Scenario:Cassius - A Dash of Something Special
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A Dash of Something Special
Several days before Valentine's, the crew visits an orphanage to deliver cargo. They are surprised to find out that all the boxes contain ingredients to make sweets for the facility's supporters. Cassius expresses interest in the children's process of baking with "affection" and offers his assistance. The others also decide to help with the children's confection-making.
One afternoon, several days before Valentine's Day.
(Captain), Lyria, Vyrn, and Cassius take on a request to deliver supplies to an orphanage and arrive at a certain town.
Lyria: There we go! Whew.
Lyria: (Captain)! Vyrn! I think that's the last of them!
After counting the number of wooden crates stacked in front of the building, Lyria and Cassius walk over to (Captain) and Vyrn.
Vyrn: Nice work! Thanks, Lyria! You too, Cassius!
Teacher: Thank you so much for delivering these to us on such short notice! We appreciate it.
Vyrn: That was a lot of stuff. Are all these boxes food?
Teacher: That's right. They're actually ingredients for making confections for Valentine's Day.
Teacher: We like to make something every year to thank all the people who have contributed to our facility.
Vyrn: Wha! You mean you're gonna be usin' up all the ingredients here for that? That's a lotta sweets to make!
The crew is surprised to hear that all of the ingredients are for a single day. The teacher smiles.
Teacher: Yes. There are quite a few people the children would like to thank, you see. We're very fortunate to have that number increase every year.
Teacher: Even with the help of all the children and staff, we do have a bit of trouble making everything in time.
Despite the hard work ahead, a grateful smile appears on the teacher's face. Cassius peers quizzingly at the woman.
Cassius: I don't understand. Making such a large amount yourselves is highly illogical. Why do you insist on doing so?
Cassius: It would be less of a burden to purchase an equal amount of premade goods instead.
Teacher: You make a very good point. It's true that both the work and cost would be considerably less if we simply bought everything.
Teacher: However, we adults want to respect the children's wish in making something themselves to show their appreciation.
Teacher: Those supporting us have also shown their delight in receiving the treats the children so lovingly make.
The teacher's words remind Cassius of what Lyria told him a few days prior.
Lyria: Hmm... For me, I feel it's even more delicious when someone makes something especially for me.
Lyria: So I think it's true that baked goods are more tasty when there's affection in them!
Cassius: So the desserts the children make are ones flavored with "affection."
Teacher: Affection... Yes, I would say so. Special creations filled with the children's affection.
Teacher: That's why all of our kind supporters enjoy them so much.
Cassius: Fascinating indeed. Would it be possible for me to participate in making these confections as well?
Teacher: Huh?
Cassius: I would like to verify how affection is added to the desserts, and in what way the flavor changes compared to premade goods.
Teacher: I'm... not sure I'm following, but any help would be much appreciated!
Vyrn: Are you sure? It's kinda sudden, and we don't wanna bother ya.
Teacher: Not at all! It's going to be quite busy for us, so we'd like all the help we can get!
Teacher: Oh, but if you're to assist us, I suppose we should send in a formal request for your crew's services...
Vyrn: Yeah! We're the ones who suggested it outta the blue!
Vyrn: Besides, we can't just stand around and not help when you're short on hands!
Vyrn: Yeah! This doesn't count as a request. We're doin' it 'cause we wanna do some baking too!
Lyria: I'm really excited to see what kind of sweet concoctions the children are going to make!
Lyria: We'd be glad to help if you wouldn't mind!
Continue 1
Teacher: Thank you very much! The children will be extremely happy.
Teacher: Then to start off, may I ask for your help in carrying these ingredients to the kitchen?
Cassius: Understood.
Vyrn: Leave it to us!
Eager to help in any way they can, the crew get straight to work in carrying the boxes into the facility.
A Dash of Something Special: Scene 2
The children teach Cassius how to cast a spell to make the confections more delicious, but Cassius remains doubtful. However, he discovers upon the completion of the baked goods that the flavor is indeed different from premade goods. A little girl tells Cassius about a secret ingredient used when making desserts for loved ones.
