Saturday BBQ

[teachingpeace]

Who: Anyone Uzumaki, Namikaze, Hyuuga, or that they want to bring with them for any reason.
What: BBQ
When: Starting at noon on August 3rd.
Where: Uzumaki Household
Summary: Kushina and Nagato were planning a get together for the family and Nagato finally pinned down a time when both he and Konan were free around their schedules.
Rating: PG?

Nagato has a grill ready for the party, though he himself wasn't exactly the best person to be manning it. Instead he'd made sure to have a huge stockpile of things ready.

Admittedly, him choosing meant that the options were a little weird, so there was chicken, steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers, tomatoes, pineapple, mushrooms, and, for some unfathomable reason, apples ready to be tossed on the grill.

Drinks were a bit more normal, various sodas set up on a table, juice, and a neat array of liquor put aside in the kitchen so none of the under-agers would be tempted.

There was desserts and finger snacks too, so, if nothing else, no one could accuse him of not having given everyone a variety...

Comments

[breezing]

As the youngest member of the extended clan, Ikki's very likely one of the most enthusiastic. She shows up with her parents and her brother (unless for some reason any of them can't make it) nearly bouncing, and immediately darts away from them to go and greet family members and "explore" the yard. Her shoes are going to get more scuffed up than they already are by the end of this, undoubtedly. For the occasion Ikki's in one of her "party" dresses, a bright red number with black buttons down the front and a black sash. Her hair-bun ribbons are also red to match, and she actually manages not to ruin the dress as she plays, although she might spill something down the front eventually...

She will mostly gravitate to soda, juice, and the desserts and finger snacks, although she'll also have grilled apples and a hamburger at some point.

When not digging into food, Ikki runs around the yard happily playing or making up games, or she runs up to various relatives to show really cool rocks, bugs, or leafs. Or just to talk.

[teachingpeace]

Nagato crept up on the child only after firmly establishing that she had nothing in her hands. He had made that mistake far, far too many times with Elie when she'd been little, and had had all the sad faces from spilled things on favorite clothes as a result.

never let it be said he didn't learn from his mistakes. "Have you been having fun?"

[breezing]

Ikki's got nothing in her hands, for sure - though that might change eventually. For now she brightens and looks up at her uncle, cheerfully. "Yeah!! Have you tried the grilled apples yet, Uncle Nagato?"

[teachingpeace]

"I haven't, I've been grazing off the other things that have been coming off the grill and letting the others get to them fist." He shook his head slightly, smiling at her. "Have you? If they're really good I should probably get on that before they vanish hmm?"

[believeit]

It had been a while since the entire family had found time to all spend some time together and Naruto had been looking forward to this barbeque for a while.

The weather was warm and sunny, perfect for grilling, his kids were running around the garden and keeping themselves occupied. Relaxing with a drink in hand, Naruto wandered between relations to ask how they were doing, or if they needed help with cooking or anything (not that he was a good cook, but he could at least try).

[teachingpeace]

Nagato, firmly banned from the grill early on, was happily buzzing around the relatives himself, and finally came around to his nephew, bouncing lightly on his heels once as he came to a halt. "I'm glad you could come."

[believeit]

"Oh, hey Uncle Nagato!" Naruto greeted his Uncle with a smile, already holding a plate of food that his Mom had given him.

"I guess we got real lucky with the weather, hmm?" Not a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for being outside with family.

[teachingpeace]

He glanced up at the sky, then laughed lowly, looking back to the blond. "I'm sure the weather would have cleared up just for us if it hadn't already been so excellent. Usumaki luck you know."

[origami_ninja]

Fortunately, Konan could be trusted around the grill. Ever since they were kids, she'd been the responsible one who could keep everyone in line. People who didn't know her well almost thought she was too deadpan and cold, but those who did know her knew that she did care very deeply about the people who mattered to her, and even that she had a sense of humour. Kakashi had discovered that once when he tried to give Nagato embarrassing gifts as revenge for all the stuffed toy dogs Nagato gave him.

There were some people she'd happily relinquish the barbeque to, but there were others who she had no intention of handing over the barbeque tongs or anything else to. As much as Konan loved her family and trusted them with just about anything else, she didn't trust all of them when it came to cooking responsibly.

[teachingpeace]

Nagato couldn't help the laughter that escaped him at the way that Konan was practically guarding the grill when he came out with the last plate of things to cook on it and set it on the table there for that very purpose. "You look like you're prepared for battle Konan. I don't think even our family is ambitious enough to go to war for the right to play with fire."

[origami_ninja]

"It would only be a verbal battle, Nagato," Konan replied, though there was a ghost of a smile on her face at that. "And for a good cause. The family's nutrition is important."

There were relatives she loved dearly, but still had no faith in their ability to not turn their food into something resembling charcoal. She would surrender the grill to Kushina gladly, though.

