2022-05-17: Spice and Secrets
- Log: 2022-05-17 Spice and Secrets
- Cast: Leito Igaguri, Kaworu Nagisa
- Where: Tokyo Outdoor Markets
- OOC - IC Date: May 17, 0096
- Summary: Leito and Kaworu shop for spices. Kaworu realizes Leito's secret pretty much immediately, but discretion is the better part of valor, right?
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Sometimes, you are a giant superhero. Other times, you are an ordinary businessman, husband, and father, and have to go shopping. Tokyo's street markets are perfect for that, as Leito Igaguri has found out, and he currently has Way Too Many Bags under his arms.
They're full of various gifts for his daughter (he may have gone slightly overboard, since he knows she misses him), some perishables, some non-perishables, and similar. He's currently at the spice market, reading off a recipe list his wife gave him to try. "Fenugreek...does that mean it's from Greece?" He asks himself, quietly enough to barely be heard. He's looking for it through those glasses. It's difficult to find, because there's a LOT of spices.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Tokyo *is* a fine place to purchase just about anything one might need--fairly more so than Tokyo-3, which does have its markets but is focused far more heavily on defense and survival. For Kaworu, who's come to want to understand the pasttime that both Shinji and Rei are so focused on, it seems only prudent to go somewhere to get higher quality ingredients. Especially so when he's decided he's going to specialize in something as varied and potentially complex as curry.
He has a shopping list of his own, having done research by watching various cooking videos online as Shinji had recommended. Some of them included how to make curry from scratch, including the various spices involved. He is in fact at the spices table, carefully leaning over each one and sniffing carefully to discern their quality.
Next to him, a man beset with bags of all sorts comments about fenugreek. "From what I've read, it *is* an ancient plant, used as an herb, spice, and vegetable since the Bronze Age," he remarks at conversational level, despite Leito having barely been audible. "While I don't know if it's specifically Greek, I expect the Greeks certainly used it."
Kaworu smiles over at him then. He looks like a normal enough young man, aside from the silver-gray hair and the red eyes; he's wearing his usual school uniform, which is admittedly barely a uniform and more like fairly nice street clothes. The concept still applies. "If you're looking for some, I saw a bag of fenugreek seeds over on the far left, in the center."
The most notable thing about him, really, would be that his voice is familiar. Specifically, Leito might remember hearing it alongside Zero during that battle to protect Liam from the mercenaries that had been pursuing him.
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Leito wasn't aware he'd been heard, as his head swivels to the young man next to him. Nonetheless, he's learning. "A-ah, that's very old, then..." Leito replies, trying to figure out why this young man seems so familiar, as he glances over to the area mentioned.
Wait. 'Someone' reminds him who that voice is. And at that time, Kaworu would feel something 'strange and familiar' about this man, if he hadn't already. Wasn't this the NERV operator, Leito thought? He had missed the visit to the young man they saved, but hopefully he was alright...there's no way to ask how Liam's doing, or to thank Kaworu, though.
But perhaps he could prolong the conversation? Just for a minute. "T-thank you, though. Maybe you can help me with something? I got these notes from my wife, but a-ah, I have no idea how to pronounce this one." He holds out a notepad if Kaworu seems willing. He's trying to find 'ras el hanout' for a Moroccan dish, it seems.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
As 'someone' stirs with Leito, Kaworu gives him a curious look. Perhaps he's just getting a better look at the person he just struck up a conversation with; perhaps it's something else. "Are you..."
But rather than complete the thought, he smiles anew and moves back to let Leito have better access to the other side of the spice table. He looks to be at the end of his shopping trip, after all, whereas Kaworu is still browsing for what he needs.
Either way, when Leito holds out the shopping list, Kaworu leans in to get a better look. "'Rahs ell ha-noot,' he flawlessly enunciates. "I haven't spotted it so far, but I may simply not have reached it yet." He nods to the person behind the spice table. "Could you help this gentleman out, pelase?"
After the spice person has pointed out where the ras el hanout is, Kaworu looks again at Leito. "What sort of dish do you need that spice for, and for whom are you making it?" he wonders, genuinely curious. The appeal of cooking, for him so far, is making something for someone else.
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Well, Leito should have guessed that. He scratches the back of his head, embarrassedly, before nodding. "T-thank you." With both spices down, he's puzzled by Kaworu's almost-question, but thinks nothing of it. Instead, he is asked an important one himself.
