2017-07-22: Of Cakes and Churros

• Log: Of Cakes and Churros
• Cast: Jacqueline Barber, Kourin, Ethius Hesiod
• Where: Lacour - Market District
• Date: 07-22-2017
• Summary: Jacqueline invites Kourin to a cafe to see how she's adjusting to the Caravan Kinship. Ethius joins them as well, bearing the fruit of his endeavors... The rotting, churro-shaped fruit.

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========================<* Lacour - Market District *>========================

The Lacour Market District does not rival that of the major commercial powers of Filgaia in terms of volume or value of trade, but it the class of the world in traditional weapons and protective gear. More than a hundred individual shops line the streets of the district, each bearing its own name, specialties, and branding. Almost any kind of weapon or armour can be found in Lacour, and odds are good that anything innovative will be found here first...or make its way here in short order.

The merchants of the Market District are proud and competitive, and walking down the streets is an exercise in patience, as they bombard passersby with litanies in praise of their work and curses for the rust-ridden works of their neighbours. At no time is this competition more fierce than during the Lacour Tournament of Arms; this annual exhibition to name the World's Greatest Fighter includes considerable prestige for the merchants sponsoring their entries, and talented fighters will find their services heavily sought-after.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It'd been a while since Jacqueline had had a proper chat with Kourin. Since it seemed she'd been designated the leader of this bunch, it fell on her to ensure that every member of the Kinship was doing well. Of course, it wasn't just her position that drove her: no, she was also motivated by the fact that every member of the Caravan - yes, including Ethius - was someone she considered a good friend.

So, she decided to invite Kourin out to a cafe she had been to a few times - once when she met with Matilda, and once the day before when she met with Emma.

She had, of course, checked with the owner to ensure that Spirit would be allowed in. How did she manage that?

...It was probably better not to ask.

She's sitting at a table now, waiting for Kourin to arrive. And, of course, she wouldn't object if anyone else were to show up with her.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin looks around slightly nervously as she arrives--she's more comfortable outside of the Adlehyde region and the reach of the Guard, but there's a lot of Guard here for the tournament all the same, including White Knight Leo himself, so she's still cautious.

Spirit, being a dog, is not cautious, and pads over to Jacqueline happily while his Mistress pauses to check the room.

Satisfied that the cafe is safe enough, Kourin enters and slips into a seat.

"Hello, Miss Jacqueline," she murmurs. "Thank you for inviting me.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline smiles and waves toward Kourin as she sees her walk through the doors. She'd checked out the cafe herself, of course, but she doesn't blame her for being cautious. Of all of them, except for maybe Ethius, she was probably the one whose situation was most precarious. Having a bounty on one's head was not easy, she imagined.

She reaches down to pet Spirit as he approaches her, and as Kourin takes her seat.

"And thank you for coming, Kourin! Can I get you anything? Some tea? Something sweet, perhaps?" She asks.

While Kourin thinks about this, Jacqueline glances off the side.

"I am sorry for bringing you here, considering the situation..." She starts, referring to Lacour rather that this particular cafe. "I hope things haven't been too difficult for you."

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin shakes her head. "It has not been too difficult. Compared to Adlehyde...it has been quite straightforward to stay out of trouble. Um, do you think they have peppermint tea?"

Spirit nuzzles at Jacqueline's hand as she pets him. "I don't mind being here...since it's with friends." Kourin smiles--the expression still unfamiliar.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin shakes her head. "It has not been too difficult. Compared to Adlehyde...it has been quite straightforward to stay out of trouble. Um, do you think they have peppermint tea?"

Spirit nuzzles at Jacqueline's hand as she pets him.

"I don't mind being here...since it's with friends." Kourin smiles--the expression still unfamiliar.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Speaking of precarious situations, Ethius is present not far off. He is holding a box of churros that are... long past any sort of expiration date, or idea of edibility at all. It is literal garbage that he is holding onto and not disposing of. Filgaia has at least grasped the idea of collecting trash, in some corners of the world. He should be a participant in this great development of sanitation, one of the boons of greater human society.

