"Oh yes, it's quite useful. I'm glad to have my connection to the earth domain, though, I wouldn't say it's as strong as what I've seen from others. It's enough for me to make food, and cast some other small spells to help in my daily tasks. That's plenty of magic for me." Beist said with a chuckle. "You know, I don't believe I've met your father. He must be very dedicated if he's learning new spells just for your sake." He continued in a slow, approving tone. He thought he must have done it just to make Astrid happy, not realizing he learned the spell out of necessity to feed the two terrors.

Beist knelt down to hug Astrid back as she threw her arms around him. He stayed knelt down as she stepped back and began to summon her clones to help with transporting all the food.

"It's nice to know you've gotten so much use out of it. I've used it plenty of times myself, even if I must admit the final product wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind. It's sold well, and helped people, so that's all that really matters, isn't it?" He replied with a bit of melancholy.

The transmutation tonic was both his greatest success and a bitter failure. What he'd been trying to make was a cure for his condition, but it had proved incomplete and only temporary. For whatever reason, the tonic never transformed him fully, some mutations of his refusing to be altered by it. For everyone else, it worked just fine though, and it being temporary rather than permanent would actually be considered a good thing to most. It was also unstable, transforming people into whatever race they were thinking of rather than only into a human. Once again, a pro rather than a con.

Beist let his mind wander off the slightly sore subject as he glanced around at the group of alphastrids at work. He started gathering ingredients himself into his second pair of arms as he spoke.

"You must have a lot of magic to be able to make so many duplicates so often. You had this many helping you make Pretzels' new body earlier, didn't you?" He asked curiously.

With his arms full of ingredients, he walked through the workshop and into the kitchen, ducking to keep from bumping his head on the doorways. The kitchen was well equipped with all the tools he could need to begin cooking up everything. It took him only a moment to familiarize himself with the layout and gather what he needed before he could cook. His skill as an alchemist, his precise knife skills and mind for memorizing and following recipes was evident. Chopping lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and onions, adding a bit of oil and lemon juice and some seasoning, without measuring, only going by eye, he had a large serving of salad prepared in no time for Astrid to eat while he continued chopping up more vegetables for a hearty stew and preparing a pot of tea.

"I know you said you like everything, but do you have any preferences?" Beist asked before it would be too late to make any adjustments to what he was preparing. He waved a hand over a pot and it magically filled with water atop a stove which ignited with a snap of his finger, showing off a little more of his handy magics to try and entertain Astrid.

“I’d love fer ya ta meet me da sometime,” Astrid says cheerily. “He’s got a bit a’... what would ya call it? Social anxiety, I s’pose.” And she did not use that to her advantage to get adopted one bit. What? She didn’t! "Not that that's a bad thin'. He's real nice an' patient. I mean... I guess ya gotta be real nice ta deal with the likes a' me." Giggling to herself, she smiles over at Beist.

“Aye, helpin’ folks with the stuff we make is the most important thin’ we can do, I think,” she agrees with a nod as she starts collecting various foods from the fresh growth. “I always wanted ta make armor, partly ‘cause it’s cool, but also ‘cause it keeps people safe. Buildin’ other stuff is great too, though. Every time there’s a construction project in Sky Peak an’ I’m home, I go an’ help out.”

“A lot a’ magic?” Astrid repeats, pausing and looking around at the handful of other hers working together. “Eh, I s’pose maybe. I use this spell so often that I don’t notice it all that much. More than this many a’ me is tough ta keep up, an’ it’s way harder ta keep ‘em up if I’m in a fight. Most I ever had at once was twenty-five, so we were the whole alphabet together.” She giggles at the thought. It took weeks of working up the ability to have that many Replicants all at once, and she’s never had that many since, but it was worth it all to help Cantio work on his stage fright.

With everything brought to the kitchen, Astrid and her duplicates do their best to help prep, but once they all start tripping over each other, she dismisses them so it’s just her and Beist again. The kitchen is suddenly much less crowded. Munching on salad, Astrid considers what her favorite foods are. “Hmm… Me favorite drink is Da’s hot cocoa. He makes it best. Stew’s always good ‘cause there’s so many ways ta make it. Oh, an’ roasted root vegetables, those are great with a’ bit a’ rosemary and thyme. Meat’s always good, ‘specially when ya can cook veggies alongside it so it’s all combined together. Sometimes when I’m at court, they got these little bite-sized cake thin’s. Uhh…. Petti…somethin’s. Everythin’s always got fancy names there fer some reason.”

Like Astrid’s appetite, her ability to talk about food seems endless, and she continues to name foods she likes unless Beist stops her.

"I'd love to meet him sometime. It might be a little strange to call him my son, but I'd be delighted to meet my granddaughter's father." Beist replied cheerily. He didn't comment on Astrid describing her father as socially anxious, except for an awkward chuckle as he could relate a little too well for his liking. He gave Astrid a quizzical look as she described the requirements to deal with her. He didn't know what she meant. He also didn't realize that she'd described him to a T yet again, a kind and patient person who wouldn't mind putting up with the chaotic gremlin energy she exudes.

