8th Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Mahdi is once again in the kitchen, wearing his red apron and looking particularly flour-dusted and frazzled. He seems slightly wobbly - probably hasn't slept.]

Hey everyone! I made a bunch cookies and I'm just about to drop them to the clinic.

[He sweeps the tablet over to look at each plate of cookies as he describes them:]

Lemon shortbread will give you calm, safe feelings.

Chocolate espresso shortbread will make you feel more cheerful and energized - plus there's coffee in it! [tiny cheer:] Yay coffee!

Um, these are semi-magical cookies, I guess you could say. The effects will vary by person but I'd say... hmmm, the effects last a few hours, half a day at most.

If anyone else is feeling bad or weird, this should help. I've made several dozen, so if you're near the clinic please stop by and take some. Also, um, be careful with your soul. It's actually pretty important. If someone tries to talk you into giving it up, don't listen to them. Just sayin'.

[Mahdi turns the tablet back around to record himself, and smiles brightly.]

That's all!

[But the look fades into something more troubled and he seems to be looking at something in the distance. He absently fiddles with a wisp of his hair, pushing it into his mouth briefly as he thinks.] Forgetting something... oh!

Ashraf, I need to talk to you when you have a sec. If you're at the clinic I'll just stop in.

[Someone still doesn't know how privacy filters work.]


[OOC: Mahdi is responding to the shadow demons. His cookies could be a potential way to avoid the feelings of negativity they bring.]

Comments

[moralperil]

If you don't have a birthday, you should make one up!

[A lean in and a low whisper.] That's what I did!

Besides, what if you make a friend whose happiness also depends on making stuff for others. Wouldn't you want to let them be happy by making you happy?

[They call it... servantception.]

[retraced]

[We need to go deeper.]

Oz made up a birthday for me once. Though it doesn't coincide with this world's calendar.

[One of many things that the two worlds absolutely don't have in common with each other. The question, though, sends him into a deep fit of thought-circles that lead him back to one undeniable truth:]

That's - too stressful to think about! If that were the case I don't know what I'd do...ah, my stomach hurts thinking about it!

[He rubs at his forehead, anxiously.]

I guess I'd just have to make up something on the spot? Something that they wouldn't have to strain themselves making...

[moralperil]

[concerned frown] ...You should really try my lemon shortbread. It's delicious and you'll calm down a bit.

[retraced]

[Right, he'd mentioned that before, too. Gil had been too distracted by coffee-cookies to think much on it then, but now he remembers.]

Lemon shortbread...ah, is it really a relaxing food?

[moralperil]

Probably not usually. [Mahdi brushes a bit of his hair over his cheek.] But it is when I make it! [Grin.]

[retraced]

[Not sure if that's a joke or not, but.]

What else do you add to it?

[moralperil]

When I mix up the dough, I use my special powers and infuse it with all of my warmth and affection.

It's not something that can be replicated, probably not even by another of my own kind. So I guess you could say it's like a secret ingredient!

[retraced]

Special powers...

[Blink.]

Is that literal or a metaphor for something that I'm not understanding?

[You never can tell with people here. Though since he used the words 'my own kind', he's figuring that it's a literal special power to make people happy through baking. Which is sort of amazing.]

[moralperil]

Literal is the one where it is true, right?

Because yeah, I do have special powers. I can make people happy!

[retraced]

That's...

[A good power to have. he's sure Oz would appreciate a moment of calm happiness more than anyone.]

Would if be okay if I stopped by to pick some up for someone else instead of myself?

[moralperil]

Sure. You're next door, right? Just drop by quickly, I'm taking the rest to the clinic.

[retraced]

Y-you don't have to go out of your way! I don't mind coming to pick it up!

[moralperil]

Okay! I'm waiting for my friend to help me take what's left over to the clinic, so if you just want to stop by I'll put together a plate.

[retraced]

Mmh. Which room should I meet you in?

[moralperil]

I'm right next door at 403!

[retraced]

Oh-!

[Fumbling to put the tablet down now.]

Right - I won't be a minute, then.

[moralperil]

See you soon! [Mahdi turns off the tablet to tidy up a little before Gilbert shows up. Normally he doesn't bother with that stuff, but it seems like the sort of thing that would matter to him.]

action;

[retraced]

[A few minutes later he's at the apartment, knocking gently on the door in all his pseudo-Victorian glory. Knock knock!]

[moralperil]

[Mahdi answers the door in a pretty clearly home-made apron, red, with his name stitched in one corner. He's still dusty from some flour, with a bit of chocolate smeared here or there.]

Hi! Gilbert, right?

[OOC: Can I trouble you to hit up his permissions? <3]

[retraced]

[Apron making bros, unite. He nods and offers a hand politely.]

That's right. Sorry, you're...?

[He's sure Oz used his name once before, but he can't recall exactly what it was and he doesn't want to accidentally say the wrong one.]

[moralperil]

Mahdi!

Come in a sec. I'm sorry I don't have any coffee or tea started.

[Mahdi welcomes Gilbert into the apartment. The place is neatly kept, though the kitchen is definitely mid-cleaning.]

Take one of the plates on the counter there, okay?

[retraced]

Mahdi. [He repeats, just to make sure that he's got it right.] Ah - no, it's okay, I came over unannounced.

[Mostly unannounced! And he's never been comfortable with other people serving him anyhow. He's gotten used to it, but avoids it whenever possible. He's more comfortable like this.]

This one here? [He asks as he walks over to the counter, looking at the food that's been prepared. They look fantastic, but he's still not sure what to think about this power that Mahdi says he has.]

[moralperil]

That's fine! Want to try one? Go for it!

[Mahdi doesn't feel any pressure at all. He's obviously at home in the kitchen, rolling some tinfoil over another plateful of shortbread.]

[retraced]

[His hand hovers over one plate, moving between two types of cookies. He's curious about the one, but...

Coffee always wins out in the end.]

I can try one?

[He asks once more before he actually moves to pick it up off the plate.]

[moralperil]

Please! Go for it!

[Mahdi gives him the thumbs-up!]

It'll make you feel more cheerful and energized.