Sofia frowns a bit at her card and begins looking over everyone else’s baskets, asking, “Are any of you using CHEESE, please?”

Preston/b/span>/spanMatthew can’t help but smile for what Marina has to say, something he’s still wearing by the time he’s there to collect his card. What’s written there wipes it all away and he’s shooting Seraphina a look. “Can I swap cards with someone else instead???!”

“Right, right,” Shay says in response to Esme and Eloa, yet even then, he still looks quite out of it with the on-goings over there by the tables. So instead he just folds his arms over his chest and observes silently. He does wave over to Nemi though, displaying a brief smile to her.

Shiloh looks back at Seraphina “Ah, I can do th-” He clears his throat “Aye.” He squints a bit, not entirely sure if that counts but he goes with it, eyes snapping to Sofia as he grabs his rolling pin “Stay thy hand! No cheese shall be found over here!”

Dovie clears her throat, trying to project her voice, which is sweet, if a bit thin and reedy.

“Mix the flour, eggs, and cream!”

“Bake until the crusts will gleam.”

“Warm and sweet, the treats appear.”

“Filling hearts with happy cheer!”

But as she hears Preston, she blurts out, “FUCK YOU PRESTON!” Shoving her basket at him.

“Obie is somewhere in the crowd, isn’t he,” Ambrose states placidly, card lowering. “Nobody has died from anything I’ve baked, that I’m aware of.” It’s a low bar that he clears.

Kai stops texting to applaud Dovie when she bursts out her song and laughs when she says that to Preston.

Dovie gives Preston a basked containing sweet rice flour, sugar, and potato starch, and waits for him to hand her his basket.

Esme cackles at the chaos going on

Sofia looks at Shiloh and leans in a little closer, saying, “No seriously, lemme seeeeee your basket! What you got in there? I don’t want to steal but I’m forced to, by the card!”

“Make sense,” Jasper nods towards Eloa while he watches the competitors. “It’s more fun to watch them cook.”

Preston claps for Dovie, and happily takes that basket from her, cackling. A hand points towards his mess of a table, that he’s baked. “Good luck! It’s a mess, and I fucked up!”

Nemi softly claps for Ambrose’s team.

“If you have a card that tells you to do something, outside of swapping an ingredient card or an entire basket, it is throughout the bake-off.” Seraphina says, with a shit-eating grin.

Dovie mopes, trying to sort through the mess that is some kind of banana ooze from Preston.

“They no hear us back here.” Eloa tells Shay with a smile glancing over at the card flipping happening. “If you all stay back after you can take photos of miss Mirabel’s notes? Eloa have them with her. Also the sheet with hunting values that was given out yesterday at the lodge if you missed.” The latina offers, looking curiously as one of the others sitting with them walks off, “Anyone know who that was?”

Shiloh shakes his rolling pin at Sofia, but she’s already taken a peek, inside the basket is the basic baking ingredients, plus a box of cornmeal, curry powder and fresh ginger.

The second ingredient is plucked from the fishbowl, Marina seeming pleased with it as she ventures away from her prep table to find it on a shelf. She comes back with it, humming something that sounds suspiciously Shanty-like.

Matthew holds up his card, “So I just swap an ingredient with…” he look like he really doesn’t want to be swapping out anything. He begins looking over all the ingredients in each baker’s possession.

“My dish started its life in many places, and perhaps one of them is my need for vengeance after accidentally trying to flambe a salad,” Aeryn begins, squinting at her phone. Apparently her dish calls for eggs, which she plucks up with her fingers and just tosses into a bow. She doesn’t bother to crack them first. “But, I got this ingredient today, and I said oh no. For this, I have plans.” She nods her head, and then a nail punctures a carton of cream, pouring perhaps too much into that bowl.

Seraphina walks about the table, and over toward the crowd to become more of the spectator to see what exactly what will become of her kitchen. “You have thirty minutes.”

Sofia grimaces slightly at Shiloh and says, “No, no, that’s not what I want. Cheese, cheese! Who has cheese in their basket? I don’t want to mess anyone up more than I have to with this!”

Sugar, butter, it’s all going in that bowl, and Aeryn doesn’t measure a single bit of it. “Temperature is a social construct,” she states, beginning to blend things with a dash of a bottle, a drop of who knows what, and then a healthy sprinkle of….peanut butter powder. “And this mousse shall rise like a mediocre phoenix.”

Matthew approaches Preston, “Okay, I’m swapping ingredients,” he decides and exchanges the olive oil in his possession – having already used it – for one of his items.

“No cheese,” Ambrose laments to Sofia gently, not having started just get.

First things first: Marina hunts down a food processor. Into it goes three ingredients, with the Mercer hitting the pulse button several times. “Temperature is a science construct,” she offers to Aeryn, “How we measure it is social.”

Marina says, adding on, “No cheese here either. Sorry.“

“No idea myself, too,” Shay offers pretty much the same answer Esme has to Eloa, with a light shrug of his shoulders. “Never seen the dude before. It’s a big ass city anyway, probably just some local, who cares?” He tut-tuts at the sight of the chaos. “Oh, Eloa, yeah, the notes. I’ll snap a flick of it after this if it’s cool.”

Shiloh widens his eyes when he hears Seraphina “Thirty minutes?!” He waves his hands at Sofia, trying to shoo her away “Be gone ye knave!” Then laughs in victory as he moves on in search of cheese, pumping his rolling pin above his head! Then he immediately starts getting to work.

Dovie sniffs the banana bread base. She shrugs and decides to mix the black sesame paste inside. Why not??

As Aeryn mixes and whips the ingredients within the bowl in front of her, her story begins. “Once a glossy swirl of ambition, this mousse dreamed of grandeur, like silky peaks, whispered praise, maybe a silver spoon. But fate had other plans.”

Matthew is quickly corrected by one of the baristas in the wings, keeping things smooth, that no, he is not supposed to swap his ingredients. He needs to swap that paper. It leaves the Montrose looking more than a little bewildered and behind, still there by Preston he passes over the paper, “Looks like actualyl we’re swapping one of these, Preston. Enjoy the strawberry balsamic reduction! What do you have?”

Sofia eyes Ambrose’s basket with a beat of thought and then says, “Maybe, possibly, this could work for both of us…” She gives a resign sigh and then swaps baskets for Ambrose then shakes her head. “I’m sorry, it was the only way.”

“…mousse with a story,” Marina gasps, seeming enraptured by the idea. She isn’t watching Aeryn, but it’s clear she’s listening to Aeryn all the same as she separates a yolk and gets that in her processor. A few more pulses and everything is dumped into a pie-adjacent pan.

Dovie tells Seraphina, “I think I’ve been sabotaged already, this banana bread smells like garlic.” She glares at Preston.

“I will think of a punishment for him,” Seraphina says to dov, a narrowed eye at Preston.

Matthew beams a smile toward Dovie, “Don’t worry Fairchild, I’m swapping his ingredient out just for you!”

“I don’t think you’ll want his ingredient, Matthew!” Dovie calls out.

Seraphina calls to Dovie, “Don’t tell him that!”

With an entirely new basket of ingredients, Preston blinks at the basket, then glances towards Matthew. “What are we swapping?” he asks, “Because..” he nods towards Dovie. “She’s got mine!” The man cackles, “It’s in her banana bread!”

“I’m lying!” Dovie shouts at Matthew.

Turning on a burner and setting the bowl on it to continue the whisking within, Aeryn nods to Marina. “It spent its early days among powdered elites, watching cocoa rise to stardom and peanut butter powder charm every blender it met. When its moment finally came, it was whipped with purpose, folded with flair, and poured into ramekins like royalty donning robes.”

Dovie frantically Googles how to bake banana bread.

