[Open] Hey, hey, what's cooking?

[distinctive_guy]

CHARACTERS: distinctive_guy and OPEN
DATE: Oct 9th (Backdated Day 13 - Night)
RATING: PG... assuming no fights break out.
SUMMARY: In the Cafeteria kitchen, musing over exit tokens and making gourmet food.

Comments

[oxbridgethegap]

He had gone wandering, as well as a chair-bound man could, once night had fallen. The stuffiness of his room was unwelcome when he was in such a mood, and though he was growing fond of his young roommate, Charles preferred being alone when he wished to think serious matters through. That meant the balcony had been automatically ruled out.

The subject of his thoughts lay in one hand, clenched between fingers and palm. The metal had, naturally, absorbed heat from his skin, and grown blood-warm as time passed.

Thankfully, his nose had caught the scent of Eliot's cooking just as his thoughts had turned to unpleasant memories--ones brought to the forefront of his mind by the very coin he was holding. Grateful for the distraction, Charles wheeled himself toward the source of the smell, wheels squeaking on the floor as he entered the kitchen.

"Keeping yourself busy, I see, Eliot," Charles greeted warmly.

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot heard Charles' approach long before the greeting, there was no hiding sounds of a wheelchair like that, but didn't turn around until he was addressed. It gave him ample time to stir the soft rice into the soup and cover it to let it all simmer slowly.

"People need to eat," he answered just as he carried another pot from the stove to pour into a massive bowl. Orange lumps of buttered squash came rushing out.

He lifted his eyebrows suggestively at the telepath and indicated to a large heaping plate of sautéed vegetables on the counter. "You're welcome to some if you're hungry, though the bird won't be done for some time. Give the soup a few more minutes."

As he turned his back to add the pot to a growing pile in the sink, he added kindly, "Good to see you're movin' about."

[oxbridgethegap]

"That's very kind of you." Charles glanced at the indicated dish, then peered at the numerous other dishes Eliot was still cooking. Though the smells wafting from the kitchen had lured him in with little effort, Charles hadn't expected the variety that was being presented to him.

"This is very good timing," he said almost cheerfully. "I was just thinking of heading back to my room to eat, but this is a much better option by far. It does get rather stuffy in those rooms at times."

Then, with a look around the kitchen again, he added, "This is quite the dinner you are making. How many are you expecting?"

[distinctive_guy]

"Whoever drops by, although you're the first tonight," Eliot answered as he wiped his hands on a large towel. Next he picked up some serving utensils from the drawers and placed them on one of the lower tables by Charles. Then with one of the forks, he pointed at a large stack of carryout containers he had in a corner. "Most of the time I just bring it to them. And any extras I make are gone usually by the time I leave here."

Grabbing the dishes from the tall counter, he moved them to the table as well so they will be the right height for the man's wheelchair. He dragged a smaller chair over to join the Charles.

"So..." He gave the telepath a quick glance while he served some of the food. It wasn't one day ago that he felt that accented voice speaking in his mind in the underground tunnels of the island. "How does it work, your power?"

[not_plan_m]

Eliot had specifically told Hardison not to go out at night. He had made it very clear, in fact, that he meant it. Monsters roamed the area among other things but by this point, Hardison wasn't convinced his roommate was any less dangerous. The guy was a freaking vampire, and yeah, it was cool he had some comic knowledge, but Hardison was hungry and Eliot was cooking and just this once the hacker didn't feel much like sitting around watching the network. It was overrun with the chatter of newcomers and plenty of other 'good citizens' of the island were around to help them out.

"Eliot, man, it smells like heaven in here." Baseball bat resting against his shoulder, dressed up once again in his PD uniform, the hacker made his way over to the source where his teammate and friend was cooking up tasty treats. "What's on the menu?"

[distinctive_guy]

[not_plan_m]

Hardison didn't acknowledge the glare. Maybe if he kept Eliot distracted enough he wouldn't get the lecture he knew was coming. What? He could handle himself around the compound.

"Got hungry. Besides, listening to all the repetitive 'get off the beach' chatter got boring. It's like watching summer tv, man."