After carrying the ingredients to the kitchen, the crew begins to work with the children and staff on making the baked goods.
Vyrn: Hey, I finished mixing the butter and sugar together! Does this look good?
Little Girl: Yeah, perfect! Next, you can...
Cassius: Strange. I put in the amounts as directed by the recipe, but there is a higher number of chocolates in this batch than anticipated.
Little Boy: Oh! When that happens, you just...
Cassius: Mrgh.
Little Boy: Now there's no extra chocolate! See?
Cassius: It's true the excess has been disposed of. However, the fact remains that the recipe produced more than the expected result.
Little Boy: Nah, the extra's for tasting! We're definitely not snacking or anything, got that?
Cassius: Tasting... You mean taste-tasting is also a necessary step in the process of confection-making?
Little Boy: Yep! I should eat one more, just to be sure...
Little Girl: Heeey! Are you snacking?
Little Boy: Ack, she found us!
Cassius: No, we are tasting the chocolate in order to adjust the sweetness to its optimal level.
Vyrn: I was wonderin' why there was less chocolate than I'd expected... It was you guys, huh?
Little Girl: Sigh... Anyway, no more tasting, all right?
Little Boy: Darn. Guess we got caught.
Cassius: I don't understand.
The boy and Cassius return to their work, the same pouting expressions on their faces.
Little Boy: Wait a second! If you do that, the meringue's gonna clump and it won't get nice and fluffy when we bake it!
Cassius: I am replicating the actions you demonstrated earlier. What is the difference?
Little Boy: Hmm. Try thinking gentle thoughts when you mix it so the meringue doesn't get mushed! That's how it gets really soft!
Cassius: Gentle thoughts? I fail to comprehend. Including elements the eye cannot see into food is unrealistic.
Little Boy: Oh, well, just give it a try anyway!
With a look of doubt, Cassius follows the boy's instructions and begins to work with the concoction more slowly.
Eventually, the drippy texture of the meringue grows more feathery with the delicate beating of Cassius's whisk.
Little Boy: See! What'd I tell you? Now it's fluffy!
Cassius: I see. Fluffiness is equivalent to gentleness.
Little Boy: You got it! Okay, here's the next step!
With the children's clumsy but precise advice, the crew continue working on the task in front of them.
Some time passes.
Vyrn: There we go! Now we just gotta bake these!
Little Girl: Oh, wait! There's something really important we have to add before we bake them.
With the batter done, the crew are about to put everything into the oven when the girl stops them.
Cassius: Something important? I recall having already added all of the ingredients listed in the recipe.
Little Boy: It's not written in the recipe, but it's definitely the most important!
The children gather around the batter and put their hands over it. They exchange glances and nod.
Little Boy & Little Girl: Nice and yummy! Make everyone happy!
Cassius: What is this ritual?
Little Girl: It's a spell to make the confections taste yummy!
Little Boy: If you cast it, the desserts become really delicious!
Cassius: A... spell? I don't understand. It is unlikely your words will improve the flavor of the food.
Little Boy: That's not true! They will!
Little Girl: Yeah! It tastes a hundred times better if we wish for it to turn out nice. And then it'll make everyone happy!
Cassius: The possibility of such abrupt change occurring is hard to believe. Can this "spell" truly influence the taste?
Cassius's expression remains doubtful even after hearing the children's explanation.
Lyria: Affection adds to the flavor, remember?
Lyria: I'm sure the children's spell is their form of affection! It'll definitely make the baked goods taste even more amazing!
Little Boy: Exactly! You should give it a try too, Cassius! It'll make these sweets taste so good!
Cassius: Very well. If this can bring out the precise flavor of "affection," then I will do as you say.
Little Girl: Okay, let's do it together one more time! Ready, and...
Everyone: Make it nice and yummy!
The batter is placed in the toasty oven, and a short while passes.
Vyrn: Whoa, they look awesome!
Lyria: Ooh, they smell so nice! I'm sure they're delicious!
The aroma of the freshly baked goods fills the room.
Teacher: Hehe. If you'd like, please have this batch as a snack.
Vyrn: Wha! Are you sure?
