Kitchen Encounters...
Kitchenhall
Neither too large, nor too small, this kitchen area of the hall is overall, rather comfortable with its three long-benched tables and the large serving hearth with its bottomless cauldron of hot klah resting over it. Lying just beyond the doors, the tables are often occupied by apprentices hanging around looking for snacks while they do their work, for not only is this area used as an eating place, some come here to study as well. To the far back, away from the tables themselves, a few drudges and cooks works industriously to feed the crafters that live in the hall, preparing all the meals every day from the hot ovens that are constantly in use.
You see Dorran here.
You notice Rowainne asleep here.
Jhenero is here.
Obvious exits:
Out
Jessa skips into the kitchens and once she's there she pauses. The senior appy's eyes shift around the room, before she darts over to a tray of fresh bubblys and snatches one up. She takes a big bit, getting juice around her mouth. But that's part of the joy of eating bubblies.
Sarin meanders in from the Main Hall.
Jhenero is sitting at a table in the corner, hides spread out in front of him and an untouched, rather cold mug of klah resting near one hand. Dolphin anatomy charts. Wonderful. Really. He glances up as Jessa enters, hesitates, and then pushes the hides away from him, leaning back casually and tossing a smile toward the Sr. Apprentice. "Hi, Jessa! Is it good?" He nods at the bubbly, quirking an eyebrow up.
Sarin slines in through the door stealthily, hoping to avoid detection by kitchen staff... To no avail. "You!" states a member of said staff, shoving a roll of bread and a bowl of soup at Srin. "You will sit down, and you will not leave until you have eaten all of that." The woman proceeds to vanish, and Srin, muttering under her breath, sits down at a table with the food. Spying the other crafters, she waggles a few fingers in greeting. "Hey."
Jessa finishes chewing her rather large bite of bubbly and grins at Jhenero, her grin rimmed with bubbly juice. She nods her head, "It is." In fact, why isn't Jhenero consuming a few bubblies or cookies, or something of that nature, while he is studying? For shame, "You want some?" She offers, perfectly willing to move the tray and come over to distract Jhenero further. Jess glances at the commotion of sorts with the crafthead and the soup, and grins, "Hi Srin!"
Jhenero eyes the tray longingly, but manages to shake his head. "Ummmm, no, I really should be studying." He waves his hand over the hides, but makes no move toward them. After all, it's not like Tsey is /here/... Eyebrows raise and a grin finds its way to Sarin's table. "Really now. Have you been trying to break that bad habit of eating again, Srin?" Horrible habit. Really. Tray is eyed again.
Sarin resolutly eats the food, but that doesn't mean that she has to eat constantly. "Hmm? Oh," a chuckle, "No, I think someone went and told them that all I've been eating recently is fruit and sweetsticks. Which is totally not true." Beat, "I had half a meatroll yesterday, and some klah." Her eye trails to the hides, "What's all that, then?"
Jessa finishes her first bubbly and starts in on a second. Not eat? Jess could never manage that. She eats lots, and a variety. The senior appy grins and then does indeed move the tray of bubblies closer to Jhen and plunks down near him.
Jhenero does reach for the hides this time, but only to shuffle them randomly. "Oh, the entire records room and ancient apprentices' notes on every class ever taken, I think." Sarcasm? Maayybe... "I figure if Tseyrin's going to appoint herself my mentor, I'd better make sure I know /something/ or I'll never survive." He shuffles the hides again and makes a face. "I don't think it's working, though." Dropping the stack back in a corner, he finally gives in and reaches for a bubbly - just a small one, though. (for now)
Sarin finishes chewing and then swallows a hunk of bread, "Ah. Well, don't overtax yourself. You don't want to give her the idea that you already know everything. It might annoy her, or it might make her think you need other things to occupy your time." Srin's not being negative, really, it's just a warning.
Jessa giggles at Jhenero, and shakes her head slightly. Lucky Jess, she's got Mailli for a mentor. Poor Jhen, with Tseyrin as his mentor. Some people just have no luck. The second bubbly has now been devoured, and Jessa takes a break to lick her fingers clean. The senior appy shakes her head again slightly, "You poor thing."
Jhenero slumps back in his chair, a look of defeat passing over his face. What? He can annoy her by working /too/ hard?? After a moment, he lifts the bubbly and takes a small bite, obviously trying to cheer himself up by power of food. Oh, oh, woah is me, etc. "So how's your life then, Jessa?" Sarin has to eat, Jhen has to... ... whatever...
Shimmer bounces in with a light step, sapphire eyes sparkling... in from the Main Hall.
Yay! The sproinging Sharky-Shim /didn't/ get lost for Turns at the beach! Woohoo! The food of power is great. Behold... the power of food. Jessa smiles and shrugs at Jhenero, "My life? It's good." Food is good. Water is good. Life is good. Yes, many things are good. That is a good thing.
