Jamming in the Afternoon

[ginger_firebird]

Cooking did not happen too often in Mantis’s home. It was messy. It was hot. It took time. He was going to be all day with this latest project. Wandering into the industrial area of the Nexus will allow people to see an unusual sight. Rather than wearing his usual mask, Mantis had a scarf wrapped around his face vaguely similar to how one might imagine a ninja might look. He was seated in front of a portable stove with a pot cooking away over the flame. Next to him were several packages of fruits, empty mason jars, bags of sugar, and massive jugs of water. He sat in a folding chair situated beneath the shade of a large umbrella with a pile of long grass on his lap. Every so often, he’d pick up a piece and add it to a growing weaving project in his hands.

One might recognize the simple operation as a jam making jamboree. It’s an old, but fun way to make the most of a day and a harvest of fruit. Perhaps those who know him might be able to recognize his somewhat gaunt frame as he lounges back in the shade. Some who do not might be curious in general. Pale grey eyes dart up every so often to the cooking pot, but he’s not about to get up and rush for anyone or anything. He gets the jam stirring every so often with a flick of his wrist and a well-used wooden spoon.

There are a lot of jars, in spite of himself. With how time-consuming this was, that jam was going to last him a while. He wouldn’t have to buy any, wouldn’t have to borrow any, and that left him with visions of a personal hoard of sugar-sweet goodness. He sighs as he keeps with making his grass-woven project and sniffs the air. The question was half asked to the air around him, but it does deserve to be answered: “What should I do with these first?”

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

"So, Mantis? I thought somebody was mixing up something good."

A familiar visitor enters, recognizable with his dark clothes and black hair. Ben Solo's at a relaxed posture, more than he usually is. He sniffs the air - he knew he'd smelled something good and followed the scent here. It smells sweet - and while he can't tell exactly what Mantis is making he sees the fruit and the sugar. His friend's in the middle of making something.

Ben's a semi-regular visitor at Mantis's home by now, partly because Mantis is one of the Nexus inhabitants he gets along with the best. Mantis looks like he's hard at work making whatever's going into those jars, so Ben quietly finds himself a seat to watch curiously. He's learned a bit about cooking from his neighbor.

"If you're asking about the jam, you could always hang on to it. Winters in the Nexus can be harsh. I'm sure that when fall comes there are people who'd pay good money for a food supply. Or you could keep it for yourself as a personal store. That's a lot of fruit you have there."

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis doesn't look up, already used to Ben's presence in the building itself. He waves the woven grass back and forth a few times before picking up a fresh piece to add into the tangle. Ben was a mess of a human being, but he's the kind of mess Mantis understood, and thus, enjoyed being around. Although there was no extra chair nearby, Mantis hoped Ben would be comfortable enough to join in for a bit.

"I was planning to hold on to it for as long as I can. I'm realizing I might have gotten a little too eager, though. There's going to be leftover fruit even if I end up with robust jams."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"It's better to have too much than too little."

Ben looks over the jams approvingly. He likes the idea of this, and it reminds him that the summer's coming to an end. He'll need to start getting ready soon.

"I'd be willing to buy or trade for some spares. Fall's coming soon and I'm going to need to start stocking up for winter. How harsh the weather is depends on how easy Reynard goes on us this year, and I'm not one for playing dice." Ben waves a hand, snagging an apple from an open package for a quick snack. The fruit simply floats into his hand. He leans against the wall, watching Mantis at work. "I'll do some favors for you in return - neighbors helping each other."

[ginger_firebird]

"Such is the way with preserved foods. You don't make this with the intention of small batches."

Mantis is keenly aware of the temperature getting slightly cooler, the days slightly shorter. Fall comes soon with the shortening of days and winter comes along with long nights. He needs to get cold weather clothes soon.

"I can make more batches of jams if you want to have some through the winter. It's not hard to do this, but it can be tedious. There's a lot involved with cleaning the jars and preparing the ingredients." Might make a good chance for Ben to learn to cook, actually... "If you're willing to help me, I've got the food still growing on the roof. Some of it is close to harvesting time, but others will need a little more time. You can learn to collect produce from the vine and root."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Last winter was all right, but the one before that was the Long Winter. The weather was the worst of it, it made people hungry and sick - but the Fallen didn't need food like we do, so they had an edge over us. Isidor Durant and the Guardians told me a little about it. So having more food on hand for a bad time is a good idea. Want to stay in good shape if things go bad again."

Ben's always alert for potential threats, and reads winter as a threat. While he doesn't know much about Reynard he's picked up that his interests and duties as Winter Spirit and the interests of the Nexus's other inhabitants don't always align. And if worst comes to worst he wants to be in good condition to fend off any threats.

