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[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[On the Plane appears a large mound of rubble, shifting uneasily as though it were just placed there and didn't have time to settle. A slightly corroded pillar stands next to the mound, teetering back and forth before it balances and stays where it is.

For a moment, nothing happens. Then... the rubble shifts and a hand pops out. It waves around before it finds good purchase among the rest of the debris, and soon, Ryotarou pulls himself out of the mess and rolls off the mound, stopping on his side. He's dirty and bloodied, and there are rips in his clothing where the sharper pieces broke through. The smaller cuts have healed already, but the larger ones are taking longer.

As it is, he just lets his head fall to the 'ground' and breathes in the fresh air.]

(ooc: ... This time, it is the fault of AIM dice.)

Comments

[contract_star]

I like cooking. It's no trouble.

[They arrive at the kitchen and--hooray! There's a step stool. Hei brought it before for Henrietta to use. Hei sets up the stool near the stove and then rifles through the cabinets and refrigerator and pulling out ingredients.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Ryotarou watches a bit awkwardly near the counter.] ... Do you.. want help with that?

[contract_star]

Mind chopping the peppers? [Nods at green and red bell peppers. Is starting to cook some rice on the stovetop.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Um... sure. [He's not the best at it, but at least if he cuts himself, it won't matter too much. He steps up to the counter and finds a knife to start chopping with.]

[contract_star]

Watch your fingers when cutting. Don't splay your fingers out--curl them like you're going to claw the peppers. That way if you slip you won't take the tips off.

[Dragging the step stool back and forth between the rice and some green onions he's chopping up, and a soy sauce mixture he's making.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Ah... Okay. [He nods a little and follows instructions, but pauses to watch Hei, tilting his head.]

Um... Hei-san... do you still have your dexterity, even though you're...?

[contract_star]

[Makes a small grumbling sound. He's holding his own knife completely wrong, but his hands are too small anyway.] No. I'm just making do. I cooked plenty at this age, so it's fine.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Are you sure? [Looking a bit concerned now.] I can do it... even if I'm not as experienced, at least it'll be okay if I slip up.

[contract_star]

[Is about to say something like "That's no way to think of it" until he realizes that if their roles were reversed, he'd probably be doing the same as Ryotarou.]

A logical argument. But I'm fine. [Finished with the green onions now anyway.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[He's just trying to make the best of it.]

Alright. If you say so.

[contract_star]

[Falls silent, since he's sort of Zen about cooking. He starts stir-frying the veggies with some garlic and sesame oil.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Ryotarou half-watches Hei cook while he chops. With only part of his attention on the task, he ends up nicking his finger and drops the knife with a small clatter; he covers the wounded finger with his other hand, applying a bit of pressure with a wince, and hopes Hei doesn't notice.]

[contract_star]

[THIS IS HEI WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. He sighs, reaches over and takes the knife from Ryotarou.]

Sit down somewhere away from the sharp objects. [Mental note not to give anything pointy to Ryo ever again.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Ryotarou places his good hand over the handle before Hei can reach for it.]

I can do it. It was just an accident.

[contract_star]

If you weren't immortal right now that would probably be a trip to the ER right there.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that bad. Honest. I startled myself, that's all.

[contract_star]

[Just sighs. The rice finishes cooking about the same time that the stir-fry is done, so Hei turns the heat down and tries to move the sauce onto a burner. But the saucepan is quite heavy and Hei clanks it down on the burner harder than he'd intended, sloshing some of it over the sides. He makes a growling sound.]

Hate being small...hate being twelve...

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Ryotarou's finished chopping one of the peppers by now, so thankfully his startled jump at the saucepan doesn't result in another finger injury. He turns around and gives a bit of a worried look.]

You sure you don't need any help with that?

[contract_star]

[Doesn't answer for awhile, stirring the sauce absently, one hand resting on the edge of the stove, staring into space. He's remembering all the zillions of reasons why he hated being twelve. And he's also working up to something that he has almost never done.]

Just...ah...in a minute the sauce needs to go on the rice, so...if you could... [Pauses because fjkdlajfdkla THE WORD] Help...me pour it...that would be good.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[... Oh hay, he actually said yes this time? Ryotarou smiles.] Sure. What do you want me to do with these before then?

[contract_star]

[Blushing a little and looking all around really awkward.] They, uh, go in the stir-fry. They need to cook just a little.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Alright. [And here he washes off what's left of the blood from the cut before he moves the peppers over to the stir-fry. Then he waits near Hei for him to say when the sauce is ready.]

[contract_star]

[It's another minute or so before the sauce has started to simmer. Hei pours the stir-fried veggies etc. into the rice and mixes that together first, then he glances at Ryo.]

Ah...now. [Grasps the saucepan handle with both hands, leaving room for Ryo to grab it too.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Right. [Ryotarou does so, helping Hei pour it in with much less fuss than the other seems to be expecting.]

[contract_star]

[Scrapes out the stray sauce with a spatula and sets the empty saucepan aside.]

Thank you.

[Mixes it all together.] Okay. It's ready.