Shimmer sneaks in cautiously. Lookit...Sneaky-Shim! Hee. Anyhow, said Shim seems to be stalking a certain tray of bubblies as she creeps in. No one will see her, nope nope. Especially not in the bright crimson colour she seems to have chosen for to-day. What /is/ she up to? Currently, though, Shim seems simply to be up to pouncing that bubbly. Dun dun...dun dun...
Sarin, still seated at a table slightly removed from the other two, is sipping at soup. "Don't be too discouraged. She /does/ know her stuff..." A glance at the door, and apparently Shimmer is trying to be stealthy? Well, Sarin tried that too, and got caught, so... "Hey, Shimmer."
Jhenero glances down at the pile of hides stacked messily on the table before him - which were all spread out in front of him before Jessa interrupted, of course - and then up at Shimmer. "Whatcha doing there, Shim?" Another bite of bubbly is taken. Ahhh, Jessa's such a wonderful person...
Jessa is indeed a very wonderful person. That is a fact. Jessa beams at Shimmer, "Hiya Shimmer." What, Shim thinks she'll sneak in right under Jess' nose and steal one of the bubblies? Nope nope.
Shimmer blinks at Srin, and sighs. "My invisibilty didn't work?" she questions, apparently rhetorically as she lassoes a chair with a foot, Shim looks in a slightly confused manner at the choice of two tables. Table with bubblies and fluffy appies, or table where she can bother Srin? Hmm. Shim seems puzzled for a moment before she suddenly darts deeper into the depths of the kitchens, returning with a seemingly large plate...with which, four bubblies are oh-so-sneakily 'disappeared' on to, and Shim flops into her chair next to Srin. Jhen is blinked at oh-so-innocently. "Little old me? Well...nothing. I haven't taken any bubblies. And...yes. No bubblies taken by me. Nope nope nope." Shim nods, as if to prove her point. No bubblies were 'borrowed'. Not at /all/. What /are/ you talking about? "What are all of you doing around here?" she questions, as if to quickly change the subject from bubblies to...well, whatever she just asked about. Shim's look seems somewhat vacant currently. Cue: another blonde moment.
"I came in to get some fruit, and she," Srin jerks a thumb in the direction of the kitchen woman lurking in a corner, "Threw bread and soup at me and is making me eat." Somehow, the fact that Srin is in charge of the hall and therefore does not technically have to obey kitchen people does not seem to register. "And you?" She snakes a hand out towards Shimmer's bubbly plate, which of course is not there. Nope, Shim would never take those. And so she won't notice if Srin takes one of the things that isn't there, right?
Jhenero finishes his bubbly and reaches for the klah mug, taking a sip - which is promptly spit back into the cup. "Ugh!" he murmurs and jumps up, striding over to the hearth at what seems to be top speed. Unfortunately, there's a kitchen woman who is apparently also practicing her invisibility today. "OOOOOF! Oh, I am /so/ sorry," Jhenero is heard to gush, reaching hands out to steady the poor girl as he turns a nice, dark shade of red - ooh, about like Shim's clothes? Yes, that's about it... Wonderful.
Jessa giggles at Jhenero and his collision with the kitchen woman. Poor apprentice is so frazzled that he can't even mind where he is in relation to others. Aww. The senior appy beams at Shimmer and her plate of non-existant bubblies, "I came here to eat." Which is a reasonable reply, because the kitchen is the origin of most, if not all, of the food in the Hall.
Shimmer giggles at Srin. "Well, is it good soup at least?" Shim blinks at one of her invisible bubblies apparently making it's invisible way towards Srin. Invisibly, of course. So, Shim takes no notice. Other than to quirk an eyebrow and glance around worriedly. That kitchen woman could possibly come over and chase her out with a spoon, you know, if she caught Shim feeding the crafthead invisible bubblies. Which are, of course, low calorie. Jhen is eyed and Shim muffles a giggle innocently. Yep. No giggle was heard from the peanut gallery. Nope nope. Jessa is grinned at, and she nods. "Good reason, good reason." she murmurs, before chomping on one of her bubblies. Which aren't there.
Sarin finishes off her soup and roll and, snagging one of the non-existant bubblies, gets to her feet. "Much as I loathe to depart such fine company, I've got a class to teach, and so I must be on my way. Good day, my friends!"
Luckily, Jhenero is way too caught up in his own 'situation' to worry about the peanut gallery. He finally gets the kitchen girl righted (and apologizes so profusely that she just disappears into the kitchen to escape him), fills his mug again, and walks much more sedately back to his seat - maybe hoping that his face won't match Shimmer anymore by the time he gets there? Anyway, he sinks into his seat and slips another bubbly from the tray, studying officially forgotten now.
Jessa just can't resist. Perhaps she's mean, or just in need of some entertainment. "So, did you happen to catch her name?" The senior appy leans forward a bit, "Y'know, with the Crafthead and a journeyman around, you ought to be more careful about the apprentice rules." Jess then leans back and snags one of the existential bubblies from the tray that is on the table and takes a bite of it.
