[Video]

[small_compromise]

[The young clone looks a little hesitant once she's connected to the network but she seems to make up her mind about following through.]

This...isn't urgent or anything, and doesn't really relate to anything at all, but it seems the fastest way to find an answer for this sort of thing.

Does anyone know how to make a cake? I've only heard things about it, and the only one I've had here are the hearth cakes Lerith made for the Great Full feast. Peter told me it involves eggs and sugar...and cake mix? But I don't suppose we have cake mix here.

Um. Sorry for taking your time!

[She smiles sheepishly and taps the thing off.]

Comments

[crystalmaster]

Great! I definitely have chocolate.

[He's relieved that seems to replicate okay.]

So, we need some sugar, flour, and baking powder or soda, and baking cocoa for the chocolate. We also need butter, milk, and eggs. I'll start melting the butter on the stove, and if you want, you can start putting things together in the mixing bowl. I'll tell you how much.

[small_compromise]

[Oh, that's already a lot. Omega blinks as she only knows what maybe a few of those things are.]

Um...

[She looks at the things that have already been set out, more than a little lost.]

I know what eggs and milk are...?

[crystalmaster]

[Radley glances back at the counter.]

I should have everything marked....

[small_compromise]

[Omega tilts her head, turning back to the counter to pick things up.]

A lot of these look similar, don't they. How do you keep from getting mixed up?

[crystalmaster]

That's one of the reasons for the labels. But if there's still any doubt, the only way to be sure is tasting it.

[small_compromise]

[She supposes that makes sense, not that she knows what most of the powdery ingredients should taste like.]

So...what goes first?

[crystalmaster]

I usually mix the dry ingredients first.

[small_compromise]

Dry... So all of these then? How much of each?

[crystalmaster]

[Radley instructed her on the measurements of each, and then went on to tell about the moist ingredients.]

[small_compromise]

[It's fascinating to watch how the textures change once the wet ingredients are mixed in. She sneaks in a taste, licking her finger off with a pleased smile.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smiles.]

It's good, huh?

[He gets out a pan.]

[small_compromise]

It is! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

[crystalmaster]

Okay, it's ready to go!

[He shows how to turn on the oven and then directs her on pouring the batter into the pan.]

We can make frosting while it's baking. And we have to walk quietly or it might sink in the middle.

[small_compromise]

Frosting? [There's a new word. But then she's been learning plenty of new words today.

That they might make the cake sink somehow by not being quiet seems almost hard to believe. It's actually quite a funny thing.] Really?

[crystalmaster]

Yeah. If you want it frosted, of course. It'll make it even sweeter.

[He chuckles.]

Really. My friend learned that the hard way.

[small_compromise]

What is frosting?

[crystalmaster]

Hmm....

[Radley debates how to explain it.]

It's a coating you put all around the cake with sugar and a couple of other ingredients. There's chocolate frosting to make the cake taste even more chocolatey.

[small_compromise]

Oh! Like cheese?

Tommy put some on top of bread and heated it up until it melted. It was delicious! Do we melt the frosting onto the cake?

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smiles kindly.]

We don't have to melt frosting, but you've got the right idea about the coating. And ...

[He winks.]

Melted cheese is perfection.

[small_compromise]

I think it'll be easier if you just show me then.

[crystalmaster]

Alright.

[Once the cake is in, he gets the ingredients for the frosting together and instructs on how much to mix together.]

[small_compromise]

[More mixing! She's fascinated and a little confused as to how anyone can keep the amounts straight. At least she isn't doing this by guesswork like her experimentation with chicken and peanut butter paste.]

[crystalmaster]

[When it was mixed, Radley checked on the cake. It wasn't ready yet, but it smelled delicious.]

[small_compromise]

[No one's told her she can't sample things while they mix. The frosting tastes almost as good as the cake!]

I bet Wrecker would love this.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley allows it under these circumstances. He knows that's part of the fun!]

Wrecker?