[center][h2]Li’Kalla[/h2] [i]Goddess of Rain 17 FP - 10 MP[/i] [/center] [hr] There was an odd smell in the air. A smell that she could not quite place. The moment Li’Kalla crossed the Gateway to the So’E, the smell invaded her nostrils. Now, it wasn’t foul. On the contrary, it was quite pleasant and reminded her of those nights her family would host exotic feasts when inviting another family over for the night. There would be dancers, singers, artist--All kinds of beautiful people with strange skin colours and faces she’d never seen before! But this scent wasn’t supposed to be here. And this scent could only mean one thing… The kitchen was in use. Upon gingerly landing on the sandy shores of the So’E, she looked straight at the manor, its facade half hidden behind some trees a scarce half kilometer away. Her lower jaw twitched before relaxing. A cold sweat formed on her forehead and it suddenly felt as she’d been fastened to the ground. The front doors were ajar. Li’Kalla looked down at her legs with wide, scared eyes and saw that they weren’t fastened. She sighed in relief and blinked. There she was, huddled against a corner of the dark, damp cell. Trembling as she desperately hoped the light coming through the unforgiving metal bars passed her by this time- The Goddess found herself on her hands and knees, panting as she looked down at a small pool of water. She gagged and gulped as the sand eagerly drank the pool of liquid. [color=steelblue]”I guess I haven’t eaten anything yet...”[/color] She said quietly, to herself. [center][b]II[/b][/center] [colour=wheat]”Good afternoon, everyone! Aaaand welcome to another episode of Chips and Chops. I’m your host, Chopessa Stickelle, and today I’m going to walk you through how to prepare a Broad River Breakfast. Now, this is a two-course meal usually started the night beforehand, but you can make it any time you like, so long as you have a strong enough oven. So let’s chop!”[/colour] Her audience, a mop in a dress with two pears strapped on, watched with great, if silent, anticipation. [colour=wheat]”First you’ll want to grab hold of your eel, which is the most important part of the pie. If you just… Hang on. You just grab your eel… Oh wow, slippery- just- grab it and- damnit- damn it FUCK- just grab your eel and whooOOOOPSIDAISY [sub]oh shit[/sub]- hold on, we’re having a bit of a problem. You grab the eel and GUh-”[/colour] Chopstick lost her footing and disappeared under the kitchen table. [colour=wheat]”-fff- just- wait- no- fuck- come back here- I-”[/colour] Pans clanging. [colour=wheat]”-just gotta-”[/colour] Pots breaking. Chopstick Eyes emerged from under the table with a skewed hat and popped her pie on the table. [colour=wheat]“...Oven bake for thirty minutes at two hundred degrees and enjoy~”[/colour] The mop clapped appreciatively, albeit with some assistance. Now THAT’S a wrap. Something moved outside, dropping Chopstick from her reverie. She looked around at the baked, boiled and fried results of the previous thirty-two episodes of Chips and Chops, and realised that she’d lost track of time. [colour=wheat]“...Hold it right there, Moppy. We've got bigger fish to fry.”[/colour] With a move between a skip and a snoop, Chopstick made her way to the mansion door, cracked it open wide enough to stick her head through, and gave a tentative, [colour=wheat]”Howdy.”[/colour] A pale woman dressed in a blue gown was standing outside, looking like a lost wild puppy hesitant to ask for food. It was Li'Kalla, the Goddess of Rain. Her ears perked up upon hearing the greeting and she hid her face beneath the shadow her hair cast upon her face. [color=steelblue]“Chopstick…”[/color] Li'Kalla grimaced as her eyes stole a peek at the eyes of the fellow Goddess, [color=steelblue]“... Eyes?”[/color] [colour=wheat]”...Yep, I have ‘em.”[/colour] [color=steelblue]“I am uh, Li'Kalla.”[/color] There was a moment of silence between the two. Li'Kalla shifted on her spot, waiting awkwardly to be invited inside into her own home. [color=steelblue]“... Are you okay? Don't your eyes hurt?”[/color] [colour=wheat]”Don’t yours? All round and slippery. Like walking on marbles. Uh,”[/colour] Chopstick looked around. They were the only two people in this entire plane of existence. [colour=wheat]”This, uh, isn’t your house, by any chance, is it?”[/colour] Li'Kalla shrugged. [color=steelblue]“I used to live here, a long time ago.”[/color] The look in her eyes betrayed her conflicting emotions, for as much as she tried to hide them. They were emotions the little goblin god had no idea how to handle. [colour=wheat]”Is it, uh...”[/colour] An awkward shuffling. [colour=wheat]”Do you [i]still[/i] live here?”[/colour] [color=steelblue]“... Kind of? I haven't entered it at all, though. Hey, um, what are you cooking?”[/color] Li'Kalla's eyes met chopstick's sticks with a predatory gaze. [colour=wheat]”Oh, you know, the usual. Come on in!”