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Who: Akutsu & Tachibana
When: August 8th, around 6pm
Where: The kitchen
What: Tachibana's making rations and snacks for the upcoming expedition, and Akutsu just wants real food.
Tachibana was not dealing with this impending expedition. He was fervently making the teams some snacks that would last the trip… especially Kin-chan. Thus, he had several pots of food going at once, including his meal for Sanada and Niou, since they were pulling all-nighters again. If nothing else, at least the kitchen smelled amazing.
After having spent days locked in his room, pissed at Niou and mourning the anniversaries that had led to his second prison sentence, and smoking and drinking himself to death in the process, Akutsu still felt like shit. He'd returned to work, but he'd barely eaten, and it was finally to the point he couldn't take it anymore. After trying the replicator only to find himself nauseated, he decided real food was a must. He was headed to the kitchen already when the smell of food hit his nose, and unlike the replicator, this scent actually made his stomach growl.
Rounding into the kitchen, he spotted somebody hard at work. He felt like a dick, interrupting so much going on…but it was almost eat or pass out. "Yo."
Tachibana looked up from his frying pan to see a rather haggard looking man standing there. “Hello. Can I help you with something?” He wasn’t expecting anyone, so maybe the man had just been lured in by the smell of food.
Akutsu wasn't used to feeling like this much of a dick, and he blamed it on the time of year. He should probably just leave the guy alone, really. But…man he was hungry. "I can see you're busy. I just can't stomach the replicator food right now… if it's alright I can just scrounge through the fridge for whatever's handy."”
Tachibana offered the man a friendly smile. “Nonsense, come sit down and I’ll fix you something. That’s what I’m here for.” He motioned to the small table he had set up. “I don’t think we’ve formally met. My name is Tachibana Kippei, you?”
Oh. So this was Tachibana. Huh. "Akutsu Jin. And really, it's fine. You're busy. Don't wanna take you away from all that," he nodded towards the whole slew of things that Tachibana was working on.
Tachibana hummed in acknowledgement. So, this was Akutsu. “I’m literally just cooking. I can spare you some of the food I’m cooking.” He laughed. “Please, sit down. You look a little rough.” He grabbed a pitcher of water from the fridge and poured him a glass of water and took it to the table. “I’ve got some pasta cooking right now, if that sounds alright?”
Akutsu went ahead and sat quietly, actually grateful for for both the water and the hospitality. "That'd be fine. Thanks." He felt rough, but he wasn't gonna say it. Just like he wasn't gonna be the one to acknowledge their mutual acquaintance. "All for the expeditions, huh?"
Tachibana wasn’t ready to acknowledge him either, knowing that the relationship there was… complicated. Instead, he just smiled. “Not just the expeditions, the engineers are pulling all nighters, so I’m making them stuff that’s easy to eat while they work. The pasta is actually just my lunch.” He chuckled. “But I made too much.”
“Oh. Yeah, heard ‘bout that. Some last minute requests before everything sets out. Glad they’re lettin’ the pros handle that and not ropin me in, too.” Akutsu arched an eyebrow at Tachibana. The fact that the guy could multitask that much was…kind of impressive, probably. “You’re just gonna share your lunch with a stranger?”
“Yeah, I wish I could be surprised they sprung it on them, but I’m not.” He went over and fixed Akutsu a plate of pasta. “I wouldn’t say we are completely strangers. We’ve exchanged a few comments back and forth, and…” Well, it won’t hurt to at least mention. “And we have a mutual acquaintance.” He set the plate down. “Here you go.”
Akutsu gave a little shrug. “Considering I came in around the last round of expeditions, I missed most of that chaos.” He looked at the plate and man, it both looked and smelled good. “Oh, yeah. That guy.” He took a small bite, to make sure his body wasn’t going to try to reject this like it had the replicator stuff, and at the very least, his taste buds were happy. “…Damn that’s good.”
Tachibana couldn’t help but chuckle at Akutsu’s response. “Yes, that guy.” He was glad that Akutsu seemed to like the food, and the rest of his pots were now just simmering, so he made his own plate, opting to eat standing, like he often did in the kitchen. “You’re a handyman, right? You’re always welcome to stop by and come eat.”
Since Akutsu’s stomach didn’t roil at the introduction of proper food, the next few bites he took were bigger, but he made sure to swallow before speaking. “Official title, yeah. More like glorified gofer. Move shit around, mostly, or whatever grunt work they feel like tossing at me, but I can work on the shuttles and help out in engineering some.”
“So you’re pretty valuable, then.” Tachibana said. “Versatile people are better for a starting colony than those stuck with only one skill.” He motioned to his pots. “If you need food I’m your man, but please don’t ask me to build anything.” He laughed.
Akutsu snorted. “Hardly. Pretty sure the only reason they accepted the application for me to come out here was to limit the kind of trouble I get into.” He had actually been learning from the Actual Mechanics, when it came to working on the kinds of shuttles Yomi was equipped with, sort of like an informal apprenticeship, but there hadn’t been much time for that lately with the expeditions about to set off. “You keep us alive with food we can actually eat. The replicator shit tastes like ass. Even the replicators where I grew up did better than this.”
