feral and just so naturally attractive about Yuna. Especially when he grins like that, full of confidence and sass. Good job me. Good job on scouting this absolute diamond of a roughling. He's going to break so many hearts. He's going to make me so much money modeling for my future projects.

Cuteness may rule the world but hotties definitely help. Very good job me.

"Take your forks," I present to Yuna, motioning for him to go free on the selections. For some odd reason, the makes Abbey shake even more.

It's a fork, not a weapon. We have established this. It was one time!?

There may be a mess here but it's an organized mess ok? We just need help getting the meal spread out for proper judgment. For these minions, we have three plates set up for a nicer tasting. Rather than the mini mountains of part tray pasta back there.

"This is the part where we're supposed to shut up now right? But it's really easy to find mine. It's the best one!"

"Yes now shut up. Amar stop laughing, I said stop snickering already."

Lukas smiles too widely in his seat, far too excited about being proclaimed the winner. Oh the little fool, he knows nothing. For how can his obvious cheap bacon gnocchi compare to my refind tastes of multiple worlds?

Meanwhile, Amar has that soft cute little smile on again, the one where I know he's actually secretly making fun of us. How childish. Orecchiette? He only picked that because it's called cat ears. Oh ho ho, I've got this in the bag.

Really it's no competition at all against these absolute children. But it's fun once in a while.

"Yeah that's fat. Fat and good. I'll get bored in a few minutes though." chews Yuna, shoveling gnocchi roughly into his mouth. He can intake more carbs than the others being an actual fighter.

"Um...I like all stuff inside the dough. They're fun to pop and eat. The bacon bits are crunchy." tastes Abbey, because you really can't go wrong with a pasta like gnocchi.

"Lukas....I'm just glad....you put spinach greens in here. Your mix is good....maybe...less salt since the bacon is already cured. The sheep cheese was a good choice. " Georgie sighs, unfortunately outing Lukas right away. Not like the bacon bits weren't obvious. Despite claiming he wants no part in this, Georgie still eats and plays along.

Lukas beams, and I see his little ego puff like a souffle. No matter, like an improper souffle it shall pop and deflate into a sad shell against what's next.

"Oh shit there's a hell lot of shellfish in this. Oh shit this, oh you soaked this in some nice white wine. This is good pricey shit, move over."

Yuna drops the gnocchi like it was yesterday's trash for my linguine. Zooming straight to enjoy the perfectly steamed and pan-cooked seafood while twirling ribbons of the slurpable noodles. Ah now this is pasta.

"Oh! Oh ho-how wonderful! I wouldn't ever think mussels would go so well with tomatoes like this but it's so fresh and lovely. The pasta chews *slurp* so yummy!"

Amazing, pasta so good it's temporarily cured Abbey's stuttering.

"Hmm it really is chewier when pulled out like this. Huh interesting? I'll remember that. How much garlic is in the mussels? They were cooked separately definitely, the wine and butter work so well and is stronger in the seafood ....Rosalia did you use the overstove?! By yourself?!"

"Shhhhh focus on the food. Keep talking about how great it is." I shush him.

"You mixed at least two wines in this you little- which wines did you open?"

"Ah so judgemental. Can't be helped with such a studious little jr chef."

"I'm an adult!"

"Less talky more linguine."

From my side, I hear a muffled giggling as Amar hold himself back. How childish. Really no different than Lukas deep down. But I do feel pity for the child, he is only waiting to lose now.

Just look, the small batch of judges already slurped my plate down to the shells. While there's still half the gnocchi on Lukas's plate, Of course, I don't discourage or make fun of the other child. I'm not so evil Merely grace him with me benevolence. Oh ho hoho.

"You!!!" Yuna growls, surprising everyone. His canines bared and fork directly pointing straight to Amar.

Somehow the child doesn't look surprised at all, he tilts his head in a question but his calm smile and sleepy expression stays exactly the same.

"Whatever stupid little kiddy game you're all playing. You win. I'm taking all this now."

What?

WHAT?!!

"But Yuna? You don't have to take that plate? There's more over there?" Amar points.

"Don't waste this on the others" talks Yuna with his mouth full, still shoveling green coated pasta down his mouth.

"What did you poison Yuna with?!" I feel like interrogating the kid by his apron.

"Nothing. Why would I poison anyone here?" he blows air out his nose and I feel the mockery in that helpless expression.

"Tricks! Yuna doesn't count because Amar tricked something and cheated again!" yells Lukas, backing me up.

"Um..." interrupts my soft spoken little maid, trembling under the pressue " ...may I?"

With an eye roll, Yuna gives up against the shy younger girl, handing down the plate so she may take a forkful of judgment. Rightful judgment.

"Oh. It-it's so soft! The orecchiette is-is so soft and te-tender. It smells so!!! It *sniff* smells *hic*really *sob* go-good*soob* ex-excuse me-eme!" my maid starts sobbing for no reason.

Something that terrifies absolutely everyone.

The power of a girl's tears is an absolutely horrifying thing. Too powerful.

After we get a hanky and a cup of juice for Abbey to calm herself down in, Georgie can actually make an assessment. Breaking us all out of the awkward mood.

"Roasted pine nuts. Ground roasted pine nuts in the strongest scent here, followed by olive oil and basil. Abbey's said her grandparents still live in a pine forest. It's the pine nuts, and the pasta shape really soaks up the sauce. It must have made her homesick."

"*sob sob* I-I'm s-so-so-sorry! *sob sob*"

Before I can order her to calm down because there's nothing to be sorry for, Amar shakily apologizes. Which makes Abbey apologize more, which in turn keeps Amar saying sorry and it's a never-ending cycle of guilty sorries.

"Sorry, I didn't know it would make you cry. I'm sorry."

"No-no, I'm sorry. I shouldn't ha-have, you didn't- it-it was really go-good *sob* it's just *sob* reminds me-*sob sob*"

"Sorry?!"

"Cool, Amar you made two people cry today! Without fighting them! Whoa! Wait is it a crybaby thing?! Oh. Still it's really strong, how did you do it?! Is it a secret technique? Did Vincent teach you?! I heard he makes babies cry without a word?!"

"I really don't know? I'm sorry?"

"Shut up with the sorries! Who won?!" I snap, trying to bring things to order.

Georgie shrugs, still refusing to participate. Abbey is emotionally wrecked and sobbing in a corner. Yuna is a biased and probably poisoned grump still eating the kinda pesto pasta that ruined everything.

Guess we'll just have to let everyone else taste to find out. Get to it minions!

No not you Abbey, oh please stop crying? Please?! How do we stop a girl from crying? Fix this?!

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