[teachingpeace]

His sister but not him...? He could only approve, and her tiny smile only made his own wonderful mood better. The idea of people fighting with grilling forks though?

The idea of arming most of these people was terrifying. "Very true. I don't even want to think of what escalation would entail. It might have even come to threats of people missing dinner, and that would be a disaster."

[fervidity]

[Kushina will have brought her own ingredients too like bell peppers and Naruto's favorite veggies (carrots, asparagus, sweet potatoes, corn)

There was going be no shortage of food here and if anyone leaves hungry, it's their own fault. But they can just take the leftovers too.

She even has a nice little apron that she ties on and nudges her way into Nagato's spot by the grill the start, setting her things down loudly.]

You're not cooking today, Nagato. That's my job.

[teachingpeace]

Good. [He didn't hesitate to step to the side, handing over the grill fork with a sheepish smile.]

There's a reason I got about as far as making it hot and just was putting everything by it. You know me and cooking. I suspected you or Konan would shoo me off rather quickly, honestly.

[Like the fact it took him almost a year to figure out how to make Kakashi's favorite foods for those days he watched the man as a child, or the fact that he had, more than once, switched around ingredients for a cake... we'll not even get into the unfortunate cake that had cornstarch instead of flour. Usually though, grilling was safe.

If you liked things blackened.]

[fervidity]

[It was a style of cooking, in ways. Except she's sure he takes it over the top with the 'blackening' part.

Kushina snatches up that fork with a lopsided smile and begins her work, listening to the sizzles and having a wave of smells hit her nose and anybody else hanging around.]

It's not hard. All you have to do is pay attention and flip a lot if you're nervous. It's better to slow cook it than try and get it as done as soon as possible. The meat just tastes a lot better. It's all about practice and having a good sense of time if you don't have a buzzer.

But we can't be identical in everything, I guess.

[teachingpeace]

If we were, that would have been boring. [His tone grew wry.]

Sometimes I think the only thing we have in common is coloration Kushina. Aside from our impeccable tastes at least. Obviously we more or less share those. [His gaze drifted to their spouses, a smile touching his lips before he looked back to her.]

I do try to cook! I even have some successes! I simply... happen to be impatient.

[etherion]

Food. Food food food foodfoodfood! Elie had been told about this on one of the days after school, and had been looking forward to the party (it was a party, she was convinced of that, not just a get-together of family. Their family was huge) once her dad had mentioned it.

But she's totally mature about all of this. Anyone out of her family will get the "HEY DO YOU LIKE SEE-FOOD?" game, and various relatives will be getting jump-hugged when she sees them. Never let it be said that Elie doesn't love her family; after all, even if she can see them at any time, it's always nice to see her family.

Even if she is shoving her tongue out at people with chewed food on it.

[teachingpeace]

[Nagato is going to make such a face at you when you pull that stunt on him.]

One of these days the answer is going to just turn into no, and you'll never see fish in the house ever again, you do know that don't you?

[etherion]

[Once the food is put back into her mouth and swallowed, she'll start laughing.]

You should have known that's what I was going to do, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity!

[teachingpeace]

I knew, and yet somehow I still hoped, deep in my heart. [He paused, a hand pressing to his chest.] I hoped that you would choose another punchline.

[believeit]

Spotting the girl, Naruto sneaks up behind her before tapping her on the head. Hey there, cousin!

"Hey, trouble!"

[etherion]

With that tap on the head, she'll twist herself around to frown, then stick her tongue out at him. Luckily, there's no food on it so he's not getting any... seafood this time around.

"Hey now, I'm not the one who's trouble! If I recall, you're the one who makes more trouble than me!"

Or rather, the one who got in more trouble than she did during their younger days and hijinks, most likely.

[ue_no_ue]

[ Don't mind him. Kakashi's just going to squirrel away a few pieces of grilled chicken and a hamburger or so, before going off to find a secret place where he can eat. Task completed, he'll spend the rest of the time nursing a few drinks, but mostly spend his time relaxing and watching the general festivities around him. He's never really been one for big social gatherings, after all, even if they are comprised of mostly family. ]

[teachingpeace]

[He'd drift over to say hello anyway, even if you were doing your level best to wallflower there Kakashi. He nibbled on a grilled apple, looking sideways at the taller man with a small smile.]

I'm glad you decided to come.

no more au icons xD

[ura_no_ura]

[ oh no he's been noticed

please don't make him socialize, brother-in-law.

Kakashi nudges up his medical mask just enough so he can take a sip from the glass he's holding of some good scotch he managed to pilfer from Nagato's collection. The mask is replaced rather quickly as the glass is removed from his mouth. ]

Did you really think I'd miss the prospect of free food?

[ He quirks a brow, slightly amused. ]