It's my first time. Be gentle...

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael glared crossly at the fire below the pot, "I didn't want it in the first place. I came in here and that's what she was trying to do, so I tried to help." And obviously failed miserably, that didn't need saying. He tucked his wand away, realizing with annoyance that it hadn't been needed in the first place. "Why didn't it say do that?" he demanded, staring at the package still in one hand as though it were at fault.

[Adara Snow]

Adara watched the fire beneath the pot avidly. "It was what I found," she said apologetically. "I do not know what I want, except I am hungry, and it is food, is it not?" She'd been beginning to wonder if she hadn't been wrong, after all. "Can you make it work?" she asked Dare hopefully.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare blinked at Michael. "It's supposed to be a given," he said to Michael, and to Adara, "Yes, it's food...technically. And yes, I can make it work." It took him a moment looking at the two before it filtered into his brain that they were both Pureblood, high society, and likely hadn't had to cook their own meals outside school. It was mind-boggling. While the water heated, he looked over the mess, and it occurred to him they likely didn't know any heavy-duty cleaning spells, either. Thank God it was mostly noodles and water. "I can...get this for you," he offered.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly at Dare, a given. Then he looked away, back down at the little package that had caused so much trouble while Dare spoke to Adara and during the moments of silence before he spoke again. Then he looked back up, "Have fun," he said sarcastically. He felt insecure that he hadn't known anything when apparently it was supposed to be common knowledge.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's interest in the fire wasn't nearly enough to keep her from picking up on Michael's continued frustration, and the anger that seemed to be growing from it. She hadn't seen Michael anything other than supportive and serene outside Emilian's company, and it was unnerving. She chose to remain silent and hope that things would calm.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare sighed as he looked up at Michael, Adara forgotten for the moment. "That's not what I meant," he said. It was uncomfortable seeing Michael turn his frustration on him, but he told himself not to take it personally. "It's not like you knew. Come on, it's fine," Dare said, reaching out to slip his hand against Michael's. Dare wondered if Michael would associate his words with their conversation about Dare's Pureblood issues, but somehow doubted it.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael knew that was true, it wasn't necessarily his fault that he didn't know. But still, he couldn't help feeling helpless because he didn't know. "But it's so easy," he said bitterly. Dare had walked in, flipped a switch, and everything had fallen into place. He hated that he hadn't been able to do anything. He didn't pull away from Dare's hand, but didn't take it, either.

[Adara Snow]

Adara nodded at Michael's words, though she felt as though her presence was redundant at this point. She chewed her lip, unsure what she could possibly say, so she chose, again, to remain quiet. All the same, she couldn't help her excitement at seeing that the water really was beginning to boil. She grabbed the nearest piece of packaging to see what was supposed to happen next.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare squeezed Michael's hand as best he could, considering that Michael's hand was slack against his. "It's easy because I already knew," he said, then lowered his voice. "Come on, there's things I don't know, too." He caught sight of Adara past Michael, saw her unmistakeable excitement, then glanced back at the pot. It was ready. Dare directed Adara to put one of the intact blocks of noodles in, then turned back to Michael with a hopeful half smile.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael watched without interest as Adara did what Dare said, still angry about it. It seemed so simple, and yes, Dare didn't know some things, but the intricacies of the circle that Michael had grown up in couldn't be compared to not knowing to flip a switch. He saw Dare's smile and bit back whatever comment wanted to come out, choosing to remain silent instead of making himself angrier by speaking. He looked away from Dare, his hand curling lightly around Dare's.

[Adara Snow]

Adara clapped delightedly as the rapidly bubbling water swallowed the brick of noodles. "Look! Michael, I think it is working!" She exclaimed, reaching out to grab Michael's sleeve. She was excited at seeing it finally work, and could not understand why he wouldn't be. Still, his lack of enthusiasm didn't dampen her spirits any.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was beginning to get frustrated, but he didn't want to just let Michael keep stewing. Michael was putting distance between them, and it was only the eventual press of his hand that gave Dare hope that Michael hadn't just given up on him. Dare wanted to say something, but he could tell words would just make it worse, so he waited, and willed the noodles to hurry up so he could give them to Adara and send her out of the kitchen.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael realized he was probably overreacting, but he couldn't help it, not when everything seemed so easy and he hadn't known or been able to figure it out. He nodded lightly to Adara, not seeing why she was so excited, he was more relieved than anything that the experience was almost over. He was trying to forget that there was still the mess from before he had come in.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's excitement didn't fade as the noodles began to break apart and spread out. Before long, they looked almost edible, and considering the last time she had eaten, almost was enough. Watching the pot, she wondered if she shouldn't have put two blocks of noodles into the water, but decided she'd make due with what was being made. She wanted to return to Emilian. The mess had been forgotten in anticipation of food.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was trying to understand Michael's obviously pissy mood, but without Michael talking, there wasn't much Dare could do. He wasn't going to prod Michael with Adara in the room.So he watched the noodles, and the second they looked done enough, he released Michael's hand and turned to serving the ramen up. "Take this," he told Adara, putting two forks in the bowl as he handed it to her. "Enjoy." At last thought, he poured a glass of water for her, too. He didn't want her coming back in thirty seconds after something to drink.