Double double toil and trouble [Sybil - November 18]

[plaguedrat]

He's still uncertain of how he let himself be convinced to do this, but it puts money in his wallet and it keeps him from being smoked out of his own apartment. That doesn't mean Rat has to play nice; hell, he's hoping that Sybil will even tire of him if he plays it cranky. So far though, it's done little to dissuade her from showing up.

Maybe he's getting soft on people. Shion's fault, he thinks. Once you've let someone in, it's all to hell after that.

Sighing and forcing those thoughts aside, he sets out the ingredients on his counter. A raw chicken, onions, garlic, thyme, plus a box of chicken stock and risotto. To him, they're idiot proof dishes.

Also it uses up some of the several dozen boxes of chicken stock that he looted from the grocery stores.

Comments

[adifferentlife]

"Alright," she agrees, feeling as if she's up for it as she's had some success already. "I think that we should."

[plaguedrat]

"Ever had risotto?" Already, he's washed his hands and is taking out a heavy bottomed saucepan.

[adifferentlife]

“No,” she admits, though she has seen it as an option on menus. It always seemed odd to her that they would include rice under the pasta section of the menu, and Sybil has never quite had the temerity to try it. “What is it?”

[plaguedrat]

"Cooked Italian rice. It's not hard, but it takes attention and tending and the results are delicious," he promises, bringing over the rice and chicken stock.

[adifferentlife]

"Italian rice?" She has been to Italy, but never had rice there. In fact when they travelled their food was often still rather English, something she regrets now. "We should try it."

[plaguedrat]

"It's one of Grey's favorites." It's said more to himself than to her; he doubts Sybil knows or cares about his boyfriend.

[adifferentlife]

"Grey?" She asks because she's curious, and if Rat has mentioned him he must be someone of import.

[plaguedrat]

Rat nods, even as he opens the box of rice and hands it to her. "My boyfriend. Now, pour olive oil in the pan and let it heat up before toasting the rice."

[adifferentlife]

"Toasting the rice?" It's a strange idea, her idea of toast something done to bread, once over flame and now in a small electric box she's rather fond of. Yet she does what he asks, following his instructions precisely, even if she pours in far more oil than is needed. It's easier to talk of than boyfriends, something that she still sometimes has trouble with.

[plaguedrat]

"Just a little, until it smells a little nutty. Brings out the flavors." He notes her determined lack of acknowledgment of his explanation about Grey, which means he has to needle her.

"You've got a boyfriend, haven't you?"

[adifferentlife]

"I do," she says patiently, knowing that this is an issue of hers and not his. Isn't she happy for Thomas and his beau? Hasn't she told herself that it matters as little as the fact she is not married to Henri matters?

"How does it make it nutty," she says, trying to change the subject. "It's rice."

[plaguedrat]

"There's a science to it. I don't know." Rat flaps a hand, becoming quite indifferent to her. "When it smells good then start adding the broth in small amounts."

[adifferentlife]

He's annoyed, she can tell, but she isn't sure of what she can say. Sybil swallows an apology, turning to the pan and adding the rice in silence.

[plaguedrat]

Typically, he'd make a crack about he's used to being looked down on by the rich, but he still hasn't been paid. Her money's for him to teach her how to cook, not to be friendly.

"When the liquid's absorbed, add more broth."

[adifferentlife]

Sybil stirs, following his directions to the letter. She manages to work through two additions of broth before realising how silly she's being. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that when you said what you did."

[plaguedrat]

For a minute, Rat busies himself by checking the progress on the chicken, which will need another half hour by his estimate. When he straightens, he makes a show of shrugging.

"I promise I'm here to teach you to cook, not recruit you to the bisexual agenda."

[adifferentlife]

It's the phrase that makes her giggle, pressing a fist to her mouth lest the laugh escape. She can't help it, it sounds stranger than anything she's heard. "Bisexual agenda?"

[plaguedrat]

"Our next meeting contains such devious plans as eating well and getting enough sleep," Rat deadpans as he starts on some of the used dishes in the sink.

"Where I come from, you find the safety you can, whatever form."

[adifferentlife]

"Thomas- A friend from my home, he has a man in his life," she says slowly, trying to explain herself and her thoughts. It is unlikely that she is doing a very good job of it. "It's not something I had come across before here, at least not in any good sort of light."

[plaguedrat]

"You've probably met plenty of people, here and in your previous home," Rat surmises, scrubbing dishes and letting them dry in the plastic rack.

"Most of history has forced them into hiding."

[adifferentlife]

It's true, and that is what makes her reaction so much worse in her mind. "I know," she says softly, hating to think of anyone being oppressed and unable to be who they choose. "I'm sorry for that."

[plaguedrat]

"I've had bigger problems," is all he says, though he nods at her apologies. "Typically, I was more concerned with staying alive at all."

[adifferentlife]

Sybil is left not knowing what to say any longer. He doesn't seem the sort to appreciate sympathy, finding it more like pity she suspects. And yet, how can she not have sympathy for someone who had struggled so? Not finding words, she turned back to her pot, slowly adding more broth to the rice.

[plaguedrat]

"The risotto looks almost ready," Rat says, businesslike. "I have mushrooms if you want to saute them and add them while the chicken finishes."