With the affirmative salmons in place, and the gesture, Shoto wanders in to the elaborate room. He looks around a little, happy that Toge seems to want to eat the treat at all. Shoto has been banned from the kitchen three times a day lately.
Even if the context is vague, he's pretty certain he has the jist of it. "It's my birthday." he relates, handing him the blue box. The box seems more interesting than him saying much more about his birthday or not. "Please make certain the item inside isn't cursed. I heard rumours about it having sway over people, but I don't think there's substance to it. You'd at least know for certain." He trusts Toge with all things that could even be remotely linked to anything supernatural. If he should or shouldn't. "I finally found some of these a few days ago." 'These' are the flower blossoms, he's gotten a couple of them, but this one is Toge's. "This one is yours."
Toge does not have much experience with birthdays. His clan certainly didn't celebrate his birth at any given point, but at school he has learned that there is cake involved. Which Shoto brought him. That's pretty backwards, he knows, and he brought him a gift. Toge smiles and accepts it, taking the box and putting it gingerly on his night stand for a moment.
He holds up a finger and takes another bite of the cupcake.
Having his mouth full is a universal sign for not talking, but also, he's thinking about what he can do because clearly Shoto is the one who needs to be spoiled. On short notice, he can definitely make him some more cold soba, that's an easy one. It won't be a secret or anything, but he can also make him tea, and let him watch. Keep him company. If he had known, he could've taken Shoto out somewhere, or purchased him something.
Not that Shoto needs financial help getting things either, both of them demolished that goose and they likely both had a good amount of money. So cooking then, and company. He isn't sure what else Shoto might want. Maybe he could ask.
Shoto knows it's backward, but this is how he wanted to do his birthday and the fact that he gets to see Toge? Gift in itself. His friends have all done kind things for him in their knowledge of the day, but even without knowing, just being there with him. It's enough for Shoto entirely. Seeing him actually tackle more of that cupcake is also a kindness. He can't imagine what would've happened to that poor thing at home if it was Rody or Bakugo.
Hell, if it's any indication, Shoto has long forgotten there's a cat in the room. No talking indeed, and he stays quietly in place, waiting for a moment or two. "Do you like it?" Asks the man, settling himself in for any criticisms. "The cupcake." Not that it needed clarity.
The cupcake itself is a little dense, probably overmixed, and it's not as flavourful as it could be. It's far from inedible though. His boyfriend brought him a cupcake, how could he complain about that?
Toge licks frosting off his thumb after very rudely stuffing the rest of it in his mouth. Now his hands are free and he can use his shellphone to give him an answer.
It's good.
The simple statement is true. He's glad he got the cupcake, and he ate it, so he liked it enough to do that. You should cook with me sometime. We could make a different flavour.
He could probably subtly fix those minor mistakes too, without calling it that. Shoto tried. That's enough.
Not huge into being emotive, the genuine look of surprise as it being 'good', not just 'okay', is something visible, even to people not very versed in reading someone's reaction. It obviously made him happy to hear, and the patient approach-- the right way, to tel him that they could do this together to make something entirely new?
There are few things in this life that make him smile the whole width of his lips, but all that? Every bit of what he's just heard, he does. A true and toothy smile. "I would like that, very much, Toge... Any time spent with you is well spent. What flavour would you have preferred? I thought a neutral one would be nice since I couldn't decide." Neutral, as in he didn't add flavouring.
Toge flashes him a victory sign, but he answers with the obvious response he can think of.
I'm not picky, I don't mind something like this, like a vanilla, but you already made this kind. I thought you might like to try making something different for variety.
He'd eat anything his boyfriend brought him, but variety seems like a pretty good excuse.
Variety and actual taste? That sounds like it. That sounds like exactly what it should be but Shoto is convinced he's done a good job this time. Not a bad thing, it's going to encourage him and when the typing happens he looks back down at his own screen. Not picky makes it easy.
Shoto has a think about it, nodding his head a moment or two while he does, still re-reading and then looks back up. "When we do, could we try making one that's more spicy? We could surprise Bakugo with it. He doesn't exclusively eat spices, but his tastes are more flavoured than I'm used to." Spicy Cupcakes.
