Elendor
Cooking Lessons
A young woman trading furs meets a stonewright in Creatach who offers to have his wife give teach Verge some cooking tips.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Creatach Courtyard
Game Date: 6th of March, 3046
IC Time: Afternoon
Weather: Chilly breeze.
Description: [Finnian(#23897)]
All sorts of people have business in Creatrach, and there are many that don't. Some just hang around in hopes of getting some extra benefits, or extra food. One such man is Billy Laskin. He's in his thirties, with stringy brown hair that hangs long around his face and a patchy beard that's never trimmed. He works as stonewright, or so he claims, and has been slowly making small repairs on Creatrach for years.
It's taken years because Billy never works at any sort of staggering pace. Even now he's standing, sipping a drink and watching some of the men practice with spears in the yard.
[Finnian(#23897)]
Billy does his fair share of loitering, and when the woman brings her business closer to him he doesn't have any immediate objection. In fact, quite the opposite, it draws his interest more fully. "Got any tough deer hide? I need some new gloves.. " He asks, taking another sip of his drink.
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Well.. I only need one pair.." Billy murmurs, reaching foward to feel the thick hide. Would be nice and warm." He lets his hand drop away and his gaze wanders for a moment as he thinks. "You got a house near here? I could do some repairs, in exchange. Aye?"
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Aye, I can cut wood. That ain't no trouble.. Cooking? Bah.. No. My wife, she's the one that does that. She makes a good potato soup." Billy takes another drink from the cup, "What if.. she taught you a few things? Would that be worth anything?"
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Oh, sure.. That's fine. I could do that. I could spend a day down at your place and probably get you set well into the spring." The stonewright fingers the rabbit fur, then extends his hand. "The name is Billy Laskin. My home is just outside the keep. I could take you to meet the wife right now if you like."
[Finnian(#23897)]
Billy quirks a brow, starting to show an inkling of suspicion on his face as he begins to notice details. He says nothing though, being the proper gentleman that he is, and takes the furs from her to toss over his shoulder. "Would you like a hand with that?" He asks in an attempt to be polite, and if she agrees will aid her in carrying her belongings.
The man doesn't look like much, but seems to have a fairly mild manner about him. "The house isn't far.. Just outside the keep." He begins walking in the direction of his home, but glances back frequently to be sure he hasn't left her behind.
[Brev(#30997)]
The small house nestled under the eaves of the sheltering woods is no different in most respects from any other - somewhat ramshackle, built of oddments of stone and timber, with a thatched roof from which wisps of smoke drift slowly into the chill air. Across the all-pervasive smell of woodsmoke cuts another, wafting from the part-opened door of the dwelling and drifting a fair way up the path to the Keep: the savoury warmth of simmering stew. This may be a lean time of year, when vegetables have run out and there are no new livestock yet for the culling, but from somewhere the owner of this crude cottage has rustled up the ingredients for a fine meal.
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Oh, I've been here for years. Ceanns, they come and go, but repairs always need to be made and I just keep my nose out of business when there's trouble." As they reach the house a grin is widening on his face. "Mmm.. good stew tonight, I think." He pushes the door open and steps inside.
"Branya.. I brought a young lady with me to meet you. Her name is Verge." He moves to set down her belongings near the door, then holds up the skins. "I told you how I needed new gloves, so she's trading me these nice hides in exchange for some lessons from you on cooking." He smiles brightly, looking quite pleased with himself.
[Brev(#30997)]
Within the cottage, the scrubbed table is set for four, and all is spick and span (with little in the way of clutter to trip the unwary).
At Billy's call, there is the sound of a ladle dropping into its pot with a sudden splash, and then turns round. A plump woman of middle years, her brown hair tied back in a no-nonsense bun. "Billy? Home so early?" A pause, then, with a tiny quaver in her speech, she presses, "You've not been sent away from a job again, have you?" At the sight of Verge, the words trail into silence, followed by a flustered accusation to her husband, "You didn't tell me to expect visitors! There's not enough bread."
When Verde speaks the woman bobs a nervous curtsey, her skirts rustling, and turning toward the young woman addresses her next words to her. "Forgive my thoughtless lummox of a husband! You're - uh, you're most welcome, dearie."
[Finnian(#23897)]
"There's always enough bread, Branya." The man replies with a rolling of his eyes. "It'll be fine. The kids never eat as much as you think they will anyhow." Billy moves forward to give his wife a small kiss on the cheek, then goes on to the cooking pot to taste a sampling of the stew the woman is working on. "More than enough to eat, you always do a fine job, my dear."
