Diane
Do you want me to go first or do you wanna go
Camille
Can you go first please?
Diane
Gabe, the fool, was in the hospital. His own fault, but the experience was no less harrowing than if he had been hurt. On the contrary, they might have felt less horribly directionless if he had. They knew how to treat injuries, clean wounds. Overworking was a foreign concept.

There was clearly only one solution.

Matti reached as far as they could to place their hat on top of the refrigerator in the communal kitchen, tying their hair back (a habit Gabe had been quick to instill). They had brought with them a small sealed plastic tupperware of uncooked rice, a can of beans, and the frozen broccoli they had leftover from the last time they'd gone to the store. Sig had lent them pasta, but they hadn't yet decided if they were going to use it. They'd learned quickly that Gabe would only put up with so much of what he ironically called "Bland-ass hospital food", and it was better to save it for later rather than have leftovers go uneaten.

Matti cleaned (one never could be too careful) a pot from under the sink, setting the water boiling on the stove before turning to grab a pan. They froze when they saw a figure lingering in the doorway. Despite being a communal space, the kitchen wasn't often used, especially in the middle of the day. Their first instinct was to snap, or to abort the process altogether. But the water was already boiling, and they'd promised to try and make more friends.

"Hello," They greeted the unfamiliar face, grip tightening on the empty pan. "My name is Mattias Gates."
Camille
"WAH!" *The figure exclaimed in surprise as he turns to see the person who greeted them out of the blue, almost dropping the cup noodles that he had carried with him from his room, he didn't expect to see anyone in the kitchen at this time of day, he calm himself down when the person introduced themselves to Indra before answering back;* "My name is Indrawan Chairil Fauzi, it's nice to meet you!?" *Indrawan answers back automatically with a prerecorded english answer*
Diane
Matti nodded, moving the pan to the sink so that they could clean it. For a few moments, the only noise in the kitchen was quiet shuffling and the rush of water. They reached forward to turn the tap off, turning back towards Indra when the silence become more awkward than casual.

"What... Brings you to the kitchen?" They asked, drying the pan and putting it on the stove. With two out of the four burners occupied, they hadn't exactly left much space for making complicated meals. They reached over to pry the lid off the tupperware with the rice in it, and cracked open the can of beans.

Matti crossed their arms over each other in an attempt to keep their back facing Indrawan while they rinsed the beans, side shoved against the counter in a way that looked both impractical and uncomfortable.
Camille
*Indrawan enters the kitchen wholesale and set down two cup noodles in the cupboard of the kitchen, he notices the awkward silence between them but doesn't try to end it in fear that he would disrupt whatever Mattias was doing, when Mattias asked him the question though, he answered.* 

"Oh not much just preparing some cup noodles i got from back home"

*He then looks to the sink to get some water only to see Mattias doing what he would aptly describe as an unorthodox bean cleaning maneuver, he almost let out a giggle looking at Mattias but manage to hold it in knowing it'd be rude to*
Diane
Matti's eyes narrowed as their gaze darted between the cup noodles in Indrawan's hands and their own, vastly more nutritionally fulfilling food. *Of course*, they thought. In the process dealing with *One* Moron who couldn't feed themself, they'd found another. 

"Does that have vegetables in it? Or protein?" They asked, judgement only slightly shaded in their voice. It probably (definitely) wasn't their place to critique the meals of a stranger, but if they were already cooking...

They sighed and pulled the plastic bag of pasta they'd gotten from Sig out of their pocket, placing it on the counter. 

"If you're going to go through the process of 'cooking'," *Not that one could really call microwaving noodles 'cooking'*, "You should make something more nutritious, at least."
Camille
*Indrawan did not expect the sudden criticism levied against him for his choice of lunch for the day, sure he knew that it wasn't the healthiest option available, but he missed the old flavored cup noodles from home and wanted to try them out as soon as one of his family members send him one back from Indonesia, the extra spicy one to boot!*

"Well, i did planned to add an egg on top, does that count for anything?"

*Eggs are filled with proteins, Indrawan thinks that this would make his lunch a little bit more nutritious, more filling at the very least*
Diane
Matti appeared to consider, taking a moment to add the beans to the pan alongside another can of sauce. They covered the pan and turned calculating eyes towards their bag of broccoli. After a moment they seemed to come to a decision, nodding.

"Eggs have an adequate amount of protein. As long as you don't eat microwaved meals like this too often." 

They waited until both the beans and rice had cooked, transferring them to yet another tupperware from a small backpack at their feet. Matti quickly cleaned the pan and pot out, setting the pot aside to cool before adding water and broccoli to the pan. They gestured towards the stove, facing Indrawan again.

