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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:51 am
"What's wrong wi' psychology?" Rory asked, not sure why Mr. Katan would care about that. "Would it really matter so long as she got a college education?"
The servants meekly came in to get the plates. The family looked done enough with their salads. The empty bowls were replaced with a plates, each with a slice of some kind of pie served along with steamed brussel sprouts. Rory nodded his thanks, digging into his food.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:12 am
Mr. Katan shook his head, a bit amused by Rory's question. "Psychology, the arts, Religious Studies, or any other degree only good for a job at a museum is essentially a useless degree. As someone who is looking to run a business, you'll have to learn what is and what is not a good investment. This particular degree is not a good investment." He gave the boy a "and that is that" look, glancing down at the food substance before him. Pie? They were having dessert already? What odd looking filling...
All three Katans bit into their slices at the same time, each one of them having the same, unsure look on their face as they realized they weren't having dessert yet. "Meat pie?" Mr. Katan glanced down at the rest of his piece, raising his eyebrows at how surprisingly good it was. He wasn't going to ask what kind of meat, not wanting to ruin it for himself.
Mrs. Katan swallowed her bite, only because she wasn't about to spit it out in front of everyone. What in the world was she eating!? What an odd texture, an odd taste. She, too, wouldn't ask. She might throw up a bit.
Lee munched away, fairly used to such a meal from having eaten Rory's cooking for a while now. "So I'm not allowed to get a degree in art, either?"
"Not if I can help it. I'm not paying for something like that, Mr. Katan said, taking another bite.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:21 am
"What's used in your world donnae always apply t' what w' need at Farstep. I think an art degree would be good fae Lee. She's fair handy wi' paintin'," Rory said, taking another bite of his food. "Aye, sir. Meat pie and stew are two staples o' th' didikai dinner table. Easy t' make, serves plenty, doesnae take a lot o' meat or other food t' prepare. 'sides, you had plenty o' wild rabbits livin' out behind th' stables. Now there be less o' them tearin' up your garden an' yard."
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:34 am
"Oh, good lord..." Mrs. Katan's hand went up to her mouth, standing and having a rather queasy look about her. "P-please excuse me." With that, she rushed out of the room, bound for the nearest bathroom.
Mr. Katan just frowned down at his pie, looking at it as if he should apologize to the little bunny that had been killed so he could eat it. Oh... but it was so good. Another bite wouldn't do any harm, would it?
Lee just ate more -- not at all upset, considering she'd had her fair share of rabbit these past months -- and was in a bad mood again now that the subject of college had been brought up, and even her boyfriend was wanting her to attend. What was so great about a university, anyway? "Where would you go? I mean, you should start applying now if you wanna go next year." Lee muttered, looking down at her plate instead of at the boy.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:23 am
Rory looked up as Mrs. Katan left, a slightly hurt expression on his face. She hadn't liked it? He looked down at the food on his plate, then at Mr. Katan, noticing he was hesitant, too. "Does it taste bad? You donnae hae t' eat it if you donnae like it." He sighed. The dinner wasn't going very well. He'd just wanted to cook for Lee like he did at home and share some of his culture with her family. Clearly it had been a mistake.
"I dunno where I'd gae," Rory murmured, shrugging. "I ne'er gave it thought before so I really donnae know how t' do all tha'." He sunk down in his chair, picking at his food. "Look, I ain't gonna make you gae if you donnae want t'. Hell, startin' t' think it wis a stupid idea fae me t' think about gaen either."
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:46 am
Mr. Katan did a double take at Rory, as if not understanding his question. How could he not know they weren't used to eating rabbit? "N-no, that's not it. It's actaully... God, I hate to admit it, but it's very good. It's different, though. We don't... eat... rabbits here..." Even after admitting that, though, the man took another bite, looking rather guilty for enjoying it so much.
Lee looked to Rory, noticing her bad mood was getting to him, too. It was true that misery loves company, but she didn't want Rory upset. Hesitantly reaching out to touch his arm so he'd look at her, she shrugged a bit. "I think you should go, if that's what you wanna do. Just... don't expect me to come along." It was at times like this, when Rory had his pouting face, that Lee wanted to tackle him and bombard the boy with kisses.
