estoria | ( OPEN )

[On the plus side, that eliminates the possibility that this guy is a burglar, probably! Kashuu only fleetingly recalls him from earlier in the day; he had fruit, or something...

Well! That part isn't important right now. The important part is figuring out exactly what broke before anyone else wakes up... He's already starting to get war flashbacks and he doesn't even know it's the microwave yet, lord.]

Did you break something? That was a super loud crash-- [Don't mind him just toeing his way into the apartment and peering around.]

[Toe in and peer around all you want, Sir Sword Spirit. At least, Koumei assumes as much-- Mutsu had been speaking like there were many like him in the city, and it was reasonable to guess that they all lived near each other.]

It was one of the machines. I couldn't sleep, you see...

[Koumei hid his face behind his fan, hoping that the feathers and the darkened room would obscure his unease. The battlefield was a far more recent experience for him, and war is never easy on any of the participants.

Including the tacticians-- especially when the lives of his brothers and countrymen were on the line.]

[And peer around he will! Of course it doesn't take long to find the source of the loud boom, and Kashuu's immediately internally going why is it always the microwave.

More accurately, why is he always the one near the microwave when the microwave explodes??]

What did you do...?

[He'll step cautiously closer, poking around to see if he can find what was inside. A-- A MUG. A mug that's too hot to handle - that much is clear after he briefly touches its handle.] Oh my god, I think it's broken again.

I was trying to heat up some milk to try out a rememdy I had heard of during my travels, [Koumei said blandly, toeing his way across the room in Kashuu's path-- careful to avoid anything that looked dangerous to unprotected feet.]

But this city lacks proper turmeric root-- just a powdered form of it-- and it didn't feel right making so little on this strange stove...

[So he tried the microwave. And killed it. The digital read outs weren't as simple to understand as people believed.]

[Rest in pieces, microwave... Kashuu learned his lesson about trying to hide evidence the first time, though - and more importantly, he's not at fault this time!! Excellent. So he'll just... reach for a towel and start to mop up the spilled milk. He'll get a better look at the inside of the mug this way too, and:]

Geez... There's your problem. You're not supposed to stick metal stuff in here. [A sigh! As if he did any better his first few times... The only reason he managed to use it so well for as long as he did is because Haru helped his dumb ass.]

But it's fine. We'll just tell Haruji about it tomorrow, 'kay?

You're not?

[Then what was he supposed to use-- and how was he to be sure that the drink would stay warm into the night? Koumei gathered more towels and some warm water from the tap and started to help with the clean up.]

That's bothersome. More rules that I need to remember. How does anyone even manage in this place?

[And how were they to get a replacement device? He didn't even know where to begin looking for one.]

It's pretty confusing...

[He feels obligated to concede that much, considering he's partially responsible for the death of the first microwave and all.]

Buuut once you start getting the hang of things, it gets a little easier. Metal's about the only thing you really don't wanna microwave, but some types of plastics can melt, too. [With his free hand, he mimes turning a cup upside down.] You can check the bottom and it'll say if it's safe for microwaves, sometimes.

[BUT ONLY SOMETIMES. What a struggle. That said, after he mops up a little more:] ...Hey, who are you, anyway?

[So much to take in....

He was going to take notes later, as soon as he secured the proper means of charting everything.]

Ren Koumei, a friend of Sir Mutsunokami. [He bobbed his head politely.] I've arrived in Tellus recently, and none from my family or my home followed. Sir Mutsu was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to stay here for a while.

Apologies that we weren't able to meet in better circumstances.

Wow, another one? [MUTSU GETTIN ON HIS ADOPTING GAME THIS ROUND. Kashuu's mildly impressed...]

Good to meet you, I guess. I'm Kashuu Kiyomitsu. [A little nod in return! He glances back over toward the microwave and, once it's sufficiently cleaned, will do his best to put the door back into place. It's a questionably successful endeavor.]

It's fine, it's fine. Y'know, as far as first meetings can go here, this actually isn't bad. [Thanks for that, CERES!] A-ny-way! What were you trying to make again? We can make you another cup on the stove. I'll have one too. [So they don't dirty up a pot just for one cup and all.]

It's good to meet you, Sir Kashuu-- and thank you for the help with getting this clean.

[It wasn't perfect-- not with the microwaver in the state that it was in, but it would have to do until morning.]

I was trying to make a drink I tried once in my travels around the continent. The locals traditionally referred to it as 'golden milk' and it was a common remedy for many different ailments. Since the ingredients are primarily milk, honey, and turmeric root, I thought I could make something similar to what they made in that city.

[Waving a hand at that!!]

