[Get With The Program

[Izhitza Lavender]

The title is as the title says...

It was another random day, during a random time-however! This day and time weren't as random as they would seem
at first glance. It was Wednesday at 259, with the time being lunch. For Izhitza, lunch was probably the most eventful time of day.
Not just for this occasion, but the same for any. What was today's occasion you ask? Well, it went like this:

"Hey Lavender! What's the deal? Everyone here's been in a fight or two; it's natural."

"Natural?" Izzy responded in question. Some of the guy's friends began to giggle in the background.

"That's right. Go ahead, punch someone!"

"Why? I don't see a point."

"Get with the program Lavy! Anyone's fine."

Izzy took his words as the truth and heeded them. This wasn't because she wanted to listen to him and the other thugs. Lavender just assumed this must be the 259 way of socialization. The thugs watched on as Lavender approached an unsuspecting student-leek in hand.
BONK!

Izhitza had broken the leek on someone. Who, she didn't know.
Lavender took a couple steps back before crossing her arms and awaiting the response of the victim.

[Richard Stock]

"But YOOOOOOOOOO, those ladies at my cousin's party? They were like 9/10 mamacita's, you know? WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE, BRO---"

"I have been busy."

Lunchtime. SJ didn't need him again (it was good, she was getting used to walking around the school... he just panic-set his phone to play loudly if she texted/called in case she needed immediate assistance. For the amount of days that Richard had been to 259, it had been surprisingly peaceful---meaning, in Richard's case, that he had a very good sense about him on how to avoid and how to detect combat.

However, today, was a first in a lot of ways. He found Simon, his big-armed Latino friend, waiting for him outside his class to chastise Richard.

"BROOOOOO, was it homework? Research? Bro, that could've waited! The party was kickin', we would have a blast, yo?"

"Prep work for a date---" Richard corrected---

*BONK*

'Bonk?'

Richard staggered forward a step, hunching over, his satchel still in hand. It took Simon and Richard a moment to realize just what happened.

Quickly, Richard whirled around, glaring at the... girl who actually managed to be shorter than him.

"BROOOOOOO, SHE TOTALLY JUST---"

"NOT RIGHT NOW, SIMON," the young Englishman said, shoving a hand in front of Simon who had been marching forward, throwing up his hands making gestures as though to provoke matters.

...It sort of felt like his glaring at Simon was even worse.

Richard, slid his feet back and quickly... pulled out his phone.

Richard text to Violet Lockheart : Might have gotten into a fight/attacked. I'll accept the consequences. I'm in the...

Richard quickly wrote in the area. Internally, Richard faced something of a dilemma. This was one of the worst things that could have happened. Not fighting this girl could make him come off as weak, especially to the jeering crowd watching them. Word of mouth that one of the top people who ran the cafe was weak would work against the cafe, saying it was an easy target, even if the Student Hierarchies were protecting it. But...

The Freshmen stared at the green thing in the girl's hand and how it was broken. He promptly looked back to look at the broken piece by his feet. He pointed out an accusing finger in the girl's face!---

"Don't waste food. That's wrong."

Behind him, Simon busted out laughing.

"BRO, ARE YOU FOR REAL---"

Richard PROMPTLY SHOT HIM A LOOK THAT PROMISED THAT IF SIMON UTTERED SO MUCH AS ANOTHER FUCKING WORD, HE WOULD HAVE HIM HIDED AND SEND HIM INTO A KIP SO DEEP AND SO ENDLESS, THAT NOT EVEN A SHEEP-SHAGGING WELSH-BASTARD COULD FISH HIM OUT OF HIS TROUSER-LOINS.

---And promptly switched back to glaring at the girl contemptuously. At that... plant in her hand.

'A sodding plant.'

"Let me use it. To try." he suddenly demanded.

'Try to make a sandwich out of it.'

...The plant was unusual, and it was small enough to be a sampler---what remained of it in the girl's hand, that is. How did it taste? Did it need to be cooked? What was it's texture? Would it go well with tomatoes and slice cucumbers?

'Cafe sandwiches, cafe sandwiches, cafe sandwiches.'

