@Sparrow | Video

[arcadedragon]

[The video feed opens on part of the kitchen where there's a big stockpot sitting on the counter on a towel, and a few small bowls filled with soup are standing ready nearby. If anyone has known Genji for more than five minutes it's a shock that the rest of the kitchen isn't stacked to the ceiling with dirty dishes and there isn't food literally everywhere.

He cleans up nice sometimes.

While he's not visible at any point in the video, his slightly mechanical voice is pretty recognizable, so he doesn't think to introduce himself.]

Many of us have been sick, and the weather has become increasingly colder. I made butajiru, except without miso and without dashi because we do not have such things. So I suppose it is simply pork broth and vegetables.

In any case I made a lot, please help yourself, it is in the kitchen.

[Genji is capable of making exactly four items of food: porridge, tamagoyaki, waffles, and this. It's actually good too! Spoiled rich boy has learned himself some new skills.]

Comments

[writtendestiny]

Oh, you were rich.

[It comes out like a statement of fact, not a judgement. Gull, where Poison grew up, did not have a concept of 'rich'. No one was really more well-off than anyone else, and there was no sense of resentment towards those who might be... because they were so far away that it didn't matter.]

The only people I've met who had servants were lords and ladies.

[Oh, but she's met queens, too, but when you're torn away from your home your titles cease to matter.]

[arcadedragon]

Yes. My family was. And powerful.

You mean royalty? I am definitely not that.

[writtendestiny]

Not always royalty. They acted like they were.

[But Genji seems fairly... normal. Not someone she would have guessed came from a place of privilege.]

You're more polite than they were.

[arcadedragon]

I try.

[he smiles a bit, glad he doesn't come off like a spoiled rich kid who never took responsibility for anything.]

I can't say I recommend having people who do everything for you. I feel incompetent now, that I did not learn the most basic things. It took far too long to learn to make this.

[He spent a lot of time learning to make soup because he wanted at least one skill.]

[writtendestiny]

You learned it well.

[Poison doesn't give compliments too often, but she is enjoying the soup very much.]

If you'd like to learn to cook other things, I can show you what I know.

[arcadedragon]

Thank you!

[He sounds genuinely happy. It's not often he gets compliments, in fact he could count them on one hand.]

What do you like to make?

[writtendestiny]

My mother used to make a mushroom soup. Mine isn't as good, but I like to make it.

[She pauses to swallow another mouthful, then gestures slightly with her spoon.]

But I can make stews, bread, simple cakes. Stews are easy.

[arcadedragon]

Bread? What goes into making bread?

[Noodles and bread, please carb load this ninja.]

[writtendestiny]

Oh, that's very easy.

[She brightens slightly, leaning forwards, eager enough to share knowledge.]

Flour, water, yeast and a little oil and salt. That's it, unless you want to do something fancy.

[arcadedragon]

That's it? And then you bake it?

It seemed so much more complex than that.

[writtendestiny]

Mm, that's about it.

[She smiles slightly at him, then looks around the kitchen.]

... I've got time, we could make some now.

[arcadedragon]

Really?

[He looks delighted!]

What do we need? I'll get it.

[writtendestiny]

Ah, we'll need flour, salt, butter, water, and... yeast, of course.

[Unless they want flat bread, but that's not really what she's going for here.]

And some bowls, and a tray to put it into the oven.

[arcadedragon]

[He springs into action! He's gonna get that bread! Well assist in making that bread. He's all about this, gathering the ingredients and looking through all the cabinets and drawers for what they need.]

Yeast comes in little packets? Or is it a jar?

[Time to root through everything.]

I never realized it was so few ingredients. But I did not ever cook, nor watch anyone do so. Except at the ramen place because the kitchen was exposed.

[writtendestiny]

Yeast? Ah... packets. They might be in a box.

[She takes her time, finding a couple of bowls and a tray, and turning the oven on.]

Did you not want to know how the things you were eating were made?

[arcadedragon]

I wasn't allowed in the kitchen. I made too many messes.

[If he hadn't been the son of the clan leader he would have been kicked out with far harsher methods than words. Genji was a terror as a child. But he's matured, somewhat, emerging victorious with a packet of yeast. Aww yiss, gonna be bread time.]

What do you need me to do?

[writtendestiny]

I'll tell you what you need to do. [She tells him with a small, but genuine smile.

He looks so excited, and she's not going to take that away from him.]

Start with the flour. Um-- you can do it on the counter, but it's probably safer to use a bowl since it's your first time. About a third full should be enough.

[Recipe? What's a recipe?]

[arcadedragon]

[Yay! He diligently follows instructions, scooping flour into the bowl.]

How did you learn? From watching others?

[writtendestiny]

My mother.

[She smiles faintly.]

I was twelve when she died.

[arcadedragon]

I am sorry.

My father died when I was older, I cannot imagine losing him in my younger years.

[So much would have been different without Sojiro sticking up for his irresponsible son.]

[writtendestiny]

It was difficult.

[She doesn't talk about her mother much. There's a small frown on her face, but she gestures to the flour in the bowl.]

You need to make a well in the middle next, and you'll need a cup of warm water.

[arcadedragon]

Life challenges us whenever it can. If there's a reason for it, I haven't found it yet.

[He obediently scoops a hole into the middle of his bowl of flour, perplexed by this new instruction, but if it gets him bread, he'll do it.]

Why warm?

[writtendestiny]

Because the yeast likes it warm.

[She delivers this piece of information with a factual tone, picking up the box of yeast packets and sliding a sachet out.]

It's alive. Sort of.

[arcadedragon]

It's alive? Are they .. nanites?

They look like sand.

[writtendestiny]

No, they're... fungus, I think. Something like that.

[Spores? They act like they're alive, to a certain definition of living.]

You'll see it when you add the water.