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

[metaari]

"Honestly, if you're traveling through the desert, you probably have a few more problems to think about than cooking." He grins a bit. "Sand does not make for a very tasty seasoning, I can tell you that. And that's mostly what you'll find. Desert travels are another prime opportunity for jerky. And nuts, too. Though there's plenty you can do to both before you hit the desert..."

He sounds thoughtful at that, trailing off for a moment as he thinks on it before shaking his head, mentally moving on.

"Right on it. Pots and pans are a nice luxury, but often times get left behind. It also gives everything nice, crisp lines, and a better smokey flavor."

[metaari]

"When you're the designated camp cook, you generally have them on you." He grins as he flips the slab of meat over, rubbing the mixture across the back of it.

"There are plenty of herbs you can find growing in the wild, depending on your area. I've a small book of them with drawings back in my tent, if you're ever interested. Mint is relatively easy to come across, and goes well with most things. Slap a bunch of the leaves on the meat and cook it together. It's all very exact, as you can tell."

[aceso]

"But you can always hit someone with a pan," she jokes, nose scrunching up at her own joke. "A smokey flavor is good. The flavor comes from the type of wood burned, does it not? I am afraid I know little of trees or which to use, but when roughing it, I suppose beggars cannot be choosers when it comes to selecting wood."

[gatheringstorm]

Deftly chopping as her grandmother taught her, Korrin glances over with raised eyebrows upon hearing that. "Merrick's clan? What were they like, the ones who didn't all join us in one feel swoop?"

She's a little curious about the clan, given that several of her friends are from it...though she'd wonder about the welcome a qunari would receive. So there's some concern mixed in with that curiosity as well, for Metaari's sake.

[circleprodigy]

As Garahel plops down happily and rolls onto his back, Inessa shakes her head. "Shameless." Of course he needs belly rubs from his new best friend, because food is awesome but so are pettings.

"I see something to be gained from using magic for practical endeavors, if it can be done. Which is not to say it can replace all mundane efforts, but if they can be made easier...." She shrugs. "Ever since Anders' mage conference, I've been in that frame of mind."

[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."

[dalishious]

Merrick lets out an undignified squeak as he's scooped up, and though he rolls his eyes as he's cuddled like a stuffed animal, there's a smile on his face.

"Watching people burn themselves trying to cook?" he replies, mirth dancing in his eyes. "Quality entertainment."

[dalishious]

"You qunari and your dragons," Merrick remarks, but he lifts his drink in acknowledgment of her loss.

He didn't know the guy, but he obviously meant a lot to Korrin, and that's a good enough reason to drink to him. "May Falon'din guide him to the next life."

[gatheringstorm]

That brings a warm smile to Korrin's lips, touched at the gesture. "Hopefully a better one than what he had." Drinking to that seems to relax her and she stretches out, sighing. "That hits the spot. It's been a shitshow of a month, I'll say that much. But lots of Venatori are dead and I'm not, so that's...something, I guess. What about you?"

[dalishious]

Merrick takes a drink too, enjoying the burn and that time-honored sensation of being punched in the chest. All the best alcohol does that.

He looks a little bashful in response to her question and briefly taps his finger against the dragon's tooth fragment at his throat, lips tugged up in a tiny half-smile.

[el_tybs]

A small book on them he said? "I would be interested in seeing that. Might come in handy some time." Especially since he was considering going camping soon and could spend a little time actually looking at the plants around the area.

"Mint? Even fish?" He's had that with some sweet things, but nothing savory. "And here I was thinking a bit of salt and pepper was just fine."

[metaari]

Metaari laughs and he runs his hands down Merrick's arms to take a hold of his wrists, turning them over so that he can look at them. He hums faintly, lifting one of the hands up so that he can give it a closer look. "Ah, but not you. Good. Burns aren't fun."

He grins and lifts his head up again before tilting it down so he can kiss the back of Merrick's head. "I'm glad, though. I think we all needed this."

tw for self-harm

[dalishious]

It had taken some time for Merrick to be comfortable with Metaari looking at his wrists. The lines there are mostly faded into scars crisscrossing over his flesh, some fresher than others, but no new gashes on top of them. It's been a while. Longer than it's ever been, actually.

"I'm still not carrying fancy spices around when I travel," he says stubbornly, half-joking.

