Visiting Ari 2: Advice Boogaloo

Cala nodded slowly as Ari explained about cereal and how it was easy, but not overly impressive, and Cala pursed their lips. Humming in thought before putting the box back. They would have to come back to try and cook cereal it seemed. As Ari prepared to show them something else Cala would watch and listen as directed, focusing as much as they could as they really did not want to mess up learning how to cook! As Ari showed them the book of ingredients a lump of uncertainty formed in their throat as it all seemed so... much. It definitely wasn't as simple as Cala had hoped it would be!

Thankfully for Cala Ari was more than patient showing them the ingredients, which Cala thought they understood well enough. Pork, Salt and pepper, flour, egg, panko, oil and sesame seeds.

Taking a deep breathe Cala would try their best to prepare the meal and, with Ari helping, was at least able to follow the instructions. Though in truth Cala obviously had a lot of trouble with the process of cooking, at least currently, they seemed very easy to overwhelm and though their first attempt with Ari's help was a success they definitely seemed to freeze up when left more to their own devices. This left them... disheartened. They were far from a natural chef or some sort of prodigy at cooking, in fact their nervous demeanor was almost the opposite, but still they continued to try until they could at least make it with only occasional reminders from Ari.

Cala's chest swelled with pride and happiness as Ari told them they were making great progress. They certainly did not feel like it as they felt like the moment they didn't have her guidance they would just freeze up again but the kind words made Cala's cheeks go rosy and a happy smile alight their features. But as Ari suggested trying something else Cala blinked and nodded slowly. They felt good, happy even, and a far cry from how Ari's initial reaction had made them feel. They were willing to try, for Ari anyways, and as Ari brought out the rice cooker Cala actually vaguely recognized it from their time in Japan. A simple fact that, in and of itself, made Cala happy. Something about becoming familiar enough with the living world to recognize things in it made them feel.... whole.

As Ari went about explaining the rice cooker and rice Cala stared up at her like a lost puppy, eyes wide and all but unseeing, as they drank in her words and nodded slowly once she was done. As Ari handed them the materials to cook with Cala copied the actions Ari had done to wash the rice, though Cala was obviously still nervous and not as thorough as their big sister, their rice was not quite entirely clean but as they looked down into the cooker they did realize this and wince gently. They paused, glanced at Ari, before glancing back at the cooker. They made sure it was off before scooping the not quite clean rice back out and finishing cleaning it, their small tongue poking out in concentration as they continued.

Once all the rice was washed Cala nodded and turned to get the water, mumbling to themselves quietly under their breathe each step as they did them, only to pause as they hovered the cup of water over the cooker. In their embarrassment of having gotten dirty rice in the cooker they had forgotten what numbers to fill the pot up to. This made Cala frown, pout even, and glance back and forth between the cooker and Ari in distress. Like a puppy anxiously waiting for their owner to open the door for them to go outside, to help them, and their distress was self evident.

Cala was relieved at Ari's words, her touch, and the gentle peck to the forehead. Instead of going right back to cooking, however, Cala fidgeted softly and looked away. Almost something resembling a.... tiny pout(?) on their face as they mumbled in embarrassment

"G-Geez Ari, at this rate my forehead w-will have lip marks on them all the time...."

Still, Cala was not truly complaining about the kisses, far from it. The simple act of affection and care was being shown so repeatedly by Ari that Cala was truly, genuinely embarrassed. Shuffling to the cooker Cala poured water to the spot Ari indicated, put the lid on backwards for a moment, then realized their mistake and sheepishly corrected it. With that done Cala turned the cooker on and held their breathe, as if waiting for something to go wrong, before turning to Ari and hugging her gently. Snuggling into her with genuine affection as they sighed.

"Th-Thank you Ari. I-I... I really appreciate it."

Cala nodded and pulled back, no doubt after Ari displayed her own affection, before fiddling with their hands and looking down at them. Trying to think of how to word what they wanted.

"Ummmm.... Ari? I-I think maybe next time.... err... do you think we could maybe see about making burgers? Saiko really likes them s-so... I-I mean.... it seems like a good idea to me."

Cala's reaction to Ari further taunting them about the forehead kisses was met with a soft cherry blush and a reaction much like a distressed cat. Their lips forming into a pout as they let out a highly embarrassed, choked sound only to sigh and mumble into the hug they gave her.

"I-I'm not a baby ya know? I'm... I'm going to work on my cooking a-and my other skills....."

Ari was far from as a subtle as she thought she was, floating basically a foot off the ground to put Cala level with her breasts. Someone more worldly might have suspected some sort of lewdness behind the action, about Ari all but forcing Cala's face into her breasts, but Cala was entirely unaware of every bit of context they would need to feel that way. Cala accepted the hug and held it regardless, thinking nothing further of the affectionate embrace due to their simple inability to do so, and wondered if Ari truly thought he floating down an entire foot so that Cala was looking down at her was.... subtle?

Regardless Cala cared for Ari onee-chan and wasn't going to say anything, though they were going to give her another pout at the petting and forehead kisses, before nodding at her suggestion to rest while the rice cooked. Giving the rice cooker only a single worried glance Cala would move into Ari's living room and sit on the couch, taking off their shoes, and drawing their knees up to their chest as they leaned back into the cushions. Staring up at the ceiling, lavender eyes wide and thoughtful, Cala would feel the butterflies in their stomach spike as they thought of their upcoming date with Saiko. An entirely different kind of flush peppering their cheeks as goosebumps peppered their skin and Ari, of all people, as a demon of all things, would be able to sense the pure infatuation radiating off of Cala.

Cala nodded slowly as Ari agreed with their assessment, drawing in a shaky, nervous breathe as they swallowed, still staring up at the ceiling in thought. It was not until Ari looked at them that Cala would copy the motion, all at once wrestling with that squirming pit of emotions in the depths of their tummy while simultaneously trying to think of what to do on the date, listen to Ari AND not forget about the food cooking. If this was what mortal life was like then Cala somewhat began to understand why many Hollows preferred the simplicity of the hunt and the kill. These emotions, at times, felt all too strong, all too raw, and it made them uneasy.

Ari's advice did them well, however, and Cala nodded quickly, a few times really out of sheer anxiety, and would quickly begin to fish out their old Nokia flip phone before offering it to Ari. Asking in a small voice as they ducked their head.

"Please? I-I dunno if I will call, b-but just knowing I have the option will make me feel better."

Cala smiled gently and leaned their head forward, keeping their legs curled up nice and close, knees supporting their chin as their arms held their legs close and they exhaled heavily. Not quite able to fully shake their mixture of excitement and anxiousness as they waited for Ari to put their number in their phone. Whether for the date or not it was most definitely a good idea to have Ari's number just in case they needed her. She was really strong for the first thing and the chance of them dying, even now, remained a strong possibility. Secondly just being able to contact and plan with their big sister made them a good deal happier than they had been.