Toge seems to consider it a moment and snaps his fingers before typing his thoughts.
We could try something like cinnamon. Has a bit of bite but really goes well with sweets. You could do like a chocolate cupcake with a cinnamon frosting.
He thinks that would be better than making something spicy outright, and cinnamon and chocolate go well together.
The snap catches Shoto's attention even more than it had been, slipping back into his thoughts about flavours. The sound of his phone makes him look back down, glancing for a couple moments just back up at Toge in general before back at his screen.
His eyebrows raise as he thinks of those flavours together. He didn't grow up with them, but he's pretty sure that sounds like it'd be good. "That's a much better idea, then it would be suitable for everyone. You'd have to stay to see the result of our effort, though."
Maybe Shoto really did have a heart of ice, because the sound, even muffled, of Toge laughing makes it feel like he's melting, chest first. Does it show on his face, or on the lopsided grin that he's wearing watching Toge type. He misses the first alert over it and looks down when he realizes Toge is moving to something and maybe he oughta know what.
Oh. Nope that didn't answer it, but the key and the hidden stash? That answers it. Ish. But Toge is clarifying and Shoto is content in reading what he reads. Toge is really going out of his way for him, and that aforementioned melted heart still must've needed another minute in the microwave. The warm feeling in his chest is something he hopes never leaves. "The only other request I have is your company. I like you." Which is short for for so many things flooding in his mind. "I came unannounced, so just for a while after dinner." Shoto knows, also, he can't renege big time on his diet, so he chooses two red, hard candies and offers one of them to Toge. They can both enjoy one that way. They can rebel and have some sweets before they eat, right? No one has to know but them.
"Salmon salmon." Toge responds enthusiastically. He is welcome to have all of his attention after dinner anyway, it's not like he had plans that evening or anything. He accepts the offered candy and lowers his mask to pop it in his mouth.
Then he makes a beckoning motion. Follow him to the kitchen. He didn't think any of his shipmates would mind the extra company, they didn't tell him what to do after all.
He paused briefly to check his cornucopia and pulled out two sachets of chai tea. Perfect.
That's quickly becoming his favourite word to hear. He doesn't need the phone to understand it, either. No elaboration and it hits him that it feels like a step forward. Something he's been trying to do regarding being able to let Toge speak freely. At least freely as he possibly can.
Shoto doesn't have to be told twice to go with him to the kitchen area. He's not so savvy on tea, he knows a few sorts that he got told to know. That's about it, but whatever that is smells nice the moment he's close enough. "What can I do to help?" he asks instantly, not just going to sit around and make Toge do everything. Which is the best bet for Shoto in the kitchen.
He doesn't, and it's one of the words that has essentially a set meaning when he uses it. The galley is well stocked, both thanks to his shopping prowess and the constant stream of his bonuses.
He's got noodles reserved from the last time he made it for Shoto, as well as a couple of ingredients that tend to be more to his taste than everything he makes.
Toge looks thoughtful and gestures at the pots.
Please take two pots down. The second and third smallest ones. Fill the third smallest one with water and set it on the stove for me. We need to boil the water to cook the pasta.
Waiting for orders, Shoto makes note of which pot might be the one in question to fill first. He takes them out, looking at all three side by side before replacing the one that he's certain is the largest and therefore of no current use. The smaller of the remaining one will get filled after he find the necessary resting place for the one uninvolved and thankfully, the implication is that they're using the stove, not Shoto's quirk. That doesn't stop him from lighting the pilot light on his own, though while the pot fills.
Once it's done, he sets the pot directly on the stove. There's no need for heat concerns when he's gotten good enough balancing out heat and cold.
Once he's done that, he announces as much. "Alright, done. Do we just wait for it then?" He can watch water boil, in case it tries to take forever. And will considering he has it on low flame.
Shoto picks up his phone, eyes astutely looking at the temperature it's been turned to and then curiously back to Toge.
