define('WP_CACHE', true); Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC – Crossed Paths – Logs

Jan 15

Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC

Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC

In Which The Two Find The Mess To Be A Fine Feast.

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Arrin says: They soon arrive in the mess hall. There are already other beasts there, getting their share of food and eating. The hall buzzes with chatter.

Catamount says: The ferret quickly spots a table set up buffet style and leads Soquan over to the end of the line. “Mmmm… Smells good!”

Arrin says: Soquan grins. “Tell me what there is to eat.”

Catamount says: The ferret cranes her neck to see to the serving tables. “Let’s see, there’s plenty of scones with honey to put on them. A pretty hearty looking stew, I think I see some carrots and… Dumplings! And there’s this big platter of baked potatoes.”

Arrin says: The otter smacks his lips hungrily and his stomach gurgles. “The stew and dumplings smell wonderful.”

Catamount: The ferret nods enthusiastically. “Nearly to the start of the table now.”

Arrin says: He nods. “Okay.” He grins at her. “How about I get us a table and you can get the food?”

Catamount says:  “Sounds good!”

Arrin says: He nods and steps out from their place in line, going off in search of a table.

Catamount says:  Presently the ferret reaches the head of the serving table. She picks up a pair of plates and deftly tucks two sets of utensils into her fingers under one of the plates.  A mouse in line frowns before being told by her companion that the mustilids are guests and that the ferret was getting dinner for her friend.

Arrin says: He finds one after a few moments and sits down, waiting.

Catamount says:  Jozra smiles at one of the serving mice. “Glad you guys are serving up the grub. Don’t think I could have managed with my hands so full.” She reaches the end of the line where a scrawny young mouse balances a pair of napkins on the ferret’s forearms, giggling the whole time.

After carefully navigating the maze of tables, Jozra makes her way over to the pair of seats saved by Soquan. “Phew! These plates were starting to get heavy!”

Arrin says: His ears swivel on his head as he listens to the various conversations. He grins at Jozra as she approaches. “Need help?”

Catamount says: Jozra sets one of the plates down in front of the otter with a slight clunk. “Nope. Here ya go.” She sets her own plate down and distributes the utensils.

Arrin says: He smiles. “Thank you.” He places the napkin on his lap, picks up the utensils and tries the stew. Once he swallows, he looks towards her. “Wait ’till you try this…”

Catamount says:  The ferret grins as she settles herself in her own chair.  The first bite of the stew is absolutely delicious and she smiles broadly. “Sure beats anything I could ever cook up!” She then proceeds to dig in quite heartily. Hey, she’s hungry.

Arrin says: He digs in as well, half a week on low rations was not good for an otter’s appetite.

Catamount says: She pauses a moment as she takes too hasty a bite of her baked potato. “Hoo! Hot!”

Arrin says: He takes his baked potato in his paw and dips it in the stew, taking a bite. He chews quickly, trying to cool the potato with his breath.

Catamount says: Jozra watches Soquan intently. “Hey, now there’s a way to do it.” She tries the stew-potato process herself and ends up with part of the potato in the stew and not much stew on the potato.

Arrin says: He laughs around a mouthful of stew-potato.

Catamount says: The ferret grins at herself. “Okay, so that didn’t work quite as planned…” She returns to using her spoon for the soup and her fork for the potato.

Arrin says: He dips a bit of his potato and offers her a bite. “Here, try it.”

Catamount says: The ferret takes the bit of potato and tries it. “Mmm. Quite good.  My potato just doesn’t want to cooperate.” She smirks for a second before glancing at her plate. “The bread, on the other hand, should work quite well…”

Arrin says: He laughs. “Of course the bread will.”

Catamount says: The ferret grins and dips her bread in the stew.

Arrin says: He finishes the potato and fumbles for the bread.

Catamount says:  Jozra tastes the carrots. “These are good too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them cooked like this before, though.”

Arrin says: He pauses. “What?”

Catamount says: She takes a moment to sample the carrots more thoroughly. “I think they’re cooked in some sort of butter… with a little pepper added.”

Arrin says: He grins. “Sounds good.” He continues eating.

Catamount says: Soon the ferret’s plate looks decidedly empty and she leans back in her chair, satisfied. She alternates between watching Soquan eat and some of the mice getting up for seconds.

Arrin says: He finishes everything up and leans back contentedly as well. “That was good.”

Catamount says: Jozra grins and nods. “Yeeeep.” She stretches and pats her stomach. “So. What should we do now?”

Arrin says: He stretches. “I’m pretty much done for the day, I say we wait for the gold pieces Trey’s bringing us then we turn in.”

Catamount says: The ferret nods again as she gathers the dishes together. “So back to his office then?”

Arrin says: He nods and rises. “Yes, back to his office.”

Catamount says: “Alrighty.” The ferret picks up the dirty plates. “Just give me a second to take these up to the counter.”

Arrin says: He nods yet again. “Okay.”

Yazeth: Jozra again threads her way between tables and chairs up to another counter set up to accommodate dirty dishes. Plates stacked in neat piles on one side, utensils dumped in a pile in a bucket or two. After a bit she’s back at Soquan’s side.

Arrin says: He grins at her. “Back to the office now?”

Yazeth: The ferret dusts a lingering crumb of bread off of her whisker. “Yep. I hope you remember the way.”

Arrin says: He nods. “I think so.” He begins leading her down the hallways.

Jozra

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