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GOLDEN CLIFF CANTEEN - MORNING
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Valentine-Payne stepped out of the door and in to the quiet street to turn and look at the place. Even this early he was immaculately and very possibly overdressed, most of the cloth was made with iridescent colours shimmering in hues of blue and green and purple. His tailfeathers were folded, dragging behind him like a gown almost. Likewise were the crownfeathers folded back. He was somewhat annoyed. The trip here had been a disappointment. Beautiful landscape no doubt, but well, it was a frontier town. Somehow he felt that though he won the contest, he had truly lost the bet. But he did possess a certain Tenacity and vision. He would bring fine dining to this town, even if he had to drag it kicking and screaming all the way.
Sammi has heard there's a new eatery in town, and if Sammi likes anything, it's new eateries. She wanders around the area a little bit, none too concerned about finding it right away, but eventually she finds the front entrance, and stops, looking up and down the entrance way, any signage around, everything that might be there. Including Valentine
Valentine-Payne bows with a flourish "good morning.. " He seems to hesitate for a moment taking in her form and clothing, comes to a conclusion and presses on "..M'lady"
Sammi giggles "You weren't sure~ and you were just guessing. Maybe you're wrong?" She leaves that hanging in the air "I mean, you're not, and I don't realllly care either way. I just picked a gender when I came up on land and rolled with it, but..still, funny!" She looks around "So. What can be eaten in here?"
Sammi has an odd, rather upbeat and chipper tone to her voice, along with an occasional rather old timey turn to her accent at times. Overall a rather odd mix.
I am Valentine of house Payne, at your service. And I would
Valentine-Payne say it was more an informed decision based on observation rather than just a guess, but you were quite right that I was not utterly sure. You are rather... Unique..
Sammi: "Sammi" She pauses "Just Sammi. Don't really have a surname! Oh, and I am. You know those deep sea, where Eldritch Beings lay, waiting for the stars to align, and unleash their madness on the world?" She pauses thoughtfully "Really, the madness bit was overblown. Anyway. Point is, you had me at sugar"
Valentine-Payne: Fortunately I have sugar in plenty, and it is a resource that I should find here as well I hope.
Valentine-Payne led her through the front of the house, the restaurant proper, empty and largely quiet with the exception of some muffled sounds coming from the back of the building. He moved there, past the kitchen, spotlessly cleaned but likewise dead quiet at the moment, across from it the noises came and two people were working on vats and copper tubing. Still further down the hallway, behind the kitchen he finally entered a door and once more held it for her.
Valentine-Payne draws a stool from under the workbench for her to sit on. Then he starts to work, filling a copper kettle with molasses, sugar and water, putting it on the heat and stirring for it to melt. He puts some heavy gloves on to pour the molten sugar out on a table. "Tell me Sammi, do you have a favorite flower?"
Sammi: "Flowers?" She considers the question "Not really. Not ever been a flowery type of person. Ocean, after all. Not many flowers down there"
Valentine-Payne thinks for a moment and nods to himself, he splits the blob of molten sugar in to smaller ones, adds a green coloration and essence of mint to one, orange and essence of Mango to another, red and strawberry to the last, he thoroughly mixes bot the flavor and the colour in to the sugar.
Sammi looks on in wonder "Ooooh. So Fancy!" She's appropriately entranced, "When do we get to the bit that I eat it?"
Valentine-Payne stops for a moment as he lets the sugar mixture cool for a bit, goes to a storage and takes out a box. he sets it beside her and opens the lid, There was a little basket in there suggesting there were two tiers. "Alas, art can not be hurried, but maybe this will tide you over." The basket was filled with different chocolates, each one filled with yet another treat, some mint,
Valentine-Payne others with fruits or berries, yet others with spicy chocolate mousse. He turned back to the sugary confection, took one of the blobs and tossed it over a wall mounted hook, pulling, twisting hooking it again. the colour became more pearlescent from it, shiny. He repeated it with each of the blobs, then went to forming. green leaves, mint flavoured, flat and round with a little
Valentine-Payne v-shaped slice missing that went to the middle, on top of that he made little pointy petals with the strawberry flavoured red, and finally tiny orange mango flavoured stems in the center of the blossom.
Sammi: "Oooooh" Sammi's eyes glimmer at the sight of the treats, and indeed starts eating them. Having the decency to savour each one, one at a time. "These are amazing! but..this thing you're doing, it's super cool too!" She goes back to admiring the craftsbirdship on display!
Valentine-Payne: Well you said sugar, I can of course go.. simple, and mix some flavours and colours and make little hard cany, but I find a bit of edible artworks is so much more satisfying.
Sammi: "Of course! Because after looking at them, you can eat them up! It's a great system"
Valentine-Payne lets the flowers cool off properly, "I will likely sell more of the simple candy, easier to take along, but I do hope that people like the edible works of art as well." He takes a light bamboo shallow basket and puts some dry fiber in the bottom, then carfully arranges the four blossoms on to it before handing it to Sammi.
