Scenario:Milla Maxwell - Memory of an Aftertaste

Memory of an Aftertaste

In order to practice fighting without her Great Spirits, Milla is training with Katalina. When their session makes her hungry, Milla offers to cook lunch for the crew. Katalina refuses the offer and—to the crew's horror—insists on preparing it herself.

---

Milla: Ha! Hee-yah! Take that!

Katalina: Too soft. Were you even trying? Let's start again.

On a clear morning, Katalina has agreed to join Milla Maxwell in a training session.

As a Lord of Spirits bereft of her Four Great Spirits, Milla is concerned about her diminished prowess in combat.

Lyria: Even in their spare time, I guess Katalina just can't leave Milla alone!

Vyrn: Heh. I was a little worried when I heard those two going at it, but... Phew. Nice of Katalina to help her out.

Katalina: What's wrong? Tired already?

Milla: Hardly!

Katalina: Ngh!
(She's good—there's no way she's an amateur at this.)

Katalina: (Well... Let's find out exactly how good she is!)

Just as Katalina is gearing up to unleash her strongest attack, her concentration is thrown off by an unexpected sound.

Milla: Ooh! Stomach's rumbling! That will do for now—let's eat.

Katalina: What is wrong with you? I just saw you eat a huge breakfast a few hours ago!

Milla: It's natural for exercise to spur one's appetite. Surely you must be hungry too?

Katalina: Don't assume that everyone else is as energy inefficient as you are!

Lyria: Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have lunch a little early today...

Milla: Indeed it would not. In fact I'll cook it myself!

Milla: Perhaps you'd all enjoy the opportunity to taste some foods from my world?

Katalina: Hardly! The last thing I'd want to put in my mouth is something you've made.

Vyrn: Geez, Katalina... That's exactly what we think when you offer to cook.

Milla: Katalina... You're an exhausting woman in every sense of the word. Still you refuse to trust me?

Katalina: I don't think I can be more clear about the fact that yes, I don't trust you one bit!

Katalina: I'm not letting you anywhere near the Grandcypher's kitchen! Therefore I will prepare lunch.

Lyria: Huh?

Vyrn: Whaaat?

Milla: Very well then. I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thus, with her pride on the line, Katalina steps into the kitchen... Is everyone doomed?

Memory of an Aftertaste: Scene 2

While Katalina cooks lunch, Milla regales the crew with descriptions of food from her world. But their conversation is interrupted by a vile stench. Suspecting monsters, Milla looks up to see sickened beasts plummeting from the skies above onto the ship's deck.

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Milla: I'm always excited to be able to eat someone's home cooking.

Vyrn: I don't know if I'd say I'm excited for Katalina's cooking, but... my heart is certainly pounding.

Lyria: So, Milla, what sort of unfamiliar food would you have made for us?

Milla: Ah. In my world there's a famous dish called mabo curry.

Milla: It's a perfect linked arte of heat and spice that always gets me drooling in anticipation.

Vyrn: Ooh! I'd like to try that sometime. Are there any others?

Milla: Let's see... This one may be more of a personal quirk, but on hot days like this, I always enjoy a bowl of soda rice.

Milla: Its acidity is quite bracing, and it's best consumed quickly, making it ideal for busy mornings.

Milla: In fact, if you have a bowl before a battle, it will stimulate your body's experiential growth.

Milla: Besides that, I would heartily recommend trying a croquette parfait.

Milla: The juxtaposition of crisp and soft textures gives it a decadent mouthfeel.

Milla: Additionally, it strengthens one's vitality and psyche when consumed before battle.

Milla: Do those not sound appealing to you?

Vyrn: I'm... not really sure.

Lyria: I'd be a bit nervous to try it, but the soda rice sounds like fun!

(Captain) and company remain in high spirits as they await their lunch.

But in the ship's galley, a tragedy is unfolding...

Katalina: Huh, that's strange... I did everything exactly as the recipe said.

Katalina: Well... I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll just simmer this a bit, and then cook it all together...

Katalina: This has got to be my finest effort yet! Heh heh! I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces!

Milla: What is that stench? Is that a monster?

Vyrn: No. But... it's probably no less terrifying.

Milla grimaces as she looks up to the sky. Just then, monsters that had been flying nearby begin crashing onto the ship's deck one after another.

Sick-looking Monster: Urrgh... Urrrkk... Grrawrr...

Milla: I knew it was monsters! But it seems they've already been weakened by something...

Vyrn: You've got to be kidding me... All right, (Captain), let's mop up this mess!

Memory of an Aftertaste: Scene 3

After the crew fights off the monsters, a beaming Katalina presents them with a large pot. Milla tries the food and gives Katalina a meaningful smile. She calls Katalina charming and asks for seconds. After Milla receives her cooking with such kindness, Katalina's doubts about her begin to fade.

---

Fighting alongside Milla, (Captain) and company drive away the mysteriously sickened monsters.

Vyrn: Could the smell of Katalina's cooking really have done this to them?

Milla: Hm. They appeared to be quite heavily impaired. Perhaps they were poisoned?

Milla: Well, whatever the cause, the additional exercise has made me even hungrier!

Milla: I wonder if Katalina is finished in the kitchen yet?

In the ship's dining area, Milla stretches as she waits ever more impatiently for Katalina's home-cooked meal.

Finally Katalina appears, triumphantly carrying a large pot.

Katalina: Lunch is served! Please help yourselves! There's plenty for everyone.

Katalina places the pot on the table. Inside it lies an inscrutable substance that might once have been food.

Vyrn: Oh no... It's even worse than I'd feared...

Lyria: Hurray! Let's eat!

The group gathers around the table.

Vyrn: Okay... Let's do this, I guess...

Lyria: I'm sure it'll be great!

Milla: Huh... Some sort of unusually-colored curry, perhaps? Very well...

Katalina: No, it's... not curry. But I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I can't wait to hear what you all think!

Vyrn: Screw it! I'm going in!
Gulp!

Lyria: Slurp... Gulp...

Vyrn: ...

After a moment of stunned silence, Vyrn and (Captain) exchange glances, then leave the table.

Katalina: What? Come on, you two, where are your manners?

Milla: Slurp. Slurp. Sluuurp. Chomp, chomp, chomp... Gulp.
This is... Slurp. Slurp. Sluuurp. Chomp, chomp, chomp...

Katalina: Well? It's good, isn't it?

Milla: Chomp chomp... Gulp.
Huh... I see. So that's what's going on here... Heh heh.

Katalina: What does that mean? Care to enlighten me?

Milla: It just fascinates me how someone so forthright could have so dramatic a blind spot. I find it to be somehow quite charming.

Katalina: What! What are you talking about?

Milla: Never mind. I can tell how much effort you put into this. Might I have a second bowl?

Katalina: R-really? No one's ever asked me for seconds before...

Katalina: Are you sure it suits your palate? I mean, you being from another world and all...

Milla: It is certainly a new experience for me. I hope to remember both this meal and this side of you.

Katalina: R-really? No one's ever praised my cooking like that before... I don't know what to say!

And so the Lord of Spirits, Milla Maxwell, accepts Katalina's cooking with generosity and grace.

And during that meal, Katalina's distrust of Milla begins to fade, if just a little...