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[The following letter arrives early in the afternoon. The penmanship is neat and elegant, and it's clear that the writer took her time to appear as formal and professional as possible. And for the most part it does seem professional...save for the little cartoonish bunny face she drew in the bottom right corner that's smiling happily up at you.]

To Those Who Reside in Aqures Ixen,

Greetings. I hope the day finds you well. I find myself in need of an instructor in the way of cooking and preparing meals, as my skills are relatively undeveloped. In return for your time and patience, I will purchase the ingredients, and I will also be willing to teach you a skill of my own if I am able. I reside in the house marked as B-03, but if you prefer, I will go to you for lessons as I am unsure what utensils we currently possess for culinary purposes. Please respond at your earliest convenience. I would be most grateful.

Regards,
Rukia Kuchiki

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Zelda nods.]

Yes. For cutting there are a lot of sizes: mincing, dicing and then larger cuts. For stew we need to cut things so that they are just big enough to fit in your mouth. [She smiles.] I'll watch if you want to cut.

[She wants to make sure that she's doing it correctly. There are many ways to cut and many ways to teach and Rukia had to find what was easiest for her.]

I also suggest tasting things if you want to try and experiment with cooking. Things taste different depending on how they are cooked or if they are raw. If you know every taste you can create your own dishes.

[Rukia nods, and angles the knife a little differently so that the carrot slices aren't quite so thin. A stew was best enjoyed where a few different cubes fit on the spoon, at least two. Keeping this in mind, Rukia cut carefully...perhaps a little too much so, as she was trying very hard to ensure that each carrot piece was as even as possible. She's not very fast just yet.]

I realize there are probably many things I have yet to taste.

[She chuckles slightly, her confession humble.]

I assume the taste of raw potato need not be explored?

Raw potato doesn't taste all that bad. They are a little starchy though.

[Zelda has a childhood of tasting things out of curiosity. Her mother always laughed when the young girl took a bit of something that made her face contort into disgust or surprise.

Rukia can take as long as she likes with cutting. With many things it just takes practice to get really good at it.]

Once everything is cut we start the water for the stew. I takes some time because we have to cook the vegetables until they are soft.

The meat will be cooked separately and then added.

[Not that bad? But it smells like dirt. Rukia eyes the potato curiously for a long moment...then decides she may as well try a cube. She chews thoughtfully, then makes a face before swallowing. Tastes like dirt, too, but it's not the worst thing she's eaten.]

I don't think I'll be making any raw potato dishes.

[She smirks a little before retrieving a pot, holding it under the sink for water. When Zelda says there's enough, Rukia brings it to the stove to set it to boil.]

We will make the bread while the vegetables soften?

[Zelda smiles as she eats the raw piece of potato. It's always interesting to watch people try new things.]

Yeah. We can't make regular bread because you need 3 hours for the yeast to rise but I have another recipe we can use. It's thicker bread but it goes very well with stew.

[She is a master at making different breads. Her favorite was sweet breads but that's because there isn't that much sugar in Skyloft.]

I guess you didn't like the potato?

Three hours? I wasn't aware so much time was required.

[Bread is just one of those things that seems to be everywhere, so she always assumed making it was a simple, short process. Interesting.]

Very well! What is this thicker bread?

[She's curious about it, and eager to learn. But as for the potato...]

..........It was not my favorite.

[That's the diplomatic way to say she didn't like it.]

[Zelda laughed softly as she began to pull out other ingredients and lay them out on the table.]

I'm glad you tried the potato, at least once. Trying things in cooking is always a good idea, even if you might already know you won't like it.

[She places out the big back of flour before turning back to Rukia.]

This bread is called corn bread. There is corn meal in it, not chunks of corn.

[Just to clarify.] It's thicker and crumbles when you eat it.

[Thankfully, Rukia can guess what corn meal must be, rather than assuming it's a meal for corn. She may be ignorant about many things people take for granted, but she's not stupid. ...She also bought a bag of corn meal that felt the same as a bag of flour, so that helps.]

I'd like to try it. I don't believe I've eaten any kind of vegetable bread before.

[She adds the vegetables to the pot, sliding them off of the cutting board with the flat of the knife.]

[Zelda watches with a smile.]

It's good and once that's started while cook the beef and then add it to the vegetables. This sort of dish keeps you busy.

[She likes planning meals where there is no down time or wait time but that usually meant doing a lot of things at once.]

[It's a study in efficiency to be sure. Rukia unearths a skillet and heats that on the stove with a little oil, and then works to brown the meat.]