“Anyone can learn to cook.” Tachibana snorted. “I used to poison people on the daily with my food.” He polished off his food quickly so he could get back to his pots. “Did you get sick? You didn’t look well before you started eating.”
“Last time I tried to cook anything I nearly burned down the kitchen.” Akutsu wasn’t entirely sure he believed that Tachibana had been that bad before, but hey. Everybody started somewhere, right? “More like I made myself sick, I guess. It’s been a bad few weeks. This time’a year’s always rough for me, but…this year was worse than usual.” Anniversary of Akira’s death, anniversary of when their crew decided that somehow Akutsu was at fault for Akira’s suicide and all the bullshit that went with it…Anniversary of the second time he stole a shuttle… And then on top of it, the fight with Niou.
Tachibana nodded solemnly. “I can tell just by your voice that whatever happened was rough for you. I’m not going to assume I can empathize with whatever happened, but I do understand making yourself sick.” He sighed softly. “Like I said, food is all I can offer, and maybe an ear, if you want it.”
Akutsu shook his head. He'd already talked about it more with Niou than he'd talked about it with anyone…and that was enough for now. "Appreciate the offer. But I'm good, for now." He raised another forkful of pasta. "This is helping. So thanks."
Tachibana nodded. “Of course, the ear doesn’t have to be for personal stuff. It could be for anything.” He smiled. “But please at least take me up on the food offer. It’ll help me stop from being rusty.” He grinned.
“You’re too damn nice. It’s weird.” Like, seriously? Akutsu was almost creeped out by it. But then, maybe he just wasn’t used to genuinely nice people, and as much as he was watching for it, he wasn’t picking up any deceptive vibes. He was half tempted to tell Tachibana he’d made out with Niou just to see what kind of reaction he’d get…but no. “I dunno how you could possibly get rusty in a place like this. Aren’t people always bugging you for food?”
“I keep hearing that…” Tachibana said, scratching his neck. He wondered if it actually put people off. “You would be surprised. I make food for Niou and Kin-chan, sometimes for my friend, but no one bothers to ask me most of the time…” He knew he had Doctor things he needed to do, but he enjoyed cooking more.
Akutsu shrugged. “Must be true then. Unless you’re a conspiracy theorist, in which case everyone is lying to you to lure you into a false sense of security.” Why did he just say that? Because the niceness was WEIRD, and Akutsu didn’t really know how to handle it, maybe. “That’s it? Damn. Buncha idiots eating outta the replicators.”
That just made Tachibana laugh. “You know, that would be just my luck.” He could just imagine getting comfy and then bam, they turn on him. “I think they assume that I’m busy.” He shrugged. “I mean, my resources aren’t great, but I’m pretty sure I’m still better than the replicator.”
….And Tachibana laughed at it. Ugh. So weird. Like, bordering on Niou’s trademark ‘might need six showers after this’ weird. But…it wasn’t entirely bad. “Well. You’re a damn bit better than that replicator shit they try to call food, so if you really want the work, you can cross me off the idiot list.” He would gladly eat actual, real food over that algae-tasting crap. Even if it meant dealing with the weirdness.
Tachibana was absolutely pleased. “How many meals a day would you like?” He was all ready to add Akutsu to his schedule.
Oh, damn. Well alright then. “Just two. I usually skip breakfast.” Well, except for coffee. Coffee was breakfast. “Damn you’re serious about this.”
Tachibana nodded, already making a note to adjust the vitamin and nutrients levels to make up for the missed meal. “Like I said, it’s my job. I enjoy it.” He grabbed his notebook and jotted down some notes. “Any dietary restrictions? Vegan? Vegetarian?” He was very serious about this. If he was going to feed someone, he was going to do it right.
Akutsu watched Tachibana make notes and was suddenly reminded… This guy was a doctor or something, right? Huh. Well, whatever. Who knew, maybe actually eating decent meals would be good for him. Or something. “Carnivore, but I’ll pretty much eat anything. …Except tofu. No allergies that I know of.”
“No tofu. Meat options are… it’s chicken. The meat option is chicken right now. I requisitioned some beef and someone ordered some lamb, but that could be months out.” Tachibana sighed. “But I like a non-picky eater. Makes life easier.” He would be able to make Akutsu and Niou the same thing for dinner, which would help, too. “Last question. Do you prefer one of these meals to be something you can eat cold, just in case?”
“Yeah, figured meat was limited. But any is better than none, or replicated,” Akutsu replied with a shrug. As much as he would love to sink his teeth into a nice, juicy steak, he knew it’d be a while before that chance came along (and he’d be first in line when it did). “Eh. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t have to be. I usually get scheduled breaks, and enough time I could pop something in the microwave if needed. Whatever works for you is fine.” When he said not picky, he meant it.
Tachibana nodded, writing down more notes. “Got it. I can deliver these if need be, or I can label them with your name and put them in the fridge.” He labeled everything, so that was no extra work. “There may be weeks where I make several of your meals in one go, so you’ll have choices when you get food.” He was just happy to have something to keep him mind off the expedition, honestly.
“Nah, don’t trouble yourself too much. If they’re kept here in the fridge I’ll just swing by. My shifts change sometimes, so it’ll be easier for if I’m workin’ a random night shift instead of the usual days.” Once again, Akutsu was struck by how weirdly nice Tachibana was. He guessed it might be part of why Niou spent so much time with the guy, even if Akutsu was a bit creeped out by it. “….Weird question, but I gotta ask. You this nice to everybody?”