"You just need it to boil first, then stay at a certain temperature..." He's not so much asking, he's repeating, "What kind of metal are these made from?" He's picking the first one up, the big one that they're not using to have an inspect of it. "Stainless steel? Cast iron?" He gently knocks his fingernail at the bottom of one of them hoping for the answers, still searching for them. "If you know, I can take this outside and if all you need it to do is boil, that won't be a problem. It's knowing the limitations of the steel so I don't melt it that becomes the issue."
"Fish flakes." Toge admits that he he doesn't know, with a shake of his head. He's not sure what kind of metal the pots are, but they're not cast iron. That much he does know. They were on the ship and he didn't pick them. Maybe he'll get a set of pots he likes at a later date.
Toge adds some soy sauce into the mixture he's making and letting them cook together.
Fish flakes indeed... Shoto isn't sure either and he sighs as he comes up blank from the markings on it. "I think maybe I'll just monitor it like this for now. I don't want to damage them."
For now, even if he's supposed to be watching the water, his eyes stray to the man beside him. Not really only because he's gorgeous, but also because he's trying to formulate a question and it's nothing deep. He just never knows how to ask things less than directly, so he settles on that. "I wish it weren't at the possible expense of overstepping... Could you talk to me more- Not." he puts finger up, "Not anything out of your usual. You don't make it hard to understand what you want, if it's not complicated, I'd like to start learning. ...Though."
He's rambling, it happens with one sided conversations, not that he minds. "I can't say I don't enjoy looking back on conversations we've had any time I wanted to. Typing it out is just as good." After all, he can look back any time he wants to see Toge's feelings on their relationship.
The resolution is good, but the question Shoto asks next is not entirely unexpected. Toge looks down a moment, and it's entirely possible that Shoto may realize that this is a very delicate topic for him and it might in fact be overstepping.
His lips are pressed together, thank goodness that his mask is keeping it out of sight. He's not angry, or hurt, it's just...a raw nerve. He's glad Shoto doesn't mind, but at the same time it feels like he kind of does. Toge knows that's not what he's asking, but that's what it feels like.
After a moment, he stirs his budding sauce once, but he goes for his shellphone.
I'm sorry.
That didn't explain anything.
It's hard for me to do that. You...I can try my other safe words but they're usually in response to...what other people say. Sorry. I know it's not ideal.
Shoto can feel it immediately. Toge never misses a beat to respond to him in a timely way and when he does get the response, he understands. "I don't mean you need to speak any differently, I meant I--" Am a jerk, he doesn't understand the entire process of the attempts at Toge.
He sets his phone down. "I don't want you to apologize." he sets his hand on Toge's shoulder, "I think you are ideal." He's also not the best with expressing himself, "Just like you are. I mean that, wanting to learn doesn't mean you don't talk to me enough or don't converse, or that it's inconvenient this way. But I don't want you to be the only one making an effort, if there's something I can do, too... Then I want to. That's all. If this is how it is? Then I'm happy with it."
Toge can't help it. He knows it was a misunderstanding, but Shoto's reaction, his words make him blush. He tries not to be self-conscious about this, he really does, but he's not perfect. He's blushing and he responds by hugging Shoto tightly, pulling him close before he can move away. Ideal.
That's just too sweet he can hardly take it. "Salmon salmon." Okay, Shoto, okay. Give him a moment for the hut and he'll give him the key.
Ideal. It's true. It might not be the best word, but it's the word he means and it's sincere. There may be other people Shoto could've found to be with but, none of those people are Toge and if there's something he's learned... He really likes being with him, even just quietly hanging out.
The hug puts him at ease and even though he didn't expect it, returns it readily. The sauce can wait just a little bit. His hands settle in on the small of Toge's back and he leans his head down to rest it there. Shoto won't take him too long from the cooking process, Toge can pull away when he wants. But affection like this isn't something he's had a lot of in his life and he finds it something he enjoys partaking in.
Toge gives a squeeze and lets go. There's nothing that couldn't wait a few seconds for them to embrace. He lowers his mask and kisses Shoto's cheek before turning back to it for a moment.
Now then. Crib notes. He drops a bundle of soba noodles into the boiling water.
