03 ≋ Magic water!

[waterwhip]

WHO: Katara and you!
WHERE: The beach, the square
WHAT: Catching fish with magic water, having a fish fry
WHEN: The day after the glownies (firefly-horses) create a path to the ocean.
WARNINGS: None I can think of!

--∿≈≋🌘≋≈∽--


Look, it's not like Katara hasn't enjoyed tending to the greenhouse. Being able to help provide for everyone has been extremely motivating and rewarding to boot, but at the end of the day she's a Water Tribe girl through and through. The minute a path appears that leads down to the ocean, she's there, swimming in the chilly water, bending the ocean around her to make ice and waves and streams.

The idea for a communal dinner comes to her when she catches a fish in a floating sphere of water. Back home, nobody in the Tribe ever ate alone, and the same was true of her friends when they traveled together. It would be good for morale, wouldn't it? A big, hearty meal that everyone can share together.

It only takes her a moment to make a big icy tub on the beach and fill it with ocean water. Soon, half a dozen colorful fish are swimming around in the shallow water, and Katara wades back out into the surf to catch another. Join her if you like!


--∿≈≋🌕≋≈∽--


It took a little bit of doing, but everything is ready. The fish are all cooking away on a griddle made from a piece of scrap metal set over stones and placed over an open fire. She's recruited a little help in gathering fruits and vegetables from the greenhouse, and those are either stewing together or have been converted into little dumplings which are frying right alongside the fish.

It took a little bit of innovation, but there should be enough for everyone to have a serving, and as much as she always complained about being the 'mother' of her little group of friends, there's something affirming about being able to that now for her new friends.

Whether it's leaves from the greenhouse or actual bowls, there's going to be some kind of arrangement so people aren’t just eating with their hands. It’s an effort, but one she’s happy to make.


--∿≈≋🌒≋≈∽--

Network Video:

[ Katara's happy face pops up on the screen. Like before, she's in front of the fountain. No art this time, though. ]

I've cooked dinner for everyone who wants to come and eat. There are vegetarian options, too. Come down to the square and eat with me. I caught twenty big fish so there's enough for everybody.

Comments

[the_tailor]

[Oh... Way to give him massively warm fuzzies, Keith. Lance's smile grows even wider.]

If there weren't a bunch of people here, I would be kissing you until you almost couldn't breathe anymore.

[tempredmental]

[Keith smiled at that, and leaned in to steal a small kiss anyway.]

You can get me with that later.

[the_tailor]

Definitely. Just you wait.

[There's no escaping him, Keith. Not that he thinks Keith would actually want to escape, but. Lance chuckles, taking his hand and pulling him along to where the fish is being grilled.]

I tried one, and it's pretty good! I mean, we don't have much in the way of spices, so it's not as good as it could be, but it's definitely better than nothing.

[tempredmental]

[Keith smiled and nodded a little before Lance started tugging him along to see the food. He looked over what was there.]

Does it taste like fish?

[Keith was wary. He didn't eat fish very often... landlocked desert kid.]

[the_tailor]

[Poor desert boy. Having grown up in an island country and living close to the shore, seafood was something he'd eaten plentifully. Lance nods, giving Keith's hand a squeeze, until reluctantly dropping it in order to grab a plate.]

Yeah, it does, thankfully. I can't pin down what kind of fish to compare it to, since I haven't had Earth fish in aaaaaaaages, but it's actually pretty decent.

[Lance takes a makeshift spatula and gets one of the fish off of the grill that looks as if it's just done, and slides it onto the plate. He hands it to Keith with a smile.]

I've taken out all the bones and stuff best I can, should be fine, but just don't wolf it down just in case.

[tempredmental]

[Keith knew enough to be careful about bones, but he nodded anyway. He was just glad the head wasn't attached. There was just something weird about dead fish eyes staring at you from your plate...]

Right. Thanks.

[He smiled a little and then glanced around.]

You got time to take a break from cooking?

[the_tailor]

Yeah, sure! What's up?

[Most of the fish have been cooked, anyway. And the rest, honestly, people could just roast themselves over the fire.]

[tempredmental]

[Keith shrugged a little.]

I would just rather sit and eat with you...

[the_tailor]

I'd like that too, babe. One sec, let me grab some food of my own.

[He moves to take another fish, and quickly lets the others know he's on a break for quality boyfriend time. Lance leads Keith over to a decent enough spot to sit, not too far away from everyone but not crowded, either.]

