OOM: Cooking with Moist

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart leads the way upstairs, to his room, and opens the door.

There are books stacked beside the divan now, and a long table with bowls and knives and fruit in basket.

"Bath first, or cooking first?"

Comments

[scots_wolf]

"And they can't understand people who don't," Urquhart agrees.

[morethanprops]

"No, so its that much simpler to make them think you belong."

[scots_wolf]

"They are practically asking for it," Urquhart agrees. "Now, add the eggplant to the pan."

[morethanprops]

Moist nods and puts it in, being careful of the oil.

[scots_wolf]

"Now, add some salt," Urquhart says, taking the lid off the rice pot and stirring it.

[morethanprops]

"How much?" He peers into the pot.

[scots_wolf]

"A pinch or two," Urquhart says.

Beat.

"Well, that measurement is a bit vague. Let me show you."

He reaches into the salt jar, takes up some salt between three fingers, and sprinkles it over the frying pieces of eggplant.

[morethanprops]

"Oh I see," Pinches vary so much depending on a person's hands.

[scots_wolf]

"It's not something that can be explained or defined easily," Urquhart says. "A pinch of salt is a pinch of salt, really..."

[morethanprops]

"Of course, well, some things you just have to learn."

[scots_wolf]

"There are some things one can't explain," Urquhart says. "All trades and skills have them. How can one explain when ink is the right thickness, how to handle gold leaf, or when a dagger is sharp enough?"

[morethanprops]

"You just have to learn it. It smells delicious."

[scots_wolf]

"Yes, but it will be better with spices," Urquhart says.

He starts adding them, some just a tiny sprinkle, some by the generous spoonful.

[morethanprops]

"Is this a combination that you learned or created?"

[scots_wolf]

"Learned," Urquhart says. "Or rather, improvised from among a number of options."

[morethanprops]

"Improvisation brings some wonderful rewards I've found,"

Moist runs his hand along Urquhart's back with a smug smile.

[scots_wolf]

"That, too," Urquhart says, moving his neck into the caress.

"And without improvisation, all plans would fail the moment that the world doesn't behave as planned. 'No coriander -- alas, we can't eat today, then, because the recipe I'd been planning to make needs coriander.' That is what lack of improvisation does. To begin with."

[morethanprops]

"That's part of the fun though since you never know what might happen when things just start happening."

[scots_wolf]

"Precisely," Urquhart says. "That's when you show your real mettle. And it's actually a lot of fun. Stir it again?"

[morethanprops]

He stirs the pot again,

"And if you do things properly, you always have the element of surprise on your side."

[scots_wolf]

"They'll never know what you'll actually do," Urquhart says. "Keep them guessing. Do nothing. Do something unexpected very fast. Fun!"

[morethanprops]

Moist squeezes Urquhart's butt with a smirk, "Of course."

[scots_wolf]

This has Urquhart almost hanging over his sideboard, weak with sudden laughter. "You pinched my bottom, but good!" he finally gasped, still enormously amused. "You win! I am so surprised!"

[morethanprops]

"Thank you, I always aim to be unexpected."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart stands straight, reaches out and pulls him close to kiss him. "You do that very well!" he says.