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

As peaceful a day as ever and thus far no real fights breaking out about campus, that being said Violet kept mostly to herself resorting to talking down combatants more often then not even still she had been itching for a fight herself. The last one she'd been into was the riot or at least the last one worth any bit of her energy. Today was routine, her normal prim outfit picked out a long skirt hemming just above her knees that was a rather sickly blue and green color, white button up blouse that frilled as it came down to her waist, and a navy vest that hung loosely around her chest decorated with her very own pillar pin.

"No I haven't got a date yet I-" Words cut off as she discussed things with a casual peer to look at her phone.

From Richard Stock : Might have gotten into a fight/attacked. I'll accept the consequences. I'm in the...

Violet would roll her eyes a bit. This was honestly a first, she never really got people giving her a heads up as to the nature of a fight breaking out she certainly had to commend the boy for being so forthcoming. Perhaps that was what she liked about him most it was all transparent in a weird sort of way. Anyways Violet would shake her head and excuse herself from the table making her way to the location given, her pace slow at first finding no real need to rush to a spot where a good-boy would talk his way out of but as her pace carried on she began to wonder if poor little Richard was being mauled by some monstrosity. As the vivid imagery filled her head her pace accelerated until she was in a full on run. It wasn't until she'd broken out onto a patch of hill overlooking the fight that she'd get a glimpse at the combatants: Richard and... the small girl from Cosplay class? What was her name again?.... Oh but this was just too cute!

"Don't play too rough you two!" She'd say from her fair distance away having shown up rather late to this encounter by most standards and giving off the distinct impression that she underestimated both of these cutie-pies drastically by taunting them on to have their little snuggle-fight to her amusement. "Wouldn't want and go making Emily jealous now Richard." Hehehe. That teasing aside she wanted to snatch them both up.

Richard Stock Izhitza Lavender

---

HEALTH

ACTIVE ABILITIES & COMBAT STATISTICS

ATK: 15
DEF: 24
SPD: 12
PER: 11
ENG: 20

Stamina: 200/200
Resistance: 19%


10%-39% is red (#C81217), 40%-69% is yellow (#EBD434), and 70%-100% is green (#2D882D).

by nette of gs

[Izhitza Lavender]

"Don't waste food. That's wrong." Richard said. His friend seemed to bust up. Izzy wanted to serve him the same justice bonk she had to richard, but she had a feeling richard would interrupt the attack, then things would really become a headache. 
Instead, she simply replied:"Shut up. That was supposed to hurt." 

Richard then demanded the remains of  the leek. Lavender put her hand on her forehead before sighing. If she gave it to him, he could easily bash her head in with the weapon-er, vegetable, but she had a feeling that maybe he wouldn't, so she handed it to him while looking away.
Izzy seemed to have trouble keeping eye contact with others, although past fight opponents would say otherwise.

Then suddenly, a voice was heard in the distance"Don't play too rough you two!"
It sounded so familiar. Lavender turned with visible anger. "Sh-shut up!" The way the newcomer talked ticked Izzy off for some reason. Was she having funny ideas? There was a strange sarcasm felt in her voice, but not. It was hard to explain. Izhitza didn't recognize the look, but the girl's face seemed familiar. 

Izzy grew impatient and turned back to Richard. "Are you done yet?!" She wanted to hurry on with this fight before lunch ended. It would be wise to finish things before more distractions came along.

[Richard Stock]

He frowned at the girl's comment... but then, he was always frowning. 'She was purposefully trying to hurt me.'

"...Why."

It was less of a question and more of 'That's terrible, don't.'

Thankfully, she was compliant and gave up her weapons... and helped to sate Richard's curiosities. He held up the broken leek into the air, staring at it. It definitely looked like an onion. An idea sprouted to mind and he shot Simon a dark look.

"W-What? You giving me 'dem scary eyes, Bro..."

...The girl was strangely compliant, considering she wanted to hurt him. A good kid? She was even looking away... was she embarrassed or...

---A familiar bubbly voice came sailing past the hill, telling them to desist... a fight that never happened. Or that hadn't happened. Richard was still a little uncertain, given the little girl's disposition and the crowd that was jeering the both of them on.

Of course, coming from Violet, it was just her telling them not to flirt too hard. Her way of stopping a fight. Clever girl.

