[voice testing] loogie woo kreznix (don't ask)

[chromatose]

[It finally happened. It was really only a matter of time- and Ludger now finds himself in a fractured dimension on his own, without his friends to help him. It's... probably better this way, anyway. There's no reason for them to have to bear the burden of dealing with these places. It's on him, right? Both as an agent of Spirius, and as a user of the chromatus.

Still, it's kind of lonely. Especially without Elle, even though he knows he can use the chromatus without her right now.

Oh well. The sooner he gets out of here, the sooner he'll get back to the others. Best get down to business and find that catalyst.]

Comments

[chromatose]

Hah, well, I'm not world famous or anything. I just cook a lot.

[Inside, it's a pretty cute house; small, very oldschool - it's a freaking tree, what else would it be - and it's definitely a far cry from what Ludger is used to. The high-rise apartments, brimming with technology, was as different from this as the rest of the world he came from. He wondered what that meant. Was Ordon part of what Elympios could have been, if Maxwell had chosen their side of the schism instead of Rieze Maxia? What would the catalyst be, in that sort of scenario? It's dizzying to imagine.]

Do you like tomatoes? They're my specialty.

[balancing]

Haven't met anyone who doesn't like 'em!

[... Well, okay, he hasn't really asked. Usually he hasn't stuck around long enough outside of Ordon to ask what someone's favorite food is.]

I've got a few of 'em in the cupboard there - right beside the stove. Y' can't miss it.

[chromatose]

[Hah... if Elle were here, it would be a very different story. But Ludger merely smiles to himself and heads to where he's directed, removing a couple of the most fresh-looking ones. Before he really gets to work, though, he disarms himself a bit- both of his swords and the hefty sledgehammer go up against the wall nearest the counter. His guns stay at his belt; he's not an idiot, and it would be foolish to leave himself completely at the mercy of a stranger, no matter how friendly. Plus they're a little technologically advanced for this world. He'd hate for them to cause an accident just because he left them lying around.]

I know a good stew recipe that's fast and easy to prep. I can teach you.

[balancing]

[Probably a good thing, as Link is the most curious about those weapons at his belt. Those are the ones he hasn't seen before, while the others are quite familiar.

Link knows he ought to decline; he'd been planning on using the time it took Ludger to make the food to make his rounds around the village, telling people that there's a new person in town, that he's a warrior like him, so don't worry about the weapons he has. But gosh, the prospect of learning a new recipe from a bonafide chef is just too tempting.

So he just nods with a smile and moves near Ludger to get a good look at what he's doing. He would leave it at that, but - ]

I know a few good recipes myself. Maybe I can teach you before y' head off again.

[chromatose]

I won't say no to a recipe exchange. A good chef is always learning.

[And in a way, it's... kind of like keeping a part of the fractured dimensions alive, isn't it? That's what Leia said. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking.

Ugh, stop it. You'll just make it harder on yourself later.

Shrugging off his drifting thoughts, he focuses on the task ahead. It's easier to slide right into chef-mode.]

Alright, first we'll need a big pot. Boiled water, potatoes, and all the spices you've got so I know what we're working with. And a good knife for chopping vegetables.

[balancing]

[All Link really offers in acknowledgement is a light grunt before he gets to work. He has all of these things, all of the freshest as well, as the spoiled ones go out for compost purposes. Ordon is small and doesn't have much as a result, and so they've learned to use everything they can, no matter how fresh or stale.

Big pot, check. Potatoes, check, though he does have to scrub it off a bit. And there's a variety of spices that he grabs from the cupboard and sets down on the counter so that Ludger can check, and... there's probably some he's never even heard of before. Better taste-test some of those first.]

[chromatose]

[It's easy to fall into a routine, once everything is laid out like this. Ludger checks over each ingredient, tastes the spices - and is intrigued by the ones he's never tried before, though some are similar enough to what he's used to that he figures they can act as suitable substitutes - and gets to chopping up vegetables. He gets Link to handle the actual heating part, mostly because he has no idea how to even turn on a non-spyrix stove. He offers up instructions and advice wherever it seems necessary, and overall, it's... fun.

Which is weird, because he hasn't had a chance to relax enough to have fun in what feels like forever. If his life wasn't such a mess, he could definitely get used to this.]

[balancing]

[Not many visitors come to Ordon; usually it's the villagers who go outside to visit other places, and even then, it's mostly Rusl and Link who do so, sometimes the children as well. Colin's been on the road to becoming a brave warrior and all.

But because of that, Link doesn't have many people to cook with, or just spend time with, and he's fine with that. Still, having someone new here is nice. He does his work and watches what Ludger's doing with a smile on his face, and it actually is fun. It's nice to settle down and just cook after a long journey like his.]

So where do you come from? [Because he's been wanting to ask.]

[chromatose]

[....

Crap.]

I'm from... all around, really. I travel a lot, so there's not really an easy answer for that one.

[Slivers of truth in an evasive answer, but it's the best he can offer. The full truth wouldn't make any sense.]

[balancing]

[Link raises an eyebrow at that with a tilt of his head. He's a country bumpkin, sure, but he's not dumb. No one arrives out of nowhere with clothes like that.]

I travel a lot, too. Can't say I've ever seen clothes like yours b'fore, or seen someone jus' show up. [You know, unless they're from the Twilight. But he's certain Ludger's not from there. He blinks after that though, then waves a hand and turns his head away.] Sorry, I know I said I wouldn't ask. If y' don't wanna answer, then it's not my business. I've just been curious about your, er... [Clothes, the weapons at his belt. His hair.] Everything.

[chromatose]

[Now he can't help feeling a little guilty. Here he is taking advantage of this guy's (admittedly willing) hospitality, eating his food, sharing his home, and soon will hopefully be making use of his openness to find a catalyst that will destroy the whole fractured dimension, and he can't even offer much information in return. It isn't very fair.

Nothing about this is fair. That's why getting to Canaan is so important, right? So we can end all of this.]

Sorry. It's... personal, that's all. I can't explain it. If you can't accept that, then I'll understand if you want me gone.

[balancing]

You're joking, right? I don't mind if y' don't tell me, and I'm not gonna kick you out for no good reason.

[Link could never be that mean. Not to people who don't deserve it, anyway.]

We've all got our secrets, and there's nothin' wrong with that. Besides, I can't let ya leave without a recipe swap!

[chromatose]

[You're so trusting.

You might regret that, later.

Ludger's not going to complain, though. He offers up a slight smile and stirs a dash or two of one of the unusual new spices into the pot, checking the taste.]

I think that's as close as I can get it to the usual flavour. Give it a try, see what you think.

[balancing]

[You shut it with that cryptic nonsense you newb

Link leans over to take a taste of his own, and his expression lights up a bit. Well dang, he really is some kind of chef!]

It's really good! And that's all ya put in it?

[chromatose]

[wow attitude bro relax

Ludger smiles, pleased that his choices have been approved despite the unknown spices he'd tried. He nods.]

Just add a bit of love and practice, and you've got it.

[...God, that was totally Julius's influence.]