapse and rot from within?

impressive, [name]. i doubted you'd actually return.

i'm a man of my word.

give it to me.

i've seen worse.

what the hell are you supposed to be?

please don't hurt me. i didn't mean it!

i'm surprised he didn't kill you.

you can hear me, can you?

have you ever considered that all this is your fault? your presence creates this animals.

you are all experiencing fear in anticipation of some specific pain or danger. this is perfectly understandable.

what the hell happened in there?

i told you it would work.

you're mine now.

lower your weapons.

have you tried the front door?

who sent you?

when you see what i've been planning all along, you'll just die!

that doesn't sound good.

how's it hangin'?

i'm running out of patience. you're running out of people. let's see what runs out first.

welcome to hell!

stop right there! we need to talk.

i have a question for you.

you should have killed me.

what the hell?

sorry to disappoint you boys. it's just little ol' me.

what are you waiting for? come on!

we all know you'll save me.

every decision you've ever made ends in death and misery. people die. i stop you.

are you happy now?

you want to know something funny? even after everything you've done... i would have saved you.

that actually is pretty funny.

get back here.

no one's who you think they are.

it was all a lie. there's nothing wrong with you.

nice of you to say, but you of all people should know... there's plenty wrong with me.

this stuff is killing me.

why should i care?

don't tell me it's not what you always wanted.

look, we're running out of time.

i need your help.

so we both die. i'm fine with that.

what are you talking about?

i'll be in touch!

he is kicking all kinds of ass down there.

no gun? shame. this is gonna hurt.

two guns, bitch!

how does it feel, [name]?

do you feel sad? full of rage?

you're truly an extraordinary specimen... i look forward to breaking you.

i feel i should thank you.

it will be my legacy.

if you try to stop me, i guarantee everyone will know your secret.

let's just talk about this.

now you wanna talk?

well, look who it is. i haven't seen you for... how long has it been?

oh, that's right. you left me to die.

i am sorry i doubted you.

you're better than this.

you're making me late for my spa treatment!

look around you.

where the hell have you been? i thought you were dead.

shut it down? by the end of tonight, i will be a hero.

anyone ever tell you that you're full of surprises?

i think i chipped a nail back there.

that's not what i wanted to hear.

❝ maybe you should take it easy ... just for a minute, okay?   ❞ and she shifts back slightly, still kneeling, but never once breaking her gaze off him. studying the rise and fall of his chest, watching how his breathing begins to steady, how the tension starts to melt, little by little. then, he speaks of the plant and she turns to catch a quick glimpse of it. she'd been wholly absorbed — how time had slipped by in the silence while she'd been tending to the single bloom. ❝ they're a lot stronger than they look. just needed a gentle nudge and a sip of water ... and maybe a little love.   ❞ she turns back to him, ❝ you should try talking to it sometime, it's a real chatterbox. you'd get along.   ❞

honey-sweet laughter bubbles, and she rises to her feet alongside sebastian's coaxing, following back towards the kitchen and coming to rest once more beside the potted plant — now upright and full of life, no longer wilting to one side. ❝ oooh, decisions, decisions ... ❞ she muses, more sprawling over the counter than leaning, with elbows propped and one leg swinging lazily behind her. ❝ how's a girl suppose to choose with so many delicious possibilities? ❞

it's embarrassing to startle awake, shaking, gasping, flung from a nightmare, right in front of a friend, but @gainscient never judges him. instead of frowning, feigning concern, or acting like nothing happened, aerith insists sebastian take his time waking up. take it easy... just for a minute. holding his forehead, corkscrew curls nestled in his fingertips, sebastian nods weakly at her, agreeing. yes. he should take it slow. "i'm sorry again for that, aerith," he says, even though he knows she'll wave it off. "really didn't meant to doze off on you, or give you a scare. i'll be fine." he kneads his temple. "just fine."

aerith explains her solution to saving the plants in his apartment. she explains it needs talking to, watered (a given), and 'a little love.' "what does that entail in regards to plant life? a little love, like... fertilizer, or a quick blown kiss every now and then?" sebastian is waking up, stirring, getting himself back to normal as aerith juggles ideas for dinner and leans on the counter. "vegetable stew doesn't sound too hard. let me..." a pause, and the tall man rises from the couch, still clutching his head. two seconds later, and he's wandered to his shelf nearby to peruse his collection of cookbooks. "mm. vegetable stew and chocolate covered strawberries. let's see what i can do."