MASKTOURN

Naiyta brought Roman to the kitchen, but before setting him down called out the order, "All clear out!" The masked bird and snake attendants quickly obliged, filing out of the kitchen after completing whatever tasks they had been doing. Naiyta stopped one of them briefly, only to ask for their knives to be brought down to the kitchen. Once everyone else was out, Naiyta set Roman down on a small stool. "I figure you'd like to work in a more... peaceful environment." (edited)

8:30 AM

@Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

(Assume they also brought the Eye Bowl roman wouldnt let them leave without it lol) Man, Roman would hate that guy who had to go get the knives. Hey person, walk up that mountain. Then grab my knives. Then walk back down it and give them to me. Thanks. Roman just shrugged and sat on the stool, wrapping his hands around the sides of the seat and humming a bit. "Mhm, I think it'll be nice having it just be us." Roman smiled. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. It will be. We don't need all those.. ogling eyes watching us." Naiyta hummed. They watched the door for the attendant to come back with the knives impatiently. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. It will probably be a while before they get back, right..?" Roman grinned and crossed his legs. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. Probably." Naiyta sighed. "If you would like to look around and familiarize yourself with the kitchen and our ingredients, now might be a good time to do it." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. Well, that was a bit less exciting than what Roman was going to offer, but probably a better use of their time.. "That's a good idea." Roman said and stood up. "Can you show me around?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta began leading Roman around the kitchen. "Truthfully, I am not the most familiar with it myself. I do not cook for myself frequently." It hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As they walked, Roman looked through the cabinets and shelves, taking out a few random things that he figured he'd need. A few bowls, seasonings, oil, smaller knives, pans, vegetables.. "Is there chicken or beef?" Roman asked as he looked through a cupboard. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta gestured over to the iceboxes. "That would be with the cold storage." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I'll set it out now then so it has some time to thaw." Roman set down the pan he grabbed and strolled over to the ice box. "What's your favorite meal, like, in general?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta opened its mouth to say something, but stalled. They stood silent for a long moment, before confessing, "I... don't believe I have one." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You don't have one?" Roman grabbed out a piece of beef and closed the ice box back up. "Do you not have to eat?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I don't- I'm a God, I haven't had to eat in thousands of years. It's- not something I really think about." Naiyta's demeanor had shifted- to something a bit more insecure than it normally presented itself as. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, we'll just have to change that.." Roman tsked and set the beef down on a plate on the counter. "We'll need a side to go with it, and maybe a dessert too.. Hmm.. Do you like sweet things?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta stared into space for a moment longer, before a abruptly shaking their head and refocusing. "Hm? Oh- I like a more subtle sweetness, nothing too overpowering." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Subtle.. Hm. That's like the opposite of Roque, she'd like everything as intense as possible.." Roman hummed. He racked his brain for any possible recipes he'd seen that could meet that criteria."Do you like nuts or tea?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I appreciate a more... delicate approach to some things, I suppose." Naiyta shrugged. "Yes, to both. I prefer nuttier flavors to more tea-like ones." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmm.. Nutty and subtle.." Roman drummed his fingers across the counter. "Okay, I think I have an idea. Roque really hated it, so maybe you'll like it." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta seemed intrigued. "Oh? Will you tell me, or will it be a surprise?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I think a surprise will be better." Roman said. "But we can start on that now, since those knives are going to be a while.." "We'll need butter, walnuts, rosemary leaves, flour, salt, and sugar. Do all of those sound good to you?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Very well, a surprise it will be." They hummed. "That sounds wonderful- you can likely find all the other ingredients in the dry storage." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman circled back to that area, and grabbed all of those items. He set a small pan over a fire and grabbed the butter. "You should come and watch this, it's probably the most important part- besides how long and what temperature you cook it with." Roman said and plopped the butter down in to the pan. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta came over to Roman's side, and watched as the butter sizzled in the pan. "Hmm.... interesting." It hummed idly. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman occasionally stirred it up with a wooden spoon as it melted. It slowly began to turn a dark brown. "Mmm, can you smell it?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I can." Naiyta watched the cooking process carefully. "What are you doing with it, to make it look and smell like that?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I think it's something about the fat and liquid separating because of the heat..?" Roman said. It was foaming a little now, with black specks forming in it. "Oil and water don't really mix, so one melts faster and it all separates." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hm." Naiyta hummed, and watched silently. "I suppose.. that does make sense." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't totally understand all the chemistry going on, but I just know not to mess it up, or Roque gets mad." Roman hummed and continued stirring it. As the foam dissipated, he grabbed a thick towel and grabbed the handle of the pot. He moved the browned liquid butter over to a small bowl. "Now that that's done, it just has to cool, and we can get everything else ready." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I trust your culinary skill." Naiyta hummed, and watched as Roman moved the butter away, then waited patiently for the next step. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Aw, thank you." Roman smiled and picked up the sack of walnuts. "Can you help me chop these? They need to get halved, we probably need a few cups." He dumped out the needed amount to the counter. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta seemed... surprised at being asked to actually participate in the cooking, and stared blankly forward again for a moment, before nodding. "Yes. Of course." They picked up one of the normal, small knives and began chopping up the walnuts Roman had set aside. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman started cutting up the other half of them, and glanced over at Naiyta. "You're doing really good! Those are great halves." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah, thank you. It isn't something I'm... the most used to doing, honestly." It laughed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Well, you could have fooled me." Roman chuckled and threw his completed halves in to the pot the butter had been in. "Just toss em in here once you're done, they need to be roasted first." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Once Naiyta had chopped up all the walnuts, they followed Roman's example and put the walnuts into the pot with his. "What's next?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman moved the pan back over the fire and shook it every few seconds. The smell of roasting nuts soon overtook most of the room. "Roast these up, then we combine everything. And after that it needs to freeze for a bit. I think by the time we put them in the ice box, those knives should hopefully be here and we can get working on the main course." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta watched as Roman roasted the nuts. "Ahhh... alright. Yes, the knives should be here by then." It hummed. "Have you decided what to make for the main course?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I don't wanna make anything too fancy or else it'll mask the natural flavor, so I was just gonna fry up the meat with some oil and herbs.. And roast some veggies on the side, nothing too fancy." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta seemed pleased to hear that answer. "Ahh, that sounds good. What sort of vegetables were you thinking? We have better stores of those than the meats, so you'll have more variety to choose from." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mostly potatoes, maybe some carrots and broccoli, if you have those." Roman hummed and tapped on his chin. He moved the nuts off the heat. "Are there any other ones you think would like?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"We have all those." Naiyta nodded. "Do you think some radish would be good? I like that, and we have it here in the kitchen." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman notably made a bit of a face at hearing radish, but quickly went back to normal. "I'm not a huge fan, but if you want some I could include it." (edited)

