Mask or Menace - IC Inbox

[dreadinquisitor]

He's gotten better with his communicator - a part of him even likes it! He'll probably get back to you, if you leave him a message.

Conversely, do it the old fashioned way. He'll definitely get back to you.

Comments

[h2no]

[much better than a braying donkey.]

Refuge. I'm just gonna remove the few items I have that I'd care if they were broken then... let them do whatever. I said no powers inside. They can fix any damages themselves.

...


I feel like such an old man. They're having a party and I'm already thinking it's too loud.

[archie you literally got off-your-face-drunk at a party with maxwell like a week go]

[dreadinquisitor]

[Another laugh.]

But you are leaving, rather than shaking a cane at them, so I don't think we need to build your pyre just yet.

[Beat.]

Though maybe a smaller one? It's a nice night, how do you feel about bonfires?

[h2no]

If I'm using it to wave at them, how am I meant to stand? Honestly.

[he doesn't even need to think about this for longer than a few seconds.]

I'm into it. I can bring some veg and make some food from home if you wanna do the same. Do a lil' food trade.

[dreadinquisitor]

I can do that. [He considers what he has on hand, nodding. Camp life was his life until recently.] Say... sundown? That work for you?

[h2no]

Perfect.

[and archie lived in a cave. just two good boys made for this life...]

We doin' it at your place or d'you wanna have a bbq on the beach or in the forest or somethin'?

[dreadinquisitor]

Why not here? The garden's coming along and if it goes well maybe I can talk Poe into a permanent pit.

[h2no]

Sounds good. If he's agreeable, I can help you dig it.

[he still has the metal bbq mick made for him... it certainly gets enough use, but he figures an old-fashioned pit would be just as good.]

--Ah, have you ever had lotus root? I've a bunch here that could do with being used.

[dreadinquisitor]

As I don't know what that is, I'm going to say no. But bring it. [He grins.] I'll try anything once.

[h2no]

I think you'll like it. I'll catch you later!

[he has... FOOD TO SHOVE INTO HIS BACKPACK. and wrap. not in that order. maybe a little too excited to shove his favourite foods into max's face.]

[dreadinquisitor]

[Maxwell ends up making a trip into Nonah to get some supplies - namely, something appropriate for spit roasting (and then a little packet that catches his eye at the checkout) - but by the time Archie arrives, he's outside, finishing setup. He's got a small pit set and stoned off, well enough away from the garden proper so as to not damage the fledgling crop, and is down on all fours, ear to the ground as he blows gently on tender flames.]

[h2no]

[archie strolls over and carefully sets his own bag down near the pit. he can't help but grin at the sight he's come upon.

he crouches down, cocking his head.]

Having fun?

[dreadinquisitor]

[Maxwell doesn't even look up. He doesn't have to. He can imagine.

Instead he replies without missing a beat--]

Always. Now come here, I know you've got plenty of hot air--

[Only then does he move, reaching out with a grin as if he might make a grab for Archie.]

[h2no]

[archie, predictably, laughs and slide down onto his knees to look over where maxwell is blowing.]

Too bad I don't have a fire type... [he raises an arm to BLOCK MAXWELL LIKE A COOL NINJA (bump his forearm lightly on maxwells' arm)] Where am I blowing you?

[ha]

[dreadinquisitor]

[IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE (Maxwell barely notices, waggling his eyebrows instead.)]

And you even brought me dinner.

[With a laugh, he pokes to the firepit where the tender flames lick over curled wood shavings.]

There, please.

[h2no]

I said I would!

[he rolls his eyes with a grin, shifting to move around what max has made of the fire to give it a soft blow, making the flames dance a bit before they stabilise again.]

I think that did it... [he looks over to maxwell.] Fire-oughts?

[bad pun]

[dreadinquisitor]

That's terrible.

[But he chuckles anyway as he rolls onto his heels and stands.]