He nodded in agreement as Astrid stated the importance of helping others and paused his cooking preparation for just a moment to give her a pat on the head once she'd described her efforts around Sky Peak Village to assist in construction projects and help those in need.

"My, that's quite a lot!" Beist exclaimed in surprise hearing just how many copies Astrid had made at the same time before. "I understand how helpful it can be to have an extra pair of hands, but what could you ever need twenty-five copies of yourself for?" He asked with a chuckle, spreading his second pair of arms.

Beist did his best to prepare something that he thought Astrid would really enjoy. He prepared some carrots and potatoes to roast, giving the peeled carrots a quick glaze and cutting the potatoes into wedges and sprinkling them with a bit of rosemary and thyme. He couldn't create meat with his magic, but he could grow some substitutes. Hopefully a mix of beans and mushrooms would be satisfying in a hearty vegetable stew. Of the ingredients he couldn't grow straight out of the ground, there was thankfully some stocked in the kitchen. Salt, flour, butter, sugar. All of the things he'd need to bake a fruit tart, minus the fruits and berries he provided himself. He even found a little bacon that might be the perfect finishing touch in the stew.

"You mean petit fours? Those are a little fancier than what I usually cook, but I can give them a try. And the hot chocolate. I might not make it exactly the same as your father does, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyways."

Cakes, tarts, and hot cocoa. Beist unconsciously put a hand on his gut as he thought about just how overindulgent this meal was going to be, but pushed the thoughts out of his head quickly. He had just nearly died, so why not live a little? Now was a time to celebrate and enjoy spending time with family. Astrid was family now, and he wanted to cook something nice for his granddaughter.

The head pat kind of catches Astrid off guard, but not necessarily in a bad way. She blinks, taking it in, then realizes that holy moly she could get those every day, and that’d be kinda great, and so she grins up at Beist.

“Oh, ‘cause I wanted Da ta have a practice audience ta help work on his stage fright!” Astrid says before gigglings. “Figured one a’ the best ways ta do that was if the crowd were mostly folks he loves an’ knows he don’t have ta be nervous playin’ his music fer. He did great. I was real proud a’ him– Am real proud a’ him.”

With excited eyebrows, Astrid nearly stands on the stool. “Petit fours! Aye that’s it! Thanks. I can never remember all them fancy names. Why not just call ‘em ‘little cakes’ or somethin’ like that?” She shakes her head. Astrid may now be a member of high society, but that doesn’t mean that she gets high society. “Ya don’t hafta give ‘em a try. Everythin’ smells great! I’m sure I’ll like whatever yer makin’ ‘cause yer the one makin’ it. An’ also it smells tasty, so it must be tasty.” She giggles into the last bites of her salad before hopping up and cleaning up the first course while Beist finishes up the main meal. Between the two of them, there will likely be no leftovers.

"Oh, that was very sweet of you." Beist replied with a bit of pride of his own. He didn't expect such a touching use of so many copies. He thought it would have been in a fight or something that would cause him concern, but this use was just adorable. "I'm sure he's just as proud of you. It sounds like the two of you are both supporting each other wonderfully."

Beist had already begun making the petit fours while Astrid was just finishing up her meal.

"Oh, there's more specific words for everything, but hardly anyone ever uses them unless they're trying too hard to sound smart. Like loam. Who uses the word loam in a normal conversation? It's just fertile soil. Actually, as an alchemist, you might want to learn some of the more specific nomenclature. There are differences between solutions, extracts, and essences, and you should know them." Beist explained, falling into teaching mode even as he was in the middle of mixing the dry and wet ingredients together for the little cakes.

He blushed a little when Astrid complimented his cooking so much. He waved it away, trying to act nonchalant, but his tail gave away how happy he felt as it swayed back and forth behind him.

Finally, the roasted vegetables were ready, with the stew not far behind. It could have cooked a while longer to really bring the flavors together, but the smell was too tempting. Even after taking a break from cooking to eat his own salad, Beist's stomach was still making it well known that it was nowhere near satisfied.

Beist spread plates of veggies and bowls of stew across the table, setting out what looked like a feast to anyone else, but was really only a regular meal in the two big eater's eyes. It all smelled delicious, and it was only the second course with dessert still waiting to be served. Beist hoped to leave some of the stew in the pot to keep cooking, but with just how big an appetite they had between the two of them, the pot was empty by the time Beist let out a satisfied sigh, which suddenly became a burp that he barely held a hand up to stifle in time, and looked over the table, all of the food that had been spread across it demolished.

