[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/OvtbTEP.png[/img][/center] [color=a2d39c]“One of us, one of us,”[/color] Shika chanted alongside Limen, their hand knocking against the counter rhythmically. It seemed as if everyone was settling in quite comfortably, and as the Envoy continued to speak, they strode into the back of the bar, opening the door to a small kitchen. Shika flicked on the lights, one ear listening to the woman’s curious explanation, while through the other ear, a tomato vine sprouted out of sight of the others. The plant grew rapidly, pliable greens hardening into tough vines, before cherry tomatoes popped out from them. Ripened but a bit dry, they were all shaped like miniature hearts, and Shika plucked them one by one, until she had a dozen to slice up. There was an oven, but waiting for it to pre-heat would be annoying. Instead, Shika removed the defuser from the gas stove and fired up a powerful jet of flame. They split the tomatoes into perfect halves, coated them in some of the olive oil lying about in the cabinets, then skewered them with her elongated fingers and toasted them over the fire. The oil crackled and popped. The tomatoes shrivelled up but did not burn. And as they took on that perfect candy-red color, Shika pulled them out of the flames, slid them into a mixing bowl, sprinkled sugar on them, and tossed it a couple of times. Voila. Caramelized tomatoes, a nice blend of tart, sweet, and umami. Deciding that it wasn’t a formal enough affair to do anything fancy like plating it in some way, Shika wheeled out of the kitchen again, their fingers once more of human length. They popped one of the tomatoes into her mouth, then passed it around, first to the Envoy. [color=a2d39c]“Have a taste,”[/color] they beamed, gaze lingering briefly on Da Xia as it swept the room, [color=a2d39c]“Bit of a rush job, but it’s totally vegetarian and pretty tasty, if I say so myself!”[/color]