Logs:Monaco Kitchen Party
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| RL Date: 2 November, 2012 |
| Who: Tanashi, I'kris, Brieli |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Tanashi and I'kris are both at High Reaches, small world! Brieli both eavesdrops and is introduced. |
| Where: Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 22, Month 2, Turn 30 (Interval 10) |
| Kitchen, High Reaches Weyr Polished marble and granite surfaces, gleaming metalwork and pale woods characterize the vaulted fastness of the kitchen. Several large hearths gape red-mouthed against the outer wall of the cavern, their fires almost always stoked for the constant cooking the Weyr requires to feed its denizens. Sinks line the wall to one side of the hearths, providing ample space to wash large quantities of dishes, while to the other, cabinetry and a deep pantry provide storage space for items commonly needed on a day-to-day basis. The remaining wall space is taken up by passageways and extra seating: swinging doors that lead variously to the main living cavern, the inner caverns and the storage rooms, a counter-height pass-through for food service to the Snowasis, and a series of nooks equipped with tables and benches for quick, out-of-the-way meals any time of day. The kitchens are noisy with the typical organized chaos that precedes meal times, lunch being a memory but supper on the horizon. In amongst the hullabaloo, Tanashi has been assigned to chopping up fingerroots for stew. A task he looks none too happy about, expression bored as he whaps the knife down against the cutting board in steady repetition. Pausing only when the build up of fat orange chunks starts taking up too much room, and he tips the board to send them tumbling into a large bowl. The new Baker's knot sits awkwardly on his shoulder, his normal outer shirt tied around his waist so the too-long sleeves can't get in his way. It's not unusual for I'kris to show up in the kitchens - or, at least, it wasn't up until recently, with the eggs on the sands taking rather more of his attention. This afternoon, however, the miserable rain-and-snow combination outside is still obvious on his as-yet-unshed coat as he ambles through the swinging door from the lower caverns. His passage is predictably aimless - the distracted walk of a person without much to do, but a lot on his mind - and though a handful of the kitchen girls giggle as he passes, he's clearly not in the mood to chat. Boredom can't equal carelessness. The last thing Tanashi wants to do is slice open a finger, so his gaze needs to remain fixed on his chopping, tedious as it is. The giggling does attract his attention, a frown tugging at his brows while lips move in a soundless grumble. What is there to laugh about?! After a few more chops that are more forceful than necessary, he's reached a pause point that allows him to glance upwards while he upends the cutting board's contents into the nearby bowl. Sullenness chased away when his gaze falls upon a face he actually recognizes, the frown replaced by a wide, bright grin. Plucking up one of those chunks of fingerroot, he takes careful aim before chucking it in the brownrider's direction, words accompanying its flight: "Oh sure, don't say hi, now you're all important and stuff." Even if they weren't close, or even friends, before, his tone is warm enough now. Even teasing. The fingerroot bounces right off the side of I'kris' head, and catches him completely off guard, and the look on his face is no doubt comical indeed as a result. As he spins around to figure out where the projectile came from, his gaze finally comes to rest upon Tanashi - and annoyance turns to confusion, and, several seconds of bewilderment later: "Tanashi. What are you doing here?" It's not obvious from his expression, or from the tone of his voice, whether he sees this as a good thing or not, though he definitely does flush pinkly at this idea of his importance. Abandoning his meandering path, he crosses directly towards the younger boy, expression searching. Given the awful combination of wind and sleet outside, there's all kinds of reasons to stay indoors, or linger in the warm kitchens, but it seems, at least, that Brieli's are legitimate enough - not that anyone would really question. Coming in from the caverns with long-legged strides, the tall dark young woman seems to be all business, checking in on dinner preparations, for all that she doesn't precisely seem enthused about it. Any reunion-slash-arguments going on at the moment are missed in her industry. Tanashi snickers in self-satisfied appreciation, both for his aim and the look upon I'kirs' face. After that, however, there's a not very furtive glance around the kitchen, going up on his toes and craning his neck like a paranoid wherry sensing danger to its flock. Relief settles across his shoulders as he eases back down again, and instead of picking his knife back up he leans back with arms folding across his chest. "I am, and I quote, 'learning some responsibility,'" he replies with a roll of his eyes and a twitch of his knotted shoulder. "Baker apprentice. Can you believe it?" As if it's