1:59 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta noticed the falter in Roman's expression, but did not bring it up. Better to save that and leverage it later. "I would like some." They said. "And I appreciate your willingness to cook it for me." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Yeah, I'll just put our mixes on different trays." Roman said and grabbed the rosemary leaves. He started mincing them down, with incredible knife control. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You're very good with that knife." Naiyta complimented. Speaking of knives, the knife guy was here! The attendant Naiyta had sent for had returned, with the same plain box it'd used the previous night, that probably still had Roman's bones inside it. "Oh, good. We won't have to wait to begin the next course." Naiyta hummed, and did not say a word to the attendant as they left. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awww, thanks, I've got a lot of practice." Roman smiled and added the minced herbs to an empty bowl. "Let me finish up the cookie dough then we can get going on that." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Take all the time you need." Naiyta hummed, and switched their attention to taking out and readying their much-beloved bone knife. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman added the rest of the dry ingredients to the bowl and slowly mixed in the melted butter. He had to mix it around for a little while before figuring that it was good enough, and he added the dough in to two trays. He split up the dough in to two halves and rolled each part in to a log. As he wrapped that up, he placed the tray in to the ice box to set. "Now, where would you like me to be?" Roman smiled as he turned back to face Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It would be best for you to be seated." Naiyta said, and walked back to the stool it had sat Roman on at first. It carried with them the bone knife, holding its blade in a small, indigo-colored cloth. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman nodded and sat down on the stool, holding his hands politely in his lap. "Go ahead, my lord." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta worked quickly and diligently, not saying a word to Roman throughout. They pulled another stool forth, in front of Roman, and rested his leg on it. It placed a basin beneath his leg, to catch any falling debris, and crouched beside him. After pushing away any clothing covering Roman's thigh, Naiyta began carving away the meat of his leg clean from the bone. It kept a hand on his knee, but more to stabilize him and keep him from moving or jerking away in pain. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman only squirmed a little bit as Naiyta worked, not in too much actual pain from the procedure. He only started reacting once the thick black blood was pooling out at a more rapid rate. He leaned over as his breaths became more shallow, and began to lean over sideways.. Toward Naiyta. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta continued at a steady pace, carving incredibly close to Roman's bone. It only stopped when he began leaning over them, and supported him with their free hand. Naiyta set down the knife, and began repairing the rather garish wound they'd made in Roman's thigh. New flesh grew exactly where the old had been. "I think we have enough, now." It hummed. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman's full torso weight was placed on Naiyta's hand, and his head slumped to the side. His condition didn't seem to really improve even as Naiyta was healing him. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta waited until they'd repaired Roman's thigh, before laying him out on the ground. It placed a hand over his forehead, and through their healing powers forced him to wake. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman groaned after a few moments, and squinted his eyes open. "Ummngng.g...." Roman mumbled and let his head fall the other way. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

