Difference between revisions of "Logs:Bad Influences"

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.

Aiden is frowning down at a tray of bubblies that look the worst for wear. They are burnt a little - not enough to be inedible but enough to not look appetizing. And some of them are shaped ... strangely. The workstation he's at is clean, though there's a dirty cloth near his hand and a pile of recently cleaned bowls and cooking implements in one corner of the station.

It's a nice change that it's not raining, and that might be why Drex is out and about, slouching his way into the kitchens. He's glancing at the busy-looking-cooks, with a set frown, and starts to move past -- when he catches sight of Aiden. Hesitating a moment, he angles towards the baker. "What's that," he peers over his shoulder. "Some kind of fancy schmancy Weyr thing?" Clearly, he doesn't recognize them as bubblies.

Aiden looks up, startled from his reverie. He smiles at the comment. "Well, that could be my excuse if someone asks. But in reality, no. I'm still learning how to make bubblies. I have more experience with meat dishes and breads back home, but I'm not used to the more delicate recipies. They didn't let me help with those." He smiles a little as he looks back at the tray. "Looks like they were right to keep that to themselves. At least so far."

"This is your job?" Drex's dubious look goes from the tray to the baker, before he moves around and leans on the nice clean countertop. He doesn't exactly look clean -- clothes are well-worn, frayed around the edges here and there, and there's a hint, maybe, of alcohol on his breath. "Aint teaching you very well," is the sailor's opinion.

Aiden shrugs with a smile, he seems to take the criticism well. "Sometimes it takes practice to learn how to do something well, and this is the practice. At least nobody has to eat it." He sighs and looks at the bubblies again. "Though I probably *should*, to make sure it's just the crust that's so off." He takes one of them (apparently he's been looking at them long enough that they are cool enough to touch) and uses a knife to scrape off the burned bits. "Feel free to have one if you'd like."

Drex squints, kind of uncertainly. "Maybe once yer, you know," he waves, vaguely, "Haven't keeled over." He is, for the record, watching Aiden closely, as if waiting for just that. "Anyway, ought to have beer to wash it down." Apparently he is no connoisseur.

Aiden finishes scraping off what's burned and takes a bite of the misshapen bubbly. He pauses for awhile as he chews; his expression is more thinking than a reveal on whether it's good or bad. "Well...it could be better. A lot better, but it is edible. I've had worse." It does not have to be spoken aloud that he also has had much better. "I don't drink beer so I don't know if they have any here. But I suppose with enough beer, this could be called good."

Drex grunts, as if offended. Or surprised. Who can tell, since his face is scrunched up. "Don't drink beer?" he echoes, as if that is the real crime here. "Somethin' wrong with you?"

Aiden looks up, surprised. "No, not that I know off." He catches the comment about beer and explains. "Until I joined the craft I worked for my father during the day, and lived with my parents at night. It doesn't leave a lot of time for acting out. Anytime I did, I'd get a lecture about being the Steward's son and needing to represent him better." He starts scraping the burned pieces off the rest of the bubblies. Waste not want not.

The sailor grunts, as if unconvinced. "Aint about acting out," Drex says. "Just... it's a way to cool off after a difficult day, y'know? Or a," he gestures at the tray, "Failure." With a slight furrow of brow, he gestures vaguely at the breakfast nooks, "Go grab a seat -- I'll be right back." And he slouches his way out of the kitchen, with a sidelong glance at the cooks.

Aiden seems to be used to doing what he's told, because he starts to walk over to one of the nooks. Halfway there he must have decided to work while he sits, and he goes and gets the tray and brings it over to the nook. More burned pieces of cut off of the bubblies.

It doesn't take that long for Drex to reappear, with a couple of mugs in hand. Sliding into the nook, he sets one triumphantly in front of Aiden. It's beer, and it's warm, not really cold, but he still seems pleased with himself. "Drink up," he says, cheerfully, proceeding to do just that with his own mug.

Aiden looks at the mug for a second, and puts down the knife and slides the tray of bubblies away in order to pull the mug closer. He seems a little hesitant at first but here's someone older and wiser so why not. He finally takes a small sip. "Not bad." It's unclear if he means it. He takes another sip. "I can see the draw." It's still unclear if he means it.

While the older is a given, wiser might be a term applied in only the most loosest sense to Drex. The sailor fairly beams when Aiden takes a sip, leaning over to nudge him, grinning. "That's the spirit. Drink up!" He certainly seems to take Aiden's word at face value, taking another gulp, too, before he's finally ready to pick at some of that mostly-unburnt-bubbly.

Aiden seems pleased that Drex has taken one of his bubblies, which it will turn out can only at the most be given an 'okay'. In the spirit of the moment he takes a big gulp of the beer...and proceeds to cough as some of it goes the wrong way. He needs practice in more than just making bubblies. "My name is Aiden, by the way. It's nice to meet you."