His focus on Rory again, Mr. Katan cut in. "Lee knows quite a few colleges, and they know her, considering how many trips we made before she left. Surely she'd agree to help you with that." He thought a moment, taking another bite of his pie. "You'll have to take some sort of standardized test, though, if you haven't already. That's really the only thing that can prove to them that you're a smart kid." He was already set on getting Rory educated, whether Lee was going or not. Would Lee really go, though, if she could study art...? But why waste the money? Then again, if she got any kind of a degree now, it would be much easier to persuade her to get a useful degree later on. Decisions, decisions...
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:46 am
"Rabbit's sort of standard around Farstep," Rory said quietly. "There are so many an' it's easier on us t' eat them than t' take out one o' our very few livestock." He looked at Lee when she spoke. "I'd feel better if you were there, but I wonnnae push you, girl." He looked back at Mr. Katan, a slight frown on his face. "They're gonna make me prove tha' I'm smart?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:57 pm
Lee just kicked her legs a bit under her chair, sighing lightly as she thought. She wasn't going to go if she'd have to study business... but maybe, if Rory took her father's advice and had her show him different schools, she could take a look at what other degrees there were. She couldn't study art, fine. Maybe there was something else that might interest her.
Mr. Katan just smiled back at Rory, shaking his head a bit. "Everyone has to do it. Lee's already taken the test." He laughed uncomfortably, not really wanting to tell Rory the results. Needless to say, she wasn't the brightest girl.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:08 pm
"Alreet. I'll do it," Rory said, pushing his now empty plate away from him. "But only if Lee shows me some schools." He grinned at her. "What d'you say, girl? W' can hae a look at degrees fae you, too."
The servants popped in again to see if the family was ready for the next course.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:19 pm
Mrs. Katan pushed past the servants, sitting at her chair again, not saying a word. She brushed her hair out of her face, purposefully not looking down at her plate, or over at anyone sitting at the table. It was almost as if she were embarrassed...
Lee blinked over at Rory, not really giving her mother much attention. "You're... a mind reader." She laughed a bit before nodding and smiling at the boy. He knew her well, it seemed.
Mr. Katan just smiled and nodded, finishing up the last of his pie. Perhaps there was hope for his daughter yet.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:22 pm
The servants descended upon the table, collecting the empty places and bringing new plates of food: duck with apple dressing. Rory nodded to the servants and looked up at the Katans. "I hope duck is more t' your likin'. Pretty sure outsiders eat it as much as w' do, yeah?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:35 pm
Mr. Katan nodded, looking to his wife to make sure she wasn't going to run away again. She ate duck, he knew she did. He waited, however, for her to take a bite.
The woman noticed her husband staring at her and cocked her head, giving him an obstinate look, but hesitantly and reluctantly took a bite anyway. She was rather disappointed, but for the strangest of reasons. Rory had done well... and this duck was actually good. She was enjoying pikey food, and she was disgusted with herself.
Lee made a quiet "Mmmm" sound to herself as she took the first bite, finding the meal got better and better each time the servants brought in the new course.
Mr. Katan, satisfied that his wife was going to stay seated and eat her food, dug into his own, a smile on his face at the taste. "Rory, you cook like this every day?" Surely Lee didn't eat this well on a regular basis...
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:38 pm
"Aye, sir. It's th' only way me parents taught me how t' cook," Rory answered with a smile. "An' now I got more o' a reason t' cook." He looked at Lee, love clearly showing in his eyes. He glanced back at Mr. Katan. "Donnae cook duck e'eryday, though. Lee really likes when I make venison."
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:51 pm
Mr. Katan watched Rory as he ate, smiling a bit to himself at how the boy seemed to be keeping his promise of spoiling her. He would make a good husband -- would make an even better one if he got himself an education, too.
Mrs. Katan spoke up, taking her time carving out a piece of meat. "I certainly hope you don't regularly eat this much, Lee. Then again, you have been gaining weight recently. You'll never be able to fit into a wedding dress at this rate..." Her words were treated more as a fact than an insult, and instead of looking up at her daughter, she took a bite of her duck.
"Eh?" Lee looked back at her mom, worry on her face. Had she really gained that much weight? If anything, she thought she'd lost some, now that she was up and doing things all the time with her job and generally not having a car to take her from place to place. Looking down at herself, she decided that, maybe, it was possible that she could have gained five pounds or so... Oh, she didn't want to look at Rory right now. This was embarrassing.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:00 am
"She ain't gained tha' much weight," Rory said, totally standing up for his future bride. "She gets plenty o' exercise at Farstep. She ain't bone-thin like when I met her, but I like her as she is. Ain't a dress in th' world worth wearin' tha' cannae be altered t' fit someone."
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