Just Kashuu is fine. "Sir" isn't cute at all, right? [And that's the most important part... THAT SAID:]

Hm, hm - well, we've definitely got honey and milk here. You didn't use up all the turmeric, right? Just tell me the measurements or gimme a guesstimate and I'll show you how to use the stove so you can do it the next time you want some.

[And with that, he'll start to rummage around for a new pot, two mugs, and the ingredients if they haven't been left out.]

[This person....

Would be excellent friends with Kouha.

Reaching up to rub the back of his head uneasily, he cast a look around at the remains of the mess instead of Kashuu.]

Honestly, I was guessing from the start. I never learned the measurements-- typically I don't visit the kitchens.

[It was partly because he was too busy to, but also partly because he didn't think to eat half of the time.]

[imagine that duo, they'd wreak havoc on the poor city.

THIS BUM, THOUGH... Kashuu gives him A Look™, but he can't judge too hard, honestly, considering he couldn't eat until about a year ago.]

Then I guess we'll just have to do our best to guess. The turmeric probably wasn't a super strong flavor in it, right? How sweet was it?

[Look at him like that all you wanted, Koumei was well acquainted with such sentiments from his brother-- albeit less politely, and more violently.]

Fairly sweet, from the honey. The turmeric was there to give body and color to the drink-- it's quite subtle, but very effective.

[That's enough to work with! Or at least enough to get a vague estimate that's probably workable...]

All right! You can just taste test a little and we'll add more stuff.

[The milk is poured into the pan, then, and Kashuu adds just a little turmeric and honey. They can always add more but they can't take excess away...]

What're you drinking it for, anyway? [Since he said it was for ailments!] Stomachache?

Something like that...

[There was a dull ache underneath his ribs that hadn't yet gone away, and flared up from time to time. A remnant of a wound that should be there, Koumei knew-- but it wasn't the real problem.

He was worried about something he couldn't do anything about, and it was something that he coulnd't be comfortable with.]

[He glances back briefly, but Kashuu isn't the sort of person who presses, so that answer just gets a nod.]

Maybe you could try something with ginger in it later, too. I heard that stuff's great for soothing all kinds of issues.

[After a little while of stirring, he'll gesture Koumei forward.]

Here - use the spoon and try some.

[Kashuu's discretion is appreciated. Perhaps one day Koumei would explain his circumstances to the others, but not in the middle of the night while standing before the wreckage of what was once a microwave.]

I've heard the same-- we frequently use it at home, and there's nothing quite like a hot cup of ginger tea on a snowy day.

[Delicately spooning up some of the liquid, Koumei gave it a try...]

This'll do.

[It wasn't perfect, but the warmth and the subtle flavors were soothing enough as they were.]

I'll have to try it sometime! I don't think I've had ginger tea yet.

[Still so many new flavors to test out...! One can only eat so much in the few months that he's had a human body, after all.

He'll nod at the approval though, giving the pot another stir. Steam rises from the surface in slow coils but it's not bubbling yet, so none of the ingredients will burn; Kashuu takes the pot from the burner and starts pouring into the mugs.]

Good, good. It smells nice. Kinda comforting!

I think that's part of it's point. To be comforting.

[He had read about the antiseptic qualities of both turmeric and honey, and how certain folk tales posited that turmeric could help balance the flow of Magoi in the body, but the details were just that. Details.

The scent of it was one that was foreign to Kou, but it was strangely comforting in it's exotic nature.]

It'll probably do a good job, in that case.

[With the drinks poured, Kashuu holds one out.]

Here! It should be hot enough, but be careful not to burn your tongue. [Just because this guy seems like the kind of person who needs that reminder...]

Thank you for the help, Sir Kashuu.

[He accepted the warmed drink with a grateful bob of his head, glad to have had help in both the clean up and preparation of the drink. The golden color and subtle scent of it alone was enough to evoke memory of a time that was a little more simple...and, eyes closed, he took a sip.

It wasn't much, but it was everything that he had imagined the drink to be.]

[Kashuu waits first to see that the drink is satisfactory for Koumei before taking a sip of his own. It's nice - not too sweet, but with a full-bodied flavor. He nods once approvingly.]

Not bad! I could totally see why this is popular.

[The subtlty of the flavor was why Koumei wanted to try to recreate it. The gentleness of the drink was far more desireable than the discomforts of his own thought processes.]

I'm glad you do. It's not something I indulge in often, but it's always a pleasant change of pace.

Next time, you should try hot chocolate! Haruji makes the best.

[A little, bright smile is offered. Sharing drinks is nice, and sharing good drinks is even better, right?]

( OPEN )

it's true... it's not swordhaus if harus hair isnt turning grey

oh my god~

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