"Consider me interested. I'd be happy to help you make some - it's a while before winter, but the earlier we prepare the better." Ben agrees, since he thinks this is a good chance for them to help each other out. "I know how to cook some, but growing my own food would be helpful. I'll join you and see what I can learn. You're more experienced in making your own food than I am."

[tr1ckortreat]

The almost fruity tang hovering on the wind caught Loki's attention just as he was out walking. He had a lot on his mind lately and had needed to catch some well-needed air, so a long walk often sufficed in this case. Following the fruity scent trail he spotted Mantis sat by a cooking pot and fire. Ah, so that was the cause. The god sauntered up dressed in a light green jerkin and pants but still wearing his leather boots, offered the man a nod. Yet, the mask was absent this time. Perhaps, he donned a head scarf for when he was working over the fire?

"I could smell your fruity delights from miles away, Mantis. You are making some sort of jam? As for what to do with them, I would procure them. Store them up and possibly sell them to Nexus residents?"

It was the obvious choice since he could eat them also but why waste the product when you could benefit more from it. What sort of varieties was he making? Loki enjoyed a good jam or two and wondered if he could purchase a few for himself once they were done.

"They smell good. I wouldn't mind procuring a few for myself once you have completed your cooking."

[ginger_firebird]

Never doubt the dedication of a man who's used to making his own food. He's getting the clear impression that he's put himself into a position where anyone could come by wondering what he's up to, and that's honestly quite fair. Only some very particular and broken people can resist the call of freshly made jam. He waves at Loki with the fan growing in his hands and lounges back a little more in his seat.

"I've got half a mind to start a jam making business given how easy it is to make." The fan is large enough now that he's confident to start rounding off the edges and put it to real use. All the leftover straw politely lifts itself off his lap and onto the ground. "I'm doing raspberry right now. Then I'm going to have blueberry, apricot, and peaches. You are more than welcome to help me sample the batches as they come up.

[skyti]

If one is cooking something that smells AMAZING right out there in public like this then one should certainly expect curious parties to come investigating before long. And Atreus is just about as curious as you can get.

He peers with interest at the mix and supplies. His mother used to make jam, though the supplies and fruits were considerably different. Earthenware jars instead of glass, honey instead of sugar. But the process seems very much the same.

"I mean I think the answer's pretty obvious," he replies, "You got to eat some. Maybe enlist the aid of a second opinion to make sure the batch is good."

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis's ego is going to swell with all the people coming over to tell him how good his cooking is. This is a dangerous game to play for someone who's ego is everything. That said, he watches the teen approach and nods in acknowledgement of the new attention.

"I'm making apple jam right now. It should be cooked up fairly quickly if you don't mind a bit of a wait."

[skyti]

"I can be VERY patient," he declares with a nod, going back to observing the pot. He says this but his mind is ever going a mile a minute. He likes adventuring out into the wilds and he wonders if he can find his way back to those bushes he found last time.

"Hey... If I bring you a bunch of berries do you think you could make me a batch?" he asks curiously, "I'll get a lot and you can keep anything that's leftover."

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis is instantly at east with the eagerness by which the boy handles himself, but also the sincerity in his body language and words. He didn't expect children, even a teenager like him, to be in the Nexus.

"If it's a berry, I can make a jam out of it. What kind have you been able to find in this place?" He cools himself with the fan he's woven. "I'll be here all day anyway. If you bring me the berries, I can make a batch."

[skyti]

"Cloudberries! You can find a lot of interesting things to forage for out in the wilds as long as you're careful not to disrupt anything TOO dangerous," he liked going out there. Similar and also very different from the vast danger filled forests around his cabin back home.

"My mom used to make jam out of them every year..." he trails off a bit, frown tugging at his lips. He shakes his head, "Anyway. We're in agreement then! I'll get the berries, you can make the good stuff?"

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I'm not quite sure. Share it with others?"

Hiroki Shirogane was just passing by, but the smell made him check it out. Jam, huh?

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis waves merrily from his seat and sits up a little.

"You're already on my list of people who get a free share of the jam once it's all made. A lot of this is to keep me in practice for a second round of jam in time for the winter."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"For me? Really?"

Wow. He can't believe Mantis'll give him some.

"Thanks! I'll share with my friends."

[ginger_firebird]

The innocent kind of disbelief makes Mantis happy to see. He wants to be that thrilled at the prospect of receiving a gift like that.

