( video; ) un: shigeru miyata

[mysophobic]

[ The video will be spanning over a table set inside Shigeru's house. There's lots of different types of food and beverages lining said table as Shigeru finally shows up in the feed. He'll give a little wave as his half spider half snake wraps itself around his shoulders to get a peak at what its owner is doing. ]

I was wondering if...anyone would like some cooking lessons? I'm offering them free of charge! And, um, I guess if anyone wants to help me learn how to cook different foods from their worlds that would be decent enough payment! If it's more than one person maybe we could do a class, or something like that. Unless people rather have one on one lessons then that's fine too!

[ Shigeru please you are too pure. But his happy expression turns a bit somber as he asks his next question. ]

Also does anyone know anything about curses? Or perhaps being possessed?

[ He looks a little unsure as he fiddles with his gloves and then the LED bracelet on his wrist as he pauses. There's red specks of blood on his gloves even now, but it's not as bad as they used to be. Still he'll smile again as he huffs a little, shaking his head. ]

I guess I have a few questions is all. But that's bit somber, isn't it? What's your favorite dessert from your world or that you tried here? [ Trying for some levity despite the last thing he asked. He's so not good at this sort of thing forgive him!! ]

Comments

[video] un:breq

[breqintopieces]

Nothing about curses or possession, but your other offer does interest me.

[Breq is, admittedly, holding her tongue about curses and possession not being real. Those things are stories and fables where she's from, superstition trailed around in different ways on different planets, but if magic is real here, she can't say those other things aren't, either. It doesn't mean she won't still view them with skepticism.

Food, on the other hand-- she does still remember Shigeru's offer at the clb tables.]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru beams when he sees Breq reply. He does have to repay her for everything during carnivale after all. ]

Really? You'd like to learn how to cook then? I can definitely teach you! Do you have any experience at all, or no?

[breqintopieces]

Some basic experience, but nothing beyond what we did on my world.

[And nothing like the things she'd seen from him at the food stand. She may not be cooking for others the way she used to, but that's no reason not to learn something new and interesting.]

@serenity | text

[goblinemperor]

[ Someone else is going to have to explain video and voice messaging to Maia; for now he is sticking to text because it is simple and easy and reminds him of sending letters. Very very fast letters that he doesn't need to seal. ]

We are afraid we know nothing of curses, or possession, but we would very much like to receive cooking lessons. Is there possibly a different payment you will accept, in lieu of an exchange of recipes. We... would be happy to describe the food from our homeland to you, but we know nothing of its preparation. That is why we require lessons.

[ And Maia is just going to have to hope that this stranger is a patient one, who will accept a pupil with so little knowledge (and, he thinks, who may prove to be a slow learner). ]

Our favorite dessert is a kind of spice cake, we do not recall the name, but know it originates from the region called Anvernel, in our world.

[ Also he really wants to know why this guy is asking about curses but that would be rude to ask, right? Would it? ]

[mysophobic]

[ Don't worry Maia, Shigeru can help you with too! But for now he will reply in text since that seems to be this person's preferred method. ]

Something else? What did you have in mind? I don't really mind getting paid, it's not about the money for me, but maybe telling me more about your world would do.

Oh! Like if you have any weird animals that live there or any strange stories? I wouldn't mind hearing about those either!

[ But mm spice cake sounds nice. ]

There might be a collection of cookbooks from your world at the library, we could always try there too.

[goblinemperor]

We know a great deal of stories, and would be happy to tell you of dragons and suncats and sea serpents...

[ He is glad that Shigeru made the suggestion; he would not have thought of stories as something he could trade, but Maia knows many of them. There had been little else to do, when he was small and his mother was ill all the time. So she had told him wonder tales, and about beasts - some real, some myth - from far-off lands. Maia remembers every one of those stories. He had clung to them through the years, since he had nothing else of his mother's to cling to. ]

There is not. We do not wish to raise your hopes for naught. We visited the library, in our first days here, and there is very little from our world, here. The librarian found us a treatise on the silk trade, and two books about Barizheise architecture. Nothing else.

[ Probably there wasn't much considered worth keeping. Everything here is so advanced. But the lack of traces from his own culture and home are contributing to Maia's feeling of isolation. Which... is one reason why he's screwed up his courage to try this out. ]

audio un:pnwsalex

[11calls]

What kind of possession?

[Alex no!]

[mysophobic]

[ Alex yes! Shigeru isn't surprised to get these responses he's just...wondering how to really go about explaining it. ]

Ah. Well. It-it's more like an evil god type of possession?

[ He sounds so unused to speaking about that side of his powers so openly. But there has to be someone here who can help him, right? ]

A small part of him lives inside each and every phrobiest. Phrobiests are people like me, with powers, but if we use our powers too much he can...take control over us sometimes and turn us into-into horrible things.

