Alexandra steadied the bowl while Alice finished the last few careful rotations, then nodded approvingly once the batter reached a smooth, pourable consistency. "That’s good," she said gently. "You can stop there. Any more and we’ll just bully it for no reason."
Alice immediately paused, afraid one more turn might ruin everything, then slowly lifted the whisk out. Batter dripped back into the bowl in a lazy ribbon, and she stared at it with open awe, looking as if she’d just completed a difficult spell combination. "I did that," she murmured, half-disbelieving.
"You did," Alexandra confirmed, smiling as she reached for the waffle maker. Her hands hesitated for just a fraction of a second as she lifted it, the figure of ten thousand dollars flashing unhelpfully in her mind. She treated it with the care one might reserve for a priceless relic, setting it down gingerly on the counter and checking its hinges, vents, and plates as if expecting it to object.
Alice, meanwhile, showed absolutely none of that reverence. She leaned in close, blankets slipping again as she poked at the side with curiosity. "You just open it, right?"
"Yes, I think so..." Alexandra replied quickly, then caught herself and relaxed when the device did not explode, hum ominously, or summon an ancient spirit. It opened smoothly. Seeing that Alice treated it like something you’d buy off a clearance shelf slowly eased the knot in her chest. If the owner wasn’t worried, she probably shouldn’t be either.
She guided Alice’s hands again, this time helping her scoop just the right amount out of the bowl with a ladle. "Pour it here, but pay attention so it’s not too much. The batter spreads when it heats." She watched carefully as the pale mixture flowed into the mold, filling the grooves neatly instead of spilling everywhere. ’So far, so good,’ she thought, a quiet relief settling in as nothing catastrophic occurred.
Once the lid was closed, Alexandra hesitated and glanced at the device again. "Um... does it do anything special while cooking?" she asked carefully. "Does it cook faster than a normal one? Or... stop by itself once it’s ready?"
Alice bounced on her heels, excitement barely contained. "I don’t know! It doesn’t say anything like that!" She leaned down, peering at it from the side. "I think it just... cooks. Wait, let me read the reviews."
’What a lousy description for such a pricy item... They didn’t even bother putting basic functions down...’ Alexandra cried inwardly, utterly outraged.
"Hmm, no, I don’t think it does anything special. A person called Divine Light says it’s just as fast as a normal one, but he likes it better because he can hide it easily from his wife, unlike a conventional waffle maker that needs electricity."
"..." Alexandra didn’t know what to say to that. "Alright then. We wait."
Alice did not understand the concept of waiting.
"Is it ready?" she asked five seconds later, already crouching to peer at the seam.
"Not yet," Alexandra replied patiently.
Another five seconds passed.
"Now?"
Alexandra smiled. "Still no."
Alice rocked back and forth, hands clenched in her blanket. "How about now?"
Alexandra chuckled softly. "Waffles are not ambush predators. They take time."
"Okay..."
...
The moment the waffle maker gave a click, Alice practically vibrated out of her skin.
"Ready?!"
"Yep," Alexandra said tenderly.
Alice flipped it open with reverent care, lifting the lid as if unveiling a treasure chest. Steam rose gently into the air, carrying a warm, sweet scent that immediately filled the kitchenette. Nestled inside was a perfectly formed waffle, golden and crisp, edges clean, surface patterned beautifully.
"It’s so pretty..." Alice whispered.
She leaned in, sniffed it carefully, then lifted it out and turned it slowly in her hands, inspecting every angle like an artifact of immense importance. The smell alone had her eyes sparkling, and Alexandra suddenly found herself unreasonably nervous, clasping her hands together behind her back.
"Well?" she asked quietly. "How is it?"


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