quack quack

[forsometimenow]

Who: The crew of the SS Wonderduck and any visitors
Broadcast: N/A
Action: SS Wonderduck
When: The first few weeks of April

[The crew has changed a lot since the last mingle. What're you up to, Wonderducks? What nasty and/or hilarious rumors are being spread about you?]

Comments

Lumiére | OTA

[servantnotserving]

A:Getting to grips with reality

[Lumiére honestly never expected his life would take him into space. His augment has helped plenty, thankfully, so he's not completely at a loss. Still, it's a very different world than one he's used to (even with all the crazy magic) and it's taking some getting used to.

He's abandoned his room, it takes him far to long to get into it and it's not like he can do much in there anyway. Beds aren't really all that useful when you're made of bass and are also extremely flammable. And so, most of the time, he can be found alternating between the bridge and the kitchen. A lot of the time, he's happily listening to the communications device, watching people talk and generally just be...people. It's nice to see.

If you catch him in the kitchen, he's usually poking through the gels, making soft, disgusted noises at what's on offer. This isn't real food. This is a crime against humanity. ]

Why does unflavoured even exist? Who would even want to eat that?

B: Rumour has it

[Lumiére's not been all that bothered with the little rumour mill that the Atroma seem to be creating. Honestly, 90% of rumours floating around about him would likely have an element of truth to them anyway. He's that sort of person.

One that absolutely isn't true is the one that's stuck to a pile of old fashioned rule books. Proper play of Badminton, 10 unbreakable dinner party rules and Law of etiquette - titles like that. It's an impressive little pile, with the post-it proudly proclaiming Lumiére's unequivocal love for them. Judging from his face, that's probably not true.

Ugh. It's like being haunted by Cogsworth. He can read the books and hear that nasally English voice telling him what to do. Or, more likely, what not to do. Which was basically anything even remotely fun. ]

Would anyone object if I had a bonfire?

[Please don't let him set fire to things in the ship, y'all got to live here. ]

A)

[norwaysown]

[ Signy’s shoulders lift and fall in a simple shrug. She’s changed into the fleet-offered beige jumpsuit, because it’s nicer than what she’d showed up in. The fabric seems to be new. ]

It has the same nutritional value.

What do you need food for?

[servantnotserving]

[Lumiére pulls a face. ]

Who looks at a meal for nutritional value? It is about the taste, the smell, the experience.

[Still, she has a good point, and he has a perfect answer to that. ]

Oh, I have not been able to east since I was cursed. But, I am still a maítre d', it's my job- my duty to make sure that people enjoy themselves, especially when it comes to their meal. Without enjoyment, they'd just be eating to survive.

[norwaysown]

Eating to survive is still pretty important.

[ In fact, it's way more important than eating for the experience, in Signy's opinion. ]

I just want to grab food and get on with the next thing.

[servantnotserving]

Of course, but to not have flavour when you eat? It is a real tragedy.

[Come on Signy, don't be that waaay. Lumiére looks positively horrified. If he had his hands he would fix this immediately, he could make her the most exquisite feast. ]

Then you really need a wonderful dining experience. I am afraid I can't make the sort of meals I used to, but I can certainly try for you, mademoiselle.

[norwaysown]

[ Her brow wrinkles, confusion and concern. ]

It strikes me that there are others around who would appreciate it more. I'm not asking you to waste your time.

B

[sylphid]

[Fie looks up from the corner of the cargo hold, where her riveting game of bean bag toss has gotten stale. With a shrug, she replies.]

Nope. Got things you wanna get rid of?

[servantnotserving]

[Fie you are good people. Lumiére gestures to the little pile of rule books.]

Qui, these. Unless you know anyone who really enjoys reading rulebooks.

[sylphid]

[Oh, no. Oh, hell no.

She tosses aside the bean bag and walks over to where her crewmate and his newly acquired trash heap are located. Without a word, she picks one up and opens it to a random page. The distaste in her expression is immediate. A loud ripping sound follows, and she holds the page out to him.]

Maybe a slow destruction would be more satisfying to start with.

[There may be something about them that gets to her, too.]

[servantnotserving]

[Lumiére watches her, impressed. He grins and raises a little candle hand up and foosh up goes the page, watch your fingers, girl. It may be magical fire, but it's absolutely still fire. ]

Oh, mademoiselle, I love the way you think.

[sylphid]

[She handled deadly explosives before puberty even hit, she's perfectly fine with a little fire. In fact, she lets go of the page just in time for it to completely burn to nothingness before it hits the ground.]

I do like that you don't need a fuel source. [Her compliments might need work. With another rip, she holds out a page detailing different sorts of napkin rings for him to enjoy.]

B

[norwaysown]

I would.

[ Getting tired of seeing her around yet? Signy is getting tired of people acting like complete idiots. ]

No fire on the spaceship.

[ She'll make that a rule, even if Captain Keller hasn't. ]

B

[servantnotserving]

[Oh no, here comes the fun police. Lumiére turns to give her a wide grin, waggling his waxy eyebrows. ]

But I'm already on fire, ma Cherie.

[norwaysown]

Then you'll have to be very careful.

[ The fun police are not impressed. ]

Keep the books for their paper. It may be useful.

[servantnotserving]

The careful live very long, very dull lives.

[So boring. ]

I suppose they are useful if you really want to learn the proper etiquette of water polo.

[norwaysown]

Or if you want to use the margins to write something physically down. At a minimum, you may be able to barter with them for something you do want. Perhaps cooking ingredients at the next station we see.

