Haystack | Countryhumans ASEAN

thai kitchen [🇲🇲🇱🇦🇹🇭] (part two)

[edited: july 1 ;; updated dec 2022]

"Done with the water pot?" ASEAN asked Laos from across the room.

"It's boiling!" He responded. "Myanmar! Where's the seeds?"

"It's on the counter near the lavatory," he stated, walking in the room with some peanut butter. ASEAN grabbed the seed package and gave it to the country who was cooking. Laos placed it in the pot together with the curry sauce.

The association took care of the meat part, as he was by another lit stove with it inside the pot. The ingredients were already placed, all he needed to do was to simmer. Myanmar was the one doing the instructions and giving off the ingredients.

"What's next?" Laos asked.

Myanmar spoke, reading through the paper. "Add potatoes and carrots and stir to coat. Cook for 2 minutes. Then add coconu-"

"Woah! Stop there," he stated, as he added both the chopped potatoes and carrots into the curry sauce pot. "Coconut aminos is next after 2 minutes, eh?"

"No- next is coconut milk and water, then the other stuff I separated over there," he corrected, pointing to a place in the counter that was actually separated from the rest of the ingredients, some of which ASEAN had no idea it existed.

"Got it," the tri-colored country responded, as he started mixing the pot gently.

"ASA, how's the meat?" Myanmar asked.

"Yeah I think it's fine now... Is it okay?" He asked, giving way for Myanmar to investigate it.

The country opens the cover and looked at it for a little. Eventually, they turned off the fire. "Yeah it's all good."

"We're going to worry about Laos now, huh?" He chuckled, looking at the country still mixing the cooking curry sauce.

"Yeah, the thing is... He's just not good at instructions, whether about anything," the country stated, folding the paper they were holding twice. "I mean, no offense but- he does participate well in ASEAN activities, just that he needs a little more focus."

"Can shed a light there, to be fair," he agreed. "He might get a little overboard with things... And I mean a little overboard."

"Haha yeah, I asked for honey one time and he immediately got out to find a beehive," Myanmar stated. "It was funny, even Vietnam and Cambodia were there."

Someone knocks on the door and it opened. It was then revealed to be Thailand, one of ASEAN's founders, and the said owner on this "kitchen".

She was really sweet to him, as she was technically his parent. Disregarding the fact that conflicts may happen between the two, she is still really gentle towards him, even got him into vacation in her country. She still remains as one of the most active members of the group.

Thailand waved. "ASEAN! Didn't know you're here right now."

"Oh hey, Thailand," Myanmar waved.

"[Hello]!" He greeted in her language. "Just helping your fellow neighbors in cooking something, it's not a huge deal really."

"Yeah, it's fine with me!" She responded. "What are you cooking at the moment?"

The other country spoke, "Your Massaman curry? Did I pronounce that right?"

"Oh that! Yeah, you did pronounce it right," she responded, as she leaned across the cream-colored wall. "It's really one of my favorites, fun seeing you guys cooking it."

"Well... Adding to the fact that ASEAN hasn't cooked in his life," he added. "Say... Why didn't you?"

"Why are you blaming me for not cooking?" He smiled. "It isn't really my thing to be fair, I'm not designed to do these things."

"At least you're being forced to do it now," Thailand smiled. "Also shut up with the robot talk, the only organization which is a robot that existed in Earth is NATO."

Myanmar corrected. "SEATO did exist."

"Well, there was nothing left to do! I considered joining you at the field earlier but I forgot about it," He exclaimed. "And, I technically am not from here so call me what you want."

"I haven't seen you being this talkative outside of work in a while," Myanmar commented, fidgeting with the paper of instructions on their hand.

"I was supposed to be quiet?" He asked. ASEAN had been a little more talkative over the years, which was indeed a really huge improvement. He doesn't notice it himself though.

The Thai chuckled. "You'll get used to it, don't worry Myanmar."

"You just haven't brought me out in gatherings like this," he winked.

"Fair," Myanmar shrugged. "Also stop with those faces, it's making me nervous."

"Get used to it, Myanmar! We're all human," Thailand playfully smiled.

"Alright, sheesh!"

It was silent for a few seconds until Laos screamed loudly that caught everyone's attention. They looked at the direction, the stove was on fire, and it spread towards the counter immediately.

"[Are you kidding me-]" ASEAN hissed in Malay.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Thailand shouted. "Laos?!"

"SORRY?!" He responded. "How the heck do you control your stove?"

"Laos, you're an idiot." Myanmar gave off a disappointed sigh, as he walked out of the kitchen.

ASEAN grabbed the fire extinguisher nearby and removes the pin, immediately extinguishing the fire properly before being spread elsewhere. As he noticed the fire calmed down, he dead stared at the country.

"Laos, explain yourself."