First Bowl [Ship Planning Video]

[ricebird]

[Kotori planned on this being a text post. Keyword being planned, because the tortoiseshell cat on her shoulder decided to bat at the light box and press the "live video" button.]

Ah! Slowburn-chan, no--!

[Oh. They're live. Lovely. Not how she wanted this to go, and her face is RED on camera, but no choice but to roll with it.]

Ahaha, um... hi, everyone. So um... I meant to text this, but... I guess I have a few questions?

So someone brought up the idea of a restaurant ship, one that'd be open to both sides and serve food from our worlds as well as recipes from this one, and... I kind of like that?

B-but I'm not that good a cook yet, let alone able to run a restaurant! So... anyone interested in being a head chef? And ideas for names? And any recipes you'd like included? Sorry I know this is a lot... and thank you...

[And this is why she wanted this to be a text.]

Comments

yuezun || voice

[yuezun]

[The voice that speaks is very even, level, and almost bored even as it clearly enunciates each character in the names of some dishes that he felt should be simple enough for someone who claimed to be a chef.]

Chā sīu
Zha jiang mian
Liáng bàn gié zi
Liáng pí
Huí guō ròu
Shāo bǐng
Yóu tiáo
Hǎi táng sū
Shēng bào shàn piàn
Yóu bào xiā

[...This will continue until he's interrupted.]

[ricebird]

[You say that like she'd interrupt him. She scrambles a bit to keep up with jotting the flow of suggestions down in the notebook she had at the ready, but thankfully translation magic and the fact that some of these dishes have Japanese versions makes sure she doesn't fall too far behind.]

These are all great suggestions, thank you~! The eel and shrimp would be great to make, although we might need to substitute them with the saltwater species. And flower cakes sound amazing~! And the cold-skin noodles too, of course!

[yuezun]

You are familiar with them, then? Good. This venerable one expects to be notified when you have found a suitable kitchen and staff that you may prepare them for him.

[Is he going to treat her like his personal chef? Yes. Absolutely.]

There is a mortal named Zhao who has proven to be a skilled chef. Seek him out.

[Is he also going to volunteer his current favorite cook? Also yes.]

[ricebird]

[That way currently lies disappointment, your lordship, she can't even use a knife yet.]

Ah... sure thing, sir? [A general polite sir, she does not know that she's in the presence of an immortal yet.] Oh! Right, I remember Zhao-san from the Ghoul's Moon attacks. He seemed... [.... "scary" and "slightly unhinged" sound impolite to say] energetic!

[yuezun]

[He'll accept general politeness and just assume it means she recognizes him as her superior because of it. He's magnanimous like that.]

He has prepared a meal for this venerable one before. It was very good.

[Because Dongfang's attempt at creating a simple soup was in Zhao's opinion, and I'm quoting here, 'a war crime'.]

His enthusiasm should only be encouraged.

[ricebird]

[Damn, Zhao, save the roasting for the meat and veggies.]

Oh. Then yeah, I'll ask him. Thank you for the recommendation.

[Because she has a sliiiight feeling this venerable one has very exacting tastes.]

[yuezun]

[The accusation was deserved.

Until very recently, Daqiang had not experienced the need to for some time. He has been slowly discovering foods that he likes are more satisfying than others and making note of them. So his tastes weren't so much as 'exacting' as 'still developing' and the dishes he'd named were ones he knew to be acceptable.]

Be sure to inform him of the source of the recommendation.

[Because he did not make recommendations lightly and Zhao had left the impression of recognizing Daqiang's importance and authority. however unimportant it was in this world]

[ricebird]

Ah... certainly. It um... might help if I knew your name, though, sir.

[Yup, definitely a handful, but hopefully that means that Zhao will be a very good match.]

[yuezun]

This venerable one is Dongfang Qingcang, Moon Supreme of the Moon Tribe. You may address this venerable one as Moon Supreme.

And your name is?

[Since she hadn't introduced herself, either.]

[ricebird]

[.... Okay what sort of manga did the rifts pull this guy out of???]

Ah... I-Iida Kotori. A... pleasure to meet you... Moon Supreme-sama...?

[There, hopefully that's polite enough.]

[yuezun]

[...a romantic dramady about gardening with the fate of the world resting on the shoulders of one very, very rare orchid. Would that be the sort of manga she'd enjoy?]

Of course it is.

[He agreed with zero hesitation as soon as the exceedingly polite and formal method of addressing him was out of her mouth. So far, most of those he'd met in this world decided they were going to call him 'Dongfang' after he provided his introduction. Some did as asked and called him 'Moon Supreme' (with one adding on a polite 'my lord'). She was the first to immediately default to 'Moon Supreme Lord'.]

This venerable one will call on you. Until then, you may leave first.

[...or hang up first. Whatever the term was for these weird communication devices.]

[ricebird]

[Depends on if there's lots of cooking or cinematic food shots, and if the male lead is a kind, humble, maybe nebbish guy.]

Of... course. Have a good rest of your day.

[She'll disconnect him from the call then, easy enough. Phew... At least he was relatively reasonable. ... Relatively. Was he really some kind of royalty or deity? He sounded like something out of an old Chinese novel, but... well, she's crewmates with a shapeshifting dragon girl now, so why not?]