It is. I got the ingredients for the kind with fillings so I tried those.
[Quite a few had turned out...less than ideal so those he ate himself or just left home. Interesting isn't exactly the best. He's not fishing for compliments, exactly, but he does like to make food for people they'd like.]
So...not a fan of sweets or is it something else? [He did taste test them so he know they should taste fine. But different tastes and all that.]
[--Oh, oops, he hadn't meant to offend. Xie Lian picks out a non-white one, taking a bite out of it this time rather than sticking the whole thing in his mouth.]
They're very good! I was just a little surprised, is all--I don't think I've tasted something quite that sweet before.
[Ahem.]
...The brown ones are my favorite though, now that I've had both. [Aaand popping the rest of it in. He's long since learned not to be a tiny bites kinda guy.]
I'd need some milk or cream for that. [Pause.] But I guess if you really want to try it I can make it with water too.
[Because besides the cream he'd gotten as an ingredient for this quest he's really not sure...where to find any. And he'd done his best to use it all up since there's no way to refrigerate it.
If only there was milk powder...
So...he's kind of smiling when Xie Lian starts licking his finger because that seems like a thing a kid would do. It's kind of funny.]
[Hmmm....curious. He turns to glance thoughtfully back at the kitchen, wiping his slightly soggy fingers off on his clothes, entirely clueless as to the reason Jim is smiling.]
I'm more used to drinking water than milk, so I wouldn't mind experimenting. What else do you need for it? I still have some vegetables saved.
[Also like......vegetables? Even if Xie Lian's never had hot chocolate before it...doesn't taste like something you'd want to add vegetables to, right?]
Did you really? I barely ever cooked before...no stove, for one thing. [Or home, for that matter--he takes another bite of his wrap.] There's all sorts of things you can do if you look, I think. Foraging, hunting, cleaning...some people are rather interested in the arts, from what I've seen--and I've been working on my cooking skill, myself.
Well, my mom's really busy with her job so helping out with chores was just something I could do to make her life a bit easier. But cooking is very fulfilling especially when people like what I make.
[It was still something that was nice to do even though he was pretty busy with being the Trollhunter, honestly.]
Really? I'd like to taste something you make sometime. [He says now, anyway.] But why didn't you have a stove?
[You have such confidence in a guy who eats porridge off the floor...]
So you were helping your mother? She must be very proud, to have such a dutiful son. [A good son who cooks for his mother...did Xie Lian ever do that? It's hard to remember, but probably not, huh...]
I'd been traveling for many years before I arrived here, after all - and it's rather difficult for an itinerant cultivator to gain access to a stove, especially if one rarely stays in inns. [Another bite.] This is delicious, by the way! You said you couldn't find meat for it? It's quite good, even without.
[He hangs out with beings that consider socks delicacies. Also, sharing food is a bonding experience!
'Dutiful' isn't a work he hears...at all, actually. But hey, different worlds, right?] I hope she is. [He knows she loves him but...well. He's not sure he's done anything worth being proud of...and a lot of things he knows he could have done better. On some level he's sure she would be but like...you know. Can't know for sure while he's still keeping her in the dark.] Also, she can't cook. She tries sometimes and I just do my best to fix it while she's not looking.
[His mom is an amazing doctor...but a chef she is not.]
Right...for you it was probably a lot more open fire cooking. [Like a grill! Except probably not exactly like that.] Thanks! There's definitely a lot of ingredients I can't find but there's enough that I can pull together something.
[Everyone knows a child must be dutiful to their parents! It's ancient Asian tradition.
The mention of a mother who can't cook brings a wistful smile to Xie Lian's face for a moment, as he looks down at the perfectly-made meal in his hands...but that's not important right now, is it?
...Looking up again.] What sort of ingredients are you missing? I might be able to find them for you, if you're having trouble.
[He still hasn't given up on that!] But meat is also something I'm having trouble with. I don't know the first thing about hunting and even if I did I don't know if I can...you know. [He draws a finger across his neck in what he hopes is universal for 'to kill'.]</SMALL
While I admit I haven't the slightest idea how to go about procuring yeast, I can certainly help you with hunting. I've seen quite a variety of animals in the area too, so whatever sort of meat you like, I'm sure I can catch it for you!
[Ruo Ye floats up into Jim's field of vision as well, performing some sort of movement which....is probably meant to be showing off that it plans to help? Probably.]
