|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 3:17 pm
Avner took a few steps following the other in order to get a peek into the small larder he had stepped into. He was taking in anything and everything he could, amazed by how much you could fit into a comfortable space. If they got creative they could easily do the same. He wasn't sure how the other Fallen would feel, but perhaps starting over or adding onto some of the buildings they had would greatly improve their living conditions. They'd certainly have to wait until they could get this farming thing under control first. Couldn't have their group starving and without shelter.
He stepped away before the other returned in order to keep from anyone feeling uncomfortable with his presence. He took up a space by Lahasha again, happy to let them lead the evening. He'd been on alert for so many days now, even while attempting sleep, that it felt good to let go a bit. He wasn't fully comfortable like he had become with their group and their 'home', but he was enough to attempt some enjoyment from this evening, and still keep an eye on their host.
He picked up one of the potatoes and inspected it, before lowering it enough to watch Lahasha handle them. Had they tried these? If their host spoke so highly of them perhaps this would be one of the first they needed to work on when they got back. They didn't look as enticing as other plants they'd come across foraging, but he couldn't argue with something being filling. It was exactly what his poor stomach was needing right about now.
Avner followed Lahasha's lead and grabbed another brush. He watched her movements and noticed there wasn't anything special to scrubbing them. Alright, he could do this. He was pretty grateful for it, with how exhausted he was he wasn't sure if he could do anything more extraneous. He got into a rhythm, but had it broken by her voice. He looked up at her, tilting his head in question and replying softly to just her, “Of course. I'm happy to. We've been through a lot together, it wouldn't be fair to leave you to the work yourself. Nor could I feel right leaving Lugh to care for us. It's the least I could do.” he paused a moment, focusing on a potato before switching it out for another one, “I should be the one thanking you. You were right, and now here we are. No matter what happens from here on out it can only be for the betterment of our group. Thanks for putting up with me,” he gave her a tired half smile. “I know I'm not the most trusting so I appreciate your understanding and willingness to do this despite it.” Something rose up in his eyes, perhaps it was the hope that this meeting would turn it around for them, but he actually looked somewhat glad “I owe you. Next time you want to go adventuring to find some random character in the forest I'll go without complaint.”
Avner set the last potato with the scrubber down and moved a safe distance towards Lugh. Just enough to keep his own space, but still close enough to see what he was working on. The rice sparked a memory instantly, that was something he knew! Not that it brought back fond memories, but having something that was in common was almost comforting. Now he'd have to trust that Lugh knew how to make the stuff taste better, and less mushy, hopefully.
He watched curiously as Lugh pulled up something that definitely didn't look like a plant. It had eyes and its flesh shone. That was edible? How in the world did you eat something like that? Avner perked up and blinked at the other's question. Slowly he turned to look at Lahasha before back at Lugh, “We, uh, we haven't had the pleasure of eating many different things in our lifetime. I can tell you I haven't had 'meat' before, but I'm not one to pass up the opportunity. I can't speak for Lahasha of course.”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 3:45 pm
Lahasha couldn't fathom a reason that she would have to find another stranger abroad that she wanted to seek out purposefully, but she appreciated the sentiment from Avner. It almost brought a smile to her face. Almost. They soon finished cleaning the potatoes and set their brushes down, waiting for more instructions. Lahasha was just about to ask Lugh what they should do next when he seemed to have his own questions for them.
She seemed equally as puzzled as Avner and even gave a slight shrug when he looked in her direction. She had heard of eating 'meat' before...usually referring to their Rakshasha masters back in the old world. It meant...eating the flesh of other creatures, didn't it? Back then, she had held no resentment over the fact that such things had been reserved for their feline masters. If they ate other creatures, surely it was some vile practice, was it not? She wanted no part of that.
But now, she gave the matter thought in a new light. If Lugh ate this 'meat', perhaps it wasn't so vile a practice as she'd once thought. She'd heard a Rakshasha taunting and threatening to have one of the Fallen slaves boiled alive once for some minor transgression. The threat had been to make both dinner and an example of him. How much truth had been in that statement? She couldn't be sure. But clearly, the current topic was nothing like that. This wasn't a threat towards a living, speaking being, it was...one of those small creatures that swam in the irrigation pond's waters. Did that make it different? Did that make it okay? Clearly, the creature was already dead...it wasn't like they could just...let it go again.
Was that how these strange people survived? Not only on the fruits of the land, but the lesser creatures as well? Though it made her a bit uncomfortable at first, having never considered consuming the flesh of another creature...there was another part of her that was curious. Very curious about not only what that could mean for their people's survival...but just what did it taste like? She'd already been introduced to more pleasant flavors in this home than she'd ever had previously in her life.
If the offer hadn't come from here, from Lugh, she may have never seriously considered it.
After seeming to consider the question for some time, her answer followed Avner's. "We were never allowed to have meat before. At least, not where I was. It was reserved solely for the mas--for the Raks," she hurriedly corrected herself, frowning at the lapse in thought. She'd never call those monsters 'masters' again as long as she lived. "I've...never even considered it before now, but...I would like to try it at least?" Another source of food would serve them well, if it worked out.It had never occurred to Lugh that they never would have even had an opportunity to try fish or any other meat before now. He'd heard about how dire the situation had been back in their old world, but...he supposed the strict limitations of their diets hadn't really been expounded upon in detail before. He just knew that most of what he'd served and introduced Lahasha to previously had been new for her. He frowned for a moment, but hearing their answers, attempted to respond with a joke to lighten the mood. "Well then, I suppose I'll have to work hard to give you a good first impression of baked fish filets then, won't I? No being lazy tonight!"