Do you like spit roast? That's what I'm good at. I've got one ready to start inside if you want to get yours going?

[h2no]

[well now he's kind of annoyed that he said the fire thing because of that one...!

well, no patter.]

Yeah, sure. I'll be out here.

[he moves back to watch the fire and start pulling his prepared veggie kebabs out his pack, resting them on the metal grill. they sizzle and pop immediately-- in part from the heat and in part for the oil and spices archie had dumped on them. once they're on, he takes a moment to lean back and watch the fire sparks rising and the smoke, looking around. it's a nice night. he missed outside living like this. he hasn't done it properly since he started team aqua.]

[dreadinquisitor]

[He isn't gone long. He returns with a small beach bucket in one hand - a bottle of wine and two glasses, chilling on ice, and a plastic tupperware dish holding his round roast in the other.

He sniffs the air as he approaches the fire pit and hums aloud.]

Smells delicious already.

[He lightly swings the bucket toward Archie, an offer, and pops it down safely away from the fire before carrying the meat closer to the flames. As he sets about spearing it, he nods.]

Help yourself. There's also beer inside, if you prefer.

[h2no]

I'll let you guess which part of it is the lotus root.

[archie looks so delighted at the stuff maxwell brings out. he's... honestly wanted to try the meat here, out of interest if nothing else, and now is the best time of any (he wishes matt was here, he'd probably laugh his ass off at archie actually eating meat).

he pops one of the bottles open and pours it in the two glasses, setting one aside for maxwell.]

I'm good with wine, thanks. [he grins in a way that he so rarely does-- honestly and truly at peace out in the nature like this.] What kinda meat is that?

[dreadinquisitor]

Dinner and a show.

[Maxwell chuckles, easing the metal rod through the roast and checking that the string he's tied it with hasn't broken. Satisfied, he lays it out over the fire and carefully tests the turn. It immediately begins to drip and the scent of the marinade and its herbs and spices begins to drift.]

Beef. I thought about doing a rabbit, but I wasn't sure I'd have time to hunt one and get it ready.

[h2no]

That's fair. I don't usually eat meat, honestly, but I've wanted to try some of the stuff here. It's not the same as eating the sentient beings that Pokémon are, so.

[... so he won't puke, at least.]

Plus it smells real good, and my will power only goes so far!

[dreadinquisitor]

[Maxwell looks up, his eyebrows jumping in surprise. Immediately, he plays back every instance he can recall, seeing only then that-- yes. Yes, that checked out.

He never had seen Archie eat meat before. For a moment he feels bad that he hadn't considered that, but then Archie did say he'd been looking to try it.... He makes a mental note for future reference, and lets the moment go.]

A night of firsts for us both then. [He picks up the glass Archie poured for him, and lifts it in a small salute with a smile.] To bravery.

[h2no]

[he laughs brightly-- bravery isn't what he'd consider it, but he won't dispute. archie tilts his glass, then... downs the rest of it.]

An' good cookin'! [he reaches over to turn the stuff he'd put on.] This'll be done soon. Ah-- is anything here much different from the food back home for you? I never really asked much about your home, I've realised...

[definitely felt a rush of shame for being so self-absorbed when he realised.]

[dreadinquisitor]

[Maxwell drinks, considers, and rolls his shoulders slowly.]

It's... similar? Some of it we have as it is here. Some things looks different, or are called something else. Some things are much rarer for us. Like bananas.

Back home, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who even knows what they are outside of Par Vollen. Here, I can pick them up any store in the city.

[h2no]

[he carefully puts the glass back down on the grass-- not going for a refill just yet - as he listens.]

Bananas, as they exist here, are pretty rare back home too. They grow around a tropical Pokémon's neck that's native to my region, but they're still in short supply. Weird how it's them specifically, huh?

[archie looks back over to the fire for a moment, watching the food sizzle.]

I guess it's the temperature they need. Is where you come from relatively cold?