[It's fine. It seems like no one knows how to get yeast. But he's definitely excited to hear that Xie Lian knows how to hunt.]
Really? Oh, man...I still haven't figured out what animals there are...besides some sheep and I know someone in town has chickens so thy're probably in the forest too...but anything you can find would be great!
[He doesn't specify no lizards or insects or anything like that because he assumes that's......obvious.
It's hard to miss the way Ruo Ye moves into his field of vision and he smiles at it even though he's.....not sure what it was trying to convey? He'd need to learn how to communicate with it.
For now he gives Xie Lian a look like he's asking what Ruo Ye is trying to say, while hesitantly reaching out to...pet the strip of cloth.]
...yeah. I've never...cooked with those kinds of meat before. [Also eating rabbits is......a mildly uncomfortable thought. Don't people normally keep rabbits as pets?]
Oh! [That makes sense when he remembers how Ruo Ye had been able to distract that wolf robot.] If... [Does it have a gender???]...they're helping then I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Thanks.
Really? Rabbit meat is quite delicious, if you ask me...though the bones can be something of a hassle. [Do they not sell rabbit where Jim comes from? Maybe rabbits aren't common where he comes from? Slight headtilt.
Also casually waving off that thanks.] It's no problem at all. We've hunted together many times before--Ruo Ye can help in the kitchen, too! Isn't that right, Ruo Ye? [It nods enthusiastically, before wrapping back around his arm.]
...is it? I've never had it. [Then again, was rabbit meat honestly any weirder than some of the things he's seen the trolls eat?
But then again, when had his life gotten to the point where he's using trolls as a metric to see if something is weird or not?! Why was he doing that!?]
Wow! Ruo Ye [Pronouncing that wrong but he's trying!] sure is helpful! I don't think my sword could do that much. [He's actually pretty sure if he tried to chop food with his sword the food would explode into blue light flashes.]
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[Quite a few had turned out...less than ideal so those he ate himself or just left home. Interesting isn't exactly the best. He's not fishing for compliments, exactly, but he does like to make food for people they'd like.]
So...not a fan of sweets or is it something else? [He did taste test them so he know they should taste fine. But different tastes and all that.]
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[--Oh, oops, he hadn't meant to offend. Xie Lian picks out a non-white one, taking a bite out of it this time rather than sticking the whole thing in his mouth.]
They're very good! I was just a little surprised, is all--I don't think I've tasted something quite that sweet before.
[Ahem.]
...The brown ones are my favorite though, now that I've had both. [Aaand popping the rest of it in. He's long since learned not to be a tiny bites kinda guy.]
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It's pretty common where I come from. Most of the candy you can get from the store are just sugar with colour.
[And he makes a note of that though. In the future, don't make anything that's too sweet.]
I save some of the chocolate. Maybe next time I can bring you some hot chocolate.
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[Then it'll be nice and hot!!
Also there was another thing besides chocolate right, he's going to...he's going to lick his fingers first actually, they're kinda chocolatey.]
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[Because besides the cream he'd gotten as an ingredient for this quest he's really not sure...where to find any. And he'd done his best to use it all up since there's no way to refrigerate it.
If only there was milk powder...
So...he's kind of smiling when Xie Lian starts licking his finger because that seems like a thing a kid would do. It's kind of funny.]
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[Hmmm....curious. He turns to glance thoughtfully back at the kitchen, wiping his slightly soggy fingers off on his clothes, entirely clueless as to the reason Jim is smiling.]
I'm more used to drinking water than milk, so I wouldn't mind experimenting. What else do you need for it? I still have some vegetables saved.
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[Also like......vegetables? Even if Xie Lian's never had hot chocolate before it...doesn't taste like something you'd want to add vegetables to, right?]
Uh...I just need a pot.
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He acquiesces to Jim's decision, though, nodding and heading for the kitchen.]
Alright then, I definitely have that! And once we're done with this, we can try the results together with the rest of what you brought.
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Well, you can just have the wrap now. I brought it for lunch.
[Xie Lian's lunch because he's still a little concerned about the fact that last time he was scooping porridge off the floor.
Also he considers the chocolates and picks out the sweeter ones for this. After all, the water will make them seem less sweet.
...he still can't believe he's going to make hot chocolate with water. But like. What can he do, really?]
