[+][L-N+][P-UL] ~ SHOUNEN POP - 少年ＰＯＰ ~

[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


YES WAY...Izzy probably was the worst case scenario who was lucky enough not to chop off a finger tip in with a knife while cooking. Skill zero...Determination 100%. Although a 100% determination without any skill meant very random results.

"I know you are." Shou smiled brightly at Jun knowing this was probably torture for the dark star beside him. He was rather surprised that Jun had held up this well. Shou on the other hand would have just taken a chance with the microwave and an 8 inch flame could have probably cooked shrimp and many other things too along with it.

It was very amusing to watch Jun's surprised maybe horrified look of Izzy's inability. His fond friend was many things but by no means a cook. Of course, Shou also knew where that stemmed from. Izzy's Aunt Crystal couldn't cook either. They had a chef in LA. Izzy never needed to learn and never blossomed any talent for it. Crystal's freezer was a testament to the days the chef was away. Chock full of Frozen Dinners!

Meanwhile Izzy listened to Jun, "Timer?" He blinked for a moment and looked over at the toaster. That had a timer. That was the only timer he had ever used in a kitchen but it didn't work with time it just took 3 settings. Light, medium and dark. That wasn't going to work. "Uh....what timer should I use?"

"You know he probably doesn't know how to set a timer, Jun." Shou interjected as he walked over and slid into a comfortable plush chair and yawned yet again. Then, when he saw Jun trying to avoid laughing, he covered his lips with his fingers. He couldn't laugh about it but someone else laughing could make the whole idea infectious.

"Uh...I see a timer button on the oven...but...I've never used one before. Maybe I should just count the minutes? " he offered because he had a feeling he'd make a big mistake trying to figure out all the other buttons on the oven display.

Shou leaned his head on the edge of the chair and that way his lips were pressed on the chair frame keeping himself from giggling. Then he took a deep breath and said. "So after the cake is done Jun are you going to help him make frosting?"

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...








"Alright.......don't worry about a timer. I'll keep time for you, Lucky-san." Jun gave in, glancing at the clock on the wall. He'd rather not risk the manager forgetting about the cake and under-cooking it....or burning the kitchen to a crisp.

"For now, just focus on the shrimp. I'm going to assume that they are all peeled and de-veined? If so, just put them in a bowl, sprinkle on a bit of garlic, add some salt and pepper, just a couple of dashes, and lime juice to taste, swirl them around until coated, then put them on the grill for the amount of time I told you to. Remember to flip them so they cook evenly." he explained slowly, beginning to take deep breaths to keep himself focused. This was more like coaching someone through disarming a bomb than helping someone cook a meal!

Turning to Shou, he covered the mouthpiece on the phone and said, in all seriousness, "If there is a just and loving god, then there will be a can of prepared frosting somewhere in that godforsaken house. If I have to talk him through frosting.....mmm....I'll need some kind of reward for such patience...."

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


"Oh...Ok!" Izzy said with a brighter tone to his voice. That was a little stress off his shoulders. And he wiped his brow moving on to the next phase...the shrimps.

"Akihiko already peeled and de-veined them." answered Izzy as he looked down at the wet shrimp. 'Umm...Ok but I think he prepared a seasoning dip over here. Should I just use that instead? Probably easier than me making new stuff right?" He pulled over the seasoning and then dropped the shrimp into the bowl one by one.

While he did that he hoped Akihiko was taking a nap or something. The man had been very quiet up till now. Izzy hoped that was the case because as he glanced around the kitchen...it was a....mess."So...put them all on the grill at the same time?"

Shou actually had closed his eyes for a moment and drifted off but then awoke upon hearing the words directed his way. "Mm...Jun...If he doesn't have a boxed cake mix do you think he has canned frosting?" pointed out Shou as he rolled and looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

"Ah...a reward? Mmm....well, we're already setting up a date for next week sometime...mmm...Tomorrow is Presents day with Ko. I'm sure I'm not going to get much sleep tonight. Mm...but maybe after Ko is worn out and ready for bed, I could have some coffee with you at the cafe in the resort." he offered as his eyes started to close again. There was a lot he'd do for his small manager friend, who had a big heart even if he couldn't cook to save his soul.

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...











"Awesome. Use that seasoning, then. Yes, put them all on the grill at the same time, as long as the grill is large enough for you to space them apart a little bit. Grilling shrimp is very easy, so just relax and let them cook, five minutes per side and they should be perfect." the dark vocalist continued to coach, trying to give the manager some confidence by telling him he was doing well.