Tachibana’s hands froze as he was in the middle of writing notes. "I try to be, but I promise I'm not trying to be deceptive. I just spent so much when I was younger being angry that I… it was exhausting me. This is me, weirdly nice and all, even if people find it creepy or fake."
Akutsu had finished his plate of pasta, so he got up and walked to the sink. Even he wasn’t enough of an ass to just leave a dirty dish lying around without a good reason. “Oh yeah? What’d a guy like you have to be angry about?” Most of the people Akutsu had met over the years that said they had an angry past were stupid - little rich kids that were mad mommy and daddy didn’t get them some fancy-ass car for their 16th birthday or some shit like that. There’d been a few that had reason to be angry…most of them took it out on others instead of the source, though, and turned into bullies.
Tachibana ran a hand through his hair. "I'm honestly not sure. My family wasn't awful. Dad was a factory worker, mom stayed home… I have a great sister. I just….I was angry. People pissed me off. Maybe mom dropped me on my head as a kid…" He laughed. “Like maybe we couldn't always afford much, and maybe I struggled a bit in school, but it was no excuse…" Tachibana scratched his head. "Pretty stupid, huh?"
Akutsu listened…and couldn’t help an amused snort. Aside from the dad and the sister, their backgrounds were kind of similar. “Not stupid. Not really. I get it. Didn’t have much either, growin’ up. To the point that I had to steal sometimes just to eat. Mom tried, but…it was just her. And she had me kinda young, so…” He shrugged. “And then we had to move cuz our home colony failed, and we couldn’t take much with us, so it’s not like moving made us any better off.”
Tachibana frowned. His family could have easily been in that position if his dad hadn't stuck it out. “...There were a few times Dad wanted to leave. He would yell at us, get frustrated… but it’s because he was working such long hours for so little, and mom couldn’t work. So in that vein, I’m lucky.” It was nice that someone was at least not invalidating his experience. “That must have been rough, especially for a young mother. Is she okay, now?”
Akutsu finished washing the dishes that were in the sink, setting the last one up on the drying rack. Then he turned around, leaning back against the counter. “She does alright. She ain’t waitin’ tables no more, got a job that’s good ‘n steady. Secretary or somethin. I send half my paycheck back to her, though, so she can use it if she needs. Keep the other half for myself for here if needed. But I think she spent what I sent her and sent it back to me.” He couldn’t really complain, she’d gotten him a coffee maker for his room and a rather large supply of coffee, as well as a few other things. But he wasn’t sending it to her for that purpose. “She means well,” he shrugged.
Tachibana smiled softly. “Sounds like she really loves you.” Like a mother should, really. “...My mother is the type who is quite happy with her empty nest.” He switched some of his pots off to cool. “‘Go outside and don’t come back until the street lights come on’ kind of mom.” Except when he caused trouble. Then she kept him at her hip.
Akutsu’s brow furrowed. It really wasn’t any of his business… “Kinda sounds like your folks didn’t want kids. I mean, I know I was an oops baby, but…” He shrugged. At least his mom had always made sure to tell him that he was a gift, that he was loved, that she never regretted it for one second. And even though he didn’t say it out loud, he loved her back. Would do anything for her. “At least Mom got mad at me when she didn’t know where I was for days on end.”
Tachibana stared at the counter for a moment. “...They did seem that way. I never really noticed until now.” Tachibana shook his head. “No, I did know. I just buried it, I guess.” He sat down on a stool, sighing. “Well, that’s one mystery solved.” It was pretty common, so there was no reason to be depressed about it. “...They got mad at me a lot, but I made sure they were never mad at An.”
“Some people just aren’t cut out for having kids. The smart ones make sure it doesn’t happen. Like me - ain’t no way I’m knockin up some chick.” It’s why, while Akutsu was very definitely bi, he tended to opt for men more often than women. “But it sounds like you were a good brother, lookin’ out for her. Can’t imagine how hard it could be.”
Tachibana shook his head again. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because I do appreciate how hard they worked. But it does explain randomly getting into fights all the time.” He washed his hands and smiled. “Didn’t mean for you to go through that self-discovery with me. I apologize.”
Akutsu shrugged. “You offered an ear. Least I could do is return the favor.” Even if Akutsu hadn’t actually taken him up on it. “Besides. Everyone has baggage, whether they know it or not. And it changes us. I stole my first shuttle partly to see if I could. Partly because if I left, Mom’d have it easier. One less mouth to feed. And it sorta worked, if you count me endin up in prison for a couple’a years.”
Tachibana chuckled. “Yes, and the whole time she worried about you, I’m sure.” He smiled. “I appreciate it. A lot of people seem to think I’ve always been like this…but it took a while to not always be so angry, and… helping others helps keep it quiet.”
“Eh. Probably. She tried to visit every day. I had to actually ask to have her banned cuz she was gonna get fired for missing so much work.” It was probably nice that she cared so much, but Akutsu just…got overwhelmed by that much. He looked at Tachibana for the last part, and for just a moment actually cracked a smile. “I’m still kinda always angry. But…today’s the quietest it’s been in years.”