It kind of looks like he's trying to offer some to people?! That's crazy, even for him. Predictably, no one goes for it.

He heads inside the cafe shortly after, keeping the box clutched close by as though it were one of the most valuable things he has ever held in his life, or within the scope of how much of it he remembers. It's more than a little bizarre, even for him!

"Miss Kourin. Miss Jay." He says, maintaining that straight-faced neutral tone of voice even though he is undeniably in the middle of something abnormal and maybe dangerous by some stretch not yet measured?

He tilts his head down. "Spirit."

At least he isn't offering the dog the rotten food.

"Would it be all right if I joined your company?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"True. I imagine their focus is mainly on the Tournament." Jacqueline replies with a nod. Leo had been eliminated, but they still had one person left in that race.

Peppermint tea? Jacqueline thinks for a moment and nods.

"I believe so, actually." She says. She stands up then and goes up to the counter, and returns shortly with the requested tea, as well as some for herself.

She also has a plate of small cakes which her, which are offered to Kourin as well.

'With friends...' Jacqueline smiles. When she had first met Kourin, she wouldn't have expected her to ever be in a situation like this. It was heartwarming, to see her smile like that.

"Yes, that does make things a lot more enjoyable, doesn't it?" She replies. Speaking of friends...

"How has the Caravan Kinship been treating you, Kourin? Is there anything you'd like me to take into consideration, going forward?" She asks.

And, of course, speaking of the Caravan Kinship, there's another member now!

Jacqueline glances toward Ethius, offering him a wave. Her expression becomes...slightly reluctant upon observing the box of churros he has with him.

Wait a second. That box is...kind of familiar. But...no, it couldn't be. Could it? It was reasonable that he would go there...but would he really decide to bring that of all things with him!?

She forces the bafflement off of her face.

"Ah, Ethius, good to see you! And, of course! I'm alright with it if Kourin is." She says with a smile.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin takes the tea in both hands, holding it beneath her nose, closing her eyes, and taking a deep smell. A satisfied look crosses her face, and she takes a small sip before responding.

"I have been well with the Caravan," she says. "I should like to be able to be more helpful to you all, though. There must be some way I can earn my keep."

Spirit sits up like a Good Dog at the sight of the cakes, his tail thump thump thumping the ground.

"Ah, of course, Mr. Ethius can join us."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

This man must have a twisted sense of what's truly valuable or not. If he has been... there... he hasn't declared such in those periods of time in which he drifts away from the Caravan Kinship to do whatever it is he has to do by his lonesome. (Maybe that's why he's here now.)

"Your invitation is appreciated," he says, as he sits down and plops the box right there on the table. Look at all those rotten mold-covered churros. Mm, mmm, mmm. (Blech!!)

"I apologize if I am abruptly derailing the topic of your conversation," Ethius says as he is almost certainly about to segue into the matter of the churros.

"I feel what is more important, Miss Kourin, is ensuring your comfort at this time of need in a place so far removed from your home." Okay, so he isn't about to discuss the churros. Why did he even bring them here? "Is there anything you would like to have procured, before we take our leave of Lacour?"

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods. It was an understandable request, to want to be able to do something to earn her keep. She could say 'no, it's fine, you don't have to'...but that'd be doing Kourin a disservice.

"Well, you've got a few options, Kourin. If you like, I could teach you how to prepare some of my potions? You could help me in that regard. Or, if that doesn't suit your tastes, perhaps you could ask Shalune to teach you a bit about machines?"

Shalune teaching anyone was an interesting notion. Jacqueline was interested in seeing how that'd work out.

"Other than that...you could help Catenna and Lunata in the kitchen, or help Cyre gather ingredients for everyone." She suggests. "The important thing is that you do something you enjoy, Kourin."

