markofthebrave | [ Action, Voice ] .029

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[ Action, Voice ] .029

[For no very specific reason at all, Katara is happy this late afternoon. The air is getting colder, and the very fact that it's nipping at her face is enough to make her smile. Add to that the glorious storm of yesterday, that it is still drizzling...

It's started drizzling as she runs her errands in town, and she puts a hand up to bend an 'umbrella' above her head as she walks along. She forgets herself, though, as she comes to some large puddles in the road, and dropping her hand, stares at them for half a beat.

Well, she's already wet.

So she jumps in. Not bending at all, simply splashing about in the puddles along her way.

Feel free to catch her in this rare display of immaturity and glee - or even join her! Hopefully she won't catch a cold.

Much later, as she prepares dinner for her house, she makes a voice post.]

Anyone else looking forward to the change in the weather?

[OOC: I know notifs are so so down. Please ping me on AIM if it's been a while and I haven't tagged!]

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[Blink, blink. So much focused intensity... but she's not sure where this is coming from. It's not as if it's had a chance to get that bad yet, like when Zuko randomly took over dinner all those months back. And this 'You deserve it?' What is that? She's just doing what she's always done. And she doesn't appreciate being told that she needs a break, that he can see it, when she's feeling fine.]

It's really not that bad. It's kind of nice having a full house to cook for again instead of just me and Sokka, and it's not as if I really have to prepare anything. The grocery store has it basically ready to go.

[Says the girl who is used to waiting for the hunters to bring the meat home, then dressing, curing, and preparing, and cooking it.]

[Oh and one last thing. The whole "real men don't eat quiche" thing? No man in his right mind should turn down something that has that much cheese in it. EVER.]

At least keep it in consideration for when you feel like a change of pace then? I can sympathize with you on making dinner for others, after all.

[Change in tactics then. Katara is nothing if not a challenge. And that annoying voice in the back of his head likes her too. It says it's proud of him for putting forth this kind of effort for a girl with substance, for once.]

I can do that. [She smiles at him, fully intending to never bring it up again. But he's managed to pique her curiosity.] You're used to cooking for a lot of people?

[He shakes his head.]

No, just myself plus one for the most part. [Like his sister who's been dead for years, or the dozens of girls he's dated back home. But no need to mention any of them, right?]

I do understand what you mean, though. There's a certain satisfaction to be had in seeing people enjoy something you've put that sort of work into.

[He meant that to be a bullshit line. But at least part of the sincerity was kind of not faked. Funny, that.]

[Her smile softens into the closest thing to real appreciation since this exchange about dinner began.] I guess that's true. I never really thought of it like that.

[That smile... That left him off guard for once. He had decided not long after arriving here to live how he knew best- alone. When he threw himself into the fight that cost him his life, Michael had come to terms with a lot of things. But waking up here... he couldn't help feel like it cheapened the feelings he gave his last breath to speak. Feelings that smile reminded him of.

He was oddly silent for a moment, reminding himself he didn't need to let people close. Flirting and dating was fun... friends too, and they could save your tail in a pinch... but getting too close was just inviting grief. Especially considering either one of them could simply be gone one day. He wouldn't put himself through losing someone close to him again.

...But no need for any drastic action, especially if it might put her feelings at stake.]

I suppose it's something like how a craftsman or artist feels, don't you think?

[Still smiling, inside he was reassuring himself that he could keep the status quo while that voice in the back of his head laughed.]

...And I also suppose we might want to find someplace else to talk... unless you've got to get home soon, of course.

[Oblivious to the depths of Michael's internal struggle, Katara's gaze had still turned concerned during that pause. But when he smiles, she smiles back.]

If you want, I wouldn't mind sharing your umbrella to the grocery store? I can hang out for a little bit after that, but everyone comes back to the house hungry.

[She was totally making her way through the puddles in an orderly and timely fashion, hush. >>]

[Of course she was. It was clearly a case of testing the puddles to make sure they were not deceptively deep, enough so to pose a risk to other passers-by.]

As you wish. [Oh thank god it's doubtful that either of them has ever seen The Princess Bride.] That was my next desination anyway~

[She beams up at him happily.] Thanks. Cold and wet are never a good combination.

[And stepping slightly closer to him, she moves to walk alongside him.]

Though they are usually a good excuse for a hot meal and a comfortable seat right next to som- ...next to a fire.

