Yup, what's goodie

[clawings]

WHO: Erik Stevens & Y'ALL
WHAT: Checking things out, buying some stuff, reading books, &c
WHEN: ooc: December | ic: Cassus
WHERE: Exploring Kirkwall and the Gallows, &c
NOTES: Erik curses but that's probably gonna be it

→ I got all the sounds, got plenty; open

[ Here are a few places one can find Erik within the Gallows on a regular basis:

The Library: Reading a little bit of everything, actually but focusing on recent history reports, whatever passes for science fiction, books about the Fade, and books about religion. Oh and a book or two on elven culture. Shh.

He's here at all sorts of hours but mostly between 11pm and 5am, apparently not sleeping very well otherwise. Why else be in a library at prime sleeping time?

The Smithy: Erik is fascinated by this area and mostly writes notes about whatever process he's allowed to observe here. Leave his little engineering heart alone about it! (Or don't, actually. Bothering him is preferable to the narration.)

The Herb Garden: Because he's curious if he recognizes any plants from home. Spoilers: he doesn't, but he keeps coming back anyway, usually in the early afternoon.

Training Area: Sparring with swords and spears, because there's no excuse not to stay in shape. Also there's a war on? So. Come gawk at the man. It'll be fun.

Anywhere else: He explores the entire Gallows during his quarantine and then does it again afterward, so consider this an open invitation to wildcard me.
]

→ You should ask around, my city; open

[ Erik discovers the market district in Lowtown and spends an inordinate amount of time there, mostly browsing, but occasionally buying small items. A scarf at one point. Close to the middle of the month he is clearly looking for something specific - jewelry, it would seem. He picks up bracelets, necklaces, earrings, but doesn't seem to settle on anything for a while.

You can also find him in the occasional tavern. He hates drinking alone; join him? ]

→ You should get to work, get busy; closed to athessa & vanadi

[ Erik left a note at Athessa's. Now he just has to wait for them to show up. So he's chilling in the herb garden, again, this time at sunset. ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

[ Oh, she picks up on it. When she's back on the ground again she mirror's Vanadi, hooking her arm through Erik's and putting her hands in her pockets so it's real casual-like and not the usual lady-being-escorted pose. ]

Vanadi is a great cook, though last time he cooked for me I had to do the dishes.

[ She didn't mind doing the dishes then and she doesn't mind now, but she can't help teasing him. If nothing else, it provides some levity to distract from whatever feelings Erik is struggling with. She knows that body language well. ]

[highborn]

[ Thanks Athessa, they got 'im. He starts them forward, headed for the kitchen. The choice was already made as he offered the options. ]

You didn't have to do the dishes. [ That's with a semi-offended huff, for Erik's benefit. ] I whined and you took over, is all.

[clawings]

[Well now he's been flanked, there's clearly no escaping. He can feel the desire to run ebb a little bit anyway with Athessa and Vanadi's banter. ]

I don't mind dishes. [ He smiles behind his scarf where no one can see (but it does reach his eyes) as they walk. ] Seems like a fair trade.

[sulahnan]

He says I didn't have to do the dishes but you haven't been on the receiving end of his whining. It's impossible to ignore.

[ She winks at Erik, if he's looking at her to catch it.

Why tease a man for having emotions when you can tease around him and not make him feel foolish? The banter continues, becomes conversation and laughter — at least on Athessa's side — and lasts well until they've reached the kitchen and Athessa takes it upon herself to make them some coffee.

With minor assistance, since someone keeps putting the coffee pot and kettle on a tall shelf. ]

[highborn]

[ Poor short Athessa, he does pause to grab the pot and kettle for her. Then he's quick to set on the kitchen at large, taking a brisk inventory of what's publicly available for working with, what's run out since he was last here, what prep dishes haven't been stolen yet.

With his head half-buried in a storage cupboard: ] You'd best give me the rundown of favorites and least-liked, Erik. Is there anything I ought to avoid?