so far beneath the likes of them. "My aunt's been stationed up here for turns. Married or something, I don't know. I didn't even know I had an aunt here! She's a real bi- er, terror, too." No qualms about cussing, but thinking better of it in this particular location when the wrong set of ears overhearing could land him in serious trouble with the woman in question. "But come on, how have you been?" Having come to a halt just near Tanashi's workstation, I'kris finally begins to shuck off his coat, ready to fold it over his arm: it may be cold outside, but it's warm in here. "Your mother's side of the family? Two sisters, two bi--" But he, too, abandons the word before it escapes in its entirety, though that seems studiously intentional. There's something off in the brownrider's demeanour, something that doesn't entirely jive even with his post-Impression attitude - and even his exaggerated joviality doesn't entirely hide it. "Learning responsibility. Son of a-- A baker of all things. Maybe you should Stand for Svissath's clutch, instead." And how has I'kris been? He doesn't say. Distracted, by all of this, the other person in the room with Monaco ties presently escapes his notice. Monaco ties, but Monaco loyalty? That's questionable at best, but some might say the same for her home. Brieli's got some sort of sixth sense for conversations she'd like to 'overhear', plus friends in the kitchens; a nudge from a girl her age slicing bread for the serving table sends her sharp dark gaze in the direction of brownrider and baker, then following with her steps to a nearby workstation, because those onions clearly need inspecting. She tries to be unobtrusive, but it's harder to lurk here than in the shadows, say. So she listens while she can. "Dad's actually," Tanashi corrects with a shrug. Was there an insult to his mother hidden in there? He doesn't seem to notice, or care, if there was. "I know, right? Just because I like to cook doesn't mean I want to do it all the time! She treats me like I don't know anything, too. Chopping fingerroots. Any idiot can do that." Sulk sulk sulk. The littered tiny bits of orange clinging to knife and cutting board are sneered at momentarily. "Ha! Mom and dad have this stupid rule that I can't Stand until I'm sixteen, and aunt Talyna knows it. She threatened to ship me off to a Hold if I even thought about asking. Not that-" there's a clear fumble of his words here, sentence altered in the middle, "-I wouldn't consider it anyway, but it'd have to be a dragon Search. Can't argue with them, an' all." He clears his throat in the wake of that almost blunder, and plows onward, "Hey, what, not even a girl to talk about? C'mon, man." His only excuse for not noticing Brieli yet is simple self-absorption. Something about all that Tanashi has to say seems to amuse I'kris - it may be the sulking, even. It may be a lot of things. "Svissath could Search you," he offers, except that, "But they're not really doing that, this time. It's ask to Stand or not at all, as far as I can see. Which is dumb. It's Interval. It could be turns before you get the chance. Seems like a waste to me." Despite his over-emphasis on sounding casual, the brownrider is watching the other Monacoan intently. "Wellll. There is someone. And it's not Lujayn." Who is old. "Her name's Vallia. She's hot stuff." Shifting, so that he can adjust the coat on his arm, Brieli's position abruptly comes into view. He sounds especially pleased when he waves her over with one hand and says, "Tanashi, you remember Brieli, who Impressed Monaco's daughter?" Firstname basis with a weyrwoman, oh yes. Well, at least Brieli got something out of her hovering - though the woman chopping onions looks particularly pleased when I'kris does hail the goldrider; never fun to have the undivided attention of the boss. So, lucky Tanashi! She's a believable surprised expression as she turns, blinking at the brownrider momentarily before manners seem to kick in - with an easy smile for them both, "Good afternoon. And Tanashi? Hello. I'm not sure we met while I was South." Though everyone likely saw her Impress and get all weepy. "This doesn't look like a visit, if you're working? So many people from Monaco lately." To her credit, that doesn't sound suspicious at all. Tanashi's smile tries to look pleased but falls short. The 'aww, shucks' expression that follows it is equally disingenuous. "I doubt my aunt'd believe it, anyway, even if the rest've them would go for it. Thanks, though; it means a lot." Or nothing at all. But he tries to sell it, anyway, if only for appearances and not completely alienating someone from home. "Man, what? Have I got another zit sprouting on my nose?" So he's not quite that thick, that such intent study won't make him uncomfortable. He pats a hand self-consciously over his face, unerringly finding those spots he already was aware of before fingers going questing after any new eruptions. Though he's quick enough to drop his hand again and pretend like he doesn't care, pulling a too-toothy grin into place for Brieli's sake. 