In the brief glimpse Roman got of Naiyta, their face was expressionless. It moved its hand to his chest, and tried something else- trying to sense what was wrong with him. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

He seemed to be having a similar issue to what he was facing after Leo left him half bloodless. There was just not much blood in his body to begin with, and what there was was imbued with his powers. Losing any amount of it would probably severely injure him, definitely cutting out chunks of his legs would. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta sighed. It always had to be some problem. They kept their hand on Roman's chest, and much like they had grown him new muscle, willed fresh blood into his veins. It was an effortless task, for them. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As the new blood was placed in, Roman began to move around a little more. "Mm.. C-could you give me a few minutes, please? That bloods gotta.. Circulate.." Roman was slurring his words a bit toward the end. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta lifted their hand away as Roman became responsive. "Of course. Take all the time you need." It picked up the basin full of Roman's flesh, and placed it on the kitchen counter, leaving Roman on the floor. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

It was cold down here. .... Roque would have laid with him after she hurt him. Why did Naiyta leave? Roman just whimpered a bit and moved his hands over his chest in an attempt to warm himself up a bit and hopefully speed up the process. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta occasionally glanced over to Roman, especially when he whimpered. "Is there something you require?" It asked in a cool tone. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"No I'm just- trying to warm up, sorry.." Roman forced himself to roll to his side and then, with great effort, pull himself up to a sitting position. His whole body was shivering, but he tried to push himself up to his feet. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"You should try and stand by the fires. That might help." Naiyta said. They did not offer to help warm him up in any way- they didn't even offer to help him there. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

