[PP-F01] Better Homes and Gardens <<Earning a Living: Cook>>

[Astra 0]

It was an average off-day from adventuring and trying to build himself up as a frontliner for Astra, where he spent most of his time at Fondante's Inferno helping Ciela around her kitchen. The knightess was mentoring Astra in the art of cooking, something he didn't realize he would develop a passion for at this point. He'd always had a passion for food, but that was namely eating anything and everything he could get his hands on. He had a passion for trying new foods, eating classic favorites, and stuffing himself to the brim. It was a miracle that he had managed to keep his slim frame in the real world, and thankfully it remained the same in Aincrad too. After seeing how Ciela worked in her kitchen crafting food items that were not only delicious but also beneficial, Astra decided that he could take his passion for food and start learning the art as well. Ciela was kind enough to take him under her wing, and he started the basics. However, there was still one thing in the way stopping him from really cooking in Aincrad: the Earning a Living questline. A quest he'd undertake to officially become a cook in SAO. 

Astra finished up helping Ciela for the day and decided to sit at one of the tables in Fondante's Inferno, while he planned out the rest of his day. I think I'm finally going to do it today. I'm going to officially become a cook. After a short amount of rest (and a snack) he planned on making his way back to Floor 1, to the Town of Beginnings, to start on his journey of becoming a chef. A DPS chef. Cooking in the battlefield and cooking in the kitchen. It had become a lot of fun for him to practice, so he figured he might as well start making a bit of a living out of it. He fantasized about all the people he could cook for, people like Ciela, Wulfrin, Bliss, Siren, Oats, and more. Even other players he hadn't met yet. Maybe he could open up a shop of his own and start supplying some frontliners with good food to help them out for coming raid battles. He wanted to play his part in Aincrad, as well as keep busy. The time to sit around was long past him. 

"Well, guess I'll head out to the Town of Beginnings soon," he said while blowing into his cup of hot earl gray tea. He wasn't in too much of a rush, sometimes it was nice to just relax at Fondante's Inferno and take in the menagerie of sweet scents and treats that lingered in the air. As he sat and drank his tea, and had a snack, he continued to think about the types of food he'd like to cook in the future, once he was certified and ready to go. This was going to be just another step in his progression in Aincrad, and he couldn't be more excited. Who knows, maybe this could lead to him meeting some new people as well? 

***

Astra consumes [1x] Starlight Meringue Kisses | T1 Perfect Dessert | LD III | IDs: 237386

***

Astra | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 5 | MIT:0| ACC: 1 | LD: 3

 

Spoiler

 

Main Stats:

Level: 1

Paragon Level: 0

Experience: 0

To next level: 500

Paragon Rewards:

[None]

 

Total Skill Points: 5

Available Skill Points: 1

Spent Skill Points: 4

 

Battle Stats:

HP: 20

Energy: 20

Base Damage: 5

Mitigation: 0

Accuracy: 1

Evasion: 0

LD: 0

 

Sword Arts: 

•  ST-I (4 EN) | A single-target sword art.
•  AOE-I (1 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
•  TECH-A (5 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.

Skills:

Straight Sword Mastery Rank 1

Extra Skills: 

None yet.

Mods:

Add-Ons: 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Astra

[Miyukii 0]

It was a nice day on the 22nd floor of Aincrad and Miyukii was browsing around to find a specific shop that a blonde hair girl mentions to her from her last adventure.

Looking at the piece of paper that has directions to the shop. Miyukii couldn't quite figure out the writing of what Bliss had written down. Probably mostly because the differences between the two of them in a language barrier. Or at least that what she hoped.

Walking around the area she spotted a large white house and what looks like a shop that has the name 'Fondante's Inferno' on a sign in front of the door. Miyukii looked at the paper and verify that the name of the place she was looking for was in fact Fondante's Inferno and as she walked up she spotted a white haired boy sitting down enjoying him peaceful cup of tea. With no hesitation she walked up to him.

