whatisright | El Nysa IC Inbox

yes
come over
i have opened a window and cleared most of the smoke

( Anders has never bolted out of the Sanctuary so fast. Once he gets to the door of Justice's apartment, he doesn't even bother trying to knock. He just lets himself inside, looking alarmed at the lingering smell of smoke coming from the kitchen. )

Maker's breath, Justice, what did you do? ( He looks a bit disheveled as he rushes into the room, a few strands of his hair already having fallen out of his pony tail. )

I thought I told you to keep an eye on it.

I did. [Justice has opened up all the windows, allowing the smoke to filter out. In the sink are the remains of a ruined pot and a lot of burnt rice. On the table, a bowl of overcooked (but at least not charcoal) rice, sans any kind of seasoning. Plus an orange, left besides the bowl like that makes a cohesive meal.]

I did not know when it was cooked, so I waited, hoping that I would be able to tell when it was finished. And then it caught fire, so I tried again a second time with some advice.

[This is normal.]

( How can he say all of that with a straight face? Anders looks from Justice down to the pot in the sink, eyes wide with disbelief. )

Why didn't you ask for advice before you started? I could have told you.

( He sighs, though, knowing that there was no point in scolding Justice about it now. He walks over to the edge of the counter, looking down at the bowl of rice Justice somehow managed not to burn, and says, )

This is still overcooked.

It did not occur to me that I did not know how to tell it was cooked until I was cooking.

[Justice looks down at the bowl of rice, disappointed that he had still not cooked it right. Hopefully he didn't do it so badly that Anders can't eat it. Although all things told, maybe he shouldn't be surprised that he is so bad at cooking when he doesn't eat.]

How are you able to tell that it is overcooked?

When it starts to look like porridge. The rice shouldn't be this mushy.

( Anders looks like he might still eat it, though, if only because he doesn't want to waste any of it. He's already at that stage where he's too hungry to be picky about what he eats, so he takes the bowl and finds a fork to eat the rice with. )

The next time I'm in the marketplace, I'm getting you a cookbook.

That may be beneficial. I would like to learn.

[Because he wants to make something acceptable for Anders when he stops eating, is what goes unsaid. Justice frowns at the rice, like he's trying to figure out just from sight what 'wrong' looks like.]

...I have never paid attention to the appearance of porridge. [That might also be a problem. He's never really cared to study the things mortals eat, because mortals will usually take care of that on their own and Justice has never had to worry about it much.]

Of course not.

( Anders sighs, but the exasperation is mostly aimed at himself. He knows Justice doesn't know any better, so he shouldn't expect him to know what porridge or rice is supposed to look like. )

It's fine. ( He says, resigned, taking up the fork and scooping a bite full. ) We ate porridge a lot in the Circle. This can't be any worse than that.

[The rice is impressively bland, like Justice put effort into making it extra bland for Anders. But of course he didn't--he just didn't bother with any kind of seasoning.

Justice, for his part, is a little disappointed that he can't give Anders anything better than what he got in the Circle. Clearly, this whole cooking nonsense will take more effort than he thought going forward.]

I will learn to make it better next time.

( Anders feels terrible for saying that. He doesn't mean to sound ungrateful, or make Justice think his food isn't any good — it isn't, but that isn't what Anders wants him to hear. )

You really don't have to go through all this trouble.

( He says, holding the bowl close to his chest as he chews on the bite of soggy rice. It could definitely use some seasoning, but Anders suffers through another forkful of it anyway, just to make Justice feel a little bit better. )

Thank you.

[The issue that it's hard to hide one's feelings from someone who can feel other people's feelings. Justice appreciates the effort nonetheless; it's kind of Anders.]

I do not do it because I feel like I have to. I do it because I wish to.

[Justice wants Anders eating better than he has been, and if that means he has to put more effort into learning how cooking works, then he will.

But then he remembers, with a slight downturn in his ever-present frown,] I have a picture for you. Someone texted me by accident and asked that I pass it along.

( His stomach twists happily, knowing that Justice isn't doing this out of any obligation. Anders always worries that he is, that he's only trying to help him out to make up for what he's done to Anders since they merged, all the sleep and meals he's missed.

He revels in that feeling for a moment, his mood happy and content, before Justice mentions receiving a picture. )

That seems to be happening a lot today, doesn't it? ( A wary smile crosses his features. He's not even going to try to hide how anxious he feels. ) What is it?

[Justice picks up his communicator wordlessly and shows the picture to Anders.]

A human named Ocelot wished for you to have this.

[Does Justice's stern voice seem a little more stern than usual? Must be the imagination.]

( It seems Anders anxiety was not unfounded. The sternnes in Justice's voice doesn't register to him as clearly as the picture itself does. Anders' heart skips a beat, recoginzing the man with his buttons partly undone before Justice could put a name to him. )

Thank you for passing it along. ( He says, his cheeks suddenly turning a soft shade of red. ) You can delete it if you want.

Very well.

[Justice is absolutely going to delete it.]

It seems he wishes to see you soon.

[Justice's extra layer of sternness doesn't go away when he says it. It's not like there's anything wrong with Anders having sexual relationships with other mortals. It is, in fact, completely natural and none of Justice's concern. He doesn't know why the idea makes him so cranky.]

( Anders doesn't know why Justice is getting so cranky about it either. He assumes it might have something to do with something Ocelot said to him, or the fact that Ocelot is bothering him during work hours. )

He knows where to find me.

( He turns his blushing face down toward the rice, hiding it as he shoves a few more mouthfuls in. The blandness of the food doesn't even register to him at this point, what with how embarrassed he is. )

I have to get back to work after this.

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