Tried some bear stew. It was a little grizzly. (open)

[metaari]

WHO: Anyone who wants to show up
WHAT: Learn how to cook, eat food, drink, talk, be merry
WHEN: waves hands at the last weekend of Kingsway
WHERE: Camps just outside Skyhold
NOTES: Followup open log to this post

It's through travel with everyone recently that Metaari has come to realize that... well. There aren't a lot of battle chefs around. Not that he considers himself a chef, either, but at least he knows how to do a little more than stick meat over a fire. And now it's time to impart his knowledge on others so that they, too, may eat a little better when on the road. And, you know, assuming they aren't in such dire straits that they can afford to spend a little time pampering themselves.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

If he was unsure about being at the right place, the qunari set up cooking dismissed that. For a time Anders simply watches; he's got some basic knowledge, he can make something edible that isn't grey-brown mush, but it might be nice to do more than that.

After that time, he heads up to the guy. "I know what the spicy spices are, but the rest I'm pretty unfamiliar with. Would you mind walking me through what you're doing?" The only way to learn is to ask questions, after all.

[metaari]

"Of course. That's why I've got this set up, after all." Metaari straightens himself up a little as he gestures for Anders to sit. He's got some sort of powder he's taking out of a small pouch that he's rubbing into the meat, rather generously on both sides. "I'm just at the seasoning part right now. I want to let the meat sit with it a bit before I cook it up, so I'll get to chopping the vegetables while that happens. It's a personal blend--a pepper, fennel seeds, things easily found in most markets or even in the wild--and being dry means that it lasts longer and transports easier than a sauce."

A pause.

"Plus if I need to run I can throw it in someone's eyes and it'll blind them long enough for me to get away."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders takes a seat happily, watching, smiling at the last comment.

"You're qunari. You dwarf everyone. I can't imagine you having to run." He has to run often, but he's almost two feet shorter than Metaari. And a mage. As he talks, he's leaning forward to catch what scents he can in the blend.

"Could you use a hand with chopping? I'm fairly talented when it comes to cutting things up."

[metaari]

"You'd be surprised. I'm a hell of a shot, but outside of just slamming my fist into someone's face, my close-quarters combat leaves something to be desired." Though, to be fair, his face slamming tends to be very effective.

He nods before inclining his head toward the small pile of food. "By all means. I'm planning on skewers for it all, so I need things in large enough chunks yet so they won't fall off."

His eyes cast around the fire for a moment, a faint smile on his face at the small gathering, before he goes back to his work. "I'm glad to see people taking advantage of a small bit of downtime."

[justice_is_blond]

"I can't really give any sort of advice on close-quarters combat. I prefer flinging fireballs and keeping people at bay. Dual purposes, even, they keep their distance and the ones who don't catch on fire."

He starts lining up the food and making a few cuts, glancing upward to make sure this is what Metaari finds a good size. It seems to be, to Anders, but he's not the cook in charge.

"It gets easier to indulge in downtime when you've someone getting after you for working too hard, I find. Otherwise... Mm. I'm not good at relaxing anymore."

[metaari]

Metaari lets out a laugh at that, nodding in agreement. There's a reason why he prefers to have a fire rune set into his bow over anything else. There's just something deeply satisfying about lighting someone up from a distance who's actively trying to kill you and those around you.

He inclines his head at the silent question on the cuts. "Ah... right. The whole... constantly looking over your shoulder thing. I imagine it got exhausting, after a time. Still... it makes the moments where you can even more enjoyable, doesn't it? Where you can just... be for a time."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders resumes cutting at the incline, shrugging after a moment at the comment.

"It makes them more enjoyable and also adds a... guilt to it. As if I shouldn't be taking a break, because there's so much to do. Which is why having someone pushing at you to ease up a little helps." He gives Metaari a small smile and a shrug. "Or it balances it out. But you must have to deal with some of it as well, being qunari."