Regarding Emily, Richard was only going to look at Violet---

"Bro... BROOOOO. BROSKI, THAT'S VIOLET, THE SBP! YOU KNOW HER, BRO? WHO DOES SHE MEAN 'EMILY'---CAUSE YO, DAWG, THAT'S THE STUDENT CAP'S FIRST NAME BROSEPH," the Latino, unable to contain his excitement, shaking Richard by the shoulders as though he wanted him to inherit a seizure, "YOU GOIN' OUT WITH SC, BRO? YOU DIGGIN' THE HIGHER UP LADIES, BRO, 'CAUSE THEY SCARY, BUT THEY FIIIINE---"

"Simon?"

"Yeah, bro?---Ayyyy, Violet, 'ow you doin', guuurl? You diggin a little---"

"Kindly piss off, please," catching Simon mid-lip smacking, hands in front of the air, half-curve shaping it.

"Yeah, okay, bro---"

"GODDAMMIT, SIMON---" audibly sighing,
"Give me your hand, activate
"your fire Qi. Please."

"Yo, uh... I know I was bragging about it, but I get really tired and my stomach gets all weird, and---okay, okay, here!" Simon would suddenly change his mind, and hold out his hand. His fist erupted out into a flame. Immediately, Richard took Simon's hand and led him between himself and the short girl, laying down the satchel and broken leek. Simon looked questioning, but the English transfer was already setting to work.

"Are you done yet?!"

Richard would look her dead in the eye over the flaming fist.

"No. We're just starting."

Quickly dropping into a crouch, he began to pull out today's lunch ingredients, individually bagged to ensure maximum crisp and firmness while eliminating the horrifying effects of soggy bread. Stretching out a small sheet of aluminum used to hold the bread, he'd place place it atop the flaming fist and already it began to crinkle. Atop the solid surface of the satchel, confident hands sliced the broken leek quickly with a plastic knife to make thin, circular rolls. The same thing would happen with the tomato.

"Bro, are you fucking kidding me?" Simon began laughing, realizing what Richard was doing halfway through.

First, the thick white bread with a thin layer of butter spread on both sides would get lightly toasted. The leek slices would be put onto the aluminum and would begin to quickly caramelize, bleeding juices. Next would be the sliced chicken breast, the tomato slices, the munster (briefly, just to get it melting). The aroma of a grilled chicken sandwich began to fill the air.

Taking out a paper plate from his satchel, he assembled it all onto it, and nodded at Simon.

"Alright, thank you."

Simon had worked up a good sweat from keeping his Qi activated at a steady flame for so long, but he looked too incredulously amused to care.

With a wave of his hand to Violet, Richard then sliced the sandwich into four pieces, four triangles. When he stood up, he stared at the girl.

"Go ahead. Try it---"

"So, uh, bro, can I take a piece? I did, uh, make the fire for---" interrupted Simon, breaking Richard's "cool" moment. The British kid looked visibly annoyed, his brows scrunching as he closed his eyes. Also, he didn't know how grilled... "sort of" onions would taste, hoping they would have the same consistency.

"Violet. Simon. Girl," he muttered, replying the three recipients of the sandwich pieces. He glared up at the kids who had been jeering at them before.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet would peer down from her dominant position as the ensuing violence seemed to peter out a little bit. Her attention not swayed by this fact as she was ready to pounce in at any moment. As she had learned in her time here the pillars job was to break up fights... or was it encourage students to get stronger by example? It was a little bit fuzzy at this point hearing a multitude of different opinions, so much so she was beginning to form her own about it all. What harm could it do these two cuties tussling it out, she could throw them into a ball pit even and they might resemble some elementary students. Violet would hear Simon began his little teasing and she would toss him additional fire to his flame by waving her hand his general direction with a wink. It would probably even give Richard an even harder time at a later point.

Smirking to herself quite pleased the girl would take a seat and watch as the pair began moving in tandem to....cook? Violet had seen the wonders of Richard's mystery foods and tasted it first hand. Remarkable! Her eyes began glowing with envy and slowly found herself creeping down the slope and approaching the party, before Richard even needed to mention it Violet would find herself looking over the smaller girl's position. Right behind her Violet would in turn invade her personal space reaching out just over the girl's shoulders out towards Richard for a slice greedily.

"I really should break up more fights..." Vi would muse to herself content with this result.

