#002 - Action

[allthelinks]

[Well. That was an adventure. Souji never knew he didn't actually want to meet real dinosaurs, thanks for ruining that childhood fantasy, Paradisa. He also figured out his loss, that was fun, too. But now it's back to the daily scheduled Wacky Castle Adventure™, and in a fit of restlessness, he's gone down where everyone inevitably goes when they get bored enough and wishes feel like cheating.

Down to the kitchen.

And he's cooking. Everything is going alright in making this beef and vegetable stew, so far, but after tasting it, he's not so sure it has enough zing. It needs more flavor, more kick!

So he's going to add some of those funny-looking peppers he found in the fridge. The fact that the stew is actually smoking now isn't necessarily a bad thing, right?]

...Smells good.

Comments

[i_demand_euphoria]

[Ugh, it smells like his mom the dreaded Snlarkbvat from Planet Une is cooking in here. Calvin makes a face when he walks inside the kitchen.]

Are you allowed to use the stove? Because you probably shouoldn't be.

[allthelinks]

[Oh, hey, it's a kid. Younger than his cousin, probably, and just about the opposite in personalities, because, darn, kid. You loud.]

Is it a private stove?

[Oops. He never considered that.]

...I'll clean up after myself.

[i_demand_euphoria]

[Yeah Souji, extremely different from your cousin.] If it's a private stove, they should really think about putting their name on it or something.

I just meant that you maybe shouldn't be allowed near fire. Judging by the smoke.

[allthelinks]

That's right. No one can complain if I use something that's open for everyone.

[It's basic logic, but it appears this kiddo already realizes that. Kudos to him.]

...Maybe adding those peppers was a mistake. But I don't think anything's burning.

[Maybe they're smoke peppers. Are those a thing?]

[i_demand_euphoria]

I don't know why I have to be the one to tell you this, because you definitely look older than me, but smoke typically means something is burning.

[allthelinks]

You're right. I am older than you.

[Very wise, little man. Very wise.]

Smoke usually is bad, that's true. But it doesn't smell like burning, I'm thinking it's weird-colored steam. That means it's probably going to taste different.

[i_demand_euphoria]

[You get a weird look for this little comment, Souji. Weird colored steam? What.]

Weird colored steam... that looks like smoke. You're right it is going to taste different, it's going to taste like charcoal. [Seriously Souji what.]

[allthelinks]

[But it really doesn't smell like smoke! It's actually pleasant, not even destructive at all.]

Hmm.

...I'd better taste it anyway, just to be sure. [How else does he get his courage stat up?] Maybe it'll still be okay.

[And with the heat now off, it should be cool enough to taste pretty soon.]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Guess who frequents the kitchen a lot? This gal! Not to cook, of course. But when she entered the kitchen, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of Souji cooking, there's just something adorable about it... Plus she's totally crushing on him again. But when she snapped out of that love trance, she spoke up and waved]

Hey neighbor!

[allthelinks]

[Oh, thank goodness she doesn't try to cook. Souji might not have traumatic flashbacks to Mystery Food X like Yosuke does, but the memory of that taste will never leave him. But anyway, he's enjoying himself cooking and... trying to work up the courage to taste what he's made, here.]

Oh, Chie. Hey, come to get something to eat? [There's a big smile and a wave back for her! And... there's beef in this stew. Maybe she'll try it.]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Uh-huh. You bet.

[allthelinks]

Awesome. I'm hoping this is going to taste good, you're welcome to have some.

[Look, the smoke isn't billowing out so much now! Maybe it's about done.]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Alright! I thought I was gonna take something from the fridge again.

[Chie pulls out a chair on the small kitchen table. Screw the dining room]

[allthelinks]

Can't have that, you don't know where any of that stuff's from.

[Nevermind that's where he got all ingredients, shh. Anyway, he'll be fetching a pair of bowls, a pair of spoons, and a ladle now. Two piping-hot bowls of slightly-smoke stew, coming up!]

There's plenty of beef in here. I saw it in there and thought of you, and there was no way I couldn't throw it in.

[Too bad it's so nuclear-spicy, thanks to those peppers, that probably not even Rise could hope to stomach it.]

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Chie simply chuckled at the whole beef thing. She does love meat dishes with beef in it. But hey, she likes chicken too! She smelled the hot stew on the bowl and noticed the smell seems kind of strong...? She got the feeling it's gonna be spicy, but she's not expecting it to be really "OMG Rise's omellete is sweet compared to this" spicy]

Whoo! Thanks for the food!

[Chie took a big scoop of the stew with her spoon and dug in. But as she closed her mouth, she paused and her face turned red and sour...]

[allthelinks]

[Another cooking job well done. After dishing Chie up her bowl, he serves up his own and sits down across from her, to see her reaction.

...That's not a good reaction. He's not sure if he should, but it seems like the right thing to do, so he scoops some of the stew up and takes a bite.]

...

[And that's Souji coughing and choking down even that first little bite. And that's him going to the fridge to try to find some milk. Clearly, he's made a mistake.]

1/2

[pint_sized_carnivore]

..........

2/2

[pint_sized_carnivore]

OH MY GOOOODD!! HOT HOT HOT HOT! AAAAAHHHHH!!

[Chie sticks her tongue out, fans herself with both hands and felt tears run down her cheeks. Goddamn, it was spicy. She stood up from her chair to rush towards the fridge along with Souji, desperately trying to get something to ease the burning in her tongue]

[allthelinks]

[Through all this pain... Souji is mostly thinking of how much he needs to make this up to Chie. That's just the kind of guy he is.

But the pain is still there, it's definitely there. And after chugging down half a bottle of milk, if Chie hasn't found something, herself, he'll offer her the rest.]

S-sorry, Chie.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[Chie grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge and chugs it down. It didn't really help, but the cold dairy beverage made it burn less. Chie's face was sour from the whole thing]

Sheesh, what did you put in there? Lava?

Oh, it's okay I guess. You still made it and shared it with me...

[You can make it up by taking her out on a date. Just saiyan]

[allthelinks]

[He really does feel awful. This kind of stuff shouldn't even be fed to Rise, and he knows she likes it dangerously-spicy.

...Just be thankful he has the Understanding not to make a crack about their cooking skills being even, now.]

I threw in a mystery ingredient. Not doing that anymore.

[Sec, chugging some more milk...]

I'll make something else, if you're still hungry. Something not spicy.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

Well... If you're still okay with that. I mean, we could just wish for food.

[allthelinks]

We could.

[A pause.]

But that feels like cheating.

[pint_sized_carnivore]

[A chuckle]

It does.

If you're gonna make one, maybe I could help!

[No Chie. No]

[allthelinks]

I'm glad you agree.

[But, oh no, she wants to help cook? This is a no-win situation right here...

But maybe he can just give her easy jobs?]

Sure. What do you wanna eat? I can probably manage about anything in a place like this.