.. Seemed like a decent idea. Roman dropped down to his hands and crawled at a painstaking pace toward the nearest fire, before collapsing down in front of it with a grunt. He was kind of laying uncomfortably close to it. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta watched Roman intently, even as he was doing very little, but said nothing. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman slowly inched closer.. And closer.. And- Oops that was his hair- He shot up to a sitting position and quickly patted it out, but the flame had scorched away most of the large red twist he had on the right side. "Urgh- I guess I needed to take it out soon anyway.." Roman mumbled and put his hands over his face. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ah- careful." Naiyta said only after Roman had caught fire. It finally neared him, and crouched down beside him. "Ahh, it got your hair, didn't it..." It hummed, and cupped Roman's face in its hand, scruntizing every detail. "I do think you would look rather nice if you wore your hair natural." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman blinked as Naiyta suddenly showed interest, seemingly out of nowhere. Was it.. The fire? If you looked very closely, it did seem like the red parts of Roman's hair was not natural, if it wasn't obvious. Just the dark, braided parts were his actual hair, which was unaffected by the flames. "Um.. Really? I would uh. Need a lot of product, I wear it like this so it's less work every single day." Roman said. ".. But if you could provide those things, and it would make you happy, sure. If I just let it loose without putting anything in it it's gonna fray everywhere, it's pretty damaged and not pretty." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I think," Naiyta leaned close to Roman. "That you would look beautiful like that. And that is how I want you to look." "I can provide you everything you need- of course, under the stipulation you use it to look how I wish you to." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman kept staring as Naiyta leaned in closer. A slight blush crossed his cheeks. "Sure- of course, I'd use it for that. You could even take care of it, if you want to make sure its getting used for the right reason.." Roman hummed. "You can change whatever you'd like about me, as long as it makes you happy." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta smiled- that same cold, very intense smile. "Good." They let their hand trail across Roman's lip. "I will." A breath of silence passed, and it leaned slightly back. "Now, I believe we were attending to other matters." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman moved his hand up to hold on to Naiyta's that was lingering over his lips. "Actually, I think I might've burned up my lip a little too on the fire.. Could you kiss it and make it all better?" catheart1

There was definitely no burn. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't answer but to kiss Roman, passionately, on the lips. The motion was sudden and swift, with more than a little tongue involved. It lasted a long moment before they parted. "Better?" @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman reciprocated in the same manner as Naiyta, and leaned forward just a bit as Naiyta pulled back. He eventually let it go, and wiped off any spit that had ended up on his face. "Hehe, yeah, much better.. I think I'm ready to cook now." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Good." Naiyta cooed, and stood up. It extended a hand to Roman to help him up, too. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman took its hand and pulled himself up. He seemed to be mostly back to normal, just a tad weak. "Do you want to help at all or just watch?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Ahhh, I think I'll watch." Naiyta stood close enough to Roman's working space to observe without interfering. "I wouldn't want to get in your way. And besides, it's more... special this way." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hmmm, alright." Roman nodded and grabbed both containers of meat. Two pans with a little bit of oil had already been going over the fire. He laid out his skin and the beef on separate trays. The skin needed more attention that the already cut beef. What little fat there was needed to be cut, and he cut off the very top layer of skin, since that would probably be too chewy when fried. He cut each one in to thin strips. He worked the seasonings in to each slab of meat, going a bit harder with the basil on Naiyta's side. Between the different meats, he rinsed his hands off in the basin. Once they were ready, he rinsed his hands off one more time and prepared the vegetable trays. He included radishes on one side. He sprinkled the same seasonings from the meat on to them, as well as a bit of oil on top. Since this would take longer to roast, Roman went ahead and slid it in to the oven. "Okay.. Meat time. It shouldn't take too long to cook, I cut them in to pretty thin strips." Roman said and picked up a piece of thin cut beef. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta watched with immense interest as Roman prepared the meats- the way he sliced them up, the way he worked the seasonings into them. They'd decently been interested in the cooking process for the desserts before, but that was more a mild curiousity. This interest was... different. Needless to say, it was pretty normal about the vegetables. "Ahhh, that's good." Naiyta let a hand drift to their lips. "I am getting rather hungry." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Aww, you can hardly wait." Roman chuckled and stood in front of the pans. He placed in the strip he was holding, and hot oil splattered out in droplets from the pan, a few of which landed on his bare torso and arms. "Ow- shit-" Roman huffed. He hadn't cooked over a fire in a while, that oil got hot. He just grumbled a bit to himself and maintained more distance while placing the rest down. After a minute he grabbed a set of tongs and flipped over the meat to brown it on the other side. The smell of the meat cooking was even stronger than the nuts had been, though it did have a certain bitter smell. Naiyta would probably recognize it by now, Roman's blood getting burned off. Roman made a bit of a face and started breathing through his mouth rather than his nose. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't reply, but their expression- impatient, wide-eyed, salivating- said everything it needed to. It, very much, could hardly wait. It let out a slight, breathy hum as Roman got burnt, somewhat in thought, somewhat in... stronger emotions. "Ah, be careful there," They cautioned, in a tone that suggested they really wouldn't mind seeing Roman get burnt again. As Roman grimaced at the smell of his blood getting burnt off, Naiyta seemed to savor it. They were almost putting on a show of it. Weirdo. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

