/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Patchouli Knowlege floated lazily into the main kitchen of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, letting out a small yawn as she did so. The purple-clad magician was bored of waiting for an experimental potion she had left brewing in her library lab to finish, the bubbling concoction still needing another hour or so before it would be ready. Deciding a change of scenery would help pass the time, she had wandered upstairs in search of a snack, or at the very least, some interesting conversation to occupy her mind.

As Patchouli entered the kitchen, a delicious aroma immediately filled her nostrils - the smell of sizzling steak, seasoned with butter and rosemary. It was a simple meal, but a classic one, and her stomach let out a small rumble of anticipation. Looking over towards the stove, she spotted the mansion's head maid, Sakuya Izayoi, carefully watching over a pan that held two thick ribeye steaks.

With a flick of her wrist, Sakuya used a set of tongs to lift one of the steaks and tilt it upwards, letting the melted butter and herbs baste across the meat's surface. Patchouli drifted over next to her, violet eyes curious as she watched the maid work.

"Does basting the steak actually do anything?" Patchouli asked idly, genuinely unsure about the technique's usefulness.

Sakuya glanced over at the magician with a small, knowing smile. The truth was, basting didn't really impact the cooking process all that much. It didn't speed things up, help the meat cook more evenly, or do anything substantial to keep it juicy. Mostly it just kept the surface of the steak nice and warm as it rested in the pan. But Sakuya had learned long ago that some cooking traditions persisted more for the artistry and satisfaction they provided the cook, rather than for any practical benefit.

"Oh, not particularly," Sakuya admitted to Patchouli with a shrug. "But it makes the presentation much more appetizing, don't you think? And Lady Remilia does prefer her steaks to have a glistening sheen to them."

She gave the steak a few more bastes for good measure before laying it back down in the pan, the sizzling butter popping and crackling. "Besides, it soothes my perfectionist tendencies," she added wryly.

Patchouli gave an understanding chuckle at that, leaning against the counter as she watched Sakuya work. It was true, Sakuya took great pride in even the smallest details when it came to serving the Scarlet Devil Mansion. And Remilia could be quite picky about having her meals be aesthetically pleasing, the childish vampire's refined sensibilities demanding nothing less.

"It certainly smells delicious," Patchouli remarked truthfully, her own empty stomach giving another whine of impatience.

Sakuya's smile widened. "Why thank you, milady. I must admit, it's been too long since I've made a proper steak dinner." She adjusted the pan's temperature to let the meat cook just a little slower. "Why don't you take a seat at the table? I'll pour us some wine, and as soon as these are ready I can slice you off a piece to sample."

Patchouli's eyes lit up eagerly at the offer. "That sounds perfect," she agreed, moving to settle herself at the nearby dining table. Sakuya's steak dinners were always exceptional, and the mansion's personal wine reserves produced some exquisite vintages as well. A little preview of tonight's meal would be the perfect way to unwind while she waited on her experiment.

As Sakuya smoothly poured two glasses of a bold cabernet, Patchouli's thoughts drifted back to her bubbling potion downstairs. She hoped the results would prove enlightening. But for now, in this warm, fragrant kitchen, she was content to simply relax and enjoy the head maid's flawless cooking.