voidtreckerexpress | One Foot in front of the Other Foot [ota with closed prompts]

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One Foot in front of the Other Foot [ota with closed prompts]

Who: Taiki. There is an open prompt and then closed prompts for Inigo, Gyousou and Tidus.
Where: Kitchens, Library, Cinema
When: Horseshoe days 2-5
What: Taiki tries out some recipes from his vegan cookbook. Taiki and Inigo make food to cheer Tidus up, Taiki and Gyousou have a talk in the library and Taiki finally succeeds in tracking down Tidus.
Warnings: Taiki and Tidus' thread will have themes of disappearing/dying- purposefully to try and solve things- with mention of a past suicide attempt. I will add more things as they come up.

Day Two: The Kitchen [OTA]

Tidus' suggestion of a cookbook had come at a good time because as the month changed they once again had meat as one of the main ingredients. It was a little better this time, the meat was processed, already cooked and so entering the kitchen and store room was not an exercise in steeling himself against the smell of blood and raw meat.

He has his new book, Vegan: The Cookbook and has found a recipe for pizza. Considering pizza is one of the recipe's on the ICP this month he is confident that he should find the things to make it.

He moves carefully around the kitchen, gathering ingredients. Soon he has everything but cheese, the book simply says to use vegan cheese, which is not something they have.

He flicks through the book, looking to see if there are any suggestions for alternatives. He has found himself a corner to prepare food in but still feels like he is in the way, mumbling a 'sorry' to anyone who comes near. He hadn't meant for this to take that long...

Day Three: The Kitchen [For Inigo]

Permeating the whole of the last few days has been the lack of Tidus. Taiki has been worried about him, more than worried, ever since Roland told him what had happened on the platform. But despite many attempts he hadn't been able to find him. He wasn't answering his door, Taiki hadn't ran into him in any of his usual places.

He had kept trying, though he feared annoying his friend, the line between being worried and just irritating him so much that he wouldn't want to ever talk to him again was very thin, and Taiki didn't want to cross it.

But he was worried... And he knew Inigo was too, he had seen him around, seen him near Tidus' cabin. He knew he was just as worried, with Yuna leaving... So soon after whatever Tidus had seen on the mountain... It was too much.

He finds Inigo quickly, he's trying not to think about how easy that is to do, and holds out the two books in his hands. One is his cookbook and one is a book on bread making. "I told him I would cook him a meal... Maybe it will chear him up. Do you want to help?"

He doesn't think he needs to clarify who.

Day Four: The Library [For Gyousou]

The situation with Tidus was not the only thing Taiki was worried about. The flashes of the ouki from Inigo, that was worrying too. He knows it has something to do with what happened on the mountain. Something now linked his king and Inigo.

Just as he was certain that these flashes of confusion, of anxiety weren't completely his feelings alone. He was used to feeling overwhelmed and anxious, but this is more so.

Both things put together meant that at times like right now he did not want to stray from Lord Gyousou's side. So here he was, Gyousou was resting on a beanbag reading a history book called Book Not Found Taiki approached silently and sat on the floor next to him, not quite leaning on him but sitting close, his own book Summoning Magic on his knees.

Day Five: Cinema [For Tidus]

He still hadn't seen Tidus, not at all and he was more than worried. But if the other man didn't want to be found, if he was avoiding him and Inigo... then should they leave it? Was it better to allow him his space or make sure he knew they were here for him.

He didn't know but for the last couple of days he had just tried Tidus' room a couple of times. So it was a surprise, when he entered the cinema. He glanced instinctively at the screen, it showed some children clambering through a cave, holding torches as they explored. His eyes went back to where he was walking, scanning the seats and there...

There in the corner, his purple hood was pulled up but Taiki still recognises him.

"Tidus?"

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He is working super hard on this mixing, indeed! Thank you for noticing.

Actually, really thank you for noticing, because the moment Inigo notices Taiki giving him that reassuring smile, it's like his own smile widens just a tad.

"That won't be a problem at all." He does put the bowl down on the counter though, so Taiki will have an easier time pouring it in.. But he isn't stopping the stirring! He is now a stirring machine! "Go right ahead."

Taiki's own smile grows larger as Inigo's does. He's been worried about him, especially after what had happened with Tidus and so just seeing him relaxed makes him glad.

He slowly begins pouring the water into the bowl, little by little, giving Inigo time to stir and making sure not to spill any. He repeats with the milk.

