cakeverse bakery (SFW/NSFW??)

[phantom_memory]

*behind a charming wood door carved with the image of a fork and knife lies a sumptuous bakery, walls lined with shelves upon shelves of fresh bread and pastries warm from the oven. a massive glass case in the center offers serve-yourself slices of cake and pie, surrounded by small tables and comfy chairs to enjoy them on. upon entering, some may find themselves robbed of their sense of smell and taste, unable to enjoy the rich flavors the room has to offer... but in turn, may find that those who can have developed an irresistible flavor of their own.*

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[phantom_memory]

*pairo follows his nose to the new room, fingers tracing its carved surface before he pushes it open and steps inside. immediately, the enticing smell that had lured him there vanishes, and with it, the smile from his face.*

i could have sworn i smelled something tasty...

[scarlet_chains]

*When Pairo suddenly turned and started walking in a different direction than the one they were going in, Kurapika could do little else than follow along, mildly amused at the way his friend kept sniffing the air. And sure enough, they've reached what looks like a bakery, with the sweet smell of freshly baked goods inviting them inside. But the way Pairo's face falls has him looking back at the boy with a frown.*

What do you mean? It smells good to me.

[phantom_memory]

*kurapika's response is even more disheartening, carving the frown deeper into his face.*

really? i can't smell anything at all...

*stepping further inside the room, he turns this way and that, struggling to make out his surroundings without the use of sight or smell. it's hard enough missing one of his five senses, leaving him feeling helpless without two. he turns back to kurapika, brow furrowed in confusion.*

where are we?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika tilts his head in confusion, not seeing how Pairo could suddenly lose his sense of smell when the smell of baked goods has only gotten stronger after they opened the door.*

Can you really not smell it? But you're the one who lead us here...

*He puts a hand on Pairo's shoulder, looking into his eyes.*

Come on, Pairo. Are you pulling my leg?

[phantom_memory]

*pairo shakes his head, distressed.*

no way, honest! i could smell right up until i stepped in here!

*hearing his own words, the obvious explanation begins to sink in.*

maybe it's an effect of the room? but why only me...

[scarlet_chains]

Hmm…

*Kurapika puts his palm against Pairo’s forehead, brushing his bangs aside. Nothing abnormal there. He removes his hand again and gestures into the bakery.*

Well, it looks like they’ve got some good stuff here. Why don’t we take a break and eat some lunch? I’m sure you’ll be able to taste it, at least.

[phantom_memory]

*pairo holds still as kurapika's hand braces his forehead, finding the warmth of their skin equally matched. he frowns as it retreats, skeptical of what the room has in store for them.*

i sure hope i will...

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika smiles and moves further into the bakery, stopping in front of the counter to look at the display, leaning over it with a hand to his chin.*

Hmm, looks like they mostly have cakes. There's chocolate cake, apple pie, carrot cake, strawberry shortcake... what are you in the mood for?

[phantom_memory]

let me try the chocolate cake. seems like it might be the strongest...

*feeling particularly blind right now, he inhales deeply, trying to make out any scent on the air. he thinks he's caught a faint echo of one nearby, but following it only brings him back to kurapika's side. he sighs.*

so, it's a bakery?

[scarlet_chains]

Oh, right. Sorry. Yes - it looks pretty similar to the coffee shop from earlier, but a little more fancy... there's so much to choose from. But the chocolate does look good.

*He reaches into the open glass case and grabs the plate with a slice of chocolate cake on it, holding it in front of Pairo. From this distance, there should be no way he can't smell the rich chocolate aroma wafting from it.*

Want to share?

[phantom_memory]

*pairo nods, still unable to smell anything but the slightest hint of a scent wafting from kurapika's outstretched hand. he's still afraid he won't be able to, but perhaps tasting the cake might spark his senses back to life.*

let's find somewhere to sit down. i'm a bit disoriented...

[scarlet_chains]

Here, take my hand.

