define('WP_CACHE', true); {"id":240,"date":"2014-01-15T23:39:25","date_gmt":"2014-01-16T07:39:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/?p=240"},"modified":"2014-01-15T23:39:25","modified_gmt":"2014-01-16T07:39:25","slug":"chapter-16-supper-with-the-ssmc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/archives\/240","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

In Which\u00c2\u00a0The Two Find The Mess To Be A Fine Feast.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret quickly spots a table set up buffet style and leads Soquan over to the end of the line. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mmmm… Smells good!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: Soquan grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell me what there is to eat.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret cranes her neck to see to the serving tables. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: The otter smacks his lips hungrily and his stomach gurgles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The stew and dumplings smell wonderful.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount: The ferret nods enthusiastically. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Nearly to the start of the table now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He grins at her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How about I get us a table and you can get the food?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sounds good!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods and steps out from their place in line, going off in search of a table.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00c2\u00a0Presently 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.\u00c2\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He finds one after a few moments and sits down, waiting.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00c2\u00a0Jozra smiles at one of the serving mice. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Glad you guys are serving up the grub. Don’t think I could have managed with my hands so full.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d 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.<\/p>\n

After carefully navigating the maze of tables, Jozra makes her way over to the pair of seats saved by Soquan. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Phew! These plates were starting to get heavy!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: His ears swivel on his head as he listens to the various conversations. He grins at Jozra as she approaches. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Need help?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Jozra sets one of the plates down in front of the otter with a slight clunk. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Nope. Here ya go.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She sets her own plate down and distributes the utensils.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He smiles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He places the napkin on his lap, picks up the utensils and tries the stew. Once he swallows, he looks towards her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wait ’till you try this…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00c2\u00a0The ferret grins as she settles herself in her own chair.\u00c2\u00a0 The first bite of the stew is absolutely delicious and she smiles broadly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sure beats anything I could ever cook up!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She then proceeds to dig in quite heartily. Hey, she’s hungry.<\/p>\n

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

Catamount says: She pauses a moment as she takes too hasty a bite of her baked potato. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hoo! Hot!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Jozra watches Soquan intently. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hey, now there’s a way to do it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d 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.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He laughs around a mouthful of stew-potato.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret grins at herself. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay, so that didn’t work quite as planned…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She returns to using her spoon for the soup and her fork for the potato.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He dips a bit of his potato and offers her a bite. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here, try it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret takes the bit of potato and tries it. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mmm. Quite good.\u00c2\u00a0 My potato just doesn’t want to cooperate.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She smirks for a second before glancing at her plate. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The bread, on the other hand, should work quite well…\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He laughs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Of course the bread will.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret grins and dips her bread in the stew.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He finishes the potato and fumbles for the bread.<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00c2\u00a0Jozra tastes the carrots. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153These are good too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them cooked like this before, though.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He pauses. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: She takes a moment to sample the carrots more thoroughly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think they’re cooked in some sort of butter… with a little pepper added.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sounds good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He continues eating.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He finishes everything up and leans back contentedly as well. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That was good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Jozra grins and nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeeeep.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She stretches and pats her stomach. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So. What should we do now?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He stretches. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I’m pretty much done for the day, I say we wait for the gold pieces Trey’s bringing us then we turn in.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret nods again as she gathers the dishes together. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So back to his office then?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods and rises. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes, back to his office.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Alrighty.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The ferret picks up the dirty plates. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just give me a second to take these up to the counter.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods yet again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He grins at her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Back to the office now?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret dusts a lingering crumb of bread off of her whisker. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yep. I hope you remember the way.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think so.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He begins leading her down the hallways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 16: Supper With the SSMC In Which\u00c2\u00a0The Two Find The Mess To Be A Fine Feast. \u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d 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 … <\/p>\n