Richard Stock Izhitza Lavender

---

HEALTH

ACTIVE ABILITIES & COMBAT STATISTICS

ATK: 15
DEF: 24
SPD: 12
PER: 11
ENG: 20

Stamina: 200/200
Resistance: 19%


10%-39% is red (#C81217), 40%-69% is yellow (#EBD434), and 70%-100% is green (#2D882D).

by nette of gs

[Izhitza Lavender]

Fire Qi? It seemed Richard and his friend were just getting started...on cooking?!
This was somewhat fortunate for Izzy, as she was more than unlikely prepared for someone to be throwing fireballs and mushrooms at her. There an ax anywhere? 

After mere moments of watching the food, the smell began to roll in. The flavors seemed to be carried only by the air, as Izzy could taste the tomato slices and the savory chicken. Lavender was oblivious to Violet creeping up behind. When the freshly assembled sandwich was cut(and Violet ever so rudely cut past to grab herself a slice), Izzy finally came back to reality; now wiping drool from her face.
She took the slice offered hesitantly. Strangely enough, Lavender began to sniff it like a puppy that wasn't quite sure of it's owner before taking a bite. It was beautiful; every molecule seemed to have it's own personality-it's own addition to the flavor. A tear of pure bliss came to Lavender's eye.

Izhitza looked to Richard with a worried face(suggestion that Izzy must have had the thought that she might never be able to taste something so wonderful again.). "W-what is this? How did you make it-with what ingredients?!" It was strange. Up until now, Lavender's never shown such a soft face, as she was usually busy beating tree's in or running her mouth.

Lavender threw her arm out and made a gesture of pressing a button on a TV remote. "Rewind!"-she said. Upsettingly, Izzy didn't offer much verbal gratitude except a rather silly face prior to the returning of reality.

[Richard Stock]

"DUDE, BRO, DID YOU SEE VIOLET WINK AT ME? SHE TOTALLY WINKED, SHE'S GOT THE HOTS FOR ME, BRO"

"YO HEY, VIO---"

"GODDAMMIT, THE FIRE," Richard would snap Simon's attention back as the fire from his fist seemed to grow in length in size, rising under the aluminum. They'd almost burned the chicken, but it turned out just right. Richard himself, when the temperatures had gotten to a safe levels seemed to narrow his eyes at Violet and just mouth 'WHY' to her.

Did she know what she had done? She probably knew what she had done. And Goddammit, Richard would not hear the end this from Simon (ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HE KNEW THAT RICHARD AND VI WERE ON A TALKING LEVEL) as she instantly became Simon's new crush.

But they continued to cook, and the result remained the same.

---

By the time they had finished, Violet had crept down from her perch and was even sneaking behind the short girl. By the time it was done, everyone grabbed their piece. Simon had to take extra pains with his large hands and the small food not to just down it all at once. Vi herself seemed to just... take it in.

The short girl, seemed to have an epiphany and Richard found himself taken aback---literally stepping back a moment, as he grabbed for his own piece, setting the paper plate next to his satchel. Her face was... worryingly euphoric.

"W-what is this? How did you make it-with what ingredients?!"

He scratched his chin, regaining his composure. She seemed to have... liked it. A lot. Oh dear. He couldn't even quite... read that emotion on her face. Was it loss? Fear? Why was she experiencing that when she ate a sandwich? Still, the ingredients were simple (even the chicken was pre-cooked rotisserie slices since there wasn't really a place to cook raw chicken on campus outside of the cooking class' room. The slices though definitely took on the aspects of the tomato juices that were cooked prior, he mused to himself).

"...Want me to teach you?" he finally said.

It'd be simple, go over the basics, go over the ingredients. If she was new at cooking, there would probably be some wasted food, but it was all for the sake of learning. However... as he took a bite, he himself was impressed. Was it Simon's Qi fire? Goddammit, would Simon become a mandatory part of the cafe?---

"Rewind!"-

And there she was, clicking at him with an invisible remote. Her face was one of demand and her reaction was...

Richard's raised brow would scrunch and he'd frown at her.

"I'm not a tele."

He disapproved.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

A first bite and she was in heaven. At this point she was no stranger to Richard's miraculous cooking, perhaps in turn part of why she was inadvertantly stalking his little chief escapades, but this was simply masterful. "Errts Seeerr Geerrrd." Violet would mouth rudely as she devoured the meal with effortless gluttony. She remained attentively locked on Izzy's position having clamored around her and for the time being unintentionally puppeting herself in tandem with the girl's movements as she had looped her hands over her tiny shoulders and leaned into her but she really gave each of the parties here a share of her glance perhaps Izzy a bit less so seeing as she was towering behind her.