Matthew looks alarmed for Dovie’s words, but there he is, already insisting on the ingredient swap with Preston. A look is sent towards Seraphina, “I get takebacks?”

“Yeah sure.” Eloa flashes Shay a easy smile as she glances over at the mayhem infront of her, “You go to party yesterday at lodge? Eloa not sure saw. But ate some steak and Eloa got veryyy woozey. And also had to drink lots of alcohol to put out fire in mouth.” She blushes just a little ducking her head. “So not sure if saw everyone who was there.”

Kai glances to his phone and lets out a quiet sigh as he Irish goodbyes out of the coffee shop.

“So be it,” Ambrose agrees with Sofia announces her swap, granting him a different basket full of ingredients. Alas. There goes his cornbread. “We will make due.”

“Yeah sure.” Eloa flashes Shay a easy smile as she glances over at the mayhem infront of her, “You go to party yesterday at lodge? Eloa not sure saw. But ate some steak and Eloa got veryyy woozey. And also had to drink lots of alcohol to put out fire in mouth.” She blushes just a little ducking her head. “So not sure if saw everyone who was there.” (repost)

Seraphina shakes her head to Matthew, “Make do, Matthew! I have faith!”

Shiloh wipes some sweat from his brow with the back of his hand as he whisks away at his mixing bowl with one hand while the other attempts to shake out some mango chutney into it.

“I think that means you have to give him your new ingredient,” Marina calls to Preston

Aeryn pauses, staring into the bowl and wrinkling her nose. For good measure, another egg is plopped into the mixture. “For a fleeting hour, it held court in the chilled kingdom of the fridge, admired by passing glances and envied by the yogurt cups. But time is cruel to dreams and desserts alike.”

“Yeah sure.” Eloa flashes Shay a easy smile as she glances over at the mayhem infront of her, “You go to party yesterday at lodge? Eloa not sure saw. But ate some steak and Eloa got veryyy woozey. And also had to drink lots of alcohol to put out fire in mouth.” She blushes just a little ducking her head. “So not sure if saw everyone who was there.” (repost)

Matthew nods and points at Preston, “Come on now, let’s go, give me that ingredient, you got the strawberry balsamic reduction now!”

Now that Preston is without a main ingredient, he can go absolutely hog-wild on the cheating, but he’s not going to be anymore obvious about it. Keeping his head down, he gets to work – Googling things at first. “I don’t have one!” Preston calls back to Marina. “I baked mine into Dovie’s..” After his little Google sesh, he’s starting to cook. “Nope, Dovie has that!”

“Oh look is cute doggy.” Eloa turns around and pats her thighs as she looks at someone, “Here doggy doggy..” She calls out softly.

“Oh look is cute doggy.” Eloa turns around and pats her thighs as she looks at pommie, “Here doggy doggy..” She calls out softly.

Marina stares at Preston blinking several times. “…some people are confusing,” she decides, shaking her head as she begins melting cocoa on the stove.

Seraphina sings out a song, maybe familiar, in a southern twang, “Times a-wastin'”

It apparently doesn’t take long to finish what Aeryn is cooking, and she begins to portion it out as it starts to cool. “Eventually, the mousse was served in its grand debut, and as spoons dug in and conversation drifted elsewhere, it realized fame was fleeting, but flavor left a legacy.”

Dovie sighs and makes the best of it, mixing in sugar into the banana bread, black garlic, black sesame paste mixture.

Sofia brings Ambrose’s ingredients to her stand and begins putting things together in a bit more of a rush now, looking focused and determined, mixing her dough up and then putting a large cast iron skillet aside, letting out a breath. “Hope this is good enough…”

Esme asides, “That steak was great. And it wasn’t even steak I don’t think? It was all mushroom. Caused me t’ see colors all night.” She mused, head tilting as she watches the ‘chefs’ before her attention is diverted momentarily to the other room where the dog is, brows lifting.

“Here doggyy.” Eloa tries again, patting her thighs as she looks over at her companions, “Is know who dog belong to? Saw on Uh neve lap in class.” She wonders softly of her classmates that are with her in the crowd.

Matthew shoots Seraphina a shrug, like what can he do, “Well rules are made to be broken,” the Montrose can be heard muttering and back to his station he goes. It’s a mad dash now, continuing with the plotted course set before cards and curve balls. “Cut strawberries….”

Eloa flashes Seraphina a grin as the woman comes to join them in the crowd instead, “They all have to taste each others? I saw Aeryn put egg shell in hers…”

For a time, Ambrose just stares at the ingredients, contemplatively, before he sets to motion. It’s not to cook, though — it’s to step over to Sofia at her station. “What were you going to make. What does this make.”

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) scrambles all over the place, paws slipping and sliding across the floor as she zooms and zooms some more.

Shay studies Seraphina through the blood-orange tint of his aviators, chin dipping in acknowledgment then. “Wish I could’ve joined the fun but I was a little late. You’re Seraphina, right? Think I saw you in class once.”

Slicing up the jalapenos for her base ingredient with a santuko knife, Sofia grins over at Ambrose and declares, “It was gonna be a braided jalapeno cheddar bread with a roasted garlic-butter glaze. But now I’m doing a sticky honey-jalapeno cornbread.”

With a flicker of a highly amused look to Esme, Seraphina smiles toothily, “Six minutes,” she calls out over the madness at the prep table.

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) manages to crash into a table leg, but that stops the zoomies from continuing. The search for dropped crumbs commences, nose to the floor as that plume of a curly tail wags back and forth.

“Here dogggy.” Eloa calls out in singsong as the dog starts to become a trip hazard not to mention a food violation. She smiles at Esme and Shay as they comment to Seraphina.

At Sofia’s words, Ambrose nods, drifts back to his section, and starts doing what little in that department he can do, especially with what he has on hand, and his limited ability: cheese bread. It’s systematic and rote, methodical, with plenty of help from his phone.

Shiloh nods a bit as he squints down at the oven, tapping his foot impatiently once Seraphina calls the time, his gaze darts around at the other contestants, specifically Sofia, “Better hurr-” He pauses, remembering his card, clearing his throat “Thy must hurry, lest thine food remain unfinished!”

Strawberries are roughly chopped, his will surely be a ‘rustic’ dish. With this done he’s going on down his list, reading off the screen of his phone. “Combine brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil–” a desparate look at the oil. But then ‘Six Minutes’ is being called out and Matthew is moving double speed. Directions? Nope, that’s not happening. Everything is just thrown into the pan. Little flour. Cracking a few eggs. Sugar. Everything’s eyeballed, no time for precision now. Buttermilk. pinch of salt. He mixes it all as best he can. He shoves the thing into the oven.

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) wiggles all the while, licking up whatever dropped goodies she can find. The ten second rule probably doesn’t apply here. Little triangular ears swivel as that doggy word is said by Eloa. Head perks up and she lays back ears and yips once, trying to find more food.

Sofia pops her mix in the oven, poured inside a skillet, and nods over to Shiloh. “Well, some of us got more severe handicaps than others, but I’ll be alright.”

Dovie scrambles to put the banana garlic sesame bread into the oven while she moves to make a black sesame crumble!

A ramekin is filled with something that jiggles more than it should, and sprinkled with peanut butter dust, and Aeryn claps her hands, clearly proud of herself. “All done,” she states.

Shiloh leans aside, squinting at the jiggly substance presented by Aeryn, furrowing his brow a bit before his oven dings! He blinks and rushes to it, swinging the door open, pulling out the tray with his bare- “AH FUCK!” He recoils back and searches for a baking mitt, how silly.

“I’ll have to take this time to remind you that you will all be taste testing each other’s treat, and voting on it.” Seraphina shouts over the bustle. To this, she claps.

“Think I’m done..” Preston declares of the thing he’s made, frowning a little bit.

