Work Text:
Lina and Gourry were traveling alone, as they often do, when they came across a strange town. How was it strange? There were no restaurants.
Now, normally, Lina and Gourry would riot and then leave right away. They were foodies. And extreme ones. Then a flier drifted into Lina's hands.
"The Annual Cook-off is Happening! There are no rules, other than you must finish your dish by the end of the day. Winner will recieve 300 gold pieces!"
Lina's eyes went wide.
"300? Gourry!" Lina said, excitedly. Her companion was skeptical.
"But Lina, have you ever cooked before?" She felt a little insulted by his remark. However, it was true that she never really made a full meal. Sure, she can make travel food. But never a full course meal.
"I'm really good over a campfire. How hard can it be?" She asked. Gourry still had an eyebrow raised. They asked where they could sign up. The person directed them towards the town hall.
The town hall itself was grand for sure. It looked like a mansion. The two were outside gawking until the door opened and out wafted some amazing smell. Lina was so hungry at this point that she practically floated in.
A short, jolly man greeted them. He had a mustache that was a little over the top. He laughed and his whole belly moved with it.
"Welcome! Are you here for the competition?" His voice boomed through the front room of the mansion.
"Yes! I am Lina, this is Gourry. I will be the one cooking." Gourry nodded.
"Of course! My name is Blair Chefford. I am the town mayor. Welcome to Sivalle!"
"Thank you," Gourry said. Blair laughed.
"I'm sorry, what is that wonderful aroma?" Lina asked, practically drooling.
"Oh! That is the competition underway already! But first we treat all of the contestants to a meal! Please follow me." Blair led them through the hall. Lina could hear intense kitchen noises. Pots clanging and cooking tools sounding like a symbol. Followed by cheering and also cursing. Lina felt a little nervous now.
Her nervousness was shortened when they entered a large banquet hall. There were so many types of foods. Lina and Gourry's eyes were wide.
"Please, eat your fill. Then we will show you to your kitchen! You're in luck that you came early in the day. Some have been here since very early in the morning." They did not hear him fully.
After they stuffed their faces, the doors opened and a woman who looked much like Blair, came into the room. Gourry was nodding off.
"Miss Lina? It is time to go to your kitchen now. Please follow me." The woman was soft spoken compared to Blair. Lina followed her to a very large room. Inside was a very high tiered kitchen. Every possible tool you can imagine. As well as every food you could think of was in crates and on barrels with ice in them.
"Wooow!" Gourry was suddenly behind them.
"Gourry!"
"We can make an acception for your partner," the woman said. Linas face grew bright red.
"We're not together in that way!" Lina whispered loudly. Gourry did not hear her, he was busy scoping out the food. "Hey, don't touch it! I have to cook with it!" Gourry heard her then.
"You have until the end of the day. Good luck!" The woman swiftly exited the room.
"Okay, is it me or did she seem like a ghost?" Lina asked, laughing nervously. Though she wouldn't mind some help right now. She had been teaching Gourry a little, but who knows how much he retained?
Lina cracked her knuckles and took her cape and belts off. She tied her hair up with her headband.
"What dish are you going to make?" Gourry asked. Lina thought for a minute. Then she eyed the chicken.
"I think the chicken dish my dad always makes. I have seen him make it more than a hundred times. Piece of cake, and it's yummy!"
"But it's not cake," Gourry quipped. Lina did not hear him this time. She got to work. She fired up the stove and boiled some water. She could use the boiler for the chicken. That would be easy. The sauce? That was another question.
It was a couple of hours later, and much frustration and pulling out of hairs, but Lina finally nailed the sauce. She had Gourry to taste test it, and she did herself of course. She was a bit offended the first couple of times he made a face. But then all of her hard work paid off.
"All right! Now the chicken!"
"I'm so hungry," Gourry said.
"Go eat. I'm sure the mayor will feed you again."
"But I want your cooking." This made her blush. He sighed. "But I guess I'll go ask--" just then the door opened and the woman floated in.
