[post draft] madoka, cooking

[blitzcheer]

Who: Madoka (happyends), Tidus, and You!
Where: Kitchens!
When: 27 & 28 llama.
What: They're making prep! It's a lot of fish and rice. Enjoy.
Warnings: it's coookin' time.

[ ICP, video: ] Over the comms on the 27th of a Llama, there's a call over the comms, cheery and bright as two faces welcome the screen (at different heights):

"Heyyy! Me and Madoka've got some cooking goin' on with a bunch of fish me and some others got back on the floating fishbowl. You know who you are - thanks!"

"Right..! It’s not just for now, but it’s so we can take it along on the next mission.. Um, you know, in the lunchboxes we have! Which means we’re making a lot, so if people could help, it’d mean a lot..! We’re preparing the fish in all sorts of ways, so there’s something everyone can do."

"You got a recipe or wanna help out, come join us! Oh yeah, and we're doing the same tomorrow with some veggie options, so no fish! Any vegetarians or vegans, come help out! I've got some ingredients left for that stuff too."

[ 1: IN THE KITCHEN: FISHY STYLE ]

And as loudly announced, the goody two shoes duo are in the kitchen, a feast laid out and ready to be messed with. There's the ingredients from storage brought out with weights, bowls and cups, marinades made and in the process of being so. Cute aprons selected for both of the cooks for the day: this for Madoka, and this for Tidus. There’s a repurposed poster from last month’s art day - made by Romeo, temporarily gone but not forgotten - put up on the wall that says ‘please vote for the art car!’ (Subtle.)

Come because of their call or because you came for other reasons, either of the pair are likely to take a second out of what they're doing to welcome you - usually with a "Hey!" from Tidus first, and then Madoka following with “Welcome!”

Curious? Just stopping by? The two will chitchat - Tidus more so than Madoka.

[ a: making sushi ]

”Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it seems!” Madoka is quick to say that to a smile with anyone who wants to help out, quick to reassure.

For people who are new to it she will show off how to cut the fish and lay out the pieces of fish, rice and nori to roll the sushi. But before the rolling part starts, she looks over, asking - “Should I help show you how to roll?” Her hands are already hovering above yours, implying she’s ready to touch and guide you. The girl seems to realise something though, as she adds: “Oh, um, or would you rather have Tidus help out? I taught him!”

Tell her, dear friend or mysterious stranger. Whose hands do you want to have contact with right now.

But for people who either have experience or who have been around the kitchen for a bit longer today, Madoka has some advanced ideas, which she presents with a smile on her face. “You know, you can make them in all sorts of fun shapes too! It’s good for morale!” She points at an example sitting on the counter, which happens to be shaped like a panda. “Do you have any fun shape ideas? We can try it out!”

[ b: fish kebabs in a pan ]

"The secret to making anything good taste great is a bunch of spices! I wonder if we should just cook them all in the pan and throw them in the lunchbox like that? Just stick in a single skewer for picking up?"

This is the portion of cooking where the marinade bowls are getting out, and every available herb and spice from the pantry car and already in the kitchens. The chilis are present, garlic, fresh herbs that need to be chopped and diced into tiny tiny deliciousness. They're got a few bowls ready and in the fridge, but there's a lot of fish to go through. And for anyone joining in, they'll be asked:

"Wanna make a marinade too? All you gotta do is pick the flavours you like!"

Feeling adventurous? Also, don’t mind the saucepans of fish bones being cooked in the back there. Waste not, want not, or something.

[ c: testing out jerky cooking ]

Madoka will gladly give some jerky demonstrations. She’s not as good with it as the sushi, but she at least does have some experience - and it’s not all that hard to just dry out the fish, really.

It’s when the fish is done heating up and drying up in the oven that the trouble comes. The fish is lying on the counter, and Madoka has just finished explaining that the last part is cutting up the fish in strips of jerky, except.. “I wonder where the scissors have gone.. They were here only a moment ago..”

Madoka is looking around, seemingly unable to find said pair of scissors.

But if you look around, you may find a tiny creature floating around in the air on the other side of the kitchen, a pair of scissors now hanging off it alongside the keys.

[ 2: A VEGETARIAN FISH KEBAB, THANK YOU. ]

And so it's a bright, sunny, shiny new day. ...depending on your perspective. But Tidus and Madoka are at it again - taking out some of the spare marinades they had the other day, leftover rices and whatever tidbits. But today is for more vegetarian meals - because when you have a pal that's like that, you think about these things.

[ a: sushi, back by popular demand ]

They're doing sushi again, now with less fish. Which means using everything they have on hand, especially vegetables. There's time taken to slice cucumber and carrots into fine slices; a look over at some other vegetables like aubergine/zucchini and questioning, "Think this'll taste good...?" from Tidus, and basically, there's a big bowl of assorted veggies (thanks to Persephone's garden) that'll get used. Later. Somehow.

[ b: vegan subs ]

And now is the real time to really be looking over these vegan substitutes, and the vegetables they've got. Tidus knows how to cook with a pan, but he's brought out the vegan cookbook for this, looking at the selection of times and bags nearby: agave nectar, coconut oils and creams, aquafaba, vegan mayo and eggs, tofu, and that tempeh he and Taiki just didn't know what to do with.

"I'm thinking...cook it in some oil?" Tidus throws out, poking the tempeh packet with a finger.

Or they're bringing back out the nori sheets, with the recipe book open to a page, talking animatedly to the floating keyring.

"Alright, we've gotta find whatever beans we can get! Sunflower seeds if you see them! Let's make the best vegan sticks around!"

He's even got the shounen pumped fist up. The sentient keyring holder rattles its many keys.

[ c: vegetable chaos ]

Of course with this many vegetables around, the vegetables also have to be washed and cleaned thoroughly. And that’s not even something the humans around here have to do by hand, oh no. Someone with good intentions or a pure heart may see a bunch of tiny blue creatures hanging around, blasting water at the vegetables.

But even if you don’t see them, you might end up feeling them - when one of them accidentally misses the vegetables with their water blast, and instead shoots you right in the face with it.

( ooc: Tag whichever, tag with your own scenario in the kitchen! Tag in/start with the ICP call if you like!! Tidus and Madoka will be in threads together fo some cooking chaos. )