OTA - Ramen, anyone?

[10billionpercent]

Who: Senku Ishigami, Gen Asagiri, Roland Crane and open, so very open!
Where: Kitchen
When: Horseshoe 17
What: Senku misses ramen, and so in tradition, he's making some and there's definitely enough to share.
Warnings: Shouldn't be!

Locked to Roland and Gen

Ramen didn't just make itself, and while he could cut a break, it seemed unlikely that Gen was going to leave well enough alone. He was pulling out ingredients for the broth and the noodles and he grinned.

"Glad you could make it." He addressed Roland with a smirk. "Time to pay up." He said with a beckoning motion of his finger. "Come on, I'll teach you how to make ramen."

He didn't know if Roland was familiar with it or not, but most people probably couldn't make it from scratch either.

OTA - Everybody come and eat!

It may not have been their turn to cook, but Senku didn't care because he was the one missing it the most.

The ramen that is being served has a light, brown broth from soy sauce and is actually quite tasty. Gen and Senku have had a lot of practice with substandard ingredients, and so making it with the real thing?

It's pretty decent. They went with shoryu ramen because it was the easiest with the ingredients on hand, mixed with some of the garlic and ginger that they picked up, as well as served with pork - real pork they picked up on the mission, not mystery bear meat.

Both Senku and Gen were helping to serve and dress the ramen, just like they might be at home.

[Ramen free for all, grab a bowl and Senku, Gen or Roland, or any combination of the trio above.]

Comments

[adregem]

Ten...billion points? What a strange saying. He rolls with it, though.

But he does take pause at Gen's words, quirking an eyebrow up at the boy with more skepticism than he can manage to control. It's enough to get him to abandon the task of rolling dough, for now, just so he can face the other fully.

"I find that hard to believe." He says, with no small amount of certainty. "We'll never be able to go back to Jema'grethy to get more, so you're probably rationing it to last as long as it can."

He's more shocked that the syrup is still even edible after all this time...Then again, sugar could preserve things, right?

[10billionpercent]

He tried, not that hard, to muffle a mix between a snicker and a giggle before completely losing it, dissolving into a fit of proper laughter at Gen because honestly he'd known he was lying but he hadn't expected Roland to call him out on it.

It was probably rude to laugh at his friend, but that was too bad, that was what Senku was doing. If Gen smacked him, he wouldn't be amiss to do it.

[fun_thementalist]

It's bad enough that Roland called him out, but then Senku started to laugh at him? Gen's eyes went wide, and he did smack his friend weakly on the arm. "So cruel! Accusing me of being a liar, and now you laughing at me, Senku-chan?"

Gen dramatically pouted. "What sort of Mentalist am I if I'm so transparent? I'm going to need to be on my guard around you, my friend."

His eyes twinkled at Roland at that implied threat, and then poked at Senku. "And you, you're not even backing me up, some help you are."

[adregem]

Roland only raises his eyebrow at Gen, in part-challenge part-acknowledgment. He knows this type well, having lived a good portion of his life surrounded by smooth-talkers and charismatic trailblazers. He only knows that Gen is completely and utterly loyal to Senku, but even that earns a part of his respect. That's what's asked of a right-hand man to a leader of a nation, after all. He'd feel the same if it was Evan put under the spotlight.

"Well, you know where to find me when you've sharpened your game." Roland smirks lightheartedly, resuming his task of kneading and setting aside what rolled up balls are finished. He'll eventually time some of them for the thirty-minutes Senku instructs him to; and is content to work alongside the both of them, regardless of their dynamic.

[10billionpercent]

He was all too amused, because honestly, the number of people who could even call Gen out was abysmally small, so it was too funny. He batted back at Gen's hand.

"Since when did you need me to get you out of these kinds of scrapes?" Senku teased, and it sounded more like a challenge than what Roland had even posited.

They might have had their own rivalry going on, as one of the many facets of their multi-layered relationship.

[fun_thementalist]

Gen huffed, as if sorely injured, insulted and abandoned. Well. Aside from the little smirk playing on his lips. He could hide that, but he's not trying to sell this lie. This is all in good fun.

He started to poke at Senku. "I never claimed to need you, my dear, but being given a hand would've been nice!"

That challenge from Roland got a smirk. "I'll remember I don't need to be so gentle around you any more. Easy-mode has been deactivated."

[adregem]

He stops his kneading for a second just to properly look at Gen with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk. Tone all too happy to sound dry and sarcastic as the expression warrants it, knowing the other could take such a hit.

"About time, Mr. Mentalist. I should be insulted you ever thought I was worth your easiest setting."