A

[nonightdriving]

[Ignis has come aboard the Wonderduck to find Noctis as soon as he can. Unfortunately, it appears that his prince is somewhere else. Perhaps he's shirking his duties once more to hover around the Oracle, as he admitted to Ignis himself.

While waiting for Noctis to reappear, he's taken it upon himself to have a little tour of this ship. Of course, no tour would be complete with a stop in the kitchen. (It has nothing to do with his augment, thank you ever so much.

What he sees when he steps in the doorway is... bizarre. It's a talking candelabra. What hell has he stepped into? Upon closer reflection, he knows that voice—Lumiere, he responded to let Ignis know that Noctis was safe and that they arrived at the same time. Now the lack of video makes sense. If anything about this makes sense at all. (Hint: It doesn't.)]

I suspect that they are unflavored so that it can be changed with spices and the like from the different worlds we visit when not in drift. [Augments are helpful.] There's something like that back on my own world called tofu. It can be used for anything and is mostly protein. I usually think of it like that when I cook aboard the "First Breath".

[servantnotserving]

[Oh well, at least he had an attempt at softening the blow. Good job, Lumiére. He figures Ignis must be visiting Noctis, because of course he would. Friendships, and all that.

He's still not convinced on the lack of flavour, though. ]

But surely it would be better to mix the new spices with flavours we already have?

[Of course, Tofu exists in Lumiére's time, kind of...just not in France. He's never heard of it in his life. It sounds awful. ]

Is...there no meat in your world? For the protein? [WHAT ARE VEGETARIANS? :D ]

[nonightdriving]

[No, no, it's fine. Ignis isn't the hysterical type. And after daemons and Magitek warriors and gods and greedy empires, a talking candelabra on a spaceship far from home is the least of the things that are screwed up in his life right now.

And, yes, he's here to see the sleepy princeling. Because that's his job.

He smiles minutely before beginning to talk about one of his favorite topics, cooking.]

Some flavors don't mix well with one another. Being a good cook is learning and knowing which will mesh and which should never. Having taste testers help, but a good deal of aptitude and intuition make the endeavour a good deal easier. The fact that tofu and these protein cubes have no special flavoring means that I could, in theory, cook it with something like sauteed vegetables and it would pick up that flavor, instead of taking away from it.

[One day, Lumiére, even the greatness of Paris will know the wonder of tofu. One day.]

There is plenty of meat, certainly, but a diet of only meat proteins leads to certain deficiencies that only a balanced diet of both plant and animal proteins can remedy. Besides, not everyone has it readily available, while legumes are easy to grow and require no hunting.

[servantnotserving]

[If the Beast were here (god forbid) Lumiére would probably be doing the same. Duty is a strong thing. ]

I used to cook a lot, back home. [Before the curse robbed him of his hands. ] I was not the chef, but I dallied in it once in a while. We have nothing like that, though I can at least understand your reasoning.

[He's not sure he'd be a fan :| Lumiére doesn't really get it, but a balanced diet wasn't exactly what people went for back then. It was all about the taste, the texture, the more decadent the better. ]

...These are things I have never heard of before. It seems I have much more than technology to learn here.

[nonightdriving]

[Could space handle having Beast there? Could the other passengers? However, duty is duty to anyone of worth.]

I started by dallying. So long as you have the right tools and good intuition, you can change any recipe to your tastes. Of course, knowing how to use what you have before you is usually necessary.

[Look, he could make you a tofuburger and you wouldn't know the difference between that and a garula sirloin. You'd be in ecstasy. Just ask Noctis.]

I'm sure there is a great deal for all of us to learn from one another while we're here. So, you're not alone in that aspect.

B!

[luxoraculi]

[ Lunafreya has come to visit poor Noctis, but it's her first time on this ship. She's been taking her time, looking around and keeping an eye out for her beloved prince. While she doesn't see him, she does see something extremely odd... and extremely amusing. While they've never met or spoken, Luna knows exactly who this is thanks to Noctis.

So as she approaches, the Oracle lifts her hand in greeting and offers a small smile. ]

You must be Lumiére. Forgive me, but would a bonfire in such tight quarters be a good idea?

[servantnotserving]

[Lumiére does mange to look a little surprised that she knows his name, but then again, it's not like he can blend in with the other residents of the Fleet. He grins in return. ]

I see my reputation precedes me! I hope you have heard only good things, mademoiselle.

[Back home, that was always a 50/50 chance either way. He looks at the little pile of books and sighs.]

Perhaps not. Maybe I'll just push them out of the airlock.

[luxoraculi]

[ Wow, what a total gentleman. Smile widening, she offers Lumiére a polite, proper bow of greeting. ]

Only good things, I can assure you. Forgive me, I am being rude. My name is Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, and I am Noctis's fiancée. Thank you very much for befriending him. He has mentioned you on more than one occasion.

[ She thinks they're friends, at least. And if they aren't, she's certainly going to nudge Noctis in the direction of friendship. He's got his friends at home, and Ignis here, but making new friends certainly never hurts. ]

You could do that... or perhaps the next planet we go to, you could donate them?

[servantnotserving]

[And he'll respond with a little bow of his own. He is very well trained in these kinds of things. ]

Ah, so you are the beauty who made Noctis a very lucky man. It is a pleasure to meet you, madamoiselle, and it is no problem. We were brought together under unusual circumstances, after all.

[And Ardyn clearly was not a welcome face for the poor guy. ]

Do you think anyone would even want them? They're very dull.