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.*

Comments

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika uses his grip on Pairo's hand as leverage to stand up from his chair, pulling Pairo onto his feet as well. His heartbeat has quickened with worry, but he's trying to stay calm until they can determine if Pairo really is in danger or not.*

Then let's try some more. Which one would you like to try now? Or should I pick it, since you can't smell them?

[phantom_memory]

*pairo keeps a firm grip on kurapika's hand, offering him a sheepish smile to reassure him back.*

i'm afraid you'll have to pick for me.

[scarlet_chains]

Okay, come on.

*Kurapika leads Pairo back to the cakes, studying the selection once again. He tries to assess which piece looks the most flavourful, wondering if that would help Pairo be able to taste anything. He eventually settles on a glass cup full of what looks like crème brûlée. There’s only one spoon, but he doesn’t mind sharing - blushing slightly at the reminder that it won’t be the first time they’ve shared bodily fluids.*

This looks good - it looks like a sweet dessert. Let’s try this one.

[phantom_memory]

*pairo reaches out to touch the glass, feeling the cool dessert contained within and relishing that he's at least retained his sense of temperature. he nods, reasoning that even if it's at tasteless as the last, at least it'll be refreshing on his tongue.*

sure.

[scarlet_chains]

You should taste it first - here, try cracking the surface with your spoon.

*Kurapika hands Pairo the spoon and leads his hand to the surface of the dessert, resting the back of the spoon on the smooth, hard, crystallised sugar surface. He wants Pairo to have the first crack, as it were, at the dessert - because the satisfaction of breaking the surface might help with the disappointment he might feel should he still taste nothing when he puts it in his mouth.*

[phantom_memory]

*curious, pairo prods at the surface of the dessert, finding it hard against the silver of his spoon.*

oh! it's crystallized...

*a smile tugging at his lips, he gives it a sharp tap, savoring the sound of the sugar cracking under his spoon. at least he can enjoy these senses, in the absence of his others.*

here goes.

*scooping up some of the creamy substance underneath the fractured surface, he takes his first bite. the interplay of the delicately crispy topping and the cool body of the dessert is pleasing on his tongue, but he can't fully enjoy it without perceiving its taste. the apologetically disappointed look on his face tells kurapika all he needs to know.*

[scarlet_chains]

Still nothing? Hmm...

*Kurapika takes the spoon from Pairo and takes a bite of the dessert himself, finding it to be delightfully sweet and satisfying. He closes his eyes, spoon still in his mouth, savouring the flavour while furrowing his brows in pleasure until the dessert dissolves and melts away. He removes the spoon reluctantly and looks back at Pairo with a frown.*

That's so odd. It tastes delicious to me... But what would be the point of removing your sense of taste? Could it just be the room's idea of a practical joke, to torture you with all these treats and not letting you taste them?

[phantom_memory]

*unable to even enjoy the sight of kurapika indulging in his treat, all he can do is listen to the sound of his lips wrapping around the spoon, his tongue delving into the sweet ecstasy he can't experience himself. with a sigh, pairo lays his cheek in his hand.*

it's unusually cruel, isn't it...?

maybe we should just leave...

[scarlet_chains]

*Disencouraged by Pairo's response, Kurapika dips the spoon into the dessert once more, mystified by the utter polarity of this room.*

Sure you don't want to try just one more bite? If it still tastes like nothing, we'll leave, I promise. I just hope the effect is restricted to this room.

*He holds the spoon up in front of Pairo's face, wanting to see him try just once more before giving up. Maybe there's something they still haven't noticed yet.*

[phantom_memory]

*the hope in kurapika's tone tugs at pairo's disheartened strings, coaxing him into giving it one last try to satisfy kurapika's longing.*

alright. i did like the texture.

*he leans forward and accepts the spoon into his mouth, his tongue lapping at the underside of the spoon before the cream is scooped onto it. a sudden burst of magnificent flavor tingles across his tastebuds like static, electrifying him down to his core. his mouth waters, dissolving the sweet cream in a matter of seconds and leaving him shocked and gasping.*

wait... i can taste it now!

[scarlet_chains]

Really?!

*Kurapika's mouth drops open at the sight of Pairo suddenly gulping down his bite of dessert, completely taken aback. He hadn't really expected anything to happen, after all. This leaves the question - what changed?*

How does it taste?

[phantom_memory]

it's like nothing i've ever tasted before...

*running his tongue over his teeth and the walls of his cheeks to savor the dregs of the flavor, pairo contemplates its complexity with a puzzled expression.*

it's sweet, but not sugary... i can't make out any specific ingredients, but somehow, it tastes familiar...

*bracing his palms against the tabletop, he pushes himself up toward kurapika with newfound eagerness.*

may i have some more?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika beams, happy to see Pairo finally able to enjoy the food - though he notes that to him it had definitely tasted very sugary. He nods in response to Pairo's question, handing him the whole cup.*

Sure - you can have the whole thing.

[phantom_memory]

*pairo eagerly takes the cup of cream from kurapika, tastebuds tingling with excitement as he scoops another bite into his mouth. his face falls when he finds it less enticing than the last, the flavor having slipped away with his last gulp. he frowns, handing it back to kurapika again in disappointment.*

it... feels like it's fading... does it taste any different to you?

[scarlet_chains]

R-really? Are you sure?

*Kurapika just looks at Pairo in confusion, the gears in his mind spinning as he turns the conundrum over and over, examining the possibilities. Pairo hadn't been able to taste anything at all until he had a taste of the dessert Kurapika had already eaten from - from the same spoon, no less. And now the taste is fading away again after initially being able to taste it, which means--

The gears grind to a halt. Driven by a curiosity and impulse, he grabs Pairo's face and smashes their lips together, consequences be damned.*

[phantom_memory]

*pairo is barely able to sense kurapika's movement before he feels his hands grasp his cheeks and his lips slam against his. his muffled questions melt into a blissful hum when he registers the sweet taste in his friend's mouth, his tongue darting, daringly, inside to lap it up. gulping at the heavenly flavor, he breaks them apart to murmur dizzily,*

why's it only taste good when you eat it...?