COOKING MEME: Ultern Edition

[ulternnpc]

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!

Comments

[ulternprofessor]

"Alcohol? There ain't much but I've got some in the covered over there." He'll gesture to one of the lower kitchen cabinets. "I usually reserve 'em for big parties, but feel free to drink 'em."

He figured Umbar knew his own limits--and he trusted Gold enough to not drink it (and if he did Banyan would most definitely flip out). Speaking of which, he turned back to Gold with a nod.

"That's up to our head chef here." He winked playfully to Gold. "We can put icing on 'em, put sprinkles or them or colorful sugar. Of course, ya don't have to add anything to 'em either. What'd you like to do?"

He figured, given their past talk about cooking Gold didn't have much of a chance to bake cookies like this. He wanted to prioritize how Gold wanted to make the cookies given how happy he seemed about them thus far.

[gold_drum]

"Thank you!" Umbar calls out with a small wave before leaning down to open the cabinet. He's not picky about his spirits, and gets himself a glass of whatever seems cheapest, before sitting back on the counter to lounge about and sip his drink. Fortunately for everyone, Umbar has no intention to share with Gold, and Gold has zero interest in alcohol. (He's tried it before, and it was the worst!)

Gold pays no attention to what Umbar's doing, as he's very interested by the choices of decorating he's gotten. Icing, sprinkles, colorful sugar, or nothing at all... They all sound good, but he's not sure which one would be the best.

"Can we, um, do all of that?" he asks, hopeful but a little hesitant. Maybe that'd be too much work?

[ulternprofessor]

"All of 'em?" Banyan blinked before a wide grin followed. "That's a great idea, Gold! Let's do it!" No matter what Gold decided he intended to support the lad's choice. Plus it was a great chance to bond with the young trainer in his eyes.

"Alright, I've got a variety of color sugar, and sprinkles too. The frosting... what kinda flavor do you want the frosting to be? I've got both vanilla and chocolate. Or I could whip up something new if you don't want either." Banyan questioned while moved to pull out the colorful sugars (the colors being red, green, blue) and the sprinkles being a mix of rainbow colors and golden ones that were sphere shaped from the kitchen cabinet and down onto the counter for Gold to look over.

[gold_drum]

"Vanilla and chocolate are fine," Gold says, not wanting Banyan to go through too much effort for him. Especially when there were so many choices already! The golden sphere sprinkles call out to him the most, and he picks them out, then heads to decorate.

"Shouldn't you wait until the cookies are baked before you decorate them?" Umbar calls out, interrupting him.

"Huh? Really?" Gold asks, then turns to Banyan questioningly, having no clue how decorating cookies works.

[ulternprofessor]

"That's right, if we put 'em on the cookies now it's gonna get burned." He gestured to the sugar and sprinkles. "They're made of sugar so they warm up real fast, y'see." He began to explain. "So if we stick 'em into the oven with the cookies they won't look as nice."

Banyan moved closer to Gold before lightly placing a hand a top Gold's head.

"S'okay though, yer still learnin'! But you know the best part of waiting while the cookies bake?" He's smiling wide, his teeth flashing. "You can have a taste of the frosting and sprinkles!"

[gold_drum]

"Huh, okay," Gold says, nodding as Banyan explains.

The headpat catches him by surprise and he stiffens for a moment before relaxing. Right, this is one of those friendly things Banyan does. He's gotta get used to it.

"We can do that?" Gold asks, his eyes sparkling. He glances at the golden spheres in his hand, and sets them down. "Then we better get them in the oven quick!"

Time to hurry up and get those cookies ready for baking! Hopefully somebody's remembered to turn the oven on, because Gold is fully focused on cookie-cutting now.

[ulternprofessor]

"Course we can!" He'll playfully give Gold another pat before removing his hand from him. Thankfully it seemed Banyan's Chikorita remembered for them to turn the oven on. He's been around Banyan plenty of times when the professor baked some treats.

"Haha, no need to rush Gold. The cookies aren't gonna run off." He chuckled. "Ah, don't forget to put on oven mitts! The oven can be hot!"

The professor moved to pull out the oven mitts he's had hanging. They're white mitts with red hibiscus patterns on them. He'll hold the oven mitts out to Gold.

"Safety first, right?"

[gold_drum]

Gold does kind of like headpats, but it's a relief when Banyan takes his hand off because Gold doesn't know how to act when they happen.

"Right!" Gold nods, and accepts the oven mitts. He does know oven safety, having used one before on his own, but he doesn't mind being reminded. Now that they've got a tray full of cookies, Gold sticks it in the oven, then closes the door. He takes a moment to admire his work, before turning to Banyan with excitement.

"So now can we try the sprinkles?" he asks, clapping his hands together with the mitts on.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan chuckled. It was cute how excited Gold was! It sure reminded him of his younger brother, and his childhood friends when they had been around that age. Or even his niece and nephew when they came to visit.

