"He's very encouraging, too. I've been thinking about showing him other projects that I'm working on in case he needs a job still and doesn't necessarily want to work with you and Miss Magne." He chatters happily as he unscrews a part of the mixer to lift the head off in his hands and carefully lay it aside. Tucking the tool between two fingers and pulling a charcoal pencil out of the satchel at his side, he makes more visible marks as he continues, "I had debated on potentially showing him around the outskirts, perhaps down into the ruins to see Paradesium. He's quite heat-sensitive though so he would need lighter clothes and a lot of water. I did have an idea, but I've no idea how to go about setting it up myself and any magic users here seem quite busy. Would you happen to know someone that could enchant a bit of clothing or jewelry?"
"Oh, that sounds like a really fun idea. Paradesium is such a romantic setting and the fruit that grows there is delicious." Because, of course, that's what he thinks of first.
"Hmm. I think River might be able to, and I know Mairi made some rings with enchantments too. Erik has one that sings a bird call. I bet you're looking for something that keeps him cool, right? I can't do clothes but I could make some shaved ice for you to take along. Or some ice cream. If I make it, it won't melt."
"Oh yes, there are so many interesting plant species there that I've tested and sampled the fruits from. Only one of them that I tried to eat had a negative effect, and even then it was mostly relegated to swelling in the mouth and tongue. I imagine it would have been worse...if..." Oops, there's his brain catching up with the 'romantic' comment. He's a bit pink across the face and around the ears, even as he clears his throat and continues on, "anyway, if someone hands you a fruit with a thick green rind and says they're pretty certain that it's a sort of jackfruit, don't eat it. It'll taste okay, right up until it makes you unable to taste anything at all for about six hours."
Bart pauses to fiddle a moment, hooking a pair of insulated wires to one of the batteries that he and Tarantulas had previously been collaborating on, thumbing the button of a device meant to be a rudimentary soldering iron when the ends are secured. "Yes. Actually, even without the goal of going into Paradesium, I want to offer it as an option for him. His powers are incompatible with his body; it's why he's got such egregious scarring. I'm going to be attempting to treat him with extensive skin grafting over a long span of time, and that all by itself is going to be a difficult road all on its own, but adding to that that it could all be for naught if he overheats and hurts himself again...I could never in good conscience suggest another round of grafting. Especially when we don't actually have the appropriate donors lined up just yet and I am already unwilling to repeatedly strip layers of skin from the few uninjured places that he still has."
He sees that blush and he starts grinning so hard. Ah ha! He was right! They do have a crush. How cute! "Oh my, I'll remember that warning. Wonder if I could use that as an ingredient in something to make the effects milder." Not being able to taste could have some practical applications, he's sure. It might let him experience how the world is for people like Erik...
Speaking of. "Wow, that condition sounds so painful. I'll do anything I can to help. I might know someone else who could do more. Do you know Erik Osborne? He's a vampire I used to live with. His blood can heal wounds, even old ones like scars. All you have to do is apply it to the wound topically, so it shouldn't even hurt. I don't know for sure it would work but it might be worth asking. If I ask, I think he'd agree." He's agreed to worse for Max, after all.
Bart doesn't know how to respond to someone giving him that look, and only reddens further, focusing more intently on his work without looking back around at Max. Unknowingly it just makes it all the more obvious. Of course, the idea of somehow incorporating the fruit into a dish is intriguing. Gastronomy is something that he has some experience with after all, and he straightens up again with a small nod. "Perhaps we can work together on that. I've taken myriad notes on how certain compounds interact with the body, we could potentially come up with a whole variety of dishes that manipulate the senses to provide new experiences for your clientele."
Bart fingers a ridge on his soldering iron as he considers that, brow knitting as he picks through what he's being told to get the parts that he really needs. The rest he could ask for elaboration on later.
"I would have to ask each of them for the consent, but that would be no problem at least for Lord Osborne, I would just have to compensate him for his assistance. The real problem is getting Touya to agree to such a thing. I'll...oh, I could use a trip into Paradesium to talk with him privately about the idea," he proposes.
Yep. He knew it. It's one-hundred-percent confirmed as far as Max is concerned. Now, all he has to do is think of ways to get them on more dates. He's sure he can help with that.
"Yes, I'd love to. Between the two of us, I think we can make something no one has ever seen before. If we make an entirely new dish, we might even get to name it." Max has always wanted to be able to name something new he invented. He doesn't mind sharing the credit with Bart, either. They can come up with it together.
"I lived with Erik for a long time. He's a fair dealer when it comes to business, so that shouldn't be an obstacle. And, yeah, that's a good idea. Erik has good hearing but even he wouldn't overhear it from there. No matter what, I won't mention a thing about it. I'll leave that up to you three."
"Oh, perhaps! If we can find the right kinds of gelatin I might even be able to show you a few interesting tricks," he adds, knowing that he could help expand Max's repertoire into the funky science experiment realm, just using techniques that he had previously learned for preservation, texture alteration, and other physical effects.
The reassurances from Max do a lot to put his mind at ease. "Thank you, Mr Maximum. I know that if this works out it'll make life much easier for Touya, it's just a matter of getting there first."
"What kind of gelatin do you need? I have a good working relationship with the town butcher so I might be able to get it for you." Said butcher might complain the entire time he's making it but Max pays a good price.