[And sharing an umbrella at least made it into the top five.]

So how are you settling in? Enjoying the new paint job?

The whole place is immaculate. And in no small part thanks to the paint job~

[As they arrive at the grocery store, He takes a step out from beneath the umbrella to leave Katara sheltered while he opens the door.]

All the more reason for you to come by and see it sometime, of course.

[She looks up at him when he steps out into the rain and gets the door - one of these days, she's going to have to ask someone what the big deal is about that. But she steps into store quickly so he doesn't get too wet.]

Did you change it all that much?

[He shakes his head as he ducks through the door, closing and propping the umbrella by the door.]

Set up the main area with a couple couches and a love seat. A bookshelf I'm slowly working on filling too. Got the bedroom set up nicely too~

-Not that you'd probably care about seeing that.

[Oh he did not just slip like that. Hey, look at that zucchini. That's totally an awesome zucchini.]

[At that last line, she gives him a bit of a weird look. What's the big deal about his bedroom? It's not like she wasn't in it to paint it before. ~~S-sob.~~]

Why wouldn't I? I'm glad you've got the place set up.

[And she goes for that zucchini. It will taste great chopped up with spicy noodles.]

[Oh god. He's not going to answer thaaaat~ Especially since our boy here is still at least barely clinging to his v-card.]

Haha, looks like I'll have to think up something other than stir-fry tonight... keep an eye open for spinach? Been a while since I had quiche.

((Damn I'm good.))

[The whole bedroom reference was weird to her anyway, so she's just as satisfied to let it drop. Searching for a good eggplant now.]

Sorry, did you want this? [A beat.] What's quiche?

((Yes! Well done.))

[He waves off the zucchini.]

It's alright- I've got better plans now.

And... it's kind of like a pie. Except instead of desert, it's like the rest of the meal wrapped into a single package.

Really? I've never heard of it... I'll have to ask Sanji. What do you make it out of?

It's based on a custard- eggs and milk. And from there most any savory ingredients work for filler. Cheese, spinach, peppers, mushrooms, bacon or ham... and in any combination too, really.

[He grabs a big bunch of spinach and gives it a cursory check for freshness.]

For the most part, I stick to spinach and cheese for simplicity's sake.

That sounds really good, actually. [And it really, really does. All the ingredients in this lovely grocery store... if she was able to remember them all, she'd have a hard time going back to the somewhat limited menu of the South Pole.]

Would you mind sharing your recipe sometime? [Pause.] You say you can make some with meat and some without meat? Just like... baking two separate pies but adding different ingredients?

I'd be more than happy to.

[And of course, since he doesn't have it written down or anything... a hands on lesson will be in order~]

Yeah, wouldn't be hard. Make enough of the custard base for two quiches. And I usually fill the crust with the other ingredients first, then pour the base over it.

[A quick, appreciative smile as she locates an acceptable eggplant.] Then I'd really appreciate it. Aang's a vegetarian, and Sokka's never happy unless there's meat. So if there was a quick meal I'd be able to make for afternoons when I was a little bit rushed... that would be really great.

[He grins.] Yeah- you could probably even trick Sokka into eating something without meat with this. That's what happened to me the first time I had quiche as a child.

If you can trust them to keep an eye on the oven, you could easily toss it in there and leave them to their devices.

And if not- the stuff actually gets better as leftovers.

[Finished with her vegetable shopping - she can only bring back what she can carry, after all - Katara turns to look at him a bit wryly.] Our leftovers don't make it through lunch.

But it sounds like it would be fun to try! [A quick smile of gratitude.] Thanks, Michael.

[ Action, Voice ] .029

[Action] I may be detecting that subtle vibe XD Sadly, Katara does not know this dish exists

[Action] Oh, she will.

[Action] She'll love it. ...especially if it means cooking just once a night for a while >>

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[Action] Time for his own tl;dr

[Action] Delicious tl;dr

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[Action] 50 points for movie reference \o/

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[Action] TV doesn't exist here, does it?

[Action] It can be asked for if you know it exists! No TV shows, but DVDs and the like, sure.

[Action] He'll probably have a home theater before too long then~

[Action] Cool! Just make sure Michael asks 'Catherine' for 'em (checked with a mod to make sure >>)

Re: [Action] Of course. And holy hivemind batman. Was going to have him go for eggplant parmesan.

[Action] ffff XD

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