"Do you know if Ciela is around? Bliss sent me here to try her amazing food."

[Astra 0]

Astra sat and sipped at his cup of tea, ruminating on when he should kick into gear and head to the Town of Beginnings. As he battled with himself eternally over when he should move, he noticed a player enter Fondante's Inferno. The player was a small girl, at least 9 inches shorter than Astra. She had white hair like himself, but it was streaked with blue highlights. He looked up from his tea as she approached and asked him a question: "Do you know if Ciela is around? Bliss sent me here to try her amazing food."

It wasn't a surprise to hear that word was spreading about Ciela's amazing cooking, but Astra's eyes did brighten and his ears perked when Bliss was mentioned. "Oh! You know Bliss? She's not wrong, Ciela's cooking and baking is pretty delicious. Let me see..." Astra stood up from the table he was sitting at and popped into the back of Fondante's Inferno, looking to see if Ciela was still there. As he scanned the room it appeared that Ciela must've left and gone on to do something else, because he couldn't find her. 

"Looks like Ciela isn't in right now. Probably heading out on a quest, if I had to guess. Is there anything I can help you with? I was just about to head out myself." Astra said to the girl standing in front of him. There wasn't much help he could really offer here in Fondante's Inferno, but he couldn't resist offering assistance to someone when they seemed kind. 

"Oh yeah, my name's Astra by the way. Nice to meet you!" A warm smile adorned his face, as he extended his hand to offer a handshake to her. 

[Miyukii 0]

It was a pleasant surprise when Miyukii was presented with a boy that seem to be a friend of Ciela. Maybe he's a friend or maybe an helper of hers. But the sad thing is Ciela wasn't around at the moment. But that was alright. Maybe she could catch her another time when she was around still.

When the boy came back to let her know though he introduced himself to her. With a pleasant name like Astra she knew he was going to be super friendly towards her.

"My name is Miyukii. Please to meet you. I was actually wanting to try her food but I can wait until she get's back."

She paused for a moment. Scanning Astra little more.

"From the looks of it you're about to head out. Are you planning on going on an adventure?"

She hopes she wasn't stepping into his business.

"If you want some company I'll be glad to tag along. Maybe later I can meet up with Ciela."

Miyukii gives a soft smile to the white haired boy before giving him a little bow.

[Astra 0]

"I guess you could say I'm heading out on an adventure. I'm about to head to the Town of Beginnings and start the quest to earn the cooking skill. I'd like to be able to start cooking on my own, and eventually open up a shop to help others here in Aincrad." Astra cleaned up his tea setting and made his way back to Miyukii. "If you'd like to tag along, I wouldn't mind the company! Anyone who is a friend of Bliss' is a friend of mine." Astra offered another smile to the girl in front of him. 

"Alright, time to head out!" Making their way back to the first floor of Aincrad, the pair found themselves back in the Town of Beginnings. Per usual, the town was bustling with players and NPCs alike. Some people were going about their usual daily business, while others were just stopping in. Astra and Miyukii in this case were here for some questing. Anytime he was back here he couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty about all the time he spent here, before he decided to stop sitting on his hands and work his way towards the frontlines. 

"It's always a little weird to be back here. I spent a lot of time here. How about you Miyukii, what have you been up to so far?" 

The party of two walked the cobblestone streets and alleys until they made their way to the tavern where Astra could start his questline to become a cook. When they entered the tavern, they were greeted by the overwhelming aroma of a bustling kitchen. "I think this is the place..." Astra said, scanning the tavern for anyone who could point him in the right direction to start. Suddenly, a voice called out: 

"Hi hun," a middle-aged woman calls, poking her blonde head out from the kitchen door. "We've got a bunch of different meals in the works, so what is that you're hungry for?"

Astra introduced himself to the blonde woman, who in return introduced herself as Maggie. 

