Difference between revisions of "Logs:A Little Nutty"

Snowasis, High Reaches Weyr

The Snowasis is rarely quiet, and even then, the high-ceilinged former weyr is kept from echoing by the fantastical booths tucked into its convoluted perimeter. The secluded seating spaces have been shaped from the truncated stalagmites that escaped the smoothing of the main floor, and are both softened and separated by colorful hangings that are thick and opaque enough to make each corner its own private nook.

Some of the smaller stalactites still roam the ceiling, their jagged teeth tracing a bumpy, inverted spine to the hearth. There, a thick rug with a low klah table and comfortable armchairs and couches sit, their upholstery and cushions changed sporadically to match the season: bright, light colors in the summer, fresh greens and yellows in the spring, warm autumnals in fall, and clear, rich hues for winter. Small tables litter the rest of the cavern, enough to fit up to four people each, while stools stand along the smooth wooden bar behind which is the passthrough window to the kitchen. Glass-paneled cabinetry behind the bar provides a clear view of the available liquors, the many colors reflecting the soft light of glows tucked into strategic niches around the cavern.

The day after the flight has brought a number of people out to drown their sorrows. Schuyler seems no worse for the wear as he lounges in one of the nooks. He is at a table by himself with a mug of beer and a large platter of cookies sitting in front of him. He watches folks as they walk by with curious eyes and smiles at those he knows. Perhaps looking for just the right person to invite to join him at the table?

Bearing the subtle traces of a day spent lounging on a beach, you could say Edyis has no sorrows to drown. She does, however, want to catch the gossip, which must be why she is in the Snowasis. Dark eyes spot the cookies, and being a shameless opportunist, she greets the baker. "Sky, please tell me those are for sharing?"

No sorrows here, either. It's as if a giant, buttery weight has been lifted off Azaylia's shoulders. Whatever aches, pains, or hangovers might try to cling to the Weyrwoman, she's in a good mood. Determined to be, even. Not that it's terribly hard with a mug of something chocolatey and alcoholic in her hands. Some might consider her consolations patronizing, as genuine as they are as she stops by a familiar face or two. Her rounds bring her close to the table, Edyis, and the cookies. Also, Schuyler. "Who made these? Edyis?" The stranger will get a warm smile, though her focus is clearly on the baked goods.

Schuyler grins up at Edyis. "Edyis!" he greets and smirks a bit. "Well...for the right person." he winks, gesturing for her to sit and join him. Sky looks up when the Weyrwoman aproaches. "Nope, those are mine ma'am." he grins, pushing the plate in her direction. "Flourless, my own recipe, go ahead and try one." to Edyis. "This one is slightly different from the one I had the other night. A bit lighter texture." he nods leaning back with a smile.

Edyis grinning even as Sky claims his cookies, simultaneously swiping one and begging to gobble, staking out a seat near the plate. "They actually aren't bad. Strange, but not bad." She offers to the weyrwoman. "How did the flight go?" She asks finally of the young man.

"I was about to ask, what with the shortage." Azaylia sounds surprised, but eager, reaching for a cookie as soon as the plate is offered. The delicate nibbling can't last for long before she's devouring the sweet, "The texture is... it's not bad." She's trying to be polite, but it isn't all that spurns the critique. "I like the idea behind it, certainly." She's already picking up another one, if Schuyler is worried about what she really thinks. Edyis' question has her brows lifting, "You weren't here?"

Schuyler smiles. "What's the most strange part for you? I'm trying a few different things so that people can't tell the difference..." he seems eager to get feedback. He shrugs about the flight. "I was in the kitchens...well...for most of it anyways..." he smirks a bit at that. He hmms at the weyrwoman's comment. "I can't seem to find anything that give the same texture as flour...so I think no matter what I try the texture isn't going to match up...though I have been trying to find something for that...mostly I'm going for taste. Most people don't seem to mind if they're ugly or...more textured...so long as the taste profile is right." he chews his lip as he thinks.

Edyis snorts. "And deal with hormonal people all jammed together in itty bitty living space? I experienced one gold rising in Monaco; I've learned to take cover since then." She offers Azaylia. She squints at the cookie. "What about oats? Forget flour all together and try a different binding method?" Nomming away. Hunger may be the best spice.

