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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 19, 2010 21:01:13 GMT -6
"I killed a deer a day or so before you staggered on me. I can cook that up for us. Might even have some spices I can throw on it. If I can I'll make us a rare ol' feast out of it for us. I may not look it, but I'm a fair cook. I often end up making my own meals out of whatever I can scrounge up. The kids tell me it's the best they've eaten in months." She smiled at the memory. "I guess that's a good thing."
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 19, 2010 21:17:48 GMT -6
"Oh? Cooking for kids? Then you must know your way around food. I've never seen anything quiet like a hungry child eating a good meal. I could have sworn he put more food away then I ever could..." he reflected on his own memories a bit, before clearing his head and coming back to the moment, "I do like the sound of having deer for a meal. Spices or no, that'll be one good chunk of meat, and another step towards putting the past couple of days behind me.."
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 19, 2010 22:15:05 GMT -6
"They were just gutter rats, but those are the hungriest of children in any city. Any kid who happened to sniff me out was welcome to whatever I'd made." She couldn't keep the broad smile from her lips as she thought about them. "Never in the same place twice, though, so it wasn't a predictable meal for them. That's the last thing I need; city guard on me in under ten days for feeding the vagabonds." She watched the horizon broaden as it grew closer and the sun sunk lower, turning the golden grasses orange. "Either way, it will be a good meal. It's a decent hunk of meat and I've been trying to find a good time to serve it up. We're nearly there."
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 19, 2010 22:24:19 GMT -6
"When the guard is away the children will play." He said to himself, fondly. His mind wandered for a moment, reflected by the silence and slow response. He looked to the horizon with a smile, his feet pacing themselves a little faster in hopes to arrive that much quicker, "Just in time for supper, as you so predicted..." He shot a quick smile to her before turning his attention to the vegetation, his eyes looking around, it almost seemed like he was planning what to do once they were stopped. "Hmm, I wonder what we can find to compliment our meal around here..."
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 19, 2010 23:20:04 GMT -6
They reached the top of the ridge as the sun flared out across the southern horizon setting the grass awash with flames of light. There were small stands of trees on the crest and all the way down to the river's edge which fell away in a steep slope to the swift flowing, deep waters. She stopped at the top before it turned down and stood for a moment, surveying the land. To their north about an hour's walk away a road could be seen coming south then turning east and crossing over the river to continue on its way. It seemed busy with movement. Merchants headed home, she supposed, their purses fat with gold, more than like. "I think here is about as good as it's going to get for the evening," she said. "We've got the company of the trees and the sound of the river to lull us to sleep. Let me just gather up some kindling and we'll be on our merry way to a merry meal." She moved off under the branches of the sparse trees, picking up bits and pieces of twigs and breaking thicker limbs over her knee for logs.
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 19, 2010 23:37:54 GMT -6
He took in the scenery with a deep breath, enjoying the sweet, calming sounds of the river, and the glow of the setting sun as its light caressed the landscape in its warmth, "Reminds me of home, I've got to say..." he muttered under his breath. He looked around at the trees, then to Aijari, "Are you going to need any help with that?" He asked, before his attention was taken by the busy looking bridge, "I take it that's our next step to the city?" he studied the bridge and its direction of travel, a small smile forming on his face as he took in the sight with a relaxed hope that their travel would not be much longer.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 20, 2010 0:04:15 GMT -6
She returned to him with an armload of thicker logs and fistfuls of kindling, smiling. "Nope! We're good!" Busying herself, she quickly had a fire going, around which she placed leaf-wrapped packets of venison she'd taken from her kit which she'd unbuckled from her belt and plunked in the grass next to her. The meat had been smeared and poked with spices from a smaller wallet in her kit and were soon sending up tendrils of sweet smelling, sizzling smoke. Aijari had also suspended some leaves of a plant she'd found growing at the base of a tree while collecting the wood they'd need over the flames to receive a nice smoking char. Somehow it looked familiar and as she bent over it she recognized it as a plant that when carefully prepared was especially delicious. The first time she'd had it, an elf had served it with a haunch of venison very similar to what she was cooking and it had been superb. Wondering, she thought she might be able to pull it off again. She kept peering inside one of the packets, poking it gently with a dagger tip, before quickly pushing the packets away from the heat and peeling open the leaves to reveal the steaks. She had removed the leaves a few minutes ago when they were done and served them onto the leaves with the steaks. Digging out two forks, she handed Diego one and smiled, chiming, "Dig in! I hope it came out alright."
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 20, 2010 1:01:22 GMT -6
Diego takes the fork with a thankful nod, and takes his seat next to the mouthwatering piece of meat before him, "It smells more than all right, I can tell you that much for sure..." his fork slowly prodded and poked, until he find an especially juicy looking portion of the steak, which he pried a piece of off and started to consume without much hesitation. The texture, the tenderness, the spices, all merging and dancing on his tongue in a sweet symphony of tastes., "Now this, is a meal." he said with approval in his voice, and a smile on his face, as he continued to slice and pry pieces, eating them at an almost record rate. It wasn't more then a few minutes before he was already down to the last bites of meat, "I can see why it is the kids would seek out your cooking, you certainly have a fine handle on it." He takes the second to last bite, chewing on it happily before speaking once more, "I must say, I taste something in here that is...unique, to say the least. Adds a rather nice flavor with the rest of the spices you used."