"Actually, we're not here to eat today. Whatever you're cooking smells delicious, though. I'm actually here to become a cook." Astra smiled at Maggie as he explained his intentions. Maggie's eyes seemingly brightened as she clapped her hands together. 

"Oh my goodness, I would just love to teach you my favorite recipes. Unfortunately, today's lunch wiped out most of our ingredients. If it isn't too much of a bother, would you mind picking up a few things?"

Astra nodded at Maggie and gave her a thumbs up. "Sure thing, I don't mind at all." He turned his attention back to Miyukii. "Ready to head out? Looks like I've gotta grab a few things." 

[Miyukii 0]

It wasn't to long before the two started to head out towards the first floor. And surprisingly enough the guilt on her eyes started to show as well on Astra. It looked like both of them felt bad the fact they sheltured there way in the first floor while other's decided to go out and try to beat the game.

The thing is why? Why did these two hang back inside the Town of Beginnings instead of leaving it from day one? Was it because they were scared? Or maybe they were waiting for hope to arrive. The thing was... After the first few floors so many people lost there lives. And as for Miyukki... She felt like she had to do her part to free the rest of the people that's still trapped on the first floor.

"I've been trying to contributing to the causes of liberating these poor people from this death game."

Miyukki stared in front of her before she knew it they were at the destination for the beginning of his quest.

Walking into the tavern though was amazing. The fact that the game manage to pickup smells like this is what makes this game so revolutionary. The only thing is. If what they smell insides the game could make them hungry in the real world. Things like that would of been an interesting thing for scientist back in the real world could test while they're stuck in here.

Astra turned back toward Miyukki with the expression that he's ready to tackle down the quest. That determination made her realize that maybe she should maybe look for something she would like to do for a living while trapped in this hell game.

Then it dawn on her... The two of them have white hair... Either people think they're dating or they're siblings... And if she had to guess it's probably the second option.

"Do you ever had to wonder this entire time being here people look at us for being siblings? After all we're both white haired. The only differences are our eye colour."

[Astra 0]

It hadn't previously occurred to Astra that people may assume "himself and Miyukii as siblings for their similar colored hair, but when she raised the point, it did make sense. Astra stopped for a moment to consider whether or not other players would get that idea. "You know, they might! I guess you could pass a younger sibling. Your hair has some nice highlights, though." He smiled at Miyukii and waved her to follow along as he began to leave the tavern. It was time for him to start gathering materials for Maggie, so she could teach him the cooking skill officially. 

Astra opened up his quest menu and looked at the list provided to him regarding what needed to be gathered. It seemed like this time around it was supposed to be some herbs and mushrooms for cooking. "Hm, let's see...Stuff like this could probably be found closer to the forest outside of the city. We should head there!" With that, the two were off and leaving the Town of Beginnings to forage. 

As they made their way closer to their destination, which sat on the edge of a small verdant forest, Astra brought the conversation back around to what they had talked about earlier. "You know, I've been trying to contribute to ending this game too. I'd like to eventually make my way to the frontlines and help clear, do my part." He stopped for a moment and sighed, his eyes glazing over. "I felt like there's a lot more I need to do to make up for some things..." He couldn't help but still feel the ghost of his guilt looming over him. Sure, he would spend some time at the orphanage trying to cheer up the kids there, but that doesn't absolve him from not joining the fight to clear the game sooner. If he was going to move forward with his new resolve though, he couldn't let that guilt eat him forever. 

Astra began to forage around for some mushrooms and herbs. As he did, he began to talk with Miyukii once more to keep her occupied so she wasn't bored while he looked for his ingredients. 

"So, Miyukii. Have you thought of a trade or activity you'd like to pick up? There's quite a few options." 

***

Post Action: Searching for ingredients 

ID: 239112 | LD: 18 + 3 = 21 | Success! x1 ingredient found 

1/5 ingredients located

Edited December 20, 2024 by Astra

[Miyukii 0]

Miyukki chuckled as she hear Astra agree on her comment about them being consider siblings towards other people. It didn't surprise her that people would think of that though.