What his beloved said, however caught him off guard.

"Shou...that wasn't what I meant. I was more kidding, saying I probably deserved a medal of valor for this kind of rescue mission...but...I suppose having some time with you would be...fair." he winked at the blond, his grin just ever so slightly naughty. It amused him that Shou's first instinct had been to assume he meant Shou had to reward him with himself.

Back to the conversation at hand, though....

"So...do you have prepared cake frosting available in any of the cupboards or in the refrigerator?" he asked, wanting to be prepared. Making frosting, luckily, was easy enough, if the right ingredients were on hand.
Still, he prayed there would be canned frosting somewhere around that kitchen.

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


Izzy spread the shrimp out with the tongs because he remembered that Shou said to use that to put them on the grill. At least, it kept his fingers from getting burned after he laid them all out, he said, "I've got them all on the grill. So...5 minutes before turning them?"

He looked up at the clock on the stove just catching part of what Jun was saying to Shou. "Metal of Valor?"

Shou rolled his head to the side and blinked not catching exactly what Jun had said because he had almost fell asleep, " Oh so you don't want to have coffee?" He stretched trying to wake himself back up some. "I could use some coffee....Hmmm..."

"Prepared....cake frosting?" The words rolled around Izzy's head for a moment and he stared for a moment in the pantry seeing...nothing but healthy things and normal baking stuff. Did Narcissus have prepackaged anything? "Uhhhhhhhh.....ummm......no?"

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...









"Awesome! Very good, Lucky-san. Yes...five minutes, then turn them and let them cook for another five minutes, then take them off the grill and put them on a plate." the dark star explained.

"Hm? Ah, nothing, Lucky-san..." he replied, not meaning for the manager to hear what he said to Shou.

Holding the phone away, he looked over at Shou once more, thinking how cute the man was as he drifted in and out.

"No, Shou, I would love to have coffee with you. Lay back and get some rest. I....I love you." he threw that last part in there, just to see what Shou might say in his half-asleep state.

But there was no time to play with the blond vocalist. Izzy needed him, desperately.

"Alright...then can you find three simple ingredients? Cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla?" he asked, keeping an eye on the clock for the manager's sake.

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


As Izzy stood there by the grill, he watched the clock then turned them at the 5 minute mark just as Jun instructed. He tried very hard to keep himself focused on the shrimp before trying to go to the next procedure. Eventually he put each one on a plate...only slightly over cooked.

"I've got them all on the plate now." he said slowly as he turned off the grill and then put the plate on another counter further away from his work so they wouldn't get ruined.

Meanwhile, Shou's ears heard those words in his sleepy head. "Mm....I know." he answered softly with a gentle smile then turn on his side more in the chair trying to catch a few more Zzz.

"Cream Cheese? Powdered Sugar....vanilla? Ummm...." He started first looking in the frig and found a block. "But...I want chocolate frosting. Does this make that?" He questioned as he set the cheese on the counter then finally found the vanilla. However, it took him awhile in the pantry looking for the sugar? "What is...powdered sugar? Is it crushed sugar? What does it look like??"

Shou on the chair was looking very cute as he started to sleep a bit in the chair. It probably wasn't too comfortable in the chair but it seemed like he preferred to wait there until Izzy's food was ready. He could understand that Izzy wanted to make sure that Narcissus didn't have to do things himself right now.

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Nileregwen DoUrden]

(((OOC: Sorry, my internet was being an a** today. I have like some sinus thing (I seriously look like I have black bruised eyes) so my sleep's all screwed up again... but look! I posted!)))














The medicine which the specialist gave him had a bit of a calming effect. In fact, it made Akihiko very sleepy.
As much as his mind told him to stay awake, that he was still cooking dinner and that Izzy wouldn't be able to manage without him... Narcissus couldn't resist the medication's drowsy side effect.

With the pain gone in his head, the musician fell asleep on the sofa, not saying a single word to Izzy or even to the departing physician... because by the time his manager got back from showing the doctor out... the young Koyasu was fast asleep.

Thus... he had no idea that right then... Izzy Lucky was making a huge mess in his kitchen.
Which was probably good news for his lover... because if Akihiko had seen flour everywhere, he might have just blown a fuse.