"I'm making broccoli. If you would like some."
Camille
"I don't eat microwaved noodles all the time geez, it's just that i got a special flavored version back from home that i've been wanting to try for a long time" 

*Indrawan isn't sure how to feel about the person he's sharing the kitchen with, i mean who else would come and criticize someone food's choices and then offers them a bunch of broccoli in turn, still the thought of someone worrying about his nutrition makes him feel looked after, and that makes him think that Mattias isn't really a bad person after all*

"Broccolis?, sure they'd go pretty good for these noodles, but now that i think about it, why are you cooking so much?, i've told you why i'm in the kitchen it would be fair to tell me why you're here"
Diane
Matti paused, hands suddenly still from where they had been cleaning dishes. They had no intention of sharing news of Gabriel's condition to people they didn't know, but Indrawan was right. It was only fair that they justify themself, after asking the same from him.

"I'm cooking for a friend of mine. He doesn't eat well." 

They attempted a smile, setting out a small plastic plate of broccoli for Indrawan once it finished steaming, and putting the rest into a container. Then, turning over his words in their mind, they glanced towards the cup of noodles.

"Where is your home?"
Camille
*As Mattias take a glance on the packaging of the cup noodles they would see in the packaging a large amount of chili peppers that while they would not be able to understand anything else on the packaging they would know what it's supposed to taste like.*

*Indrawan nods as he listens to Mattias answers, he wasn't really trying to pry Mattias for information as much as he just wants to keep the conversation going so he doesn't really mind the vague answers given, but the answers does confirmed his suspicion that Mattias wasn't a bad person, after all no bad person would try to cook for a friend. Right?*

"Oh me?, i'm from Indonesia!"

*Indrawan answers back with a smile as if returning back Mattias own attempted one with a jovial tone that's all too familiar to anyone who know of Indra, he takes the plate of broccoli and set it aside all the while setting up a pan and a kett;e to boil water with and set it on the stove finally preparing to make his meal*
Diane
They continued to clean dishes, drying them and sliding them back in their respective cabinets when they were done. For a moment it seemed as if they were going to say something, before they caught sight of the packaging and their mind visibly stalled. They inched backwards slightly, as if the cup noodles were a bomb about to explode.

"Is Indonesia far? Do you miss it?" Matti asked distractedly, reaching out to pull their large group of containers closer to them and away from the stove. They added soap and water to a paper towel, beginning to wipe the counter down where they'd been cooking.
Camille
*Indra goes to fill his kettle in the sink*

"Hm?, oh i guess Indonesia is far from here, i guess i missed it sometimes but i like it here too so i don't mind much"

*After filling the kettle to water he goes to set the pan on the stove while putting the kettle in the microwave,after heating up the stove he goes to the fridge to pick up some egg, he cracks them by the side of the pan and set the yolk on top of the pan*
Diane
"Right." Mattias hovered in the center of the kitchen, torn between delivering their now-completed food and watching the progression of the cup noodles. With a small, nearly invisible grimace, they decided to stay, setting their food-laden backpack on the ground.

"A lot of places are far away," They commented, eyes still fixed on the stovetop and seemingly unaware of their own vague words. An awkward tension settled in the air, as Matti watched the kettle boil.
Camille
"Mhm, but what about you where are you from?, Did you from somewhere far away too?"
 
*Indrawan says as the kettle starts to hiss, he take it up from the stove and put it in the counter, he starts opening the cup and assembling the noodles with the packets inside*

"I've heard people came from all over to this place, so i want to know where you're from."
Diane
*Oh*. It'd been a while since Matti had explained where they were from. In fact, 'a while' may have been overstating it. There had been forms to fill out when they'd first arrived, and then maybe a conversation or two with Gabe, but other than that, they weren't sure they'd ever spoken about where they came from.

"Seattle, Washington." They paused, shifting slightly. "In the United States. It was very crowded. And loud. What is Indonesia like?"
Camille
"It's also crowded! And loud!" *Indrawan says as he stirs the noodles in the cup together, he throws in the little bits of broccolis given to him by Mattias* "But also it's a really pretty place, like the beaches there blows any beaches in Sweden out of the water!" *Indrawan giggles a bit the little joke he made seem to amuse him a lot* "Get it out of the water?" 