Shimmer and her tray of bubblies (still hiding, you know) wave at Srin before they sneak over to Jhen and Jess' table, Shim plopping herself down, then plopping down the bubblies oh-so-gently, finishing off the one she's been chewing on with a flourish of her fingers. The peanut gallery decides to hold its peace about Jhenero's blush for the moment. Yep. Silence. Except for the oddly twitching lips, of course...Shim perks up slightly. "Ooh, apprentice rules breaking? Don't worry, I won't tell." Shim beams innocently, though she is sincere. "I've got a huge desire to go do something against the rules with Shad, and then give him the lecture about it before he gets himself promoted." she notes offhandedly, a mischevious twinkle dancing in sapphire eyes...
So much for the blush fading. Nope. It's definitely back, and when a vengeance. Jhenero makes a valient attempt to play it off, however, and even manages a wink. "Hmmm, good tactic to avoid suspicion, don't you think?" he jokes weakly, then turns to cock an eyebrow at Shim. "Really." Not that it doesn't seem like a Shimish thing to do, but... you'd think they'd be trained at least a /little/ bit by Journeyman...
Jessa giggles at Shimmer and nods. "Have fun." Because it is so much fun to torment folks like that. Oh so fun. To Jhen she grins and nods, "That was very sly, although next time, try to be just a little more sly." She winks at him, "And get her name." Of course the senior appy is just teasing, because it's fun to embarrass folks.
Beam. Shim fairly glows at Jhen as the blush is noted and grinned at. "Wondrous tactic. Spill." Shim orders with a wave of invisible bubbly, taking a bite out of it for good measure, of course. "Oh, of course! It'd be a blast." Of course, Shim's idea of a blast may differ slightly from others, but...it's still a heck of a lot of fun. Shim also beams at Jessa. "Oh, I will." she promises with a giggle. "Wait 'til the day after. Shad'll be storming around the hall." Shim rolls her eyes whimsically, and nods. "You don't even have her /name/? Fine, fine. What does she look like?" Shim immediately begins to interrogate him, azure eyes questing. She will get to the bottom of this.
Jhenero ducks his head, ears still flaming, though he's starting to control the rest of it. "Oh, of course I will, Jessa - you know me." Ummm, yeah. Cough. A startled glance goes to Shimmer, then over his shoulder as if she were still standing by the hearth to help him out. "Oh, you know. She, uhhh... She had this..." he waves his hand to the side of his face, then brushes his hand against his hair. Yeah, as if he took time to stare as he walked into her...
Jessa grins at Shimmer. Annoying folks and causing trouble. Jess' specialty. Whee. Looks like Shim shares some of Jess' passions. "Yeah, that'll be hilarious," she giggles at the journeyman, that'll be a fun thing to witness indeed. To Jhenero she raises a brow, "I don't know about that, Jhen, just make /sure/ you do get her name." The senior appy leans forward eagerly, "Yes, do tell us about her."
Shimmer rolls her eyes at Jhenero, and sighs. "You're absolutely hopeless." Shim notes with an airy wave of her hand, before finishing the similarly airy bubblie, eyeing the final invisible bubbly cautiously. Eat it now, or eat it later? Hmmm. "I mean, really. Bumping into a pretty girl, then not even flattering her or getting her name." Shim throws up her hands as if to be done with the very idea, and Jessa is giggled at. "I think so. After he finally gets ahold of himself, of course." Ah, the semi-innocence of Shim. Well, she's a blonde, what can we say?
Jhenero drops his gaze, then smiles slightly as his eyes fall on a bubbly - a /visible/ bubbly, he's through with things playing invisible. Ahhh, stuff the mouth. Great way to stall. He nods emphatically - as if he had just said something really important and definitive and special - and scoops a huge bubbly off of the tray. Yummm...
Bubbly party! Jess isn't one to miss out on one of those! The senior appy snatches up one of the very visible bubblies and scarfs it down. Aaaah. A second visible bubbly is sighted and also claimed as a victim to the insatiable appetite of Jessa the senior appy.
Visible bubblies? Piff. Shim decides to go for the last 'invisible' bubbly, and it is stuffed into her mouth. Yes, whole. Omp chomp chomp. "Mmmnnrrf! Mmffrnerf!!!!" And...with those fateful parting words, Shim abruptly darts out of the kitchens, bubbly pie still happily being chewed. "Mrf!" is called back before the journeywoman disappears...
Jessa giggles as Shimmer runs off, and then then the senior apprentice stuffs another bubblie into her mouth. Ahh... yum! Suddenly a strange look crosses Jess' face. "Hmph hmph!" she mumbles, then finishes chewing, and snags a sip of Jhen's klah, "Late for a class, bye!" And she darts off as well.
All references to worlds and characters based on Anne McCaffrey's fiction are © Anne McCaffrey 1967, 2000, all rights
reserved, and used by permission of the author.
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