Richard Stock Izhitza Lavender

[Izhitza Lavender]

Izzy shook her head to Richard's tutoring offer.  "I...can cook. It's a hobby of mine." Lavender looked away. It wasn't until this point that she would notice Violet had her hands over Izhitza's shoulders. She would slightly flinch upon the realization. "What are these for?" Lavender would poke at one of the hands with somewhat puffy cheeks.

On another note, Izzy seemed to ignore Richards television statement(As expected). Violet expressed her love for Richards cooking in words that resembled German. Although Lavender knew it was just muffled English.
Lavender suddenly remembered why she was here in the first place:a fight. By this point, it seemed meaningless, and those thugs telling Izzy to do so were already gone to do whatever they normally do.

She awaited a response from Violet.

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

"What are these for?"

The tiny girl would make note of squishing her adorable jowls against Violet's hands making her giggle lightly in response. Oh my God she was so freaking adorable. Violet had to retain her sense of composure. Deep breaths. "Namely for poking." Violet would take one unobstructed hand, her right in this case, and pinch Izzy's cheek softly at the dimple. "But they manage a whole world of other things." Violet would burst out then laughing a bit louder then in a playful fashion her stature leaning a bit more so that her chin now rested atop of Izzy's head given of course she didn't move that was.

Wait.....rewind.

She mentioned being a fan of cooking. Richard cooks.....Izzy cooks. Richard, Izzy, cooks.

OTP!

Violet's eyes would glimmer in a perversely amused fashion keeping this part to herself but mindful pairing the two in a dramatic sense.

Richard Stock Izhitza Lavender

[Richard Stock]

The comedy had begun. Richard enjoyed Vi's company a lot and her shenanigans... including the one with the short girl here.

'Were they copying each other?'

"Yo, bro, that shit they're doing is like cute shit. My cuz' would be all into that, like with his anime---"

Again with the anime. First his blokes back in London, then Katsuko, now Simon. He ignored the rest, just grunting at the pauses as a response.

---Violet was the first to really try out his food assembly (he couldn't really call that cooking without any flame), so this would've been the first real time. He was glad she seemed sold on it.

As for the short girl, she refused him but then... looked away? Why? Richard mused over it only in passing with a raised brow, not quite certain what to make of her reaction. Were there things still weird between them because she had tried to attack him? Ah well, he'd do things his way.

Quickly finishing his own meal a little unceremoniously (he glanced over at Vi as he thought this), he'd pick up the aluminum (or the remains) off of Simon's hand as he nodded in blissful closed-eye agreement with Violet. As for Richard... yeah, he was far more pleased with the flavor than he should have been. Was it possible to get the same flame-licked texture with a gas stove? Charcoal? If he got a group of fire-Qi users together, would the flames give it the same flavor or a different one? Thoughtfully, he caught himself in the middle of sucking the dripping flavor from the juices.

'Hm. Oh dear.'

"Simon, I have work,
"You should work in the cafe,
"Fire Qi tastes good."

"BROOOoooooOOOOOOO, YOU SERIOUS? HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE, VIOLET, YOUR A PILLAR, SO YOU'LL STOP BY AND PROTECT US, YEAH? SANDWICH ON---"

Richard would cast him another sharp glare. Where did he get off on deciding things on his own, he thought? Already he was regretting his suggestion... half and half.

He'd stoop down, trying not to think on it, and drawing out notepad and started to scribble it.

"Uhh... what's your name, Miss?" he'd look up to the short girl as Violet and her continued their amusing banter and... cheek squishing (Violet really seemed to like doing that, he noted) as the tall girl hung over. He needed a name so he could stop identifying her in his head as "short girl," seeing as how he wasn't that much taller. Found it sort of offensive to himself and her.

"What vegetable's that?" he inquiring on the leek---a "plant" he'd never seen before.

...He was writing down a copy for himself and for her a step-by-step of what he had done, in spite of his earlier disapproval.

"So, uh, Violet," Simon'd start, arms open and welcome as he stepped closer to the two girls. Richard ignored him.

"You. Me. We cool? 'Cause like, I'm not gonna lie, girl, I'm ALL into you---big fan, y'dig?" he said, throwing his arms in front of him, crossing them and making sizzling sounds with his mouth.