She glances toward Ethius then, stealing a glance at those - could you even still call those churros now? - before returning her attention to the man himself.

"That's a good question, Kourin." Jacqueline agrees, and looks toward her friend.

She's...still curious about the churros, but she'll let Ethius get to them in his own time.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin frowns. "I think...perhaps...assisting in the kitchen...might be best. I don't...I suppose there is actually something I would like to have, though it is...perhaps trivial." She looks down at the tea in her hand, then takes another slow sip, savoring the taste.

"If...it's not too much trouble, I should like some clothes of my own that are...not practical. Does that make sense? I only have the practical clothes on my back..."

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

Ethius is quiet as Jacqueline runs down mention of chores that Kourin could help with. He brings a hand up against his forehead at the thought of brewing potions. He blinks at mention about learning about machines from Shalune, hand tilting to cover more of his face. There doesn't seem to be much of any reaction about the other helpful activities that Kourin could assist with - but something about those first two...?

"I am in agreement." Ethius says, lowering his hand from his face. That's two for 'learning how to cook,' then. He nods his head slowly as Kourin discusses the idea of procuring further clothing. "I believe I understand your request. Do you have a preference for any specific colors or styles, Miss Kourin?"

The churros continue to rot and mold and foul the air around them. They think she would look fetching in white and green. It's totally in style in the mold world.

"I would also like to know what the cooking was like, from where you were from." ...Why would Ethius want to know? It's not like he's ever shown much interest in food.

...

In traditionally appetizing, even edible food, anyway...

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline smiles. That is the smile of someone who is planning something. Or rather, Planning Something. She nods, then.

"I don't think that's trivial at all, Kourin. I'd be happy to help you with that. In fact...I'm sure everyone would." She replies. She would definitely need to see who'd be up for a trip to help to help Kourin get some new clothes.

...Wait, was it possible Ethius was interesting in helping out with that to? She certainly didn't expect that, but she was interested in seeing what his input would be.

Her attention is drawn to the churros again as Ethius brings up cooking. Their presence was...kind of making it hard for her to eat anything. Those poor cakes would go untouched, by Jacqueline at least.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Kourin nods, almost as shy as she had been when first meeting Jacqueline and Ethius. "Blue...and silver," she says. "I don't know the styles here but I would...I would like something that might turn..." She blushes slightly.

"That might draw someone in particular's attention."

As for food back home..."We often had very little, at the orphanage, when I was growing up. Althena provided, of course, and the Church did not let us go hungry, but neither were we treated to grand feasts. Often we had simple fare, such as oatmeal. I...learned to savor each bite all the same."

It's pretty true--anyone who's seen Kourin eat or drink can tell she takes a great deal of pleasure in the simple acts.

"In Neo-Vane, things were different, of course--much more variety of food was available, and...I never came to feel comfortable with the excess of the other students, but I did develop a fondness for spicy foods."

She pauses.

"And strawberries. I would indulge myself with fresh strawberries, I will admit." She looks ashamed, for some reason.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

It does appear that he's interested in helping with the 'getting new clothes' effort, but... he's also a man. His input there might not be as valuable, but, it is a strikingly odd thing for him to show interest in. Check out ruins, get weird around lost technology... somewhat reasonable by Drifter standards.

"Strawberries, then." He brings a hand up to his face. Jay would recognize this small variation to his gesture where he's covering half of his face and, sometimes, looking out around them. That's the unmistakable 'Ethius is being paranoid again.' Over strawberries?! What's so important about strawberries to set him off?! That's just... weird. Of all the descriptors about food and cooking from her previous life, it's strawberries that gets him worked up...

...

"I see. I will endeavor to remember this." He doesn't lower the hand from his face.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods knowingly. She has a feeling she knows what this is about. Kourin had let upon about this before.

"Well, admittedly, I don't have much experience looking for clothes like that...but I'd certainly be willing to help you look for them." Jacqueline replies with a nod.