Salmon - Affirmative Fish flakes - Negative Kelp - Greetings Takana - To ask status/show concern/confirm I'm okay Sujiko - Well/But/Hm...filler words kind of. Ikura - The words you don't like Bakugo using. Mentaiko - Encouragement/I've got this Tuna - Things pertaining to me Tuna tuna - Things pertaining to something else I want you to look at Tuna mayo - Go to response to be part of the conversation. It can mean so many things I can't define it really.
All of these are subject to the grey areas around them. I've said a couple of other foods, or tried to anyway, just to mess with people and they have no meaning at all.
The hug alone puts him at ease that he's gotten through to Toge what he really wants to say. He feels bad for ever even giving him the wrong idea, that anything about him is anything but... Well. Ideal. The kiss on his cheek just makes it sweeter. No matter that there's no doubt he likes to kiss him more squarely on the lips, there's something to be said about kisses elsewhere on his face. Securely otherwise that even with half his face marred, it doesn't dissuade him. Toge is kind.
...And Shoto is distracted until the moment his phone makes a noise and he looks down after looking on at his cooking partner. His eyes scan down what he sees there, and at first he pauses and looks up, a small smile spreading to the corners of his mouth. Then he's looking back down to read them.
For the moment, Shoto doesn't question 'tried to'. But he does keep it in mind and the smile is a little more prevalent. "I can't imagine you messing with someone." Yes, he kind of can, and he approves. His friends are all very playful with each other, too, and that seems innocuous.
"This is perfect, Toge." The list he means, gesturing to the phone with his finger. "The more I learned about this, the more I have to stress how much I think you would be welcomed in the hero world back home. People who care about the well being of others usually are if they can." Izuku would have likely been a police officer, or maybe an engineer if he hadn't been who he was. Shoto is sure. While they cook, why not talk?
"My father is the number one ranked hero in all of Japan. So my compliment comes from my professional understanding in and out of the hero work."
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-12 01:18 pm (UTC)Even if the context is vague, he's pretty certain he has the jist of it. "It's my birthday." he relates, handing him the blue box. The box seems more interesting than him saying much more about his birthday or not. "Please make certain the item inside isn't cursed. I heard rumours about it having sway over people, but I don't think there's substance to it. You'd at least know for certain." He trusts Toge with all things that could even be remotely linked to anything supernatural. If he should or shouldn't. "I finally found some of these a few days ago." 'These' are the flower blossoms, he's gotten a couple of them, but this one is Toge's. "This one is yours."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-12 02:22 pm (UTC)He holds up a finger and takes another bite of the cupcake.
Having his mouth full is a universal sign for not talking, but also, he's thinking about what he can do because clearly Shoto is the one who needs to be spoiled. On short notice, he can definitely make him some more cold soba, that's an easy one. It won't be a secret or anything, but he can also make him tea, and let him watch. Keep him company. If he had known, he could've taken Shoto out somewhere, or purchased him something.
Not that Shoto needs financial help getting things either, both of them demolished that goose and they likely both had a good amount of money. So cooking then, and company. He isn't sure what else Shoto might want. Maybe he could ask.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-12 03:15 pm (UTC)Hell, if it's any indication, Shoto has long forgotten there's a cat in the room. No talking indeed, and he stays quietly in place, waiting for a moment or two. "Do you like it?" Asks the man, settling himself in for any criticisms. "The cupcake." Not that it needed clarity.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-12 03:23 pm (UTC)Toge licks frosting off his thumb after very rudely stuffing the rest of it in his mouth. Now his hands are free and he can use his shellphone to give him an answer.
It's good.
The simple statement is true. He's glad he got the cupcake, and he ate it, so he liked it enough to do that. You should cook with me sometime. We could make a different flavour.
He could probably subtly fix those minor mistakes too, without calling it that. Shoto tried. That's enough.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-12 03:37 pm (UTC)There are few things in this life that make him smile the whole width of his lips, but all that? Every bit of what he's just heard, he does. A true and toothy smile. "I would like that, very much, Toge... Any time spent with you is well spent. What flavour would you have preferred? I thought a neutral one would be nice since I couldn't decide." Neutral, as in he didn't add flavouring.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-13 02:25 am (UTC)I'm not picky, I don't mind something like this, like a vanilla, but you already made this kind. I thought you might like to try making something different for variety.
