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 Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:31 am
"I am certain we can comrade. There are bound to be others with a passion for instruments or singing." Lai spotted the frown on Shane's face after Ireland was mentioned. Automatically the Russian wished he had never asked, it seemed the man touched on a tender topic.
"Maybe." It was the only word he could come out with and hopefully led off into other topics, ones that did not put frowns on peoples faces or touch nerves. When he continued on, Lai saw the second frown appear on the Irishman's face. He had to quickly explain it wasn't bad. "B-But, I did move to Tomsk when I was twelve. I lived with my aunt and her son and husband up until I was twenty-one. They were very good to me, so it is not all a sad story." A nervous smile for Shane. It was true, all of it, but once he saw the grin he knew a shaky bridge was crossed. He laughed at the offer.
"Thank you for the offer comrade! But I think I am all set. I really consider my aunt, uncle, and cousin my only family now, so it is not all bad. Small but comforting." Lai felt a tiny twinge of homesickness as he uttered those words, but it quickly passed. He had been on his own for over a year...Well...It was probably longer now with time in a tizzy, but he was a grown man and he could live by himself with no problem. Still, he was thousands of miles away from the country of his birth and despite wanting desperately to travel away, Russia would always be his home. And he missed it.
In respect of the frown from mentioning Ireland and the manners he had been taught, Lai did not ask Shane about his own family. Better to let someone tell that to you themselves than force it out of them.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:32 pm
Another friendly grin, this time eager and optimistic, met Lai's first words. Shane wasn't sure that Wraith would be pleased to see a LOTUS band emerge, but what fun it would be! Certainly he would have to ask around and see if anyone could sing...or at least carry a tune, or play other instruments. Perhaps Moira could help with that...
So lost in his thoughts was Shane that he nearly missed the Russian's continuing explanation of his family situation. A quick nod and a smile was really all the answer Lai received as the conversation quickly turned back to something more amusing and lighthearted. This Russian lad really wasn't so bad, though he had a more than polished way of talking that sometimes bothered the laid back Irishman.
In due time I'll have to teach the lad to relax...
A lighthearted shrug and a grin were quickly followed by the laughed, "Well, if you ever change your mind, lad. I've plenty of family to offer!" And indeed he did. Sometimes, he wondered how he'd ever managed to keep track of them all.
And suddenly, in the midst of it all, Shane had no idea where to lead the conversation to. So he sat quietly, feeling mildly awkward at the fact he'd been waiting for one person, run into someone else entirely...and he'd been caught off guard. Not really at his charismatic best, either. And there was still the matter of the Russian being lost. What laundry room could he be next to...?
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:46 pm
Lai was inwardly pleased at the actions of Shane to his story. Good, for the time being there was nothing in the way to cause another frown from the Irishman. At the talk of the still standing offer Lai laughed.
"Of course, of course! If I find myself in need of a sibling or another cousin, you shall be the first person to pop into my mind comrade." He grinned. "I promise you that."
Like Shane, Lai didn't know where to continue the conversation and the silence set in between them. The Russian fidgeted slightly, thinking through things that could be potential topic starters. Well, if Shane liked music then how about...
"Cooking. Do you like to cook comrade?"
There, that should work. Hopefully the Irishman did and if so a conversation about such a hobby would surely go on for a little while at least. Lai smiled at the man before continuing, deciding to use himself as an example.
"I personally enjoy cooking, it is a great hobby of mine and I especially enjoy cooking for others more so than myself. Heh, that must be a bit odd sounding, but I do."
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:37 pm
As the Russian man grinned, Shane couldn't help but grin in response. At least the conversation was easy going, joking about giving away some of his family was something that came naturally to the Irishman, though he'd have gladly fought to the death to insure that none of them were ever lost to him. The awkward silence stretched between them and, like Lai, Shane found himself restless in his seat. The man wasn't really sure what topic to bring up next. After all, what similarities might the two have? Clearly, they both enjoyed music, but what chance would there be to the fact they might have something else in common to break this bizarre silence?