[/colour] Chopstick yanked open the door with spindly arms, skittering a little as it pulled her along. There was food [i]everywhere.[/i] If the villa had seen such a feast before- and, given the luxury of the place, it may have- it had not been in many an interdimensional year. The banquet table was decked from end to end with pots, platters, plates and pans, reflecting a thousandfold between the facets of the crystal goblets and the edges of the silverware. Dishes were fitted together so neatly, and so tightly, that some had evidently been reappropriated as stuffings and toppings for others; even so, the viands extended out of the banquet-hall and into the kitchen and coffee tables. It was astonishing that one god could produce so much food, and one house could contain it; though, judging by the kebabs in the bird-cage, it was nearing its limit. Standing beside Chopstick Eyes was Li’Kalla, mouth hung open at the sheer sight. After a moment, she wiped some drool off her chin and grinned widely. [color=steelblue]”W-Wow! How long have you been cooking in here, Chopstick Eyes?!”[/color] She was basically screaming at her fellow Goddess in her enthusiasm, and seemed to be lightly bouncing in place. [colour=wheat]”Well, basically since I, uh,”[/colour] Chopstick scratched the back of her neck and looked briefly away, [sub][colour=wheat]”picked the lock with my toenail, but...”[/colour][/sub] Murmur murmur. It wasn’t like Li’Kalla was listening anyway. [color=steelblue]”Wait, i-is that… Are those Cornellian Songbird Drumsticks with bitter sauce on top?! H-How did you make them?! I thought they didn’t exist in this universe!”[/color] Her eyes went wide and in the blink of an eye, Li’Kalla was near the big dining table, reaching for a dish with what seemed to be several extremely large chicken drumsticks. The only difference being that the meat was completely white. [colour=wheat]”I… Have no idea!”[/colour] shrugged Chopstick, broadly and merrily. [colour=wheat]”Only one way to find out, right?”[/colour] She took a drumstick and flipped it into the air, where it spun like a juggler’s club before she caught it with her long sticky tongue and swallowed it whole, the bone cracking loudly inside her gut. Li’Kalla stared in awe at Chopstick’s display of… [color=steelblue]”What was that?!”[/color] Li’Kalla giggled and took a bite of one drumstick before setting the plate down on the table again. Even in her excited estate, one could see how carefully she chewed and how much care she went into proper etiquette. After swallowing the mouthful, she groaned and melted on the spot -- Or she would have if she was Ashalla and her body was fluid. She really just groaned happily. [color=steelblue]”Choppyyy, were you a cook in your past life? I think you may have worked for my family! Or- Maybe not, you make the drumsticks even better!”[/color] The Rain Goddess chuckled and grabbed Chopstick’s hand and guided her along the table. [color=steelblue]”Come on, come on, we have to taste every single dish, you know? Not like that dressed up mop over there can taste it for us!”[/color] [colour=wheat]“Wait, what mop-”[/colour] Chopstick Eyes, who had been getting to like this new friend, jerked like a body at the end of a noose and blurred to the kitchen, from whence was heard a crashing of glass. Moppy, it seemed, was no more. [colour=wheat]”...So, uh, yeah, where were we?”[/colour] said Chopstick, peering into a cauldron of rabbit (or maybe jackalope). [colour=wheat]”Tasting everything! Also, what’s a past life?”[/colour] Li’Kalla, who had been chewing on some fried octopus tentacles, turned around to face Chopstick. Li’Kalla’s face, originally grinning and with happiness pouring out of every part, slowly dulled. [color=steelblue]”You don’t have a past life…? Oh, I-I guess you don’t remember it...”[/color] [colour=wheat]”Remember? ...Ohhhh.”[/colour] Chopstick looked up, then poured the rest of the jackalope soup down her gullet and swallowed. [colour=wheat]”I remember… Skraghnaphgh. A salesman named Skraghnaphgh. That’s all I remember.”[/colour] She shrugged, and moved on to the caterpillar tart with cream and cacao. [colour=wheat]”I think I might be Skraghnaphgh. But that doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t matter, anyway; I wasn’t alive back then. You?”[/colour] Li’Kalla had been listening intently, even going so far as to stop eating entirely. She tilted her head and looked at Chopstick with a mixture of pity and envy which quickly gave way to one of understanding. [color=steelblue]”It may be a blessing, not remembering. This manor used to be my Family’s, a symbol of our status. I lived here throughout all my childhood. It was a good life, until… Until, well, I didn’t live here anymore.”[/color] A shudder went through her body and she wiped her eyes preemptively. [color=steelblue]”Say, Choppy- I mean, Chopstick Eyes, you’re the Goddess of Markets, right? So, when you create markets, will you sell people in them?”