NOVEL NEXT Book 2 - Chapter 24 - Baked Ziti & Lichy Effects
"You know is very racis what you say, Alex," Nino said as he crossed his arms and frowned from across the table. "Italian no steal all the time."
"Nino, that's-ah no racist, it's true," Francesca scoffed next to Alex and gestured to the Relic he had stolen from Scrum. It sat next to the feather from the Party Parrot. "He did steal it at first."
"Yeah, but, you imply we steal all the time," Nino looked back and forth between the two of them while Nina floated a steaming tray of something from the oven. "We no steal all the time. Only---,"
"Ah, shaddap," Nina cut him off, floating over. A giant tray covered in foil slammed onto the wooden table covered in a red checkered tablecloth. The old woman sniffed once at her husband. "Get off your high horse. We take it because we need to. Alex even had deal with de Boss, right?"
"All my life, I deal people judge me," Nino scrunched his face. "Italian no business man. Italian scammer. 'No Nino, you have be educate for be dentist,". Why be educate for dentist? It is pulling teeth."
"You do realize that you sell magic pizza to anyone, right? Including Dungeon Bosses." Alex added.
"Yeah—but—," Nino tried to continue, but was interrupted by Nina.
"No justify it. We are Lich. We do what we want. Basta," Nina ran her small fingers over the Relics and smiled wide for both of them. "Very powerful. These will be molto bene for grow Domain. Thank you, Alex."
"They'll work for sure, right? Even though I gave you the Klicker?"
"They work. Now we just need the other two...well…just the one." Nina answered, and floated back over to the foil wrapped tray.
"Something give, the feather," Francesca counted on her long fingers. "Something take, the Klicker. What about something broken and something forsaken? What are you talking about, just the one?"
"Oh," Nino clapped loudly and rubbed his hands together evilly. "Nina and I already have something forsaken plan. No worry about that."
It was so easy to forget that Nino and Nina held vast power in their seemingly aged bodies. Once in a while, however, their strength leaked out, as if they both temporarily forgot to hide behind the friendly mask. The old couple hadn't outwardly changed in the slightest. Nina was unfurling her tantalizing dish of the day, and Nino was rubbing his hands together and giggling quietly to himself. But Francesca looked over at him questioningly, and he got her meaning without an uttered word.
Yeah, that feels like a well of Essence hidden behind a napkin. Holy shit, I feel bad for whoever is on the other side of that plan.
Then the smell of the food in the tray hit him, and the thought left his brain. He was starving.
After a tremendous date and late-night freak down, Alex had awoken crusty eyed and nuzzled in the bosom of Snu to someone poking him. Several someone's. Vrshkeuc had let two dozen gashapong into Snu's lair to wreak havoc and rip him out of his lovey-dovey reverie.
Little plastic toys giggled in poked him in the butt. He swore that the toast brigade had it out for him as they cackled and scattered, going back to swan diving face fist into the rock floor and his socks for fun. Tiny jars of different jams climbed the stick from Rowan that Snu had planted into a pot Dungeon Soil.
He hadn't heard the explanation of what that meant, though to not fault of his own. In between their late-night planting, she wouldn't stop nibbling his neck and ear.
"Shift starts in ten minutes, you little weirdo." Vrshkeuc had said, grinning from the door.
"Is that…a polyester sweat suit your wearing?" Alex had asked as he rushed to get his clothes on while the gashapong climbed him. He made sure peck Snu's sleeping head before rushing to the door.
"Well, if you must ask, I'm going to Pilates," Vrshkeuc groaned, and caught Alex's raised eyebrows. "What? Ok. Since you asked. The instructor is cute. Like…real cute."
"He human?"
"She!" Vrshkeuc tried to flip her tuft of hair poking out from her skull. "And yes. She is very cute. Very…lithe." Vrshkeuc got a distant look in her eye.
"Ok, weird word choice, but we're here for it. Go Vrshkeuc."
After one final goodbye to a groaning and sleepy Snu, he had gently removed the bread gashapong climbing his hair and dashed through a bustling mid-morning Toronto to make it to work on time. There had been plenty of dead-eyed corpos, but no time for food.
"Alex?" Francesca snapped her fingers in front of his face. "You're drooling."
"Sorry, sorry." He wiped the spit from his mouth and realized he was leaning over the tray of food as if it was salvation.
Steam curled up from the bubbly tray. Long, thin noodle tubes stacked and tangled together in a saucy, melted cheese bake. Garlic and golden mozzarella with a sprinkling of parm, and cooked tomato assaulted his nostrils. The edges of the noodles were crisp, and the chunks of cheese not browned lay melted in pools in the tray. Alex's stomach roared in the kitchen at the sight of whatever this baked pasta amalgamation masterpiece was called.
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"Bake ziti," Nina said, holding up one small finger. "Aspetta qua." Wait a second.
Alex tore his stomach eyes away from the tray of food as if it was a siren song. When he looked up, Nina wasn't smiling. Her face, usually in a grimace as she beat dough or sauce into compliance, or smiling smugly, was pinched.
Nina's brow deepened. "We fuck up. We should not be sending you," she looked at Francesca. "Or you, to Dungeon Boss or Delivery without buff. Too many people watching. Tax Guild, Boss, maybe Lich. I feel it."
"And no more stupid bets." Francesca crossed her arms, but didn't meet his eye.
"What we do is danger," Nino said gravely, reminding Alex that under his flannel was a Lich who wanted to expand. He turned toward the back counter, and dragged out the espresso machine portal into the middle of the kitchen. "We have to make sure our people are safe."