And so it was with relief that Shane grinned when Lai finally brought up a topic. What a choice, no less - something that the Irishman was very fond of indeed. With a small laugh, Shane agreed, "Aye, lad, I enjoy cookin' a good meal every now and then." As the Russian added that he preferred cooking for others, Shane tilted his head slightly. In truth, he just liked playing with the flavors of the food, finding new ways to present things on a plate that were interesting and fun. Not boring and dull as food was so often presented. In retrospect, though, he supposed that seeing the culinary arts as, well, an art form was really a way to please others more than himself and so he finally nodded in agreement.
"I must admit, Lai, I prefer to cook for the art of it. To find new ways to flavor things, interesting ways to present things to others..." That sounded a bit selfish, even to Shane, so he amended, "Though, I suppose, in cooking to present things in new ways, to present it as an art form...I am cooking for the enjoyment of others. More for their aesthetic tastes before their tastebuds, though, I'm afraid..." With that, Shane nearly winced. He was sounding more and more selfish with each word that tumbled from his mouth. Ah, well, what was said was said.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:09 am
As Shane made his like of cooking known Lai felt relieved. He had picked a good topic that they both could discuss for a reasonable amount of time. As he listened the Russian found himself interested with Shane's perspective on cooking. And he found himself agreeing with the Irishman on the experimenting to find new flavors and better ways to present something. In food, especially cooking for others, taste and presentation were important. Lai always believed a well presented meal could cheer up a person after a trying day.
"I like the way you think comrade." Lai sat up a bit in the chair he had placed himself in, thinking a bit on how he presented his own food when it wasn't stored away in a cold box or jar. "You are right, presentation and the overall flavor of food is something one should try to improve for oneself and for others. Though I must admit, I never really saw it as an art form until you mentioned it, but I agree."
Lai reflected on his time back home and helping his aunt get meals ready for the family. They were a small family but being as she was Lai's aunt always made more for those 'just in case' situations and if a guest might drop out of the blue at meal time. With the rush of cooking everything, serving it out to his waiting cousin and uncle as well as feed himself, Lai had never truly stopped to consider the art side of cooking. He figured his aunt hadn't either. Bit of a pity really, they were both art loving sorts of people. As he came back he smiled again at the Irishman sitting across from him.
"You have given me a bit of a challenge, though you may be unaware. When I cook from now on I shall try to add my own flair to the dishes instead of just being direct from the recipes. And before I serve it, to myself or to anyone who may be around to try, I shall do my best to work on the presentation of all the food. I do believe that a well presented meal can lift a person's spirits if they have had one of those days, you know?" Lai hoped Shane did know, he was human after all. He probably had his share of "those days" like anyone.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:23 pm
The Irishman was surprised when Lai mentioned he had not looked at cooking as an art - that was the only way Shane had ever really seen it. Cooking was an opportunity to experiment and try new things. While it didn't always work out, it usually did so long as you were aware of what different spices tasted like. That is, unless you added too much of one or too little of another...with a small shrug, he brushed his train of thought off, not sure where exactly it would lead him before returning his full attention to the Russian he shared the library with at that moment.
"I'm a bit surprised, lad, you never looked at it as an art. I've never seen it as anything but, I'm afraid!" Granted, when you had several people to cook for...you had to make it fun and viewing it as art did just that. It made the mundane more fascinating, though the tall man wasn't sure if he would share that point of fact with Lai. There would then be questions about his family and as they'd just met, he would truly rather not share any of that just yet.
A raven eyebrow slowly arched at the mention of a challenge, he had issued no such thing and so he leaned forward in his seat just a hair to pay even better attention to Lai. With his hands in his lap, folded haphazardly together, he gave a great chuckle at the man's declaration. What an interesting person he was! But, he was quite right. A good, warm meal could heal a man's sorrows. At least for a little while.
