to light the darkness.

[lighthearted]

FREE-FOR-ALL THREADING WITH SORA. Go go go.

Comments

[mititei]

Then you'll be happy to know that we'll be doing something simple. So even if you mess up it'll still surely taste good!

[For a statement seemingly anticipating failure, Romania manages to sound rather chipper about it all. Glancing back over at Sora, he gestures for the other to come closer, right in front of a few packages of meat sitting on the counter.]

We'll be making mititei, or mixed sausage, among other things. I hope you've washed your hands and refrained from spilling any salt.

[lighthearted]

Simple is good! You've gotta start somewhere, right?

[Sora doesn't seem to take that comment as any kind of insult, since he realizes that he might get this all wrong. And sausage sounds like it'll be pretty good, so he hopes it turns out well.

But the last comment makes him pause for a moment.] Salt? Uhh... [Either way, he starts for the sink, since he most definitely didn't wash his hands yet.]

[mititei]

Maybe if you fare better we'll work on something more challenging.

And yes. [While Sora washes his hands Romania begins to gather several of the spices they'll use out of convenience.] You wouldn't want to incur any bad luck, would you?

[lighthearted]

I didn't know that spilling salt was bad luck... [Sora muses to himself about that as he washes his hands. Maybe it has something to do with whatever world Romania is from. He's not really sure, but the point is that he hasn't gotten anywhere near salt recently, so it should be fine.]

All right, my hands are clean now! [He turns to Romania with his hands still dripping, but a big grin on his face.] What do we do first?

[mititei]

[And Romania hears this, of course, smile widening into a full grin.] Then let this be both a lesson on cooking and luck.

[He motions towards Sora's drippy hands.] For example, use a towel instead of your feet if you get any water on the floor.

[By then he grabs hold of the nearest knife, cutting the ties of the packages and revealing several types of minced meat.]

You'll be doing all the measuring for me as I mix the ingredients together, and there will be much to measure.

[lighthearted]

Right! I won't spill salt, you can count on it! [Not that he really expects it to come up, but Sora wants to put Romania's worries to rest.

Though when attention is drawn to his wet hands, Sora blinks in surprise, as if he hadn't even realized they were dripping in the first place.] Oh, sorry! [He grabs for a dish towel and dries off as he watches Romania unwrap all the different kinds of meat.]

Okay, I can measure! We have a measuring cup around here, right?

[mititei]

Good, because you'll be pouring some soon enough!

[Just look at the pressure he's putting on already. At Sora's question Romania's quick to pull open the nearest drawer, taking out a set of measuring spoons and offering it to the other.

Also I'm way too lazy to convert all the measurements so I'm just going to stick with American...]

We do, but you'll be using this instead. [He then motions over at the row of spices and other ingredients he's laid out.] It doesn't take much for your food to go from tasting like one thing to something else entirely, so it's good to know how to control your seasonings.

[lighthearted]

[Sora takes the measuring spoons and looks them over for a moment. In a way, these are better, since they're smaller and easier to handle than a measuring cup. And if there's lots of stuff to measure out, then it's better that they have more than one thing to work with.]

Okay, control... So I just have to make sure to get the right measurements. [Math was never really his strong point, but this isn't quite the same, so Sora's hoping it'll be okay.] What's first?

[mititei]

First you'll need four teaspoons of garlic paste. [Romania gestures over to the small jar filled with a pale yellow paste.] I've done you the favor of peeling and crushing them in advance, but we'll have you learn that soon enough.

[With that Romania begins to dump all the minced meat into a large mixing bowl.]

[lighthearted]

[This is already getting complicated. Peeling and crushing? That sounds like the sort of thing that would take a while. Sora's not quite sure why Romania is so set on teaching him all of this, but it seems like it could be fun. And they'll have something good to eat at the end!

So Sora grabs the jar and starts measuring out each teaspoon.] Do I put it all in that bowl?

[mititei]

[Romania nods at Sora's question.] Indeed you do. Make sure you don't place it all in the same area so it'll be a bit easier to mix everything evenly.

[lighthearted]

Right! [He starts slowly adding it in, and while there are a few moments where he probably puts too much in one spot, he does his best.]

[mititei]

[And Romania watches happily, though not to the point where he's hovering over the teen. Nodding when Sora manages to pour in the right amount, he looks over to the next ingredient, pointing to it specifically so the other can see.]

You'll now need to sprinkle in a teaspoon and a half of dried thyme.e

[lighthearted]

Sprinkle, huh? [Sora picks up the small container and looks it over.] What is this stuff, anyway, some kind of spice?

[Nonetheless, he measures some out and tosses it in with the rest. It's starting to look like it's developing into something by now!]

[mititei]

It's a type of herb! Usually I prefer it fresh but it'd be easier for you to measure it in this form.

[And Romania nods again when Sora sprinkles the ingredient in just like he asked.]

Now, the important question: do you like your food spicy?

[lighthearted]

[That's an interesting question, and Sora thinks it over for a moment. His mother always took care to not serve him stuff that was too hot, especially as a kid, but...]

I guess I wouldn't mind a little spicy... Just not so bad that it makes my nose run!

[mititei]

Just a bit of a bite, then? [He points over at two bottles, red and black.] Then you'll need to sprinkle in one tablespoon of paprika and one tablespoon of black pepper.

[lighthearted]

[Sora nods and goes to retrieve the bottles, opening them up to measure out each one.] How about you? Do you like spicy stuff?

[mititei]

A bit of spice is always important in order to bring a bit of life into your food, yes?

It must be quite boring for those who can't handle it.

[lighthearted]

Well, it's not their fault...!

[mititei]

[He laughs.] Of course! Usually the blame is on those who raise them, but even fate has a say in that sometimes.

[lighthearted]

I guess it's something you could get used to, if you really wanted... Anyway, what's next?

[mititei]

That's it for ingredients! [A quick applause at that.] A bit of salt wouldn't be discouraged, but we now need to thoroughly combine these ingredients.

Would you like to do it?

[lighthearted]

Well, what do I have to do exactly? [Does it involve one of those motorized mixing things? Sora hopes so.]

[mititei]

[Unfortunately, Sora, the only 'motorized' thing will be coming from you.]

You've washed your hands, yes? Now it's time to make good use of that and dig right in!