Logs:I Cook Things
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| RL Date: 27 August, 2009 |
| Who: Audria, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Newcomer Audria provides Madilla with some company at dinner on her turnday. |
| Where: Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 5, Month 8, Turn 20 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: B'tal/Mentions |
| Living Cavern, High Reaches Weyr Stalactites hang high above this enormous cavern like a jagged chandelier or an inversion of the Spires themselves, but shadows cling to them instead of light. Below lie great tables arranged in rows, each large enough to serve a fighting wing, while in the nooks and alcoves around the cavern's edge sit more sensibly-sized tables, from six- and eight-seaters down to intimate spots for just a couple of diners. The only really open space is around the kitchen entrance, smelling of food and rarely quiet, and by the nearby serving tables with their long buffet of the day's offerings. Tapestries on the smooth walls -- some faded and others newly woven -- only slightly mute the sea of sound when a meal is in full swing, but they add cheerfulness augmented by the glowlight from wall sconces and the centerpieces of each table. Still, shadows always creep along the ceiling and into the mouths of the exits -- the myriad small hallways at one end of the cavern and, at the other, the twisting tunnel to the bowl near an array of coathooks and and hatracks -- and late at night, when the glows are allowed to dim, the chamber can seem very dark indeed. The dinner rush is in full swing, though given the pretty weather, some people are taking theirs outside, which at least means the tables aren't too full. Nonetheless, Madilla has to circle a few times before she finds herself an empty spot at one of the tables, where a group of four riders are just now vacating. She has to sweep some dropped food into her napkin, first, but - at least it's somewhere to sit. This done, she settles herself in front of her plate, smoothing down her pretty blue skirt before focusing herself upon that food. Audria emerges from the kitchen balancing a tray of rolls a bit awkwardly. She does manage to slide the tray into an empty spot on the serving table without dropping any onto the floor, and then the young woman moves to get her own plate of food, giving a shy smile to those in line for it near her. A few of those in the line with Audria give her a quick smile in return, but they all seem pretty well occupied, heading off in their different directions once their plates are filled. Despite how busy the caverns are, the remaining seats near Madilla fail to fill immediately, leaving the apprentice - who is not so far from the serving tables, though it is her back rather than her front facing them - to continue eating on her own. Audria takes her full plate and a mug of juice as she turns to look around. With the tables so full, she pauses for a second before her eyes land on the seats near Madilla. She moves in that direction only to hover over a seat across from Madilla. "Do you, uh, mind if I sit here? I mean, you're not waiting for someone you'd planned it for?" Audria asks, biting her lip. Madilla's chewing, when Audria approaches, and has to chew a bit faster, and then swallow, and then take a breath, before she can manage to actually respond. "Of course! No, I'm not waiting for anyone - please, do sit." She's not taking up that much space as it is, but she shifts her chair over just slightly anyway, evidently intended as encouragement. Audria gives Madilla a quick flash of a smile as she settles into the seat. "Thank you. I'm, well, I'm new here. I don't know much of anyone. My uncle. But not really much more than met anyone else. I don't want to start by making people mad by thinking I'm taking their spot." Instead she'll just pretty well cross the line into babbling. Though, her food is enough to quiet her down for long enough to take her first bite, at least. "I know what it's like," empathises Madilla with a a rueful smile. "I remember when /I/ was new, though that was a few turns ago, now." She scoops some more of her potatoes onto her fork, as she adds, warmly, "I'm Madilla. Healer Apprentice. And I'd be delighted to be your dinner companion for this evening. It would be a terrible thing to eat dinner alone on your turnday, wouldn't it? Even if you had company for lunch. So." Audria has a bit warmer of a smile for that. "I'm Audria. I cook things. Well, today I did /a lot/ of chopping things up. Especially vegetables." She notes, pushing at a few on her plate. "Is it your turnday today? Happy Turnday!" That gets genuine enthusiasm before