Open Valentine's Day Post

[hurricane_chris]

This is a Valentine's Day open post!

Feel free to tag any of my characters here, or to post your own top-levels.

Then, tag around!

Comments

[infinitejustice]

Oh?

[Athrun stares at the box as he accepts it into his hands. He hadn't been expecting any gifts today, even if it was Valentine's Day. He used to get a lot of valentines when he was in school, but that all but stopped when he became a mobile suit pilot. But that was also because that was when his engagement to Lacus was made public, and then, after his father (supposedly) terminated it, he was in a relationship with Cagalli for two years. But even after that separation, nothing.]

Er, thank you. What's in...

[Oh, right, he can open it. At this point, he's too surprised to be embarrassed. He carefully unties the ribbon holding the package together and lifts the lid.]

[nobleconfidant]

[ Within the box is an assortment of chocolates that could easily be mistaken for a gourmet brand. Each one bears an intricate design of flowers or leaves that would take a master chocolatier to decorate with the utmost precision.

That is, except one in the corner. The lumpy black square might be dark chocolate for the look of it, but it's so unrefined and uneven that it looks more akin to charcoal than the rest of them. ]

I...attempted to borrow the cafeteria to make chocolates, but they turned me away consistently until Tsukuyomi took over the situation. [ Her head maid is a fine cook even at the worst of times, so for her, making such treats was hardly a big ask. Meiya's pride still has a massive, gaping hole in it from the entire debacle, however. ] I insisted she let me make at least one...but you needn't eat it if you don't want to.

[infinitejustice]

[Athrun's eyes are focused on the chocolates, with a look of surprise on his face. These look expertly done, with the one exception. Then he hears Meiya's explanation.]

Tsukuyomi made these? I never would have guessed.

[He had no idea that she was this skilled at making chocolates.]

Thank you for the gift. I appreciate it.

[He may not be much for celebrating anything today, but a gift is always welcome. Immediately he grabs the lumpy chocolate that Meiya made and pops it into his mouth.]

[nobleconfidant]

Ah-!

[ Meiya moves her hand up as if she might stop him, but he's already got the treat in his mouth by the time she can lift her hand halfway.

The flavor is...interesting. There's definitely chocolate in there, buried under a distinctly rubbery texture that's almost like mochi but way, way wrong.

And then, there's the salt. Salt and some kind of spice that might have been paprika once upon a time. No, stronger than that. It has to be a kind of chili but its bite is difficult to discern under the aforementioned salt. The lumps that give the chocolate its shape were probably peanuts. Probably.

Were this some kind of video game, this situation would've prompted a notice to save your game. After all, this is the sort of decision that would take a percentage off your health bar permanently. ]

[infinitejustice]

[No matter how bad it is, he can handle it. He's a Coordinator, after all.

At least, that had been Athrun's train of thought.

At first, he tries to maintain a calm expression so as not to betray how awful the thing tastes. But that doesn't last, as it seems to get worse the longer it's in his mouth. Then the spice kicks in. He starts coughing.

This won't end well.

Athrun holds up one finger to Meiya, then runs into his quarters. The sound of gagging, followed by a flushing toilet can be heard. Then the sound of tap water coming from a faucet.

A few minutes later, Athrun returns. The box can be seen resting on the end of his bed in his quarters.]

S-sorry. I wish you hadn't seen that.