"Aries, come quick. I need your help."
"Attached photo"
Aries opens up a virtual screen as he notices Sol's text. He reads the message until his face pales from the explicit content of the image.
***
BANGBANGBANGBANG
"Sol! Open up! Shit. Should I break the door down?!"
Just before Aries could break down the front door, Darryl opens it with a confused expression until Aries grabs ahold of his shirt collar and slams him against a wall.
"What the?!" Darryl grumbles, caught unaware as his gaze sharpened.
"Why is your shirt so red? What did you do to Sol?" Aries growled as he tightened his grip on Darryl's collar, his other hand clenched and ready to strike a punch.
"What's all the fus-- Eh?! Aries! How did you get here so quickly?! Wait, what are you doing to Darryl? Let him down!" I yelled as I rushed towards the two and tugged Aries' arm.
Aries looked over to me, his expression hidden behind his bangs. He dropped Darryl to the ground and patted my shoulders, proceeding to squeeze my cheeks before finally sighing and hugging me.
"???"
What just happened?
"A-Aries?" I patted his back before he finally pulled away from me with a relieved expression on his face.
"What kind of photo did you even send me? Sigh~" Aries lowered his head with an exhausted sigh as he held firmly onto my shoulders.
"What? Picture? Oh... It was food colouring. I was trying to make tangyuan. I kinda messed it up and spilt the entire bottle into the mixture though..." I glanced at the image of the text I sent him earlier which he was showing me with an upset look on his face.
"Then what about him?" Aries pointed to Darryl who had been silent the entire time and was straightening his shirt before folding his arms.
"Why don't you not mind me like earlier? Picking a fight the minute we met." Darryl grumbled as his expression darkened.
"N-now, now. He was over since earlier to go over some of the materials I sent him. Then he brought up the topic of the current festivities. It seemed easy so I was giving it a shot." I laughed as Aries sighed.
"Why does the kitchen look like a crime scene?"
"What? Crime sce-...."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I was going to help him too, turns out we both haven't the knack for such delicacies." Darryl rubbed the back of his head as he joined me and Aries at staring at the kitchen.
"It's just tangyuan though..."
"Eh?" Both me and Darryl gave Aries an astonished expression.
***
"You just mix it with water like this... and make a dough."
"Just like that? Wow. Aries, you really know a lot of things." I smiled as Aries seemed to blush.
"How about stuffing this inside?" Darryl placed a can of tuna at the side as Aries seemed to look disgusted.
"What the fu-"
"Why not? Sounds like fun! We can randomise it. Whoever can eat the most balls can win!"
"?! W-wait... Sol? But..."
"Deal." Darryl grinned mischievously as he showed a sinister grin towards Aries.
I hope he remembers that I'm also eating from that pot...
***
"Who put a whole clove of garlic in here..." Darryl groaned as I heard Aries snickering.
For someone who was screaming at us for stuffing weird things inside, he seems to be enjoying it as well.
"Too bad for you. Get cuc-- eww! What the heck?!" Aries stared at his spoon to inspect what he was eating until he grabbed Darryl and glared at him.
"Did you put pork blood inside? How did it even fit? So disgusting. You bastar--"
"I'm sorry. It was me... I thought it would be nice... Isn't it also part of Chinese culture? I saw it in a video once... It looked pretty savoury... I thought it would fit well." I lowered my head as I felt bad that he ate it.
"I-it's okay! We're doing this as a game anyways. Now we know it's not good." Aries laughed as he finished it off albeit his groaning.
"What about you Sol? Ate anything weird yet?" Darryl laughed as he took another few of the glutinous rice balls from the pot.
"Not ye-- T-tuna..." I pressed my hand to my mouth as I hesitantly continued chewing.
It was savoury... and sweet (the soup? broth? stew?)... Wait... It's not all that bad. Hmm.
"Oh, I can finish it for you if-"
"It's okay, it's surprisingly not bad." I said as I finished chewing and swallowed.
"I'm not going to go down here then. Why don't we have the losers do whatever the winner wants for a day?" Darryl grinned as he glanced at Aries.
"Like he-"
"Okay. Why not?" I agreed and fished out a few more balls as the sound of us scooping the balls from the pot intensified.
Well I did mention the clanking of the metal scoop on the pot was making noise but... there is also the fact that we were all groaning from the terrible pairing of the filling.
The colours of the balls were so appealing that you wouldn't think twice to eating it but...
"Ack! Hot! Who put... tabasss...."
"Tabass?" I groaned a reply to Aries as he fanned his tongue.
"Hahah! Can't handle the spice?"
"You bastard! The one I keep over here is the most spicy one. How much did you pour in?" Aries growled as he was about to punch Darryl.
"Calm down..."
An unexpected knock resounded from the door as I glanced over my shoulder.
The two sighed as they tapped out from eating anymore of the randomised contents of the tangyuan. Doesn't that mean I'm technically the winner? Nice!
Anyways, I head over to the door to see who it was when I was met with the fragrant smell of dumplings.
"Who is it? I didn't order anyth-- Artemis! Hello! I didn't expect to see you." I gasped as she smiled and placed the bag of dumplings into my hand and entered the door, swishing her hair over her shoulders.
"Hmm? A familiar face and... who are you?" Artemis' voice seemed to grow harsher as she noticed Darryl.
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Miss. I'm Darryl."
"... Sure. I'm Artemis."
"Well, since we're all here, why don't we enjoy the gift Artemis brought over? I'll get it ready." I smiled and rushed to the kitchen to get it ready.
