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[He smiles when the button is taken - he's doing a good job, spreading the word about 3kon! But it seems there's another reason Hugo took it.]

Oh, an imprint?

[Small world, it seems. He wonders what their imprint is like.]

Ah.... [Now that question makes his eyebrows knit together.] No. The opposite. He gave me these to give away. Maybe he...ran out before he could give you one. I did take a lot...

I see! That’s makes you the cute one, in that case~.

[ Hugo gives out the compliment/flirtation so easily that it seems like a natural flow of the conversation. Is it something Sariel will pick up on? …No, he guesses not, but this is also just how he is. It might be coy, but he also means it. ]

Thank you, then! You’ve already given me plenty and you’ve only just gotten here… A gift for Vivian, a token of support for Takasugi…!

[ Showily, he gestures towards the kitchen as he beams. ]

So! Shall I return the favor? We’ll make the best bread we possibly can!

You think I'm cute?

[He doesn't say it in a flattered way, but genuinely curious. It's not a word he's heard used to describe him at all.]

...Well, I feel happy giving people things. It's good you like it. [But yes. The time has come.] Yeah. Let's go make some bread.

[ Okay, he may not be surprised, but the curiosity of it is different! He laughs as he sweeps behind the modest (hand-built, by the looks of it) kitchen island. ]

Of course you are, my dear! Why, I would even go as far as to say you’re handsome. Not my type, I say meaning no offense, since I just like my men broad and muscular…

[ And furry. I mean what. ]

But you have a lovely face and way about you. I’m charmed already~.

[ Hugo is always open to giving dizzying compliments like it’s the easiest thing in the world… It’s also perfectly natural, since he tosses a simple apron across the way to Sariel, then takes one and starts to put it on himself. ]

Edited 2026-02-03 22:40 (UTC)

[Oh, the type thing, again. Broad and muscular...he understands. Some people have different types. He still really has yet to understand his, though.]

Mm. I've heard that, before.

[The handsome, thing. There's no evidence he's flattered by this, its simply reporting a fact, like someone told him the sky is actually green, and he's taken it for granted without really getting what it means.]

A lovely face...I suppose my creators made me that way. Though I wore a mask when I did my role, so...hm.

[Logically, doesn't add up! Maybe it does. Quandaries. He's taking the apron to put on - no need to help him, here.]

What's the next step?

Really? You have creators that made you so handsome, and then they put a mask on you? How cruel!

[ He’s being lighthearted about it, but it’s also true… He’ll get back to that in a moment, but he focuses on the practical first. He already has everything set out and measured, so he gestures to the spread with a smile. ]

We’ll start with the very basic bread first. Start from basics, you know? Then we’ll move onto some of the more interesting ones like the sourdough. I think you’ll like the surprise I have for you for that one~.

[ Mostly just that he named the starter, but. He pushes the large bowl towards Sariel, then hands him the little cup containing the yeast. ]

First thing’s first, we’ll proof the yeast. Think of it as waking it up so that it’s ready to work~. Just toss that in the bowl, then the water and sugar.

I like wearing the mask if I get overwhelmed, though...

[So he's a little confused by the notion. Does it count if he prefers it? Who knows. Either way....bread! Cool little glass bowls of...things! Ingredients! Wow.]

Proof...oh. Waking up. You said its alive, right?

[So, he moves to pour it in. Then the water, followed by a dump of the sugar.]

[And quietly said to the bowl.]

Wake up, yeast.

[ He looks a little apologetic when Sariel explains the mask, since that’s a little different. It’s a little odd to him, sure, but if that’s what helps him feel more comfortable, then it’s fine. What a gentle-hearted man, he thinks, completely unaware that it’s the fucking Jason mask,,, ]

Right.

[ Hugo nods, and his lips purse together tightly in a smile as he holds back a laugh. It’d be a very endeared laugh, mind you, but he still won’t laugh at this frankly adorable effort. ]

We’ll give it a few minutes, but it’ll start to bubble, which means it’s working. If it doesn’t, that means the yeast has gone bad and died, but I already checked yesterday to make sure I didn’t need to buy more, so. While we wait, I am curious! What was your “role”, Sariel?

Oh. I hope it didn't die.

[He WILL be looking for those bubbles, thank you.]