Shiloh pulls on the mitt and sets his tray out plopping his muffins onto a large plate with a slow nod, exhaling a long breath that he had been holding unwittingly. “Done… Yeah.”

Matthew pulls his cake out, it’s not had near enough time, and there’s no reduction, but he pours that balsamic vinegar over it all the same. “DONE!”

The word TREAT is heard and Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) is standing on all fours at attention, maw closing after her tongue quickly retreats. She’s staring at Seraphina.

“That ain’t a problem at all, don’t worry too much about it. I guess I could’ve asked you on MyHaven about this event right now, but I must’ve forgot,” Shay eventually releases the hand, tucking his in the pocket of his hemmed pants, attention quickly being taken away by Malin(species canis lupus familiaris). He beckons her with a come hither motion.

“And to think Elise says I can’t cook,” Aeryn murmurs.

“I can tag on another fifteen or twenty minutes for bake time, but if agreed upon, you must switch draw out another card. While there will be no swtiching out of ingredients or baskets, you will draw until you get an action.” Seraphina offers the bakers.

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) has eyes locked on Seraphina, entranced by that very important word. Treat. So much yum, but where is it? Her two second attention span is shifting when Shay is beckoning. She prances over to him, sniffing intently once she’s near his hand.

Sofia pulls her cast iron out of the oven and sets it down on the counter to cool, nodding a few times and looking cool as a cucumber. She admits aside to Ambrose, “I wish I had more spices, but this’ll work out. How are you holding up with the mess I threw in your lap?”

“I think that dog likes men.” Eloa sighs as Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) goes for Shay’s hand and shakes her head own head sadly, “Oh well. Is give them longer to cook?” She asks as she watches Seraphina hold out the basket.

Matthew stares at Seraphina when she says this, “Wait, what?!” He looks from her to that undercooked cook and then back. “Well I mean… if we can have more time.” But he doesn’t look like he believes any amount of oven time will resolve that disaster. A shrug and he says, confident, “Naw, I’m good.”

Seraphina nods to Eloa, “Yes, if they decide to take the extra time. But they will need to draw a card.” She looks to those at the prep table, “Decision?”

Ambrose is unfortunately working on his, and is slow and prone to distraction. “Just needs to finish baking,” he assures Sofia aside.

“I’m done,” Marina chirps, lacing her chocolaty fingers together and stretching her arms out to crack her knuckles.

Shay extends a hand out in an attempt to give Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) a good little petting, squatting low on his haunches for her. “Heyy, little baby, come here. Come here,” he coos to a Malin(species canis lupus familiaris), smiling brightly all the while.

Shiloh shakes his head at Seraphina “I’m finished.” He pauses to squint back at his creation “Bah, yeah, yeah. I’m done.” He finishes, shaking away the doubt.

Seraphina walks back to the prep table and wiggles her rear in with the group.

Esme watches the Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) come closer as Shay beckons, making a little aw noise. “She’s cute.”

“Is really quite cute.” Eloa sighs at Shay’s ability to draw the dog in and just shakes her head as she looks over at Esme, “How Esme Going? Eloa forgot ask.”

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) is looking for treats, but maybe pets will do. That plumed tail begins to wag-wiggle back and forth, curled over her little back. She’s so little! The doggo accepts the pets from Shay, beginning to pant as her pink tongue lolls out the side of her muzzle.

Dovie sniffs a waft of her banana bread. She smiles at first. And then… she doesn’t.

Preston begins to organize his rice cakes, fiddling with them here and there, trying to plate them the best he can. There’s a frown on his face though, looking a bit smug at his cakes.

Marina adjusts her glasses, leaving some powdered sugar fingerprints behind.

Matthew nods his head, folding his arms loosely, looking by all accounts proud and confident for that half-baked disaster he’s standing behind.

“Very well, chefs!” Seraphina says. “I will wait for the last few to take their goods from the oven now, and then we will go over each item one by one, with a bite each.”

Aeryn is practically quivering with excitement as she gazes upon her creation with pride.

“By we, I mean -you-.” Seraphina quickly fixes.

A look at Matthew’s ‘cake’ has Marina pressing her mouth against her knuckles so she doesn’t laugh. “Matty, do you know what a reduction is?” she asks him, her voice pitched a bit lower.

“Oh, no. I don’t…I’m on a rather limited diet,” Aeryn glances to Seraphina apologetically. “I promise it’s good though.”

Shiloh adjusts his muffins just slightly before taking a step back, nodding firmly.

Shay has no treats in sight as of yet, but the good little pet-pets are treat enough! Maybe. Whatever the case may be, Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) seems to be receptive of it, very much so, and so he continues to pet and scritch along her sable coat, studying the pomeranian. “Mimi. Aw, I wonder whose dog this is, she’s real cute.” He turns to Esme, Eloa, and Nemi then. “Should I bring her home?”

“Do I get bonus points for being dressed for the part?” Preston asks, glancing towards Seraphina.

At extremely long last, Ambrose delivers an underwhelming result from the oven to the table. “Apologies.”

“I wish you were wearing the maid outfit, it would have worked here,” Dovie tells Preston.

Matthew’s cool isn’t easily cracked but apparently all it takes is Marina to be holding back a laugh at his expense. He clears his throat, leaning into her direction, “I do,” he says quietly, “but I spent all that time on the fool’s errand that was trading ingredients. So…” a beat and then he admits, “I don’t know how to make one.”

“You get the leftovers of what you gave to Dovie,” Seraphina tells Preston, hands on her hips.

“Sure dog need someone to look after. I think was Neve but maybe neve not in town?” Eloa asks as she reaches over to try a steal a scratch on Malin(species canis lupus familiaris)’s back.

Preston snaps his fingers at Dovie. “I’m wearing part of it,” he informs her as sweetly as can be, before glancing at Seraphina. “Fine! I’ll take ’em.”

“Alright, we’ll start with Aeryn. What do you have for us?” Seraphina asks, hands sliding from her hips.

Dovie turns her attention to Aeryn eagerly.

Scritches are also good. The tiny dog wriggles all over from pure happiness, accepting all of the attention that Shay is giving her. She continues to pant, and Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) gazes up at him for a moment before her attention is back on the floor, seeing if anyone has dropped anything worth licking up. Now she also has Eloa petting her, so it it puppy seventh heaven. Almost. If there was food involved.

Sofia smiles on over to Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) with a gentle, easy expression, looking over the finished dishes with a little amusement at the varying quality levels. She wrinkles her nose slightly at Ambrose’s knots and wonders, “Did you end up using the cheese in that?”

“I went simple and made a peanut butter mousse, since the ingredient was peanut butter powder,” Aeryn nods, nudging the dish. It jiggles, and it probably shouldn’t. “Only the best of recipes,” she notes, “I regularly prepare things, despite not quite having a taste for them personally.”

SeraphinaA pristinely dressed baker gives the mousse a sus look, as she passes out straws for it.

A pristinely dressed baker gives the mousse a sus look, as she passes out straws for it. Seraphina accepts the straw.

Seemingly accepting that Eloa is giving Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) the much needed attention now, Shay retreats his hands to check on his phone instead to shoot out a text message or two. Probably more than just two, judging by how focused he is on his phone screen for the time being.

Marina looks at everyone else, trying to judge who else is taking a straw. She does not look excited to try the … mousse.

Esme says, dubiously, “Aren’t you s’posed to eat mousse with a spoon…?“

For the most part, Ambrose is listening to Aeryn’s explanation, but he shifts a look to Sofia, then toward his garlic knots placidly. “I did. I did my best. I would not eat them.”

“Strict diet,” Sofia confirms to Ambrose.

Shiloh furrows his brow as he looks over the mousse in question… “We gotta try it?” He asks Seraphina, looking a bit nervous. “I think it was jiggling at me.”