Maybe Inigo actually does have some talent for this, or maybe he's just paying closer attention in order to not screw this up since they're doing it for Tidus's sake, but no matter what the reason is, there's no dumb clumsy accidents. Everything just goes well for once. Taiki gently pouring in the liquids, Inigo stirring everything up without splashing it all over their faces.

Apparently the stirring master here himself is rather pleased with the way things are going too, judging by his facial expression.

"You know, I think this might just end up turning out amazing."

Maybe a little too preemptive there, Inigo.

Edited 2020-10-21 15:54 (UTC)

"I think so too." Inigo being confident and happy about anything has the instant Taiki seal of approval and so he nods, completely agreeing. This will be the best bread ever made.

That was the last of the liquid so Taiki reached for the flour again, sprinkling some on the counter.

"We need to knead it... I saw a program on TV once... This is so it doesn't stick to the counter."

"Ah, really? That's quite smart!"

Inigo keeps stirring as he says it to make the last of the liquid be stirred properly into the mix they've got going on, but once that's fully in there, he finally stops, staring down at what he's got in the bowl. It does look like something that could be kneaded.

"Should I take it out of the bowl and put it on top of the flour now then?" There's a slight pause, but probably even before Taiki can answer, Inigo can't help but add, ".. and what might a 'TV' be?"

Taiki nods, looking like he might speak but then gets distracted by the question.

"Oh... Sorry. It's... A bit like the ICP's I guess, except instead of people who you know talking but actors, like on stage... Playing out a story or telling you what is happening in the world. Oh like the cinema..." He blushes, "Sorry that would have been a better explanation..."

He shakes his head.

"No, it's fine! I understand." .. More or less. The idea of the TV that Inigo has inside of his head right now is nothing like an actual TV.. But it's not like he's aware of that. "So is that what people in those kinds of worlds do all day, since machines take care of the chores? They just watch the people on this TV?"

"Oh, no." He shook his head. "People have to work. Machines can't do everything, at least not on the earth I know. Children go to school, to learn what they need to know and then when they are old enough they find a job. That might be anything from selling food to using one of the machines, like a computer. Even though we have machines that help with growing food we still need people to farm, people to pick fruit."

The jobs are different than in his own world. But at the same time not that much so.

"So machines can't do those things? You need people for it?"

With how much they could do on the train, Inigo was starting to think that in certain worlds there were just machines for everything.. But he looks like he's trying to wrap his head around the concept Taiki is telling him about instead.

In the meantime, he'll start spreading out the dough mixture on the flour so he can start kneading it.

"That's odd. Do you know why?"

"No." He shook his head, "I guess they just... haven't been invented yet. New things get made all the time."

Computers were still relatively new, at least for use by the general public. Other things were even more new, but he doesn't know much about it at all.

"There are machines that can knead dough for example, but they are expensive so unless you are making bread every day, most people would make it by hand like us here."

.. what a complicated world. They invent all these fancy things, but then a lot of people can't even use them? Inigo can't help but feel like his medieval world is so much better in some ways, like how uncomplicated it is.

Though he'd miss showers if he suddenly were to find himself back there. For sure.

"Did you find Tai more or less complicated than that place?" He can't help but wonder, still busy working on the kneading here. "That place with its machines sounds much more complicated to me. It's as if every explanation makes me think of five new questions."

Inigo pauses, seeming to realise how Taiki of all people may take that, and so is quick to add-- "That's not on you though, mind you. You're explaining it just fine, I just don't understand the world behind it."

"It depends." He smiled at him, "Some things are more complicated on earth. I think to someone from Tai they would find earth very difficult and complicated. It was very strange for me when I first went to my world but I was only a child, so there were many things I didn't understand even on earth."

He remembered how strange everything had seemed. Honestly there were still things in his own world that seemed strange to him. "But I went to Mount Hou first, that's where Kirin live until they find their king. The sages there were very kind and explained things to me when I didn't understand and I had Sansh..." He trails off for a moment, taking great interest in the dough Inigo was kneading.

"I had Sanshi. Even the strangest things were not frightening because she could explain them to me. So I think they are about the same level as complicated. There are more rules in Tai, but that makes things easier."

He sucks in a breath.

"I'm glad you had help." The rest of the explanation makes enough sense to him, so Inigo chooses to focus on that instead. He can only imagine how overwhelming it must have been for Taiki.

Inigo stares back at the dough he's kneading.

Remembering who it's for.

He gets a little more quiet, his expression not exactly dropping, but growing a bit more thoughtful. Softer.

