[fic] TGZ: Dessert

[ickaimp]

Mum had handed them some money and politely requested that they go to the local market to pick up some things for dinner. It was a thinly veiled order in disguise but it wasn't like either of them could easily refuse any of her 'requests'.

Thankfully, she hadn't quite seemed to realize that. Or if she had, she wasn't taking advantage of it.

Yet.

And grocery stores were interesting. There were certain things that you could go anywhere and find at any market - vegetables, fruits, hopefully fresh meat, cleaning goods and some toiletries. Anything a standard household might need or run out of at a moment's notice.

But there were difference too. The scent was different, the spices and vegetables that were 'local' in Japan were 'exotic' here. Standard staples of food home weren't the same staples here. But food was food and as long as it tasted okay, he didn't care overly much.

And the differences were interesting to look at, just as the small similarities were soothing. His speech was improving a lot faster than his reading was, so he used it as an excuse to peruse the shelves, looking at the strange canned goods while Saguru got what they needed and put it in the basket he carried. It was amusingly domesticated, shopping together for dinner.

He was in the dessert section now, having passed the beans --having a brand name like 'Bachelor’s' for canned foods made only too much sense, even if the peas they sold were mushy-- and looking at the pudding names.

'Treacle' pudding threw him for a loop the first time he'd seen it, he'd gotten it mixed up 'tentacle'. Saguru had to explain it to him, red faced from attempting not to laugh until Kaito had finally given up and asked him to laugh. He'd been almost afraid of the blond hyperventilating if he didn't. And it was good to hear Saguru laugh, even if it was slightly at his expense.

'Trifle' didn't only mean 'just little bit', it was also a not so small dessert, kind of like pudding. And puddings where everywhere. He'd thought he was used to pudding, the little plastic containers of flan from the convenience marts in Japan, but the British seemed to have taken it up to an art form. Or at least, a several course meal.

Yorkshire Pudding, Chocolate Pudding, Creamed Rice Pudding, --lotta creamed puddings, really-- Tapioca Pudding, Black, Pudding, White Pudding, Spotted Dick Pudding, Sticky...

Spotted DICK?!

In a CAN?!

Kaito did a double take, examining the row of cans.

Heinz Spotted Dick Pudding. In a can.

Gingerly, he picked up one of the cans and examined it.

Spotted Dick. That's what it said. Kaito grimaced, knowing that bit of slang at least. He glanced below his belt, sending a brief mental prayer for the suffering of what ever or whom ever had sacrificed for this dessert.

To have it shoved in a can for people to buy off of market shelves.

And it was spotted too. What the hell did they do get it like that? Wait for it to rot before slicing it off?

This was a Dessert?!

"Oi, Kaito-kun!" Saguru called, walking up with the basket slung over one arm. "You done look... Kaito-kun? Is everything all right?"

Kaito just held up the can. "Ow."

It was Saguru's turn to do a double take, then to glance below Kaito's belt. Kaito realized belatedly that he was holding himself rather protectively of that area of his anatomy.

"Kai -hee- to, it's not -snerk- what you're -chortle- thinking it -hee hee- is..." Saguru's face was turning pink again, the blond obviously having trouble breathing. The detective had one hand in front of his face in an effort to hide or smother the grin on his face, not that it did any good.

Kaito sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Laugh, Saguru-kun. Get it all out of your system first, then tell me."

Saguru promptly did that, an arm draped over him to act as a prop to keep the detective both vaguely upright instead of doubled over laughing. Kaito could see tears started to form on the corner of Saguru's eyes as the detective attempted to control his laughter from drawing the attention of everyone in the store.

Not that it was doing any good. Saguru didn’t laugh all that often, but when he did, it was memorable. Stupid detective didn’t do much half way. Kaito sighed and bore it stoically, waiting for the amusement to fade. Obviously, he'd gotten something mixed up again.

Stupid desserts anyway. Who needed them?

Yeah, okay, he did. Dammit. Stupid sweet tooth.

"You done?" He finally asked as the laughter wound down to more manageable levels, Saguru practically draped across him like a second coat. The blond nodded, little more than rubbing the side of his face against Kaito's neck, still snickering softly.

"It's a pudding." Saguru finally got out, slightly wheezing from the effort of not laughing again. "With raisins and currents in it to make it spotted."

So it wasn't rotted, moldy or disease filled. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or not.

"And it's called 'dick'-?" He ventured, bracing himself for another fit of giggles.

"Because it's a type of pudding. No body parts added. Oh, jeez."

Saguru pushed himself off of Kaito, rubbing his eyes, shoulders still shaking slightly from the muted giggles.

"Spotted -dick- indeed." He murmured, walking towards the front, where the check out girl was giving them funny looks.

"Oh, shut up." Kaito finally growled, debating tossing the can at Saguru’s head before sticking it back on the shelf. He was NOT going to eat that, thank you very much. At least not tonight. Especially when he just -knew- that Mum was going to find out about this and was going to tease him mercilessly about it.

He’d try the dick later, when they weren’t looking to tease him about it.

"Like you've never had a culture shock before!"

-fin

Chat window:
Dogmatix says:
.....Icka? Have you in any of your TGZ fics had Kaito encounter the British desert(think it's a desert...) known as the Spotted Dick?
Not Actually Ysabet this time says:
not yet
Dogmatix: says:
Because I would ~love~ to see his face for that.

And then, of course, Morgan and Linda had to jump on it too and Voila! Story. Typed the whole thing out in the chat window. ^^;;

Comments

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

*bows low* Always glad to be of service!

[iori-baine.livejournal.com]

I never knew that they put it in cans.
Thanks for the laugh, and the education.

[gracie-musica.livejournal.com]

He’d try the dick later

*snerk* It's a bad sign when something like that sends my mind into a perverted digression.

[jeva-chan.livejournal.com]

XDDD Oh, man...that's too good. They actually have something called Spotted Dick? XDDD Don't worry, Kaito! I would have thought the same thing! :D!

[kosaginolegion.livejournal.com]

Another snigger. Some of the british food names are... memorable.

As a side note, apparently you can get haggis (both vegetarian! and regular) in cans as well.

Not entirely sure what to make of that. ~_~;;;;

[(Anonymous)]

::laughs:: Cultural shock indeed-- poor Kaito ^___^ I've always been wondering what the heck was Spotted Dick... I didn't think of what Kaito did, but I stayed away from it none the less.

Great job, Icka ^____^

^__^

[poe-nui.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank-you Mati for coming up with that suggestion! *snickers* Ye~es, the expression on his face would be priceless. You know Mum's going to serve that once she hears the story...