( This is good, it's better this way — he's a man that likes to keep himself busy, that likes to keep his hands moving. Being given a task sets him more at ease than anything else could, and so he dutifully takes up the spoon and mans his station, stirring sauce with a dedication like he's manning the city watch.

Happy to stir, happy to ladle. He complies easily. )

I'm gonna level with you, man, this? Smells amazing, and I'm gonna eat, just, like, a gross amount of it. I just wanna put that out there in advance. It's all- great.

( Especially that part about pie, which he looks entirely too invested in, immediately. )

But if you wanna, you know... talk about anything, while you're... stress-cooking, I'm all ears. No pressure, you just- you know.

( You're cooking enough food to feed the Cadens military barracks and it is slightly concerning to behold, is all. )

I'm not judging, by the way. I'm doing the same thing, but with- hammers.