[ Fortunately, Helena can't see him wilt a little — it's not as if he has an expansive repertoire of soup knowledge to select the perfect birthday soup from... Whatever soup, truly? Even though someone who loves soup in particular probably has exacting soup standards?! ]
Spicy soup... Oh, such as Korean recipes? Well, I don't wish to set his tongue on fire, either... I'm also only familiar with miso soup and corn potage and the like. I've eaten some different kinds of soup myself before, but our options depend on the ingredients available here, don't they? However, I'm ready to begin immediately!
[ After all, it sounds like they'll need the time for their preparations to succeed... ]
As long as you don't need anything quite specialized, the kitchen tends to have most of what you'd wish. Whoever sets up the grocery lists is quite good with that...we'll be relying on your recipe for the soup, after all.
[this is going to be hopefully easier done than said.]
[ If he were Shin Tsukimi, what kind of soup would he choose to eat on his birthday? A trusty favorite? Something special? The former would be comforting, but the latter might feel like a treat...
Then there's the problem that normally, Alice himself wouldn't think to eat nothing but soup — that's for lying bundled up in bed after falling ill! Contemplating the topic thoroughly, he has to admit that while he can in fact be trusted in the kitchen, able to cook and bake by following instructions, he can't pretend to be an expert who could make anything whatsoever as he pleases. The basics were part and parcel of helping his mother with chores as a child, so he had a foundation to build on, but to tell the truth, the process itself usually isn't much fun until the very end...
It could be different, novel and appealing, to witness others appreciate tasting dishes prepared by his hand. It's vital to get it right! ]
Have you any recommendations, by any chance...? You appear to be skilled.
[ He'll never forget the fried rice, especially! ]
It isn't flattery, you know! You were kind to share your cooking, and it was delicious...
[ His appetite isn't anyone's responsibility — Helena could have been someone to keep the hard-won fruits of her labor to herself, and if others were forced to eat sandwiches for every single meal, then so be it. And she's kind to share her knowledge now. All this time, he'd believed that there was some secret to the groceries... ]
Ah! [ Upon hearing Helena's idea, Alice brings his hands together. ] I'm sure it's possible, enhancing the flavor! Let us try it!
[don't think too hard on the groceries, Alice, or we'll open up a space time rip where we have to answer things that the mods didn't look at too closely.]
Yes! One moment!
[she scurries back to where she's been doing homework, putting it all back together and stacking it on the desk - that way she'll know exactly where it is later - and then coming out to join Alice. lightly, she lays her hand on his arm to walk with him towards the kitchen, since she knows the layout well enough of the dorms by now that she doesn't always need the cane, but this will make sure she doesn't trip should someone have pulled in another coffin or something.]
[ One moment is long enough for Alice to feel foolish indeed for overthinking the kitchen's supplies. If anyone can use them freely, perhaps he could and should do the same... Others may have been kind, but it wouldn't be right to take advantage of that generosity on a regular basis.
For now, he walks beside Helena with care, down the hallway towards the common room, crossing its slightly less cluttered space to reach the kitchen. It's a brief journey, but he sweeps a look around — it wouldn't do if they were discovered in the middle of their planned surprise! But there are no scarves and no beanies in sight. The coast is clear.
Even so, stopping outside the nearest door to the kitchen to let Helena through ahead of him, Alice speaks in a whisper. ]
We won't be caught prematurely... I don't see him anywhere.
I don't hear his footsteps, either. It means we have the advantage of surprise in this.
[going in the kitchen, she trails her fingers along the cabinets, stopping before the ones they'll need to get down bowls and such.]
Now, Alice, I'm going to ask you some difficult questions to try and get this right. Describe to me the taste of your corn potage. As is, not with any additions.
[ Incredible... Helena can recognize people by the sound of their footsteps?! Pausing in awe while the young woman busies herself with the cabinets, Alice takes a moment to ponder the notion and decide that it does stand to reason that there are differences to note and memorize. Shin Tsukimi's footfalls must have their unique traits, and the same applies to him, and others. He'd like to ask Helena about it, curious to learn what would signal to her that either one of them is approaching, but they have something else to address first.
The taste of corn potage... Alice readies himself to fetch their needed equipment, thinking. How much detail should he include? ]
It's... both sweet and savory, as well as creamy. The texture should be smooth.
