(open) you gotta do the cooking by the book

[happyends]

Who: Madoka, Tidus (blitzcheer), and You!
Where: Kitchens!
When: 27 & 28 llama.
What: They're making prep! It's a lot of fish and rice. Enjoy.
Warnings: it's coookin' time.

[ ICP, video: ] Over the comms on the 27th of a Llama, there's a call over the comms, cheery and bright as two faces welcome the screen (at different heights):

"Heyyy! Me and Madoka've got some cooking goin' on with a bunch of fish me and some others got back on the floating fishbowl. You know who you are - thanks!"

"Right..! It’s not just for now, but it’s so we can take it along on the next mission.. Um, you know, in the lunchboxes we have! Which means we’re making a lot, so if people could help, it’d mean a lot..! We’re preparing the fish in all sorts of ways, so there’s something everyone can do."

"You got a recipe or wanna help out, come join us! Oh yeah, and we're doing the same tomorrow with some veggie options, so no fish! Any vegetarians or vegans, come help out! I've got some ingredients left for that stuff too."

[ 1: IN THE KITCHEN: FISHY STYLE ]

And as loudly announced, the goody two shoes duo are in the kitchen, a feast laid out and ready to be messed with. There's the ingredients from storage brought out with weights, bowls and cups, marinades made and in the process of being so. Cute aprons selected for both of the cooks for the day: this for Madoka, and this for Tidus. There’s a repurposed poster from last month’s art day - made by Romeo, temporarily gone but not forgotten - put up on the wall that says ‘please vote for the art car!’ (Subtle.)

Come because of their call or because you came for other reasons, either of the pair are likely to take a second out of what they're doing to welcome you - usually with a "Hey!" from Tidus first, and then Madoka following with “Welcome!”

Curious? Just stopping by? The two will chitchat - Tidus more so than Madoka.

[ a: making sushi ]

”Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it seems!” Madoka is quick to say that to a smile with anyone who wants to help out, quick to reassure.

For people who are new to it she will show off how to cut the fish and lay out the pieces of fish, rice and nori to roll the sushi. But before the rolling part starts, she looks over, asking - “Should I help show you how to roll?” Her hands are already hovering above yours, implying she’s ready to touch and guide you. The girl seems to realise something though, as she adds: “Oh, um, or would you rather have Tidus help out? I taught him!”

Tell her, dear friend or mysterious stranger. Whose hands do you want to have contact with right now.

But for people who either have experience or who have been around the kitchen for a bit longer today, Madoka has some advanced ideas, which she presents with a smile on her face. “You know, you can make them in all sorts of fun shapes too! It’s good for morale!” She points at an example sitting on the counter, which happens to be shaped like a panda. “Do you have any fun shape ideas? We can try it out!”

[ b: fish kebabs in a pan ]

"The secret to making anything good taste great is a bunch of spices! I wonder if we should just cook them all in the pan and throw them in the lunchbox like that? Just stick in a single skewer for picking up?"

This is the portion of cooking where the marinade bowls are getting out, and every available herb and spice from the pantry car and already in the kitchens. The chilis are present, garlic, fresh herbs that need to be chopped and diced into tiny tiny deliciousness. They're got a few bowls ready and in the fridge, but there's a lot of fish to go through. And for anyone joining in, they'll be asked:

"Wanna make a marinade too? All you gotta do is pick the flavours you like!"

Feeling adventurous? Also, don’t mind the saucepans of fish bones being cooked in the back there. Waste not, want not, or something.

[ c: testing out jerky cooking ]

Madoka will gladly give some jerky demonstrations. She’s not as good with it as the sushi, but she at least does have some experience - and it’s not all that hard to just dry out the fish, really.

It’s when the fish is done heating up and drying up in the oven that the trouble comes. The fish is lying on the counter, and Madoka has just finished explaining that the last part is cutting up the fish in strips of jerky, except.. “I wonder where the scissors have gone.. They were here only a moment ago..”

Madoka is looking around, seemingly unable to find said pair of scissors.

But if you look around, you may find a tiny creature floating around in the air on the other side of the kitchen, a pair of scissors now hanging off it alongside the keys.

[ 2: A VEGETARIAN FISH KEBAB, THANK YOU. ]

And so it's a bright, sunny, shiny new day. ...depending on your perspective. But Tidus and Madoka are at it again - taking out some of the spare marinades they had the other day, leftover rices and whatever tidbits. But today is for more vegetarian meals - because when you have a pal that's like that, you think about these things.

