Rictor & Gaia, Wednesday afternoon
Jan. 8th, 2025 12:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsRictor successfully makes lunch without burning down the kitchen, and shares the bounty with a new friend.
Rictor recognized that the proper cooking method for carne asada was a big gas or charcoal grill (and per his norteño peers at uni, it had to be done with a bottle of beer in hand at all times). But it was too cold outside for barbecue and despite the mansion's remodeling since last year, the kitchen did not have an industrial indoor open-flame grill. Also, this stupid country still thought he was too young to consume alcohol. So, grilling on an induction stovetop with a glass bottle of Mexican Coke (at least he was allowed that much in the US) was the best he could do.
The marinated beef sizzling in the pan smelled good as hell, though.
Such delectable scents attracted the mansion’s youngest resident lurker, who was always hungry and always against the idea of doing the cooking herself.
Gaia poked her head into the kitchen and watched the operation curiously. This was one she had seen, yes, but not met.
Despite being barefoot as always, Rictor did not sense her arrival, thanks to the linoleum and laminate flooring. But the shock of pink hair he spotted when he turned did not surprise him, as he had expected Sharon to materialize to taste test despite the preponderance of garlic and onion. Only when he noticed the hair was pink and not purple did he realize his sometimes sous-chef was still absent.
"Hola," he greeted the stranger, raising the bottle in a little salute. "Hungry? It will be done in a few minutes if you are brave enough to try . . ."
“Hm.” The girl glided into the kitchen fully, coming to rest at a countertop near Rictor. “Perhaps. What is it?” It smelt positively dizzying, whatever the sustenance was.
He gingerly flipped the meat onto its other side, and smiled triumphantly at the browning he had managed. And no black burned crisps! He was really getting the hang of this cooking thing.
"It's called carne asada. It's a grilled steak marinated with onion, garlic, citrus juices, jalapeño, and others. I am going to make tacos." He waved his arm at the counter next to the stove, where he had set out a spread of tortillas, queso fresco, cilantro, sliced hot peppers, and a red salsa.
A blank look followed. She knew what steak was, at least. Laura consumed inordinate amounts of it.
Belatedly, she recalled the normal customs upon first introduction to someone. “What is your name? I am Gaia.”
"Rictor. I like your hair. Did you dye it or is it from your gift?" His own hair was tied up on a little man-bun to keep it out of his face (and food).
Gaia made herself comfortable at one of the stools. “It is natural.” Apparently that was not normal here. Most had shades of brown or black.
A belated “Thank you” came a few seconds later. She was learning customs slowly.
"De nada." He checked the meat again and, satisfied it was sufficiently Maillarded, transferred it from the pan to the cutting board for a brief rest. Enough time to heat up the tortillas and text the boys (without Match, QEPD) that there was a meal ready for them. When he could not wait any longer, he pulled a chef's knife from the block and diced a portion of the meat, preparing a pair of tacos for Gaia. "Buen provecho."
The mutant took a polite bite of one. A mixture of emotions came over her face, landing on mild delight eventually. It was delicious. Spicy and savory and fresh and flavorful. Unlike anything she had ever tried. The closest to beaming she could be, Gaia said, “It is very good.”
Rictor smiled broadly in return. "Yeah? Thank you. It's the first time I made this correctly. Last time, I was afraid I would cook the meat too much, so I did not do it enough, and it was still raw in the center. Sharon enjoyed it, though." Despite the gastrointestinal distress that followed, thanks to the preponderance of feline-unfriendly ingredients. "Have you met her yet? She has purple hair, but usually, she is a cat. Well, she is always a cat, but I mean she takes the shape of either a girl or a cat. ¿Entiendes?"
“We have not been acquainted, no.” The girl took another pleased bite of her food. This was much better than what she and Laura managed to make. “I have met the other person who is also a cat though. Are there many more?”
"I think it's just Sharon and Liam now. But there are some people with animalistic gifts. There's Kyle, who is responsible for a lot of the upkeep here. Megan, who also has pink hair, come to think of it. She has butterfly wings. And there's Mister Sefton, but he is more of a spirit than an animal. It's very cool, the variety of mutant gifts here."
Gaia nodded. “Yes, indeed.” It was beautiful, in a way. “If I may ask, what is yours?”
His smile widened as she broached his favorite topic. "I can talk to the Earth," he proclaimed. "That generally means I can ask it to move, make earthquakes. I can tell when soil is healthy and sense the vibrations of people walking nearby. I have learned to also make vibrations through the air, but that is difficult without my friend Shatterstar's help. But I am getting better at that. How about you?"
“How fascinating. Truly a wonderful gift,” Gaia said, mulling over what the other mutant had divulged.
In return, she shared, “It is complicated. Simply put, I can change things. Move them. Feel them. There have been… difficulties adjusting, though. To this world. It is not what I am used to.”
Things started to fall into place when she mentioned "this world." Another extradimensional visitor, he surmised, like Hope. Talk about difficulties adjusting. At least to Gaia's credit, she hadn't demolished this kitchen upon her arrival. Rictor offered her what he hoped was an encouraging smile as he prepared another taco for her.
"You know, I have wondered if my gift would function the same on another world, or if I am tied to the spirits of this Earth specifically. "
“That is the question. The conditions in which one’s mutation is allowed to thrive.” She furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “Perhaps you may get the opportunity to answer yours someday. Many worlds connect to this one through the wormhole.”
"As far as I know, eXcalibur does not permit alternate dimension vacations," Rictor lamented. "But maybe if I suggest it as a powers training exercise, they would change their minds. I should ask Alani."