Drex seems rather fine with 'okay', if the way he gulps it down is any indication. He doesn't exactly have a refined palette, after all. He washes it down with another mouthful of beer, lets out an impressive burp, and leans over to thud Aiden oh-so-helpfully on the back. "That's the way," he seems approving of the big gulp, regardless of the outcome. "Drex," he replies, after a beat.

Aiden takes one of the other bubblies and takes a bite. "I guess the upside to being a Baker is sampling my own creations. Or eventually it'll be an upside, once I'm better." He goes back to a small sip again. "Did I interrupt business you had in the kitchens? Were you looking for someone?"

"You'd get fat if you did that, wouldn't you?" Drex asks, blandly, while gulping down another mouthful of beer. And, after a not-so-considered moment, reaching for another of the bubblies. "Nnnooo," he replies, after a moment's thought. "I mean, I was going to grab some food," some real food, "But this will do."

Aiden nods. "If I made bubblies a lot and ate them all, I probably would get fat. But there's other things to make and if I didn't keep them *all* to myself, it wouldn't get that bad." He doesn't seem to mind the comment, in fact he just seems happy to share the food. "I have some ideas on how to do it better next time. A little less time in the oven for one thing." At this he eyes the burned pieces scraped off that are lying on the tray. "If you stop by after I learn how to make them, you can try one of my good ones."

"Well, in the interests of helping keep you not fat, I can always help, y'know?" Drex is so thoughtful! Also, he's finished his beer and is morosely staring at the dregs, setting the mug aside, though not before another burp. He's far too quick to reply, "Deal," at the offer. "When you get better, I'll slip one to my girl," he honestly doesn't mean for that to sound dirty -- it's just the way he speaks, "I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

Aiden nods. "Well, I'll try to make sure they're really good then, so she's sure to like them." He still has a lot left in his mug when he notices Drex's disappointed look. "You can have some of my beer, if that doesn't bother you. I'm full ... from the bubblies, and a ... drink I had earlier." Or maybe he just doesn't want to get in trouble for drinking as an apprentice. "It was good, though."

Drex makes another noise, like he's fairly affronted. "Wouldn't dare touch another man's beer. Besides, it's your first," he waves off the offer. "Really ought to finish it." Clearly he gives no cares for trouble.

Aiden nods, as if he's taking in the training Drex is giving him. "Sure, of course." He takes another sip, this one still small. "I'll just take my time with it." He thinks, looking at the mug. "You know, beer might be good in food. I should look to see if there are any recipes with it."

Drex looks mollified, nodding his head. Leaning elbows on the table, he says, "This beer aint so good. I mean, it's ok, but I oughta buy you a beer from the Snowasis. It's nice and cold. Much better." He squints a little, as if unsure about this new development, "In food?" his shoulder lifts-and-drops in a single motion. "Guess they put wine in some foods too, right? Make it all fancy and shit?"

Aiden nods at Drex. "Yes, but I think that if you make a food with beer, you should not make it fancy. Because beer is an every man's drink, and so should the food it creates. Wine can be for fancy food, but beer should be for...something else. I'll have to check the recipes back at the craft complex."

"Huh," Drex sounds kind of surprised. And then: "You ever thought about taking up a position on a ship? Could use a good cook. Well, assistant, but our cook is old and cooks boring stuff. Might be nice to give him a little kick up the ass, y'know?"

Aiden smiles. "I never thought of doing that, though I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me. I'm originally from Balen Hold, and it's known for its ship building among other things. I should probably stick around here though, and finish my training. Then I'd be that much better if I did become an assistant cook."

And now Drex grins, "See? It was meant to be. Our ship berths at High Reaches Hold. When they dock, I oughta introduce you to my Captain. She's kinda fierce and terrifying and awesome. You'll love her." Because clearly those things go together.

Aiden smiles at Drex' enthusiasm. "She sounds interesting, I look forward to meeting her someday. What is her name, just in case I see her around before you have a chance to introduce me?" He pushes the tray closer to Drex with a smile. "Would you like more? Best to get rid of the evidence and start fresh."

"Itsy," Drex supplies, quickly, "Though you aint gonna find her around her, or... probably not. She and the Weyr uh, well." He lifts-and-drops his shoulder in that almost shrug of his. "Let's just say they aint best of friends. Besides, I think the crew is planning to vacation in Ista come winter." He eyes the offered tray, but declines, with, "I'd need more beer. All yours."

Aiden nods. "Well, thanks for trying them. I know they didn't look too appetizing." He stands up from the seat and grabs the tray. "I'm going to have to clean these up and get back to workk if I'm going to produce anything better by the end of the day." He needs both hands to take the tray, so for now the beer is still at his seat. "But I won't forget that I owe you a better sample of my baking. Thanks for the company." He pauses for a second and adds, "And the beer."

Drex grins, seemingly pleased with the praise, such that it is. "Sure, kiddo. Keep working on those pies, eh?" and then he's up, off, and slouching through the door.