Making food and friends!

[onethirdthesoul]

[Over in the home economics room Ryou was cooking up a small feast. After the bitterness of the snow-in had left them, he was feeling more energetic than usual, and what better way to put that energy to use than making a meal for as many of the denizens as he could?

It was all Japanese dishes of course, lots of rice and vegetables adorned with traditional Japanese seasonings, slices of fish, chicken, and beef. There was nothing particularly fancy about any of it, but it all tasted good!

He makes sure the doors are open to let the aroma waft out into the halls, and just to be extra safe he tapes some arrows on the walls to lead the way.

...And yet, despite his outgoing attempts to be social, Ryou's still feeling increasingly shy for every person that enters.]

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

Oi, oi, what's all this?

[Leaning on the doorframe, arms folded over his chest, the spirit of the Millennium Ring watches him with lazy eyes.]

Planning to feed the entire school?

[onethirdthesoul]

[Oh, him... Well, he knew the spirit was around, but he'd kind of been hoping for Aniki.]

Hey, um... [Oh right, he'd thought of a nickname awhile ago! But they hadn't talked in so long that he had yet to have a chance to use it.]

Bakemono-kun. I just thought it might be nice to get to meet some new people.

[fluffydeathdealer]

..."Bakemono...-kun"?

[Well that was unexpected. He stares blankly at Ryou for a moment, before pushing away from the doorframe to walk over to where he is.]

Are we close enough for that sort of honorific?

[He sounds more curious than anything else.]

[onethirdthesoul]

Ah! [He hadn't even realized. Now he felt embarrassed for being rude, even if this was the spirit of the Millennium Ring.]

Um...how about Bakemono-san?

[fluffydeathdealer]

"-san"? [He waves a hand dismissively.] What am I, an old man?

[...it's too much fun to tease this kid.]

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou looks like he's about to start fretting, but then a thought occurs to him.

As he jokes, he smiles a little unsure of him.]

Eheh...Well, you are three thousand years old, right?

[fluffydeathdealer]

-!

[.......that little bitch. He really is kind of old. But he doesn't feel old, dammit! Don't give him a midlife crisis!]

Ah...

[Dammit.]

...Just drop the honorific entirely. It's not like you need to be polite to me.

[onethirdthesoul]

[You can't have a midlife crisis, you're not even in your own body!]

Are you sure? I don't mind adding it...

[He's a little amused inside though, seeing the spirit falter like that. ...Oh no, what was he thinking?]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He can totally have a midlife crisis! Or a mid-death crisis! Whatever you want to call it.]

I told you already! I don't care about politeness, so do what you like!

[Gah, this all backfired...]

[onethirdthesoul]

[You are well past mid-death.]

Okay, okay...

[He'll just ignore the issue for now and smile.]

So, did you want something to eat? You must have followed those signs here, right?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Don't make him feel even older!]

Ah, yeah.

[And rearranged them.]

Food's good. Got anything without meat in it?

[...to people that don't know the issue with Malik, that would sound like the world is probably close to ending.]

[onethirdthesoul]

Without meat? Sure. [Ryou blinks, looking a little surprised, but then he goes ahead and gathers up a rice and veggie dish for Bakura.

Graciously, he offers it with some chopsticks.]

Here you go. I hope you enjoy!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Of course. It's your cooking, after all. It'd be a cold day in hell before you made a bad meal.

[Accepting it, he leans against the wall and tucks into it hungrily. He eats like a marauding bear, with no manners at all. Is he even tasting it?]

[onethirdthesoul]

...Thank you. [He smiles softly in return. Had it been anybody else but the spirit, he might have given a larger one.

...But this was the spirit, and he was never sure how to feel about him.]

It was a nice change from staying cooped up from the cold last week.

[fluffydeathdealer]

How'd you handle it? I'm impressed you didn't turn up as a block of ice with a Ryou popsicle inside.

[Ryou didn't look like he was that used to the cold, and considering how whiny he was at times... Did he find someone to cuddle up to and cry on?]

[onethirdthesoul]

Eheh, well... I just wore a lot of layers.

[That laugh is definitely awkward.

He might have huddled together with his roommate when they played games, so what...]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He pauses, looking at Ryou intensely for a moment. Don't tell him Ryou actually got laid or something to keep warm...

Well, it's not his business, an amusing thought though it is.

Come to think of it, Ryou does look a little odd today.]

Oi, Ryou. Something's different about you.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou blinks, tilting his head at the observation.]

Uh...really? [As he does, his ponytail hangs off to the side, quite a few inches above his shoulder.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...?

[Setting the plate aside, he steps over, staring at Ryou with a curiously look. Lifting a hand, he reaches out to tug at the fastenings of Ryou's ponytail.]

The hell happened to your hair?

[Don't tell him the kid was less sensitive about it in whatever crazy world he came from...]

[onethirdthesoul]

Ah! [Ryou brings his hands up to try and catch his hair, but then, realizing he wasn't cooking anymore, just lets it fall.]

I-I had to cut it, okay! [His brows knit uncomfortably as he becomes self-conscious over it all over again.] But it's growing back...

[fluffydeathdealer]

...'had to'? I'd ask if someone had been bullying you, but I don't think 'he' would let them get away with that unless you pissed him off hardcore.

[Compared to his own hair, which by now goes right down his back, Ryou looks like a totally different person... Hm. His own host was probably going to fuss over him once he found out.]

If you need me to kick the shit out of someone for it, let me know; I've been restless enough that I might even do it for free.

[onethirdthesoul]

No, no! I don't need you to do anything! [Ryou waves his hands frantically, trying to reassure the spirit.

When he speaks again his voice drops.] I just...took a shower one day and the water was all sticky. My hair got so tangled up, I didn't really have a choice.

[That's not to say he didn't fuss over that knot for a long time before taking the plunge, but even he knows when something is hopeless.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Oh, huh. That's pretty unfortunate. Talk about bad luck... the gods must have it in for the poor vessel.

[I guess I won't get to punish anyone after all... what a pain.]

Honestly... this place is full of bullshit. At least hair grows back. I bet you cried for days.

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou's cheeks flush from embarrassment, his eyes widening as he carelessly defends himself.]

I definitely didn't cry!

[fluffydeathdealer]

Hoh~? Not even a little?

[You lying liar that lies, Ryou Bakura...]

Heheh... You know lying doesn't suit you!