Laughing, Nakai lay on his back on the sofa and watched a huffing Chiyou look like a puffed up pouting pufferfish. "I stay because you're entertaining." the blond spoke seriously with a smirk on his face. "Troublesome means that there's always something going on... means it's fun to see what you'll do next or... how you'll react to something." the guitarist shrugged. "Course it also means watching you get serious about music again... plus I'm pretty sure Lucky-san would skin me alive if I just up and ran off. Not that I'm scared of my manager of course but..." he shrugged a second time, smiling. "You're fun, Chi-chan. Do I need more of a reason than that right now?"

"Nope... I'm blaming you." Naoko replied with a slight smile, though that smile was hidden by his turned away face as he just relaxed in his lover's arms. "It's your fault. You somehow crafted this blizzard just so you'd be stuck here in the snow with me. You and your crazy akuma magic..." the blond sneezed again before running lithe fingers through his hair, getting his bangs out from in front of his eyes. "Well no we could spend all our time in one another's arms... only we'd probably be living in a cardboard box under a bridge and having to net stream fish for dinner." Naoko teased, his fingers going from his own hair to Ryu's own, lightly twirling a few strands between them. "Course... I could probably live with that... well no wait I wouldn't be on my medication so.... that might not be such a wise idea after all..."

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...









Shou...his sweet, beautiful Shou. Even though he was trying to keep his distance, Jun could tell by his sleepy response that there was most certainly something there.

"Chocolate, eh? Well, then you will also need cocoa powder. Powdered sugar looks a lot like...a lot like snow, I'd say. Or...baby powder. It's not granular like regular sugar, it's actually powdery, and sweeter. Some people call it confectioners sugar." the dark vocalist explained patiently, glancing at the clock to keep time on the cake.

"When you gather all the ingredients, get a large mixing bowl, then add the whole block of cream cheese, one cup of powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, and one tablespoon of vanilla. Then blend all of that together until it's a thick, even frosting."

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


"Yes...mmm...chocolate. I like chocolate much more than white frosting." Izzy answered as he started searching for powdered sugar again. He picked up a bag and noticed the name confectioners sugar. Ok so that is one of the names Jun mentioned, "Found it!"

Once he put that on the counter, he pulled out vanilla and the cocoa powder was easier because he knew that Hot Chocolate was made from it. So he set that on the counter too with the vanilla, then thought about Jun's other words. "One cup....of powdered sugar."

He went over to the cabinet and looked at all the glasses. Well...maybe any cup would do. So he pulled out one and set it on the counter. Then he went over to the drawer with the forks, knifes and spoons and picked up the larger spoon. He knew this was a table spoon. So that had to be what Jun meant. "Ok, I've a glass cup. Just fill it to the top with sugar then only fill it half way for the rest?"

Meanwhile, Shou seemed fast asleep on the comfortable chair. His head resting on the back of the chair with one hand under his face. The chair's plush surface brushed against his lips. His mask still secured to his head even as he dreamed of sugar plum fairies.

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...








"Iie, iie, Lucky-san....you need a measuring cup, one with the amounts marked on it, specifically for measuring, otherwise the taste will not come out right." Jun corrected before the manager could get any further.

"However, for now, you should go ahead and remove the cake from the oven, with oven mitts, and turn the oven off, then go back to the frosting. The cake will have to cool before you can frost it, so once you make the frosting, you can go ahead and eat your meal with Narcissus-san."
The dark star was learning quickly....when it came to assisting Izzy Lucky in the kitchen, specifics were the key.

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


"Oh....so it's a different kind of cup. Sou ka...." Izzy eyes stared up in the ceiling in wonderment as this revelation hit.



Then they drifted down to the counter and to the oven. Hurrying over to it, he grabbed the pot holders and opened the oven. Then one by one pulled out the cakes. They were by no means perfect but they looked like cake. At least he hadn't been the one to mix them so he hoped they'd taste like cake.

"I've pulled them out of the oven!" he said cheerfully as if he had accomplished some miracle. Certainly for him it was a miracle because without direct supervision this would have been a lot worse. "So umm...after they cool do I just frost the tops? And leave them in the pans? How does that part work??"

As he was speaking he searched the drawers until he found one with Akihiko's baking tools. "I found one that says one cup. And one that says half. I guess these are right??"