Azaylia aims an amused look at Edyis from over her cookie, the one that's being devoured just as quickly as the first. "I think it sounds fun. But the only gold flight I'll be able to experience is my own." Which is even better. Dusting her lips of crumbs, she smiles at Schuyler, "Glad you enjoyed yourself." There's a pensive sip from her drink as she considers, "They're certainly edible. They tasted a little... nutty? Not quite sweet enough? It's interesting, but not bad."

Schuyler nods to Edyis. "I have made some with oats these...yes ma'am exactly! I used an almond flour. Which is denser and doesn't seem to spread the sweetener as smoothly...so they're either too sweet or not sweet enough. I'm thinking of trying maybe combining things too, some almond flour with some oats...or maybe making an oat flour...there's also potato starch...but that's mostly tasteless so maybe just to bind some more flavorful things together..." he lifts a hand and twitches a few fingers as he calculates something in his mind. He smirks at Azaylia. "Aye, I did. Reckon she did too." he winks then glances over at Edyis. "Of course...could have been more enjoyable..." he smirks a bit.

Edyis sighs. "Yes, I'm a prude. I lived most of my life a certain way, and some things take getting used to." At least she is grinning around a cookie. The smirk gets an arch of dark brows, and she may cough a touch, cheeks flushing.

"Almond flour? Clever." Azaylia sounds impressed, mumbling around her third cookie. Thankfully she'll slow down after it's gone, fingertips brushed against the dark navy of her warm skirt. "Is this something the craft is working on? Or your own little project?" Edyis' sigh has those lips quirking, stifling her smile with a long sip of her drink. No, it's still there as she gives a soft laugh, "Nothing wrong with being a prude." Even if she doesn't understand it.

Schuyler grins at the praise. "At the moment it's my own little project. Though I think if I find a decent substitute I could bring it up to my masters. I've dabbled in some rolls and breads too, but cookies seem to attract more people. I have also made some doughs for dumplings and things like that. A few of the other folks in the kitchens help occasionally...but it's mostly just my own pet project now. Seems to do well in making me friends." he winks and chuckles at Edyis's blush. He is also clearly not a prude.

"You should tell that to Farideh sometime." She murmurs grumpily, but cookies! Nibbling at a third. "Ha. Friends, more like free test subjects!" She murmurs, but the smile might indicate that she teases. "Is Hraedhyth less... growly? You mentioned she was rather territorial."

Azaylia considers the baker's words, clearly intrigued. "If there's something particular you need, you're welcome to put in requests to the storerooms. Or," it's Edyis' murmur that has her smile growing, "If you'd like to hold larger taste tests, to get better feedback. I want to see what you come up with." Who knows how long the shortage will last, after all? Always good to have alternatives to feed ones Weyr. Mention of the laundress draws the Weyrwoman's gaze, "Farideh?" Though the curiosity is quickly cast aside in favor of speaking of Hraedhyth, "She is. I suppose my anxiety wasn't helping, never quite knowing when we had to be gone." Or else.

Schuyler grins at the Weyrwoman. "I'll keep that in mind...hmmm...maybe we can make it a challenge. I know the folks in the kitchen have been stressed with the shortage...maybe we can arrange a bake-off event...invite the weyr to come join, and vote, and it will give us a few new recipes." his eyes light up at the idea his mind racing with ideas on what kinds of things he can do.

Edyis grins, but mention of Farideh has her sighing. "Eh, she was just... not herself this morning. Most folks weren't though. You know. Hormones." She twirls a finger in the air, but dark eyes light on the woman curiously. "I think I could understand being anxious, and I can't blame you. Nimae's reputation... but." She pauses, before shaking her head dismissing the thought in favor of cookies. "Count me in for testing too."

"Nimae?" Azaylia sounds confused, although gentle as she reminds, "I was more concerned with Hraedhyth ki-- well. There are reasons golds leave when another rises." She doesn't dare speak it. Schuyler earns a gentle nod, "That's an idea, isn't it? So long as there's a rule about using wheat." She stresses that point, otherwise obviously supporting the idea of a weyr-wide bake off. "Maybe if there's a good enough recipe, we might use it for the hatching feast." Counting ones eggs before they're laid.