“We will each give a taste and then, once we have tasted everything, send me a text at seven ten, oh one nine seven with your vote for … best.” Seraphina places her straw into the jiggly thing, avoiding a shell. There is a teeeeeeeeny sip.

Seraphina says, “mmmmm…” in a most unbelievable way.

“…but it looks alive,” Marina laments softly. She pokes her own straw in only after it’s clear Seraphina is not dead.

“It’s supposed to,” Aeryn states like she believes it, looking very innocent.

Preston yoinks a straw from the waitress, giving her a suspicious look and then just wanders from his table towards that mousse, only after Marina has her turn and tests it.

Sofia crinkles her nose at Seraphina and then gets out a straw to give a resigned sip of her own. “Oh well.”

“I would not eat them even if I did not have a strict diet,” Ambrose imparts further for Sofia. “I warned from the onset that my culinary skills are lacking.”

Shiloh reluctantly takes a straw, moving to give the mousse a taste.

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) may be on the receiving end of pets from Eloa, but she also sees people are EATING. Fuck yeah. Eating time. She yips three times in a row to alert she wants this jiggly monstrosity in her belly.

“You know,” Preston begins after taking a much larger sip than most people. “Eggshells are good for you.” A pause, a beat, “Protein.” Raising his hand towards Aeryn in a classic high-five motion, he smiles at her. “Great work!”

Dovie takes a bite and tries to keep a straight face. But her teeth do a *cronch* on something and she pretends to cough, turning away to spit it out.

“You know a way to dog’s heart is through stomach.” Eloa mentions to Shay, “If pick up under arms then take over to food, probably dog will want stay with you.”

Marina puts her hand over her mouth after taking a sip that was probably bigger than she wanted. Her expression is regret. Regret stapled with an attempt at being nonchalant, but the regret is so big that it’s hard to really hide how much she regrets.

Shiloh tries to not make a face as he crunches on eggshell, then he looks to Preston, eyes widening “Yes! You know what, this would be good after a workout. This is like a workout food.” He agrees, trying to talk himself into enjoying it.

Sofia makes a face at her sip and coughs to clear her throat slightly, then nods lets a shiver go down her spine. She rolls her eyes at Preston Shiloh and says, “Alright, Rocky One and Rocky Two,” before giving Ambrose an understanding nod and ripping off a bit of a garlic knot. “I guess… I’ll give it a go.”

Jasper’s attempt at encouragement has Marina going ‘uh huh’ behind her hand and giving a thumbs up of agreement.

Either Preston is the best actor of all time, or he’s actually not at all bothered by the food.

Putting the straw down and giving Aeryn a smile that says ‘at least you tried’, Seraphina says, after she’s rolled her tongue around a little, “Preston. What is your dish?”

Matthew takes a bite and has no care for his cousin’s feelings. It’s immediately spat out into a napkin that he reaches for. “This is awful,” he decides of the peanut butter mousse.

“Thank you!” Aeryn beams to Preston, clasping her hands in front of her.

“Hater,” Aeryn shakes her head sadly at Matthew. “And after I made you clothes, Matthew.”

Marina reaches out to punch Matthew in the arm, not too hard, in defense of Aeryn’s feelings.

Preston was left hanging by Aeryn, he didn’t even get a high-five. Oh well, off her strolls towards his dish, gesturing towards someone. “Mochi rice cakes, I think.” Quickly looking at his phone, he nods. “Yeah, that’s what Google says.”

Preston was left hanging by Aeryn, he didn’t even get a high-five. Oh well, off her strolls towards his dish, gesturing towards $cakes. “Mochi rice cakes, I think.” Quickly looking at his phone, he nods. “Yeah, that’s what Google says.”

Aeryn gives a very grateful smile to Marina.

Sofia takes a half-bite of one of the pineapple-chili garlic knots with a bit of sharp cheddar baked into them and gives a half-grin and a laugh, before dropping the rest of the knot on the floor with a subtle dump, right in front of Malin(species canis lupus familiaris).

Aeryn wanders to Preston, grabbing his wrist and slapping her palm to his. “I forgot,” she admits, before going back to her previous spot.

Dovie shakes her head at Matthew and tells Aeryn. “It was a good-” she pauses, searching for the word, “Effort!”

Matthew is midway towards making a heart with his hands, tapping it to his chest but Marina’s swinging that punch his way. He winces, theatric exaggeration at the force behind the punch and declares, “Disqualify the Mercer, abuse!”

“You think that mousse is going to come alive and end up being the new one to the list of creatures?” Jasper muses with a glance at the mousse.

“I appreciate you, Dovie,” Aeryn gives a warm smile to Dovie and a nod.

Ambrose watches the disparate reactions evenly, not calling anyone in particular out. He’s also looking from foodstuff to foodstuff, though notably not having any himself. When Sofia goes for a piece and drops it onto the floor, he looks entirely unoffended. In fact, he nods. “The correct reaction.”

“I mean… I don’t want to just snatch someone’s dog away,” Shay huffs out a little breath of amusement to Eloa after he says, gaze drifting away from his phone over to the latina for a moment. “You said she’s Neve’s? I mean I don’t see Neve around. How’d she come over here?” He stops, pondering. “And… can you get some food here? For the dog. I don’t wanna bother them none over there with their lil competition.”

“It is all about the effort and the willingness to try.” Seraphina admits.

“You wanna see real abuse?” Marina steps towards Matthew as if he wasn’t nine inches taller than her.

Esme does a brief glance around for popcorn before her gaze settles back on Marina and Matthew

Seraphina plucks a tiny bit of the mochi off in order to be the first taster.

Sofia nods back to Ambrose and says, “I’m sure Mimi will appreciate it,” with a glance spared to Malin(species canis lupus familiaris), moving over to snack a bit on the tart and give it a try.

Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) swoops in immediately to chomp on the food Sofia has littered in front of her. She’s happily crunching away until the chili hits her tongue. A sneeze follows, spraying dog snot on the food.

Matthew’s arm comes down, not too hard, just settling atop Marina’s head like she were an armrest just for him. “Pipsqueak pipe down.”

“Worldstar!” Jasper calls out, his amber eyes moving to focus on Matthew and Marina.

Seraphina gives the mochi odd look. “Did you add…. any flavor into this? What was your swapped ingredient?”

Marina’s eyes cross as she tries to see Matthew’s arm. She lets out a sigh, pulling away and fixing her octopus clip before she, too, braves the mochi.

“I didn’t swap an ingredient,” Preston tells Seraphina. “Only baskets,” nodding towards Dovie. “She had my ingredient.”

Dovie nods to Seraphina. “Yeah the black garlic was already in his ingredients, I couldn’t get it out, but I think I made something special!”

Matthew steps up to the mochi cake like a man approaching the gallows. He plucks one up.

Sofia taps her finger in front of the chocolate ganache tart and says, “Well that’s quite pleasant,” she affords the unknown baker, and moves to try the mochi cakes, going down the list with a hum.

Shiloh lets out a soft hum as he chews thoughtfully on the mochi “This is unfair, I love the texture of mochi.” He declares, clearly enjoying it, whether it’s bland or not.

“Eloa glad we no trying food.” Eloa comments as she watches everyone’s reactions to trying the food. She leans in a little to Jasper and Nemi, “Is look like …Eloa cooking.”

Preston smiles at Marina, and nods at her. “Of course you like it,” Preston explains towards her. “I made it. So it’s going to be really good!” There’s a massive shit-eating grin on his face, as everyone else begins to try the rice cakes.

Silent for a few long moments, perhaps in consideration, perhaps in concentration, Ambrose watches reactions instead of tasting the mochi himself.