As they left the Town of Beginnings, Miyukki looked around seeing the beauty of the game that gets to her every time she leaves the city. The fact that it was so real even though it's all just a virtual world. But not only that she sees how the wind blows into her hair and remind herself of when she was home in the real world.

After a while of walking she heard the white boy talk about the guilt of him not joining the fight to clear the game earlier. But at the same time he was helping at the orphanage. He was helping in his own way unlike her. She stayed behind only because she was scared of dying. She didn't want to feel like she let her parents down by dying in a game.

After a long wait of silence. Astra started up another conversation.

What she wanted to do as a trade? She wasn't sure it wasn't something on her mind. Maybe be a blacksmith so she can make her own armor or maybe just be an alchemist.

"To be honest I'm not sure... I was thinking about doing blacksmith. Just so I can make my own armor and stuff."

[Astra 0]

Every time he found himself back in the Town of Beginnings since he moved away, the ghosts of his past would bite at his heels. He tried to kick them away as much as he could, fighting the voices and images that played in his head, but sometimes it felt like there was no escape. It was the reason why he didn't find himself coming back to the first floor that often. It was the reason he did his best to get along with his business and get out of there. There were two years of history spent on this floor that now weigh heavily on him, and sometimes it felt hard to shake. Sure, he was making the steps he needed to make to get where he wanted to be, someone who helped others and contributed to the cause. However, he couldn't help but feel like he was still leagues behind. 

Talking about this with his companion brought it all back, and Astra could feel his heart pounding just a little bit harder. He stopped foraging for ingredients for just a moment to clutch his chest with his hand. Breathe. Move forward. Walk next to the anxiety, not behind it. All things he had to remind himself in moments like these. After a few seconds, his heart began to calm, and he let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, now for these ingredients." 

The white haired youth searched along the treeline for any additional mushrooms or herbs that were listed, but it seemed like he was having no luck. Perhaps his little bout of anxiety fried his brain a bit and made it so his perception was off. That's okay, he had time. He had to keep searching. 

***

ID: 239697 | LD: 1 + 3 = 4 | Failure!

1/5 Ingredients located

Edited January 3 by Astra

[Bliss 0]

Bliss knew that today was special. Today Astra had plans to finally acquire his profession. She couldn’t help but feel a little giddy at the thought of surprising him, though she wasn’t entirely sure where to find him. Starting her day early, she wandered the familiar streets of the Town of Beginnings, her blonde hair catching the morning light as she moved. She made a quick stop at the orphanage to check on the kids, leaving behind a few treats she had baked the night before. After sharing a few laughs and hugs, she bid them goodbye and set off beyond the town gates.

The walk felt endless as she ventured out of the Town of Beginnings, her boots crunching against the dirt path. Bliss adjusted the strap of her small satchel, which carried a few snacks and a small gift she had prepared for Astra. The late morning sun warmed her shoulders, and the gentle breeze tousled her hair.

Just as she was beginning to think she might have taken the wrong path, she spotted him in the distance. His striking white hair caught the light, and a smile spread across her face before she even realized it, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He stood there with a purposeful air, she watched as his eyes scanned the ground around him. Bliss hesitated for a moment, taking him in. There was something endearing about how focused he was, a quiet intensity that made her feel warm inside. 

I don’t wanna disturb him… he looks so cute when he’s focused like that, she thought, her fingers brushing against the satchel strap as she mustered her courage. Quietly, Bliss crept closer, careful to keep her footsteps light on the dirt, then when she was finally behind him, she reached up gently, her hands soft against his skin as she covered his eyes. “Guess who,” she said, her voice clear and playful. She surprised herself with the absence of her usual stutter, the confidence in her tone feeling foreign but exhilarating. 

She stood on her tippy toes, attempting to peek over his shoulder, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “It took me f-forever to find you. You’re n-not exactly easy t-to track down,” she added with a soft laugh, her cheeks slightly flushed from the excitement.