[ Concentrating on describing it properly is beginning to make him hungry... ]
[ Oh! Helena's approach considers how to feed one's soul — there's more to identify than physical sensations such as tasting the flavor of the soup or feeling satisfying fullness after a filling meal, and so on. Giving the questions some thought, Alice leans against the counter behind him. ]
I see... In that case, I would describe it as comforting. Eating it, one feels cozy, like wrapping yourself in a blanket, or sitting around a kotatsu in winter.
[ Since Shin Tsukimi must feel the cold easily, judging by the many layers he tends to wear, capturing the essence of good soup to nourish the soul is an important objective! ]
When whoever eats it finishes a bowl, they should look forward to having it again.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Spicy soup... Oh, such as Korean recipes? Well, I don't wish to set his tongue on fire, either... I'm also only familiar with miso soup and corn potage and the like. I've eaten some different kinds of soup myself before, but our options depend on the ingredients available here, don't they? However, I'm ready to begin immediately!
[ After all, it sounds like they'll need the time for their preparations to succeed... ]
no subject
[this is going to be hopefully easier done than said.]
no subject
[ If he were Shin Tsukimi, what kind of soup would he choose to eat on his birthday? A trusty favorite? Something special? The former would be comforting, but the latter might feel like a treat...
Then there's the problem that normally, Alice himself wouldn't think to eat nothing but soup — that's for lying bundled up in bed after falling ill! Contemplating the topic thoroughly, he has to admit that while he can in fact be trusted in the kitchen, able to cook and bake by following instructions, he can't pretend to be an expert who could make anything whatsoever as he pleases. The basics were part and parcel of helping his mother with chores as a child, so he had a foundation to build on, but to tell the truth, the process itself usually isn't much fun until the very end...
It could be different, novel and appealing, to witness others appreciate tasting dishes prepared by his hand. It's vital to get it right! ]
Have you any recommendations, by any chance...? You appear to be skilled.
[ He'll never forget the fried rice, especially! ]
no subject
[the rice had been difficult, but she had enlisted help for it. help that was no longer available - so she hadn't tried again past that.]
Hmm...do you think we could find a way to put miso in the corn potage? It'd need something to make it work, but...
no subject
[ His appetite isn't anyone's responsibility — Helena could have been someone to keep the hard-won fruits of her labor to herself, and if others were forced to eat sandwiches for every single meal, then so be it. And she's kind to share her knowledge now. All this time, he'd believed that there was some secret to the groceries... ]
Ah! [ Upon hearing Helena's idea, Alice brings his hands together. ] I'm sure it's possible, enhancing the flavor! Let us try it!
no subject
Yes! One moment!
[she scurries back to where she's been doing homework, putting it all back together and stacking it on the desk - that way she'll know exactly where it is later - and then coming out to join Alice. lightly, she lays her hand on his arm to walk with him towards the kitchen, since she knows the layout well enough of the dorms by now that she doesn't always need the cane, but this will make sure she doesn't trip should someone have pulled in another coffin or something.]
no subject
For now, he walks beside Helena with care, down the hallway towards the common room, crossing its slightly less cluttered space to reach the kitchen. It's a brief journey, but he sweeps a look around — it wouldn't do if they were discovered in the middle of their planned surprise! But there are no scarves and no beanies in sight. The coast is clear.
Even so, stopping outside the nearest door to the kitchen to let Helena through ahead of him, Alice speaks in a whisper. ]
We won't be caught prematurely... I don't see him anywhere.
no subject
[going in the kitchen, she trails her fingers along the cabinets, stopping before the ones they'll need to get down bowls and such.]
Now, Alice, I'm going to ask you some difficult questions to try and get this right. Describe to me the taste of your corn potage. As is, not with any additions.
no subject
The taste of corn potage... Alice readies himself to fetch their needed equipment, thinking. How much detail should he include? ]
It's... both sweet and savory, as well as creamy. The texture should be smooth.
[ Concentrating on describing it properly is beginning to make him hungry... ]
no subject
[they can't just add miso and hope for the best. it has to balance the best of both.]
no subject
I see... In that case, I would describe it as comforting. Eating it, one feels cozy, like wrapping yourself in a blanket, or sitting around a kotatsu in winter.
[ Since Shin Tsukimi must feel the cold easily, judging by the many layers he tends to wear, capturing the essence of good soup to nourish the soul is an important objective! ]
When whoever eats it finishes a bowl, they should look forward to having it again.