[OOM] Oswin, Moriarty and Delicious Cake.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"You know where the kitchen is," Moriarty says as they enter, setting down the basket, and the violin next to it. "I'll be with you momentarily.

The moment in question, it seems, is being mostly devoted to finding a change of clothes from his wardrobe. Victorian clothes are all good and well, but they're stiff, and a lot of layers, and they tend to pick up the smell of London like nothing else.

(Moriarty rather hates the smell of London.)

The kitchen is, at least, in the same place. It would be inconvenient if it was somewhere totally different.

Comments

[souffle_girlek]

With Milliways, Oswin would be completely un-surprised if the interior decor and room arrangements re-organized themselves on a regular basis. Mildly (or not so mildly) freaked out, but not surprised. She hauls the basket into the kitchen, and immediately launches an exploration of his pantry.

She is teeny enough, she could probably crawl inside, given inspiration.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

There's woefully little in there, by the looks of things. Flour, eggs, some crackers, and a bag of rice that's unopened, possibly because Moriarty isn't sure quite what he's meant to do with it.

Luckily, the Bar was kind enough to stock the basket with just about everything they might need for any baking, because Crackers-and-Rice-Cake is not a favoured dessert of the masses.

[souffle_girlek]

You can do loads of things with crackers - luckily, Oswin will not have to resort to that today. The eggs and flour are commandeered, and after a quick rummage through the rest of the cabinets for suitable bowls, measuring devices, and whisks, she sets to work.

Today, she's doing an object lesson in why people risked so much to open spice trading lanes to the far East.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty's wandering into the kitchen before long, doing up the top button of his jeans, with a long-sleeved t-shirt in one hand.

He wanders over, peering over Oswin's head. "What are you making?"

[souffle_girlek]

"Spice cake." She grins, "And I entirely approve of the current dress code, you're fine." She will never not approve of shirtless!Moriarty.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty meeps slightly, and for a moment seems totally unsure whether he should put on the shirt.

Eventually, he opts for remarking, only slightly meekly: "I've never had spice cake before. This should be, er, um, interesting."

[souffle_girlek]

"Hopefully!" She grins, a bit nervously, because while she has made some marvelous things in Milliways, she's made far more complete and utter disasters, some involving property damage. "Of course, odds are good that you still won't have had spice cake by the end of this."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I have reasonable quantities of faith in you," Moriarty says cheerfully, and eventually makes an executive decision to slide the t-shirt on. "And I'm here to help."

[souffle_girlek]

Oh boo - Oswin pouts when he puts the shirt on, because she was quite enjoying the view. At least now, though, there's a better chance she won't forget anything. Like the sugar.

"Then your first job is to make sure the oven is properly heated." She's going to play it safe, and try to not set everything on fire.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty does appreciate not having his flat on fire. He feels it creates a more subtle ambiance.

"Aye, ma'am," he says, and dutifully sets to very, very carefully turning the oven to the correct temperature setting.

[souffle_girlek]

That earns him a wicked grin - the whole giving orders thing could go to her head. But she's kept busy enough mixing the ingredients together, carefully checking off each one when it is added. She's discovered it really does pay to be overcautious.

"So, reasonable quantities of faith? Was there a shortage on when you went to get some?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

That grin makes him blush a little, ducking his head.

"I've heard of your culinary disasters before. It made sense to reserve at least a little bit of faith," Moriarty says wryly.

[souffle_girlek]

She scrunches her nose, remembering some of the more... notable entries into the 'failed' class.

"... Yeeeeah, that's fair." She likes baking people things. She never said she was awesomely good at it.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"But you seem to be doing excellent work on this one," Moriarty adds.

[souffle_girlek]

"Meaning so far nothing looks curdled." She snickers, stirring together the wet and dry ingredients. "I think I spotted a bunt cake pan in that cabinet over there, can you fetch it out and flour it?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I never said that," Moriarty protests, searching for the cake pan.

It doesn't help that he's not sure what one is, but he comes up with something at least moderately suitable eventually.

[souffle_girlek]

"That'll work." Sort of - but she's not looking for pastry perfection here, she just wants edible. Carefully she pours in the batter, smoothing it out in an attempt to keep from poking it in a 'and now you will behave, yes?' manner.
"Right, into the oven with that, and then forty minutes until judgement." Which in her life, has too often been '... and how did it get burned again', tragically.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty pauses.

Then: "What are we meant to do for forty minutes?"

[souffle_girlek]

"Well, the washing up, for one. So pop your shirt off, quick as you like." She replies sunnily, as she collects up the dirty bowls and measuring spoons.

...

There's never a bad reason to aim for shirtlessness, is there?

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I don't see how those two things are connected," Moriarty says dubiously.

(And yet, still does exactly as she says.)

[souffle_girlek]

"They're not." Because while she's opportunistic, she's also honest. "I just enjoy the view."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty's blush is faint, but spreads all the way down to his shoulders.

Pause. Then, cheerily: "You know, if I'm taking my shirt off for this, then it's only just and correct that you do so as well."

[souffle_girlek]

"And suddenly he's interested in fairness." She grins at him in that horridly wicked way, but once she has the bowls soaking she really cannot find a reason to say no. Today isn't one of the few bad days, the ones that sneak up and vividly remind her of the body-horror of realizing what a full conversion entails. It's easy to shrug off her top, though she momentarily regrets not picking something more fancy than a simple black satin bra. She could have been so much more creative.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I've always been interested in fairness. Very fair fellow, I am," Moriarty chirps.

- He also stares a little, when she shrugs off her top, before determinedly finding something else to look at. Bubbles. He'll look at the bubbles in the sink.

[souffle_girlek]

"Hey." Her hand is warm, where she catches his arm to get his attention. "You alright? We don't have to do... any of this, if it makes you uncomfortable."