Tachibana poured them each another glass of water and raised it. “To quiet days.” He toasted. Those should be celebrated, because for someone who still has that anger in them, quiet days were a blessing.
Akutsu gave a soft chuckle and raised the glass. Definitely better to toast with water than with more alcohol. His body was still recovering from the shit days he’d put it through. “To quiet days.”
Tachibana drank his water, enjoying the silence for a moment. If he was being honest, this was the calmest meal he has had in a while. There wasn’t that nervous energy he felt around Niou, and Akutsu certainly wasn’t Kin-chan. “...Could I perhaps make a request?”
Akutsu took a drink as well, kind of reveling in the quiet, both in the room and inside himself. It was weird, to get that around someone he barely knew, but, well. Here it was. "Sure. Why not."
“...Could we do this again sometime?” Tachibana asked. “It’s nice to talk to someone who understands sometimes wanting to just haul off and punch someone in the face.”
Akutsu blinked in surprise. He really hadn't been expecting that. But…oddly enough, it actually had been nice, talking to someone who just…gets it. He wasn't used to it at all. It was weird and kind of uncomfortable in that 'I'm not sure what to make of this' way. And yet he found himself agreeing. "Yeah, sure. Since you're tryin' to be good an' all. Cuz usually if I feel like hauling off and punching someone, I haul off and punch 'em."
Tachibana smiled, happy that Akutsu agreed to do this again. “Keep me honest, will you?” He chuckled. “If I need someone punched, I know who to ask.” Not that he ever really would, but it was nice to have that as an option. “You want dessert? Or are you not big on sweets?”
Akutsu actually laughed at the thought. Tachibana just coming up to him one day and being like 'hey, see that guy? Punch him for me, willlya?' And just for shits and giggles, Akutsu would do it, minimal questions asked. "So that means I gotta hold ya back if you start goin' after someone?" he smirked, still too amused at the thought. He perked up, though, at the mention of deserts. "I don't mind 'em, most of the time, so sure. …Probably don't have anything chestnut, though, do you?"
Tachibana nodded. “Please do. My right hook has almost made my best friend go blind.” He said, quite serious. Until Akutsu mentioned chestnut. Then he grinned and went to the fridge to pull out a small ramekin of mousse, topped with whipped cream. “Chestnut and chocolate mousse. Does that work?” How lucky he had received some frozen chestnuts in the last drop.
"That's actually kinda impressive," Akutsu remarked, eyebrows raised. Tachibana didn't look like a weakling by any means, but to fuck someone up like that… But now Tachibana's grin was suspicious…but Akutsu's eyes went wide when that dessert got pulled from the fridge, and he had to resist the urge to make grabby hands at it like he would've as a kid. "That sounds amazing," he answered, pushing off the counter to walk towards Tachibana and what would probably be the most delicious thing he'd had on this god forsaken planet.
Tachibana could see that sparkle in Akutsu’s eyes and he handed it over. “Enjoy.” He smiled softly. “Consider it a thanks for helping me figure myself out.”
Akutsu took the dessert, and the first bite had him practically melting. It was the closest he'd had to his favorite sweet in a long time, and he was right; it was absolutely incredible. Maybe even better than sex, at the moment, so he took his time, savoring each and every bite.
Tachibana was happy to have made someone else happy. He continued cleaning up and packaging up the rations he had been making. Everything was finally put in its place before he turned back to Akutsu. “Was that recipe successful? It was my first time.”
What Akutsu couldn't get with a spoon, he cleaned out with his finger, making sure to get every last possible bit, and then he popped his finger in his mouth, because no bit of that dessert was going to waste. He didn't speak until he'd gotten it all. "That was really good," he admitted. "My favorite dessert is mont blanc, but I haven't had one in ages. But this?" He pointed to the empty container. "This might just be a close second. As long as it's this good next time, too, and not just me being desperate for good food."
Tachibana grabbed his notebook and wrote down that little fact. “I’ve always wanted to try to make mont blanc. Maybe one day you’ll find one with your meals.” He smiled. He looked at Akutsu, looking pleased. Akutsu looked much better. “How are you feeling now?”
Akutsu might've died a little inside at the thought of opening up the fridge one day and finding a mont blanc in there with his name on it. If Tachibana could make that as well as he made the mousse, it might damn well end up being the best mont blanc he'd ever had. "I feel a lot better, honestly. …Thanks, Tachibana." Wow it was weird to say that.
“You’re welcome.” Tachibana said with a short nod. “I’m glad I could help. Unfortunately, I have to get these snacks all packed up and get the rations set for the teams…but I’m looking forward to our next meal together.”
Akutsu nodded, taking a quick moment to wash the ramekin and the spoon from the dessert, setting them with the rest of the drying dishes. "I've taken up enough of your time anyhow." He really hadn't expected Tachibana to do more than throw a plate at him, with how busy the guy was when he'd come in, but he'd done so much more, and…even if he wasn't good at saying so, Akutsu appreciated it. "Thanks again. Hope it all goes smooth for ya." He gave a little hand-raise in lieu of waving, then headed for the door to let himself out. "See ya round."
“See you.” Tachibana said, watching Akutsu leave. He was surprised that it had gone so well, but it was nice having someone around who didn’t just see him as “A good guy”. He was determined to make the perfect mont blanc, now.