Schuyler lets them discuss dragon things. He is happy to just talk about baking and his cookies, which seems to be getting a warm reception. "Maybe even make it more narrow...like...a set list of ingredients can be used? Then we can make recipes with more readily available ingredients that we know we have enough of rather than quickly running into another shortage due to starting to use another ingredient..."

Edyis quirks her mouth to the side considering. "Can't say I was terribly concerned over that. You are the Weyrwoman after all. Unless you are going to tell me that knot is just for show." She smiles and doesn't sound like she buys that at all. "Even if she's strong willed, Hraedhyth listens to you doesn't she?" Curious, nibbling at the edges, falling silent at talk of baked goods.

Azaylia tilts her cup toward Schuyler, "I'll leave the details up to you." Oh he has her support, and surely she and the staff will help with supplies, but it's his idea. "I can also help spread the word by dragon, although... you might have more mouths than baked goods if I did." It's an amusing thought. Who doesn't enjoy free eats? Edyis' question amuses the goldrider far more than it should, "We listen to each other." Probably not the most comforting answer, the fact that she doesn't keep the 'ferocious' queen on a short leash.

Schuyler nods. "I'll ask around and see which other bakers want to participate...hmm...if we're thinking too many mouths maybe we can do some kind of fundraiser as part of it...buy a ticket in...or each baker can get a certain number of tickets and each participant can invite a few tasters...and whatever is left after can be put out on the buffet?" he thinks the details out as he listens to the talk of dragons.

"Oh." Could that soft soprano voice sound any smaller, or for that matter could Edyis's eyes be any larger? Cookies, cookies will help.

"If you'd like to write up what details you do come up with and send them my approval, you're more than welcome." Azaylia smiles at Schuyler, for all of his brain storming out loud. Edyis' reaction has her giving a soft laugh, "Don't worry." Though she makes no attempt to further explain her draconic bond, or imply that she hadn't described it accurately. Cookie number four is plucked up even as her head turns, watching a rider as he passes by. "If you'll excuse me, I still have a few chasers to cheer up." Or annoy terribly, even if she means well. "Edyis. Schuyler, it was nice meeting you." Making short work of the nutty, textured experiment, she turns to join the crowd.

Schuyler nods. "Will do. And thanks!" he grins after her snagging one of the cookies for himself as he glances over at Edyis. "So...weyrlife still not quite your thing?" he asks.

Edyis watches the Weyrwoman depart, with furrow of her brows. Sky's question, she answers with a shrug. "Parts of it aren't. I'm not the have a wild fling because I think a guy is hot type." She explains ordering a drink from one of the passing waiters. "I also am not particularly fond of supremely large and ... incredibly violent dragons."

Schuyler smiles at her. "More of a one on one long term kind of girl then?" he smirks at her then Ahhhs softly. "Yes scary dragons...there's a reason I hang out in the kitchen...well a couple reasons." he chuckles and orders another ale as the waiter passes.

Edyis tilts her head considering the question with a smirk. "No, can't say I'm that either. If you need a label, I suppose you could say I'm the responsible type who - at least on most occasions, attempts to think about the consequences of her actions."

Schuyler laughs. "You mean like you are thinking about cookie number five there?" he asks playfully, raising an eyebrow at her. He takes the ale that has been brought back to him. "I mean, by all means have one...but more than just kissing can have consequenses." he observes.

"Cookies, are not diseases or kids." She points out with a smirk. "Can't say I have particularly found myself enjoying kissing either... too easy to loose yourself in it."

"Well, they don't start out as diseases. But too many of them...well..." Schuyler chuckles. "There's a reason I work out when I'm not in the kitchens." he eyes her for a moment. "You must not be kissing the right people...shame..." he smirks.

Edyis smirks, "Are you by chance suggesting that my figure is less than flawless." That fifth cookie is hers. "You assume that kissing, that sex is all there is to the world. I can't say I agree. I would rather know what lies underneath the hormones. Maybe that makes me an oddball."

Schuyler laughs "There is certainly nothing wrong with your figure, Edyis." he says with a low rumble watching her for a long moment. "It's not always about hormones either...and I make no such assumptions. Cookies are certainly just as important." he teases.

"You've learned bribery by pastry and when to provide proper compliments." She lifts a shoulder in a shrug downing her drink. "You could be dangerous." Grinning as she stands. "I'll eat your cookies, anything else... " She leaves him to imagine as she makes her way out of the bar.