He peeled the cream cheese out of the package into the bowl then looked at the powdered sugar and opened it. But this time he dipped the cup into the bag rather than attempted to pour it into the cup. This time, he managed to avoid another white mess. "One cup of powdered sugar.... Got it. And....mmm...."

Eventually he remembered the cocoa part was the 1/2 cup. So he opened the box and stuck in the measuring cup then dragged out the full cup. Pouring that into the bowl. He then looked at the bottle of vanilla.

"Soo...umm....just a tablespoon of vanilla?" he asked as he twisted off the lid.
As he was pouring in the vanilla he accidently over filled the spoon and the extras poured into the bowl and down the sides of the counter. "Ah...mm....OK... umm.. I've got that in there." plus extra... He didn't mention that as he set down the bottle and grabbed a towel trying to clean up his spill. Now the whole roomed smelled like vanilla. It wasn't a bad scent however...it was quite strong!

"You think I can eat with Akihiko before frosting the cake?" Izzy wondered if he could get the kitchen even remotely in order before Akihiko saw the disaster in progress.

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...










"Once the cake cools, you turn the pans over on a large plate, put frosting in between the two layers, then frost all over the top and sides, and you'll have a complete cake. Give the cake at least 15 to 20 minutes to cool, though, or it may fall when you remove it from the pan."the vocalist advised, pacing his room anxiously. They were so close...almost done with this endeavor. He would be so very glad when this was over.

"A little extra vanilla is ok. It'll just make the frosting richer. If it needs balancing, just add one more teaspoon of cocoa powder. Whip all of the ingredients together, go eat your meal, then you can prepare and serve the cake. You got all that? Anything else I can help you with?"

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[Kaikoloren]

What a shock, it was so surprising,
You looked so small and frail------------------------------------------------}:-

Izzy Lucky
At times life can be so enlightening .uoy no nrut nac ti tuB


Izzy started stirring the frosting with a spoon as Jun spoke to him about the vanilla and the cocoa. He wasn't sure there was enough cocoa to balance out the amount he split in to the frosting. But he added a couple more spoonfuls of cocoa. Maybe that would help.

His frosting looked black and he stuck a finger in it to taste it once he got it all mixed together. Whoa! It was definitely vanilla with a sort of cocoa kind of flavor. But maybe for his first frosting this wouldn't be too bad considering the mess everywhere to make it. "Balancing...umm... ok... well that seems like it's the best its going to be. But it looks like frosting at least."

"So all I need to do is flip the pans over after they cool and they should be ok? Alright... Mm...I think I can do that. I guess I'll be ok." he answered as he looked around the kitchen and the thin layer of flour that coated the room.

"Umm...yeah it is late isn't it. Thank you for your help, Hayato-san. Oh...and can you put Shou back on the phone?" asked Izzy as he grabbed a broom and tried to sweep up some of the mess on the floor. He had to start somewhere!

-:{------------------------------------------------I didn't know what to do
I grabbed the tiger by the tail!

 

[Ryuu Minamoto]

I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed
These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...





"Yeah, you should be just fine. Unfortunately, I can't put him back on, he seems to have fallen asleep. Enjoy your meal, though, and otanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu, Lucky-san. You two have a Merry Christmas. Ja ne." Jun concluded the conversation as gracefully as he could, given the amount of stress it had caused him.
With a sigh, he put the phone down on a nearby desk and took a deep breath, convincing himself that he could apply that experience to parenting, somehow, someday.


Silently, the raven-haired man walked over to where Shou napped. The blond looked so utterly peaceful that he almost didn't want to disturb him...but if he was left to sleep there, he would surely get a crick in his neck, at the very least.

Carefully lifting the vocalist from the chair, he moved him into his bed, covering him and tucking him in gently, placing a soft kiss on his pale pink lips before leaving the room, locking the door, and crossing the hall.
Somebody had to look after Ko-kun, after all. Shou could come back over whenever he woke up...or in the morning when he would go wake him, if need be.

Slipping into Shou's unlocked room, Jun looked around until he found Ko's sleeping space, peeking in just to make sure the little blond was there, and sleeping soundly, which he was.
Heading into the living area, he plopped down on the sofa and turned on the TV, wondering where Ryuukaze and Naoko might be at this hour....though not surprised they hadn't come in yet.
For now, he figured he would just babysit so that everybody else could get what they needed. Shou, obviously needed rest...Ryu and Naoko...well, that was their business. Either way, he had things covered.

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