Teacher: Of course. You've all been a big help.
Lyria: Wow, thank you so much!
Little Boy: Yaaay! Let's try 'em!
Little Girl: Here you go, Cassius! They're hot, so be careful, okay?
Cassius: Understood. Thank you.
Cassius and company accept the baked desserts, taking a bite while they're still warm from the oven.
Cassius: ...!
Little Boy: What d'you think, Cassius? Is it good?
Cassius: If I were to judge purely by the taste, logically, something made by a professional pastry chef would win by far.
Cassius: However, it's strange. I feel as if the flavor of this confection can compare even to bakeries that use the finest ingredients.
Cassius: No—it's not simply the flavor. I feel... a sense of fulfillment from partaking in this.
Cassius continues to mumble to himself. The boy and the girl look at each other, smiles spreading across their faces.
Little Girl: That's because the spell you cast on them worked, Cassius!
Little Boy: You put extra thought into making this batch! Maybe that's why it tastes the best out of them all!
As the children chatter excitedly, Cassius looks down at his half-eaten dessert.
Cassius: I see. This is what Lyria meant earlier.
Cassius: This flavor that cannot be clearly described in words—it's the taste of "affection."
Cassius: If affection can make any creation—whether it is made by a professional or the average person—so delicious...
Cassius: Then I can understand the sentiment of wanting to share something special and made with affection on Valentine's.
Cassius: Valentine's Day...
The heartfelt dessert brings something to Cassius's mind.
He shifts his gaze thoughtfully to the children next to him.
Cassius: Tell me. If you were to receive something on Valentine's, would you rather have something equivalent to these confections than something from a shop?
The boy cocks his head, bewildered, while the girl gives a squeal, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Little Girl: Are you going to give out a Valentine's, Cassius?
Cassius: Yes. Valentine's is a day to express one's gratitude, is it not? If so, then I would like to try following this custom.
Little Girl: Hehe! In that case, I'll let you in on the special secret ingredient the teacher told me about before!
The girl walks over to Cassius and whispers something into his ear.
Cassius: Is that truly the "secret ingredient"? It's different than the spell you showed me when we made these desserts.
Little Girl: Yep! This secret ingredient is for when you wanna give something to your friends, family, and people you love!
Little Girl: The teacher told me that if you give out something with this secret ingredient, you can get along with them forever and ever!
Cassius: You mean to say that this secret ingredient is a unique element, even among Valentine's gifts.
Little Girl: That's right! It's really special! Oh, but don't tell anyone, okay? It's my secret!
Cassius: Understood. In return for providing this piece of information, I will not speak of this to anyone else.
Little Girl: Thanks! Do your best, Cassius!
Little Boy: So what's the secret ingredient? I wanna know too!
Little Girl: No way! It's not for kids who treat Valentine's as a day to stuff your face!
Little Boy: Wha! Aw, come on! We're the same age!
The conversation between Cassius and the children catches (Captain)'s attention. The captain approaches the group.
Cassius: I learned of a new secret ingredient.
Lyria: A secret ingredient? For baking? What kind of ingredient is it?
Cassius: Details on the matter are confidential. That is the contract between us.
Vyrn: When you put it like that, it just makes me wanna know more!
Little Girl: Too bad! It's a promise between the two of us. Right, Cassius?
Cassius nods at the little girl. The others exchange puzzled looks and shrug.
A Dash of Something Special: Scene 3
The same night, after much trial and error in the kitchen by himself, Cassius finishes making baked goods of his own. He presents (Captain) with them as a Valentine's gift and expresses his gratitude toward the captain. When (Captain) asks what the secret ingredient he included is, Cassius replies that it is "affection" and smiles.
Cassius: Now then.
Late into the night, while everyone is tucked away in bed.
After saying goodbye to the children at the orphanage, Cassius is back at the ship, standing by himself in the middle of the kitchen.
Cassius: If I recall, the girl told me I should make something I believe would suit the recipient of my gift.
Cassius: In that case, what I should make is...
The sound of pages flipping echoes in the silence.
Time passes slowly, and the light of the moon through the window begins to wane.
