Embers (Hana ✗ Sen)

[Mu]

With one more steak for him to slice, Phynex quickly went to work with the knife. Now that he knew what cuts to make on the meat, mirroring Selene's exactly and now having her approval with the previous one, Phynex now had the confidence to work on another. He glided the knife across their dinner, making neat and refined slices. This was just a less barbaric way of cooking meat compared to what he used to do, no big deal. After forming the cuts into a crosshatch and the fire demon was extremely satisfied with what he had accomplished with the knife, Phynex grabbed the container that Selene had handed him and gently poured on a little of the liquid, not too much but just the right amount he had seen his partner did just moments before and watched it seep through the cuts, tenderizing and flavouring the meat. Phynex couldn't wait to taste the end product, much less wait for it to be cooked through. Weaning off raw meat wasn't too difficult, but now the fire demon was almost salivating.

But then the fire demon's expression shifted from confidence to an unsure one. He had never cooked in the human world much less held a pan before. He was used to campfire cooking and skewers not using human utensils. Blinking up at her, he wondered if his nervousness was too obvious. Wasn't it somewhat embarrassing to say he wasn't confident in cooking their dinner like this? Preparation was no problem but actually making the food edible...

He watched Selene start on one of the steaks, the sizzling sound as the meat touched the bubbling oil music to his ears. There was a light whirling noise of the vent in the background, sucking up all the gas that was being emitted by the gas stove or the dish itself. The juices sizzling on the pan as they leaked out, the huntress flipping the steak over to reveal a browned meat with a crosshatch pattern on top in darkened lines made Phynex lick his lips in anticipation. Now instead of being afraid or nervous, there was excitement. His heart was beating rather rapidly in his chest, the idea of learning how to cook himself and not watching others do it for him was surprising and he was looking forward to it.


When the huntress moved to work on the potatoes and mashing them, the fire demon copied the huntress' actions and gently placed one of the raw steaks onto the pan, reveling in the sizzling noise that came from it. He did as he was instructed, waiting a few minutes for it to brown. Phynex was impatient for their delicious smelling dinner to be ready, his aura beginning to change colour along with his emotions as he waited seconds. Those seconds might not be enough to cook their steak but it was certainly testing the fire demon, who was used to waiting but not like this. The heat coming from under the pan was so little, was it even enough to cook the steak perfectly? If the fire was hotter, would the cooking process be faster? That was the most logical answer, but the fire demon wasn't sure.

After a moment of thought, Phynex decided he had waited enough. His body temperature slowly began to rise, higher and higher, the fire demon forcing the heat in the steak's direction, surrounding the dish. Hotter and hotter to speed things up, in his excitement not noticing the smoke starting to rise from the meat. And in a fraction of a second, the dish burst into flames, startling Phynex and causing his magic to lose control. The strong and steady grip he had on that tendril of magic faltered, the fire began to spread out in places it was not supposed to be. Flammable objects began to spark and flame up, tongues of fire spreading out through the kitchen. It took everything he had and what restraint he had to make sure Selene beside him did not burst into flames, as with her clothing.

 

[Hana]

The huntress wasn't sure of the exact sequence of events that caused it to happen. One moment, she was minding the soft mashed potatoes she was finishing up on, her back to Phynex after she was satisfied seeing him begin to brown the fresh cut of steak on a pan. Selene had even commented to him quietly, just minutes before, that he had made her work in the kitchen easier with his presence as a helping hand. Putting the finishing touches on the hot mashed potatoes, like the light mix of spices and gravy to add on top of it, Selene felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. One. That was usually a sign that something was about to go wrong, and the girl turned to look behind her in unease as the temperature in the kitchen had started to rise.

A warmth in the air that hadn't been there before touched her skin, followed by a scent of smoke that she immediately caught, and violet eyes flew in Phynex's direction. Selene's eyes widened slightly as she noticed the smoke wafting from around the pan, immediately catching on to the sudden touch of magical energy. Her partner's eyes were set squarely on the pan with the cut of steak in it, and she could see the singleminded focus he had... "What are you doing?" The girl's sharp voice cut through the air, directed almost angrily towards the fire demon. She tensed the moment the pan burst into flames on the stove, springing into motion. Covering and grabbing the finished bowl of mashed potatoes, she darted to grab Phynex as the flames started spreading.