"Anyways did i forget any- Oh yeah the eggs!" *Indrawan rushes to the stove and grab the now almost burnt eggs of the stove, it's a little bit burnt on the edge but it seems salvable enough, or so Indra thought, to be honest the plume of smoke coming off the egg might indicate otherwise, oh well*
Diane
"It's out of the water, because beaches have water. And also 'blown out of the water' is a phrase meaning 'incomparably better'. I get it." Matti flashed a quick smile, self-satisfied, and watched Indrawan rush to preserve the eggs burning on the stove. They had thought to warn him, but he had noticed before they'd had time to say anything. They took a step back to avoid the smoke.

As they watched the pan, and the eggs, the side of Matti's face quirked like they were holding back an amused smile. 

"Do you like the loudness? Or beaches?"
Camille
*Indrawan takes a fork and twirls a pile of noodle inside the cup grabbing handful of noodles covered in what seemed like bright red sauce* "Yeah, i guess i like it when there a commotion, it's like there's always a party going on!, and i like beaches too, the waves, the sand, the swinging palm trees, it's all very relaxing, oh but i also like silence too sometimes, like when you're all alone and putting all your focus in something?, yeah i guess you could say a man with layers" *Indra says with a wink* 

*He takes a big slurp of the noodles and while he's accustomed to spicy food, even the extra spicy noodle seemed like a challenge for him as he start to sweat from the heat*
Diane
Matti edged suspiciously away from the nuclear looking cup noodles, face growing stony as if trying ward away the spice through willpower alone. With slow and hesitant hands, they picked their backpack up and began to slowly back away. 

"That looks like. Food."

Clearly they had intended to give some compliment or insightful comment, but words failed Matti as they stared at the cup with visible distaste. 

"Does it taste," Matti paused, words measured and even, the way one might speak to someone about to be mauled by a mountain lion. "Good?"
Camille
"Hm?" *Indra turn his gaze towards Mattias as he slurps down the bright red noodles down, sweats starts to rain down his chin as he takes each bite, when he finished eating and try to answer he starts to pant, taking in us much air as he can* "I- it's great!, you can really taste the chili in every bite!" *Indra says panting from word word*

"Want some?" *Indra offers up the cup to Mattias waiting to see if they'll take up his offer*
Diane
"I'm sure." Matti made a tactical retreat, backing up an extra few steps. They seemed to search for the right words. "However, spice is not. I do not enjoy spices, generally."

In fact, while cooking on their own Mattias had used no spices, not even salt and pepper. They didn't mind the taste, or lack thereof, though they knew it bothered others. In fact, it was a method of discouraging Gabe's self-destructive behavior. The bland meal would likely be more effective at keeping him out of the hospital than words.

"It's good that you like the spice. If you're eating it." The stilted words fell from their mouth like cinderblocks dropping to the stained tile of the kitchen, and Matti looked down as if to examine the floor for cracks. Without speaking, they moved farther and farther from the counter, as if physically repelled by the smell of chili.
Camille
"What!?, you don't like spices?, that's crazy" *Indra would say as he retracts the cup noodle and takes another bite from the cup noodle, this time with pieces of the egg and bits of broccoli in it* 

"I can't imagine myself not eating anything with spice in them, i practically add spices to everything i have, i even carry a brand of chili flakes everywhere i go!" *Indrawan says as he takes another slurp, it seems that he's finally accustomed to the level of heat on the cup and isn't panting as much* "But if you don't want it, than that's fine, maybe i'll get you something less flavorful if we meet in the kitchen again"
Diane
Matti nodded. While they couldn't understand the concept behind excessive spice (*Why hurt yourself on purpose?*), they accepted Indrawan's clear tastes and apparent ability to handle eating the food. And though they had no idea of what "Less flavorful" Might mean- the range of possibilities between their own "Prison food" (as Gabe called it) and Indrawan's nuclear red noodles left room for interpretation- it would be a good idea to test in the future. The only way to build tolerance to a poison, after all, was repeated exposure.

"Maybe. In the future."

The concession felt lackluster, but they were too tired to care. Matti noted with a slightly distant surprise that although a stranger, an unknown variable, had been near them while they'd cooked, thoughts of being poisoned had never crossed their mind. They'd kept an eye on their food the entire time, but- small steps. The atmosphere had been awkward, but the company had been. Tolerable. Pleasant. 

Matti left with a small half wave, a slight smile, and a muttered "*Goodbye*".
Camille
*Indrawan smiles and gives Matti a small wave of his own, he appreciated the brief moments he shared with Matti, even though it isn't much, he always liked to meet new people, and Matti seems like and all around swell guy who he's excited to meet again in the future* "Bye bye!" *Indrawan say more enthusiastically* "And thanks for the food!" *Indra says as loud as Matti can hear as they left*