She listens as Kourin explains the food situation. It...explained a lot, definitely, about Kourin.

"Well...you're with us, now. You won't have to worry about that anymore." She says. "And...I'll be sure to let Lunata know about the strawberries. I'm sure she could come up with something wonderful."

She glances toward Ethius, then, studying him carefully. That gesture...

"Ethius, if you don't mind my asking..." She starts. "What's this?"

She gestures down to the churros with her head. She had to know, now, if they were talking about food.

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

"I'm sure I have less experience..." Kourin says. "I simply...hope to be able to..."

She fidgets with her tea, then takes a sip. She seems to be done discussing that, though the blush on her face speaks volumes.

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

"This is valuable." Ethius plumbs the depths of suspension of disbelief as he lays a hand on the box of expired foodstuffs. The volume of his voice takes a downturn. This means it is serious. "It appears to be a delicacy to the Metal Demons."

A far more reasonable explanation is that IT IS RAW GARBAGE AND IT IS NO LONGER FOOD. He will not accept this explanation.

"Lacour has declared neutrality to all worldly conflicts, but I am certain the Metal Demons have spies present throughout. Needless to say, it is no longer good for any of us to eat... but I may be able to compromise the operations of a number of them should I continue to attempt to offer them to passers by."

Yes, this garbage is part of a genuine Ethius Hesiod Counter-Espionage operation. Something as crazy as 'this looks like something Metal Demons eat, if someone takes one to eat, they must be one of them.'

"...With emphasis on 'may be able to,'" Ethius appends, as though acknowledging that the chances of success on any front are slim. "I will have more to share at a later time." How much later? Usually he thinks nothing of occupying long spaces of Jay's time discussing difficult or scary matters. Why would he relent now? He moves the box of churros a ways away from the cake, and from the tea-sipping young girl gripping with her emotions concerning a member of the opposite sex.

This is uncharacterful restraint.

He lowers the hand away from his face to let it rest on the table.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

In this case, not having much experience meant Jacqueline didn't have any. She'd just never really had the time or inclination. Though considering Kourin's situation, she still wouldn't dispute the claim that she had less.

Of course, she says that Kourin is a little embarrassed about this, so she doesn't press the subject. Instead, she turns her attention toward Ethius.

She's...a little dumbfounded.

"I...I appreciate your efforts, Ethius, but..." She pauses, massaging the back of her neck.

"I...don't think this type of food is restricted solely to Metal Demons. And, not to mention...they're way past edibility. I don't think even they would accept them in this point..." She tries to explain. Would he understand that?

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

There's no telling about Ethius' own experience. If it's anything like what he's doing right now, uhh, that would explain a lot of things about his solitary nature!

He remains unflappable in the face of (rightful, factual, deserved, completely correct) confusion.

"Where I found them leads me to believe otherwise." If he found it 'already in the garbage' in some Metal Demon hangout, he'd have lost all credibility and right to ever embark on another Crazy Ethius Theory again, but apparently he did not find it in the garbage. Was it just sitting out on a table, rotting? (Yes.)

"Nonetheless, I find it an experiment worth pursuing while..." While? He halts abruptly. He turns his head away slightly. While what? Is he going to finish the sentence? (No.)

"I apologize. I should be on my way. I will be within Lacour's city limits within the forseeable future." He moves to stand. "I appreciate the moment of downtime... Miss Jay, Miss Kourin. Spirit." With that, he takes the box in one arm and ambles away from the mouth-watering cake that he not once appeared to consider ever indulge within. What man on Filgaia could resist such a delicious confection?! Honestly!

It would appear Lacour is doomed to have someone attempting to ferret out Metal Demon spies with use of mold-covered churros for an indeterminate amount of time. In the big picture of things... it could be worse?

With that incomplete sentence he neglected to finish, though, there might be a bigger picture in play.