[The question, however, draws his attention away from the bowl. His role....his eyebrows furrow, tome a little more withdrawn, monotone.]

....I was the Archangel of Execution. I eliminated the enemies of my creators.

[ Hugo’s fond little smile stays in place as Sariel frets over their bread to be. Like, sure, maybe it’s a little condescending to think of a grown man as adorable… But. He is! He’s really adorable!

Which means that the answer is so unexpected that his only answer is— ]

Huh? I beg your pardon?

[ His smile is still there, but it’s now tinged with the question of “no, surely I didn’t hear that right.” Yet, Sariel now looks so serious, even glum, so…??? ]

You’re an executioner?

...

[A silent nod, though after a moment, he speaks up again.]

Yes. I was made for it.

[It was his role, from the beginning. He had no say otherwise, until...]

I don't act as it now.

[ Though Hugo is surprised, it doesn’t take long for his expression to gently shift to a faint smile. It might come off as judgement, but it’s not that. It’s more catching himself in the thought that Sariel doesn’t seem like the type, but… Hugo doesn’t either, now does he?

He at least realizes that it’s probably a little too enigmatic, though. He takes a step forward to place a slightly chilly hand on Sariel’s forearm. He’s the type of person that conveys sincerity through physical gestures. ]

It’s okay. It surprised me because you’re such a sweet fellow, but I believe you.

[ Though… ]

Are you happy to not have to do that now?

[His eyes open, flickering to Hugo's face when he feels the cool touch on his shoulder. It's grounding. He appreciates it.]

[The question earns him a nod.]

...The Deputy Head found duties for me that fit my personality. Not my role. I was grateful to him. So right now, as I am...I'm happy that I don't have to do it anymore.

[...]

It's painful to cause pain.

[ …What a bizarre man Sariel is, truly. Hugo thinks it with fully fondness, as is evident by the encouraging little squeeze of his hand and the smile it comes with. He’s very innocent despite being an executioner, but if he doesn’t know anything else? That has to be expected. Oddly… Hugo understands it, at least in a way.

On the other hand. This makes Silco employing him worse, doesn’t it?? ]

Mm… It is. So, I’m glad you don’t have to do it anymore either, my friend. We’ve only just become acquainted, but I’d still hope for your days to be filled with peaceful things like ants and their bread.

[ He pulls his hand away, but his smile remains. ]

In fact, I know you said you work for Silco, but if you’re ever looking for other work, you’d be welcome to work at my gallery! Once it’s open, of course~.

...That's a nice wish.

[He would want his days to be peaceful. He would want ants and bread and spending time with people he holds so dear.]

[He smiles, mildly - but really, he is truly happy.]

Is that so? Okay. How does one work in a gallery?

[ And just like that, Hugo obtains a new little goal… If he can help Sariel achieve that kind of wish, he’d be happy too. Honestly, it feels like a very achievable goal too. ]

It’s very simple! You basically have one of two jobs. One is just making sure people don’t touch the artwork, since it’s not good for it, and the other is explaining the art if people have questions. It just depends on what you like, really! Either is very peaceful work, but I’d find talking to people all day to be more fun myself.

[ Which. He has to admit, he doesn’t know how good Sariel would be at explaining the finer points of art, considering, but it would be very charming! He’s sure his interpretations would definitely be unique points of view. ]

...I'm not good at explaining things.

[He will be honest about that. He doesn't know much, and he isn't that smart. It's best to let experts take a role like that.]

[The first, however, is something he can do.]

The first sounds like what I do with Silco. So I can do that just fine.

Ah, then perhaps I'll contract you as my first security guard~! So long as Silco doesn't get sour and territorial about it...

[ Hugo laughs, but there's probably a little bit to that. Silco does seem like the type, but on the other hand, he'd talked to him about having one of Silco's people here for a liaison. Sariel isn't quite what he had in mind, admittedly, but he'd be much more pleasant company around the gallery...

But! For now, Hugo nods towards the bowl, which looks happily foaming. Yay, yeast! ]

—And there we are. Now we just add the rest of the ingredients— [ He motions to them grandly ] Though we'll do a little bit of flour at a time. That'll make it easier to stir into a nice dough, and I'll put you to work for that! At home I have a mixer, so here my arms will just get tired.

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