Matthew seems to enjoy the cake and holds the last of his up, “This is good,” is his verdict that has him gesturing the remaining bit of that cake in Preston’s direction. “I was sabotaged trying to steal the ingredient you never had.” It’s a good natured complaint, one delivered with a laugh and then he pops the last of it into his mouth.

Sofia looks down at the mochi-cakes and smiles gently, saying, “Pretty mild, but I’m happy that this dish isn’t actively trying to kill me.” She reaches down to take a slice of her own cornbread, assessing the flavor.

Seraphina gives Preston a little push on his upper arm. “Rules!” There is a glance about the table of food, and then the underbaked cake with faux reduction, and the bread that Dovie has made are glanced between. Back and forth she goes. Which. “Well… how about Matthew? What did you prepare for us today, …” There is a pause, a breath, “Chef?”

“…it’s okay,” Marina offers to Preston generously, smacking her lips a few times to make a popping noise. “It’s… It has a mochi texture.”

After a bad experience with the chili, Malin(species canis lupus familiaris) dashes off again.

Alas, Ambrose’s food is not fit for animal feeding, either.

Shay gasps! And tries to chase after the doggo.

Matthew motions over his undercooked swimming pool of a cake with a flourish of his hand. “Well, This is a strawberry balsamic breakfast cake,” he says, “I was supposed to swap my ingredients but said fuck it in the end and kept things but… y’know, the reduction was more…” Well the balsamic swimming pool one strawberry’s floating in says more than he can.

Preston waves a little hand towards Seraphina. “Rules are made to be broken or something like that.” Rubbing his hands together he smiles at Marina and then gently corrects her, like he’s the master of all things of food. “It’s great! You know it. I know it.” A right cocky man he is, arrogant too.

Matthew nods at Preston, “Rules are made to be broken,” he repeats, “please, dig in. Everyone!”

“Hmm,” Jasper nods at Eloa. “Right. Otherwise, we would have been at the hospital.”

Esme is definitely not going to dig in.

SeraphinaA pristinely dressed baker again gives Seraphina a look, and the straws are passed about again.

A pristinely dressed baker again gives Seraphina a look, and the straws are passed about again.

Giggling at Jasper’s quip, Eloa elbows him lightly, “Eloa sure not THAT bad.” She flashes Esme a grin.

Shiloh stares at Matthew creation, before looking back up at Matthew frowning actively.

It is Marina’s turn to look as though she is going to the gallows, her gaze upon Matthew’s undercooked breakfast cake. An audible whine can be heard from her as the straws are passed out.

Preston doesn’t even care, just strolls over towards Matthew’s cake and digs in.

Dovie looks afraid to try, but tries anyway.

“It looks …” Seraphina says. Momma always told her, if you can’t say anything nice. “Bless your heart,” she tells Matthew, before attempting herself a little bit.

Dovie squints. “Mmmmm… Mmmmm,” is all she says. Not the good kind of Mmmm either.

Regret! REGRET! Marina lets out a hacking noise, hurrying to spit out what’s in her mouth into the trash. Even Aeryn’s mousse didn’t get this treatment from her.

Sofia clutches at her gut after sampling the ‘cake,’ just a tiny bite enough to make her stomach turn a bit. “OK, OK… yep…”

Shiloh smacks his lips together a few times as his gaze slowly loses focus, internalizing his pain.

Preston pausing a moment, he thinks it over, and scratches at his jaw. “It’s alright,” Preston mentions to Matthew, smiling at him. “I’ve had better cakes at Puff Puff Parlour.” Capitalism, always be advertising, “But.. this isn’t the worst.”

Ambrose remains on a diet, and does not try the ‘cake.’ Happily, or what passes for it, at the reactions of everyone else.

Aeryn sticks her tongue out at Matthew petulantly.

Matthew give Preston an appreciative look, though he definitely is not about to try his own cake. “What’s the matter there,” he calls after Marina, clearly amused at the expense of everyone else’s palate.

Esme snickers at the terrible tastings, flashing a smile toward Eloa, “I don’t mess ’round in tha kitchen much myself, so I’d prolly be just as bad. But I’m glad we’re not findin’ out today.”

A pristinely dressed baker, Seraphina’s savior, begins to pass about glasses of water.

“You’re right,” Jasper chuckles quietly. “Let’s see who will win.”

Drinking down a bit of water, and swishing it about her mouth before swallowing, Seraphina turns to Dovie, all smiles again. “Your turn, Dovie. Tell us what you’ve lovingly prepared for us.”

“Okay maybe that bad.” Eloa comments watching Marina’s reaction as she withdraws a little, “Now really glad no try.” She tells Esme, grinning back a the other girl.

The whole process is incredibly inelegant as Marina spits several times, trying to get the taste of strawberry floor cleaner out of her mouth.

Nemi sways a tiny bit as she smiles softly and simply watches.

Dovie points to the loaf of bread with the funky smell. “I made a banana bread! With Black Sesame crumble. Unfortunately there was black garlic in the spread, so I had to incorporate that, but I think it gave it something extra!” she says proudly, ignoring the scent.

Since this was Preston’s original baking thingamabob, he’s the first to test it.

“At least it looks properly baked,” Sofia nods over to Dovie a couple of times. “Gotta be more edible than some of the others…”

Again, Ambrose does not make to eat anything, though he does look over the bread from a distance.

After testing it first, Preston grins at Dovie, and flashes her a thumbs up. “Yum!!”

Shiloh peer over at Dovie’s banana bread, stepping over to give it a taste, looking cautiously optimistic.

Matthew doesn’t look overly enthusiastic to be trying the garlic-banana pairing but he’s a good sport, marching over to cut a modest slice for himself. “Can’t wait!”

Sofia informs Dovie, “Yeah, possible to be kept down. Considering what you started with… alright.”

Dovie nods at Sofia. “I think I did what I could!”

Shiloh beams a bright smile up at Dovie as he chews, clearly enjoying it before his lips straighten out suddenly and his brows furrow, swallowing the bite with a confused expression.

Matthew takes one confident bite of the banabread and immediately he freezes, expression crumpling like bad news in a pretty envelope. He spits ti out into a napkin with dramtic flair, muttering, “That wasn’t bread, that was…” but it’s Preston who gets his scorn, “betrayal!”

Seraphina takes a nibble of the banana bread, hitting that piece of black garlic. She licks at her lips. “If it wasn’t for the -garlic-.. If this gets voted for, I will personally take the garlic out of the equasion!”

Shiloh says “You told me about the garlic, but I still was not expecting it. I did that to myself.“

“…I liked that, except the garlic,” Marina agrees with Seraphina, “And it’s not like the garlic’s bad. Just not with bananas…”

Nemi hums softly, swaying her feet a bit as she smiles and watches the food get tested.

Shiloh says “I didn’t expect it to linger.“

Seraphina turns to the crowd and asks, “Come, have a bite. Do not by shy.”

Perhaps picking up on social cues and etiquette, Matthew offers up something polite, “The texture was great!”

Shiloh nods a few times with Matthew, telling Dovie, “I think you would have won without the garlic.”

Dovie tells Shiloh. “I’m kind of fond of it now… it’s like unusual.”

Esme lifts a hand and laughs, “I’m good. I gotta get but this was great, Sera. Good luck and congrats t’ whoever wins!” She waves, asiding to Nemi, “I’ve got some things going on tomorrow, but I can make time Tuesday if you wanna link up.”

“Ambrose?” Seraphina asks Ambrose, as he stands, patient and tall. “What did you create?

“None of these haven’t even been bad,” Preston supplies this information, strolling along the tables and glancing at other people’s food.

Seraphina waves to Esme, “And to you. I’ll stop by Hollow soon.”

“Later!” Matthew calls after Esme when she announces her eminent departure.

Nemi waves softly.