*Kurapika frowns worriedly, as Pairo seems a bit out of sorts. He grabs the boy's hand and leads them over to one of the tables laid out across one half of the bakery. He helps Pairo sit down, and sets the slice of cake down before seating himself across from his friend.*

Here, why don't you try a bite?

[phantom_memory]

*pairo gladly takes kurapika's hand, the warmth of his touch grounding him in the absence of his other senses. he sits down and waits to hear the plate meet the tabletop before tentatively reaching for the fork.*

i'll try...

*scooping off some of the cake, he brings it to his lips, pausing to sniff the odorless chunk with apprehension. just as he'd feared, it's like clay on his tongue, a gooey lump with no flavor at all. his mouth forms a frown as he plods through chewing it, disappointment sinking his heart.*

nothing...

[awuka]

[In the hallway, Killua and Alluka amble along to the sound of a whirring engine and steady footfalls. Alluka has decided she wants to be the leader today, so she proudly guides their exploration after promising that Killua would be the one to open doors.

It isn't long before an intoxicatingly delicious scent wafts into her nose, making her stop in her tracks as she inhales the scent of the sweetest, most luxurious desserts. As good as the food in the airship is, she can already tell this will be special.]

Huh? I don't remember anything like that being around here. Oniichan, I think there's a new bakery around here somewhere! It smells soooo good... We should find it!

[As they follow the scent, they quickly find themselves at a door that looks different from the others. Instead of a drab, metal airship door, it's made of elegant wood and adorned with delicately carved silverware. Alluka looks at Killua with needy, hungry eyes.]

Here it is! Hurry and open it! I wanna try some cake!

[devil_or_angle]

*killua's nose is no stranger to sweets, and though he hangs back and lets his sister lead the way, he's just as eager to follow the scent of fresh, baked goods down the airship's endless corridors. he opens the door to see a lavish bakery to match the smell, and once his foot has made a safe landing on the other side he turns to wave his sister in with a smile.*

coast is clear.

*he only realizes once she's stepped in beside him that the scent that led them here seems to have vanished, and with it, his smile does too.*

a bit... too clear.

[awuka]

Alluka happily steps inside, her nose raising as she inhales more intoxicating aromas. Alluka can just barely discriminate between them: Various sweet fruits, decadent cream, hot butter, the bittersweetness of chocolate, and sugary frosting. Immediately, she sees the big case in the middle full of cakes and pies and she can't resist rushing over to it.

The girl's eyes sparkle with wonder at the wide selection as they excitedly scan across the pre-plated cakes and labels. Without hesitation, she grabs two forks.]

This is amazing! It's been so long since I've had cake! Look, Oniichan! They have a triple chocolate cake that has tons of layers in it! Wanna try it with me?

[devil_or_angle]

wai--

*killua's protest dies in his throat as alluka rushes past him, her dark curtain of hair flowing out behind her and instantly rejuvenating his senses. apprehension forgotten, he walks up behind her, following the intoxicating scent of sweets once more.*

sure.

[awuka]

[Alluka sets the forks on the front two plates and grabs both plates. The cakes are thick and a little heavy, but she can still handle it fine. She moves over to the nearest tables and sets the plates down in front of two of the seats before taking one of them.

She immediately gets to business, cutting off a small piece with her fork and stuffing it in her mouth. A complex and deeply satisfying flavor profile washes over her tongue, rich, sweet, and slightly bitter with plenty of dark chocolate and creamy with a perfect texture from all of the thin layers packed with stripes of light-brown chocolate ganache between them. It's the most delicious cake she's ever had, even better than her bloody red velvet cake. It has taken only a single bite for Alluka to completely fall in love with this bakery.]

Oniichan! It's the best! Please try it! I just know you'll love it!

