[Closed] Entry 005

[chippedsoul]

Who: Barok Van Zieks, Ema Skye, Gina Lestrade, Herlock Sholmes, Kazuma Asogi, Susato Mikotoba and Yujin Mikotoba
Which: Closed
Where: The Wild Harvest
What: The AA crew get together to try their luck with the spicy food challenge. Or to observe the struggling of others. Don't worry, we got a doctor on the scene.
Warnings: Fire


The Wild Harvest have setup a food challenge this month and the crew are having an impromptu get together to either try it themselves or observe. An area by the garden has been sectioned off for those to do the challenge, so damage control can be a bit more manageable. Some extra hands are definitely appreciated when, not if, a fire starts.

There's plenty of ice cream and floats to go around for those watching, along with the regular menu of course. Or maybe one could get some air walking around the garden, with plenty of critters from garden snakes to lotus koi fish, and an axolturtle wandering around somewhere. Take care not to feed the fish and turtle too much "junk" food, and good luck spotting the garden snakes as they are more on the shy side.

Comments

[Open]

[chippedsoul]

A - A Test
[His restaurant may be hosting this event, but that doesn't stop Kazuma from entering himself. He had been taken down by a single bite of the devil pepper raw, clearly he can handle it when processed and cooked with something else. He could feel the heat from the bowl of ramen before he even takes a bite. His brows furrowed as he gives the bowl a staredown of the century. He may have been doing this for quite some time.]

B - Garden of critters
[When there's a moment of peace, Kazuma spends some time tending to the garden and it's residence. One might feel squeamish to see so many garden snakes slithering around a single man. He's taken a seat by one of the ponds, snake friends being unhelpful as he's trying to feed the lotus fish in the pond.]

You'll have your turn. Stop that. [He had a snake wrapped around the feeding arm, wanting to take a nibble.] If you get sick, I'm not going to help you. [Yes he will.]

B

[judicialassistant]

[ Yea, he would, and if not, Susato would. She's not quite there to say as much, but just pretend, OK? She appears a moment later, hot on the trail of a snake that has a tiny lotus blossom on its head. It's a casual stroll at best; in fact, Susato keeps pace rather well as the snake slithers, her boots clicking along next to her. ]

And where do you think you're going?

[ Oh. The question is answered a mere few seconds later. Ryu makes a beeline for Kazuma to join her brothers and sisters for "feeding time." ]

You know that's not for you.

[chippedsoul]

[There are just snakes around his feet, on him and in the plants nearby. All waiting for their turn for a treat. Kazuma is momentarily distracted by a snake with a lotus blossom on his head. The reason, coming up behind him. A warm smile forms on his face.]

Want to finish feeding the fish while I keep our snake friends in line?

[judicialassistant]

[ The little blossom seems very resilient atop her head. Despite everything, it doesn't seem in any danger of falling off. It's cute. Susato hums, answering Kazuma by reaching out her hand for the bag of fish food, as if she's done it a million times before. ] Happy to help.

[ There isn't even a flinch at the snakes crawling on his arm during the exchange. At his feet, the lotus makes hers stand out, however. She's glancing at her as she reaches in for the first palm-full of the food. ]

I've named that one Ryu, you know.

[chippedsoul]

Oh? [He kneels down to lift her in his hand. It's definitely cute on her. The other snakes are trying to climb up on his legs. He'll get to them shortly.]

It's an honor to be named after my best friend. [Ryu's tongue flicks, curling up sheepishly.] Hm, I think it suits her.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato's thrown some food for the fish, though Kazuma's comment does give her pause. She grins, feeling rather... validated. ]

She has these wide eyes when she is scared that made me think of him. Of course, I didn't know she was a girl at the time. [ She doesn't sound too apologetic about this, though maybe she is poking fun at herself just a little as she concedes the fact.

In the end, she can't imagine Ryunosuke would be too offended. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He can imagine Ryunosuke having those same wide eyes as he sees his friend covered in snakes for the first time.] Well, she doesn't mind it at all.

[If snakes could blush. He could hear a few of the snakes hissing. Enough talk, give us food!] All right, all right. Let's go over here.

[He carefully stands back up, making sure the snakes had time to get off him as he moves to a nearby bench. A couple of the more knowledgable snakes are already slithering around a small box of treats meant for them.] I take it you've gotten along with a few of them. Any others with names?

[judicialassistant]

Mmm. [ A glance sideways to Kazuma as he teases them. There's a bit of a laugh in that hum as he sets down the box. She watches all the snakes swarm, Ryu included, as she spreads out another palm-full of food for the fish.

There's some splashing in the water, just barely heard over the sound of the little waterfalls as they go for it. ]

Just Yumie for now. She's somewhere in the greenhouse right now, though. I couldn't find her this morning, so it was just Ryu for today.

[chippedsoul]

[He certainly seems more relaxed in the company of all these snakes.] Yumie... [Which one was that? He looks around at all the snakes that have gathered. He takes out a tweezer and starts to feed them individually. Mixture of some fruits and insects for them.]

She hides often? Likes to sleep?

A

[thegamesafoot]

[ Sholmes drops into the seat across from him, bowl of curry in hand. The detective doesn't tuck in quite yet, though. Instead, he observes Kazuma for a few quiet moments before piping up: ]

Mr. Asogi, I've never seen anyone try to intimidate a bowl of soup before. [ He sits forward to get a view of the ramen. ] How is it working out for you?