[ a: sushi, back by popular demand ]

They're doing sushi again, now with less fish. Which means using everything they have on hand, especially vegetables. There's time taken to slice cucumber and carrots into fine slices; a look over at some other vegetables like aubergine/zucchini and questioning, "Think this'll taste good...?" from Tidus, and basically, there's a big bowl of assorted veggies (thanks to Persephone's garden) that'll get used. Later. Somehow.

[ b: vegan subs ]

And now is the real time to really be looking over these vegan substitutes, and the vegetables they've got. Tidus knows how to cook with a pan, but he's brought out the vegan cookbook for this, looking at the selection of times and bags nearby: agave nectar, coconut oils and creams, aquafaba, vegan mayo and eggs, tofu, and that tempeh he and Taiki just didn't know what to do with.

"I'm thinking...cook it in some oil?" Tidus throws out, poking the tempeh packet with a finger.

Or they're bringing back out the nori sheets, with the recipe book open to a page, talking animatedly to the floating keyring.

"Alright, we've gotta find whatever beans we can get! Sunflower seeds if you see them! Let's make the best vegan sticks around!"

He's even got the shounen pumped fist up. The sentient keyring holder rattles its many kitchen spoons.

[ c: vegetable chaos ]

Of course with this many vegetables around, the vegetables also have to be washed and cleaned thoroughly. And that’s not even something the humans around here have to do by hand, oh no. Someone with good intentions or a pure heart may see a bunch of tiny blue creatures hanging around, blasting water at the vegetables.

But even if you don’t see them, you might end up feeling them - when one of them accidentally misses the vegetables with their water blast, and instead shoots you right in the face with it.

( ooc: Tag whichever, tag with your own scenario in the kitchen! Tag in/start with the ICP call if you like!! Tidus and Madoka will be in threads together fo some cooking chaos. )

Comments

1:a

[flowersinmyparadise]

Tobari is always down to help out and get free food! It's a double win! What better way to see and learn new things. And hopefully he'll get to socialise a lot. Madoka's quick to assure that it's pretty easy and Tobari's tails flick excitedly as he beams.

"I don't mind you teaching me!" He's talked to Tidus a few times, but he'd love to get to know Madoka, too! New friends are always welcome!

But all this rice and seaweed makes him think of something else from back home.

"Hey, can you make onigiri?"

He misses Reimei and his onigiri. It was the most delicious thing in the world!

[blitzcheer]

"Even I know how to make that!" Tidus pipes up, standing aside and letting this mostly be Madoka's time to shine, but also there as support, too. The girl's a little on the shy side, so he's gotta make sure she doesn't feel overwhelmed.

"You want some cooked fish in that? I can fry some up while Madoka shows you the sushi prep we've got. Onigiri wouldn't be bad for the lunches either, right Madoka?"

This sound all good to you, pal?

[happyends]

"Hmm-mm!" Madoka lets out that short, but affirmative sound as she glances between the two others. Thankfully she has seen more people who seem half-human, half-animal before, so Tobari's tail isn't even that surprising anymore.

.. even if she can't fully help the way her gaze lingers on it for a few moments when she sees it wags like that. Cute..

She snaps back to attention a moment after though.

"It should be fine to put in the lunchboxes! We actually eat onigiri for lunch or as a snack often back home.." So it should work perfectly! "And it's a little easier than sushi to eat on the go, so it should be good for the mission?"

She smiles at Tobari. "Do you have some idea about how to make it already..?"

[flowersinmyparadise]

"You can put fish in it?" Tobari looks starstruck. "Yes, please!! I want to try it!"

Two people here know how to make onigiri; he can't wait to try it and see if it's as good as Reimei's. If the fish one tastes good, he'll have to tell Reimei all about it when he comes back.

And as far as the staring, Tobari doesn't mind. He knows not all humans, even with magic, are accustomed to yokai, nor are they always accepting. So he'll let Madoka be as curious as she wants.

"I don't know how to make any; Reimei always did it back home."

But it certainly wouldn't hurt to learn. He could help Reimei the next time they have a huge banquet!

2-b

[sos_pilot]

[ fuck fish. But Della's not going to say no to fun times with Tidus and Madoka, so when it's time for veggies, it's time for Della. With her hands in her pockets, she strolls in to see...

... A floating, living keyring. ]

... Huh. Y'know, it's refreshing to learn I can still be surprised.

[blitzcheer]

[ The sentient key (spoon?) ring and Tidus both turn in Della's direction, a small 'huh?' for Tidus, before he grins and very rightly assumes, with fists resting on his waist!: ]

Amazed by our cool cooking team-up, Momma D? You know we've always got room for you on our team! The Cooking...Cookers!