"Aye, lad. A good, warm meal could warm any of man's sorrows for a time." Perhaps that was just what he needed, as a matter of fact. A good meal...
Tilting his head, he eyed the man before him as he leaned back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other before tapping at his chin, "Any favorites you like to cook, by chance?" Slowly an idea was forming in his head and he was curious to know what the Russian could cook and what he enjoyed cooking the most.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:17 pm
"Ah, well, I guess the reason I never viewed it as such was because I saw it as a way to relax somewhat. My days were filled with a lot of schooling and studying, with a lot of arts in the curriculum so I believe that if I thought cooking as art I would not have been so inclined to it. I hope that makes sense at least." He felt a shadow pinching in his right hand as though it was remembering all the times it was made to hold a writing utensil for ungodly long periods of time, subject after subject, line after line, day after day...
Lai responded to it by quickly rubbing his left thumb against his right palm like so many times before and the pinching went away. The Russian responded to Shane's leaning forward by straightening a bit in his seat, his hands folding in his lap and smiling at the other man's laughter. He nodded as Shane agreed with him and smiled at the question.
"You ask me a hard question, it is hard to pick just one thing!" He laughed a little, thinking while doing so. After a moment he came to a decision. "Well I would say my favorite, singular dish to make and eat is beef stroganoff and as a whole I enjoy making any sort of dish, whether it be desserts, main courses, brunches, breads...You get the picture." He smiled nervously as though he was afraid he was rambling. He then extended the same question back to Shane.
"How about you comrade? Same question."
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:23 pm
As Lai spoke, Shane found himself growing more and more confused - and just a tad bit concerned about the way the Russian must have lived to view cooking as relaxing, but not see that it was an art form and that art was, in itself, also relaxing. Not as relaxing as a good stiff drink, perhaps, but relaxing in its own way nonetheless. Again, the man with the raven hair tilted his head in curiosity as he listened to the polite man before him speak and a few questions grew in his head as he paid attention to the best of his ability.
An eyebrow rose in question when Lai suddenly moved to rub his thumb against his palm, but Shane remained silent. He would practice his good listening skills now, and then use them to awe Moira later. It struck him once again that the Italian lass was never far from his conscious thought, and it was only Lai's laughter that kept him from having a small, secret smile on his lips as he too laughed a little. Perhaps it had been a hard question, after all.
Beef stroganoff. Now that was a good dish! But Shane had not had it too often, especially since his arrival at LOTUS. None of the cooks could, well, cook it quite right. Some even put the beef over rice! When the question he had just asked was turned back on himself, he again leaned back into the comfort of the large chair, settling himself in before pondering over all that he had made. In truth, there was only one thing that gave him the greatest of joy when he cooked - and that was actually to bake. Most especially, Shane enjoyed baking desserts and so with a grin, he gave a swift answer, "I love to make sweet things. They, above all else, I think, bring happiness to people."
Now Shane wanted to question about the thumb rubbing, but instead stuck with the topic of cooking, "Don't you think so, lad? Desserts are sweet enough to bring a bit of light to even the darkest of moments." This was, of course, an overly grandiose way of putting it, but that was what Shane enjoyed doing. Adding a bit of flair to the mundane.
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:50 pm
"Oh yes, I agree comrade." Lai found himself liking this man more and more, he was quite interesting and his description of the joy of desserts put a glimmer of good humor into the Russian's eyes. "Personally my favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake, but any dessert is good to me. That is, as long as it does not contain alcohol in it. The stuff makes me quite ill, even if it does cook out of the food, and I do not know why."
He was never partial to alcohol, it wasn't just the taste that made him that way but the stuff; vodka, beer, wine, spirits, what have you always made him physically ill even in small amounts. He could remember a few times where Sasha would try his hardest to slip some sort of liquor into his cousin's drink or food, just to get a good laugh out of what would come soon after. Lai had to admit his cousin was a bit of a bully about weaknesses of others, but when called upon he'd be the best person he could be.