He'd eat anything his boyfriend brought him, but variety seems like a pretty good excuse.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-13 03:58 am (UTC)Shoto has a think about it, nodding his head a moment or two while he does, still re-reading and then looks back up. "When we do, could we try making one that's more spicy? We could surprise Bakugo with it. He doesn't exclusively eat spices, but his tastes are more flavoured than I'm used to." Spicy Cupcakes.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-15 04:23 pm (UTC)We could try something like cinnamon. Has a bit of bite but really goes well with sweets. You could do like a chocolate cupcake with a cinnamon frosting.
He thinks that would be better than making something spicy outright, and cinnamon and chocolate go well together.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-15 05:32 pm (UTC)His eyebrows raise as he thinks of those flavours together. He didn't grow up with them, but he's pretty sure that sounds like it'd be good. "That's a much better idea, then it would be suitable for everyone. You'd have to stay to see the result of our effort, though."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-16 02:02 pm (UTC)Now then.
He turns and produces a key, crouching down to unlock one of his drawers on his night table. Inside is a cauldron full of candy.
Take your pick, as much as you want. Then I'll make you tea and soba. You can also make other requests for your birthday. Anything you want!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-17 05:36 am (UTC)Oh.
Nope that didn't answer it, but the key and the hidden stash? That answers it. Ish. But Toge is clarifying and Shoto is content in reading what he reads. Toge is really going out of his way for him, and that aforementioned melted heart still must've needed another minute in the microwave. The warm feeling in his chest is something he hopes never leaves. "The only other request I have is your company. I like you." Which is short for for so many things flooding in his mind. "I came unannounced, so just for a while after dinner." Shoto knows, also, he can't renege big time on his diet, so he chooses two red, hard candies and offers one of them to Toge. They can both enjoy one that way. They can rebel and have some sweets before they eat, right? No one has to know but them.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-17 06:06 pm (UTC)Then he makes a beckoning motion. Follow him to the kitchen. He didn't think any of his shipmates would mind the extra company, they didn't tell him what to do after all.
He paused briefly to check his cornucopia and pulled out two sachets of chai tea. Perfect.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-17 07:41 pm (UTC)Shoto doesn't have to be told twice to go with him to the kitchen area. He's not so savvy on tea, he knows a few sorts that he got told to know. That's about it, but whatever that is smells nice the moment he's close enough. "What can I do to help?" he asks instantly, not just going to sit around and make Toge do everything.
Which is the best bet for Shoto in the kitchen.(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-20 02:56 pm (UTC)He's got noodles reserved from the last time he made it for Shoto, as well as a couple of ingredients that tend to be more to his taste than everything he makes.
Toge looks thoughtful and gestures at the pots.
Please take two pots down. The second and third smallest ones. Fill the third smallest one with water and set it on the stove for me. We need to boil the water to cook the pasta.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-21 03:15 am (UTC)Once it's done, he sets the pot directly on the stove. There's no need for heat concerns when he's gotten good enough balancing out heat and cold.
Once he's done that, he announces as much. "Alright, done. Do we just wait for it then?" He can watch water boil, in case it tries to take forever. And will considering he has it on low flame.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-21 01:21 pm (UTC)To get water to boil, turn it all the way up. When it boils, you turn it back down. It's a good trick.