* * *

Spoiler

Bliss | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 3 | MIT:18 | ACC:1 | REC: 1

Spoiler

"Name: Bliss
True Tier: 1
Level: 1
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 20/20
EN: 20/20

Stats:
Damage: 3
Mitigation: 18
Accuracy: 1
REC: 1

Equipped Gear:
Weapon/Armor/Trinket: 
  - Mechanic's Tool Set | T1 Perfect Thrown Weapon |  ACC I | DMG II
Armor/Trinket: 
  - Variable Half-Plate | T1 Perfect Light Armor | MIT II | REC I
Shield/Armor/Trinket: 
  - 

Combat Mastery:
  - 

Combat Shift:
  - 

Familiar Skill:
  - 

Custom Skill:
  - 

Skills:
  - Light Armor R1

Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Addons:

Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild Totem:

Wedding Ring:

Crafting Profession:

Gathering Profession:
"                                                                                                                            

 

 

[Astra 0]

When Astra gets his mind set on something, it's usually hard to derail him. Ever since he started finding his footing again he's moved with a certain determination and renewed sense of self. The actions he takes were no longer just about his survival, there were people he cared about now. People he wanted to protect. As he sifted through bushels of shrubbery and fungi, his mind began to wander as he thought of the friends and connections he had been making. Thoughts of cooking them a meal to keep them warm, or provide a stat boost, danced around his head. That was the end goal of his quest today. He'd get this profession and start helping those he could. 

His focus on looking for ingredients, and his mind being on his loved ones, had seemingly lowered his perception to what else was going on around him. Even on the first floor a lapse in awareness could lead to some critical danger. He was dead set on getting his task done though, so he didn't realize at first when someone was making their way up behind him. He must've looked like such a goofy easy target, crouched down, with his tongue sticking slightly out for him to bite on while he foraged. When a pair of hands covered his eyes, and his vision darkened, his first feeling was a brief panic. Shit, was I not paying enough attention? Am I being jumped? It took a moment and a breath before he realized he recognized these hands over his eyes. They were soft, warm, and familiar. Was this....? 

“Guess who?”

Astra's heart immediately skipped a beat, of course he recognized that voice. In fact, one could argue that it was his favorite voice in Aincrad. Nobody has ever asked him whose voice was his favorite, so that thought would stay with him for now. Astra smiled and felt a warmth in his face as his cheeks turned rosy. "Bliss! You caught me," he chuckled. He stood up and turned to face the blonde haired beauty that he had such a fondness for. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, it's a nice surprise!" He said with a warm smile. "Sorry for being hard to find! I'm out here searching for some ingredients for Maggie." Astra waved his hand to display the plants and fungi around him. "Wanna stay and keep me company while I look? I'd love to have you. T-that is if you're not busy." Even though they've spent some time together, Astra couldn't help but still get a bit nervous around Bliss. The butterflies in his stomach would spread throughout his body. 

Reaching down for her hand, Astra gently clasped Bliss' in his. He lead her to the spot he was previously searching at, and crouched down to begin looking once more. "Right now I'm looking for a specific mushroom. You know, when I officially become a cook, I could make you your favorite food!" He said as he inspected the mushrooms in front of him. "Oh sweet! Found one." Astra carefully pulled the mushroom from the ground and held it up to Bliss, with a triumphant grin on his face. "You must be my good luck charm." 

