Third Floor Common Room [Monday evening]

[weldedtomyspine]

After a week of vacation, Jaime felt like he needed to do something. And since he also wanted to be at least a little bit social, that meant the common room. And that meant cooking.

So there he was, slaving over a hot stove. Well, standing nearby and watching a big pot of chili cook. That was sort of like slaving. Except for the part where he kept stealing bites and frowning. "This is so not spicy enough," he complained to no one in particular.

He started rummaging around in the cupboards looking for something to remedy that. But so far all he'd found were corn chips. Which... well, those were good too.

Comments

[weldedtomyspine]

"Awww... but it would have been fun to have you along."

"Did you use enough chili powder?" Jaime asked. "Because I bet you didn't."

[heromaniac]

"Of course it would have been funner if I was there! I'm super fun to be around!" She reached out to poke at him and laughed. "Not enough chili powder? You know? I was trying to follow the recipe that Mr Durden gave us, and to not burn any more of the tofu, cause I was almost out so I probably didn't. I've only made it once before, and that was in class. Is there a way to tell? I don't know chili very well."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Oh, you'll know," Jaime laughed, poking her right back in the ribs. "Here, try some of this," he held out a spoonful for her to taste the rather spicy chili.

[heromaniac]

Momoko took the taste and chewed slowly. She was tasting all the different combinations of flavours. "Mmm. This is good!" Yes, she sounded surprised. Sorry. She wasn't used to boys being able to cook. "What peppers do you have in here? It's totally spicy, but in a good way! that's not because of the chili powder, is it? If so, I totally messed it up."

And yes she liked spicy foods.

[weldedtomyspine]

"Hey, you don't have to sound surprised," Jaime tried to pout, but he ruined it by laughing. "And it's jalapenos and half a habanero pepper too. Though some of it's chili powder, but chili powder isn't that spicy."

[heromaniac]

"Hey, I'm still not used to boys my age cooking this good! Back home they're always playing sports or hanging out at the gaming parlours and bookstores." She rolled her eyes as she reached for the spoon to try to take another taste. "I should know better, though, since I've met more boys that cook here than girls. Hey, if chili pepper isn't that spicy, why does it matter that I didn't use enough?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"It's got a specific flavor," Jaime explained. "It's not so much that it's spicy as that it tastes like chili."

"And you know, now you're gonna have to cook for me sometime."

[heromaniac]

Momoko froze, spoon hovering over the chili. Did you know that people could turn to complete stone with just one phrase? Did you? It's a gift.

"Uuuuh. I can only make vegetarian chili and tako-san weiners and really bad fortune cookies." She said finally. "How about instead I buy you some ice cream at the chilly boulder? I also still owe you for yelling at you before!"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Ooooh, double icecream." Jaime beamed. "I am liking this plan."

He didn't even tease her about her lack of cooking skills.

[heromaniac]

... Momoko looked at him suspiciously.

"What makes you think I'm buying you double scoops? Is this chili that good?" She reached for a bowl to fill.

[weldedtomyspine]

"You tell me," Jaime countered, waggling his eyebrows ridiculously.

[heromaniac]

Momoko chewed really really slow, making odd faces as she did.

"Hmmm."

More faces and more chewing. She was teasing him, of course. It was totally worth two scoops, maybe gummy bears, too. But she was having fun.

"Hmmmmmmm."

[weldedtomyspine]

"Hmmmm..." Jaime parroted back with a grin. Then he reached out to poke at her ribs. That'd teach her!

[heromaniac]

Luckily she'd already swallowed the chili or he'd be the one learning a lesson. As it was she simply giggle-snorted and then frowned at him. "No fair trying to influence the judge! This is an important decision and I have to concentrate. Now I have to start all over again!" She stuck her tongue out at him and went for another bit of the chili.

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime, being the mature soul that he was, stuck his tongue out right back at her. Then he threw a chip at her for good measure.

[heromaniac]

Eep! She ducked, giggling, but still got hit. "Hey! Hey! Still not helping my decision, here, you know! And no throwing food, meanie!" She set the spoon back in her bowl to check for the chip in her hair and fake a glare at him. "Especially when your opponent only has warm spicy chili to retaliate with!" She wiggled her bowl menacingly.

[weldedtomyspine]

"Don't even think about it," Jaime warned her with a grin.

[heromaniac]

"See, you're in luck; I don't waste good food." She posed innocently. "Although I haven't had a chance to make up my mind on this chili because someone keeps interrupting me."

[weldedtomyspine]

"What kind of jerk would do that?" Jaime asked with mock-innocence.

[heromaniac]

"Oh, I know, right? Obviously someone who hates chili. And ice cream."

[weldedtomyspine]

"And humanity."

[heromaniac]

"Oooh, humanity? You think that this person is an evil villain that needs to be taken down and forced to see the horrible results of his evil deeds?" She couldn't hold out any longer and took a real bite of the chili. It was totally good and way better than her own.

[weldedtomyspine]

"Such an evildoer must be punished," Jaime agreed.

"Unless he's me," he added judiciously.

[heromaniac]

She considered that as she ate for a moment. "You know, I think that will have to argue with you on that. We already know you're pretty crafty and you're totally willing to fire on poor exploration helicopters."

[weldedtomyspine]

"That wasn't me," Jaime protested. Unbelievably.