"If it can make his life easier and less painful, then that's all I need to know. Anything I can do to help, I will."
"We'll need a few different sources, to be able to adhere to the dietary restrictions of more people in the village, especially if you would intend to offer them to the public at large. Calcium alginate derived from seaweed would likely be easy enough, if a bit of a process. We could talk to the one that runs the seaweed farm," he suggests, pointing vaguely in the direction of the waterfront. "Raw agar-agar as well, something we can get from Mr Higgsbury, I already order from him fairly regularly for my own home lab. And if we need more, then I absolutely encourage you to patronize the butcher. Having different options is vital."
He nods, satisfied with the idea and smiling back up at Max before going back to work to put the last new touch in place. "I'll need to discuss with them both, but I think he'll realize it's for his own well-being."
"I've never used anything but the protein kind, so that's exciting. It will be good to have vegetarian options I can work with." All this to say Max is very onboard with these different sources. He'll chip in money to help pay for them, too, of course.
"I hope so," Max answers encouragingly. "No one should have to live in pain all the time."
"Not to mention the kinds that would be considered halal for our friends that observe such things," Bart adds, as he finally lowers the head of the mixer onto its new little 'kickstand', balancing it carefully then stepping back and putting his hands up. He's proud of how he's done with this little project! Now he can clean back up, wipe the residue away, turn on a vent to make sure no fumes linger, and wash his hands.
He turns back to Max, smiling brightly up at him. "I think that between all of our efforts, everything is going to be alright. We'll all take care of each other, right?"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-02 02:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-08-09 02:27 am (UTC)"Hmm. I think River might be able to, and I know Mairi made some rings with enchantments too. Erik has one that sings a bird call. I bet you're looking for something that keeps him cool, right? I can't do clothes but I could make some shaved ice for you to take along. Or some ice cream. If I make it, it won't melt."
cw: medical discussion, skin grafting
Date: 2024-08-18 05:40 pm (UTC)Bart pauses to fiddle a moment, hooking a pair of insulated wires to one of the batteries that he and Tarantulas had previously been collaborating on, thumbing the button of a device meant to be a rudimentary soldering iron when the ends are secured. "Yes. Actually, even without the goal of going into Paradesium, I want to offer it as an option for him. His powers are incompatible with his body; it's why he's got such egregious scarring. I'm going to be attempting to treat him with extensive skin grafting over a long span of time, and that all by itself is going to be a difficult road all on its own, but adding to that that it could all be for naught if he overheats and hurts himself again...I could never in good conscience suggest another round of grafting. Especially when we don't actually have the appropriate donors lined up just yet and I am already unwilling to repeatedly strip layers of skin from the few uninjured places that he still has."
cw: medical discussion, skin grafting Cont.
Date: 2024-08-22 05:02 pm (UTC)Speaking of. "Wow, that condition sounds so painful. I'll do anything I can to help. I might know someone else who could do more. Do you know Erik Osborne? He's a vampire I used to live with. His blood can heal wounds, even old ones like scars. All you have to do is apply it to the wound topically, so it shouldn't even hurt. I don't know for sure it would work but it might be worth asking. If I ask, I think he'd agree." He's agreed to worse for Max, after all.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-05 07:51 pm (UTC)Bart fingers a ridge on his soldering iron as he considers that, brow knitting as he picks through what he's being told to get the parts that he really needs. The rest he could ask for elaboration on later.
"I would have to ask each of them for the consent, but that would be no problem at least for Lord Osborne, I would just have to compensate him for his assistance. The real problem is getting Touya to agree to such a thing. I'll...oh, I could use a trip into Paradesium to talk with him privately about the idea," he proposes.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-10 08:08 pm (UTC)"Yes, I'd love to. Between the two of us, I think we can make something no one has ever seen before. If we make an entirely new dish, we might even get to name it." Max has always wanted to be able to name something new he invented. He doesn't mind sharing the credit with Bart, either. They can come up with it together.
"I lived with Erik for a long time. He's a fair dealer when it comes to business, so that shouldn't be an obstacle. And, yeah, that's a good idea. Erik has good hearing but even he wouldn't overhear it from there. No matter what, I won't mention a thing about it. I'll leave that up to you three."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-11 01:13 am (UTC)The reassurances from Max do a lot to put his mind at ease. "Thank you, Mr Maximum. I know that if this works out it'll make life much easier for Touya, it's just a matter of getting there first."
start wrapping this one?
Date: 2024-09-15 12:49 am (UTC)"If it can make his life easier and less painful, then that's all I need to know. Anything I can do to help, I will."
b ovo b
Date: 2024-09-19 04:01 pm (UTC)He nods, satisfied with the idea and smiling back up at Max before going back to work to put the last new touch in place. "I'll need to discuss with them both, but I think he'll realize it's for his own well-being."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-25 01:53 pm (UTC)"I hope so," Max answers encouragingly. "No one should have to live in pain all the time."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-09-26 03:33 am (UTC)He turns back to Max, smiling brightly up at him. "I think that between all of our efforts, everything is going to be alright. We'll all take care of each other, right?"
End~
Date: 2024-09-30 08:31 pm (UTC)He has to resist playing with the improved mixer right away. But you can be sure he's going to right back to using it the moment he's alone.
He gives Bart a thumbs up and say, "Right."