[distinctive_guy]

What could Eliot do besides exhale in a frustrated growl? It wasn't like Hardison didn't know the risks, the hacker merely chose to ignore his warnings anyway. "It's dangerous for you to be runnin' around at night. It's not a bad night, doesn't mean monsters aren't around."

He sighed shortly afterward and nodded at Hardison to draw up a seat. "I'll get you some soup and you can start on the vegetables. It's good for you," he stated pointedly before the hacker could protest. "How's the new arrivals this time?"

[likethetragedy]

The scent of decent food drew her in. Elektra did not have the first clue how to cook. She always had other take care of that for her. She was too busy learning what she deemed to be more important things (martial arts, how to run her family's business, etc.) to really stop to consider the possibility that it may be a valuable skill to possess.

Since the mission her head was too filled up with other things to really remember to eat regularly. So here she was glancing a little too eagerly at what Eliot was doing for her own taste. It seemed a good a time as any to get to know the man now that things were seemingly calm anyways. He was clearly a skilled man. That made him worth talking to.

"So this is what you do in your free time." She smiles at him as she approaches. Outside the mission, it's clear to see she's a lot more social.

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot smiled, recognizing the voice even before seeing the rest of Elektra's lovely figure. "Only sometimes," he answered as he finished up washing some of the equipment and began placing them away. His movements through the kitchen was graceful for his large form, and it was apparent that he frequented this kitchen, or kitchens in general, often.

Putting the last knife back on its block, he unrolled his sleeves and took up a spot by the center counter. Several empty styrofoam containers were stacked on it, along with bountiful amounts of squash and vegetables held in a large mixing bowl and plate. He hadn't gotten around to packing them away yet but was about to start. "Beats canned or raw stuff. They have a farm and a greenhouse here, it's less questionable than some of the things they have on the shelves."

He gestured to the colorful plate of sauteed vegetables. "You want some?"

[likethetragedy]

Elektra watches him move around. She can't help being impressed. Eliot was a fighter much like her but, handling himself in the kitchen did not escape him the way it did her. She idly wondered if maybe she should be going to him for cooking lessons before his question grabbed her attention. That saved her the trouble of swallowing her pride enough to ask. She's grateful for that.

"I didn't even know we had that," she says with a distracted smile. "I wouldn't say no. It looks delicious." Elektra scans it before glancing up at him curiously. "Who taught you to do this?" It's clear he was a master at this. Someone with talent must have taught him.

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot arched up his eyebrows when Elektra claimed to not know about the farm and greenhouse. The girl must not have done a lot of exploring, which he also found surprising. That, however, wasn't something he said aloud, unlike his comment, which was delivered with a smile. "It's messy but decent. I'll show you around sometime."

He pulled out a plate and heaped a healthy serving of mixed vegetables and squash onto it before pushing it towards her. "Most of it's self learned," he admitted with a twinkle in his eye as if he guessed her thoughts. "Here, try that while I get you some soup."

[cafpowgirl]

It had been a few days since Abby and Eliot talked and she felt like that was far too long to be out of contact with one of her few friends on the island. Well, that number was growing, and having Ziva here did make her feel better. That, and she did have a question or two she could ask him. She'd checked his room first, but he was out. So, she'd came by the kitchen, and peered around a corner.

"You don't really appreciate a good cook until you're stuck on Horror Island."

[distinctive_guy]

Eliot thoughts lifted when he saw who was it that entered his kitchen. "Never too late to start," he informed her with a grin. "You came at just the right time."

Taking a new spoon out of the serving cabinet, he dipped it into the newly mixed soup and indicated for Abby to come over. "Here, have a taste. It's hot," he warned as he held the utensil out to her.

[cafpowgirl]

She met his grin with one of her own. "I love taste testing."

Abby blew on the spoon before leaning in for a taste. She held her hand underneath her mouth to catch any drips, but there were none. The soup was delicious. "That's really good, what is it?"

[distinctive_guy]

"Chickpea rice soup with a touch of cumin," Eliot answered, throwing the spoon into the sink and going back to stirring the pot. "It's a recipe I picked up from a vegan in Toronto." He smiled a bit as if that brought a particularly good memory. "Their supplies here are limited, but the greenhouse has fresh stuff."

He got a bowl and held it up to Abby as if asking if she'd like some. "You're welcome to the other stuff too if you're hungry."