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The trash god's ultimate weakness is food, it seems.]
You're really very kind, bringing lunch and chocolates and everything...I feel as if I should be offering something in return. Ingredients maybe?
[As he starts chowing down--delicious!]
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Don't worry about it. I like cooking and I did it all the time back home. [He shrugs.] And it's not like there's much to do around here.
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monthSECOND RULE.]Did you really? I barely ever cooked before...no stove, for one thing. [Or home, for that matter--he takes another bite of his wrap.] There's all sorts of things you can do if you look, I think. Foraging, hunting, cleaning...some people are rather interested in the arts, from what I've seen--and I've been working on my cooking skill, myself.
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[It was still something that was nice to do even though he was pretty busy with being the Trollhunter, honestly.]
Really? I'd like to taste something you make sometime. [He says now, anyway.] But why didn't you have a stove?
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So you were helping your mother? She must be very proud, to have such a dutiful son. [A good son who cooks for his mother...did Xie Lian ever do that? It's hard to remember, but probably not, huh...]
I'd been traveling for many years before I arrived here, after all - and it's rather difficult for an itinerant cultivator to gain access to a stove, especially if one rarely stays in inns. [Another bite.] This is delicious, by the way! You said you couldn't find meat for it? It's quite good, even without.
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'Dutiful' isn't a work he hears...at all, actually. But hey, different worlds, right?] I hope she is. [He knows she loves him but...well. He's not sure he's done anything worth being proud of...and a lot of things he knows he could have done better. On some level he's sure she would be but like...you know. Can't know for sure while he's still keeping her in the dark.] Also, she can't cook. She tries sometimes and I just do my best to fix it while she's not looking.
[His mom is an amazing doctor...but a chef she is not.]
Right...for you it was probably a lot more open fire cooking. [Like a grill! Except probably not exactly like that.] Thanks! There's definitely a lot of ingredients I can't find but there's enough that I can pull together something.
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The mention of a mother who can't cook brings a wistful smile to Xie Lian's face for a moment, as he looks down at the perfectly-made meal in his hands...but that's not important right now, is it?
...Looking up again.] What sort of ingredients are you missing? I might be able to find them for you, if you're having trouble.
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[He still hasn't given up on that!] But meat is also something I'm having trouble with. I don't know the first thing about hunting and even if I did I don't know if I can...you know. [He draws a finger across his neck in what he hopes is universal for 'to kill'.]</SMALL
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While I admit I haven't the slightest idea how to go about procuring yeast, I can certainly help you with hunting. I've seen quite a variety of animals in the area too, so whatever sort of meat you like, I'm sure I can catch it for you!
[Ruo Ye floats up into Jim's field of vision as well, performing some sort of movement which....is probably meant to be showing off that it plans to help? Probably.]
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Really? Oh, man...I still haven't figured out what animals there are...besides some sheep and I know someone in town has chickens so thy're probably in the forest too...but anything you can find would be great!
[He doesn't specify no lizards or insects or anything like that because he assumes that's......obvious.
It's hard to miss the way Ruo Ye moves into his field of vision and he smiles at it even though he's.....not sure what it was trying to convey? He'd need to learn how to communicate with it.
For now he gives Xie Lian a look like he's asking what Ruo Ye is trying to say, while hesitantly reaching out to...pet the strip of cloth.]
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[Mentioning it anyway though! You never know what someone from a foreign country might consider food, after all.
Also: gesturing for Ruo Ye to get out of the way. Manners!]
Ruo Ye's ready to help as well! I think it's taken a liking to you.
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Oh! [That makes sense when he remembers how Ruo Ye had been able to distract that wolf robot.] If... [Does it have a gender???]...they're helping then I'm sure everything will work out just fine. Thanks.
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Also casually waving off that thanks.] It's no problem at all. We've hunted together many times before--Ruo Ye can help in the kitchen, too! Isn't that right, Ruo Ye? [It nods enthusiastically, before wrapping back around his arm.]
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But then again, when had his life gotten to the point where he's using trolls as a metric to see if something is weird or not?! Why was he doing that!?]
Wow! Ruo Ye [Pronouncing that wrong but he's trying!] sure is helpful! I don't think my sword could do that much. [He's actually pretty sure if he tried to chop food with his sword the food would explode into blue light flashes.]