"Ah! W-well, when my wife and I were dating, we tried a dish called 'Rfissa' at a Moroccan restaurant. We both loved it, and she's been trying to perfect it since. She sent me her recipe to make for myself, and I was planning on sharing it with the Nadesico - a-ah, the ship I work on."
He's got a goofy smile, but either way, the story makes him real happy. "Though I may not be a great cook, if it comes from compassion, that's what matters, right?"
A pause. "What are you looking for spices for, if I can ask in return...?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu has never heard of rfissa before and couldn't even begin to guess what it's like. All the same, he chuckles at Leito's story, and the warmth in his smile makes it clear he's laughing with Leito rather than at him.
"That's wonderful. I quite agree. The greatest worth of creating food is in conveying one's love," he replies, quietly emphatic. "In terms of learning how to cook, you're in good hands aboard the Nadesico, too. Ms. Howmei has a great passion for her craft." He pauses a beat. "Are you Mr. Leito Igaguri? If so, I've heard about you from Ms. Azul. You may have heard about me in return--my name is Kaworu Nagisa."
Leito asks about his own interest in spices in return. Kaworu's smile makes it clear that he's quite free to ask. "A couple of friends I hold dear have taken up an interest in cooking, so I decided I'd like to learn a little more about it too. Then another friend of mine showed me the basics of how to make curry, so I'm leaning into that. It seems like a well-beloved dish with an astonishing amount of variety and nuance. Right now, I'm focusing on Japanese-style curry, but I plan to expand outward from there."
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Kaworu has opened the gate. Leito sighs in relief, though it's not clear what for. "Ah, yes, I am. I've heard your name, yes!" A white half-lie, which he feels a bit guilty about because he always feels bad about lying. "You helped each other recently, I'm very grateful...a-ah! There was a young man. Is he safe?" They're in public, and Liam was being chased, so he's not going into details or names in order to be cautious.
"Curry...it's a favorite in our household, so I recommend it! Yellow curry with potatoes happens to be one of my favorites. Making it for your friends, I assume...?"
Leito isn't done talking if Kaworu isn't, but he does move to grab some of the spices directly in front of him. He'll save the seeds for last, since that's 'moving away'.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Some things just aren't clear on their surface. That's fine. Kaworu's well acquainted with those sorts of things. His smile broadens a little as Leito brings up the 'young man.' "Yes, he ended up signing up with NERV," he replies. "You were supposed to be there that day, weren't you?"
There's just a hint of humor in his eyes, his voice, the curve of his lips. But what exactly is the humor?
"That's my desire," he replies. "I don't know if or when I'll have the chance, though." His expression turns thoughtful as he adds, "What is it about yellow curry with potatoes, specifically, that makes it a favorite of yours? Do you have potatoes instead of rice, or is that included?"
As Leito begins to gather up the spices he needs, so too does Kaworu. His motions are as elegant as they are precise as he scoops small piles of the individual spices he needs into little bags, missing not a single grain as he pours. There's something pretty high level about that...
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Oh no. Kaworu asked the question Leito was only half-prepared for. "A-ah, yes. I got lost looking for the meetup..." Actual lie, more guilt. The truth was that he needed post-combat rest.
Once Kaworu asks about the curry, though, Leito is relieved. Something he can answer about. "You can have it with steamed rice or a special kind of rice noodle that I forgot the name of...I enjoy it because it's more mild, and the potatoes add a nice texture. It's not as oily, and the coconut milk adds some sweetness."
As Kaworu scoops up the spices, Leito watches briefly. "Graceful..." He says aloud, before covering his mouth. "A-ah...apologies. I was just thinking you seem very mature for your age. Then again, a lot of young people around here are involved in dangerous conflicts..."
It hasn't dawned on him he said 'around here'. Leito Igaguri, actual worst at keeping a secret identity.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Is that so? I'm sorry to hear that," Kaworu replies, that faint humor still in his demeanor. People who are so bad at lying that even he can pick up on it are charming to him. He's not upset by it, either. He understands the need for a secret identity.
Assuming his guess is correct, of course. But Kaworu is confident in his intuition. It's only a matter of confirming it--discreetly, of course.
For now, they chat about curry. He nods in interest as Leito discusses his preferences in terms of flavor and texture. Steamed rice, rice noodles, coconut milk, less oiliness... In his pocket, his smartphone comes alive, letters flickering into existence in a writing app as Kaworu takes notes. Truly the height of hands-free technology.
Speaking of: "Hm?" He laughs a little, faintly, at Leito's comment. "Oh, no, it's all right. Thank you. I appreciate the compliment."