[ The team name!!!

(he thought it up on the spot) ]

[happyends]

[ Madoka doesn't even realise what Della finds so strange here. She wonders if Tidus is doing something strange - probably not, right, he's been so competent with the cooking today! - and turns to look..

.. and it's only then that she realises Della is instead staring at her little poké-pal. ]

Oh.. yes, you should join in! I'm sure Klefki would be happy to make more friends!

[ And it does.. seem.. happy? Maybe? It's hard to tell whether the way it is shaking its spoons is friendly or weirdly menacing. ]

[sos_pilot]

Klefki, huh? Cute little fella.

But yeah! I need to really get some cooking skills leveled up, and I really can't get any worse!

[ all said cheerfully, as always. ]

video;

[likeadragonfish]

Oh man... I wish Zhao were here. He'd have a few recipes for you.

I'm not nearly as good a cook but if you really want some additional hands I can lend you mine.

[As long as you don't mind him eating about a third of whatever they prepare while he's around, hahhah.]

video;

[blitzcheer]

How good are you at slicing? 'Cause we can do with a lot of it, with the fish and - really, just helping us to keep track of everything. [ Aha. ]

We've got a lot we're planning to get through. And these fish are big!

video;

[likeadragonfish]

I can help with that. Slicing and dicing sounds good.

[He'd say simple enough but he knows better than to jinx himself.]

Yeah, I know. It was crazy catching some of them.

video;

[happyends]

[ Madoka peers over to see who Tidus is talking to - and then realises that this is actually someone she recognizes! Right, she talked to this guy before.. ]

Please come over then, sir! We'll be waiting here for you!

1a

[canyounoct]

Madoka might be trying to reassure him it wasn't particularly hard, but - Noctis admitted, rubbing the back of his head, "I just figured if I wasn't actually cooking anything, I'd be less likely to mess it up. Sushi is just raw fish, right?"

... and they'd already handled making the rice, so. That's not a mistake he'll make twice. He gave Tidus an apologetic glance.

[happyends]

Madoka quietly stares between the two, wondering if something has been going on between Tidus and Noctis. She's not quite sure what that little stare they're sharing is, nor is she sure if she should ask about it or not..

So she ends up shaking her head, instead focusing on what Noctis is telling them here.

"Hmm-mm, this is a lot more about cutting fish and rolling it up into sushi!" .. but leaving it with just that doesn't feel right either, so the girl makes sure to smile and add: "I'm sure you can do it!"

She glances over at Tidus too-- "You think so too, right, Tidus?" Come on, let's get a Support Bus going here.

[blitzcheer]

The look Tidus gives Noctis back is sympathetic, more at ease than what Noctis is likely feeling. Hey, he told the guy he had plenty of bad kitchen experiences. You've gotta burn a few eggs and rice and pans and undercook lasagne sheets and--

Well, nobody's perfect.

"No need to come in worrying! You've got an expert here," a nod to Madoka, "and I can even show you some easy cooked meals too after! A few veggie fish wraps on a tough mission sounds like a great meal to take a break for, right?"

He looks at the pair, confident, but still with that ease. It's okay, this a safe environment.

Emotionally. ...hopefully.

[canyounoct]

Noctis was clearly relieved, shoulders relaxing a good deal. He gave the both of them a slightly awkward smile. "Yeah, that sounds great. Though maybe we could skip the veggie part of the veggie fish wrap, right?"

It's not as if he wasn't used to friends who seemed to support him, no matter what. But having new people doing that was different. It wasn't a bad thing, just, something Noctis wasn't used to. Especially since they seemed to support him without any of that princely-important-person context.

"So, where should we start?" Noctis asked. He admitted to Madoka, "You're probably going to need to, err, start with the basics for me."

1A

[dreamtamer]

Takato had just come to the kitchen with Guilmon to get some bread. He hadn't really expected to see all of this going on. He was just looking around for someone who knew what was happening, when he suddenly has to lunge for the counter to protect the fish from Guilmon, who liked it almost as much as bread.

"Wait Guilmon! I think someone is working on that!"

[happyends]

Madoka is so busy working on the food that she doesn't notice someone entering until she suddenly hears a boy's voice loudly calling out. She glances over, but then realises that it's not just a boy who entered the kitchen - but something else too.

It's not too odd, considering all the creatures they have aboard the train, but it still makes Madoka stare at Guilmon for a moment.

"Ah.. Is everything alright?" She glances from Takato and Guilmon over towards Tidus, wondering if he maybe saw something happens that she didn't while she was working. "Is he hungry..?"

