Fifth Floor Common Room, Tuesday afternoon

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

There was a huge pot on the stove, and Sokka was making soup.

He started with a mixture of chicken broth and fish broth, added a whole lot of lime juice and garlic, and then stirred in whatever herbs, fresh or dried, he could find. And that weird, chalky aftertaste? Crushed meta for Flintstones chewable vitamins. Against all probability, it actually smelled pretty good.

In a smaller saucepan, he also mixed up more or less the same thing, only with salt water instead of broth, because some people were vegetarians, and while he didn't agree with their lifestyle, he respected it.

A large sign on the table -- beside the stacked bowls and spoons -- proclaimed it to be "Sokka's Symantec Soup!!!!!"

Comments

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River left her room as the smell of food reached her, venturing out into the common room. Her face lit up as she noticed the soup and she grabbed a bowl.

"No flu?" she asked Sokka, as it seemed to be the topic of conversation for the day.

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"ANTI-flu," Sokka proclaimed smugly, rapping the side of the pot with a ladle.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Her smile turned into a grin. "Good strategy," River said. "Will it work?" Yes, there was a hint of teasing in her voice.

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"It's got vitamins," Sokka pointed out. "And herbs. Extra herbs. If this doesn't work, nothing will."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Exactly what herbs?" River asked, looking into his mind for an answer as well. She poured some soup in her bowl.

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka shrugged. "I dunno. Just whatever I could find. I didn't recognize most of them. But they're herbs, right? Herbs are good for you."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Herbs can be potentially deadly," River replied, tasting the soup. She assumed most of the ones in the kitchen would be safe, however.

[Off to bed now!]

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Not plants," Sokka protested. "Herbs. From the kitchen. Some of them were even in the fridge."

[Night!]

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Symantec?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka nodded. "It's anti-virus."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Oh cool. Smell's good too. What all's in it?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Herbs," Sokka replied. "Lots of 'em. Good for the immune system."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Good idea. You know what might also be good in here? Some small pasta. Like those little alphabet noodles."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Uh... Really?" Sokka stared at the pot of soup, and then shrugged. "Okay. Do we have any of that?"

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Well let's see." Billy checked the cabinets. "Uh, well there's little shell noodles. It doesn't quite have the same down home feel to it but it'd add texture right?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka shrugged again. "Sure! Can't hurt, right? Toss 'em in!"

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy did so. As far as he knew, Sokka was right, it couldn't hurt. "Experimental cooking. It's kind of fun."

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

Having given up on trying to get online for the moment, Rodney wandered down to the common room. "Is anyone else having problems with internet access?" He asked as he walked in. However, he was quickly distracted by the scent of something cooking. "Is that soup?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Special anti-virus soup!" Sokka grinned at his roomie. "With extra herbs."

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Oh, right, flu season. I hate that," Rodney agreed. He came over to the stove to get a better whiff. "Um, what kind of soup is it, exactly?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Herbal soup!" Sokka exclaimed. "It's good for you!"

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

For some reason, Rodney wasn't so sure of that. "Is that..." he paused as he sniffed it again, "lime?"

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Yup. Proven to be very good for sick people. Lots of vitamin Z. I saw it on TV!"

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it's wonderful. Except when it can kill you," he added harshly. "Hello? Deadly citrus allergy here."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Whoa! Really???" Sokka stepped between Rodney and the soup, to protect him. "Sorry... I didn't know there WAS such a thing."

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

Rodney appreciated his roommate's protective instincts. Sort of. "It's all right," he assured Sokka. "I'm normally better about making sure the world people know. But I'm definitely gonna have to pass on the 'herbal' soup."

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

It was entirely possible he'd already let Sokka know. In fact, it was pretty likely.

"I'm still sorry. And you'd better take care of yourself. If you get me sick, I promise there will be PAIN involved."

[mrodneymckay.livejournal.com]

"I'm good thus far," he held up his right hand as if taking an oath. "What about you?" He asked suspiciously. "Is there a reason behind this 'anti-flu' soup other than altruism?"

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

There was food.
There was Jack.
The two were related.

He did not bound up the stairs, however. It was at a modest pace. A modest rapid pace.