farawayplace | COOKING MEME: Ultern Edition

No matter in the fire, water, through grass or the forest--eating is essential! Even in the sunny and peaceful island region of Ultern people are out and about getting ready for today's meal. Now, what's on the menu for today?

1. Kame Kame Attack
You want to show just how much you care through your food! Even if the person (or pokemon) is stuffed, they need to eat more! They're so thin and withering away! What better way than to tell them there's always seconds or thirds?

2. One Minute Cooking
Is it your first time in the kitchen? Do you want to improve on how to cook? Time to turn to a friend or family member for help!

3. Koffing Class Curry
WHAT EVEN IS A BAKING SHEET? Oh my Arceus what am I doing?! Who even eats goya or yago anyway?! Everything is happening so much in the kitchen! You're a hot mess (as is the kitchen!), and you can't help but panic. Who do you call in a pinch like this?!

4. My stomach's growling like crazy!
Man that smells so good... what's there to eat?! You're just so starving you're withering away. If only there was someone with a nice meal to the rescue. Or are you able to fight your stomach and go down to the closest store to grab some food?

5. Augh...my stomach…
What was in that meal just now? The person who gave it to you meant well probably, but their cooking skills are not up to snuff. Is there a polite way to tell them to stop? Or perhaps it’s beyond the point of being polite. Either way it’s time to stop before anyone else falls victim!

6. REVENGE BENTO
Revenge is a dish best served cold. Or y’know be a bento box with nothing but rice in it with nori bits spelling out “curry” while claiming you made curry for lunch. Or whatever other petty ideas that are in store to make the receiver of this meal to get your message.

7. Allez Cuisine!
Wild card! Pick and choose your prompt or come up with something new!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a look of worry etched on Manzana's face. He'll reach out and place a hand onto Calem's shoulder.]

That simply won't do! You need to take a break. I'll...uh...I can make you a nice sandwich at the very least!

[From the way he's moving in closer he was obviously not taking a "no" as an answer from Calem.]

Please, our store isn't too far from here. I'm sure no one will mind me bringing a guest over.

Ah...but...

[Calem wants to protest. He's so close to finalizing the design on a couple of outfits and surely he can wait just that much longer to eat, can't he? He's done it before, he can always do it--

But the growl of his stomach says otherwise, and something about Manzana tells Calem that he's not going to give in so easily. The younger-looking man sighs a bit, and nods his head.]

...If you're certain I won't be imposing, I would not mind that. I could certainly eat and work.

I'll just have to repay you for it in the future.

[Calem chuckles a bit, but he's ready to go; lead the way, dude.]

[Manzana's relieved, took one of Calem's hand to lead him over to the flower shop, Churahana. As usual there's a Coinpur napping near the entrance, letting out a soft purr in its sleep. Careful so as not to step on Coinpur, Manzana maneuvers his way around and opened the door.]

I'm back--with a guest!

[Manzana called out as he entered the shop. However it seemed no one was around at the moment, aside from an Ulternian Sunflora manning the front counter. Manzana didn't seem to think nothing of it as it was close to dinner time. Although he was more than happy to explain anything if Calem did ask. In any case, Manzana led Calem over to the kitchen. Flicking the light on he'll usher Calem to one of the seats nearby.]

Make yourself comfortable! I'll whip up a sandwich real quick!

[Calem follows easily; hungry as he might be, he does keep a good pace and he enters in smoothly behind Manzana, greeting the Sunflora as he comes in. Calem's more than happy to follow while taking in everything he sees; ever the observant one, he'll happily make himself comfortable and...proceed to break out a notebook because this is Calem, inspiration never stops--]

Thanks again, Manzana; I'll have to get you back for this sometime.

[There's the telltale sound of sketching--]

But wow. You've really got yourself a beautiful place here, huh? I'd love to know more about it; all of these plants you have are just beautiful inspiration!

[The kitchen is nice and cozy, with well cared for plants near the window sill and on shelves where the sun light clearly hit. Manzana once he's sure Calem was comfortable headed over to the refrigerator to pull out a bright red tomato.]

You don't have to pay me back, I'm doing this because I want to.

[He beamed while placing what were clearly sandwich ingredients out (a half cut lettuce, slices of meat, some cheese along with the tomato) onto the kitchen counter.]

Thank you--but this isn't only my home. I live here with my fiancee Anemone--this is the store she, and her family runs. In fact the Sunflora at the counter is one of her Pokemon.