[blitzcheer]

There's a chorus of squeaks that come from the metal counter where the action occurs, blue raindrop heads no bigger than a hand taken from their very hard work of pretending to help (by poking at vegetables, dancing around bowls and chasing each other) to now making a lot of noise at this criminal act that nearly occurred!!

Which Tidus did see, though he's not in the immediate vicinity. But he's slicing up more fish for the prep, one of the larger kinds taking up room on the table, slowed by the entrance of the two, but then paused by Guilmon's lunging - a small "Whoa!" coming from Tidus.

"Sheesh, yeah! Hey big red, you know better than that, don't you? You come from training?"

Is it just food on the brain right now or something?

2a

[flatteries]

[ Inigo happens to wander into the kitchen at a point when Madoka isn't there. Maybe she's off grabbing some more ingredients, or taking a break, or having been called away by someone else - regardless of the reason, Inigo finds only Tidus standing there in the kitchen, looking at all the vegetables.

And maybe it's for the better that it's just Tidus. Inigo knows that he can't exactly be looking his best right now, considering he just totally crashed after their few days in that other world - the weight of everyone he's missing suddenly plummeting down on him even harder once they got back to the train. It seems like he's managed to drag himself out of their bed for now though, even though Inigo's hair is messy and there are faint dark circles around his eyes from all the worrying. ]

You look like you're busy. [ He manages to say, a small - but weak - smile on his face. ]

[blitzcheer]

Gotta find something to do.

[ It's light, that pinch of fun; a contrast from the mood that settles in his stomach to see Inigo right then. Happy that he's out of bed, but knowing that's just a small step away from how Inigo's been feeling - and not really away from it either.

Still, he's glad to see him, and he raises up a courgette, giving it a wiggle. ] Wanna help? I need to doa lot of chopping. Don't know how much tofu I've got left, but-

[ He'll make it count. Have everything ready for when Taiki comes back, make him try it out. ...but he knows better to voice that right now. ]

[flatteries]

Sure.

[ That's the whole reason Inigo dragged himself out of bed in the first place, after all. Yesterday he still couldn't quite bring himself to do it, but the more he thought about it, the worse he felt for wanting to just stay in there when Tidus - and that cute young girl - were working so hard to get something important done for everyone else. Staying in bed would be too selfish.

And perhaps a sense of duty really is the only thing that can get Inigo to move when his legs have been feeling like lead.

He drags said legs over until he's standing next to Tidus, holding out his hands to be handed something to chop. ]

Got to do my part too. I can't fall behind compared to you.

1C

[fennu]

Jiang Cheng has been watching attentively, not because he necessarily needs to know how to cook in general but because it seems beneficial to know how to use more of this strange modern technology. The washing machine had been taught to him early on, but these strange fires without fire have been a mystery to him since he had seen Soldat using them to create sweet breads.

Frowning, he glances around above Madoka's head before he huffs a noise, almost rolling his eyes, before he motions with one hand.

"Is that yours?"

[happyends]

".. huh?"

It's like she's so attuned to Jiang Cheng's voice at this point that Madoka peers over the moment she hears him speak up. Her eyes are wide with surprise though, as if she isn't entirely sure what he's refering to, but then her gaze slowly follows the direction he's gesturing in.

And that's when she discovers the tiny floating creature. Madoka's eyes grow even wider, because it goes from surprise to panic.

"K-Klefki! It's not nice to take people's things without asking!"

She shoots a pleading look at Tidus, considering he happens to be standing just a bit closer to where Klefki is than she herself. She doesn't even say anything. She just puppy eyes at the boy, like that might be enough for him to grab the scissors.

And once she's communicated that message, she turns back to Jiang Cheng, quickly bowing.

"Thank you so much..! And.. um, I'm sorry, Klefki must look like a pretty confusing little creature.."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus, meanwhile, is by where the dehydrator is, actually reading the manu--ahaha sike, he's just pressing the buttons on the machine because he's never really fiddled with it that much. Who reads instructions when you can poke?

So he's being rather inattentive to the rest of the kitchen, at least in the meantime. Until he hears the commotion of Madoka's flustered voice and looks over his shoulder, seeing the small metallic pokémon jingling itself - and from there, Madoka's helpless pleading expression.

He laughs, and he's coming over. "C'mooon, if you wanna play, get the higgledies to! No playing with scissors!"

Tidus will be taking that, thank you!! Hopefully the small creature won't put up too much resistance, and he'll say between receiving - or still trying to receive - in addition to Madoka's remark, "Always something weird around here, huh?"