He had lost control of his own magic. "You can't cook like that in a kitchen yet, fool." The girl growled slightly under her breath, eyeing the tongues of flame licking her kitchen and spreading on the counter. It was too quick, and too sudden, for the apartment's smoke-detection system to react to though she knew that the sprinklers on the ceiling would start drizzling to douse the fire soon. In a few moments Selene stared at what could be called a miniature fire show right in their own apartment, spreading over the spice rack and beginning to eat at the light blue curtains on the window over the sink.

Selene's expression flattened as the beginnings of the sprinkler system drizzling over the kitchen left her to be soaked by the water. She knew her own partner would be safe from the fire as it started steaming in the kitchen, the flames seemingly hissing back as stream after stream or droplets of water started hitting them. She rubbed her free hand over her face with a low groan, showing the most emotion she had in a week if Phynex didn't count the moments of embarrassment. "What were you even trying to do.,," Oh, if she knew him, he probably thought heating - as she had seen him - the pan with his own heat and fire magic would help him speed the cooking process along. That was not going to work.

Remembering something, the girl shuffled past Phynex, looking slightly put out as she quickly grabbed something to cover the finished steak with. The sprinklers had already pelted the finished steak with water, and she wondered if it would affect the food too badly. The steak on the pan, however... It was still on fire. If the fire demon could manage to kill of those flames or if the sprinkler system put it out, all that would be left would be a burnt black pan and a burnt steak. The two other cuts were already an odd combination of cooked and burnt in some places from where the fire had reached it, and those weren't even added on the pan yet.

Biting her lip, she quelled the rising feeling of annoyance and disappointment. Maybe bringing an impulsive fire demon into the kitchen, when he was hungry and wanted to eat as soon as possible, wasn't the right decision after all? When she phrased that in her own head, Selene felt almost... Idiotic. But she was the one who had offered to teach him how to cook, or to help her out. Yet she was also the one who had promised him a steak dinner tonight, and now it looked like it would be a wet steak, and possibly two half-burnt steaks if she managed to salvage them.

 

[Mu]

A loud beeping noise surprised him even further, sounding from right above him on the white painted roof. Phynex snarled at the ear-piercing sound on his sensitive ears, screeching out nonstop. The sound of something turning on clicked, before the fire demon was doused with cold water that made his hair stand up straight. The water dripped down his back and covered his hair, clung to his clothing which began to hug his skin. It was ice cold when the fire demon dropped his temperature back down to normal, taking down the shield that had been protecting him and causing the water to steam and evaporate. Why was it raining inside the house? Abnormal occurrences, possibly magic or a curse that he had accidentally activated... the fire demon fled from the kitchen in confusion.

He found security and solitude in his own room, shutting the door behind him and shaking his body to rid the excess water. He had been caught by surprise at the sudden water, layered on top of his loss of control and fire... the burnt steak wasn't even the first thing on his mind. Maybe he had been wrong to do that, too hot to cook such tender meat like beef. That's right, he was used to something tougher... like the flesh he had to scavenge from carcasses that he had found or the nymph had killed. Demon meat was much tougher than steak, to eat and to bite and to cook. After all, it probably came from a physically powerful demon.

Phynex couldn't believe that he had messed up something already. Cooking seemed like such a simple task that everyone could do. Selene made it easy whenever she would whip up something for the two of them to eat. Or quickly create a snack for the fire demon whenever he was hungry. After training the time passed so quickly and the smell of whatever his partner may be creating was enough to please Phynex. Why did he lose control like that? He should have just helped with the preparations and not assisted in something he was not used to. He growled at himself frustratedly, daring to open the door to his bedroom a crack and peer outside at the kitchen where he could see Selene. Was she mad at him?

