One day we'll reach to emotions: unexplored, unprecedented

[matchbreaker]

[ Sometime shortly after the trial small notes will be folded underneath the doors of everyone still alive, and also posted to the staircase leading up to the upper floors. Not many of you have probably seen Elda's penmanship yet unless you checked that Penmanship check a while back, but it's impossibly impeccable fancy cursive script, to match with her old timey appearance. ... She also writes a lot more proper than she talks. ]

To My Fellows,

The half of you who didn't assist me in this are cordially invited to a celebration of our continued living, and to the memories of those who aren't. We are a mismatched group,
but it has become increasingly clear that we are together in this. Do not allow yourself to be alone.

We will be congregating in the ballroom for the rest of the night.

Better chefs than I will be providing food.

Sincerely,
Elda Marker

[ she's being somewhat facetious about half the group, but the fact does remain that she got more offers than she expected, when she set out to do this. She had expected that Sayaka would help, and indeed both her and Alex provide cookies and curry for the tables. Elda herself sets up the tables, dotting one longer central one made of smaller ones in the ballroom for things to sit on. The bulk of the food's provided by Tarrlok of all people, Chinese food by any other name. Susan, bless her, provides alcohol. Hibki, once she was clean, decided to run backup on preparing the food.

And then perhaps fittingly, Aligula provided the decorations. Steamers line the room, and little cut outs hang around. At Elda's instruction, it's a mix of cats, snakes, and bats. The majority of them have little faces on them. And finally, as and afterthought more than anything else, Elda makes some tea.

... Said tea is black tea and is impossibly dark and bitter because she can't taste it, but maybe that's what you want on a night like this. Who knows. ]

Comments

[evilfrenzy]

[Huh. He tips his head curiously.]

Then, what, is it the experiences of the person that cause the variation?

[matchbreaker]

That's right. Well, that's half of it.

[ she swirls the glass, watching it as she speaks ]

Every vampire has a unique taste, what we call a Blood Affinity. While factors like diet and health can effect how blood tastes, the main thing to it is what emotions, thoughts, experiences that a human carries with them. In an ideal feeding, that is what we extract as much as the blood and that is what we feed on.

[evilfrenzy]

Interesting.

[And he's sincere with that. From a medical professional's standpoint he could've expected the overall health of the person to play a part in the quality of the blood, but the rest... Morbidly, it gets him to idly consider what his would even be like to a vampire.

...probably awful. He can admit to that much.]

So the infirmary's supply is rather bland in comparison, then?

[matchbreaker]

Insanely so. Given that none of you smell one way or the other though, I'm half-tempted to say the problem's with me rather than the blood, that Jericho and Aligula saw fit to shut off one of my senses.

[evilfrenzy]

Strange... I cannot see a reason for them to need to do that. It doesn't sound like something that would give you an advantage over anyone.

[Unlike the apparent memory-erasing power.]

[matchbreaker]

I can't think of a reason either.

[ . . . Because smelling emotions sure never made things easier at a trial, obviously. Okay, Elda. Ok. ]

[evilfrenzy]

[Smell that guilt, Elda.]

That aside...do you associate flavors with certain experiences or emotions?

[matchbreaker]

Mmmm... perhaps? I would say that my own Blood Affinity trends towards... a savory taste?

[evilfrenzy]

All right.

[Finally, he comes back to the original question with an answer.]

That is exactly how I would describe curry in most cases. It's a bit of both savory and sweet, though it isn't uncommon to find spicy curries out there since the powder itself is created from a variety of spices.

[matchbreaker]

I saw that a bunch of vegetables go in it, it doesn't end up bitter for that?

[ She can't help but associate vegetables with bitter? ]

... Also onions.

[evilfrenzy]

No? Not when they are prepared like this, at least.

[...he doesn't even know if he would consider most vegetables to be bitter. Hm.]

It is the curry powder that you taste the most of.

[matchbreaker]

And that is... savory?

[evilfrenzy]

Correct. So, I suppose you could relate it to the way you process that taste.

[matchbreaker]

[ she just nods, staring hard at the curry.

... Smelling the curry.

... this scent is too strong. She puffs out her cheeks. ]

I would have liked to know more about what the girl was making. I thought it might be sweet, despite the smell.

[evilfrenzy]

Why not ask, then...? [His tone implies that he doesn't think it's a huge deal.] I doubt she would have any issue telling you.

[matchbreaker]

That-- to ask so directly, that would be awkward, you know?

[evilfrenzy]

[???]

What about it is awkward?

[matchbreaker]

It simply would, that's all!

[ Her cheeks burn. To ask her about it like she was interested in food she'll never eat... that... that would be tipping things a little too much. ]

[evilfrenzy]

[That's just going to be met with a Look, but he ends up shrugging.]

Okay? Then don't. Obviously it doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

[Not his problem.]

[matchbreaker]

Well, then we are in agreement.

[ A beat and then... a bow. ]

Thank you for your help with the taste.

[evilfrenzy]

[...wh-

Huh. He kind of likes this development? But is a bow really necessary... Either way, Rideaux smirks and scoops into the curry.]

Sure. Thanks for the vampire facts.

[Because that was actually pretty interesting.]