Eloa waves at the departing woman and ESPECIALLY waves at Seraphina, in the two handed back and forth no kindof way.

Looking up to Seraphina from off in la-la land, Ambrose pivots his gaze down to the garlic knots. “I did my best,” he answers her obliquely. “I got chili-dusted pineapple. My thought was to make cornbread upside down muffins with the pineapple on top.” Still looking at the knots, he considers, “It may or may not have worked. Sofia traded baskets, and so…”

Looking back tor Seraphina, Ambrose supposes placidly, “I pivoted. Poorly.”

Shiloh nods a bit at Dovie, “It’s one of the better ones we’ve tasted so far in my opinion.” He looks back at the mousse and frowns before his attention turns to Ambrose.

Seraphina nods to Ambrose, winking at Sofia, “We’ll be the judge of that.” And so she takes a corner crumble of what he’s made, and plops it into her mouth.

Aeryn sees the look from Shiloh, and narrows her eyes slightly. “My mousse is a masterpiece.”

“Its… something!” Seraphina assures Aeryn.

Dovie tells Ambrose. “I like the pineapple and cheese. Reminds me almost of a Hawaiian pizza?”

“See?” Aeryn nods to Seraphina. “Exactly.”

Preston grabs a knot, and pops it in into his mouth. “It’s not bad,” Preston admits, and it seems rather honest. In fact, Preston has not said a single bad thing about any of the food. The man might actually be insane.

Matthew at least has the decency to eat and swallow it down. “Makes me think of…” he’s musing to himself, “hawaiian pizza?” A nod to Dovie when she speaks it a beat faster than him. “Exactly!”

Shiloh shoots Aeryn a thumbs up in response! “It’s… Yeah! Confidence is key!” He then plops a bite of the garlic knots in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

Shiloh says “Oh, huh!“

Sofia nods a couple of times as the others taste Ambrose’s creation and says, “I tried it earlier. It’s… an unfortunate mix, that I take the blame for. His original idea would have been way cooler.”

“Oooh, is this a sparking moment between the bachelor and one of the finalists? If so, I can make more mousse for you two,” Aeryn decides, glancing between Matthew and Dovie.

Marina sucks her fingers clean, looking like she’s thinking really hard about her view on the knots.

The commentary has Ambrose’s eyes glancing from person to person, and he evenly supposes back, “I tried. It isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever made. I still would not try it if you haven’t yet.”

Seraphina peels some undercooked dough off her thumb. “It is a little chewy. If it were cooked more, it might not be bad.” She nods at Matthew, remarking, “A side of marinara to dunk it in?” She doesn’t chef’s kiss, but the idea is maybe there.

Shiloh nods to Ambrose “It’s not terrible, I think you did a pretty good job with what you were given.”

To Ambrose’s partner, Seraphina’s eyes go to. She walks a step toward Sofia, “Sofia, what did you prepare?

“You’re too kind,” Ambrose decides back placidly, pivoting his attention off to Sofia at that.

Matthew nods, casting his support for Seraphina’s plan for dunking sauce. “Definitely,” then to Ambrose, “You may have done it!” Aeryn’s comment is not missed nor ignored, and in time the Montrose does track his eyes towards Dovie, delivering a hi` in a look.

If there’s a look Dovie misses it because she’s too busy trying to pick pineapple off the garlic knots to eat.

“Well, I pulled a swap card myself,” Sofia speaks up to address the entire competition. “So I originally pulled jalapenos as my special ingredient. I was going to use Ambrose’s current basket to make a braided jalapeno cheddar bread with a roasted garlic-butter glaze, but I had to pivot into this honey jalapeno cornbread.” She sweeps her arm over to the cast iron, where one slice has been cut out by a spatula. She smiles at Seraphina and says, “Go on and give it a try! I promise, it won’t hurt any of you.”

“I should open a restaurant instead of a bar,” Aeryn muses, seemingly to herself. “This has been a very interesting time, and it’s easy enough.”

Shiloh looks over to Sofia, then to her baked good, smiling a bit, and for the first time seems excited to try it.

Matthew for the first time perks up and seems more than a little eager to try the selection. He plucks up a piece, studying its texture before popping the square into his mouth, whole.

Marina’s expression lights up. “I’ve actually been really excited to try this,” she confesses to Sofia, bouncing on her toes a little bit while waiting her chance to snag some of the cornbread.

Seraphina giggles, and there isn’t any hesitation when she slices off a corner of the bread for a bite. “I think the only one that hurt was that … balsamic. It made my eyes water.”

Shiloh lets his eyes roll back as he chews, “Fuck that’s good.”

Preston steps forward and claims part of that slice, taking a big bite. “Good work, Sofia!” Preston exclaims, lifting a hand to high-five her. “This is great.”

Matthew takes one, it’s so good he doesn’t have words, he just goes back for a second square, and then a third. Greedy.

Seraphina seems to want to take another bite, but she holds back. “Delicious!”

Matthew holds up both hands, offering a ten out of ten score.

Ambrose breaks fast to help himself to a small sliver.

Dovie’s eyes open wide. “Holly wowww! Put this on your pizza menu.”

“I’m intrigued,” Aeryn decides.

“But it’s not pizza,” Preston tells Dovie, smirking at her.

“Oh, that is lovely,” Aeryn concedes afer a bite.

“Before you do, let me spotlight it here.” Seraphina pleads to Sofia.

Marina may be having a religious experience. She gives a little ‘mm, mmhm, mm’ as she savors the cornbread, enjoying the piece of it.

Ambrose gives a placid, gentle nod Aeryn’s way at that. “Worth the effort,” whatever that means.

Sofia laughs slightly with a small blush and shakes her head. “Thank you everyone, just tried to do the best with what I had.” She twirls a hand at Seraphina and says, “It’d be much more fitting in your place, I’ll give you the recipe!”

“Just put cheese on it,” Dovie tells Preston, practically.

Giving a few light bounces upon the balls of her feet, Seraphina drawls out like the honey poured into the bread, “Wonderful.” But the contest is still not over, and to Shiloh she trails. “Shiloh, how about you?” She licks some of the flavor of the bread from the tip of a finger. “What have you prepared?”

Matthew perks with interest, turning his attention there for Shiloh and his creation.

Shiloh is a bit distracted as he savors Sofia’s honey-jalapeno cornbread, jumping a bit with surprise as he’s addressed by Seraphina, looking back “Uh-” He swallows, “Oh. Well, I got green mango chutney for my main ingredient, so the first thing I thought of was a mango chutney cornbread muffin. And I Googled it to confirm it was possible.” He chuckles a bit before motioning to the plate “This is my attempt.”

“In Shakespeare,” Seraphina adds, alll too late.

“Disqualified,” Ambrose laments evenly.

Shiloh eyes his surroundings warily.

Shiloh says “I thought that ended.“

Sofia giggles lightly and grins over at Shiloh, giving him a little backup for Ambrose. “I thought those cards were just for the prep stages, yeah.”

“I like mango chutney,” Marina offers, reaching for a muffin.

Seraphina puts a finger to her mouth in a ‘shhh’ manner.

Preston inspects Shiloh’s creation, and shrugs and tastes it. Chomping and chewing.

Dovie opens her eyes wide at Shiloh. “Yummm!”

Matthew stopped following the rules an hour ago when he was greasing his pan before anyone else. Now is no different and he steps forward to take one of the muffins. “THis look great, man,” he offers Shiloh, encouragingly.

Ambrose was probably joking, anyway. It’s hard to tell with him. It doesn’t look like he’s pressing the matter at all, and is distracted briefly by his phone.

Shiloh grins wide at the compliments from Dovie and Matthew “Thanks! I was a bit nervous, but I’m glad it turned out okay.”

Aeryn decides to try one other, and shrugs, having a bite of a muffin.