"Are you hungry, sir? Please follow me." She beckoned him to the hallway and he followed like a good puppy. Lina laughed again when the doors shut. Now she was alone in that huge room. She wondered how much it cost and how many contestants there were, but she shook the thought.
"Let's get going!" Lina said, out loud. Now she cleaned the chicken breasts and put them in a pan and put them in a broiler. She modified a Fireball so it would not be as big of an explosion, and it started it right away. With all of the noise, no one would hear it.
It only took a little while to make and she had already been boiling potatoes in a pot. She dished them out and plated the chicken. She did not know how many judges there were going to be. As if on cue, the doors opened and in walked Gourry and the woman.
"Excuse me, Miss. How many judges will there be?" Lina asked.
"Just myself and my brother, I mean the mayor. My name is Mary, by the way." Lina nodded.
"Then I am ready!" Gourry was excited. Even though he had just eaten, he could eat another small meal. He saved some room.
Mary led them to the lobby, where a huge, long table was set up. There were probably ten dishes on the table already. It was only about five, so there was still time. Lina could taste the award, however, literally. Even with how nervous she was, she was confident that they would enjoy it.
"All right! We will now try these dishes! Thank you everyone for participating this year!" Blair said. Everyone let out a non-enthusiastic cheer. They were all exhausted. There were some with chef outfits on and now Lina felt intimidated. Something she did not feel often.
Mary joined him then. "This is my sister, Mary. She will be judging as well." Everyone nodded.
"Oh, I hope you win," Gourry whispered to Lina. She nodded.
Finally, they reached her dish. It seemed like they did not enjoy the other dishes as much. They each took a bite of everything. Their eyes went wide when they were chewing.
"Yes!" Lina internally exclaimed.
"Wow... oh wow. The flavors. This is the most interesting so far," Mary said. Her brother nodded as he took another bite, and then another. They ate it all.
"That was truly a surprise. Well done," Blair said. Lina and Gourry were smiling. Mary nodded, licking her fingers that had sauce on them.
There was whispering going on.
"Calm down. We will now decide the winner!"
"Weren't there anymore people?" Lina asked. Blair shook his head.
"No. Just eleven. It was a bit smaller this year. We will be back shortly," he said and the two left. Lina's stomach was doing flips. Gourry went up to the plate where the chicken has been, and saw it was empty. He was a little sad. Before he could say anything, the brother and sister re-emerged.
"Again, thank you to all who submitted this year! You all did extremely well," Mary said. Lina could tell she was lying, and probably the others as well. The air was so tense in that large room.
"The winner of this year's cook off is..." he did a fake drum roll noise. "Lina!" Everyone did a slow clap, groaned and then left. Some were swearing. Lina's mouth was open.
"What... what? Wait, really?" She was shaking. Now they wouldn't have to beat up any bandits for a few months with that money. Blair nodded.
"Yes, you have won. Please come collect your reward! Also tell us, is there a name for the dish?" Lina excitedly came up to recieve a bag of gold coins.
"Oh... uh... the Dragon Slave Special!" She did not even hear herself say the words, or see Gourry's eye roll. The coins were shining in her face.
"What a fun time! Please come back next year!" Blair said, as jolly as ever.
"Oh of course!" Lina said, packing the bag in her cape. She did not notice that Gourry was a little sad.
"What's wrong, young man?" Mary asked.
"I... I didn't get to try any." He sounded like he was about to cry. Lina blushed and had something behind her back. She produced another plate! On it was the chicken.
"I kept some for you, big lug." This made him smile the biggest smile she had ever seen on his face. He sat down at the table, put a napkin in his collar, and cut himself a bite. He took some of the potatoes as well. He put it in his mouth. His face dimmed quite a bit, which made Lina sad. He liked anything. Was something wrong?
"Gourry?"
"Oh, it's... okay." Lina did not like that answer.
"What's wrong with it?" Blair asked.
"Nothing. It's really good." He still had a blank expression. What he did not want to tell Lina, was he did not like the spice. It was a little too spicy for him. But he kept eating it anyways. His ears were burning by the end of it. Lina was happy again. Gourry, however, had heartburn.