[Brev(#30997)]
"No there's not! You spend the days lazing around and don't bring in half the pay you should, and-" The protests cut off in mid-word as Billy leans to kiss her, and she reaches out to give him a squeeze as she whispers fondly, "You big lummox. Mind, now - that stew's hot." Neatly distracted, she seems to forget the query about the job.
At Verge's offer she shakes her head vehemently. "Oh, goodness, no! You're a guest here, dearie - though it was nice of you to offer." Nervously she smooths down her apron, setting several spoons clinking. "Just you sit yourself down at the table and wait ... What did you say it was brought you here?" Clearly Billy's explanation has gone in one overworked ear and out the other. She does not, of course, give any indication to Verge of where the table is, though the room layout is fairly standard.
[Finnian(#23897)]
Perhaps Billy hasn't quite figured out how to explain the girl's disadvantage, because he hesitates for quite some time. "Oh, well, she's of a mind to learn to cook and I don't know any better at a cooking stove than you, my dear. I also told her I would chop some wood for her, so I might be gone all day tomorrow. It's a bit of a walk from here."
He takes to bite of the stew after blowing on it, "This is just fantastic!" Billy exclaims.
[Brev(#30997)]
At Billy's explanation a perplexed frown spreads across his wife's homely brow, only slightly softened by the compliment for her cooking. "But Billy dear, what about ... about your other work?" With a glance in Verge's direction, she leans toward her husband under cover of snatching the ladle back from him, and murmurs a worried-sounding, "No more charity to these- these refugees. We can't live off thin air, you know."
When she turns back to Verge, she is all business. "Well then, dearie, a trade's a trade." She turns away for perhaps a hearbeat to stir the stew, then looks back." So - what /can/ you cook?"
[Finnian(#23897)]
"I know, I know, I know.." Billy mutters softly in reply at her chiding. "It was a fair trade." He adds, then draws away and says. "Well! I think I'll leave you womenfolk to do whatever magic it is you do in the kitchen. I'll go find those kids and see what trouble they're into today. Probably over at the neighbor's.. " The man edges towards the door as he talks, then slips out before his wife can stop him.
[Brev(#30997)]
"They were /supposed/ to be gathering firewood," Branya answers her husband with a world-weary sigh, calling after him, "Billy? Don't be late."
Turning back to Verge, she lets out a thoughtful 'hmmph'. "So you'd like to learn about seasonings and the like? Easy when you've got the knack of it. I can certainly pass on a few tips - come over here, my dearie, and see what you think of this one." She lifts the ladle, the motion sending the scent of herbs and meat - chicken? - wafting round the room even more strongly, and waits expectantly.
Save for a couple of blankets hanging to dry near the hearth, draped over a frame that hangs from the ceiling, there is nothing in the way of obstacles.
[Brev(#30997)]
The rich broth is definitely chicken, though the small chunks of meat have a rather more gamey taste. The careful palate would detect hints of several different herbs, as well as slices of some sort of root - or maybe more than one kind, some are more chewy than others.
Branya clearly expected Verge to taste the concoction, for she nods approvingly as the woman does, following the visible cue up with a verbal one: "You liked it? My own recipe - I use chicken broth and barley to make the meat go further." She lowers her voice a little at that confession. "Given Billy's - well, there's not as much work for him as we'd like," she amends, then moves swiftly on. "In there there's thyme, marjoram and savory - thyme goes with chicken, and I'm partial to a bit of marjoram with squab." In her element now they're back on the safe topic of cooking, she rattles on confidently. "It's best to grow your own, I never do trust those merchant types not to eke their seasonings out with sawdust and the like." She tut-tuts.
[Brev(#30997)]
Branya listens, nodding absently, though her bright eyes fix on the visitor, their gaze sharp, and a thoughtful frown creases her brow at the mention of trade worries. "For a pot this size, I'd use maybe one good spoon of thyme and two of marjoram, it's not as strong," she replies briskly one the young woman has finished "The other secret's long, slow simmering. Set the pot on the hearth before you go out in the morning - mind it's far from the flames, else you'll return to char - and by evening even the stringiest bird or toughest old goat will be tender." She beams and winks.
All sorts of people have business in Creatrach, and there are many that don't. Some just hang around in hopes of getting some extra benefits, or extra food. One such man is Billy Laskin. He's in his thirties, with stringy brown hair that hangs long around his face and a patchy beard that's never trimmed. He works as stonewright, or so he claims, and has been slowly making small repairs on Creatrach for years.