When: August 8th, around 6pm
Where: The kitchen
What: Tachibana's making rations and snacks for the upcoming expedition, and Akutsu just wants real food.
Tachibana was not dealing with this impending expedition. He was fervently making the teams some snacks that would last the trip… especially Kin-chan. Thus, he had several pots of food going at once, including his meal for Sanada and Niou, since they were pulling all-nighters again. If nothing else, at least the kitchen smelled amazing.
After having spent days locked in his room, pissed at Niou and mourning the anniversaries that had led to his second prison sentence, and smoking and drinking himself to death in the process, Akutsu still felt like shit. He'd returned to work, but he'd barely eaten, and it was finally to the point he couldn't take it anymore. After trying the replicator only to find himself nauseated, he decided real food was a must. He was headed to the kitchen already when the smell of food hit his nose, and unlike the replicator, this scent actually made his stomach growl.
Rounding into the kitchen, he spotted somebody hard at work. He felt like a dick, interrupting so much going on…but it was almost eat or pass out. "Yo."
Tachibana looked up from his frying pan to see a rather haggard looking man standing there. “Hello. Can I help you with something?” He wasn’t expecting anyone, so maybe the man had just been lured in by the smell of food.
Akutsu wasn't used to feeling like this much of a dick, and he blamed it on the time of year. He should probably just leave the guy alone, really. But…man he was hungry. "I can see you're busy. I just can't stomach the replicator food right now… if it's alright I can just scrounge through the fridge for whatever's handy."”
Tachibana offered the man a friendly smile. “Nonsense, come sit down and I’ll fix you something. That’s what I’m here for.” He motioned to the small table he had set up. “I don’t think we’ve formally met. My name is Tachibana Kippei, you?”
Oh. So this was Tachibana. Huh. "Akutsu Jin. And really, it's fine. You're busy. Don't wanna take you away from all that," he nodded towards the whole slew of things that Tachibana was working on.
Tachibana hummed in acknowledgement. So, this was Akutsu. “I’m literally just cooking. I can spare you some of the food I’m cooking.” He laughed. “Please, sit down. You look a little rough.” He grabbed a pitcher of water from the fridge and poured him a glass of water and took it to the table. “I’ve got some pasta cooking right now, if that sounds alright?”
Akutsu went ahead and sat quietly, actually grateful for for both the water and the hospitality. "That'd be fine. Thanks." He felt rough, but he wasn't gonna say it. Just like he wasn't gonna be the one to acknowledge their mutual acquaintance. "All for the expeditions, huh?"
Tachibana wasn’t ready to acknowledge him either, knowing that the relationship there was… complicated. Instead, he just smiled. “Not just the expeditions, the engineers are pulling all nighters, so I’m making them stuff that’s easy to eat while they work. The pasta is actually just my lunch.” He chuckled. “But I made too much.”
“Oh. Yeah, heard ‘bout that. Some last minute requests before everything sets out. Glad they’re lettin’ the pros handle that and not ropin me in, too.” Akutsu arched an eyebrow at Tachibana. The fact that the guy could multitask that much was…kind of impressive, probably. “You’re just gonna share your lunch with a stranger?”
“Yeah, I wish I could be surprised they sprung it on them, but I’m not.” He went over and fixed Akutsu a plate of pasta. “I wouldn’t say we are completely strangers. We’ve exchanged a few comments back and forth, and…” Well, it won’t hurt to at least mention. “And we have a mutual acquaintance.” He set the plate down. “Here you go.”
Akutsu gave a little shrug. “Considering I came in around the last round of expeditions, I missed most of that chaos.” He looked at the plate and man, it both looked and smelled good. “Oh, yeah. That guy.” He took a small bite, to make sure his body wasn’t going to try to reject this like it had the replicator stuff, and at the very least, his taste buds were happy. “…Damn that’s good.”
Tachibana couldn’t help but chuckle at Akutsu’s response. “Yes, that guy.” He was glad that Akutsu seemed to like the food, and the rest of his pots were now just simmering, so he made his own plate, opting to eat standing, like he often did in the kitchen. “You’re a handyman, right? You’re always welcome to stop by and come eat.”
Since Akutsu’s stomach didn’t roil at the introduction of proper food, the next few bites he took were bigger, but he made sure to swallow before speaking. “Official title, yeah. More like glorified gofer. Move shit around, mostly, or whatever grunt work they feel like tossing at me, but I can work on the shuttles and help out in engineering some.”
“So you’re pretty valuable, then.” Tachibana said. “Versatile people are better for a starting colony than those stuck with only one skill.” He motioned to his pots. “If you need food I’m your man, but please don’t ask me to build anything.” He laughed.
Akutsu snorted. “Hardly. Pretty sure the only reason they accepted the application for me to come out here was to limit the kind of trouble I get into.” He had actually been learning from the Actual Mechanics, when it came to working on the kinds of shuttles Yomi was equipped with, sort of like an informal apprenticeship, but there hadn’t been much time for that lately with the expeditions about to set off. “You keep us alive with food we can actually eat. The replicator shit tastes like ass. Even the replicators where I grew up did better than this.”
“Anyone can learn to cook.” Tachibana snorted. “I used to poison people on the daily with my food.” He polished off his food quickly so he could get back to his pots. “Did you get sick? You didn’t look well before you started eating.”