"Ehem, excuse me... I hope you still have room for dessert." He said cheerily, trying to pretend the burp hadn't happened as he got up from his chair that had been protesting with his every movement and retrieved the fruit tart and a tray of petit fours. They didn't look as fancy as the ones at court, but they looked pretty good for his first time making them. He also brought over two large mugs of hot cocoa to drink.

“Just ‘cause there are fancier words don’t mean we need ta use ‘em all the time,” Astrid says with an expression that seems to kind of pout about it. Until recently, she wasn’t a particularly well-read child. In fact, she still isn’t except when it comes to her very specific hobbies and has probably not read a work of fiction since re-learning to read. “The handy thin’ about workin’ with a bunch a’ duplicates a’ yerself is if ya shout, ‘Hand me the thin’! That thin’! Aye, an’ that’ll do the thin’ fer this thin’!’ everyone knows exactly what each other is talkin’ about.”

With the rest of dinner being served, Astrid wastes no time in stuffing her face. She’d already worked up a hearty appetite before Beist showed up needing help, and producing the energy for several Replicants takes a lot out of her. The stew is great, and Astrid makes sure to say as much (probably three or four times as she goes about eating it). With a full belly, she sits back with a satisfied sigh of her own, letting the room fall into a comforting silence.

Until Beist burps, which immediately sends Astrid into a fit of giggles while he tries to cover it up. She pulls herself to sit upright again. “Aye, what kid ain’t magically got extra room fer dessert?!” she says, excitedly watching as Beist brings the tray over. Her eyes light up seeing the hot cocoa. “Oh, ya didn’t hafta make alla this! But I won’t say no, ‘specially ‘cause ya already did. Thanks grampa Beist!” With a bright smile, Astrid snacks on as much of the desserts as she can before she finally taps out, overstuffed and ready for a nap.

“This was all really good.”

Beist smiled as he set the deserts on the table, his tail swishing back and forth behind him again with joy as Astrid called him grandpa Beist again.

Beist felt like he'd eaten enough to be overstuffed even if he wasn't about half his usual size at the moment. Any desserts Astrid couldn't handle, he'd finished off while telling himself he really shouldn't, but he just couldn't resist. He'd put in plenty of work making them, how could he not give them a taste? The entire fruit tart was gone and the entire tray of petit fours was reduced to crumbs in Beist's beard.

Beist leaned back in his chair which groaned under his weight but thankfully was built sturdily enough not to break.

"I'm glad you liked it. You should visit my home sometime. I'd be happy to cook for you again, and Dora would love to see you. All of my companions would! Speaking of my companions, I should go back soon. I've been gone all day, and they might be worried about me."

Beist stood up and took the empty plates and trays from the table to the sink to start washing them. There were no leftovers to store away, which Beist was still a little surprised about not because of how much he ate but because of how much Astrid ate. However, there was still plenty to clean up now that their meal was finished and he would never just leave such a mess behind and go home.

"I can clean the dishes. Would you mind helping put them away? I'm still not entirely familiar with where everything belongs in your kitchen." Beist asked, looking over his shoulder to Astrid.

Astrid could giggle at the chair groaning, but she’s far too full. By contrast, Cantio sitting in the same chair barely puts any strain on the thing. For the first time in its life, that chair is earning its place at the table.

“I’d love ta come back by an’ visit, ‘long as I ain’t imposin’,” Astrid says. “Though, I s’pose it won’t be imposin’ if yer invitin’ me. I’m sure Dora could use a could ruffle a’ her feathers an’ an underbelly scratchin’!” She smiles earnestly, and when Beist pulls himself up, Astrid rolls out of her chair and somewhat begrudgingly stands upright.

“Alright, dishes!” She claps her hands together then helps Beist with the majority of the dishes, mostly drying and putting them away without much issue. Once everything is said and done, the kitchen is completely cleaned up and as spotless as Cantio left it. Astrid looks around, hands on her hips, with a satisfied smile on her face.

“Well, guess I’m sorry fer the way ya had ta come here, but I’m glad ya did.” She grins up at Beist for a long moment before leaping into the air and throwing her arms around his neck. "An' I'm especially glad yer gonna keep bein' around. I love ya, grampa Beist. Welcome ta me family!"

Beist chuckled at the thought of Dora pretending not to enjoy head scratches and belly rubs, trying to keep her cool and refined image. Of course, he knew she loved them. He gave her plenty of them himself and she always subtly moved to give him better access to her favorite spots as if he didn't already know them.

"Yes, well- Oh!" Beist started to reply, but was caught by surprise as Astrid launched herself at him to throw her arms around his neck. He put his own arms around her, catching her on instinct. It only took a second for him to relax and smile. He adjusted his arms to return her hug and hold her comfortably with a chuckle.

"Maybe next time I can come over under better circumstances." He finished his sentence as he gave Astrid a squeeze and nestled the top of her head into his beard. He teared up slightly as he continued speaking. "I'm glad to be here. Thank you for letting me be part of your family. I love you too."