Lugh set up his work space with the bucket on the floor below the edge of the counter where he set the cutting board and fish. Fortunately, it was only two fish, so little mess and he should be done relatively quickly. Laying each fish on its side, he cleaned them in a swift, methodical manner, one at a time. Slice in, just behind the head, turn the knife at the backbone to cut all the way down the side to the tail. Set the filet aside and flip the fish over; repeat on the other. Repeat with second fish. The heads and guts were quickly dropped into the bucket while he finished the finer work of using his filet knife to carefully trim off the skins of the filets leaving only clean pale pieces of meat. While he washed everything off, he explained to the two Fallen nearby, "We only eat this part of the fish, but that doesn't mean the rest goes to waste. I'll take the rest outside to bury in the compost heap. The bodies will break down in the soil and be used to feed the crops on the farm in turn, so none of the fish goes to waste."
The fish filets were laid out on a flat metal sheet, then Lugh selected a few choice herbs and other flavorings for the fish. Lemon juice, a little garlic, some basil and rosemary. Just a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. Nothing too heavy to overpower the flavor of the fish. Also, he certainly didn't want to do anything too heavy or complicated for his guests. If they hadn't been eating well, too much rich food may not settle well on their stomachs. Keep it simple, but keep it tasty.
washing his hands again, he turned back to the Fallen and the potatoes. "How about we get these chopped up, hmm? Just need small cubes, just cut up the whole thing, bite-sized pieces." Lugh had a couple of simpler stone knives for this sort of work which he set within reach of the Fallen on the counter before going back to the pantry to get the extra seasonings he'd need for the potatoes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 2:27 pm
Avner nodded at Lahasha’s reply, noting she was more willing to speak about it than himself. He realized he had been vague, but for him it was what he could muster. It couldn’t affect him emotionally, but for whatever reason it was still difficult to do so. Perhaps he just didn’t want the memories to play in his mind or he just wanted them to fade. Either way, they’d be trying something new he supposed. Guess it couldn’t be all that bad if Lugh would take the time to raise and make it…
His joke went over Avner’s head, the fallen instead focusing in on his preparations. If this farming thing wasn’t going to work out for them, perhaps they could switch gears and focus on meals like this? He watched, making mental notes as he went. It was actually a relatively quick and easy process. It was obtaining these fish that may be a bit more difficult for them, but one thing at a time right? He turned his head away from the work as the other spoke. “Compost, hmm?” He muttered to himself. Is that what they had been missing? Was that the link to a great yield like Avner had seen outside? He'd have to remember this when they got to the conversation.
“Can do.” Avner said, turning back to the potatoes. He was about to reach into his chest cavity when he noted Lugh already had some sitting out for them. Well, that was nice. He picked one of these up and a potato. Chopping, now that was something familiar and not needing an explanation for him. It wasn’t much of a comfort though, he still knew he was way out of his league here. Still, this break gave him the perfect opportunity to go back over everything he’d seen. He knew he’d need to remember all of this. He hadn’t been here long and already he could count it as successful in many ways.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:01 pm
The first potato was chopped a bit slowly, as if Lahasha was reminding herself of the process and the feel of the blade slicing through the tuberous root. The second and third and subsequent potatoes went a bit quicker. Sparing a glance at Avner, she noted that he seemed intensely concentrated on the task at hand. Or perhaps he was preoccupied with his own thoughts. She knew all too well how much all this was to take in. She let conversation lapse for now, relishing instead in the quiet, comforting sounds of food preparation. The pile of rough potato cubes grew until there were no more whole potatoes left."Wonderful! Now, just need to get everything cooking and we can relax for a bit before we eat," Lugh explained, spreading the potato cubes over a flat baking sheet. A drizzle of olive oil from a decanter, followed by salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of rosemary crushed between his palms and the angel marked preparations done. Within a couple minutes, he had the potatoes and the fish baking inside the oven and the rice boiling in the pot. Fortunately, none of it would take very long.
He focused back on his guests at the table. "I appreciate the help. Now, how about something to drink?" He pulled three wooden cups from a cabinet and moved to fill them at the earthen water jug in the corner. He set one each in front of the two Fallen, then kept the last for himself. "Tell me, how have you been? I'm glad to see you found your kin. Everything going well for you then?" Lugh had weighed his words carefully before asking. He didn't want to pry; he'd tried not to push Lahasha to talk about anything she hadn't been comfortable speaking about before. However, his curiosity was practically screaming from the back of his mind. How had Lahasha found the others? How did they fare? Was there any sign of these enemies from their homeland? He hoped they were faring well, but he was suspicious. Using Lahasha as a point of comparison, he noted she didn't seem in quite as good a health as when she'd left before...but, she wasn't exactly sickly, nothing like when they'd first met. While he certainly didn't mind the visit, he had to wonder just why they were here. He had been unable to convince her to stay longer before because she needed to find the others. He didn't get the feeling that she would come back simply to visit for 'old time's sake'. It didn't seem to fit. But, perhaps he was overreacting. Part of him wanted to believe that she'd wanted to come back and reassure him that everything was fine, so that he wouldn't continue to worry about her.
Probably not, but it was a nice thought, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
