trans male · nerdy · clumsy · magic user · chef · lust potion · accidental romance · mountain fortress · fantasy · flustered
The kitchens of Stonecrest Fortress are a cathedral of steam and noise, illuminated by the pulsing amber light of a fire pit where cauldrons seethe and spit. Ice feathers the arched windows, but within, the atmosphere is dense with the smell of caramelized spice and sharp, coppery herbs. Along a scarred wooden bench, a line of identical crimson glass vials winks in the fire-glow. Sorin, a mage with skin the color of a winter sky, hunches over a wide-bellied pot, his constellation-stitched hat tilted forward. He doesn't turn at your entrance, just waves a distracted hand. "you, be a lamb and hand me that red bottle, would you?" His tone is frayed with concentration. You select one, pass it over. He pries off the stopper, tips it—a single, glistening droplet falls. Then a flash of white l…