[SEMI-OPEN]

[acreage]

WHO: Amos Burton, James Holden, Wysteria, Ellis, and YOU
WHAT: Two spacemen fall out of a rift, later explore scenic Kirkwall
WHEN: Nnnnowish? Waves hands
WHERE: The Wounded Coast, then Kirkwall
NOTES: A closed arrival thread, plus open individual threads for meeting Amos and/or Jim after their quarantine period.

Comments

[sulahnan]

"Depends on what kinda citrus you need. Usually we have stuff like oranges or lemons on hand at the Gallows we can just pilfer from the kitchens, but stuff like grapefruits or those little Antivan oranges that are cute and easy to peel are gonna have to come from a market stall."

It wasn't too long ago that she had to hunt down a grapefruit, she can probably find another one somewhere.

[acreage]

"They have lemons in the kitchens?"

That is...much easier than he was imagining.

"Wouldn't the cooks notice?" If they, you know, steal any.

[sulahnan]

Athessa shrugs.

"They don't seem to mind when I do it, or anyone who likes hot water and lemon instead of tea."

[acreage]

Huh. He might seem a bit slow, because he asks, "Real lemons?"

Fresh, real lemons? Wild.

[sulahnan]

"As opposed to... what, wooden ones?"

[acreage]

"Powdered," he suggests, clearly without need to think about it. "Juiced. Synthetic, I don't know."

He at least thinks before saying freeze-dried, figuring no one around here would probably be familiar with the process.

[sulahnan]

She takes a breath to ask how one would powder a lemon, but her brain catches up with the conversation in that short amount of time. Obviously you dry the lemon first, then powder it, but why?

"I dunno what sinthedic is but they're just regular lemons. Sorta oval, yellow, sour, that kind of thing," This guy is weird. "But if you're worried about it the stall is right there."

Oh, look at that, while they were walking and waxing philosophical about lemons, Athessa led them to the merchant that sells lemons, imported oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, and pomegranates. The latter of which Athessa snatches up and buys without much fuss.

[acreage]

"Synthetic. An imitation," he clarifies, or hopes he's succeeded to, anyway.

He's not that worried, really, but since they're at the stall he takes the opportunity to (1) see all these fruits for himself, wow, and (2) buy a couple of lemons. Like the coffee, the price seems really low to him!! But he at least has the sense not to say so.

It's as they're walking away that he decides he probably should explain himself. She's done nothing but help him, and he can tell her the truth, give the benefit of the doubt she won't take the Rifter reveal too badly. Still, he doesn't quite come out and say it yet.

"There aren't a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables where I come from. Same goes for real meat, cheese. And what you can find comes at a premium."

[sulahnan]

To Athessa's mind, the alternative to fresh fruits and vegetables is either pickled, or rotten, and surely he doesn't mean the latter. Real meat and cheese means...probably cannibalism? She doesn't think hard enough about it to come to that conclusion, she's too busy piecing together his bizarre terminology, scrip, synthetic, the gloves he's wearing, his general disorientation in the city that doesn't align with what she knows of travelers from outside of Kirkwall but still within Thedas.

"Hm. So is the lemon for the sake of a lemon, or are you somehow planning to combine it with the coffee?"

[acreage]

"Lemon juice in the coffee. Someone I knew once recommended the combination."

[sulahnan]

"Won't that curdle the cream?"

Subtle giveaway of her coffee preference, though she doubts it'll stick. The point of the disclosure is just to be open and friendly, not a hint.

These are the thoughts that pass through her mind in conversations now, thanks to Bard training. Yippee.

[acreage]

"Not if you drink it black," he says with some amusement.

Cream in coffee, please.

[sulahnan]

She keeps making that face, clearly not sold on the idea. But, then again...she doesn't have to drink it.

"Well, if it's what you like, it's what you like, I guess. I don't like black coffee unless it's cold."

Rather than take them directly to the docks, Athessa stalls, meandering a bit so Holden can decide if he's done with his fetch-quests for the day or if he'd rather go to the Gallows.

"And it doesn't make it too bitter? The lemon?"

[acreage]

"It's an acquired taste."

He hesitates when she stalls; on the one hand, he's technically done here in the market, but on the other, he's not in a hurry to go back to the Gallows. She likely has other places to be, so he expects to part ways soon enough.

"Apparently, it enhances the flavor profile, balances the pH," do people in Thedas know what pH is??? "and makes it taste better. Too much might make it too sour, but it'll also depend on the beans."

[sulahnan]

Add pH to the list of weird Rifterisms. Tony would probably know what it is and what it has to do with lemons and coffee. But Tony isn't here, and Athessa just blinks at Holden with mild confusion and nods the nod of someone who doesn't quite understand.

"Sounds...complex," she decides, and idly tosses the pomegranate she bought a few inches above her hand and catches it again. "Can I point ya toward anything else in the city or are you good to wander alone a while? I'm gonna head back to the docks."

[acreage]

Belatedly, he realizes he should've put it in terms of acidity and alkalinity Well — next time.

"I'm good, but thank you. And for the rescue from Graystone." Dirt coffee... "If there's anything you ever need a hand with, I owe you one."

[sulahnan]

She waves that off.

"Nah, consider this one a freebie," she says, starting back towards the docks. "To welcome you to Thedas."