[STATION TWO - ORDINARY TOOLS: CHICKEN AND RICE]
Marron turned back to check the chicken—
—and found it burning.
She'd gotten distracted by Edmund's question, lost track of time, and now the skin was charring black on one side. It wasn't intentional, like her grilled hot dogs.
I'm getting distracted. Having the tools meant I could let my mind wander...and things were okay.
She flipped them quickly, heart sinking. Salvageable, but not good. The burned side would have bitter notes. The texture would be wrong.
"Mistake noted," a Council member said clinically.
Marron gritted her teeth and checked the rice. It was done—slightly overcooked, actually, the grains beginning to stick together. She'd left it covered too long while dealing with the chicken.
She removed it from heat and fluffed it quickly, trying to separate the grains, but some damage was done.
Not terrible. Edible. Fine.
But not excellent. Not perfect.
Just... adequate.