[He's beaming still clearly happy talking about them. All the while he's digging around to pull a kitchen knife from one of the kitchen drawers.]

When I first started working here I had no idea what I was doing, but it's thanks to them I love the work I'm doing now. I feel like you'd understand how that feels, wouldn't you?

But I...

[Calem starts to protest, before his stomach growling proceeds to quiet that down more than a bit. Huffily, Calem gets started on some sketches, taking in the inspiration around him while Manzana works. It's his next words that get Calem to stop for a moment. For two reasons, really...]

...Yes, I do believe I understand that; it's the same for me, too. Both my Pokemon, and the trainer's at Miss Valerie's gym, along with Miss Valerie herself have certainly helped me enjoy all that I'm doing.

[But, onto clearly more important details--]

Tell me more about them. Your dearest fiancee, and her in-laws? [oh calem seems outright animated] I imagine she must be quite the charming girl to have caught your eye! I wanna hear all about it.

[HERE'S A SIDE OF CALEM THAT DOESN'T COME OUT OFTEN but god!! he loves hearing about love lives!!]

[Manzana even with Calem's protest showed no signs of stopping his work. He's plucking some of the lettuce leaf off to set it aside, before putting down the tomato. Holding the knife handle almost like he's about to stab someone (he wasn't, really!) he began to cut the tomato which was getting squished in the process.]

Ah...it may not look pretty but it will be filling!

[He was mostly saying this to reassure himself as he managed to cut 3 different sized slices of tomatoes that was set aside as well. Just as he was reaching for the bread he smiled thinking of Calem's early days working with Valerie the gym leader. He knew about her, after all she was famous back in Kalos.]

It's amazing that you're working with such an amazing gym leader, and trainers too. I remember they were quite fashionable. Ah...

[He's taken aback, surprised to see how excited Calem had gotten about the talk of his own fiancee and his in-laws. There's a chuckle while he's setting the bottom bun down.]

My fiancee, Anemone is honestly...the best thing to happen in my life. She's so beautiful not because of her outer appearance of course, but how courageous and strong she is. I wasn't...all that amicable when I first drifted here. I've said some horrible things, and lashed out to people yet it was Anemone who kept reaching out to me. I am not sure what she saw in me, but I know what I saw in her...

[His expression softened as he thought about his fiancee.]

She's the beautiful flower of my life, my whole heart. Her parents are wonderful people too. They were more than welcoming of my stay here, and even fed me plenty of times. Sitting together with others and eating food is truly a wonderful experience.

Worry not; food doesn't need to be pretty in order to be good.

[Honestly, he's never understood the culture of even food needing to be pretty. Sure, it's nice for the spectacle, but. Why??

Either way, Calem will put away his notepad for the time being; he listens with rapt interest as Manzana talks about Anemone, and it's...definitely quite a bit to take in. In a way he's not surprised that Anemone changed his life, but hearing about the fact that Manzana hadn't been the most kind of people there, and knowing it was Anemone's efforts that opened his heart...

It's a strange feeling. He'd thought Manzana had it rough, but...now a part of him wonders how deep it goes.]

...Miss Anemone really changed your life, didn't she? And for the better too, it sounds like. [Calem sees how soft Manzana's expression has gone, and he finds himself chuckling.] You sound blessed to have met her, and her family, and...I am quite glad that you did. Your own life seems to be in full bloom, now, like a garden tended to by her loving hand.

[Ah, but--]

...Haha. Sorry. Got a little carried away. But I am glad that she gave you a reason to open your heart; you seem so much happier for it.

I guess it doesn't...

[Yet Manzana understood the appearance of food could help elevate someone's mood too. He's glancing down to his handiwork which hadn't come together yet but there was still potential! It's fine it's fine!

He's tearing the lettuce pieces off while continuing to talk of Anemone. He's all smiles.]

You could say it was a fateful encounter.

[He chuckled to himself. He light shook his head indicating he didn't mind what Calem had said.]

She...really did change my life for the better. I still couldn't separate myself from where I came, so everyone's kindness here made me suspicious. I didn't want to think that way...

[He doesn't want to say the rest. Of how taking ahokd of the wrong hand could lead someone down a dark path.]

Anemone helped me see both the sun and the night of Ultern. Both kind and welcoming no matter how different we are.

[He'll pause to start spreading some oil onto the sandwich. It's followed by slapping down the leaves of torn up lettuce.]

I feel like this place was where I was meant to be all along.

COOKING MEME: Ultern Edition

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whoof sorry for how long this took

no worries! I've been the same with tags too ahaha

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