It's taken years because Billy never works at any sort of staggering pace. Even now he's standing, sipping a drink and watching some of the men practice with spears in the yard.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Finnian(#23897)]
Billy does his fair share of loitering, and when the woman brings her business closer to him he doesn't have any immediate objection. In fact, quite the opposite, it draws his interest more fully. "Got any tough deer hide? I need some new gloves.. " He asks, taking another sip of his drink.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Well.. I only need one pair.." Billy murmurs, reaching foward to feel the thick hide. Would be nice and warm." He lets his hand drop away and his gaze wanders for a moment as he thinks. "You got a house near here? I could do some repairs, in exchange. Aye?"
[Verge(#32426)]
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Aye, I can cut wood. That ain't no trouble.. Cooking? Bah.. No. My wife, she's the one that does that. She makes a good potato soup." Billy takes another drink from the cup, "What if.. she taught you a few things? Would that be worth anything?"
[Verge(#32426)]
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Oh, sure.. That's fine. I could do that. I could spend a day down at your place and probably get you set well into the spring." The stonewright fingers the rabbit fur, then extends his hand. "The name is Billy Laskin. My home is just outside the keep. I could take you to meet the wife right now if you like."
[Verge(#32426)]
[Finnian(#23897)]
Billy quirks a brow, starting to show an inkling of suspicion on his face as he begins to notice details. He says nothing though, being the proper gentleman that he is, and takes the furs from her to toss over his shoulder. "Would you like a hand with that?" He asks in an attempt to be polite, and if she agrees will aid her in carrying her belongings.
The man doesn't look like much, but seems to have a fairly mild manner about him. "The house isn't far.. Just outside the keep." He begins walking in the direction of his home, but glances back frequently to be sure he hasn't left her behind.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
The small house nestled under the eaves of the sheltering woods is no different in most respects from any other - somewhat ramshackle, built of oddments of stone and timber, with a thatched roof from which wisps of smoke drift slowly into the chill air. Across the all-pervasive smell of woodsmoke cuts another, wafting from the part-opened door of the dwelling and drifting a fair way up the path to the Keep: the savoury warmth of simmering stew. This may be a lean time of year, when vegetables have run out and there are no new livestock yet for the culling, but from somewhere the owner of this crude cottage has rustled up the ingredients for a fine meal.
[Finnian(#23897)]
"Oh, I've been here for years. Ceanns, they come and go, but repairs always need to be made and I just keep my nose out of business when there's trouble." As they reach the house a grin is widening on his face. "Mmm.. good stew tonight, I think." He pushes the door open and steps inside.
"Branya.. I brought a young lady with me to meet you. Her name is Verge." He moves to set down her belongings near the door, then holds up the skins. "I told you how I needed new gloves, so she's trading me these nice hides in exchange for some lessons from you on cooking." He smiles brightly, looking quite pleased with himself.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
Within the cottage, the scrubbed table is set for four, and all is spick and span (with little in the way of clutter to trip the unwary).
At Billy's call, there is the sound of a ladle dropping into its pot with a sudden splash, and then turns round. A plump woman of middle years, her brown hair tied back in a no-nonsense bun. "Billy? Home so early?" A pause, then, with a tiny quaver in her speech, she presses, "You've not been sent away from a job again, have you?" At the sight of Verge, the words trail into silence, followed by a flustered accusation to her husband, "You didn't tell me to expect visitors! There's not enough bread."
When Verde speaks the woman bobs a nervous curtsey, her skirts rustling, and turning toward the young woman addresses her next words to her. "Forgive my thoughtless lummox of a husband! You're - uh, you're most welcome, dearie."
[Finnian(#23897)]
"There's always enough bread, Branya." The man replies with a rolling of his eyes. "It'll be fine. The kids never eat as much as you think they will anyhow." Billy moves forward to give his wife a small kiss on the cheek, then goes on to the cooking pot to taste a sampling of the stew the woman is working on. "More than enough to eat, you always do a fine job, my dear."
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
"No there's not! You spend the days lazing around and don't bring in half the pay you should, and-" The protests cut off in mid-word as Billy leans to kiss her, and she reaches out to give him a squeeze as she whispers fondly, "You big lummox. Mind, now - that stew's hot." Neatly distracted, she seems to forget the query about the job.
At Verge's offer she shakes her head vehemently. "Oh, goodness, no! You're a guest here, dearie - though it was nice of you to offer." Nervously she smooths down her apron, setting several spoons clinking. "Just you sit yourself down at the table and wait ... What did you say it was brought you here?" Clearly Billy's explanation has gone in one overworked ear and out the other. She does not, of course, give any indication to Verge of where the table is, though the room layout is fairly standard.
