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

[longforgottenpromise]

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?"

Comments

[flatteries]

"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?"

[longforgottenpromise]

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.

[flatteries]

"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.

[longforgottenpromise]

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.

[flatteries]

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?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"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.

[flatteries]

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!

[longforgottenpromise]

"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."

[flatteries]

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.)

[longforgottenpromise]

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?"

[flatteries]

"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?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes." Taiki nodded, looking more enthusastic than perhaps was necessary at Inigo knowing what garlic was.

But he is trying to be encouraging.

"I'll keep kneading."

[flatteries]

It is very encouraging. Or at the very least, it seems to be. Inigo is a simple guy, his heart jumping at the slightest sign of encouragement or praise.. but in this case that may just be a good thing, since it makes him smile at Taiki's nod.

"Alright!" Okay, he's got to do it right now! Taiki is believing in him! "Hang on, I'll be right back! You won't even know I'm gone!"

Before Taiki can even get in another word, Inigo indeed seems to already have gone to grab the garlic..

.. though he isn't back right away. He isn't taking quite as long as last time, but it's still a bit longer than most people would take to grab something so simple.

But then he does walk back into the kitchen, probably by the time Taiki just finishes up the kneading, he's holding up the garlic triumphantly. Like he just won a gold medal at the Olympics.

"Tadah! Look what the Great Inigo has brought you!"

[longforgottenpromise]

Taiki smiled and continued kneading the dough. He glances towards the carriage once or twice, he doesn't want Inigo to get upset again so he stays where he is, trusting that he will find the garlic. It's not as if they are in any rush after all.

"I knew you would find it." He grinned at Inigo's triumph. "Thank you Inigo."

His enthusiasm is genuine, it's hard not to be charmed by how triumphant and happy Inigo is right now.

[flatteries]

Inigo looks so happy at the thanks. Getting thanks from Taiki, is there anything better than that? It's enough to temporarily forget about absolutely everything else.

"No problem. Anything for you, Taiki." Look at this obedient puppy, ready for his command to roll over... He walks over to the counter, putting the garlic down on it. "I wasn't sure how much we'd need, so I just took a whole bunch."

Which.. may be a bit too much, but it's not like Inigo understands garlic's true potency.

[longforgottenpromise]

"That's perfect, we won't need all of it but it is better than too little."

He looks at the recipe to see exactly how much they need, only two cloves. He took the bulb to break two pieces off.

"We need to crush this and mix it with the butter."

[flatteries]

There's a slight pause.

Like Inigo is thinking about whether or not to ask this out loud.. He probably should, right. Taiki knows he's kind of behind on these things. He won't think he's an idiot.

"So.. what do people here usually use to crush things like these?"

Because he's ready to get his sword out, you know.

But Inigo realises it's probably not The Proper Way.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Um..." Taiki blinked at him, not because he thinks Inigo is an idiot in any way but...

"I'm not sure." He looked down, he has mostly gotten this far from understanding modern appliances and how to read recipes. But cooking is really not something he knows.

"Something heavy I guess..."

[flatteries]

Huh.

Well, if even Taiki doesn't know, then everything is fair game, isn't it? And in all blissful optimism, Inigo can't help but immediately say: "Should I grab my sword?"

You know, like it's normal! Is this not how people cook?

Though he looks around, seemingly finding an alternative moments after saying that which don't require him to head back to his room or bringing a weapon around Taiki - which just generally doesn't seem like a very good idea. He grabs a cookbook someone left lying around, grinning widely.

"Wait, wait, I got it! Leave this to me!"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Um..." He really doesn't want Inigo to fetch his sword, not at all but he also doesn't want to upset him and he's not sure what to say but then Ingio seems to find another idea and maybe crushing garlic with a book isn't exactly what the recipe intends, but it is better than a sword...

"Okay, I trust you."

Inigo has got this!

[flatteries]

See, this is clearly the better solution. No weapons around Taiki involved, and yet this is the same idea! Inigo doesn't even seem to have the slightest bit of hesitation about the idea of crushing garlic with a book. This is just normal to him.

So he smiles. "Heh, thanks!"

Taiki's trust!! That's all he needs to instantly make his day a whole lot better.

So Inigo just raises the thick book above his head, before slamming it down on the counter - on top of the garlic. It's a pretty loud smack, everything considered.

"Do you think this is enough?" He will stand there slamming this book down all day if he has to!

[longforgottenpromise]

He still skitters slightly as the book hits the garlic, even if he was expecting the sound of the impact. Still he gives Inigo a reassuring smile.

"Let's see... We can see if it has been crushed enough."

He reaches out to lift the book up and see how successful Inigo's attempt was.

[flatteries]

Apparently it was pretty succesful! Anything else would have been weird with how hard Inigo was smacking that book down, after all...

But a new problem does show up: the garlic is flattened, sure, but it's now literally stuck to the book itself. As Taiki lifts it, the garlic just.. moves right along.. stuck to the cover..

".. Is it supposed to do that?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Um... I guess... No. But it's alright." Taiki reassured him quickly, "We can get it off..."

A knife would scrape it off. It's probably not the most hygienic but neither was bashing garlic with a book in the first place.

[flatteries]

Hygienic? What does that word mean, medieval boy Inigo has never encountered it before. Can you eat it?

"We can?"

But rather than doing the smart thing and grabbing a knife, Inigo is just.. peeling it off with his fingers..

At least it's working, since he's putting the flattened garlic on the counter, separated from the book.