[/color] [colour=wheat][i]Why do people keep assuming that’s my name?[/i][/colour] thought the little god, or maybe mumbled. Out loud, she said, [colour=wheat]”Sure. Why?”[/colour] [color=steelblue]”Oh, well, I just-”[/color] Li’Kalla rubbed her temples and then sighed, [color=steelblue]”Can you make sure the people sold in them are not, uhm, hurt? You know...”[/color] She shrugged lamely and tried not to look directly at Chopstick. Chopstick scoffed, waggling at Li’Kalla with a kebab. [colour=wheat]”What kind of vendor would I be if I sold damaged goods? You need to get a sense of business, you do.”[/colour] Li’Kalla puffed out her cheeks, [color=steelblue]”I-I didn’t mean it like that! More like, afterward? Like making sure they’re not sold to bad people.”[/color] Her guest thought about it, and shrugged. [colour=wheat]”I… don’t know, actually. Depends on the offer.”[/colour] Li’Kalla looked at all the food still on display, and after thinking for a while, she spoke. [color=steelblue]”At least they will eat well while they’re under your care, I think.”[/color] [colour=wheat]”Oh duh,”[/colour] said Chopstick, with one eyebrow raised. [colour=wheat]”Say, you know what? You can come check out my premises any time you want. See if it suits ya. C’mere, I’ll show you a special shortcut.”[/colour] She beckoned. It took Li’Kalla a moment before nodding and stepping a bit closer to Chopstick, [color=steelblue]”... Okay! I’m ready to learn. Do you sell mak- Actually, let’s just focus on this first.”[/color] [colour=wheat]”No, no, wait, do I sell what now? I’m sure I do! Mak… eovers? Makimono? Mako sharks?”[/colour] [color=steelblue]”Makeup!”[/color] Choppy laughed. [colour=wheat]”Oh buddy, have I got a show for you. Here.”[/colour] She leaned in, cupped her hands around Li’Kalla’s ear, and whispered a secret. It was a long secret, and a strange one. At times it was quite frightening. It settled in Li’Kalla’s brain in little pieces, like smuggler’s signs, scratched into the nooks and crannies of her head, hard to notice unless one knew what one was looking for- and then as clear as daylight. Above all, it was a [i]wordless[/i] secret, though Chopstick Eyes was speaking in something [i]like[/i] words. It could not be articulated- but now, it was known. [colour=wheat]”That’s the shortcut,”[/colour] said Chopstick Eyes. [colour=wheat]”It shouldn’t be too hard to follow for a big girl god like you. Just don’t try to write it down, yeah? You might mess it up if you do.”[/colour] Shrug. [colour=wheat]”Some things don’t like being seen.”[/colour] Li’Kalla stood there confused, but at the same time knowing exactly what had just transpired. [color=steelblue]”... You’re more creative than me when it comes to creating shortcuts, that’s certain.”[/color] She clasped her hands in front of herself and smiled demurely. [color=steelblue]”I will visit you, I promise! Uhm, friend?”[/color] Choppy grinned, fit to swallow the rest of the banquet, and spread all seventeen arms. [colour=wheat]”Business buddy!”[/colour] She seized Li’Kalla in a hug. The rain Goddess merely squeaked like a mouse at the sudden affection, but she slowly returned the friendly embrace. With a flushed face, she spoke unsteadily, [color=steelblue]”O-Of course! Business buddies! Business buddies, right!”[/color] She was eventually released. [colour=wheat]”I’ll need to make some reservations. But you can stop by any time you like.”[/colour] Chopstick looked out the window, to where the clouds were still streaming into the marble ring. [colour=wheat]”Say, uh… You don’t… You don’t happen to have a ladder, by any chance?”[/colour] [color=steelblue]”Oh, uh… Sure. There should be a retractable one in the basement. I usually just very slowly float to the ring, you know?”[/color] ...Float? [colour=wheat]”...Yeah, nah, I’m gonna go fetch the ladder. We’ll figure something out.”[/colour] And they did. [hider=summary] [center][b]RIP MOPPY[/b] 1 LIKE = 1 GIANT IRON CAULDRON FULL OF LIQUOR [colour=lightblue][sub][i]7500 likes[/i][/sub][/colour][/center] [/hider] [hider=summary 2] [color=steelblue]”Say, Choppy- I mean, Chopstick Eyes, you’re the Goddess of Markets, right? So, when you create markets, will you sell people in them?”[/color] ‘O shit that’s my ticket out’, said Chopstick. ‘yeet’, she said, and followed Moppy’s route outdoors. [/hider] [hider=summary 3] Li’Kalla comes home and finds that someone’s been cooking up a storm. Li’Kalla and Choppy get to know each other. They discuss food, past lives, and slavery. Choppy tells Li’Kalla a secret shortcut to get into the Bazaar from Galbar, so that she can visit. This shortcut is The Route, an ever-changing, world-spanning network of passages and portals that acts as the Gateway to the Bazaar. It collapses if observed, so people and goods have to be smuggled in. 7 free points on that, of course. [b]Chopstick Eyes 6 Might (Native) 0 Might (Age of Creation) Markets Kites (4/5) Knives (3/5) Lanterns (1/5) Cuisine (4/5)[/b] [/hider]