“Last time I tried to cook anything I nearly burned down the kitchen.” Akutsu wasn’t entirely sure he believed that Tachibana had been that bad before, but hey. Everybody started somewhere, right? “More like I made myself sick, I guess. It’s been a bad few weeks. This time’a year’s always rough for me, but…this year was worse than usual.” Anniversary of Akira’s death, anniversary of when their crew decided that somehow Akutsu was at fault for Akira’s suicide and all the bullshit that went with it…Anniversary of the second time he stole a shuttle… And then on top of it, the fight with Niou.
Tachibana nodded solemnly. “I can tell just by your voice that whatever happened was rough for you. I’m not going to assume I can empathize with whatever happened, but I do understand making yourself sick.” He sighed softly. “Like I said, food is all I can offer, and maybe an ear, if you want it.”
Akutsu shook his head. He'd already talked about it more with Niou than he'd talked about it with anyone…and that was enough for now. "Appreciate the offer. But I'm good, for now." He raised another forkful of pasta. "This is helping. So thanks."
Tachibana nodded. “Of course, the ear doesn’t have to be for personal stuff. It could be for anything.” He smiled. “But please at least take me up on the food offer. It’ll help me stop from being rusty.” He grinned.
“You’re too damn nice. It’s weird.” Like, seriously? Akutsu was almost creeped out by it. But then, maybe he just wasn’t used to genuinely nice people, and as much as he was watching for it, he wasn’t picking up any deceptive vibes. He was half tempted to tell Tachibana he’d made out with Niou just to see what kind of reaction he’d get…but no. “I dunno how you could possibly get rusty in a place like this. Aren’t people always bugging you for food?”
“I keep hearing that…” Tachibana said, scratching his neck. He wondered if it actually put people off. “You would be surprised. I make food for Niou and Kin-chan, sometimes for my friend, but no one bothers to ask me most of the time…” He knew he had Doctor things he needed to do, but he enjoyed cooking more.
Akutsu shrugged. “Must be true then. Unless you’re a conspiracy theorist, in which case everyone is lying to you to lure you into a false sense of security.” Why did he just say that? Because the niceness was WEIRD, and Akutsu didn’t really know how to handle it, maybe. “That’s it? Damn. Buncha idiots eating outta the replicators.”
That just made Tachibana laugh. “You know, that would be just my luck.” He could just imagine getting comfy and then bam, they turn on him. “I think they assume that I’m busy.” He shrugged. “I mean, my resources aren’t great, but I’m pretty sure I’m still better than the replicator.”
….And Tachibana laughed at it. Ugh. So weird. Like, bordering on Niou’s trademark ‘might need six showers after this’ weird. But…it wasn’t entirely bad. “Well. You’re a damn bit better than that replicator shit they try to call food, so if you really want the work, you can cross me off the idiot list.” He would gladly eat actual, real food over that algae-tasting crap. Even if it meant dealing with the weirdness.
Tachibana was absolutely pleased. “How many meals a day would you like?” He was all ready to add Akutsu to his schedule.
Oh, damn. Well alright then. “Just two. I usually skip breakfast.” Well, except for coffee. Coffee was breakfast. “Damn you’re serious about this.”
Tachibana nodded, already making a note to adjust the vitamin and nutrients levels to make up for the missed meal. “Like I said, it’s my job. I enjoy it.” He grabbed his notebook and jotted down some notes. “Any dietary restrictions? Vegan? Vegetarian?” He was very serious about this. If he was going to feed someone, he was going to do it right.
Akutsu watched Tachibana make notes and was suddenly reminded… This guy was a doctor or something, right? Huh. Well, whatever. Who knew, maybe actually eating decent meals would be good for him. Or something. “Carnivore, but I’ll pretty much eat anything. …Except tofu. No allergies that I know of.”
“No tofu. Meat options are… it’s chicken. The meat option is chicken right now. I requisitioned some beef and someone ordered some lamb, but that could be months out.” Tachibana sighed. “But I like a non-picky eater. Makes life easier.” He would be able to make Akutsu and Niou the same thing for dinner, which would help, too. “Last question. Do you prefer one of these meals to be something you can eat cold, just in case?”
“Yeah, figured meat was limited. But any is better than none, or replicated,” Akutsu replied with a shrug. As much as he would love to sink his teeth into a nice, juicy steak, he knew it’d be a while before that chance came along (and he’d be first in line when it did). “Eh. Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t have to be. I usually get scheduled breaks, and enough time I could pop something in the microwave if needed. Whatever works for you is fine.” When he said not picky, he meant it.
Tachibana nodded, writing down more notes. “Got it. I can deliver these if need be, or I can label them with your name and put them in the fridge.” He labeled everything, so that was no extra work. “There may be weeks where I make several of your meals in one go, so you’ll have choices when you get food.” He was just happy to have something to keep him mind off the expedition, honestly.
“Nah, don’t trouble yourself too much. If they’re kept here in the fridge I’ll just swing by. My shifts change sometimes, so it’ll be easier for if I’m workin’ a random night shift instead of the usual days.” Once again, Akutsu was struck by how weirdly nice Tachibana was. He guessed it might be part of why Niou spent so much time with the guy, even if Akutsu was a bit creeped out by it. “….Weird question, but I gotta ask. You this nice to everybody?”