“It is,” Preston confirms with Matthew, glancing between his phone and the crowd of people. “The curry powder is great, it’s got a bit of a kick in the back there.”

“Okay that one is worth eating for,” Aeryn says, clearly impressed.

“Huh!” Sofia declares with a smile spreading across her lips. She turns over to Shiloh and says, “These aren’t flavors I’d typically but together, but I think they complement each other well. Very cool mix, very creative.”

Matthew gives the A-OK sign with a thumbs up, a delighted brightenss in his eyes for what he’s eating. “Yeah man,” agreement for Preston, “super good. Love that ginger… is that ginger?” he’s asking, looking to Marina for confirmation.

Marina gives Matthew a nod and an ‘mhm’ to confirm.

“You didn’t give yourself enough credit,” Seraphina informs Shiloh. “It is creative, and has a nice little tickle at the back of the throat.”

Matthew gives his vote, a perfect ten out of ten, raising both hands.

Shiloh beams a smile, chuckling a bit at the compliments, “Well thanks, I’m actually going to start making this at home now.”

“And lastly… though I don’t know your name..” Seraphina says to Marina. “I don’t need to ask you what you made.” She is wearing it, as is what often happens when working with chocolate. But then she asks, “What have you made?”

Dovie remarks, “The cornbreads are killing it today!”

Nemi says “Gray right? The announcement Did’nt describe them like luka… nor alph or lupita or jenny… one of the other howlers It’s getting hard to track their names.“

Seraphina nods to Dovie in full agreement.

Nemi says “Likely. “

Nemi says “Its not jasper either because they were texting over a group chat for students.“

“Marina Mercer!” Marina recites, giving Seraphina a thumbs up that, indeed, has chocolate on it. “I got smoked sea salt, and then had to pull a second one, which was miso caramel sauce,” she announces, “So I made a chocolate tart! It has a hazelnut shortbread crust, chocolate ganache, the miso caramel, and then it’s got the sea salt on top.”

Eloa points Jasper out to Nemi given he’s right next to them.

Nemi says “I don’t remember, wait not jasper- I have trouble with names starting with J“

Nemi looks over to Jasper and waves.

Shiloh tilts his head curiously as he listens to Marina, clearly appearing impressed as they list out the ingredients “Honestly, that sounds delicious…”

“Chocolate is really a key to my heart. It sounds amaaaaahzing.” Seraphina says, as new forks are passed around.

“Oh, this sounds good,” Preston declares, though, he’s actively been excited for all of the rest. Wanting to be the first, he just marches straight towards those tarts and takes some.

Matthew look to the chocolate ganache before Marina like this is the true prize of the night. “Fate favored her in the cards,” he claims, not sounding the least bit upset, and like maybe he was actually the true winner here on that account.

“Oh fuck me,” Preston comments.

Ambrose does also go for a sliver of his own of this one.

Dovie’s mouth stays open. “Oh my lord.”

Shiloh says “Fuck. “

Nemi says “No Als bluey… lukas the… Stoic… one I think. Brains hurting.“

Nemi says “Yeah Alphonse is the smurf.“

Marina watches everyone take a bit of the tart, head tilting as she looks at all the faces. “It’s been a while since I’ve made a ganache,” she confesses.

“Ohhhhh myyyyyy.” Seraphina says, trying to get just a little more of a bite then licking her fork til it shines silver again. She peers at the crowd to say, “You are missing out.”

Nemi struggles to communicate with her group as her brain fails to function.

Nemi says “No- Their blue. Oh. good to know.“

Shiloh nods a few times, shaking his head, closing his eyes, all the physical responses. “That was beautiful.”

Matthew takes a bite of the chocolate tart and goes instantly still, eyes wide like he’s just seen the face of a dessert god. He chews in reverent silence, overwhelmed, then lets out a faint, blissful sigh. Without a word he collapses dramatically against the table, draping himself liek a man slain by flavor.

As Ambrose polishes off his piece, he supposes toward Marina, as placid as ever: “I’m sorry that I don’t eat much to warrant it, but yes, please, use the kitchen.”

“I already snuck a little bit beforehand but… this one’s really, really quite good.” Sofia confirms to Marina, bobbing her heads a few times after she takes another bite. “You definitely seem to know your way around desserts.”

Jasper waves to Nemi as well. “I am alright and here.”

Nemi nods and smiles and waves.

Merrily, Marina announces that, “I’m not! But I was considering a foundry for glassblowing!” Her hand plops atop her head, fingers giving her scalp a couple scratches, “I just like cooking, you know? Lots of family, lots of people to feed.”

“Ten out of ten out of ten out of ten,” Matthew calls out the score like stacking the same score four times somehow make it hit hader, and honestly it kidn of does.

“That is everything that one could want in a dessert. Simply gluttonous!” Seraphina compliments of Marina. “Silky, a light crunch from the hazelnut, finishing off with a subtle bit of smoke and salt…” She asks Marina, “Date me?”

There’s a look of disappointment from Preston when he realizes there’s no more food to try, folding his arms over his chest, glancing towards Marina and Seraphina, snorting at her question of the former.

Seraphina sets the fork down, slyly attempting to slide the remaining tart toward her in a covetous manner.

“No thanks, babes, but I’m glad you like it!” Marina declares, seeming full of satisfaction at everyone’s reaction.

Matthew lifts his head and seconds Seraphina’s request, “No no, date me, I want more of that chocolate, Mercer!”

Shiloh peers aside to Seraphina before grinning over at Marina “You should teach Matthew how to bake.”

Seeming finally convinced to make her way forward, Eloa peers at all the food on the table, “Is look like winner found?” Eloa asks as she reaches out to take a little bit of the tart along with a small amount of the mango chutney cornbread that Shiloh made.

Dovie gives Matthew a double take. “Wait, that’s not a part of the show contract!”

“Okay. Text me at seven ten, oh one nine seven with your votes, please.” Seraphina says.

THe mention of shows and contracts have Matthew suddenly peeling himself off his dramatic drape on the table, claiming to Dovie, “I’m sorry, I was slain by cake! Forgive me, Dovie, a momentary slip.”

Reversing the order of food people usually have, Eloa goes back for more tart, “Is good.” She agrees as she takes her phone out.

Nemi leans over to whisper to Jasper. “I havent slept in three days and I can barely keep track of whats what.”

“Just one vote. I will go with the first two with the most votes to showcase, and the most votes goes the spoils of a hundred dollars.” Seraphina remarks, still trying to hold onto that tart.

“…oh, then just Sofia’s cornbread,” Marina decides.

Seraphina giggles. “One vote,” she reminds Marina. “But yes.

Sofia winks over to Marina and admits, “I mighta voted for you anywho. Or, ahem, someone anonymous might have voted for you.”

Marina gives a little toss of what loose hair she has, which isn’t much; it seems to be a reflex. “What show contract?” she wonders to Dovie, “I did hear something about the Bachelor — Matty’s, like, not my forever vibes, don’t worry. He’s one of those people you bang a couple times, get a few Tiffany necklaces from, maybe a Cartier, then you stay friends but you don’t date him.”

Seraphina glances aside to Aeryn, the amusement in her eyes. “Uhhuh.” She ticks the count, though. “Do I have everyone’s vote?”

Shiloh nods to Seraphina “Mine is locked in.”

“He’s supposed to be looking for true love, or something!” Dovie tells Marina, though she lets out a laugh at Marina’s words, her eyes widening. “Definitely multiple Cartier pieces!”

Eloa giggles a little at overhearing Marina’s words and gives Shiloh a small wave. “Your bread was good. Goodluck!”

“He will find true love,” Aeryn states, pointing at Matthew. “I know it.”

Shiloh offers Eloa a smile “Thanks!”