I wonder...if we browned the meat in the stewpot before adding the vegetables and water, that may save us a step. Is that recommended?

[That would be one less dish to wash, and it would allow the meat extra time to tenderize as well as flavor the broth.]

[Zelda nods.]

Yes, that's another way to do it.

[She might have forgotten that step. She smiles before getting out a bowl to place the ingredients for the bread in.]

[The delight on Rukia's face is obvious. Excellent, she's becoming an experienced chef. What is cooking, truly, but another challenge to defeat?]

Thank you. I feel as if your instructions are helping me to learn more quickly.

[Zelda smiles.]

I’m glad. I’m not the best cook but I love cooking. Pumpkin soup is my favorite but I can’t make it until fall when there are pumpkins.

[It’s always perfect to eat something warm on a cold day.]

Your cooking rank matters little; your instructions and skills are both sound.

[Rukia reassures her with a smile.]

When the fall approaches, then, perhaps we shall cook together once more?

I'd like that.

[Zelda smiles, it feels as if she's met a friend which isn't a feeling she has often. She tries to be a pillar of strength for the heroes which means keeping most of her feelings inside and away from prying eyes.]

Are you done? I can show you how to make the bread, though it's very easy. You put everything on the list in a bowl and mix it. Some breads are more complicated but this one is simple. Once it's mixed we put it in the oven for twenty minutes.

I think so.

[She's tipping the skillet of cooked meat into the pot, drippings and all. Hopefully that was part of the recipe, as she can't imagine why the meat juices wouldn't be included. Placing the skillet in the sink to clean later, she next digs out a mixing bowl.]

Everything goes in at once? That is rather simple.

[She looks at the list. And furrows her brow.]

What is a 'tisp'?

[That's an abbreviation for 'teaspoon' Rukia.]

[Zelda laughs softly.]

It's a teaspoon.

[She reaches across the table and picks up the measuring spoons.]

See, they are broken up by teaspoon and tablespoon and then my fractions.

Oh. I see.

[She feels a little foolish, but this is quickly forgotten as she examines each spoon and the measurement it bears. It needs a quarter 'tisp' of salt, so...this one? Yes, this one is correct. She tips the salt carefully, as if she were an alchemist on the verge of blowing up her lab with one spilled granule.]

Is this correct?

[She's not sure if she should level out the spoon or leave it slightly filled.]

[Zelda inspects the spoon carefully before replying.]

That's right, it doesn't have to be perfect but I would make sure that the spoon is a little more level. You can use a flat edge to even it out or just lightly shake it.

[Shaking it is a skill that Zelda prefers but then she's had a long time and a lot of mistakes to get good at it.]

[Rukia shakes it carefully with her palm cupped beneath. She recognizes these magical crystals to be the same as the flavor-enhancing elixir she bought. Every granule is precious and must not be wasted! ~~Rukia that's salt.~~]

I think I've got it.

[One by one she adds the other ingredients before mixing them up with a large wooden spoon.]

[Zelda smiles brightly as Rukia completes the batter.]

When your done we butter the pan and then pour it in. Then it goes into the oven. You are a really good cook.

A lot of things you can also learn from cookbooks. I'd be happy yo lend you some.

Ha...! I would hardly consider myself as such just yet. A student is only as good as the instructor, correct?

[Perhaps later, when she's had more experience and successfully completed a variety of dishes, she'll accept praise more readily. But it has to be rightfully earned. After Zelda explains what it means to butter a pan, Rukia does just that, scraping the batter into the pan and tossing it into the hot oven. Now all they have to do is wait, and do the dishes. She'll get a start on those. As for cookbooks?]

Oh? I would appreciate that. Now that I'm beginning to understand the basics, I should discover whether or not I am able to follow a recipe without outside assistance. Thank you.

[Zelda watches Rukia with a smile. She's a quick learned which is amazing considering how many new things they have covered in that time. Her head tilts to the side, golden hair falling over her shoulder before she brushes it aside.]

That's true but you certainly have a talent.

[With a another nod she continues.]

I'll have Kopula bring some books by then and you are welcome to keep them.

Just borrowing them will be fine.

[She refills Zelda's teacup, since they've got time to kill.]

I'm sure you have plenty of recipes you still want to use from them yourself, don't you?

[Zelda smiles, taking the tea cup in between her palms, feeling the warmth seep into her thin fingers.]

That's true, though I've memorized my favorites.

[Her favorite thing to do is bake bread.]

Do you have a favorite yet?

[She assumes it might take time.]

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