Sammi: "So..like..I just..eat it now?"
Valentine-Payne: If you wish, it will keep for a while when kept dry.
Sammi: "I do wish!" She takes one blossom, and eats it down, chewing on it. She's a massive sweet tooth, so obviously enjoys it!
Valentine-Payne leans back against the workbench, he always enjoyed watching people eat and enjoy his creations. To him it did not matter how much effort or time had gone in to them. In the end it was edible and ephemeral because of it. And there was a certain satisfaction for him in that. Constant renewal, improvement, experimentation.
Sammi eats, and enjoys each of them, before she sighs "Oh! I should pay" She reaches into the sachet on her shoulder, and sticks her arm in, rummaging around. Her arm seems to go a good bit deeper into the bag than it should have depth...
Valentine-Payne blinks "I did not request payment did I?" he seems a bit confused.
Sammi: "Of course not! But..I got something, so I give back!" She pulls out, a small box "Huh" She seems just as curious about it as he might be "I thiiink. It's like..a sugar maker? You put something in the box, close it..and when you open it again, you'll have some sugar from that thing. I think? Something like that anyway"
Valentine-Payne: anything?
Sammi: "...Maaaaaybe? The Bag gives what it gives"
Valentine-Payne: only one way to find out of course. *he would open the box, took a wooden stirring stick from a drawer and placed it inside, then he closed the lid*
Sammi: The Box is shut!
Sammi: "Well, I suppose, you need to open it"
Valentine-Payne: "I was just giving it some time" He does turn to the box again and opens it, looking inside
Narrator: Inside, the box was filled with brown sugar
Sammi: "Huh. That works!"
Valentine-Payne: You had doubts? *he laughs softly, takes a little spoon to pick up some of the sugar*
Sammi: "Oh, I'm never sure with stuff that comes from the bag"
Valentine-Payne tastes the Sugar gingerly
Sammi: *It's sweet! But indeed, has an odd, woody undercurrent to it all*
Valentine-Payne: hmmm, this could be interesting..
Sammi: "Oh! I'm glad I could help" She claps her hands together
Valentine-Payne: The sugar seems to take on a note of what was used to make it, now I wonder if that would be true for blossoms and the like, rose sugar, lavender sugar.. the flavours would be endless.
Sammi: "Glad you like it! Remember! Don't put anything alive into it!"
Valentine-Payne: Well, that requires a bit more explanation. i could put an apple in it, it could be argued it is not alive, but on the other hand, if I put it in the earth it might grow in to an apple tree, so it would be.
Sammi: "Oh, I mean like..alive, and breathing and stuff like that"
Valentine-Payne: ahh yes, ok, so no live crab in there.
Valentine-Payne: Do you have a favorite flavour then?
Sammi: "Uh..it's not a flavour really, but I love ice-cream"
Valentine-Payne: that will take some time, cream does not keep well and I still have to go shopping here for ingredients, find a good butcher for meat, farmer store for vegetables and fruits, herbs and flowers. sugar, flour, spices, those kind of things. But once I have that, I will be able to make you ice cream.
Sammi makes a little happy clap "Yay! Gareth can come too. I always like to share my ice-cream with him. It's tastier when you share it, y'know?"
Valentine-Payne: What is it you do in town?
Sammi: "Oh, I don't really do that much" She chuckles "I just nap under the waterfall near town mostly"
Valentine-Payne nods, reaches out, stops just short of her tentacles "May I?"
Sammi: "Uh...Okay? Go head"
Valentine-Payne gently touches one of the tentacles, lifting it to study it more up close "so interesting. amazing realy"
Sammi: It's a little damp, and..well..one long slap of muscle "Uh...Glad you're impressed?"
Valentine-Payne traces one of the sucker's edges with a fingertip.
Sammi draws the tentacle back out of his hands "Careful now~ I do have a boyfriend"
Valentine-Payne: Ah, my apologies if I have given offence. I am maybe more curious than is good for me.. But learning new things is so fascinating.
Sammi: "No worries! I had to learn those whole boundries thing too"
Valentine-Payne: Gareth I take it?
Valentine-Payne smiles and washes his hands, drying them fastidiously.
Sammi: "Yeah, Gareth. Lovely guy!"
Valentine-Payne: do you know of any stores where I might get those ingredients, I am fairly new to town and still need to get my bearings. Any helpful information is more than welcome
Sammi: "Oh. There's loads of marts and stuff in the town square. All sorts of stuff there!"
Valentine-Payne: Would you mind showing me?
