Welcome to Gaia! ::

At that moment, Levi'd already begun baking. Having gotten up early enough to do her routine dorm chores as usual, there was a need for baking all of a sudden that the ghoul couldn't quite satiate. The usual sorts of recipes containing her candy corn weren't fulfilling that need. Something was missing.

It was when she was baking with various spices found in the monster dorm kitchen that she received the text message from West. Well I'll be, kekeke. West wanted to bake spookies? Really? As baffled as she was, Levi was far more thrilled at the prospect of baking with West, sharing in the spirit of togetherness! What could make her more happy than sharing her new found recipe with West and possibly watching the snow fall from within the warm quarters of his dorm?

Well, the fact that he might be well enough to eat them now would be a plus. With his neck injury, Levi hadn't been able to cook for him lately. As simple as it was, the tatzel felt a bit of home life in her time with West in the kitchen. Aside from when her Ma had to lock her Pa up in the next room so he wouldn't eat everything before it was ready, it was as if she and West were already living like mates.



Levi was getting better at this texting thing. Something told her the message needed to be cheerful, so the addition of a smiley face was even applied. Once sent, it dawned on the ghoul that she should bring a gift to her boilfriend if she were visiting his residence.

Something festive was in order; what was a good festive gift?

Collecting up her prototype special spookies, Levi proceeded to fill a basket with all the necessary ingredients and her wrinkled paper with the recipe scribbled out in charcoal. Perhaps she'd come up with something on the way over to the demon dorms.

---------

There would be a knock on West's window, followed by some tapping in a jingley sort of tune with the tatzel's fingernails. Crouched on the ledge, something green and pointy was held within her curled tail, barely visible in full form. A wide grin surfaced when West was within view through the pane, Levi's hair and clothes riddled with the specs of cold white fluff falling from the sky. She had taken the time to actually put on a jacket (the one given by West, in fact) in remembrance of her chills from the Christmas Town invasion last year.

A shame they couldn't stay longer, she thought.

Levi gestured to the boil by raising her forearm where her basket hung. Her usual plain wicker basket now had a pair of red and green bows tied at either end of the handle, adding a certain joyful flare. HA-HA-HA! It was close enough.

As West opened the window, the scent of prickly pines invaded the ghoul's nose. West! M'so happy ta'see yew! You'd think the ghoul had gone years without him or something, or she was particularly cheery to simply be there in his presence with good tidings to bring. In a double dose of glee, Levi wrapped her arms loosely over the shoulders of the wrath demon, keeping his neck in mind, when she leapt off the ledge and into the room. Her tail would have wound with his had it not been otherwise in use. Arms released, Levi looked down at herself, raising a brow at West's inquiry. What's in 'ere? Me... Why was he asking about what she had under her jacket?

oh. OH.

Oh, ya mean this? N' that- Well, this'is a- could'ja hold this fer a sec? About to take up what was within her tail's grasp, Levi first motioned to hand over the basket to West. Once her hands were free, she picked up the small green pointed object and held it in front of her so the boil could see. It'sa tree! Felt like ya'needed one. Of all the things that crossed her mind on the way, this overly plush tree seemed all too perfect to bring with her. So uh... ya'got'a cup 're somethin' ta'put it'in? Looking around the room right off the bat, Levi saw no such suitable object to hold the mini tree. This had her heading towards the kitchen in search of something there.

On her way through the doorway, a purposeful bounce in her step, Levi nodded her head at the basket West held. Go'on n' have a look see. Inside, West would find all the necessary things to make what was written out on the small wrinkled sheet therein.


From within the next room, her voice rang out among the opening of cabinet doors. That's somethin' new I just made this mornin'! Whaddaya'think? Up for'it? That'll make 'bout'a dozen.

Atta boil! That's tha'spirit! We'll git goin' soon as I put this in somethin' then. Her line of sight followed towards the small door West indicated, bounding over there in search of the tree's new home.

Somewhere in'here, huh... hmm. Ah-! 'Ere it is!

Shuffling a few other clear containers over, Levi acquired the water-retaining vessel, bringing it over to the faucet. She took this time to wriggle out of the fur-trimmed jacket, placing it on the back of the dark wood chair by the table. Seeing West lay out all the contents of her basket along with the recipe, Levi gave a chuckle. Ma never could trust her Pa to handle the ingredients of her cooking. Pa had a nasty habit of cramming them all into his mouth before they could actually be made into anything. This was why he was usually locked in another room while any specialty foods were prepared, Levi often keeping watch at the door in case he tried to break free.