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 20, 2010 1:14:41 GMT -6
Slowly, she inspected each cut of meat, looking at them with a critical eye. Sniffing each one, she closed her eyes as she ate, tasting each as though she were judging some famous cook's work. She was a very far cry from that. "Hmmm, it didn't come out quite like the elf that made it last time, but I suspect that might have been because he could sweet talk the leaves into cooking nicely. I have to rely on my winning personality for that." She laughed, opening her eyes. "But you're right. It did come out alright. Good enough for a night's meal on the run. I suppose the uniqueness comes from the type of leaves I wrapped the cuts in for traveling. They are from a rather special tree that imparts a kind of preserving element to whatever is wrapped inside--that's why I use them for food when I'm outside city walls. They also have a very unique taste that makes them popular among the high-end inns. Mixes especially well with the flavors of Morning Light spice, which was one of the ones I used. I suppose that came out when I heated them. Good luck, I guess."
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 20, 2010 1:30:54 GMT -6
"Maybe luck, maybe hidden talent. The result was none the less a satisfying meal. You have my thanks, for everything. I mean it." he leaned back on his arms, looking as the sun was just about to leave the sky, "I will have to remember to ask you what those leaves look like. I believe they'll be useful in my later travels. I'm surprised no one mentioned them to me sooner." He looked around at the immediate area, looking to see what he could do about making a comfortable bed, "You know, once we get to the city, I have to repay you for all you've done. You have saved me plenty of trouble in finding my way back, and you've even fed me, and that always deserves repayment." he laughed a bit, sitting up to stretch his arms and body, loud pops and cracks coming from all his joints.
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 20, 2010 21:29:50 GMT -6
"I'm honestly not surprised no one told you about the leaves. The tree is rather rare. I've only seen two or three of them in all of the Isles: one in the ruins of Runewick, one on Dragon's Furnace, and one in the palace compound in Wing-over-Sea," she said. She blushed at his compliments and smiled almost shyly. "I would say repayment is unnecessary if I were your stereotypical nice girl. Unfortunately for both of us, I'm not. I'm not going to lie: I need the coin." She bowed her head, poking absently at the fire with one of the sticks.
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 20, 2010 21:48:25 GMT -6
He nodded in agreement, "We all do. As much as I'd like to live in harmony with nature and the surrounding world, Ale does not flow freely from the rivers" he laughed as he looked up at the sky, which had grown dark enough to allow him sight of the stars, "Well, when we get there, I'll be sure to get you an decent amount of coin. At he very least enough so that you can have someone prepare you meal rather then the other way around." He looked to Aijari and offered her a smile, "Just make sure not to ask me, I cook about as well as a pig flies."
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 20, 2010 23:29:14 GMT -6
Aijari laughed, feeling much more at ease for Diego's easy banter. It seemed strange to her that she should feel so easily at home with another human being. Her line of work hardly made her at ease with anyone. No, more likely they were yelling at her and chasing her down alleys or yelling for city guard. She glanced sideways at him, sliding her eyes up to the stars twinkling serenely in the deep twilit sky. "I'll keep it in mind," she said, smiling. Witherheart squeaked loudly, pouncing out from beneath her hair onto her lap where he bit the finger of her unoccupied hand and continued on to the scraps of venison left from dinner. She glared at her companion, rubbing her finger while he dug his little teeth into the meat, squeaking contentedly.
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Diego
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Post by Diego on Nov 20, 2010 23:45:13 GMT -6
Diego couldn't help but chuckle at the display, watching the rat descend on the meal so eagerly. "I wonder who's the boss between you two, with that kind of attitude Witherheart carries." He said in a playful tone, his eyes shifting from them to the view of the land, enjoying what parts he could see with a calm smile. He reached down and began to check his pouches, figuring now was as good a time as any to see what he possibly had left, besides a few edible nuts. He let out a laugh, as he pulled a small bag from one of the pouches on his belt, "Well, isn't this something. They left me my Liar's Dice. "
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Post by Lavinia Lionsgrave on Nov 21, 2010 1:13:26 GMT -6
She watched her little companion, the light from the fire turning his black fur to dark orange and his beady eyes sharper than ever as he tore into the leftovers. Twitching her lips to one side, she considered him. "I often wonder the same thing about us. We've been together for several years now and he certainly takes his liberties with me. I don't really mind, though. His demands have never been particularly outrageous so I don't really mind providing. He is useful in his own way, I suppose." Aijari watched keenly as he fished through his remaining pouches, taking note of where they sat on his belt, which had things in them now and which didn't. Some part of her scolded herself for even following the train of thought, but another part of her argued and justified it to herself. She struggled inwardly, but managed to say normally, "Well, that was kind of them."
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