skyborne_mage | 13th Flight: [Action]

[...That arm is still there. Uh.]

... [Um. Well.] You're still... holding on to me, Albert.

...So I am. Excuse me. [And he finally loosens his arm and drops it back at his side.]

... Thank you. [With that done, she nods and steps back over to the counter. He asked for the punch, so she reaches for the limes and begins to prepare them.

This is all perfectly normal.]

[He's going to lean against the counter and just ... watch Raine prepare the experimental drink.

Yep, perfectly normal.]

[This isn't hard, just slowly mixes the lime juice in with the already prepared lemonade, and then starts on the oranges.

Perfectly... normal.]

... Are you sure you're all right?

The 'command' had no lasting effects, so there's no reason to worry.

If you're... certain. [She briefly glances towards the groceries that are still unpacked, before going back to squeezing the oranges and stirring the juice into the rest of the "punch"]

[Ah yes, the groceries. He was going to do something with them, wasn't he? He taps fingers against the counter thoughtfully, for two seconds at most, before walking over to check on the bags. He might have placed them on the table a bit roughly while under the command's effects.]

[Raine for the moment keeps her gaze on the bowl, and continues stirring once all the ingredients are in. Maybe it needs more orange juice... she adds a little more in and keeps stirring.]

[Well, everything seems fine. Albert begins putting away the groceries, sifting through cupboards to do so.]

[Maybe if she keeps stirring, she won't have to think about it. It was just an order, after all. That's all these experiments are. Utterly ridiculous.

Just... keep stirring.]

[Albert finishes with the groceries before turning his attention back to Raine.

...She still hasn't stopped.]

[Raine doesn't realize that he's finished putting the groceries away. She's still caught up in her stirring.

Perhaps this way the flavors will be well blended. The tang of orange, the slight bitterness of lime, the sourness of lemon, with just enough sugar. Who knows, it might actually taste decent.]

[Of course, that would be all fine and well if you actually tasted your recipe as you make it, Raine. Equal amounts of orange, lime, lemon, and sugar do not a good punch make. Albert is just going to ... go fold the grocery bags. Yes.]

[Well, perhaps it's not completely unsaveable. For now, her arm is starting to get tired. Well, not starting. It is getting tired.

It's probably time to let this mixture sit in the icebox, then. Give it a chill. Does it need more fruits? Well, that might ruin the thought. Better just let it sit as is.

She lets the spoon rest and carefully brings the mixture over to the icebox. Good. That's -- good. But now she doesn't have anything to distract herself with.] ... Oh.

[He raises a brow when he hears that sound.] Oh? Something wrong?

Oh -- no, not at all!

[Let me count the ways that that was convincing...] Professor.

[She turns away from staring at the icebox to look back over at him.] ... Why would you think that anything's wrong?

Because an exclamation of "Oh" is usually a revelation or accident. [And seeing as this is you in the kitchen...]

Oh... I see. It's -- nothing major. It just occurred to me that I wasn't really certain of what else to do after the punch was finished. That's all.

Overwork?

Well, I ... wasn't thinking of that, exactly, but ... are you offering that as a suggestion?

A joke, Professor. A joke. [He shakes his head.] I believe you would be in trouble if I was encouraging that kind of behavior.