[metaari]

He's glad for it, too. Metaari wants to be able to love and appreciate every bit of Merrick's body, and the slow trust to do exactly that has been the sweetest reward. It was almost better than him saying yes to... well. Commitment.

"That's alright. I've more than enough space on my body for a few extra pouches for spices." He grins and closes his eyes as he rests his forehead against Merrick's head, letting out a faint, happy breath.

[dalishious]

Merrick doesn't want this to end. He wants to be gathered up tight and safe in Metaari's arms forever, the scent of the bonfire around them, surrounded by the crisp night air. He can almost forget that tear in the sky above, the impending battle for their lives.

He's content to turn slightly and nestle up against Metaari's chest for a while, completely unconcerned that there are other people present. He could almost fall asleep like this, but there are things on his mind.

"I told everyone," he murmurs. "Cyril is all right with it. Teasing me worse than before." He scowls a bit.

[metaari]

And Metaari is content to let him stay there for as long as he wants. He figures everyone around the fire is already firmly aware of their relationship by now anyway, and the last thing he expects from any of them is a problem with it.

Still, the words make him pause, tense slightly, but he lets out a breath. He... well, Cyril would be the most likely to be alright with it, if Metaari were to pin the Asharas down properly. Metaari smiles faintly and nods, absently stroking a soothing hand up and down Merrick's back. "I'm glad. It's good to have at least one ally."

[metaari]

Metaari pauses for a second and rubs at the back of his neck, frowning down at the food as he tries to think of the most... diplomatic answer he can possibly think of. "The Asharas... are..."

His words are slow, deliberate.

"Very... Dalish."

That's... that's an answer, right?

[metaari]

"That's a fair point! Nothing like good, solid iron that's built to withstand fire for beating someone about the head." Metaari laughs and rolls his shoulders a little as he straightens his back for a moment, working out the kinks from staying bent over.

He nods, almost happy to know there's someone else around here who knows something about cooking. "That's right. Oak is my personal favorite for red meats. I like maple for a lighter flavor. But as you said, when it comes right down to it, I often don't get the choice."

[metaari]

And Metaari is all too happy oblige in the belly rubs, making sure to get in a few good scratches while he's at it before he goes back to what he was doing. A small part of him wonders if maybe he should look into getting himself a pet of some sort.

And then he remembers that taking care of Merrick consumes most of his nurturing and abandons the thought.

For now.

He smiles a touch and nods as he seasons the meat, rubbing a mixture of spices over it. "It must be... refreshing. To think of your own skills in a new light."

[metaari]

"I'll let you borrow it some time, then. It's not a bad study." A little dry, maybe, especially if someone has zero interest, but Metaari keeps it updated fairly regularly. "There's also a collection of things you most certainly should not eat under any circumstances, unless your goal is to... cleanse."

Personal experiences, those pages.

"Salt and pepper is definitely the easiest to go with, and some people will say it's all you ever need. But... well, it can get boring, right? Mint with a bit of something citrus goes great with fish."

[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."

[dalishious]

So there's the good news. Merrick sighs, worrying his lip for a moment, grateful that the alcohol has numbed a fair bit of his anxiety at this point.

"Beleth..." Is heartbroken? Devastated? What are words? "Isn't."

[metaari]

"Ah." And there it is. The reason why Metaari has barely seen a hair on Beleth's head since they left the Asharas behind. Even the trip back to Skyhold, she was scarce, only around when there was nowhere else to be. Metaari hadn't thought much of it at the time, thought that maybe she was simply upset about leaving her brother again...

He tightens his hold slightly, strong and warm and reassuring. "Will she be alright, given time?" Metaari honestly doesn't want her upset; she's a good person, and doesn't deserve the heartache that he's brought about.

[gatheringstorm]

That gets a wry, sympathetic smile from Korrin. "That means 'extremely traditional and not at all thrilled about outsiders', doesn't it? It's okay, you don't have to be diplomatic. I get why they'd be like that, but still, that can't be easy to deal with it firsthand."

For all the issues that might arise with Araceli being a rifter, at least an unwelcoming family wouldn't be one of them.

[circleprodigy]

Yesss, all the belly rubs. Garahel pants happily and flops to one side afterward, Inessa petting him with one foot even though she doesn't dare touch him with her hands while preparing food. Nodding readily to Metaari, she smiles. "It is that way with you? Mage or not, you seem rather skilled and creative."