***
"Hmm? Tangyuan? Oh. It is that time of the month. Not a bad idea. I missed eating this last I was in China. Aries, gimme your bowl." Artemis said as she grabbed his bowl and took a few scoops from the pot.
"Nice, it's still hot. I guess I was on time." Artemis hummed happily as Darryl eyed Aries.
[Aren't you going to tell her?] (Darryl)
[Who cares? She's a bit of a prick sometimes.] (Aries)
"Ack! Mustard! You guys!" Artemis glared at Aries for a moment before shifting her attention back to the bowl.
"What an unusual combination. It's not bad though."
"?!" (Darryl and Aries)
"I'm back~ Sister Artemis, where did you get this? It smells so good." I chimed until I noticed her eating the tangyuan.
[She isn't complaining?!] (Me to the other guys)
[She said its good?!] (Darryl)
[I'm not related to her.] (Aries)
"What are you guys doing? Let's eat." Artemis raised an eyebrow as she finished the bowl of tangyuan.
[Wh-when did she finish it?!] (Me)
[I didn't even realise she finished the pot.] (Darryl)
[Why don't we just not tell her.] (Aries)
"What are those weird looks? ... Were you playing a game or something?"
"..."
"So... did I win?" Artemis smiled as she leaned her chin onto the back of her hand as Aries stiffened in his seat and Darryl grew even more silent.
"Aries."
"Y-yes?" Aries jolted as he refrained from looking at her which was even more suspicious.
"What were you guys playing? You can't possibly be planning on leaving me out right?" Artemis smiled at Aries as he grew silent.
"T-tangyuan... mystery..."
"What's that?"
***
"So doesn't that mean I won by default? You both had already tapped out by the time I arrived. And with such a huge pot. You weren't planning on tossing it out right?"
"N-no..." Aries mumbled in respond as Darryl studied his docile reactions and chose not to rile up Artemis.
"Well~ So I can have the losers do anything for me huh..."
Why do I feel scared? Dang...
"I kind of want to see a drunk Sol..."
"Eh?!"
What? Why me?!?!?!?! Also why do those two look kind of happy?! Is my demise sweet for you?!
"But I'm not that kind of devil. Sol is too sweet for me to bully." Artemis smiled as she patted my head.
Phew... Thank god I treated her nicely all these years.
"So I'll have you three model for me."
"Pardon?!" my cheeks flushed as I caught her sharp gaze.
"You're not going to go back on your words are you?"
"Why does Sol look so terrified?" Darryl whispered to Aries as Aries pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Because she is..."
***
"So cute! Stand a little closer. Lean your head a little lower!"
"A-any lower than this is impossible! I'll have nightmares!" I panicked as Artemis' expression darkened and I thought I could see a demon behind her.
"M-must I be dressed like this? Where did you even get this get-up from?" I pouted as I tugged on the skirt to lower it.
"Don't question me. I was going to give that as a present to my Mian Mian but now I have the perfect chance to see you in that get-up." Artemis peered into her camera again, taking more snapshots as I felt my entire face heating up.
"Sol... Is it uncomfortable for you?" Aries asked as he gently tilted my chin to look up at him from my position on his lap.
"I'm just... a little embarrassed." I tried to avert my gaze as Aries gaze on me in this outfit made me a little self conscious.
"What are you doing standing here? Get in there." Artemis barked an order at Darryl as I saw him stiffen and glance over a few times before robotically walking over.
"Why don't we switch up the pose since you're there.... Hmm.... Sol. Sit on his lap."
"What?! N-no... That's too rude of me to--"
"What did you say?" Artemis smiled yet the gaze was dangerously cold that I felt like I shouldn't anger her further.
"I-I'm sorry Darryl. Pardon me if I'm heavy." I bowed a few times before sitting on his lap.
My cheeks felt ablaze as Artemis held my hands and instructed me on how to pose before heading back to her original spot and taking a few pictures.
The distance between me and Darryl was so close that I was worried he could hear my heartbeat. I'm certain it was from the embarrassment I felt from wearing this get-up but, having both Darryl and Aries wear such dashing out fit while I wore a woman's one baffled me.
"Try to keep a natural expression, she is pretty fussy. I'll try to talk her out of this when the time is right. Hang in there." Aries smiled reassuringly as he gently stroked his thumb over my knuckles.
***
In the end, Artemis had us posing for the entirety of the day with her seemingly endless amount of outfits.
What did she even come here for?
"I'll leave first. Let's play again someday~ I'll leave those as a present for you. I have great materials now! There's no need to visit the maid cafe for awhile." Artemis hummed as she left.
Maid cafe? Materials?
"Aries what is she--" I pointed out to her as Aries sighed and was slumped lifeless against the couch.
"She's crazy like that... so exhausting... More than normal photoshoots..." Aries groaned as he kicked Darryl off the couch.
"You bastard! You're not the only tired one here!" Darryl grumbled and tossed a cushion at Aries torso, yet Aries didn't bother retaliating.
"W-well... Would you say it was a good game though?" I scratched my cheek as they both stared at me.
"I guess it was pretty alright." the two glanced at each other and nodded in understanding as I stood there blinking at them.
***
What actually went through the duos thoughts.
"We got to see Sol in a cute maid dress. Cute." (Darryl)
"The Chic lolita was cute too." (Aries)
"Wasn't the Alice in Wonderland outfit pretty cute too?" (D)
"I think the cheongsam was pretty neat though." (A)
"Something we could get along on, but I still hate you." (D&A)