"Big strong Pillar supportin' the school, but yo girl, I support chu'?

"Them... hips and and legs they got me on fire, and gurlll you have become my heart's desire.

"S'like---dem' bitches and latinas need mas cortinas, hiding their shit behind windows like a bunch of lying chiquitas

"BUT---Gurl you got eyes that are straight and pure, gurl you gotta know your style's alure

"You should hang with me and Mister Richard Stock, 'cause gurl you gotta know we got this shit on LOCK."

Big-ass smile from Simon as he winked at her.

"Y'dig?"

[Violet Lockheart]

EVEN WITH THESE CHAINS

you can't stop me

Violet would continue eating in mostly silence to herself exchanging a Cheshire grin with Richard as he made a pass on by. Though she wasn't entirely sure as to the meaning she sensed that it was by all accounts in her benefit. Regardless she continued leaning in on Izzy graciously accepting the plateau of her noggin as an excellent resting place. A part of her had already considered her as friend, they were in the same class, same grade even why not? Set aside the fact that the pair hadn't really hung out outside of school but that was for another time perhaps? This time even? She'd grin with graciousness making herself a little promise to pursue this endeavor.

The next voice caught her attention though as a rather tall bloke began speaking first with a sense of conscientiousness at least that's what she grappled with it until the exchange became more and more of a performance. The young man seemingly a performer for her meal would draw Vi's smile out from around a part of the meal that dangled out between her lips and a small clap of her hands to the beat willingly playing along. Vi would respond in turn prompting herself up from Izzy's forehead perhaps in turn accidentally pushing her down, "Wow you aren't an aspiring lyricist are you? That'd be so cool, I bet you could make some wild career out of that!" Vi would bubble with a truthful excitement entirely missing the point that he was making a pass at her.

Richard Stock Izhitza Lavender

[Izhitza Lavender]

"Other things"? What was that supposed to mean? That said, Izzy didn't spend a good deal of time pondering about the matter, as Richard spoke up, asking for a name. "Izhitza Lavender." She would reply curtly, now looking away again. However, her attention was soon caught by the appearance of yet another question from the curious man. Izzy looked down, getting irritated from both Violet and Simon's shenanigans.
"That...is a leek." Although she showed hostility in her voice, it was obvious that none of it was directed towards Richard in particular.

Then it happened. God, why did it happen? Simon started...SINGING. Izzy decided she finally had enough, and attempted to thrust herself away from the leaning of Violet, only Violet seemed to have saw this coming, so she released(if you can call it that...) Izzy and went on to chat with Simon. For Lavender, the motion was too far activated to stop. Lavender face planted into the ground. She would remain motionless for a moment before getting to her knees. Things, did not go as planned. But this may actually be for the better.

(Sorry for the late reply! Work's been holding me up big time! I'll be posting regularly for at least a little while. O_Q )

[Richard Stock]

The short girl finally revealed herself to be a one "Izhitza Lavender"---who looked away as though she was very reluctant to share this information. Richard... didn't really understand why and ended up being confused again.

"...Richard Stock, pleasure..." he'd say, returning the greeting, though a little uncertain.

Confusion would only continue as Izhi introduced the plant as a leek... is the most unprovoked, irritated voice. Richard didn't understand why.

But then it happened.

...

...

...

"Wow you aren't an aspiring lyricist are you? That'd be so cool, I bet you could make some wild career out of that!"

Simon's "charming" smile slowly tightened into being a whole lot more forced and more than a little embaressed.

"Ah-Ha. AH-HA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... th-thank you, Vi, that's totally WHAT I WAS GOING FOR AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA---"

If someone looked closely, they'd see that Simon's eyes had become mini-waterfalls as he laughed in depressed shame of his failure.

Quietly, Richard was pleased. Simon would receive a pat and Izhi would... land face first onto the ground.

"My word. You alright?" he'd say crouching down to Izhi, but before he could help her up Izhi helped herself.

And for the moment, Izhi was taller.

It ended up working out, as Richard quickly went to his bag and jotted down the ingredients, the instructions, etcetera for the meal (including Simon's usage) before tearing off the piece of paper and handing it to Izhi.

"Next time be polite," he'd scold, giving Izhi what she wanted anyways.