text; un: raverobber

[badfeyth]

★★★

[Separate Posting: HELP WANTED]

Greetings and salutations,

The "Sunlight At Midnight" project is currently seeking to engage the services of the following vendors and contractors:

• Construction and renovation assistance
• Material procurement
• Interior design and decoration
• Catering
• Music and entertainment
• Photography
• Misc. event-related services

Interested parties, please direct inquiries to Ghost (via network @ raverobber). Thank you.

Comments

text. @kaveh

[fussiest]

Ah, you are a man of many talents indeed - a piano is certainly something we can provide. I can have that lifted to the venue and on the side for you.

How have you been, Hythlodaeus? And I don't suppose you have other talents that I've yet to hear about?

Re: text. @kaveh

[nomoresharks]

I have been well for the most part (incidents in a certain greenhouse aside). A friend of mine arrived just a couple months ago, and as of late I've been learning how to make the most *adorable* lunch boxes.

Though it is hardly to the point of being a talent. Rice is surprisingly difficult to make.

[fussiest]

Well, I'd love to see pictures of those lunch boxes; if they are as adorable as they claim, they ought to be both a feast for the eyes and the stomach.
Ah, but what do you mean rice is surprisingly difficult to make? It's, well, rice. What is your current procedure to make it?

[nomoresharks]

I've been using the stove for the most part, but I can never get the amount of water right. Or at least not right enough to look as light and fluffy as they are supposed to. And even when I manage to get the right amount of water, it sticks together so oddly.

[Amongst other things, Hythlodaeus has yet to learn to wash the rice]

[fussiest]

[ um. ]

Um.
May I ask, do you wash the rice before you begin to cook them in the pot?
Do you rinse the, ah, the white off of it?

[nomoresharks]

Is the rice not supposed to be white?

[fussiest]

Well, yes - but also no.
Rice naturally contains a high starch content, especially the rice here. You wash it to get rid of most of it, so that when you cook it, the rice is less likely to stick together and make a mess of things.
There are some species of rice that come in different colours - red, black, brown etc., so on and so forth. White rice is very popular; I know some vendors back in Sumeru would colour their rice with chalk in order to be able to sell them for a higher price, but I don't think they do that here.
In any case, you ought to wash it. You'll see the rice turns a little more translucent. That's when you know that it's ready to be steamed, or boiled.

[nomoresharks]

Starch... That would do it.

[So many rules to consider. He understands now more than ever why so many chose to create food wholecloth instead of making it from its base ingredients.

Satisfying, yet so very, very difficult.]

I've made sure to write everything down to ensure I won't forget anytime soon. And you can rest assured that once my lunches are presentable they will be completely chalk-free.

[fussiest]

Good to hear.
Ah, what other ingredients are you preparing for these lunch boxes?
Do you like having recipes to follow? Or guides?

[ PLEASE, kaveh is thinking, DON'T POISON YOUR FRIEND. ]

[nomoresharks]

Let's see... Hiyori has suggested eggs, vegetables, and sausages as easy ingredients to start with in addition to rice. I suppose I could just make some sandwiches as well, but the color that everything else provides is too delightful to ignore.

But I won't say no to a recipe. Always a good place to start, that.

Oh. By the by, I hate to impose, but you wouldn't happen to know where one might find a spare microwave?

[fussiest]

Then, if you don't mind, I've been writing a few recipes for another individual here. I can simply copy those ones and send them to ou as well.
In terms of a spare microwave, I'd suggest taking it from the apartment next door to you, if it's empty. Why do you need a spare? Did something happen to yours?

[nomoresharks]

Helpful as always! I really must do something to thank you in return. If I can even come up with something to do so.

[he'd offer lunch but, uh...........]

Back to the microwave, I was re-heating some soup and happened to leave my spoon in the bowl. Thus did I learn that metal does not play nicely with whatever mechanisms are at play with the machine.

[fussiest]

Well, you're already helping with this project, are you not? Your musical talents will be irreplaceable. For that, you no longer owe me - in fact, I owe you.

And oh, dear. Were you hurt? Is your, ah, apartment intact?

[nomoresharks]

Perfectly fine, I assure you! It was a little worrisome at first, [understatement] but the microwave itself was the only casualty. And now I've an important lesson to keep in mind and pass on to all those who may need to hear it in the future.

[fussiest]

Yes, you know, I suppose that's a perfectly valid thing for us to put, say, on the Welcome Diner's board and somesuch. Just making sure everyone knows to keep themselves safe.
I'm sorry that it was at the cost of you getting a fright! But I'm glad you're alright.
Truly, the more I'm thinking about it, the more it makes sense: in your previous society, the manipulation of aether allowed you to create as much as you'd like, without the need for the steps in between.

[nomoresharks]

Indeed. While there are some of us who choose to go through those extra steps purely for the sake of their craft, the majority hold to the path of creating and perfecting the end result.

I've made progress over these past few months, but it is still quite the steep hill to climb.

[fussiest]

Well, if there is anything I can help with in that regard, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Your learning curve may be steeper than many others. I don't want you to have to go through it without help.

[nomoresharks]

My sincerest thanks. Hopefully, with a little bit of luck and practice, that curve may even out.