".. Everyone deserves help." Isn't that why they're doing this right now? Because Tidus, too, deserves help right now. And it's hard to do anything else to help with the other cooping himself up in his room.

"Yes." He agrees and he understands where Inigo's thoughts have gone. That is why there are here, to help Tidus.

Even if Tidus didn't particularly want help right now, he still deserved to know he had friends, who were willing to help him.

"The best we can do for him is just... Be here when he wants us to be."

And give him space until then. Space and garlic bread.

"It.."

doesn't feel like enough.

The words die on his tongue. Not in front of Taiki, he thinks, and momentarily releases the dough he was working on, smiling at the other as if he didn't say a thing just now.

"Hey, for how long am I supposed to knead this stuff?"

He doesn't have to finish the sentence, Taiki understands. It doesn't feel like enough, bread can't ease a pain as large as Tidus'. It won't bring Yuna back.

But small kindnesses, they mean more than anyone can ever put in words.

He looks back at the recipe at the question. "It says ten minutes... Until it is smooth. Do you want me to have a go?"

Ten minutes was a long time.

"I can do it if necessary." Inigo would never want to burden Taiki with something he didn't feel like doing, after all. Taiki only deserves the best, and it's not really like Inigo minds kneading the dough - it's just that his hands are starting to get a little sore after minutes of it.

"But.. you know, if you want to try, I will gladly let you."

And if Taiki shows any signs of doing so, then Inigo will act accordingly - pulling his hands off the dough, trying to wipe some of the flour off his white-stained hands. Making room so Taiki can continue the work.

He nodded, it felt wrong to make Inigo do all the work. Though Taiki was sure he was doing a better job than Taiki could manage.

But still he stepped in next to him and began kneading the dough, copying how Inigo had been doing it, he had looked like he was doing it correctly at least.

He focused on kneading, it was quite hard work but he was determined not to give up.

It's no surprise to see Taiki so hard at work on it, really. It's just like him, giving his all for the things he decides to do. And Inigo will gladly let him knead it for a while, just so they can ensure the food will be a gift from both of them To Tidus. He'll just hoist himself up to sit on an empty counter, smiling as he watches the other.

"How long do these kinds of things need to bake, anyway?"

"It says half an hour, but we need to let it rise first and we need to make the garlic butter, because that goes in it before we bake it."

He smiled, not pausing in the kneading. This was hard work though, Inigo must be a lot stronger than him to have gone for such a long time.

~~Hey, once you get used to fighting for days on end when the situation is bad enough, kneading bread for a few minutes doesn't seem as bad in comparison..~~

"Half an hour doesn't seem so bad though," he replies with a smile. Here Inigo was worried it'd take a ridiculously long time and they wouldn't be able to give it to Tidus anytime soon.

The smile is now most definitely turned at Taiki, even when he isn't sure the other will look at him with how focused he is on the kneading. But Inigo knows Taiki will at least hear him when he adds-- "That time flies when I'm with you, you know."

A little compliment can't hurt when Taiki's self esteem is so incredibly low. Inigo will throw flattery at it until it's a mountain of self esteem!

"It needs to rise for an hour first..." He tells him quietly, "So it will still be a little bit of time before it is ready."

But still an hour and a half isn't that bad either.

He glanced over at Inigo and his own smile brightened even as he felt a little embarrassed. It was still so strange that he had people, who weren't even from Tai, who liked him, who wished to spend time with him.

"It is the same with you, it always feels as if time goes faster when I am with you."

Testing his patience here, bread. But okay, it's true, an hour and a half still isn't too bad, right..

"Then maybe I should somehow get more of me in here so that hour and a half will turn into a few minutes," he jokes, though obviously not really annoyed at the idea of having to wait a bit. He seems too spirited for it right now. (Besides, he's pretty sure this train can't handle more than one of him.. and not in a good way.)

Taiki laughs, a light sound and smiles at Inigo, "That would be nice."

But even with just one Inigo, he doesn't think the time will go slowly. "We need garlic now and some other herbs... Do you want to grab them or do you want to take over here while I go to the store carriage?"

"Garlic shouldn't be too hard.."

Besides, he has to redeem himself! He doesn't want Taiki to think he's like a toddler who can't even go to the stores to grab some basic ingredients, even if it's due to him not exactly being up to modern food standards more than anything.

"It's.. It's kind of like.."

He draws a shape with his hands in the air. It does look pretty garlic shaped?

"Something like that, right?"

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