Then by the next day Zon will have a shortlist of recipes!

Bright's really eager about spending recess going over these!

"Which ones would be easiest to try first, do you think?" she asks.

"These two look easiest, the hardest one is that one," he says.

"Then we'll start with the easiest ones."

"Why?"

"Well, if the first few work well, it'd be silly to go to a lot of effort first, and also this way we can probably do them faster overall?"

"I guess that makes sense."

"Yeah! When do you wanna get started?"

"Next day off?"

"I think I'm free then, yeah! Should I come to your place? Your dad's gonna need to talk to my security people..."

"How does he do that?"

She explains the process of arranging for Bright to visit somewhere! (She double checked this after visiting with Onis.)

Zon nods along and writes down a relevant email address and by the time they next have a day off the arrangements are made!

Visits!!! To friends!!!

(Bright has by now started on learning more about Amentan dances from Onis, and talking to her mom about shoggoth dances she remembers a lot less well than the volcano one, so hopefully Onis won't get jealous about the visit...)

Zon's dad has rented a rentable kitchen of the sort people use when they want to cook for a big party or something. There are pots of noodles boiling already when she gets there; Zon bounces to the door to greet her and wave an onion at her to ask if it smells right.

She sniffs!

What does it smell like, compared to an Earth onion? (She is familiar with two Earth varieties, one a bit smaller and sweeter, one sharper, but both fairly sharp and onion-y.)

This onion smells more like a leek with a hint of ginger.

She relays this! And what she's used to onions smelling like.

Zon brings her more onions; the one that smells closest is ochre-skinned and carrot shaped.

She points that one out; it's funny how different it looks!

They can use that kind!

While the camera follows them around the kitchen they assemble various soups and Bright can taste them and comment.

Bright's not exceptionally good at helping adjust things, but is decent enough at identifying what flavors are present or missing. (And she quite likes the soups, anyways, and is complimentary about this, even if they aren't her favorite.)

They can take a break to let all their invited friends in to help eat soup!

Bright is a much better host than cook, apparently.

Everybody has opinions on soup. The camera diligently collects them all for later editing.

And Zon and his dad can try to synthesize all Bright's remarks into a close imitation of her Earth noodle soup!