piratejournal | fifth glance from the crow's nest -- sound/action to crew (backdated to the 23rd)

As much as this competition has pit us against each other, I would ask that we not all lose sight of the fact that we're still being used by others for another purpose. We are still all better off as allies than as enemies.

[This has been your daily soapbox moment.]

[action on the sea princess]

[Itachi hasn't forgotten what day it is. His brother had honored his birthday, so it's only right that he do the same. A cake is out of the question, as he knows Sasuke doesn't like sweet things. That doesn't mean he can't cook him something else, however. With all the supplies (and still edible vegetables) they have on the ship right now, it shouldn't be a problem.

Shouldn't.

None of the training he'd gone through in becoming the best ninja he could had involved cooking. Putting together a simple meal for the road is one thing. Making something nice for a family member is something else entirely. He believes he should be able to do it - he's gotten a hold of a decent cookbook - so he's going to give it a shot. It can't be too difficult.

Anyone who nears the kitchen this evening might be privy to the smell of burnt vegetables or the disgruntled noises of one young ninja.]

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[He invites himself in and walks over to the stove to examine what Itachi is making. Admittedly, he's seen worse and it turned out to be perfectly edible, but he doesn't have the same faith in Itachi's cooking that he does in Shoko's.]

Cooking what?

[It's not immediately obvious.]

It looks like it's burning.

It's not-- [Itachi makes an annoyed grunt and removes the pan from the stove, setting it on the one next to it that isn't hot.]

It's a light fried dish. Eggplants, tomatoes, and zucchini. [Isn't it obvious?] I'll add the breadcrumbs and seasoning later.

[A pause, and he straightens up.] I'm improvising.

Edited 2014-07-25 21:47 (UTC)

[To be honest, he doesn't even know the slightest thing about cooking. He can heat things up and he can tell basically how cooked meat has to be before it's edible, but left to his own devices he'll just subsist on protein bars.]

If the heat was lower, it wouldn't burn so quickly.

[He wants to point out that you can't really improvise unless you know what you're doing to begin with, but that isn't very helpful.]

[He doesn't need someone telling him how to do this! It's just cooking.

Maybe his current predicament would suggest otherwise, but he's positive he can get this under control.

Still, he does turn the heat down a little.]

I won't be burning the ship down. Don't worry.

You won't, but you'll set the stove top on fire if you aren't supervised.

[He wasn't intending on volunteering, but now his interest is piqued.]

You aren't on cooking duty today.

[It's a statement, not a question, but at least it falls short of being an accusation.]

['Supervised.' People had stopped 'supervising' Itachi in most things a long time ago. He's used to being considered the capable one. He can't allow this to get to him, but he frowns.]

I'm not completely unfamiliar with cooking. This is just something I haven't tried before.

... But you're right. I'm not.

[Nights with Itachi on cooking duty are bound to be some of the most bland, if at least nutritional and filling.]

Then why are you cooking?

[For someone who can predict the flow of battle with such startling accuracy that it borders on clairvoyance, L-Elf is surprisingly baffled by things like "friends" and "wanting to do something nice for someone. He's now examining the counter and everything that Itachi has gathered for the meal like he's trying to imprint on his brain what it all means.]

... Because it is my brother's birthday, and I wanted to make him something.

[He'd gotten Itachi a cake, after all, as well as something far better.]

Is it? He hasn't said anything about it.

[Or if he has, L-Elf hasn't noticed or paid it any attention. His own birthday had been in May and he hadn't mentioned it to any of the crew. To be honest, he can't remember the last time he celebrated it.]

Does he expect presents?

No. I don't believe he would tell any of the crew. Neither of us care much for big celebrations.

... But he remembered mine. I plan to honor his.

[He watches the vegetables as they cook, not sure what to do with the information. It's a level of socializing he's tried very hard not to bother with and while it's a bit of relief that he has no one forcing him into it for once, it's not quite the relief he expected it to be.]

He should appreciate it.

[Whether that's a prediction or a threat isn't exactly clear.]

Whether he does or not [and Itachi's fairly certain he will too], I want to do the best job I can.

[Even if his best job in cooking isn't as good as his best job in other things.]

[He's sure Itachi will test it before he serves it, so there's no need to point that out. However...]

Don't make a second batch unless you've figured out how to make it. Those vegetables are meant for the entire crew.

[The ninja gives L-Elf a long look.]

... You are aware of how large are vegetable stores are right now? They don't keep forever.

[He's unperturbed or at least he seems to be. It doesn't always occur to him right away that they don't have the same methods of preserving food that he's used to. However, that doesn't mean they don't have any options.]

They can be canned or pickled to preserve them, can't they?

If we have the means for it, yes.

Though even if I failed in ten attempts at dinner tonight, I would still have hardly dented our supply.

[A glance back to the stove.] ... Not that I intend for that to happen.

[He's going to need to look into canning supplies and some sort of guidebook. He can probably have them rush delivered from the Backwater Brig. It would give him something to do to keep his mind active.]

If you fail, it will be just this once.

[He takes a seat at the table and starts drafting a list in his journal.]

[Itachi stops as he reaches for the skillet, turns to narrow his eyes at his crewmate again.]

... You're right. It will be.

[But not for the sake of not wasting ingredients, and certainly not because L-Elf said as much.]

fifth glance from the crow's nest -- sound/action to crew (backdated to the 23rd)

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