she adds. "Madilla. I know that name. Someone told me about you. He said you were," she pauses for a moment to think of the word used, "Sweet. I think he said you were sweet." Madilla looks pleased for the turnday wishes, bobbing her head in thanks, though she's instantly caught by this nameless person and his description of her. "Someone told you about /me/?" It's enough that her forkful of food makes it only halfway to her mouth, her head shaking. "I wonder who. And /why/. You said you were new, anyway - are you enjoying it? And the kitchens?" "I think I'm enjoying it. It's not as scary as it was the first couple days, at least. And I know I'm enjoying the kitchens. I really like cooking. Turning all the ingredients into food that everyone gets to eat." Audria pauses for a bite of that food, chewing before she adds. "Yes. He was telling me about people I should meet. He seemed really nice. A rider. B-something. B'tal?" She doesn't sound one hundred percent certain on the name. Madilla smiles as Audria speaks, chewing and swallowing her food so that she can say, "I'm glad to hear it. I know what you mean about cooking. Well. I work with herbs, making medicines, which is, I guess, sort of the same kind of thing. Making something that is better than the ingredients that go into it." B'tal's name brings a faintly pink flush to her cheeks. "Oh! B'tal. I suppose that would make sense. He's-- he is really nice." Though there's something unreadable to her expression as she says that. Audria bobs her head as she finishes up another bite of food. "Exactly. Coming out with a final product that's different, often better, than what went together to make it." That flush to Madilla's cheeks is definately noticed, getting a smile from Audria. "He seemed like it. Nice I mean. He's a good friend of yours?" More head bobs from Madilla, who seems pleased that her spin on things seems to have found agreement from her companion. That her blush draws a smile like that makes look slightly awkward, eyes ducking, but after a pause, she agrees, "He's a good friend. I'm glad to have him as one." Beat. "Did you tell me where you were from? I've forgotten, if you did." Audria stops to think for a second. "Probably not. I'm from High Reaches. The hold, not the weyr. Otherwise I guess I wouldn't be new, huh?" She shrugs, with a bit of a blush of her own for the babbling. "I'm used to the cold, at least. I like snow." It's a conversation that Madilla seems somehow more comfortable with, listening with interest, and a smile that doesn't make it seem like she's laughing at the babbling. "High Reaches Hold. Not so far, then. Lucky you, being used to the cold. I suppose I am, now... I was at Fort before here, at the Hall, but I grew up near Peyton. It's much warmer there. Quite an adjustment!" "I bet you froze the first winter. Do you like them now?" Audria asks curiously before she adds. "I'd never been away from the Hold, really. Was it hard going to Healer Hall?" She stops the questions for the moment in favor of looking over, and eating. Can't forget the food. "/Absolutely/ froze," agrees Madilla. "And I arrived just after turnover that year, so it was-- awful. I like them much better, now. I've learned to skate, and-- I'm more used to it." She scoops up another forkful, and laughs. "It was. Home was... Small. Remote. The Hall felt enormous. Scary. And then coming to the weyr. That was hard, too." Audria laughs at that. "I like snowball fights even more than skating. Though I usually end up completely covered in snow." The second part gets a more serious nod. "That would be hard. I at least come from someplace bigger. Though it's still scary. Moving. Knowing only my uncle here. I like being more independent from my family, but I miss them, too. And the weyr itself. That's a definate adjustment." Madilla nods enthusiastically, admitting, "I like the snowball fights, too. Particularly with the little kids... but summer is still nice. This kind of weather." She draws her lips in, sort of like a rueful smile, as she agrees, "Moving is always scary. But - I hope the weyr doesn't end up being /too/ much of an adjustment. I'm sure it will work out." Audria nods her head with a smile. "I'm sure it will, too. I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't think it would." And then she stands, grabbing her plate. "I need to get back to the kitchen, now that I've eaten. See if there's anything else they need help with. It was nice to meet you. I hope you have a good rest of your turnday." "Lovely to meet you, too," enthuses Madilla, with a smile. "I'm sure I'll see you around again. And - thank you. I'm sure I will." |
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