Tachibana’s hands froze as he was in the middle of writing notes. "I try to be, but I promise I'm not trying to be deceptive. I just spent so much when I was younger being angry that I… it was exhausting me. This is me, weirdly nice and all, even if people find it creepy or fake."
Akutsu had finished his plate of pasta, so he got up and walked to the sink. Even he wasn’t enough of an ass to just leave a dirty dish lying around without a good reason. “Oh yeah? What’d a guy like you have to be angry about?” Most of the people Akutsu had met over the years that said they had an angry past were stupid - little rich kids that were mad mommy and daddy didn’t get them some fancy-ass car for their 16th birthday or some shit like that. There’d been a few that had reason to be angry…most of them took it out on others instead of the source, though, and turned into bullies.
Tachibana ran a hand through his hair. "I'm honestly not sure. My family wasn't awful. Dad was a factory worker, mom stayed home… I have a great sister. I just….I was angry. People pissed me off. Maybe mom dropped me on my head as a kid…" He laughed. “Like maybe we couldn't always afford much, and maybe I struggled a bit in school, but it was no excuse…" Tachibana scratched his head. "Pretty stupid, huh?"
Akutsu listened…and couldn’t help an amused snort. Aside from the dad and the sister, their backgrounds were kind of similar. “Not stupid. Not really. I get it. Didn’t have much either, growin’ up. To the point that I had to steal sometimes just to eat. Mom tried, but…it was just her. And she had me kinda young, so…” He shrugged. “And then we had to move cuz our home colony failed, and we couldn’t take much with us, so it’s not like moving made us any better off.”
Tachibana frowned. His family could have easily been in that position if his dad hadn't stuck it out. “...There were a few times Dad wanted to leave. He would yell at us, get frustrated… but it’s because he was working such long hours for so little, and mom couldn’t work. So in that vein, I’m lucky.” It was nice that someone was at least not invalidating his experience. “That must have been rough, especially for a young mother. Is she okay, now?”
Akutsu finished washing the dishes that were in the sink, setting the last one up on the drying rack. Then he turned around, leaning back against the counter. “She does alright. She ain’t waitin’ tables no more, got a job that’s good ‘n steady. Secretary or somethin. I send half my paycheck back to her, though, so she can use it if she needs. Keep the other half for myself for here if needed. But I think she spent what I sent her and sent it back to me.” He couldn’t really complain, she’d gotten him a coffee maker for his room and a rather large supply of coffee, as well as a few other things. But he wasn’t sending it to her for that purpose. “She means well,” he shrugged.
Tachibana smiled softly. “Sounds like she really loves you.” Like a mother should, really. “...My mother is the type who is quite happy with her empty nest.” He switched some of his pots off to cool. “‘Go outside and don’t come back until the street lights come on’ kind of mom.” Except when he caused trouble. Then she kept him at her hip.
Akutsu’s brow furrowed. It really wasn’t any of his business… “Kinda sounds like your folks didn’t want kids. I mean, I know I was an oops baby, but…” He shrugged. At least his mom had always made sure to tell him that he was a gift, that he was loved, that she never regretted it for one second. And even though he didn’t say it out loud, he loved her back. Would do anything for her. “At least Mom got mad at me when she didn’t know where I was for days on end.”
Tachibana stared at the counter for a moment. “...They did seem that way. I never really noticed until now.” Tachibana shook his head. “No, I did know. I just buried it, I guess.” He sat down on a stool, sighing. “Well, that’s one mystery solved.” It was pretty common, so there was no reason to be depressed about it. “...They got mad at me a lot, but I made sure they were never mad at An.”
“Some people just aren’t cut out for having kids. The smart ones make sure it doesn’t happen. Like me - ain’t no way I’m knockin up some chick.” It’s why, while Akutsu was very definitely bi, he tended to opt for men more often than women. “But it sounds like you were a good brother, lookin’ out for her. Can’t imagine how hard it could be.”
Tachibana shook his head again. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because I do appreciate how hard they worked. But it does explain randomly getting into fights all the time.” He washed his hands and smiled. “Didn’t mean for you to go through that self-discovery with me. I apologize.”
Akutsu shrugged. “You offered an ear. Least I could do is return the favor.” Even if Akutsu hadn’t actually taken him up on it. “Besides. Everyone has baggage, whether they know it or not. And it changes us. I stole my first shuttle partly to see if I could. Partly because if I left, Mom’d have it easier. One less mouth to feed. And it sorta worked, if you count me endin up in prison for a couple’a years.”
Tachibana chuckled. “Yes, and the whole time she worried about you, I’m sure.” He smiled. “I appreciate it. A lot of people seem to think I’ve always been like this…but it took a while to not always be so angry, and… helping others helps keep it quiet.”
“Eh. Probably. She tried to visit every day. I had to actually ask to have her banned cuz she was gonna get fired for missing so much work.” It was probably nice that she cared so much, but Akutsu just…got overwhelmed by that much. He looked at Tachibana for the last part, and for just a moment actually cracked a smile. “I’m still kinda always angry. But…today’s the quietest it’s been in years.”