The other pot, he's pouring in some dashi stock, just eyeballing it. This one, the heat gets turned to medium low.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-21 01:28 pm (UTC)"You just need it to boil first, then stay at a certain temperature..." He's not so much asking, he's repeating, "What kind of metal are these made from?" He's picking the first one up, the big one that they're not using to have an inspect of it. "Stainless steel? Cast iron?" He gently knocks his fingernail at the bottom of one of them hoping for the answers, still searching for them. "If you know, I can take this outside and if all you need it to do is boil, that won't be a problem. It's knowing the limitations of the steel so I don't melt it that becomes the issue."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-21 01:54 pm (UTC)Toge adds some soy sauce into the mixture he's making and letting them cook together.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-21 02:36 pm (UTC)For now, even if he's supposed to be watching the water, his eyes stray to the man beside him. Not really only because he's gorgeous, but also because he's trying to formulate a question and it's nothing deep. He just never knows how to ask things less than directly, so he settles on that. "I wish it weren't at the possible expense of overstepping... Could you talk to me more- Not." he puts finger up, "Not anything out of your usual. You don't make it hard to understand what you want, if it's not complicated, I'd like to start learning. ...Though."
He's rambling, it happens with one sided conversations, not that he minds. "I can't say I don't enjoy looking back on conversations we've had any time I wanted to. Typing it out is just as good." After all, he can look back any time he wants to see Toge's feelings on their relationship.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-22 04:42 pm (UTC)His lips are pressed together, thank goodness that his mask is keeping it out of sight. He's not angry, or hurt, it's just...a raw nerve. He's glad Shoto doesn't mind, but at the same time it feels like he kind of does. Toge knows that's not what he's asking, but that's what it feels like.
After a moment, he stirs his budding sauce once, but he goes for his shellphone.
I'm sorry.
That didn't explain anything.
It's hard for me to do that. You...I can try my other safe words but they're usually in response to...what other people say. Sorry. I know it's not ideal.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-22 06:23 pm (UTC)He sets his phone down. "I don't want you to apologize." he sets his hand on Toge's shoulder, "I think you are ideal." He's also not the best with expressing himself, "Just like you are. I mean that, wanting to learn doesn't mean you don't talk to me enough or don't converse, or that it's inconvenient this way. But I don't want you to be the only one making an effort, if there's something I can do, too... Then I want to. That's all. If this is how it is? Then I'm happy with it."
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-22 06:30 pm (UTC)That's just too sweet he can hardly take it. "Salmon salmon." Okay, Shoto, okay. Give him a moment for the hut and he'll give him the key.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-22 07:36 pm (UTC)The hug puts him at ease and even though he didn't expect it, returns it readily. The sauce can wait just a little bit. His hands settle in on the small of Toge's back and he leans his head down to rest it there. Shoto won't take him too long from the cooking process, Toge can pull away when he wants. But affection like this isn't something he's had a lot of in his life and he finds it something he enjoys partaking in.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-23 04:50 am (UTC)Now then. Crib notes. He drops a bundle of soba noodles into the boiling water.
Salmon - Affirmative
Fish flakes - Negative
Kelp - Greetings
Takana - To ask status/show concern/confirm I'm okay
Sujiko - Well/But/Hm...filler words kind of.
Ikura - The words you don't like Bakugo using.
Mentaiko - Encouragement/I've got this
Tuna - Things pertaining to me
Tuna tuna - Things pertaining to something else I want you to look at
Tuna mayo - Go to response to be part of the conversation. It can mean so many things I can't define it really.
All of these are subject to the grey areas around them. I've said a couple of other foods, or tried to anyway, just to mess with people and they have no meaning at all.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-23 09:19 am (UTC)...And Shoto is distracted until the moment his phone makes a noise and he looks down after looking on at his cooking partner. His eyes scan down what he sees there, and at first he pauses and looks up, a small smile spreading to the corners of his mouth. Then he's looking back down to read them.
For the moment, Shoto doesn't question 'tried to'. But he does keep it in mind and the smile is a little more prevalent. "I can't imagine you messing with someone." Yes, he kind of can, and he approves. His friends are all very playful with each other, too, and that seems innocuous.
"This is perfect, Toge." The list he means, gesturing to the phone with his finger. "The more I learned about this, the more I have to stress how much I think you would be welcomed in the hero world back home. People who care about the well being of others usually are if they can." Izuku would have likely been a police officer, or maybe an engineer if he hadn't been who he was. Shoto is sure. While they cook, why not talk?
"My father is the number one ranked hero in all of Japan. So my compliment comes from my professional understanding in and out of the hero work."
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