A lot of young people around here. That's certainly true. Kaworu hums to himself as he lines up a neat row of spice bags--he needs several more before he's done. "That's true. Many pilots start very young for one reason or another. Perhaps it's that experiences that forces them to mature more quickly than others... Though I think keeping a youthful heart is important too.
"For example, I've fought alongside a young man named Riku Asakura a few times, and despite his experiences, he manages to keep a sunny outlook and a passion for the things he enjoys." His smile broadens into a brief grin. "I find it quite charming."
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
They were talking about curry. That was nice. The talk about the young pilots makes Leito sad, but he did start it. But he's about to agree with the youthful heart thing, when-
Riku Asakura.
Several thoughts race through Leito's mind. Riku's here? Wait, this guy knows Riku - he fought alongside him. Does that mean he knows he's Geed, or is Riku a mecha pilot now (unlikely, Riku can't even drive a car)? Does that mean he knows that *he's* Zero? Leito moves to open his mouth, probably to stammer out a reply, when 'someone else' decides it's time to take control and handle the situation.
Unfortunately, Zero is not assuming Kaworu is psychic, and therefore has no idea he just sealed their fate, as he removes his glasses. He smudges them with a small cloth, as if to clean them, but it's like he doesn't even need them anymore.
"Oh?" His stammering has stopped. "That's quite nice. Your friend must be quite the hopeful pilot. Is he a member of NERV, too?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
All very good questions. And for all that they have their secrets they must hide, it's best to be discreet, isn't it? After all, they're surrounded by so many people who have nothing to do with it, and any one of them could be infested by an alien or otherwise compromised.
But discreet means different things to different people. A normal human being might notice that Leito's demeanor suddenly seems different, but might brush it off as their imagination, especially if it's their first time meeting him. Kaworu... For Kaworu, it's as clear as if Leito had walked away and a completely different person had walked up and tried to continue the conversation on his behalf.
It's nice to have confirmation--even if it's technically just confirmation of a second entity within Leito's body. Still, Kaworu can't help but giggle into one hand.
"Oh, no, he's neither a pilot nor a member of NERV. But he *has* fought alongside us a few times," he says with mirth as he finishes gathering up the spices he needs. He reaches into a pocket and hands over several bills to the spice stand worker.
"Albeit not by that name," he concludes. "But that's another matter."
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
Kaworu's wrapping up. Zero is also positive he's onto something. Mystery boy who works for an anti-alien organization, presumably knows Riku is Geed, and is talking about it. Did Riku give them up? It's the only possibility.
(Actually, Leito and Zero are just dumbasses.)
"Indeed. Well, I understand why you aren't saying much. Discretion is the better part of valor, right?" Zero is being as unsubtle as possible here, in Leito's body, hoping he can get a confirmation that, at the least, Kaworu agrees.
He moves to grab his fenugreek seeds, and start paying as well. "I hope this Riku can keep his hope. This world we live in...it's tough. Could probably break someone. But people like him, even if I have to hope, I believe can do whatever they set their mind to."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Truly, the world shall be saved by dumbasses. Hopefully Riku or Kaworu can explain before Riku gets in trouble...
For now, Kaworu laughs a little at the question. "Do you think so? Well, I don't disagree. Discretion is indeed very important. We all have things that we can't share with others."
His tone turns a bit wistful here, before he focuses back on Zero with a knowing smile. "But 'discretion is the better part of valor' refers to retreating from battle. And that seems like... hmm, how does the phrase go... something that's twenty thousand years too soon for you?"
Kaworu takes a moment to meet Zero's eyes, his smile knowing. Then he accepts his change and tucks his purchases away. "Yes. Hope is a crucial component of the heart--to live, rather than simply survive. If you haven't met Riku already, I'm sure you'll appreciate him, too."
He pauses in consideration. At this point, he should head on, but... "I'm glad I had the chance to meet you two," he says. (It sounds like 'meet you too' to those around them. Leito and Zero might hear it correctly. "Conversing was a true pleasure, and I hope we can meet again. If you like, we could exchange contact information?"
<Pose Tracker> Leito Igaguri has posed.
The 'twenty thousand years too soon' gets a wince from Zero. Damn it. But...Kaworu seems affable enough, and trustworthy enough. "I'm sure I will."
The confirmation is here, but so is the discretion. He puts his glasses back on, as Leito retakes control, blinking a few times before nodding awkwardly. "Of course...!" He moves to exchange information, and then go to pay for his stuff. "Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Nagisa..." He says in parting.
Well, Riku has some explaining to do (for something he has no involvement in at all), once they deem it appropriate to track him down.