Come to think of it...He should be married by now...Hm...
"How about you? You must have your favorites in the dessert category. But if you cannot pick just one, I understand." A grin lighted his face as he chuckled a bit at the last part. It was just banter, but Lai felt good, joking around with someone like this. He didn't even think about how long it had been since he had been with someone other than his cousin, just joking around. In actuality, he had no real friends, he never had time to forge outside relationships with others. It was the schoolwork that always came first, the upholding of the family prestige, even if mother only saw you as her plaything on some occasions and your father didn't even acknowledge your existence because he hated you for what you were (a child) and not who you were...
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:20 pm
Truly, the Irishman's mouth wanted to water with all this talk of food, especially of desserts, but his eyes soon turned to just a hint of pity as the Russian mentioned he could not endure anything with alcohol to it. Now that was something he really couldn't imagine, especially with his own love for the drink. A drink or two a day was something he'd grown up with and been accustomed to for all of his adulthood. He'd have to see if he couldn't find a drink that wouldn't make Lai sick...After all, if they were to be buddies, then a drink would be needed to celebrate!
When the question about favorites returned to him once again, he frowned just a little and tapped his chin. Which one was his absolute all time favorite? To be honest, now, he was partial to many desserts - anything that was sweet tickled his fancy. And there were so many of them, to boot! Yet what Lai had mentioned earlier had his mind stuck down that path and the first thing that really popped into his head was a delicious recipe he had made with his family - chocolate whiskey cake. Then again, there was also a wonderful caramel apple cake that they also oft enjoyed...and you could go without the liquor in that one. So with a smile, Shane finally grinned, "Well, to be honest, lad one of my absolute favorites is the chocolate whiskey cake. But for a lad such as yourself, the caramel apple cake would suit well. You can do without the liquor in that one!"
Really, though, he enjoyed almost anything with caramel or a hint of whiskey or rum....caramel rolls were another of his joys, come to think of it. Now that he thought of it, they really should get together sometime and make a meal for their fellow Lotusians. The fun they could have and the things they could make! And without thinking, Shane blurted that very same thought out for Lai to hear, "Sometime, lad, we should make a meal for everyone here. Just to see what they think of it."
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:29 pm
Polite silence settled in as Lai waited for the Irishman's answer, inwardly joking with himself that the man must be going through the entire book on desserts to find his favorite out of all of them. After a moment he too was thinking over desserts that he enjoyed in his time and noting that many of his involved fruit in some way. Things with fruit and cookies, if they counted as a dessert. Plain, old fashioned sugar cookies followed by ginger snaps as his favorites. He did have a soft spot for chocolate, but mostly that had to be in bar form for him to really enjoy it. The thoughts about such treats were amusing him, lighting a fond smile on his face as he remembered some of the times his aunt had gone on her utterly random but always enjoyable baking sprees. The short woman, on her spree, would make enough for her neighbors as well as her family, and it was then that Lai learned the fundamentals of baking, his favorite lesson being how to make sugar cookies.
"Those both sound delicious, though with the former I wouldn't be able to sample, let alone enjoy, such a treat." He chuckled at Shane's enthusiasm, nodding with agreement. "Caramel apple cake sounds delightful, something nice to go with a cup of coffee on a cold morning. Of course, saying one thing and experiencing it are two very different things. I will have to ask you for the recipe sometime or, if I find you at the right time in the kitchens, ask for a taste instead. I do enjoy caramel from time to time." This was true, but he had only had caramel very rarely since he had moved from Tomsk, and even before then it was always in small, soft cube shaped candy form. Very good nonetheless.
"Ah! Really?" At the idea his face lighted up, taking to the idea instantly. That would be a great way for LOTUS members to meet up, a hot meal always brought good times at an easy pace. Plus he would get to invoke one of his favored hobbies for all of the attendees to enjoy. "That sounds like an idea I would very much like to go along with! But, what sort of meal would it be? Breakfast, lunch, dinner...? So many different things we could make given whatever kind of meal it is, especially when you get into the various foods of the different cultures. The possibilities are practically infinite!"
