Can I just do the "Na na na na-na" thing again?
Title: Dishing It Out
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Aerith, Cloud, Sephiroth, Zack
Prompt: 39. Taste
Rating: G
Word Count: 483
Notes: Prompt from asking for random numbers from artimusdin. Also an attempt at writing from a female POV more often, as discussed in a recent post by jukeboxhound.
It had been bubbling away in the pot for half an hour. Cloud had been giving the stove some pretty paranoid sideways glances every once in a while, and Sephiroth was pretending to study the wall. She'd only met him a few times before, but Aerith knew quite well when Sephiroth was pretending. It wasn't polite to say anything, but she still thought it was kind of annoying.
"I just hope it won't char," Aerith said, peering in. It smelled okay, even if it tickled her nose. "The last time you made rice it was a nightmare to scrape everything off." She had volunteered to make the rice this time. It was nice and fluffy, and she knew the pot wouldn't take a million years to clean.
"But the crunchy rice at the bottom is the best part!" Zack said. He swerved in to give the pot a few stirs and added yet another pinch of "super secret spices" ("I'd tell you, babe, but then I'd have to kill you."). "I'll have you know that crunchy rice is a beloved staple of Gongagan cuisine." Cloud had his eyes stapled to the pot and looked a little paler.
Sephiroth tore himself away from staring at the wall to stare at Zack. "It seems like everything you decide to make is a 'beloved staple of Gongagan cuisine'. Even the Wutaian food." Sephiroth pulled out a paperback and started to read. Wait. Was that snark? Was there a sense of humor there? Aerith had to question Zack's taste in men a bit, but since this was Zack, well, he knew what he was doing. Or could fake it.
It took Zack a few more turns of stirring and pinching to finally declare the stew ready. Cloud looked ready to pass out, and Sephiroth had probably memorized the book by now. Aerith herself had to duck out of the immediate area of the stew to get the plates and serve the rice. (It was a good excuse as any to get away so that her eyes could clear up.)
Zack was beaming while he ladled the stew over the rice and set each bowl down in front of them. Aerith guessed the stew looked... innocent enough, and it still only tickled her nose.
Cloud stared down at his bowl, and then looked up at Zack. "And you're sure that this won't kill me?"
"Absolutely. This is home cooking at its finest."
"And it won't burn off my nose hairs or anything?"
"None of your gentle chocobo down will be singed in the slightest." Zack looked at Sephiroth. "Or, none of the Silver General's shampoo-endorsement-ready hair."
Sephiroth snorted and reached for his fork. Aerith had to giggle at that. At all of it, really. The three turned to look at her. Aerith scooped some rice and stew into her mouth. They'd just have to wait for an answer.
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Aerith, Cloud, Sephiroth, Zack
Prompt: 39. Taste
Rating: G
Word Count: 483
Notes: Prompt from asking for random numbers from artimusdin. Also an attempt at writing from a female POV more often, as discussed in a recent post by jukeboxhound.
It had been bubbling away in the pot for half an hour. Cloud had been giving the stove some pretty paranoid sideways glances every once in a while, and Sephiroth was pretending to study the wall. She'd only met him a few times before, but Aerith knew quite well when Sephiroth was pretending. It wasn't polite to say anything, but she still thought it was kind of annoying.
"I just hope it won't char," Aerith said, peering in. It smelled okay, even if it tickled her nose. "The last time you made rice it was a nightmare to scrape everything off." She had volunteered to make the rice this time. It was nice and fluffy, and she knew the pot wouldn't take a million years to clean.
"But the crunchy rice at the bottom is the best part!" Zack said. He swerved in to give the pot a few stirs and added yet another pinch of "super secret spices" ("I'd tell you, babe, but then I'd have to kill you."). "I'll have you know that crunchy rice is a beloved staple of Gongagan cuisine." Cloud had his eyes stapled to the pot and looked a little paler.
Sephiroth tore himself away from staring at the wall to stare at Zack. "It seems like everything you decide to make is a 'beloved staple of Gongagan cuisine'. Even the Wutaian food." Sephiroth pulled out a paperback and started to read. Wait. Was that snark? Was there a sense of humor there? Aerith had to question Zack's taste in men a bit, but since this was Zack, well, he knew what he was doing. Or could fake it.
It took Zack a few more turns of stirring and pinching to finally declare the stew ready. Cloud looked ready to pass out, and Sephiroth had probably memorized the book by now. Aerith herself had to duck out of the immediate area of the stew to get the plates and serve the rice. (It was a good excuse as any to get away so that her eyes could clear up.)
Zack was beaming while he ladled the stew over the rice and set each bowl down in front of them. Aerith guessed the stew looked... innocent enough, and it still only tickled her nose.
Cloud stared down at his bowl, and then looked up at Zack. "And you're sure that this won't kill me?"
"Absolutely. This is home cooking at its finest."
"And it won't burn off my nose hairs or anything?"
"None of your gentle chocobo down will be singed in the slightest." Zack looked at Sephiroth. "Or, none of the Silver General's shampoo-endorsement-ready hair."
Sephiroth snorted and reached for his fork. Aerith had to giggle at that. At all of it, really. The three turned to look at her. Aerith scooped some rice and stew into her mouth. They'd just have to wait for an answer.