“A good strategy.” Gaia replied, taking another bite of her taco. She pondered her next sentence for a moment. “It is wise to be… prepared for whatever may come.”
Rictor recognized that the proper cooking method for carne asada was a big gas or charcoal grill (and per his norteño peers at uni, it had to be done with a bottle of beer in hand at all times). But it was too cold outside for barbecue and despite the mansion's remodeling since last year, the kitchen did not have an industrial indoor open-flame grill. Also, this stupid country still thought he was too young to consume alcohol. So, grilling on an induction stovetop with a glass bottle of Mexican Coke (at least he was allowed that much in the US) was the best he could do.
The marinated beef sizzling in the pan smelled good as hell, though.
Such delectable scents attracted the mansion’s youngest resident lurker, who was always hungry and always against the idea of doing the cooking herself.
Gaia poked her head into the kitchen and watched the operation curiously. This was one she had seen, yes, but not met.
Despite being barefoot as always, Rictor did not sense her arrival, thanks to the linoleum and laminate flooring. But the shock of pink hair he spotted when he turned did not surprise him, as he had expected Sharon to materialize to taste test despite the preponderance of garlic and onion. Only when he noticed the hair was pink and not purple did he realize his sometimes sous-chef was still absent.
"Hola," he greeted the stranger, raising the bottle in a little salute. "Hungry? It will be done in a few minutes if you are brave enough to try . . ."
“Hm.” The girl glided into the kitchen fully, coming to rest at a countertop near Rictor. “Perhaps. What is it?” It smelt positively dizzying, whatever the sustenance was.
He gingerly flipped the meat onto its other side, and smiled triumphantly at the browning he had managed. And no black burned crisps! He was really getting the hang of this cooking thing.
"It's called carne asada. It's a grilled steak marinated with onion, garlic, citrus juices, jalapeño, and others. I am going to make tacos." He waved his arm at the counter next to the stove, where he had set out a spread of tortillas, queso fresco, cilantro, sliced hot peppers, and a red salsa.
A blank look followed. She knew what steak was, at least. Laura consumed inordinate amounts of it.
Belatedly, she recalled the normal customs upon first introduction to someone. “What is your name? I am Gaia.”
"Rictor. I like your hair. Did you dye it or is it from your gift?" His own hair was tied up on a little man-bun to keep it out of his face (and food).
Gaia made herself comfortable at one of the stools. “It is natural.” Apparently that was not normal here. Most had shades of brown or black.
A belated “Thank you” came a few seconds later. She was learning customs slowly.
"De nada." He checked the meat again and, satisfied it was sufficiently Maillarded, transferred it from the pan to the cutting board for a brief rest. Enough time to heat up the tortillas and text the boys (without Match, QEPD) that there was a meal ready for them. When he could not wait any longer, he pulled a chef's knife from the block and diced a portion of the meat, preparing a pair of tacos for Gaia. "Buen provecho."
The mutant took a polite bite of one. A mixture of emotions came over her face, landing on mild delight eventually. It was delicious. Spicy and savory and fresh and flavorful. Unlike anything she had ever tried. The closest to beaming she could be, Gaia said, “It is very good.”
Rictor smiled broadly in return. "Yeah? Thank you. It's the first time I made this correctly. Last time, I was afraid I would cook the meat too much, so I did not do it enough, and it was still raw in the center. Sharon enjoyed it, though." Despite the gastrointestinal distress that followed, thanks to the preponderance of feline-unfriendly ingredients. "Have you met her yet? She has purple hair, but usually, she is a cat. Well, she is always a cat, but I mean she takes the shape of either a girl or a cat. ¿Entiendes?"
“We have not been acquainted, no.” The girl took another pleased bite of her food. This was much better than what she and Laura managed to make. “I have met the other person who is also a cat though. Are there many more?”
"I think it's just Sharon and Liam now. But there are some people with animalistic gifts. There's Kyle, who is responsible for a lot of the upkeep here. Megan, who also has pink hair, come to think of it. She has butterfly wings. And there's Mister Sefton, but he is more of a spirit than an animal. It's very cool, the variety of mutant gifts here."
Gaia nodded. “Yes, indeed.” It was beautiful, in a way. “If I may ask, what is yours?”
His smile widened as she broached his favorite topic. "I can talk to the Earth," he proclaimed. "That generally means I can ask it to move, make earthquakes. I can tell when soil is healthy and sense the vibrations of people walking nearby. I have learned to also make vibrations through the air, but that is difficult without my friend Shatterstar's help. But I am getting better at that. How about you?"
“How fascinating. Truly a wonderful gift,” Gaia said, mulling over what the other mutant had divulged.
In return, she shared, “It is complicated. Simply put, I can change things. Move them. Feel them. There have been… difficulties adjusting, though. To this world. It is not what I am used to.”
Things started to fall into place when she mentioned "this world." Another extradimensional visitor, he surmised, like Hope. Talk about difficulties adjusting. At least to Gaia's credit, she hadn't demolished this kitchen upon her arrival. Rictor offered her what he hoped was an encouraging smile as he prepared another taco for her.
"You know, I have wondered if my gift would function the same on another world, or if I am tied to the spirits of this Earth specifically. "
“That is the question. The conditions in which one’s mutation is allowed to thrive.” She furrowed her brow thoughtfully. “Perhaps you may get the opportunity to answer yours someday. Many worlds connect to this one through the wormhole.”
"As far as I know, eXcalibur does not permit alternate dimension vacations," Rictor lamented. "But maybe if I suggest it as a powers training exercise, they would change their minds. I should ask Alani."
“A good strategy.” Gaia replied, taking another bite of her taco. She pondered her next sentence for a moment. “It is wise to be… prepared for whatever may come.”
