[ And for the next half-hour or so, Hickey methodically checks the food. He doesn't say much, only bothering Kiryu when there's some label he can't read or some food product he can't identify at first glance. He is going through everything. When that's all done, he looks over at Kiryu and gives him a little nod. ]
It's a good supply. But we've got to hope that this is over with as soon as possible. Even with rationing, we'll run through this quicker than you think.
[ He nods as he leads the way back to the kitchen, and there's the smell of it permeating the air, getting stronger as they make their way back. There's also the smell of what is definitely a mild Japanese-style curry, probably the last he's going to make for a while given the proposed limits, but he couldn't uncook what he'd been cooking when everything came out.
He'll point over to the cylinder-shaped family rice cooker that he has on the counter, and press the button to open it up and reveal the soft white grains and some steam. ]
It's just water and rice. You can steam or boil it. You can also fry it when it's a little older. Grind it up into a flour or a paste. It's even used to make wine and liquor.
[ And he'll reach over with a paddle to pull some out onto a plate, ladle some curry (chicken this time) onto the other side, and present him with a meal that would make Ghibli proud. ]
[ That looks good. Hickey very visibly looks like he's hungry as hell as he looks at the rice and chicken curry. Hell. That's delicious. And water and rice? Boiling it? Seems easy enough. ]
D'you have a fork? [ asks the man who also has zero clue how to use chopsticks. ]
[ He does, actually; it was one of the things he brought back to try to get Rags to use something before he just gave up on it. So a fork is provided.]
[ He takes a bite out of the meal. And then, after realizing that it's damn good, he continues eating. He would have finished the whole plate no matter what. But now, at least he'll enjoy it.
As he's halfway through the dish, Hickey pauses to ask, ]
So what other kind of things do people put on top of rice?
[ Because he's figured out that the curry's doing most of the work here. ]
Kitchen staff should look at their supplies and try to come up with an easy sauce. Big batch of rice, fitting sauce, doesn't seem like it would take up many supplies and could definitely fill up a fair amount of people.
[ Hickey does a bit of mental math in his head. A quarter cup of grain per person, there's fifty-odd people on the Barge, however many pounds of rice Kiryu has... ]
Does the cooking time change that much the more you're cooking?
And there wouldn't be much food waste either. [ Just eat the rice. What would it leave behind anyway? The more Hickey learns about this situation, the calmer he gets. That food insecurity is still massively raging. But this looks...actually manageable now?
There has to be a catch. ]
This should definitely help keep us going until the next port—assuming people aren't idiots about this, of course.
I'd like a box of my own, [ Hickey says, without hesitation. He realizes he might have said that a little too quickly so he amends, ]
I trust you, of course. If something goes south, we'll keep an eye out for each other. But people come and go. There's no promise that you'll stick around.
Being willing to eat anything is a good thing. Not having a preference isn't.
[ He faces forward as he continues leading the way towards the food.]
It's a small motivation; every preference you have is something you'll aim to support. It's not big, like a place to live. It's a small dream. But it helps you work up to that bigger dream being real enough to truly chase it.
[ There's a long pause as Hickey thinks that over. He couldn't afford to have preferences back home—he's still sure he can't afford to have preferences now. But maybe, if Kiryu asks, he could come up with one.
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It's a good supply. But we've got to hope that this is over with as soon as possible. Even with rationing, we'll run through this quicker than you think.
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This is just my supplies. I'm sure others have their own. And none of the wardens have mentioned that the main supply is entirely barren.
[ A pause. ]
Are you familiar with rice?
[ Since, well, he has a lot of rice. ]
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[ There's your answer: nope. ]
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[ He'd also been cooking something to go on top of it, so it'll at least be a good example. ]
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He'll point over to the cylinder-shaped family rice cooker that he has on the counter, and press the button to open it up and reveal the soft white grains and some steam. ]
It's just water and rice. You can steam or boil it. You can also fry it when it's a little older. Grind it up into a flour or a paste. It's even used to make wine and liquor.
[ And he'll reach over with a paddle to pull some out onto a plate, ladle some curry (chicken this time) onto the other side, and present him with a meal that would make Ghibli proud. ]
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D'you have a fork? [ asks the man who also has zero clue how to use chopsticks. ]
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Eat up.
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As he's halfway through the dish, Hickey pauses to ask, ]
So what other kind of things do people put on top of rice?
[ Because he's figured out that the curry's doing most of the work here. ]
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[ He points to the plate. ]
The portion made for you is roughly a quarter cup of grain before cooking.
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Does the cooking time change that much the more you're cooking?
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[ He pats it with one hand. ]
I used to have ten mouths to feed per meal. So it was easier to get it done at the start of the day and keep it warm for the rest.
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There has to be a catch. ]
This should definitely help keep us going until the next port—assuming people aren't idiots about this, of course.
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[ He looks very specifically at Hickey. ]
And half I'll be keeping here, just in case anyone gets foolish. If you want to take some to keep in your room, we can pack up a box for you.
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I trust you, of course. If something goes south, we'll keep an eye out for each other. But people come and go. There's no promise that you'll stick around.
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That's why I offered it.
[ He'll head over to a corner of the kitchen and tug out a cardboard box, folding it back together before he tips his head towards the store room. ]
Let's get that done.
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Tell me what to move and I'll move it. These are your supplies—I'm fine with you giving me whatever.
[ He's not dumb enough to try and ask for specific items. No way, he will be perfectly fine with whatever he gets. ]
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[ He tips his head towards the store room again. ]
Come with me and we'll pick out some things. I can eat anything there. You might not like some of them.
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Being willing to eat anything is a good thing. Not having a preference isn't.
[ He faces forward as he continues leading the way towards the food.]
It's a small motivation; every preference you have is something you'll aim to support. It's not big, like a place to live. It's a small dream. But it helps you work up to that bigger dream being real enough to truly chase it.
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After a moment's pause, Hickey admits, ]
I don't like tomatoes.
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No tomatoes. Anything else you can think of?
[ An offer but clearly not something he'll force. ]
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[ After all, none of the other tinned goods on the ship have been bad...yet. There's always a part of Hickey that's still wary. ]
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