Cassius: This one.
The young man stops on a certain page. He scans the words on it and nods decisively.
Cassius: Whew.
A while later.
The beating of the whisk ceases and Cassius places the bowl on the counter, breathing a sigh.
Failed creations are tragically littered on the table next to him.
Cassius: Strange. I followed the steps in the recipe precisely.
Cassius: The measured amounts are correct, and I do not detect any abnormal elements within the mix.
Cassius: Which means the problem must lie in... this step. "When peaks begin to form, add the flour."
Cassius: I did not expect the level of difficulty to increase so drastically between different recipes.
Though there is fatigue in his voice, Cassius's eyes are bright with anticipation.
Cassius: Still, I believe I have grown accustomed enough to this recipe to proceed steadily from here.
Cassius: Ah. And I can't forget the spell and the secret ingredient.
Reminded of what the children had taught him earlier in the day, Cassius picks up the bowl once more.
Several hours later.
Just as the skies are beginning to brighten, Cassius completes his creation at last.
Cassius: (Captain). This is for you.
In the hallway of the Grandcypher, (Captain) turns around to find Cassius holding out a small box.
Cassius: I attempted to make sweets on my own, as we did with the children yesterday.
Cassius: I made this as an expression of my appreciation. I would like you to accept it.
Surprised but delighted at the unexpected gift, (Captain) thanks Cassius and opens the package.
Inside the box is an assortment of small baked goods. The captain takes a bite out of one of them, indulging in the sweet aroma.
At (Captain)'s honest remark, Cassius looks relieved, his expression softening into a slight smile.
Cassius: Of course. After all, I've included the spell and the special secret ingredient.
Cassius: In addition to thinking gentle thoughts throughout the entire process, as I have been advised.
Hearing this, (Captain) closely examines the confections one more time.
Cassius: I tried implementing the method of improving taste by putting my sincere thoughts into the culinary creation, and it has proved effective.
Cassius: I would like to put this method into practice in the future, when the need to express my feelings presents itself.
Choose: You'll need a little more than that.
Cassius: My true feelings won't get through only through giving gifts?
Cassius: That is a good point. I have never thought too deeply about the cooking and sweets I've consumed up until now.
Cassius: Likewise, it would be futile to put thought into food if the recipient is not made aware of it.
Choose: You're forgetting something important.
Cassius: Something important? Are you referring to something outside of spells and secret ingredients?
Cassius: Is there another factor I am failing to see?
Continue 1
(Captain) tells Cassius that words are also important in expressing one's feelings.
Cassius: You mean, there is a need for me to verbally state that the gift is something I made especially for the recipient...
Cassius: And my intentions would be unclear if I simply gave the gift without an explanation. Hm.
Cassius: Verbalization leads to the verification of motives, and with it, a synergy that further enhances the flavor of the culinary creation.
Cassius: Very well. I will take this into account if another opportunity presents itself in the future.
Cassius appears satisfied at having grasped the concept and mannerisms of gift-giving. (Captain) gives a nod of approval.
Cassius: Then allow me to present these confections to you again—this time, with proper verbalization.
Cassius: Isaac, Zeta, Vaseraga, Beatrix, Eustace, Ilsa, Gwynne...
Cassius: There are many whom I am grateful for.
Cassius: But it is with your help, (Captain), that I am able to continue living in these skies even now.
Cassius: Thank you for everything you have done for me. And I look forward to spending many more days with you.
Choose: I'm looking forward to it too!
Cassius extends his hand, and (Captain) grasps it firmly.
Feeling a tinge of embarassment, (Captain) changes the topic to the secret ingredient Cassius used for the desserts.
Cassius: You wish to know what the secret ingredient is? I have an agreement with the girl regarding its disclosure.
Cassius: But... if providing precise information can bring out the true flavor of the confections, then perhaps it may be justified.
Cassius: Very well. I will tell only you, (Captain). The secret ingredient is...
Cassius: Affection.
At the low whisper, (Captain) blinks, frozen in place.
And in response to the captain's reaction, Cassius breaks into a smile once more, satisfied.