 

[Hana]

Did he just flee the kitchen and leave me with this mess? Selene thought blankly, staring down at the hastily covered up steaks, two of which were badly cooked, along with the bowl of mashed potatoes. The silence in the kitchen that ensued after the loud blaring of alarms had finished was broken by a heavy sigh. Dipping her head forward, the huntress' forehead met her palm with a dull thud. The fire, which had been worse when Phynex's heat aura had still been around, had calmed down considerably. Only weak flames still flickered to life on the more flammable matrials in the kitchen, quickly dying down with a hiss as the sprinklers continued showering down. At this rate, the city fire department wouldn't even have to rush to the apartment despite the alarm.

She approached the still simmering fires, and without a word, took a washcloth nearby the sink and soaked it under the tap. Then she put out the remaining fires with what was a wet cloth, her hands only glowing with a faint spark of energy as she encouraged the coolness of the water and the water itself to do her work, also doubling as a protection from any possible burns. This was something she had learned to do from Lumist. While she wasn't a water mage adept in actually manipulating water, or a healer able to use water as a healing medium, she could do at least this much. Minor tricks and techniques, if she focused she might even be able to solidify water temporarily into smaller ice needles. Because that was what she could use. Weaponizing water if she had nothing else to resort to, now that was something to learn.

As the last of the fire was put out there was a series of loud knocks from the apartment entrance. Dripping water onto the floor with drenched clothes and hair, Selene wordlessly moved out to the living area, then the door, opening it. An incredibly concerned and startled neighbor blinked down at her. It was the middle-aged woman living nearby, and... "Good evening, Mister Lowell," she greeted the stiff-looking landlord blandly. The two adults were blinking at Selene owlishly, eyeing the girl's flat expression and the drenched clothes clinging to her.

The landlord coughed awkwardly and averted his eyes from Selene, studiously eyeing a spot over her shoulder. "The fire alarm," the man queried. "There was also some smoke coming out of a window. The fire department sent someone over."

"No need. It's gone, Mister Lowell. Thank you for the concern, ma'am," Selene added, barely keeping the curtness out of her tone. The two adults still looked unsure, but with a few more short replies shared between them, she convinced them to leave. Closing and locking the front door, she headed back to the kitchen with a sinking feeling in her stomach.

The sprinkers were now finished and the floor was slippery, making Selene sigh. She would be the one cleaning this up, even wth the guilty feelings that bubbled over from her partner. There could still be food to salvage. She was only almost disappointed at the waste of the food they had just bought and the utter failure of their cooking attempt. Never mind. Phynex was still in his room though she could feel his eyes on her back. "I will only be upset if you do not come out and help me with this." She didn't look over her shoulder or in his direction, only beginning to pick up the covered bowls of potatoes and vegetables.

 

[Mu]

The fire demon peered out at her from behind the door, a confused expression on his face as he looked down at the puddles in the kitchen caused by the abnormal indoor rain. His hair was wet and slick, feeling sticky against his face. His body was surprisingly cold and he could feel the surprise and the shock of hearing the loud jarring noise and the water trickle down his back. Phynex's eyes trailed Selene's movements as she moved from the kitchen to the front door, talking to men he could not see, though their voices sounded urgent and worried. They must have arrived because of the loud noise, did it disrupt whatever they were doing? He blinked at her curt tone, serious and betraying nothing and what had just happened. The huntress mentioned nothing about her partner starting the fire and the men's voices slowly disappeared down the hallway.

He then cast his gaze at the damage he had caused. Food had been spilt on the slippery floor and some of the saved dishes were charred from the extreme flare of heat. It would be a wonder if they still had dinner to eat, with what the fire demon had done. Phynex sighed to himself, silently groaning at the mistake. Selene was going to think badly of him now with his incompetence to even cook properly as well as being an overall hazard in the kitchen.

Yet despite how angry the fire demon thought she was, her voice was calm and collected as usual as she slowly began to pick up the food on the floor, suggesting that he come and help. Pushing the door shut, he leaned against the wooden structure, unsure of what to do. The correct option was to brave himself to step outside, of course, but what if she was angry at him? Saying that she would be 'more upset' if he didn't help, that suggested that she was already feeling some red emotions. But if he didn't help... wouldn't that leave an even worse impression? Why did everything have to be so complicated?