As the meat finished up, he removed the strips one by one and placed them on to a cloth covered tray. "It needs to cool down and let some of the oil out, I'll put the cookies in." Roman said and went over to rinse his hands in the basin. "No eating until I'm ready!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta looked over the meat as it cooled. "Of course, I'll wait." It smiled. "Should we bring it out into the refectory when we're done? Eating in the kitchen is so... unbecoming." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I mean, how public do you want us to be? People might start talking if they see us eating a meal together.." Roman hummed and grabbed the cookie dough out of the ice box. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It doesn't matter to me. People here will already be talking about anything I do." Naiyta shrugged. "Though, if you wish, we could keep things more... private." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Eh, I'm fine with people knowing, I just wasn't sure if you'd care if they thought I was getting advantages." Roman shrugged and placed the two logs of dough out on a clean tray. He sliced them in to little pucks an inch or so apart and put them in to the oven, and took out the vegetables while he was there. He set that to cool next to the meat. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"What exists between us will give you no advantage in the arena." Naiyta hummed, watching Roman with casual interest that masked a greater hunger- physical, and otherwise. "I don't mind if people think you're favored by me. You are, it's only the truth." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Awwww, you care about little ol' me? :3" Roman smiled. "Would you rather me win my fight or lose, when it happens?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta thought. "I am fine with either outcome. You would serve me well either way." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"I know if you lose the fight you die, but if you win the fight.. Do you just move on to the next round? Or does something else happen?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"The victor will be properly celebrated, and they will move to the next round." Naiyta nodded. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

".. Does the last one standing get anything special?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"The victor of the tournament will be awarded with anything they could possibly want, as a measure of my gratitude." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Dang, even if they just ask to leave and go back home? You'd let them do that?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"At that point, yes. I will likely have completed by goal by then, anyways." It hummed. "Or, at least, I sincerely hope I would have." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"What will happen if we get all the way to the end and you couldn't get in?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Then, I'd try again." Naiyta said simply." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Oh, wow.. Is this not your first attempt either?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta shook their head. "No, this is the first time I've done anything like this." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Hm." Roman hummed, then shrugged. There was about a 0% chance he'd win the tournament, even with Naiyta's help, so he wasn't going to waste time worrying about it. Someone else would either find a way out, or he'd die. He didn't really care which would happen. "The meat and veggies is probably good now, the cookies are gonna be like five more minutes." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Alright." Naiyta nodded, and didn't move from where they stood. "I can wait." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"Mmm.. Can you?" Roman smirked and took a step closer to the fire, just to see their reaction. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta's eyes widened, and they took in a shuddering breath, but they maintained composure. "I can." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman maintained steady eye contact, and his smirk, as he put his hand in the flames for just a second before removing it. It wasn't even long enough to actually cause a burn, but it hurt! @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Naiyta watched, intently and carefully, as the flame flickered around Roman's hand. They didn't say anything, and held their hand over their mouth, but made a soft, gravelly humming noise, as if stifling some greater reaction. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"What? Can you speak up, my lord?" Roman's smirk grew wider. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta briefly averted its gaze. "If you keep distracting me like this, I will not be able to wait." @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

"You're so cute when you're getting flustered." Roman chuckled and finally turned away from them. "You go sit in the refectory and I'll bring out your plate." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm. I'll be waiting for you." Naiyta nodded, and left towards the refectory. @Mads | Roman 🥁 Asha 🎆 ? 🪱

Roman quickly got the plates readied after they were gone, and left with a large plate in each hand.