two >> audio/action

[awaitingalbion]

[The sound of a throat-clearing cough.]

Can anyone tell me about a blue-haired girl who calls herself a soldier?

[But earlier this day--before he makes the voice post--Merlin is out picking up fresh ingredients for Arthur's evening meal. He is in the shop, picking through some vegetables. He looks...confused.]

Comments

[emp3thy]

Maybe not soup then.

[and he moves around, picking out a few ingredients like green onions and ginger] I can show you how to make okayu. It's good when you're sick.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Okayu? [He echoes, sounding first rather skeptical. But then as the ingredients were gathered, Merlin's doubt drifts away. Maybe he could at least make up for disturbing Arthur earlier by making something new and impressive.]

[emp3thy]

It's a rice porridge. [Basic, but he'll spice it up some for your benefit, though a sick person probably won't be able to tell what he's tasting at all.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Rice porridge. [He repeats the name of th dish, tilting his head in doubt. He certainly didn't know what it was. But, perhaps Arthur would. After all, the Prince has been a dinner guest at many tables.]

Alright. I'll give it a go. [He decides with a nod.]

[emp3thy]

[Minato will show him the wonders of Japanese cooking. He nods in return, finishing up his basket of ingredients with a bag of rice (there is more in there than is needed to just make porridge, though Merlin won't know that.]

Is your kitchen open?

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Open? Yes. [He nods, taking a silent survey of the ingredients.] We're staying in one of the apartment buildings. The--err--sixth one? It's a bit of a walk, but the view is quite nice.

[emp3thy]

Then I'll show you there. [There's an implied request for permission, though it's outwardly a statement.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Great. [Merlin claps his hands together once, with gusto.] Then, it's a plan. [A step towards the door?]

[emp3thy]

[to the door it is. Shall we timeskip over the trip?]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[a timeskip'll do fine -- we can consider them back at building six and I'll be tagging again after class.]

[emp3thy]

[Minato was pretty much silent most of the trip, and continues to be as they enter the kitchen. He starts looking for saucepans.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[There were probably a few failed attempts on Merlin's part to strike up conversation.

But upon entering the kitchen, he moves to the task at hand.] This barely looks like a kitchen, you know.

[emp3thy]

It helps give you skill.

[...not that he wouldn't kill for a microwave and an electric rice cooker. But you make do with what you can. At least there's running water?]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

It looks...very different from the castle's kitchens, back home.

[Running water? What? Merlin doesn't believe in running water.]

[emp3thy]

You live in a castle?

[Well there's water running now, Merlin. From a faucet. What do you say to that.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Mmhm. [He nods, watching the faucet with doubt.] In the, ah, court physician's quarters. I have a position in the royal household.

[emp3thy]

[He starts to wash the rice and leave it in the pot to soak]

That's impressive.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Not really. For the most part, it involves serving and dressing the prince. Not to mention mucking out his stables. It isn't a glamourous life.

[emp3thy]

Well...

[...he's not sure how to put a positive spin on that] You still know a prince?

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

You should meet him sometime. [A rather irony-ridden smile.] You might not be so fast to say so, then. He's...kind of an ass.

[emp3thy]

I think I did. If you meant Arthur.

[two and two together. he caught that slip of the tongue earlier.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Oh. You've met His Highness, then? [His eyebrows shoot up.] Well, what did you think?

[emp3thy]

He's very... [disbelieving? stubborn?] traditional.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[Merlin stares into the soaking rice.] He has his father's legacy to follow. [And then, looking up with another smile.] But that's no real reason to be such an ass, right?

[emp3thy]

Humility is a good trait for anyone.

[He starts chopping up the green peppers.]