alcohol, your songs resound like my life never will

[moralperil]

Date & Time: 8/13/13, evening, two hours after this conversation.
Location: a bar of Jack's choosing
Characters: Mahdi (moralperil) & Jack (allucinator)
Summary: Mahdi's celebrating his one year anniversary in Exsilium. Jack promised Mahdi a drink, Mahdi bumped it up to two.
Warnings: TRIGGER WARNINGS: PTSD episodes, discussion of sexual abuse.

[There's a lot for him to think about, out in the rain. Mahdi tries not to sulk and dwell on being called 'kid', on being treated childishly. In a year here, he's only just recently started to understand this attitude comes from people who want to look out for him. They can't know how impossible a task that is.

It sucks, in a way. He'll probably always be the one who's like a little brother, the treasured friend, the ally and angel but never more than that. These are all great things to be, things Mahdi is happy to be, but he wonders why it seems like the only way to be thought of as an adult is to act cynical and jaded. It seems to him like not letting the world change you is a form of maturity, too, but the sincerity and sweetness he treasures are not valued by all.

Normally, Mahdi doesn't get so reflective, but it has been a year and nearly two weeks since he's arrived. He's been thinking about a lot of things lately, like how it's been over two years since he's seen his family and the last real conversation he had with his sister Fayra was about how he needed to get out more, how he ought to go dancing with her, how he needed to try and have fun and get a date since it's been two years since that last guy, dang it.

(Okay, now it's been more like four.)

But Mahdi hasn't been trying like she'd want him to, even though he has more opportunity here. He rarely goes out at night. He usually stays home, maybe practices some recipes and just goes to bed early.

Maybe he actually finds this place pretty depressing. It's time he stopped, he figured. It's time he took some kind of move in his personal life.

When Mahdi turns up at the bar, he's no longer in the casual-disheveled state he had been when they chatted on the tablets. He's pulled his hair back into a loose braid, and he's wearing a nice blue sweater and trousers. He arrives a few minutes earlier than two hours, so worried he might be late or find the wrong place. He pulls off his yellow raincoat with a shiver, and searches the room for Jack. If he hasn't arrived yet, he'll find a table or something - stools are just too challenging for him.]

Comments

[allucinator]

[Definitely-- and time for a topic change as well, Jack thinks. Absently he sips at his first-- he hasn't even started it-- and wrinkles his nose. A bit too sweet for his tastes, but not bad.]

What's your favorite thin' to do?

[moralperil]

Oh... Probably baking! I love to cook and bake. I've been experimenting with a lot of recipes. There's some challenges, since some supplies are limited or expensive. Speaking of which, do you have a favorite dessert?

[Mahdi flags down the server to order another white Russian.]

[allucinator]

I, uh-- cookies, I guess? I dunno, I ain't really tried many sweets. Can you teach me how to cook, maybe?

[moralperil]

[Oh no Mahdi is so exciting at this prospect!]

Sure, if you have to will to learn! Pretty much anyone can cook if they want to. You just have to be patient and follow recipes while you're learning the basics.

Is there anything you want to learn how to make? Cookies are pretty simple, but I could teach you some other basic, fast and simple meals. You know, so you can cook something nice for yourself and your roommates!

[allucinator]

Anythin' that'll keep me fed. I've lived offa, uh, you know. Steak and tomatoes and sandwiches for the past two months. Which is pretty good, I mean, don't get me wrong, I goddamn love that I can afford steak, but I just-- you know-- I figure there's more out there.

[moralperil]

[You would swear that an ominous chord had been struck and how hangs in the air.] ...Oh. Oh no. Jack no. You can't eat nothing but steak. It's really bad for you. And you're probably not even cooking it well. I'll teach you how to cook, okay? I'll teach you how to cook vegetables. And zucchini bread. You have to eat more than that.

Otherwise, you could die. Humans die if they don't eat vegetables.

[allucinator]

I eat some.

[Sometimes. Vaguely.]

I eat tomatoes, I said! And I cook it good, okay, it's good!

[moralperil]

You should eat more vegetables. Red meat is terrible for you! You know, my people live for two hundred years and it's probably because most of us don't eat any meat at all!

[Mahdi wags a finger.]

You need to take care of your body! It's fragile!

[allucinator]

Do I look dead to you?

[moralperil]

Not yet. But you don't need to make death come any faster!

Anyway, it'll be good for you to broaden your tastes. [In the exact opposite of broadening his tastes, Mahdi drinks his newly-arrived White Russian with gusto.]

[allucinator]

I'm fine.

[He grumbles that and takes a swig of his half-melted drink.]

When d'ya wanna start?

[moralperil]

You are, but you want to stay that way, right? So you should look after yourself. [Mahdi chuckles, pulling out his obnoxiously cute kitten day planner and flipping through... He's nearly to the end.] I'm pretty much free after tomorrow. Provided we don't get sent on a mission. Oh, by the way, when's your birthday? I try to keep track...

[allucinator]

[Oh my god could you be any more ridiculous. Jack rolls his eyes and answers:]

September the twelfth. What should I bring? Or d'ya wanna come over?

[moralperil]

[Man you're just lucky you didn't meet him when he first arrived. He got stuck in his apron.] September 12th! [He writes it down. With hearts all around. All the entries are like that.] Hmm... Do you think Cassie would be happier if I brought Truffle for a visit or visa-versa?

[allucinator]

Er-- probably if you brought . . . Truffle over. Are you-- don't put hearts around it!

[moralperil]

I'm sorry. I probably should've put flowers or something, since you're artistic! [Mahdi so doesn't get it.] I'll bring Truffle over a day after tomorrow? Do you like spicy food? I can teach you curry, you can even put meat in that.

[allucinator]

It's good, yeah-- what's curry? I dunno if Cassie is gonna take to him, y'know, she's not exactly nice.

[moralperil]

Curry is actually a word to describe a lot of different dishes all over from the part of Earth called Asia! Usually it's made with chili and a bunch of other spices. [Yes, Mahdi can actually be relatively smart about things that interest him.] I'm going to start you with something really basic, though, it's just a curry mix you can buy at the store and all you have to do is cook your own vegetables and meat and rice. It's simple, delicious and filling, and you can make huge batches to share with people or eat for the next few days - the flavor intensifies in the fridge! Plus it's great to make with people because there's so much chopping. I bet you're good at chopping if you cut hair, right?

[A laugh.]

I'll bring Truffle in a carrier, so Cassie can't bite him. If they decide they want to play, we'll just be careful.

[allucinator]

[He laughs softly despite himself, shaking his head.]

Jesus, I got a genuine cook on me hands, don't I? All right. I'll buy meat and rice and stuff at the store, you get the curry, and try not to get too excited, all right.

[moralperil]

I actually already have some. That's why I was so keen on it being curry. [A laugh.]

I'll try not to be... but how excited is too excited? It's not like I'm singing and dancing. [And those are apparently both things that might happen at any moment.]

[allucinator]

If you start that, I'm gonna kick you out. Fair warnin'.

[moralperil]

Fine, but you're missing out! If you sing while you cook and do chores it's so much more satisfying! [Actual Disney Princess Mahdi Clare.]

[allucinator]

No, it's just weird. You might wanna cut that out.

[moralperil]

[Complete confusion.] Why? It's not hurting anyone.

[allucinator]

Yeah, but it's . . . weird.

[He's not being hostile! Just . . . sort of vague.]