***

ID: 239726 | LD: 20 + 3 = 23 | Success! 1x ingredient found

2/5 Ingredients found

Edited January 4 by Astra

[Bliss 0]

“Oooh… I-I enjoy m-mushies!” Bliss exclaimed with a cheerful tone, picking up one of the mushrooms and flashing a sweet smile at Astra. Her fingers twirled the little fungi as she spoke, her voice growing softer. “Of c-course I w-wanna keep y-you c-company!” As the words left her lips, her cheeks tinged pink, and her voice grew even quieter. “I-I’ll always have t-time for you. Y-You’re l-like m-my favorite p-person to h-hang out with.” The moment the words escaped, her brain caught up, and she mentally facepalmed. DUMMY! Why did you have to say that? He’s totally going to think you’re a spaz now. She bit her lip, trying to stop herself from overthinking, but her mind was racing. Bliss’s embarrassment only deepened when Astra grabbed her hand. His fingers were warm and comforting, his hand fitting almost perfectly with hers. Her cheeks reddened further, but the corners of her lips curled into a shy smile. She watched as Astra returned to searching, his determination evident in his every move. Bliss found herself admiring how focused he was, her nervousness momentarily replaced by fondness.

“A s-specific m-mushroom?” she asked, tilting her head curiously as she followed his gaze. When Astra finally picked a mushroom and declared she was his good luck charm, Bliss’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she felt like she might float away. Oh. My. God. He thinks I’m good luck!? Her thoughts swirled, her breathing quickening as a familiar wave of nerves threatened to take over.

She closed her eyes briefly, placing her free hand over her chest as she took a few deep breaths. Stay calm, Bliss. You’re okay. Slowly, her breathing steadied, and she managed to reign in her racing thoughts. When she opened her eyes again, her smile returned, albeit a little bashful. Bliss glanced at the mushrooms Astra had already collected, genuinely curious. “S-So, how m-many have y-you gotten s-so far?” she asked, her voice soft but steady now. Her gaze shifted from the mushrooms to Astra, and the admiration in her eyes was hard to miss. She was still nervous, but his presence had a way of grounding her. She found herself enjoying the simple task of foraging with him. It wasn’t just about finding mushrooms, it was about sharing the moment, feeling valued, and maybe, just maybe, letting herself believe that she could be someone’s good luck.

Edited January 10 by Bliss

[Astra 0]

Quote

“I-I’ll always have t-time for you. Y-You’re l-like m-my favorite p-person to h-hang out with.”

When those words had left Bliss' lips, Astra immediately stopped his searching and looked towards her. His mouth was slightly agape, almost in a comical "O" shape, because he was truly taken aback. Favorite person? M-me? Really? If someone else had said that to him he would find it hard to believe, but every word Bliss had spoken towards him was bathed in sincerity. Astra felt his face getting a bit warmer, as his cheeks became tinted with a rosy-pink hue. He probably stared at her with that shocked face for what felt like an eternity, but eventually he pulled himself together and changed his expression to a smile. "You're my favorite person to hang out with, too! It always feels special with you for some reason." For a moment he regretted saying that last part, as he didn't want to freak her out. That moment quickly went away however, because Astra wanted to be open and honest with Bliss. 

Simple pleasures went a long way with Astra, he liked to try and enjoy the simpler and smaller parts of life when he could. Exploring the world, being in nature, reading a book, eating a good meal, helping out in Ciela's kitchen, spending time with Bliss; those were all examples of things he really enjoyed. Now, he could add foraging and hunting for ingredients with Bliss to the list. There was something calming about being at the edge of civilization with her, finding simple ingredients. Normally he would detest having to search for something like this in SAO, because he knew how hard Cardinal could make it to find anything at all. Now? He could be searching for these ingredients all day and night and wouldn't mind. 

"I've found two mushrooms so far. After I find this next one it's on to some herbs. I'm not really sure what kind of meal it's for though. Hopefully something tasty!" Astra continued to search the area for the next ingredient, hoping that Bliss didn't see how red his face was, and for how long. So far nothing was turning up, but he didn't mind that so much. 

"So Bliss, what are your plans for a profession?" He said as he looked back towards her. "If you ever open a shop, I promise I'd be your number one customer." 

***

ID: 240095 | LD: 4 + 3 = 7 | No ingredients found

2/5 ingredients found

Edited January 10 by Astra