"More food buffs? That's what you're getting at? I could really go for some food—I mean more food buffs." Alex said, trying to be polite.
"Every day," Nina confirmed, snapping her hand out. A metal spoon and paper plates popped out of nowhere into her hands. She scooped a giant heap of baked, cheesy noodles onto his plate. "Today, both of you eat strength."
Alex accepted the plate and sat. He didn't realize it, but there had not been a stool beneath him. His mind expected there to be a seat from the magic of Nino and Nino. And sure enough, as his knees began to bend, Nino grinned and popped a wooden stool into existence just before Alex was sent tumbling ass first to the floor with his [Grandpa DIY – Level 99]. Nino gave Nina a secret little grin as Alex, forkless and starving, went to scoop.
Before he realized it, Nina activated [Utensil Matriarch – Level 99], and pulled a fork from the fabric of reality, added a little flower pattern into the metal, and placed it into his hand. Alex lifted the brand-new fork, complete with scratches of a lifetime, and lifted a giant bite of baked ziti into his mouth and moaned in pleasure.
It all happened so fast, that Francesca didn't notice the old couple's quick exchange. Nina prepped her a plate, Nino popped her a stool, and before she could put two and two together, Francesca sat next to Alex and dug in. Nina and Nino shared a final glance and activated their joint Skill.
[Family Meal – Level 99]
Unbeknownst to them both, the effect of [Family Meal] wove its quiet magic. From the depths of universe, from the well of energy, from the discharge of the quarks, Essence formed and hardened around their Cores. It was drawn by laughter, and warmth. By the simple act of sharing food.
Invisible threads of energy coiled and condensed around their Cores, layering new foundations and granting new limits. A sliver, small enough to be imperceptible expanded their inner wells and gave them just a little more space to hold power. A little more strength to call upon. Each time they all shared a meal, Alex and Francesca's growth capacity grew that much more infinite in its potential. More space meant more Essence, which meant more Essence cycling, which meant more uses of Skills.
The two youngsters demolished the food. Within their bodies, their capacity for greatness increased by a fraction.
And during the meal before the phone started ringing with orders, two parts of a single whole Lich had a private conversation mentally.
"Vent'anni. Maxed out. Penso che siamo pronti," Nina murmured mentally. "Twenty years. Maxed out. I think we are ready."
Nino could feel the love radiating off her through their connection. It poured out and draped the entire shop. God, he had married the right woman.
"Certo che siamo pronti," Nino replied. "Of course we are ready." His mental tone was proud. "Insieme possiamo fare qualsiasi cosa. Lo hai dimostrato." "Together, we can do anything. You proved that."
"Hai paura?" Nina asked gently. "Scared?"
A low laugh echoed in her mind. "Avevo paura solo di vivere una vita senza di te." "I was only ever afraid of living a life without you."
"È vero," Nina said, smiling to him. "It's true. Let's expand. If we do, we can reach level one hundred. Gold Grade lichdom, at last."
"The others are going to be furious."
"Che se fottano," Nina said. "Fuck 'em."
"Think they will be OK to get something broken?" Nino asked.
"Yes, my love. Francesca is on it." Nina smirked admiringly at their niece.
"My money is on Alex."
Alex just housed the plate. Sauce burst into his mouth with sweet basil, and cheese stretched before squelching beautifully in his palate. Every chew released another pop of garlic and crispified noodles soaked with sauce. Fork after fork was shoveled into his mouth, and the entire time, he didn't stop to breathe one. Baked ziti was just long tubes of pasta baked in the oven until, but it was so much more than that. Whatever the oven did, it brought the flavours together to melt away any fear he had at being back in action to make some more deliveries.
As the last bite was scraped clean and as he liked the plate, he felt the Buff kick in.
[You have ingested a Rare Grade Buff!]
[Nina's Ziti Buff - TIME REMAINING – 6:57:38]
Nina's Ziti Buff
This is a Unique Rare Grade Buff. Baked to perfection, with just the right amount of burnt noodles and crackly cheese, Nina has ensured no one will fuck-ah with you. Even if they did, you'd be fine.
The ziti, sauce, cheese, parm, garlic, and tender fists of Nina have combined to fortify your growing body. You are more than just a weakling now. Congratulations, you are no a longer pitiful, skinny-fat donkey.
For the remaining time, you receive:
[Carbohydrate Layer: 30% Physical Toughness]
[Crispy Cheese Addition: 10% Sense of Urgency]
[Slight Bloat: you are slightly immune to the Undead and their ways, but you frighten more easily.]
You also permanently receive:
[+3% Distributable Permanent Skill Upgrade]
Note:
Ingestible Buff only works once every 24 hour period. Sandwiches do not stack. You may however eat another sandwich.
"Oh my good googly moogly," Alex rubbed his belly as he stood up. "That was amazing. How do you keep holding out on me, Nina?"
"Just you wait until I make Italian Turkey Dips for Thanksgiving!" She took his plate and threw it into nothingness.
Nino fired up the espresso portal, and the swirling nonsense pane appeared in the kitchen. Francesca finished her plate a second later, and Nina disappeared her plate as well. She looked at Alex and smiled.
"Good you are back. I ran my ass off yesterday." She said.
The rotary phone in the front rang, and Alex got his first Delivery notification of the day.
"It is bloody good to be back. Try not to kill me today, yeah?"
"Oh, and Alex?" Nina said. "There was blue Monster in here ask for you. Say very important."
Nino rushed off to grab the phone as Nina started pulling pizzas out of the oven. And somewhere not so far away, a ghost cowered while another Lich raged.