Ambrose is absorbed in his phone for a long time, and eventually tucks it into his coat pocket. “Apologies,” toward Seraphina, when he looks back up.

“I think with the amount of wolves, we should definitely give names to their forms,” Jasper whispers back towards Nemi. “But hopefulky you finally get some sleep.”

Preston lifts his eyebrows at Marina’s words, glances towards Matthew but says nothing.

Marina holds up her middle, forefinger and thumb on her left hand. “Three Cartier pieces,” she suggests to Dovie, “I mean, he goes on about his money, so it’s valid.”

Marina takes a look aside at Matthew. “He’s not quite ‘Daddy’ aged, but like…” Her shoulders lift in a shrug.

“To be fair, one would expect better quality gifts from certain families,” Dovie admits to Marina.

Matthew pauses, glancing over with a slow blink like he’s just heard his whole brand laid out with surgical accuracy. He weighs it, literally, tilting one hand then the other as if mesuring Marina’s words against some invisible scale. After a beat, he shrugs with exaggerated acceptance, lips quirking into a wry grin. Young uncle fuckboy that he is.

Matthew winks at Marina, he’ll take it.

Marina blows a kiss in Matthew’s direction, before commenting to Dovie that, “Apparently the name Mercer makes people think we’re gonna give them a fishing pole.” Then a pause occurs, followed by, “There was a fishtank at Ola Thrift Shop that I wanna buy.”

“Marina has won by a landslide with the gorgeous tart, and next is Sofia’s jalapeno honey cornbread.” Seraphina says, eyes scanning along her phone as messages come through. “Both will be for sale here. If Marina is okay with me keeping that tart.” There is hope in her gaze at Marina. She turns to Dovie, “Tiffany’s and Cartier is not quality?” She is standing in her probably hot topic attire.

“Well, you all do have a certain… reputation?” Dovie chuckles, “At least fishing pole selection advice?” She cheers for Marina and Sofia. “Congratulations!!” She adds to Seraphina. “oh no, Cartier is quality. Tiffany’s is… fine.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, you can have the tart,” Marina assures Seraphina, giving a thumbs up, “I’ll write the recipe down!”

Shiloh nods with a grin, “Yeah, those were both really good. Congratulations.” He then looks to Seraphina “Can I take my muffins home? I want to share them with some friends.”

Nemi says “Okay who made that wish…“

Nemi holds up the wish jar.

There’s a ghost of a smile on Ambrose’s lips at the results, earnest enough to both Marina and Sofia “Congratulations. Well deserved.”

Seraphina switches apps on her phone, eyes turning to Shiloh, “You recieved a vote too. It was a lovely bite.” She winks at Aeryn, “And one for the mousse.” She looks back to Marina, “Do yu Zelle or Venmo?”

When the winner is announced, Preston claps for Marina and Sofia both. “Well done, everyone!” It’s approval, open and honest, not a picky eater it would seem at all. “Everyone did great.”

“I’ve no idea who would have voted for- does anyone mind if I take the rest home for my loftmate?” Aeryn asks innocently.

“Congrats!” Jasper claps his hands towards Marina and her tart.

Shiloh smiles over at Dovie and sera “Thanks! I’ll be making more things like that at the pub I’ll be opening up.”

Eloa turns to Marina, “Oh you want buy fish tank? Thank god. Eloa not good at fish upkeep.”

Dovie nods at Shiloh. “I look forward to it!”

Shiloh smiles over at Dovie and Seraphina “Thanks! I’ll be making more things like that at the pub I’ll be opening up.”

“Ooh! I Zelle,” Marina answers Seraphina, pulling a little pen out of her pocket to scratch some information down on one of the papers to give to Seraphina, “That way it’s all in my bank.”

Aeryn nods at Dovie. “I can, of course.”

Nemi stands and holds up the stupid wish jar. “Who did it. Who made the wish.”

Sofia gives Seraphina a thumbs up and a light smile, nodding a few times. “Good event, some fun chaos. Hit me up if you have any recipe questions later, I’ll leave this around for you.” She looks over to Shiloh and Ambrose and the other bakes, saying, “Well done everyone, we were all dealt some pretty funky hands. But at that… I think I’ve gotta head home for a quick rest.”

“Thank you all for coming out tonight. If you had fun, I can do another to focus on more savory bites.” Seraphina says, opening up the app to pass the money off.

Ambrose heads over without much bother to gather up his own mess, for prompt disposal and cleanup of loose ends. “I understand that entirely. I’m doing likewise,” over a shoulder to Sofia without looking back. “It was good to see everyone work.”

Dovie gives one final wave. “Congratulations all! We’re all winners really!” And to Seraphina she calls out, “Please please do more in the future! This was such fun!”

Shiloh says “I gotta head out too! Be safe everyone!“

“Don’t forget to come by Cobblestone Park on Rosewood for cats,” Marina raises her voice to holler.

Seraphina nods to someone, “I think I can parse out the recipe for the cornbread, but if you can drop me off the recipe, I would love that. I would also love to work with you on something sometime, I think. If you’re game.”

Nemi sighs softly.

Nemi says “I really need to start finding the people who make these stupid wishes.“

Seraphina nods to the woman as she leaves, “I think I can parse out the recipe for the cornbread, but if you can drop me off the recipe, I would love that. I would also love to work with you on something sometime, I think. If you’re game.” She says to Ambrose, “If you would let her know that? Later?”

“Um is 300 I think? Eloa not sure about price on tag haven’t checked. If you want come thrift shop now, Eloa scoop up fish in bags and mostly empty tank so you can take?” Eloa asks Marina looking around for a man or two to help carry the fish tank. “Is may need bribe man to help lift. Is heavy tank.”

Matthew helps himself to another tart as the crowd thins out. “Good cake, Mercer,” he compliments Marina and then he’s off, heading towards the exit with a, “I’ll text you sometime this week about the heirloom.” A smile her way and off he goes.

“You need help?” Preston asks Seraphina as people begin to depart for the night, with naps and other things. “Cleaning anything up?” A clarification of course.”

“Well done, all,” Aeryn smiles, waving a hand. “I’ll see you all later.”

Nemi sighs softly.

Marina lifts an arm to flex for Eloa. “I might be able to lift it,” she offers, “And if I can’t, I’ll make Miles come.” She finishes her jotting down of the recipe for Seraphina, leaving the tart — and the recipe — behind for her.

Nemi says “Killgrove, took us to fairefield, in some shop.“

Once all collected, Ambrose looks about himself and then to Seraphina, chin lifting. “Hmnh? Oh. Absolutely, I’ll let her know,” he agrees gently, chin dipping. “And I’d be glad to. Just let me know, yes?” The phone lifts and is waggled. “Wonderful little event. Thank you.”

“Wish jar?” Jasper wonders of Nemi with a raise of his brow.

“Okay well is safer lift with two people because fish tank can wobble with water in.” Eloa smiles at Marina, “Want go shop now?”

“Are you busy, Ambrose?” Seraphina asks, nodding to Preston, as she starts to clean up the disaster left on the prep table. “You don’t need to do much. I have workers that will do it.

“Do you take card?” Marina wonders of Eloa, “I can meet you there, if you take cash, I have to stop by the ATM.”

Nemi says “Someone wished to be daddy aged.“

“Is Cash only for fish tank sorry.” Eloa tells Marina with a small rueful smile, “Eloa meet you there. Start catching fish.”

Marina nods her head, beaming a smile at Eloa.

Preston nods towards Seraphina, “I’m gonna step out for a bit,” he mentions now, once he’s no longer needed to help clean things up. “Text me later, Sera?”

Marina says, as she bounces off, “Thanks! That was a lot of fun everyone!“

Nemi says “One dollar minimum.“

Nemi nods softly.