Roland chuckles quietly to himself and returns to the dough. He can give that jab to Senku, too, who seems all too happy to indulge their little back and forth.

[10billionpercent]

"I'm sure it would be." Senku said, batting at Gen's poking finger, and then he leaned closer to rub his hand on Gen's sleeve to smear some flour there with a bit of a smirk. "You make your own mess, you can get yourself out of it."

The ball he'd been working on was done anyway, and he was going to check on the broth. He didn't really mean that, but in a battle of bantering wit, Gen would be just fine.

[fun_thementalist]

Gen smirked right back at Roland. "No hard feelings - after all, it'd be unfair if I started everyone right at hard mode. You've just leveled up."

Gen squawked a little when Senku wiped his hands on his orange hoodie, turning to survey the damage. He took a long, long look, and then declared ...

"You know? Ugly color that this is, that's an improvement. I should just douse myself entirely in flour," Gen mused, eyeing the bag.

[adregem]

"Fair enough. I know I may look like I can't handle it, but trust me when I say I can stand with the big leagues." Senku moves away, they fall into their own little world, and Roland finishes his dough ball too. Ready for more of the work ahead, just happy to help fulfill a favor for a favor.

Though he can't help but add a dry quip, just one as he catches Gen's eye land on that bag -

- "I'd highly advise against that. We have to make noodles."

[10billionpercent]

"Don't waste food, even if your clothes are ugly." Senku answered, giving it a stir, then a taste with a spoon and then he washed his hands properly. It was really the pot calling the kettle black but honestly, he hated the clothes on him too.

"Alright, so this is how I do it, I'm sure it's not perfect or anything, not a chef." Senku snorted softly and then he grabbed one of the first balls made. He pressed the ball into a flat shape and grabbed a rolling pin, dusting it with flour to start rolling it out. "You want a thin enough noodle, but not too thin."

Once it was nice, flat and even, Senku folded the dough in thirds loosely and started cutting up, then he held up a noodle to demonstrate. "Not too bad, right?" Packaged noodles were definitely more uniform, but if anyone asked, these were just rustic noodles.

[fun_thementalist]

"Fine, fine," Gen laughed quietly, and stepped fluidly out of the way to let Senku pass, not impeding his demonstration.

Gen did peer to look at Senku's handiwork, as if he hadn't seen it often enough before. "You've gotten pretty good practice at it, though, if you ask me. Your noodles keep looking better and better."

His grin was sly toward Roland, a clear ploy toward his competitiveness. "Perhaps he'd manage to make his slices more uniform, but I doubt he'll do as well as you do, Senku."

[adregem]

Roland keeps quiet and listens well, moves his hands against the dough and folds them into thirds the way Senku demonstrates with diligence and careful attention. No wonder muscle work was needed - the more they work on the dough, the more its fighting back before it allows some give as it loosens up.

At Gen's jab however, clearly a provocation trying to rile him up for kicks, the chief consul merely smirks, the tone of his answer lilted like he's playing along with it too. He can take the heat in the kitchen.

"Well, from my experience, it's the most satisfying when you get to prove your harshest critics wrong. Especially when they've already got really low expectations of you. Heh." He catches that mischief in Gen's eye for a split second before he returns to the task, skillful at least, with the simple handling of the knife.

[10billionpercent]

"Nah, not low expectations, just I expect it's probably new to you." Senku hummed.

Then he nudged Gen with his elbow since he was so close. "You're lucky you're not on noodle duty today and that Roland owed me a favour. This place is practically a vacation for you." He teased.

[fun_thementalist]

Gen was so close, he's practically leaning on Senku. Barely not doing that, but only by a mere breath of space.

"I could use a vacation after all the work you've put me through, my dear," Gen quipped.

He glanced at Roland. "Did I ever tell you how he decided to have us build a power plant? Powered by human labor? I'd barely met him, and he put me straight to work!"

[adregem]

Roland would be more interested in that story...But of course it's not the words that catch his attention, but the actions. Gen is all up in Senku's space that Roland, who by all means understands these little cues a bit better than Senku, can't help but comment on with a good natured lilt to his voice. Arms crossed knowingly, a sly look on his expression.

"You two sure you need me around here? I've got a feeling you've uh, both got a good hand on this ramen thing already." Pun intended.

Seriously. Did they know Minako's got a quiet room ready for couples? He should tell Gen that later on.

[10billionpercent]

"Enjoy your vacation, Mentalist, because the second we stop on a mission I'm putting you to work." He said, it was a promise, and teasing all at once. He wasn't too worried about Gen in his space, obviously, since he never moved or told him to back off.