[chippedsoul]

[The detective gets a grumbling sound in response. As one could see, the ramen remains relatively unfazed by the glaring. The heat still rising almost menacingly from it. We've outdone ourselves, Kazuma thinks. Enough about that though, the detective requires his attention.]

I am simply figuring out how to best approach consuming this. [Not wrong, and definitely not because he's delaying the inevitable. A blink as he sees the detective has picked up a plate of the curry himself. Hmm.] Giving the challenge a try yourself?

[thegamesafoot]

Right you are! [ Sholmes sits back down, eyes flicking between his own bowl and Kazuma's. ]

I do wonder why you've chosen the ramen over the curry. [ Sholmes opted for the latter for a number of reasons, one of them being that he imagined the accompanying rice might cut the heat. ] Is there some strategic advantage? Or, as the proprietor of this lovely establishment, is there something you know about its preparation?

[ Maybe the soup has less pepper content? Or boiling it has reduced the potency? ]

[chippedsoul]

It's merely a matter of preference. [Maybe he has heard curry was the easier option, but when has Kazuma ever taken the easy route? His attention turns to detective's choice of the curry route himself.]

Tasting your luck as well?

[thegamesafoot]

Luck has nothing to do with it, my good fellow! My iron gullet and tireless preparation more than assures my victory!

[ But he still hasn't touched his food. No, he's watching Kazuma carefully, waiting for anything else to draw his attention. Once he thinks he's in the clear, the detective uses some practiced sleight of hand to tip a whole vial of something into his mouth, swish it vigorously, then swallow it. Whatever it is must taste disgusting—some of the color has drained from his face and he barely hides a grimace behind his self-assured smile. ]

Well, what is it they say in Japan? Itadakimasu? [ Pronounced with a very hard "SOO" at the end. ]

[chippedsoul]

[...What was that look just now? Dreading to consume his curry perhaps? No, he could have sworn he saw the detective put something in his mouth that wasn't curry. His thoughts pulled away when the man attempts to speak Japanese. It...could have been worse.]

Itadakimasu. [Said properly before he takes a few noodles with his chopsticks, though not eating just yet.] What sort of preparations have you done, detective?

[thegamesafoot]

Following the wise words of Sun Tzu—"know your enemy"—I conducted a bit of research on capsaicinoids. [ Namely, how to best to mitigate its heat with a bit of chemistry, but he leaves that part out. Though ... his voice sounds a bit thick? ] Imagine ... these poor peppers spent so many thousands of years evolving an effective deterrent, only for humans to stroll up and delight in the agony of it.

[ He picks up a bite with his fork (very heavy on the rice), and stuffs it in his mouth, barely bothering to chew. Even with his "preparations" the less contact made with his insides, the better, right? ]

Mmmm.

[chippedsoul]

Hm. [No idea what capsaicinoids are, but can that knowledge help mitigate the heat of peppers grown by a Celestial? These are not exactly your typical peppers from an Earth planet. It may even penetrate those earth-based defenses he's set up.]

I suppose it's a little strange, that we choose to consume them. [He's kind of, ignoring his ramen right now to watch Sholmes. Eating without chewing too much. That's a common approach.]

What have these capsaicinoids taught you then?

a

[katonking]

[To make up for her blunder earlier Ema has opted to helping serve some of the other contestants and while some had failed almost as spectacularly as she did, Kazuma seemed to be figuring out if he was going to take a bite of his ramen.]

Sooo are you going to eat that or just stare at it?

[chippedsoul]

I'll eat it. [Saying without breaking eye contact with the ramen.]

I'm just thinking. [How to best approach it? Slurp or chew the noodles? How to tackle that broth at the end?

....

He's really just delaying.]

[katonking]

Thinking. Right.

[She sits down and sliiiiides a little closer to him.]

Thinking about what? How much pain you're about to experience? How awful it's gonna feel going in and out?

[chippedsoul]

How to best approach this. [Absolutely not thinking about how much suffering awaits him. But his pride is on the line. He needs to finished this. He picks up the chopsticks, dunking them into the soup to get a bit of noodles.]

What about you? Didn't you have a go yourself?

[katonking]

I feel like you should be a little less worried about me and more worried about you.

[She's absolutely loving this.]

And besides I already burned a tablecloth. I'm repenting. See? [She motions to the just of lotus milk and the bucket beside her. Secretly she's hoping to use the bucket.]

[chippedsoul]

[Of course she is. He looks between the lotus milk and bucket, his brows furrowing.]

I won't be needing either of them. [Before getting further distracted, he's going to jump right on in and taking the first bite. The flavors hit first, but immediately right after came the spice. It is just as intense as when he bit a devil pepper raw. But he keeps trucking through, barely giving himself much of a break before he's gathering another bite. The area around them is getting warmer, and there may even be steam starting to come off from Kazuma.]

[katonking]

Yeah okay.

[She totally believes him. Clearly. Ema's just gonna kick back and watch as the steam slowly starts to pour out of his ears.]

How are the first couple of bites, champ?

[chippedsoul]

[Good and then immediately filled with regret. He'd say something along that line if he gave himself an opportunity to speak. Instead he closes his eyes, a deep breath and then continues into the next bite. This next bite felt even more intense than the last. Free hand clenched into a fist on the table, closing his eyes for a moment to keep it together. He is not going to start tearing up. He's barely through his ramen to be doing that!]