Once the pitcher was filled about halfway, the ghoul turned the water off and placed the base of the miniature tree inside with an accomplished smile beaming towards the wrath demon. At least the lower branches were settled in such a way over the mouth of the container that they stopped the baby pine from wobbling any. Perfect fit! I'think it'll go good riiiiight 'ere fer now, eh? The tatzel carefully placed the base of the glass pitcher onto the table in one corner, far enough from the ingredients but close enough to still remain in their view as they worked. Whaddaya'think? Now Levi had a moment to actually look at West thoroughly when she question him, noting the familiar sweater he had on. The red added a definite something special to it, she thought; it was a great sweater. Feeling a need to wear something bright red or a Demi green left the ghoul with little to work with in her own closet. The closest item of apparel she had was her red scarf, which she wore.

Nice'n warm, I bet.

There was a pause before she continued, looking at all the things scattered over the tabletop and placing her hands on her hips in thought. Hmm. What we need now're some bowls n' spoons. 'bout medium sized bowls, one teaspoon n' one tablespoon. Where do'ya keep yer spoons? The tatzel ghoul moved back towards the counter, eyeing the smaller drawers by the microwave and opening the topmost one in pursuit of some utensils.

Gotcha. Shifting a bit to reach into the drawer one over as designated by West, Levi retrieved the spoons needed for measuring. Of course, turning now to face West with the utensils, the tatzel's eyes grew in surprise to the gathering of baking supplies he'd taken out aside from the promised bowls.

Well now, wet ma'whiskers- didn't know ya'll had such'a hankerin' fer this sorta thing. Wouldn't 'of figured, West. The boil had enough to make any sort of treat from spookie to pie. Now why ain't I ever seen any treats comin' my way? Placing the spoons onto the table with the rest of the clean equipment, Levi moved over to the sink with a dishcloth in view to dry off that which West was currently washing. It'd get done quicker if they did it together.

Hmm. West wanted to know what the spookies were like as far as texture? Not thinking much about the why, Levi herself tried to word her explanation as best as she could. They had a differing feel depending on when they were eaten and how long they were left to cool. They start soft n' warm when ya'just take'em out, but they git harder tha'longer they're out. So was her observation with the batch she'd just made before coming by.

Hands circling in and on the things she took from West to dry them off, Levi placed the baking items on the available counter space for after they were done with the initial work. So ya'want ta'do tha'wet 're dry? Dividing up the work this way would mean less confusion once they began mixing.

'course I'd want 'em. Even if West's spookies came out half ash and half dough, Levi would still eat them out of respect that he'd made them for her. It was a potential stomach ache waiting to happen, but that was the way she'd been brought up. You never wasted what was made and you certainly didn't turn away a gift given to you.

She glanced at West, a bit perplexed by any thought he'd have of her not wanting to accept his baked goods, but she could see what he'd been trying to say. They'd be mine. As she placed the bowl handed to her down on the counter good and dry, she grinned at the mention of his mother. So she don't cook herself? Well, can't say it's fer everybody- She wasn't about to insult West's mother; especially considering she herself wasn't the finest cook or ghouly ghoul when it came to homely activities designated to tatzel ghouls. Bits here and there, fine, but she wasn't going to sit and knit sweaters for every scarling in the town or something.

Though it was sort of tempting at the moment...

but she don't just try once in awhile? Ya'know. Fer fun? Honestly, Levi hadn't heard much about West's family and was wishing more and more that she could. Being a fairly family-oriented tatzel, Levi wanted to get a better idea of what home life was like for West. What'cher Pa think'a that? Surely his father had some insight on the wanting of baked goods from his mate.

Her ears stood up straight before curving downward when West mentioned and motioned to his throat. OH! Right. There was a very subtle softness to her voice; concern.

Following suit, the ghoul dried her hands and took up one of the bowls. Alright! Yew can go'head with that then n' we'll- Mixing it all at once? It seemed like something he might do, causing Levi to chuckle just a tad at the imagery of it. Don't wanna be doin' that, boil. Changes tha' feel n' taste 'a things. Won't always cook right neither. Best ta'just do'it like Gran would. Old ways worked strong and true; tatzelwurm recipes followed through however their kin before them brewed cookings.