'Vallia' forgotten before she can even be queried after. "How could I forget; she was the talk of the Weyr for a while there. Weyrwoman," he offers to her directly in greeting. Shrugging off his own permanence, or lack of it, "So many people from Monaco? Really?" Hello, mister oblivious. "Who all else is up here?" "Talk of the Weyr," Brieli echoes wryly. "I'm sure there's better things to gossip about." Though the goldrider's regular visits back to Monaco's beaches, often with a bronzerider in tow, might be a topic of discussion now and then. Pausing as I'kris is called away, likely back to the Sands for one reason or another, her gaze shifts to Tanashi specifically, as she shrugs diffidently herself. "There's a few riders that have transferred, visitors. I suppose it should be expected, given the clutch." But she still remarked on it, so... With a quirk of her lips, "How are you finding winter, so far?" "Something better than a gold egg traded off to another Weyr?" Tanashi asks, incredulous. "That's the best kind of gossip! Way better than the usual crap." Lips flap with his dismissive 'pffft' for whatever he considers that usual crap to be. He seems to be strangely relieved by I'kris' sudden departure, though he tries to hide that reaction by forcing a disappointed, though brief, pout. "Must be a hard life," he mutters, sounding more envious than sympathetic. Scratching his head, "Huh. I guess so. It'll be nice to have some people from home around, anyway. I wonder if I know any of them...." Staring toward the exit, he may well be ready to abandon his station right that minute to go a-hunting Monacoans. But whether manners or fear of reprisal, he remains in place, looking back to Brieli with a shrug. "Eh, it'll wake you up in the morning, but it's not that bad," he blusters, squaring his shoulders and puffing his chest out a bit in a bid at seeming tougher than he is. "So, you an' Krissy there are friends, huh?" "Iesaryth might like that. She's always been rather pleased by her arrival here. What she remembers of it, though to be honest, she makes most of it up. It's all rather grand, in her mind." Brieli rolls her eyes as she crosses her arms, though her tone is fond enough. Glancing back toward where I'kris had disappeared off somewhere, she tilts her head, considering. "He seems... high-strung. Sometimes." All the time. Turning back to Tanashi with a slight smile, "They can tell you how long it took them to get used to the snow. Personally, it gets to be a bit much for me. And I wouldn't say we're friends, but we're clutchmates. I feel a certain responsibility. Do you know each other well?" Tanashi shifts his weight a little further back on his heels, chuckling quietly. "Well, why shouldn't it be grand? She is a Monaco bred queen, after all." The pride in his voice can't be faked, especially with the way it also shines in his eyes. It's hard to tell if his snort is for high-strung or the snow, though his words reinforce it being the latter. "Lies and tall-tales, no doubt. I bet they've all survived blizzards by digging out a cave in a drift, or seen with their own eyes a man encased in ice." He's laughing again, adding with a wink, "And I have, too. At least, as far as my baby sister needs to know." Rocking forward again, he steals a piece of fingerroot out of the bowl to crunch on absently. "Nah, not really. I know his family - who doesn't? But he and I haven't really traveled in the same circles, as it were. Enough to shoot the sh- ahem. Breeze. Now and then. But that's about it." With a nod, "That she is." Brieli's tone doesn't have the same pride, but Tanashi's is marked with another smile. "I did enjoy my time there, and everyone's been so lovely about my visiting." Smirking, she agrees, "No doubt. They tell me it takes three winters to be used to all of it, but I'm not actually from the South. It might be a different thing. But yes, feel free to spread legend of the chill; I'm sure there's some good ones you can hear in the bar at night." Unoffended by cursing, abbreviated or not, "That makes sense. Well, there's time to get to know him now, I'm sure. He seems a bit lost for company." Suddenly distracted by an argument brewing between two women on staff at the hearths, "Will you excuse me? It was nice to meet you - let me know if you have any issues." Grinning broadly, "I'll be sure to go eavesdrop." Tanashi only really has a shrug and a "Maybe...." for the chance to get to know I'kris better. Still a bit discomfitted by the brownrider, even in his absence. "Wha...? Oh yeah, sure, of course," he says hastily, though with ill-concealed disappointment. Engaging in conversation with a weyrwoman is such an excellent excuse for not doing one's assigned work. And yet despite having to pick his knife back up and once again plunge his hand into the emptying bushel of fingerroots, he's far more cheerful about it than he was earlier, even managing to whistle tunelessly to pass the time. Rather to the misfortune of anyone close enough to hear it. |
Comments
Azaylia (Dragonshy) left a comment on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 04:44:58 GMT.
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Haha! Welcome Tanashi! :D
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