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:08 pm
Shane gave a small nod at Lai's response, and once again wished that there were a light liquor that the Russian could enjoy. Perhaps if he found one, he could make the chocolate whiskey cake sans the whiskey and instead replacing it with another fine drink. It would take some doing, but maybe there was a way. Certainly in the least kahlua would be out of the question, it had the taste of coffee to it, and while Shane loved coffee particularly with rum or vodka added to the mix (or perhaps peppermint schnapps if the occasion called for it), he did not enjoy kahlua. Not even in black or white Russians - and that was saying something for an Irishman!
"Then caramel apple cake some cold morning it shall be!" Of course, almost every morning was a little chilly in the place they were, but he would make no point of mentioning this fact - it was more than a little obvious that they were in a rather cold region and he didn't want to feel the fool for pointing this out. Surely Lai, even as a new arrival, new this. Without a second thought, he added, "And it will be my treat, of course. From one who has been here a while to a new recruit." With that, he gave a psuedo bow from his seat and grinned with silly delight. Perhaps the day was not turning out so poorly after all!
When the Russian so readily agreed to his half formed idea, it was all the man could do to not stare open mouthed at him. He hadn't really thought it would be so well thought of...and he certainly hadn't anticipated it would be one that might actually happen. But soon the cook in him and the partier that made up much of his personality took over and he leaned forward in his seat quite obviously interested and excited, "Well, I think a simple dinner affair would be best. I don't know when all the lads and lasses here wake up, so the best bet would be an early dinner - nothing fancy, of course. Perhaps a sampler sort where we'd have a dish from each of the countries represented here at LOTUS?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:23 am
He couldn't help but grin at Shane's agreement to have the cake some morning. It would be a nice way to wake up, and the trip from where his room was to the kitchen would be well rewarded. He knew the chill of the morning even if the Irishman didn't point it out. It was similar to Russian mornings during Spring and Fall though there was a bit more crispness to the air that would only come from their location high in the mountains. As Shane added to his agreement Lai nodded back and chuckled to the pseudo bow, giving one of his own back to the man.
"I will look forward to it comrade." He said as he sat back up again. "Though if it is from someone who has been here awhile to someone new, I believe I should cook something for you sometime as someone new to someone who has been here awhile." The Russian smiled back at the grin, wondering if Shane would take to that idea. He was about to say that the task would be no trouble for him at all and that he'd be most pleased to do so, but the stunned look of the man after he agreed to the party made him lose his words and flush face a little. Maybe he had agreed to readily? The thought poked around in his mind with some worry; the idea was a great one, but then again it was merely a passing suggestion between them and nothing definite had been worked out quite yet. Lai's attention was brought back to the Irishman as his companion leaned forward, his expression quelling the worry Lai had immediately. The words he spoke completely banished it for this topic.
"I agree comrade!" The excited expression was contagious and the Russian felt another grin forming on his soft featured face. He nodded to the words about not knowing when the other recruits woke up and agreed with the dinner idea. "Ah yes, I believe a nice, early dinner would be best. Hm..." He nodded to the idea of the sampler, but couldn't help thinking that maybe Shane didn't know all the countries represented here. Lai obviously didn't know more than a few, his country and Shane's among them, but then again, better off to ask then to sit here assuming.
"I like the idea of a sampler comrade, but I wonder, do you know all of the countries represented here? I would think so far there would not be that many, but better to just make sure. If not, do you think we could get a list from somewhere, just to be definite and so we do not miss anyone?" He would hate to accidentally forget a country or countries if there were more people than he thought here. Everyone would be equally represented at this dinner, he would make sure of it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:54 pm
A chuckle escaped the Irishman's mouth as he caught the Russian's pseudo-bow in response to his. Finally, someone at LOTUS with a great attitude and a sense of humor like his own! Perhaps he had found himself a new friend, after all. This was something that greatly pleased the man, as he had been worried he'd find few friends here that were not female - and he had the darnedest feeling that Moira would not approve of the all women entourage he had developed here. He'd have to introduce Lai to Moira someday, now that he thought of it. She would probably find the lad fun to be around, and maybe it would help Shane lure her from her room or where ever it was she hid most often more frequently.