Tentatively, Phynex stepped outside, shaking the remaining residue from his brown hair, bending down to help Selene with the food with timid fingers. He avoided looking at her, trying his best to gather what he had dropped. "Sorry..." he murmured, his voice wracked with nervousness. "I got surprised by the rain."

 

[Hana]

There was a resigned expression on her face as she glanced up at him, before turning away as he crouched down beside her. He was sorry? She sighed, before shaking her head. "So you are." Was the impassive reply from the girl as she continued on carefully picking up anything that had spilled on the floor, before standing up to get tissue to pick up the pieces of food and to throw into the bin. The entire kitchen looked dismal, with droplets of water continuing to trickle down the covered bowls and plates, as well as the appliances and the cabinets. After a moment, she spoke again, deliberately not turning in his direction. "Next time, leave the cooking to me. You can just help with the cutting and preparation of the ingredients instead."

The two worked together in stiff silence, before she abruptly stood up, remembering the sticky wet condition her clothes and hair was in. Looking around, she noted that the food she had managed to cover was still safe on the counter. "Go get a rag to wipe the floor with." The tips of her ears burned slightly in humiliation as she snuck a glance at his face, before hastily turning away. "Changing clothes." Rushing away from the kitchen, she pushed the door shut as she locked herself in her room and shook her head.

Quickly peeling off her wet clothes, she threw hung them on the back of her chair. Let the fire demon look for himself what getting overly hasty with food preparation could do. Selene sat down slowly on the bed, having grabbed a towel to pat herself dry. She frowned, roughly pulling a cabinet open and slipping a shirt on, before yanking up a pair of shorts onto her legs almost in agitation. It had been a while since she had failed something as simple as cooking food. Even if she normally didn't eat steak, or the foods she was trying to make for Phynex, she had always been able to follow any written instructions to the letter. Or make her own adjustments, no matter how rough, to suit her own tastes. He hadn't complained about any of her cooking at all, how was she to know if he really liked anything?

Adding him to the equation just made things go off her expected course. But she was the one who offered to teach him, she was the one who had asked him to come. Selene sighed, standing up from her bed and opening the door, wandering back to the kitchen with a frown on her lips, brows ever so slightly lowered. She looked at him, still trying to help out after what had happened, and the unsure, unenthusiastic expression he wore that was surely mirrored on her face. "... This wasn't what I wanted to make for you." Feeling strangely heavy, she shook her head and walked past him, looking down at the food. "But come on. We might as well eat what we made. The potatoes should be fine. If it's not enough, I can put together a light salad," she sighed.

 

[Mu]

"It doesn't matter," Phynex still looked guilty, a faint blush on his cheek as he tried and help the huntress with the food... at least with cleaning up and not cooking anymore, now the fire demon knew he did not have a penchant for cooking. He sighed, what did he expect? After all, he had spent most of his life eating raw meat. Only when he saw how humans seasoned their meats and cooked them to perfection did he want to try. But Phynex wasn't a human, he wasn't going to easily be able to replicate their techniques. Unlike most of what the demon population thought, they were not the superior race if they could not even cook. "Even if it was bad I would have ate it," the demon said sheepishly. The least he could do was eat what had happened, he could stomach it with no problem. "I don't like to waste food, I'll eat it." Offering to clean up was polite, right? Same for the food.

He slowly walked up to the dining table and drew up a chair, placing it in one corner of the kitchen where he would not distract or disturb her from continuing her cooking... alone. Sitting on it, he heaved a sigh of relief and let his body do all the work. Easy cleaning, he knew a bit about how this world worked. Heat and water... it'll be gone soon, hopefully. He raised his eyes to look up at the back of the huntress', she had changed but the fire demon wondered if her skin was cold. She had been doused by the rain, after all. His ability could help her warm up while she salvaged what she could find. It was harmless, he wasn't going to set fire to the kitchen again just by letting his natural body temperature flare out just a little bit, right? He bit his lip as he sat back, keeping a close eye on what he was doing.

Phynex was curious about something, and could not hold the question back any longer. "Why does it rain inside your house?" he asked, tilting his head at her awkwardly.