@ryo.asuka666 | text

[apt666]

What sort of possession? From what. I have a lot of information and experience specifically with the Demon variety.

[mysophobic]

From a fallen god, an evil one, that put a curse on all of my kind. The curse plays into the possession, because his curse is what gives us our powers but it also turns us into monsters and eventually kills us.

[apt666]

It's sounds strictly like a curse to me. Curses can turn you into other creatures. Possession involves a sentient, second being in control of your body.

video; un: b.rocks

[billyrocks]

I don't believe in curses or possession.

[It's why he tried to dismiss Goody's fearful thoughts of foreboding omens. Even though he's been exposed to plenty of magic and unnatural things in the Quarantine, Billy remains skeptic of curses and the like.

He can't help but eye the other man suspiciously.]

I know this is going to sound strange, but I feel like I've seen you somewhere before...

[mysophobic]

A lot people don't. [ Shigeru fiddles with his white gloves as he looks down at the food on the table. ]

But for me it's real, unfortunately. [ Though he does give the other man a curious look before realization dawns on him. ]

Ah! You were in one of my dreams, right? I-I thought you looked familiar too...

[billyrocks]

[Real? How so? Billy wants to ask, but he’ll postpone that question for a little bit.]

Yes. You looked like you were having a good time, so I just played along. It was interesting, even though I wasn’t sure of what was happening half the time.

I’m Billy. Billy Rocks.

[He tips his hat.]

video | @minsu

[foxtrots]

[you had minsu's attention from the first dish. ah, he's so hungry...]

Oh, me! Me! Can I trade information about curses for cooking lessons?

[pause.]

And do we get to eat what we cook?

[the really important question.]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru contemplates that offer. ]

That sounds fine to me! And of course you can eat what you make.

[ As long as it's edible which Shigeru is unsure how much of it will be on a first attempt. ]

You're familiar with curses then?

[foxtrots]

My boyfriend casts them all the time. He even cast some on me at first.

[probably not something to be proud of. and yet...]

Are you trying to cast one or do you think that you've been cursed?

video; un: captain.rogers

[neversurrender]

[Unfortunately Steve has no knowledge of curses or possession to offer, but the first part of Shigeru's post has definitely caught his attention.]

I've been slowly trying to expand my culinary abilities. And the keyword there is slow. I think lessons might be really helpful if you don't mind taking me on.

[mysophobic]

Of course I don't mind! I wouldn't have offered if I did!

[ He smiles happily. ]

The only way to get better is to practice.

video | un: l.dylandy

[holds_up_walls]

Hey, that sounds like a good offer. I'd like to learn some new recipes and I can teach you some of mine as well. Some good Irish cooking. Sound like a good trade?

Dessert... bread pudding. Gotta go with bread pudding.

As for curses or possessions... I guess only what I've read about. I mean, there was a version of possession in our world, but I don't think that's quite what you are talking about.

[mysophobic]

Irish? That's from a place on Earth, right? Ireland? I've read about that place it reminds me of a place back home, Oretailia. But that sounds fine! I'd love to learn more recipes from Earth.

[ But he does look curiously back at the other man. ]

What kind of version is that? I mean if-if you're fine with talking about it. I-I don't want you feel like you have to.

action!

[flowlikewater]

[ A short time after this post is recorded, Genji comes home from assisting the river clean up. ]

Shigeru? [ He comes across the table full of food and scratches his head. ] Are we having a dinner party?

[mysophobic]

[ And while Genji comes home Shigeru is trying to figure out where to stick all this food. He honestly didn't think about the after once he had made it all. But he'll turn around to face Genji with a smile. ]

No, not quite. I-I guess I sort of stress cooked again and used the food to offer people cooking lessons. [ Just said with a sheepish smile. ]

But maybe a dinner party wouldn't be so bad? I don't think we can eat all of this, and it'd be a shame if it went to waste.

video; @the.tetherer

[tetherer]

You're really offering cooking lessons? I'd love some, as I had never cooked once before coming here, and I fear I'm wasting a lot of money eating... fast food. [A lot of it.] I guess I'm a little intimidated by things that require anything other than a microwave.

I don't know what I could offer as payment, though... I could set up some Tethers between some of your favorite places, perhaps, so you could more easily move between them?

[mysophobic]

Of course! I really enjoy cooking it helps...relieve stress and I enjoy making people happy with my food. [ He smiles warmly. ] It can be a bit intimidating, but, once you get a handle on the basics then it's really not too hard.

[ Though he does look at her curiously. ]

Tethers? Do you mean like...teleporting? [ Oh my gosh that's exciting?! ] Can anyone use them, or just me?