Shane leaned back into the chair's backing a bit, relishing in the softness of the chairs in the library as he smiled and listened to Lai. A trading of treats would be an excellent idea, in fact, mayhap Lai could prepare a morning treat that was popular in his homeland of Russia the same morning Shane made caramel apple cake. That way, they could enjoy a proper breakfast with a pleasant dessert, rather than just dessert for breakfast. It would certainly be more filling, at least. And so, with a smile and a nod, Shane agreed, "Certainly a trade of treats would be a good idea." A small chuckle escaped his mouth and he added, "Perhaps after we have the location of your room discovered, we'll head to the kitchen so you can learn the lay of it."
Now that he thought about it, he had promised Lai quite some time ago to help him to his room. Thankfully the man didn't seem to mind the long distraction, and the look of brief concern quickly flashed from his face as he crossed one leg over the other, allowing himself to become more comfortable in the chair. Slowly, the man nodded as Lai agreed with the early dinner idea, pleased that his idea was being taken to so well and so quickly. At the mention of all the countries, though, a frown crossed his face and he shook his head, "Nay, lad, I don't know all the countries here..."
There was a small pause as he racked his brain and tried to come up with a way they could get a proper list - perhaps if they asked Shee or Wraith? They'd have to talk to them about it eventually anyway to plan such an event...
A look of thoughtfulness passed across Shane's face as he finally shrugged and made his suggestion, "We could, perhaps, ask Shee or Wraith for a list. We'll have to ask them eventually, anyway, so we can make proper use of the kitchen and a dining room for the early dinner...."
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:16 am
"A trade?" The idea of such a thing sparked a wider smile across his features and caused a soft bout of amused chuckling to spring up. "Your ideas are quite brilliant comrade, I find myself liking every one of them. I think...Yes...If we do such a thing I shall make you something traditional from my time and country." Shane's finishing statement for the time made Lai nod enthusiastically. "I would very much like that. I have a feeling I would probably spend a lot of time there, cooking meals and such for those of us here at LOTUS."
Lai sat back in his own chair, bemusing himself with quick thoughts about what the LOTUS kitchens were like. Given the sheer size of the place both outward and inward, plus his assumed guess of how many members were in the organization, they would be quite large and spacious. Maybe more so than the ones you would find in high quality restaurants and the idea of cooking in such a place elated him. It might be something to write home to his aunt about since her kitchen, well, the one before the fire, had been very close quartered. He came out of his wondering about the LOTUS cooking area, just catching the tail end of Shane's concerned look. A small crease of curiosity touched his brow but it didn't linger for more than an instant as his companion made himself more comfortable and nodded to his words. At Shane's admittance of not knowing all the countries another crease formed as he started to think of a way to find out. Before he could for more than a few brief ideas, though, Shane spoke his idea.
"Shee and Wraith...?" His tone was polite, but it was plain to see he was softly puzzled by the names. The Russian had kept to himself since arriving and Shane was his first contact with a member. Judging from what the Irishman said next, Lai believed those two were the heads of LOTUS and everything they were discussing would have to be run by one or the other, perhaps both. He didn't verbally respond to what Shane spoke after the two names, but nodded. If those two were their superiors, getting their clearance for any of this would be imperative. Maybe they were being a little too enthusiastic about these dinner ideas at first, but then again Lai didn't know either of them yet. Maybe they would hop to the idea of getting the recruits, new and old, together for a dinner. If LOTUS was going to work together, people would want to know who is who and be some some sort of aquaintance terms beforehand. At least, that was Lai's thinking.
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