Infernal Rivalry - The Clash Of Vox And Alastor

Chapter 13 : Two Left Feet

(Vox's POV)

"It's getting late, how about we shake off the seriousness and have a cooking lesson?" Alastor suggests, his eyes glinting playfully.  "I'll teach you to cook something edible, and in return, you promise not to burn down the kitchen, deal?". I chuckle, rolling my eyes, "Deal, but no promises. My track record isn't exactly pristine". We make our way to the kitchen. He laughs, his grin widening. "Fair enough. Now, how about we start with a favourite of mine, gumbo? What do you say?". "Gumbo?" I echo, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I've ever had that before, what exactly is it?". He chuckles, "Oh, Vox, you're in for a treat" he replies, selecting various spices and vegetables from the shelves. "It's a Cajun stew, packed with flavour and served over rice. Trust me, you're going to love it". I can't help but grin at his enthusiasm, "Well, if you say so" I respond, rolling up my sleeves in anticipation.

As we embark on our gumbo-making adventure, Alastor takes the lead, guiding me through the process of crafting a roux. With a wink and a grin, he explains that this step is a true labour of love, requiring patience and precision. "Now, Vox" he begins, "this is where the magic happens. We'll start by combining equal parts flour and oil in this pan here". He gestures towards a large saucepan on the stove. I watch intently as he stirs the mixture, the flour gradually transforming into a rich, caramel-coloured paste. Impatience getting the better of me, I drum my clawed fingers against the countertop. Alastor laughs at my eagerness. "Patience, my friend" he advises, his eyes twinkling. "This can't be rushed, its all about taking time to coax out those deep, nutty flavours". Meanwhile, he hands me a sausage to slice, "While I work on this roux, how about you lend me a hand and CAREFULLY chop up this sausage for me?" he suggests, passing me a sharp knife. I shoot him a mock offended look, "Oh, Alastor" I tease, brandishing the knife playfully. "Are you implying that I'm not capable of handling a simple kitchen task". He shakes his head at me, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Of course, not" he reassures me. "But just to be safe, I'm going to stand back while you work your magic". 

After it was chopped, Alastor focuses on browning the sausage, he assigns me with the task to chopping up the vegetables. He hands me a selection of colourful peppers and onions, "Alright, Vox, time to put those knife skills to the test", he declares, his voice filled with playful encouragement. I roll my eyes, but eagerly accept the challenge. "Watch and learn, Alastor" I quip, adopting a confident stance at the cutting board. "You're about to witness some serious culinary prowess". As I haphazardly slice and dice the vegetables, Alastor's laughter fills the kitchen, mingling with the sizzling sound of sausages in the skillet. "Impressive, Vox" he compliments, his tone dripping with playful sarcasm. "But let's not get too carried away. We wouldn't want any kitchen disasters on our hands". I shoot him a glare, pretending to take offense at his teasing. "Hey now, I'll have you know I'm clearly a natural with a knife", I retort, grinning in spite of myself. "But if you're worried about disasters, maybe you should keep a closer eye on that sausage before it burns". His laughter fills the air once again as he deftly tends to the sausage, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Point taken, Vox" he concedes, his smile warm and genuine. "But let's not forget who's the culinary mastermind here".

As the vegetables soften in the simmering broth, I add a generous sprinkle of Cajun seasoning, savouring the spicy aroma that fills the kitchen. Alastor nods in approval, his grin widening as he watches me work. "Looking and smelling good, Vox" he comments, his tone filled with approval. "But remember, it's all about balance. We want the perfect blend of flavours to make this gumbo sing". I shoot him a confident grin as I toss in the cooked sausage, chicken, and shrimp giving the mixture a hearty stir. "Don't worry, Alastor" I assure him, my voice full of mock seriousness. "I've got this under control. You're about to taste the best gumbo you've ever had". He chuckles at my bravado, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, we'll let the gumbo do the talking", he retorts, smirking at me. As we sit down to enjoy our homemade gumbo, I take a spoonful and savour the explosion of flavours in my mouth. "Oh, wow", I exclaim, unable to control my excitement. "This is amazing, Alastor! I had no idea I could cook something this delicious!". He chuckles at my enthusiasm, his smile widening as he takes a bite of his own. "Glad you like it, Vox", he says, his tone warm with satisfaction. We share a laugh as we continue to enjoy our meal. I can't help but feel grateful for his company and the unexpected joy of cooking together.