Senku blinked at Roland's question a moment, as though he were wondering where it came from. "Of course I do, this is your chore task after all." He pointed out with an amused chuckle. "I don't let anyone out of work, even him." He gestured at Gen.

so Roland should clearly just tell them to get a room. :D

[fun_thementalist]

"Senku-chan, you're so cruel to me ..." Gen whined while he grinned, not budging a millimeter.

Gen, however, caught Roland's look, and he heard the implication. He hid his blush, giving the older man a slightly arch look instead. He had to be careful. Senku had very firm boundaries, which Gen didn't ever want to overstep. It's one thing to tease and make fun, but - he felt protective of his dearest friend.

"He'll put me hard at work doing whatever task he thinks of," Gen told Roland with a knowing look, "but nothing I do for him is particularly special. And there's certainly no hands-on task he'd require me to do that another can't."

Gen might be his favorite friend, in a way, but Senku didn't see him much differently from anyone else. And that was Fine.

HAHAHAHA too late to ride on that bus, they already have 😏

[adregem]

Ah.

He's glad he's done this game already, wizened up and gone through the ups and downs of navigating relationships. Roland sees that glint in Gen's eye and acknowledges it with a shrug, his smile no less amused but colored with a bit more understanding. He won't know the nuance of their dynamics, maybe it won't even matter. But all he knows is enough; that Gen might have just been more than a Mentalist advisor to Senku, and that he cares. Cares enough to pull back. Comes in close but never too much. Interesting.

"Alright, I hear you loud and clear. Here I am, getting back to work. You two just do what you gotta do for that broth." He spares Gen anymore of it, allowing them whatever privacy they desire, though if Roland were to be asked, they've always been two people from the outside looking in. And he's not spent much time with them; so strong that bond he can see it for what it is immediately.

Xue Yang meddled, but it all worked out in the end :D

[10billionpercent]

"See? He complains a lot less than you." Senku informed Gen, glancing at him and poked his side. He was just teasing him though, because Gen didn't even complain all that much, considering just what backbreaking work he put him through.

"Set some water to boil and taste the broth and see what you think." He shifted into instructions all too easily.

"Then obviously the three of us should test this out." At least there was a reward at the end of it.

the real question is will Roland be able to tell the difference in future threads

[fun_thementalist]

Gen was satisfied by the understanding look he'd gotten in turn - and grinned as he poked Senku back. "That's on him, my dear - if that means you give him the more difficult tasks instead of me, I will not complain."

He winked at them, and then went to fill up a pot to boil the water in. His tone was playful. "The testing part is my favorite, of course!"

When the filled pot was on the burner, he'd lean over and sip a little of the broth, too. "Mmmm. I think this is the best it'll be with the ingredients we have, what do you think, my friends?"

we shall see >:) he's a perceptive man!

[adregem]

Roland joins the duo, makes it a point to stay by Senku's other side so that they're still shoulder-to-shoulder as they take a sip of the broth. Roland decides to go last of course, out of courtesy really, and his eyes grow wide in surprise. For how simple the ingredients were, the taste was brought out well. He sucks on his spoon for a bit before nodding in agreement.

"Wow. It's delicious. Look at you two. The ramen will be a hit."

He won't double dip, but it warrants a second sip if he had a clean spoon again. For now -

"I have to work hard on the noodles. It's gotta compliment the star of the dish."

Oh there will probably be a tell, you know how it is

[10billionpercent]

Senku looked very pleased with himself and everything they'd made together. "Your noodles look fine, so it will be great."

He turned to Roland and offered him one of his rather coveted high fives. "Good job." Let it be said, he wasn't actually stingy with his praise when it was deserved.

He would also offer one to Gen, even if he would qualify what he did more as supervising, but he would also tell Gen. "You can cook us some noodles so we can eat. Roland too." Eating was the best part.

Gen doesn't have as good of a poker face when it comes to Senku after all :D

[fun_thementalist]

Gen knew exactly how great those high-fives were. He happily accepted it, smiling brightly, and then quickly snagged some tongs so he could cook the noodles, just waiting on Roland. "Cooking the noodles is the fastest part, my dears. These are the freshest of fresh, so just a few minutes - and we can eat."

Roland making wiggly eyebrows at Gen one of these days

[adregem]

Roland wasn't at all aware of what that high-five meant apart from a job well-done, so he reciprocates simply, slapping his palm against Senku's at the same time as Gen does.

"I'll watch you cook them. We're going to be an assembly line of sorts here, right? Gotta make sure I'm doing my part when we're doing sampling the meal." And he's getting kind of excited about it too. When was the last time he's had something this close to home food?