[devil_or_angle]

*eager to taste the source of the delectable smell filling his nostrils, killua slices off a hefty chunk of the cake and chows down. expecting the deep, rich flavor of his favorite food, he's disappointed to find that the cake is totally bland, crumbling like raw flour on his tongue. he sticks his tongue out and lets the uneaten mass of it fall back onto the plate, disgusted. alluka must be messing with him.*

c'mon, really...? it tastes like paper...

[awuka]

[Alluka happily begins inhaling her portion of the cake, cutting off bigger and bigger pieces and pulling them off her fork with her closed lips. The fork becomes smeared in a thin mixture of chocolate, crumbs and saliva that no doubt smells heavenly to her unknowingly altered sibling. She watches Killua eat with an excited smile, wanting to see that soft, delighted expression he wears when he eats something made of high quality chocolate. But instead, she gets grossed out by the way he spits it back out.]

Ewwwwww.... Was it really that bad? There's no way... Here, try mine! I wasn't lying when I said it was good. Maybe the room just pranked you?

[She finds a good spot to cut off and digs her fork into the soft, spongy texture of the cake before ripping it off of the main slice. Confident that he'll like it, she hovers the fork in front of his mouth.]

Open up, big brother! Say "ahhh!"

[devil_or_angle]

*once again, that wonderful smell fills killua's nostrils, stronger than ever with his sister's fork hovering in front of his face. maybe it was just the slice he was given. clearly, she's enjoying hers...*

fine. you better not be pranking me...

*he opens his lips and lets her fork land on his tongue, and all of a sudden his mouth is flooded with the most incredible flavor he's ever tasted. it's not like any chocolate he's ever eaten and somehow better than all of them, more complex, rich, and stimulating than even his favorite treats. especially after being unable to enjoy his last bite of cake, he savors this one, practically sucking on it to extract all of its precious taste. his mouth is still full, drooling from its corners when he speaks.*

holy crap, alluka...

[awuka]

[Alluka is there to witness the change in her brother's face the moment the flavor hits his tongue.]

See? Isn't it amazing?! I knew you'd like it!

[She giggles happily as she watches him eat, sliding the fork out from between his chocolatey lips so she can procure another piece. This time, she takes a small one so she can share more with Killua. Alluka enjoys her piece, her tongue sliding between the decadent layers into the thick, creamy ganache. It's a masterpiece of texture.

Alluka pulls out the fork and starts loading up a bigger piece for Killua before offering it to him.]

Want some more?

[devil_or_angle]

*to his urgent disappointment, killua realizes that the longer he savors the piece of cake, the fainter its sublime flavor becomes. not wanting his mouth to return to the barren, tasteless wasteland it was before, he gulps the dwindling chunk down and scarfs up the next piece alluka offers, a rush of relief accompanying the return of flavor to his tongue.*

it's so good...

*as he savors his next piece, his gaze settles intently on alluka's plate, a hungry glint in his eyes.*

i think i'm gonna need all of it. *with an impish grin, he reaches over and swaps their plates before she has the chance to protest.*

[awuka]

Oniichan!!! What do you think you're doing? I was gonna share! I don't want the nasty paper one!

[Despite her protest, hearty laughs escape her mouth at her brother's penchant for mischief. It's one of the many parts of him that she loves and admires especially. She smiles as she receives his once-sampled cake, looking at it curiously as she prods it with her fork. She holds a piece up to her nose and sniffs at it cautiously.]

Weird, I wonder why this tastes so bad? It smells and looks the exact same as the other one...

[Curious, she slips it into her mouth and is surprised by the explosion of flavor consistent with the other piece.]

No way! It was you who was pranking me, wasn't it? This is still just as good!

[devil_or_angle]

*killua scoffs at his sister's act, sure she's becoming just as mischievous as him.*

nuh-uh, you're pranking me!

*spitefully he digs into alluka's delicious piece of cake, only to find that it's just as bland and tasteless as the other one was on his fork. his nose wrinkles, brow furrowing in utter confusion.*

wait... whuh...?