"Ya bet you can!" He responded heartily before pulling out a teaspoon and holding it out to Gold. "Go ahead and try all of 'em! Taste testings the best part after all!" There's a playful wink from the professor.

[gold_drum]

Oh, a teaspoon, that'd make sense. He was half ready to just pour some sprinkles directly into his mouth. Or onto his palm, whichever he was in the mood for.

Gold accepts the teaspoon and carefully pours a couple of the golden spheres onto it, then pops them in his mouth. He's surprised how hard they are to bite into, but cracking them between his teeth is a fun new sensation!

There's some noise from his Pokeballs, and Gold looks at them.

"Huh? Do you guys wanna taste some too?" he asks, and glances at Umbar, who nods. Gold looks at Banyan for advice on what to do here. He can't bring all his Pokemon out indoors, but is he allowed to bring the sprinkles outside?

[ulternprofessor]

Well! It was going to take some time for the cookies to bake, and Gold's Pokemon seemed eager in taste testing. Who was he to say no to that?

"It's fine if ya wanna let them all have a taste too. Don't worry none." He'll go over to one of cabinets where the dishes are kept before pulling out a small tray. "Why don't ya put the sprinkles on here? It'll make it easier to take them all out at once than juggling with the all of 'em small bottles by hand."

[gold_drum]

"Thanks! That's a good idea!" Gold sets the sprinkles on the tray, and takes it. "Umbar, do you want sprinkles too?"

"No, I'll be fine," Umbar says, sipping on beer from a champagne glass while seated on the counter, the picture of elegance. "I'll keep watch on the oven."

"Okay!" And with that, Gold would rush out, if he wasnt carrying a tray full of sprinkle jars. So he just walks out slowly, carefully, balancing the tray. ...It's a bit too shaky for comfort.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan's wore a smile still at Gold's clear enthusiasm. He'll glance over to Umbar giving the Legendary Pokemon a nod.

"I'll go join ya Gold." He turned as he called out. His little Chikorita who had gotten up to the kitchen window perked up, eagerly hopped down. Soon he's trotting behind the Pokemon Professor. As he's doing so, Banyan will notice how shaky the contents of the tray were. Uh-oh.

"Say Gold, ya need any help there?" It was better to ask first, he figured.

[gold_drum]

Gold pauses at the question. A part of him wants to jump at the offer and let Banyan help him, but another part of him wants to show Banyan he can do things himself without any help. The part that wants to be pampered and the part that wants to be independent are warring inside him for a moment, but in the end, independence wins.

"No, I've got this," Gold says stubbornly, and keeps it up, one step after the other. It's still shaky, and slow, but none of the jars fall, so it's a success. He pauses in front of the back door and looks at Banyan, waiting for him to open the door.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan watched as Gold pressed on. A part of him worried--but he also respected the younger one's wishes. If Gold wanted to he wasn't about to deprive the kiddo from doing what he wanted. Smiling, when noticing the other waiting for the door to be opened Banyan moved forward.

"Lemme get that fer ya." Did he sound eager?? Nooo, of course not. As he's opening the door, Banyan's Pikachu will immediately scurry over to clamber up the Professor's backside to claim his rightful place on his shoulders.

"Piiika!" He's cheering while nuzzling Banyan's cheek. No way was he letting Banyan go off without him! Even if they were just heading out to the back yard.

[gold_drum]

"Thanks!" Gold smiles, then smiles even wider as Pikachu climbs up to nuzzle Banyan. It's not often that Gold's smile reaches his eyes, but this is one of those times.

He sets the tray down... somewhere, then takes his Pokeballs out and tosses them up in the air.

"Alright, Carn, Elena, Nerica, Mateo! It's sprinkle time!" he shouts as the Pokemon all appear. Carn immediately frolics further away and turns to Gold, yelling expectantly. "Oh, you want me to throw it?" Gold asks, picking a sprinkle jar up, and Carn bellows again. "Alright!"

And so, Gold pours some sprinkles onto his hand, and throws them as hard as he can. His Pokemon run around to catch them in their mouths, and Gold laughs as he watches.

[ulternprofessor]

"My pleasure." He winked playfully while ruffling Pikachu's fur with his free hand. Stepping out, the pokemon Professor smiled watching Gold interacting with his team. He could tell they all had a strong trust and bond with one another.

"Looks like they're really liking 'em sprinkles! We better make sure to add plenty of 'em to the cookies. Whaddya think, Gold?"

[gold_drum]

"Yeah!!" Gold agrees loudly, then throws different kinds of sprinkles for the Pokemon too. "Hey, Tipper - I mean, Pikachu! You want some too?"