Tachibana poured them each another glass of water and raised it. “To quiet days.” He toasted. Those should be celebrated, because for someone who still has that anger in them, quiet days were a blessing.
Akutsu gave a soft chuckle and raised the glass. Definitely better to toast with water than with more alcohol. His body was still recovering from the shit days he’d put it through. “To quiet days.”
Tachibana drank his water, enjoying the silence for a moment. If he was being honest, this was the calmest meal he has had in a while. There wasn’t that nervous energy he felt around Niou, and Akutsu certainly wasn’t Kin-chan. “...Could I perhaps make a request?”
Akutsu took a drink as well, kind of reveling in the quiet, both in the room and inside himself. It was weird, to get that around someone he barely knew, but, well. Here it was. "Sure. Why not."
“...Could we do this again sometime?” Tachibana asked. “It’s nice to talk to someone who understands sometimes wanting to just haul off and punch someone in the face.”
Akutsu blinked in surprise. He really hadn't been expecting that. But…oddly enough, it actually had been nice, talking to someone who just…gets it. He wasn't used to it at all. It was weird and kind of uncomfortable in that 'I'm not sure what to make of this' way. And yet he found himself agreeing. "Yeah, sure. Since you're tryin' to be good an' all. Cuz usually if I feel like hauling off and punching someone, I haul off and punch 'em."
Tachibana smiled, happy that Akutsu agreed to do this again. “Keep me honest, will you?” He chuckled. “If I need someone punched, I know who to ask.” Not that he ever really would, but it was nice to have that as an option. “You want dessert? Or are you not big on sweets?”
Akutsu actually laughed at the thought. Tachibana just coming up to him one day and being like 'hey, see that guy? Punch him for me, willlya?' And just for shits and giggles, Akutsu would do it, minimal questions asked. "So that means I gotta hold ya back if you start goin' after someone?" he smirked, still too amused at the thought. He perked up, though, at the mention of deserts. "I don't mind 'em, most of the time, so sure. …Probably don't have anything chestnut, though, do you?"
Tachibana nodded. “Please do. My right hook has almost made my best friend go blind.” He said, quite serious. Until Akutsu mentioned chestnut. Then he grinned and went to the fridge to pull out a small ramekin of mousse, topped with whipped cream. “Chestnut and chocolate mousse. Does that work?” How lucky he had received some frozen chestnuts in the last drop.
"That's actually kinda impressive," Akutsu remarked, eyebrows raised. Tachibana didn't look like a weakling by any means, but to fuck someone up like that… But now Tachibana's grin was suspicious…but Akutsu's eyes went wide when that dessert got pulled from the fridge, and he had to resist the urge to make grabby hands at it like he would've as a kid. "That sounds amazing," he answered, pushing off the counter to walk towards Tachibana and what would probably be the most delicious thing he'd had on this god forsaken planet.
Tachibana could see that sparkle in Akutsu’s eyes and he handed it over. “Enjoy.” He smiled softly. “Consider it a thanks for helping me figure myself out.”
Akutsu took the dessert, and the first bite had him practically melting. It was the closest he'd had to his favorite sweet in a long time, and he was right; it was absolutely incredible. Maybe even better than sex, at the moment, so he took his time, savoring each and every bite.
Tachibana was happy to have made someone else happy. He continued cleaning up and packaging up the rations he had been making. Everything was finally put in its place before he turned back to Akutsu. “Was that recipe successful? It was my first time.”
What Akutsu couldn't get with a spoon, he cleaned out with his finger, making sure to get every last possible bit, and then he popped his finger in his mouth, because no bit of that dessert was going to waste. He didn't speak until he'd gotten it all. "That was really good," he admitted. "My favorite dessert is mont blanc, but I haven't had one in ages. But this?" He pointed to the empty container. "This might just be a close second. As long as it's this good next time, too, and not just me being desperate for good food."
Tachibana grabbed his notebook and wrote down that little fact. “I’ve always wanted to try to make mont blanc. Maybe one day you’ll find one with your meals.” He smiled. He looked at Akutsu, looking pleased. Akutsu looked much better. “How are you feeling now?”
Akutsu might've died a little inside at the thought of opening up the fridge one day and finding a mont blanc in there with his name on it. If Tachibana could make that as well as he made the mousse, it might damn well end up being the best mont blanc he'd ever had. "I feel a lot better, honestly. …Thanks, Tachibana." Wow it was weird to say that.
“You’re welcome.” Tachibana said with a short nod. “I’m glad I could help. Unfortunately, I have to get these snacks all packed up and get the rations set for the teams…but I’m looking forward to our next meal together.”
Akutsu nodded, taking a quick moment to wash the ramekin and the spoon from the dessert, setting them with the rest of the drying dishes. "I've taken up enough of your time anyhow." He really hadn't expected Tachibana to do more than throw a plate at him, with how busy the guy was when he'd come in, but he'd done so much more, and…even if he wasn't good at saying so, Akutsu appreciated it. "Thanks again. Hope it all goes smooth for ya." He gave a little hand-raise in lieu of waving, then headed for the door to let himself out. "See ya round."
“See you.” Tachibana said, watching Akutsu leave. He was surprised that it had gone so well, but it was nice having someone around who didn’t just see him as “A good guy”. He was determined to make the perfect mont blanc, now.