Sammi: "Uhhh" She rubs the back of her head "Sorry, but..I kinda have somewhere to be? But you just follow the main road, right to center of town? Impossible to miss"
Valentine-Payne can't help but wonder if it had been the inappropriate touch, but he is a gentleman and does not comment on it as such "Thank you, I am sure I will find it, and then hopefully find what I need to turn this place in to an experience for the senses"
Sammi: "I look forward to seeing that happen! I'm sure to check it out if there's going to be ice-cream!" She smiles, and bobs her head, before making her way out
Valentine-Payne smiles after her, takes the list he made and heads out as well, heading in to town for the market
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Jennica is sitting down in a booth, the pear-shaped cow idly fiddling with a trinket as she usually does, although her eyes keep wandering. It's entirely possible she's waiting for someone, for... well she can't really put a finger on why she wants to talk with this individual again, but it just feels right. Shifting in her seat and adjusting her overalls, Jennica takes a sip of her drink and tries to not look like she's watching the door. Much.
Aerdrid yawns widely as he makes his way into the Minnow's common room, having just finished a long day helping with a couple of buildings still in the process of being raised on the western edge of town. The lean pterosaur looks around for a moment as he strides through the bar, and raises a hand in greeting as he sees Jennica on the way to getting a drink.
Jennica raises her hand, her mood brightening instantly as a smile finds her face: "Aerdrid!" She then blinks and blushes at her own outburst, but the grin doesn't go away as she awaits for the pterodactyl to join her. Not that anyone in the bar more than look up at her, realize it's not about them, and turn back to their conversations. Still, this sort of thing could potentially be embarrassing.
Aerdrid gets his drink and goes to join Jennica at her booth, giving the cow a warm smile as he approaches. "Evening, Jennica. Do you mind if I join you?" He asks, though he's pretty sure she won't mind as he's sliding into a seat opposite her as he asks.
Jennica starts to nod, then blinks: "Er uh of course not. Y-you didn't need to ask." Pause. "...b-but I like that you asked anyway."
Aerdrid chuckles as he settles into his seat. "Thank you, Jennica. How have you been lately?"
Jennica shrugs, lifting her trinket in one hand as she does: "Not up to much I guess? Sort of just been doing what I do... no great breakthroughs in design either, but sometimes it's just like that." She gives Aerdrid a smile: "I can just spend the evening with you, I think."
Aerdrid smiles happily in turn, nodding along a bit. "Spending the evening with you sounds really nice. Though, I do hope I'm not too much of a distraction from your crafting."]/p>
Jennica blushes: "...i-is it wrong if I say that I don't mind if it is? N-not that you're distracting, of course, I like you being a distr... er." She grins sheepishly as she trails off.
Aerdrid chuckles and takes a sip of his drink. "A bit too involved in your craft at the moment, then? I'll happily be a distraction if that's what you want, though I'm probably a little short on any conversation topics right now."
Jennica smiles: "I'm sure we can find something to talk about." She leans on the table a bit: "Nothing new on the construction side of things, then?"
Aerdrid shakes his head. "Not especially. We're almost finished with most of the houses, though, and all of my kin are comfortable, now. The extra houses are being put up for sale."
Jennica tilts her head: "Does that mean you're out of a job soon? I hope not."
Aerdrid shrugs. "Out of work if nothing else needs doing immediately afterwards. I wish I could say I knew more than just fighting and what I learned of construction, but..."
Jennica hums: "I guess you could try to learn?" She blinks: "I mean, if you wanted to. I-is there anything you'd want to know how to do, I guess what I am asking."
Aerdrid hums thoughtfully. "There's a lot, almost too much, really. I wouldn't even know where to begin on most things."
Jennica continues fiddling with the trinket, although her attention is really on Aerdrid: "Well uh... I g-guess that's a thing for later then." She looks at the pterodactyl and smiles warmly.
Aerdrid nods in agreement. "For now, I still have work, and that is enough for me, I think. Besides..." He smiles at Jennica in turn, "I can't really worry while I'm chatting with you."
Jennica giggles a bit: "I s-suppose there is that." She hums: "I do really like spending time with you."
Aerdrid hums in turn, nodding again as he takes another sip of his drink. "I enjoy spending time with you, too. For everything that's happened so far, befriending you has definitely been one of the positives for me."
Jennica smiles: "F-for me too. You're so..." Handsome? Intriguing? Easy on the eyes? "...g-good. Um. For me, at least."
Aerdrid quietly hums. "Mmh... I try, but I don't know if I yet qualify for any sort of "good". Still, talk like that is... nice to hear, Jennica. Especially from you."
Jennica puts her trinket back on the table as her hand wanders towards finding Aerdrid's: "It's... i-it's hard to put to words, but..." She frowns, trying to find words: "Well uh, I g-guess I just am interested in you..." She blushes, smiling.
Aerdrid sighs a little and looks down at the table, specifically at Jennica's hand. He reaches over and gently grabs hold of it. "Interested...? I wish I was at least somewhat interesting to warrant it, Jennica. But... I guess that might mean I just need learn to do something of interest."
Jennica hesitates for a brief moment, then squeezes Aerdrid's hand and looks at him: "...like not downplaying y-yourself." She winces. "Sorry. I'm no one to say that."