It feels weird for Gold to call a Pokemon by its species name, since nicknaming Pokemon is so widespread in the world he's from, so he's started mentally calling Professor Banyan's Pokemon by nicknames. He knows it's probably pretty rude to nickname other people's Pokemon, so he tries not to say them out loud. Now that he accidentally let one slip, he's nervously glancing at Banyan to see if he's angry about it.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan noticed that slip of the tongue. For a second he wondered whether Gold had another Pokemon in mind when referring to his Pikachu. From that glance Gold gave him, Banyan merely smiled as he reached under to give a light scratch Pikachu under his chin.

"Ya hear that, buddy? Gold's willing ta share some sprinkles with ya."

"Chuuu!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked, clearly happy from the scratches. He does however look at Gold contemplating whether he wants to hop off from the comfort of Banyan's shoulders and down to where Gold was. Banyan laughed and lifted Pikachu.

"Down ya go, lil' Tipper. I know ya got a sweet teeth, no need to be shy."

"Pi!" Pikachu being placed down onto the ground lifted his tail up before scampering closer to Gold. He gave sniff curious about the sprinkles.

[gold_drum]

Gold's shoulders sag in relief when Banyan uses the nickname too. So it's fine, then. He didn't do anything wrong.

Gold leans lower down to offer sprinkles for Pikachu to sniff, holding his hand still for him.

His Pokemon, meanwhile, are searching the grass for any sprinkles they missed catching, as well as talking with each other, seemingly unbothered by Gold focusing on another Pokemon for a bit.

[ulternprofessor]

Pikachu continued to sniff a little more until he gave a small lick at the sprinkles. Once giving a few licks, Pikachu seemed satisfied before making his way back to Banyan to climb back onto the professor's shoulders.

"Did ya like it, buddy?" Banyan ruffled Pikachu's head earning a happy "chuuu!" in response. The professor's smiling still with his gaze moving out to the rest of Gold's team. "That's a good idea to give them a taste test too, Gold. Ya never know if they'll like it or not otherwise."

[gold_drum]

Gold's smiling, but he freezes suddenly when Pikachu licks at the sprinkles. But he remembers how the Pokemon all got frightened last time when he remembered bad memories, so he takes a deep breath. It's fine. It's just Tipper. Everything's fine. Everything's fine and everyone's having fun. He can hear his Pokemon laughing and talking to each other. And so, he manages to stay relaxed and not show what he's feeling on the outside.

"Ah... yeah," Gold responds to Professor Banyan, a bit delayed. He feels like his smile is getting a bit too forced, so he drops it. He's not sure what kind of a smile frightened small Pokemon last time, so he'll try to avoid it. Ahh, this sucks. No matter what he does, Gold feels like he's going to end up worrying Banyan and ruining the mood at this rate.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan taking note of the delayed reaction turned his focus to Gold. He was reminded of their first meeting, from the way he had reacted to that wild Pokemon. Had something had happened with Gold before but he couldn't force the young boy to talk about anything he didn't want to.

Pikachu--Tipper now, meanwhile paid no mind to Gold in the least. He was far more content in rubbing up against Banyan happy as can be. The Professor on the other hand walked over to reach out to Gold, to ruffle the top of his head.

"Nakurunai, Gold. It'll be okay." He grinned wide. "...but if, Tips or someone does something ya don't like, ya gotta let 'em know. If ya can't, ya can tell me instead. How does that sound?"

[gold_drum]

Headpats again... That's fine. That's comforting. That means he didn't ruin anything. Gold doesn't move at all, just looking down as Banyan ruffles his hair.

"I'm not crying," Gold says slightly snappishly, maybe mishearing what Banyan said. "...Nah, Tipper didn't do anything wrong. It's my own fault. I wasn't thinking." He holds out his hand, palm up, just looking at it. He clenches his fist, then opens it. "It's just that feeding small Pokemon from my hand, or holding them in my hand, it's... It feels awful sometimes. Not always, just sometimes."

It brings back bad memories, but Gold doesn't want to say that. It's the one traumatic memory he's most hesitant to tell anybody about, so he's reluctant to even hint at it.

Gold's Pokemon are starting to notice the mood by now. Carn spots it first, making a worried noise as he looks at Gold and stomps over. The others stop what they're doing to look over, but they stay where they are, letting Carn go check up on Gold first.

[ulternprofessor]

"Didn't say ya were. It's just a saying in Ultern--nankurunai. It means that things will be okay, and that it'll work out."

Banyan listened to Gold, taking in his words. He wasn't quite sure what it is that Gold had gone through, but it was a sign he recognized himself. After all, there were many Pokemon and people here. All, not without their own stories and problems. Gold was no exception to that.

"I get ya," he nodded over to Carn who was showing up. What a sweetheart, checking up on his trainer. "It was years ago but I had an incident too, with a small Pokemon. I was about yer age, and my baby bro was much younger than that."