"Good. Tell them I made it too? I am facing the possibility of needing to sterilize more jars and that means I might have to give away more than I thought I would have to in order to make the most of the fruits."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"I shall!"

[alittlehinky]

"Label and date 'em," Cricket's answer is prompt, though he's just passing by, towing a wagon with a couple crates in it. "Always wanna know the date you made somethin', even if it's pressure-canned. Everything's got a shelf life. Even moonshine."

He drops the wagon handle and wanders a few steps closer, and Mantis may note the metal braces on his legs, under the trousers. They give him a stiff, slow gait, but he doesn't seem to be in pain or unsteady. Just cautious. "I did a hell of a lot of canning last summer. Ain't got started yet this year. Mostly I did vegetables, though, and pickles, and eggs. Most of the fruit I get goes into making liquor."

It's kind of neat to see someone else at it, though. He approves!

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis sees the stiffness of his gait and nods quietly. Everyone has their own way to move past injuries, past and recent, and the man is clearly able to get by with a fair bit of mobility. The comments about moonshine and fruit liquor give him a very country kind of impression. This is a man who is clearly used to living on the more outward fringes of a polite society.

"I never made fruit liquor, but I did try moonshine in the past. Turning off the main road, going off the dirt path, slipping through hundreds of yards of trees, and then you finally get to the still. Some of the strongest stuff I ever drank, though, so worth it."

[alittlehinky]

He likes that. Cricket knows his limp is obvious, and people who try too hard to pretend it isn't a thing are mildly annoying sometimes. Best to acknowledge it and move on with life. In turn, he's fond of assessing a new person's practical skills. Not everyone comes from a world where you have to make your own things, and that's okay, but he usually gets along well with those who work with their hands.

He smiles a little and nods at the cart he's been pulling behind him. "I got a business going here. White lightning, mostly, and apple and blackberry liquor. Just un-aged right now, but I got some in barrels. Should be able to tap it in another six months or so."

"It's good to have some stuff stored up for winter here. Last year was a'ight, but the one before was harsh. You best keep enough on hand for a couple months, if you got the space for't."

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis has met more than a few people who've lost limbs or have been otherwise rendered permanently injured. Cricket didn't seem to be stopped at all by it, so why make a big deal of it? He smiles back a little at the grin, unseen as it is.

"I'm interested in that. Homemade alcohol is not as appreciated as it used to be, especially the fruit based ones."

Mantis gets up from his seat and heads over to the pot. He stirs the contents and brings them up with a spoon set to the side. It's a stewing apricot jam, and thankfully not smelling of caramel. "I have the space. The way I heard things explained, some Father Frost type decided to bring Russia to the Nexus. I've got plants growing on the roof that I'm going to harvest to store as well."

[the_rebel_son]

There are things that can summon the devil; most like spells and sigils bring his ire and wrath. However, fruit can attract the devil like bees to honey. He could smell it at a distance. It was sweet and fruity and decadent.

Lucifer comes strolling down the street, eyes closed as he follows the sensual smell of fruit slow cooking. He opens his eyes just as he gets to Mantis. Unlike the other angels he has four wings, all white and relaxed at his back.

"The fruit or the jam when it is done?" Lucifer adores cooking so there are a lot of thoughts in his mind when it comes to sweetened fruits.

[ginger_firebird]

Hail Satan, lord of the damned. Mantis doesn't yet know which angel he's looking at, but he knows more wings equivocates to more power as far as angelic beings go. It's not yet enough to get him sitting up straight, but Mantis is going to tip toe just a little bit.

"Both. I've already promised jars to those I've met before, and I might have to go out and jet more jars just to store the leftover fruits." That presense though. Whichever angel has wandered over, he's clearly one with a bit more stage presence. "Someone's already given me the impression that I can turn this kind of craft into a business while I'm staying here."

[the_rebel_son]

"Some jams can be frozen." Lucifer comments taking a deep breath to sort out exactly which fruits are involved. While he has a lot more presence than the other angels Mantis has met, Lucifer is more laid back and less formal.

"It would be a very seasonal business without knowing the right people." He can see the benefit since there are a lot of people with sweet tooths in the Nexus. "Unless the desire is a passing one then it matters not."

[ginger_firebird]

There's a lot, if Mantis is completely honest with himself. He's not the type to prefer one over the other, so having variety means there won't be too much boredom when it comes to teas and toast. He picked out just about every kind of berry he could find in the stores and a few choice fruits that also jammed well.

"Given the 'land of plenty' feeling this place has, I don't see how it would be impossible to keep it up, even outside of the seasonal nature of some of the fruits. Everyone has a sweet tooth. The trick is finding out how much sugar it craves."