[Finnian(#23897)]
Perhaps Billy hasn't quite figured out how to explain the girl's disadvantage, because he hesitates for quite some time. "Oh, well, she's of a mind to learn to cook and I don't know any better at a cooking stove than you, my dear. I also told her I would chop some wood for her, so I might be gone all day tomorrow. It's a bit of a walk from here."
He takes to bite of the stew after blowing on it, "This is just fantastic!" Billy exclaims.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
At Billy's explanation a perplexed frown spreads across his wife's homely brow, only slightly softened by the compliment for her cooking. "But Billy dear, what about ... about your other work?" With a glance in Verge's direction, she leans toward her husband under cover of snatching the ladle back from him, and murmurs a worried-sounding, "No more charity to these- these refugees. We can't live off thin air, you know."
When she turns back to Verge, she is all business. "Well then, dearie, a trade's a trade." She turns away for perhaps a hearbeat to stir the stew, then looks back." So - what /can/ you cook?"
[Finnian(#23897)]
"I know, I know, I know.." Billy mutters softly in reply at her chiding. "It was a fair trade." He adds, then draws away and says. "Well! I think I'll leave you womenfolk to do whatever magic it is you do in the kitchen. I'll go find those kids and see what trouble they're into today. Probably over at the neighbor's.. " The man edges towards the door as he talks, then slips out before his wife can stop him.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
"They were /supposed/ to be gathering firewood," Branya answers her husband with a world-weary sigh, calling after him, "Billy? Don't be late."
Turning back to Verge, she lets out a thoughtful 'hmmph'. "So you'd like to learn about seasonings and the like? Easy when you've got the knack of it. I can certainly pass on a few tips - come over here, my dearie, and see what you think of this one." She lifts the ladle, the motion sending the scent of herbs and meat - chicken? - wafting round the room even more strongly, and waits expectantly.
Save for a couple of blankets hanging to dry near the hearth, draped over a frame that hangs from the ceiling, there is nothing in the way of obstacles.
[Verge(#32426)]
[Brev(#30997)]
The rich broth is definitely chicken, though the small chunks of meat have a rather more gamey taste. The careful palate would detect hints of several different herbs, as well as slices of some sort of root - or maybe more than one kind, some are more chewy than others.
Branya clearly expected Verge to taste the concoction, for she nods approvingly as the woman does, following the visible cue up with a verbal one: "You liked it? My own recipe - I use chicken broth and barley to make the meat go further." She lowers her voice a little at that confession. "Given Billy's - well, there's not as much work for him as we'd like," she amends, then moves swiftly on. "In there there's thyme, marjoram and savory - thyme goes with chicken, and I'm partial to a bit of marjoram with squab." In her element now they're back on the safe topic of cooking, she rattles on confidently. "It's best to grow your own, I never do trust those merchant types not to eke their seasonings out with sawdust and the like." She tut-tuts.
[Verge(#32426)]
Verge nods at Branya's description of the herbs used. "I m'self don't usually 'ave time to grow my own herbs, 'cause I 'ave t' travel from 'ere to Kierkgard and back usually, to be able an' sell enough furs." A slight smile at the lady's description of herb merchants. "Now I guess I'll need t' find someone where I can buy some thyme seeds off of." A slight pause, before she returns to the subject of fur trading. "Y'see, my father's a hunter, and I have t' sell the furs he collects, but I 'aven't been finding as many people to trade them off from me as I used to in the past months," Verge says as an aside. "Oh, but anyway. How much thyme and marjoram would you suggest be added?"
[Brev(#30997)]
Branya listens, nodding absently, though her bright eyes fix on the visitor, their gaze sharp, and a thoughtful frown creases her brow at the mention of trade worries. "For a pot this size, I'd use maybe one good spoon of thyme and two of marjoram, it's not as strong," she replies briskly one the young woman has finished "The other secret's long, slow simmering. Set the pot on the hearth before you go out in the morning - mind it's far from the flames, else you'll return to char - and by evening even the stringiest bird or toughest old goat will be tender." She beams and winks.
"But here am I chattering on. Go on, sit down, and I'll get things ready. Billy and the childer should be back any moment." She gives Verge a gentle shove in the direction of the table, then bustles about the hearth area and in and out of various cupboards, judging by the creaking and the thud of doors. The clatter of wooden plates and the rattling of spoons sounds as she lays out an extra place setting and puts the final touches to the family dinner.
Players: Trading, merchants, Verge, Brev, Fi, Finnian, Creatach, Bear
Located in: Dunlending
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