Here we are... Bon appetit?

[tempredmental]

[Keith waited and then followed Lance to a table. He nodded as they sat down to eat.]

Yeah.

[Though, he'd always been curious...]

What does that even mean anyway? I've always heard it, but no one's ever explained it to me.

[the_tailor]

[Lance takes a few bites of his fish once they sit down. It really isn't that bad-- could use some more seasoning, definitely, but for what it is, it works.

He has the good manners to swallow and wipe his mouth before responding.]

That's...a good question. I think it's Italian? Or maybe French... I think Italian. Either way, it's one of those phrases we all know but don't quite know what it is. Appetit might mean appetite? Or something related to it? But I don't know what "bon" is.

[tempredmental]

[Keith creased his brow a little in confusion, and then shrugged.]

Yeah, it's weird.

[The fish was... serviceable. It definitely didn't have a lot of seasoning, but Keith knew that was going to be hard to come by in their current situation. But, it was edible, at least, and it didn't taste bad. Just bland. And Keith was hungry...]

[the_tailor]

[Well, they do say that hunger is the best spice. Lance continues to eat, careful to pick out any bones still left in the fish. No need to choke and die at this point in time to something like this. Eventually, he finishes and puts the plate down.]

Not too bad, I guess, but I can hear Hunk in my head going nuts at the lack of seasoning.

[tempredmental]

[Keith snorted slightly.]

Man... I wonder if they've got anything that can be used for that in the greenhouse. I can just imagine the shouts of sacrilege he'd be giving.

[the_tailor]

So can I. But I bet he'd still manage to make something delicious using whatever's in the greenhouse, even if it's completely weird. He was always good at that, you know?

[And Lance...grows quiet for a little. Even if there were...some issues with their friendship lately back home, Hunk had been his bestie. And he's sorely missed him, both here and back home.]

[tempredmental]

Heh... yeah.

[Keith got quiet as well. Sure, he was the loner, but that little group had become his family. He'd been willing to give his life for them time and again, after all. He missed them, too.

He gently nudged Lance under the table with his foot.]

We'll see them again.

[Some day. Though, it was a tough spot to be in, really. Torn between what they'd left behind, and what they'd gained...]

[the_tailor]

Mm. Yeah. Maybe they'll pop by for a visit here? Who knows. Not as if we've always been the only ones in this whole mess, anyway.

[Because he's still just...not wanting to think about that tough spot. Because, really, every time he does, he just wants to scream a big, hearty fuck you to the universe.]

Anyway, um. I'm in the greenhouse a lot, so I'll give everything a lookover. Maybe I'll find something useful. Katara might have an idea, too, maybe.

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded a little. It was selfish to want someone else here, but... he couldn't help it, either. As much as he didn't want his friend stuck, it would be nice to see them again.

But, it was also nice to move back to another topic.]

Alright. Yeah. That sounds good. I'm sure others will appreciate it.

[the_tailor]

Definitely. Good food is a really important part of raising spirits and morale, after all. I think all of us would get on here a lot better if that was worked on.

[Maybe that could be his focus for a little while?]

'sides, it's hard to take you out on a dinner date when most of the food here sucks.

[tempredmental]

[Keith chuckled.] Hunk would be proud to hear that. [Which was a good thing, really. After all, their gourmand of a friend wasn't really wrong. Keith then shrugged a little.]

I don't need the date thing right now. Just us being okay is fine. [Keith was a cheap date...]

[the_tailor]

Please, Keith. You know me all too well by now. I'm not satisfied with my own boyfriending abilities unless I still somehow manage cool dates for you.

[He leans in, kissing his cheek.]

[tempredmental]

[That got a small laugh.]

Well, just cooking dinner for each other is fine for now. We'll figure something out along the way.

[the_tailor]

Guess we will. We'll figure out some awesome things, I'm sure. We always do.

[tempredmental]

[Keith nodded.]

Yeah. We do.

[He smiled slightly and dug into his fish. He was hungry... and it wasn't a gel... or a "solid".]

[the_tailor]

[It isn't long until he's done with his own fish, and gives a satisfied sigh, wiping his mouth.]

Alright, stomach feels filled, at least. Good stuff. Well. Acceptable stuff. ...I feel bad littering, but where are we supposed to throw out our trash?