Alright, use this fer tha'shortening once ya'got it liquidy. I'll git 'nother n' start siftin' tha'flour. Looking around, Levi handed west the bowl she held and then tried to find the large wooden-framed sifter like the one she had. Uh,... where's yer sifter, West?

Kinda'a shame. Placing her bowl in front of a seat at the table, she slinked into a sit. One'a tha'things I remember most 'bout bein' a wee spring was comin' home n' smellin' Ma's cookin' soon as I opened tha'door. It was baffling to try and think of how West had survived all these years without something similar. Wrath demons; Levi would have to ask West more about how they functioned as a family back home because the information she was hearing sounded completely the opposite of what she had known. First, however, it was back to the spookies.

If her smile seemed unusually bright, it might have been due to West mentioning her Gran. The ghoul had a kinship with the elderly tatzel on a very close level. Levi tried to imagine a day when West would meet her for himself; all of them, really. Don't think she'd mind none at that. Gotta work with what'cha got too. Ain't always gonna have all these.. uh, tools with'ya neither, right? We'll make'it work. You learned to make due; it was part of living with limited options as well. Ah-ha! This should do. See? Levi help up a stainless steel whisk for West's viewing. Used fer beatin' eggs- oh, which ya'll git yer chance at doin', kekeke... but yew can use'it fer breakin' down n' loosenin' tha'flour too. Demonstrating her point, Levi gently began to feed flour into the bowl she had and lifted the top layer with the whisk, allowing it to fall through the openings of the wires. Might take 'bit longer, but it works. OH! Shoot. Should git tha'oven goin'. West, ya'mind settin'yer oven fer~ this 'mount'a time? She was holding the bowl down so flour didn't go flying everywhere while she did her makeshift sifting, but nodded in the direction of the recipe so the wrath demon would be able to see the setting for himself.

Now, with 'that shortenin', yer gonna need tha'sugar. Mix them two together 'ntil they're smoooth. The tatzel elongated the final word said to accentuate the point. So stir'it'up good, boil. Levi got a sudden tingle in her chest at the thought of what she was doing right now; she felt like her Ma or, rather, as if she was home with West right now. Hands busily working towards making something and delegating the steps simply delighted her in the most serene way. Were ya'even close with yer cook? Had West never had this sort of feeling? Was it really his first experience cooking like this with someone? Admittedly, it was sort of humbling being his first; partner in cooking, that is.

That's tha'way. Keep foldin'it in. Her tone indicated her sincere approval of West's work. There was a bounce to Levi's steps as she sidestepped a lingering West to head over to the table. Picking up a few of the spices, she returned to sift them in with the flour in their proper amounts. The ghoul knew her way around a spoon measurement.

The smell of flour, in addition with the ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt was starting to bring forth what their final product was going to smell like. Levi smiled up at the boil, leaning back on him for a moment to let the scent waft upward towards him too. Mmm, I reckon so. Whaddaya'think? Smells good, don't it? Good in a way Levi herself couldn't explain, but for whatever reason, the smell of the spices mixed together tickled her insides; it was just the same reaction she had to the tiny tree.

Ya'know how ta crack that? The tatzel nodded towards the egg West held in his hand. Yer gonna be mixin'it in with yer shortenin'n'sugar mix. Then I'll be addin' in tha' dry mix I got 'ere lil by lil. Here ya'are. Tapping the whisk on the edge of her bowl of freshly sifted ingredients, Levi offered the tool to the wrath demon to begin the process of mixing all the wet ingredients. Make sure nothin' is comin' through. Gotta make it all int a one thing b'fore we add this part. Mix it hard but not too hard, ya hear? Levi propped her elbows onto the counter, hands curling around her bowl, waiting to see West's technique with incorporating all the things in his bowl. For a scarling who had never learnt such things from his mother or the cooks, he seemed to have a pretty good handle on what to do.This the sort of thing he watches on the skelevision or something? No, he would have undoubtedly known what a sifter looked like in that case. Levi found herself pondering such things, staring at the boil as he worked without realizing she wasn't blinking.

When she did, her tail shifted from one side to the other and a hand arose prop under her chin. Well what sorta thing didja' like doin' back home then? Like when ya'll were playin' with other folk 'er family. If he hadn't done much with the other adults or his parents, the demon surely would've had activities with some of his other peers.