[clawings]

[ He does catch the wink, and chuckles a little from behind his scarf, which gets unwound from the lower half of his face as they enter the kitchens (it's warmer there). He hasn't really explored any areas where he's found people working, other than what he can get away with at the forge - that's too fucking cool to ignore - because he's worried about being in the way or making someone's life more difficult by virtue of being nosy.

Also, he stands out compared to the elves and others working in the kitchens. It's probably the height. Or maybe the intensity. Either way. ]

I don't like octopus, [ he says after a moment's consideration, ] but I like spice, and anything else is fair game. I'll try new shit too. If it's something other than chicken, I'd be cool with that. Had a lot last few days.

[sulahnan]

[ Athessa has to pause to have a tiny eureka moment, whispering "spicy octopus" to herself like she's just solved an ages-old riddle. Then she gets back to grinding coffee beans in an old burr grinder, putting them into the long-handled carafe, and then setting the gooseneck kettle on the grate over the hearth. ]

Luckily I don't think chicken is going to be on the impromptu menu.

[ The memories of Murderhaus are fading from the fore, but not quickly enough. Athessa still can't think about meat without remembering the grisly past-time of Medrod the Cannibal. ]

[highborn]

[ Chicken is absolutely not on the impromptu menu; meat in general isn't, when he's got just a small spur of the moment in mind. Vanadi makes some noise of agreement, already distracted by food-planning.

Talk amongst yourselves, children, he is official busy with his Craft, becoming a one-man-whirlwind of preparation and assembly. ]

[clawings]

[ Erik catches that whispering has happened but not what exactly has been said. Still, he looks at Athessa with a curious expression before Vanadi begins to throw himself into cooking and prep.

Staying out of the way seems best. Erik moves closer to Athessa. ]

Are y'all vegetarians?

[ Things he feels he should know. ]

[sulahnan]

Mostly, yeah. [ She tips her head in a weighing motion. ] I mean not strictly, speaking for myself. But recently... I just haven't been feelin' it.

[ Does it count as using Rifter slang if it's something she'd say anyway? ]

Is coffee made with machines where you come from?

[clawings]

[ She can claim all the Rifter slang she likes, especially since she used it correctly.

Erik moves a hand in a so-so gesture. ]

There's machines involved. In like, the harvesting, roasting, packaging, shipping. And you can buy a machine that'll make you coffee based on the time of day. Most grinders are electric machines. But purists? They use this press or other more manual type'a shit. And there aren't open fires like this where I grew up, but in other parts of the world, maybe.

[sulahnan]

[ Sounds like Erik comes from a place with more natural resources than Holden. ]

So people do still make coffee, then? When Holden arrived, I had to show him how to make coffee because he said everyone where he's from gets it from a machine that does everything for you, I guess.

[clawings]

[ He does, indeed. But he doesn't know that, not really. All he knows is that Amos and someone else are from a future of Earth. ]

That's wild. [ He wonders if Holden is the dude who said he missed coffeemakers. Maybe. ] There are poor people who can't buy coffeemakers, and other people that wouldn't do it if you paid 'em.

[sulahnan]

And people who wouldn't make coffee if you paid them?

[ That seems like the logical next statement, right? Anyway... ]

How do you like your coffee? [ Athessa fetches the boiling kettle, using a towel to protect her hand, and pours the water into the pot with the coffee grounds. (She's basically making Turkish coffee.) ] Cream and sugar? Black? ...With lemon?

[ Holden. That fuckin weirdo and his lemon coffee. ]

[clawings]

Yeah, probably.

[ He smiles a bit, watching her handle the coffee preparation. It's pretty fascinating, actually. ]

I've had it black before, [ and most would assume that's how he takes it ] but I'd rather cream and sugar. Who the fuck drinks coffee with lemon?

[sulahnan]

[ She laughs, delighted and amused. And a little relieved that she doesn't have to take any gaff from him about taking cream and sugar in her coffee, too. (So many coffee snobs around here, honestly.) ]

Holden does, the lunatic. I tried it, too, it's not good.

[ Once the coffee in the pot has been replaced upon the grate, it has to heat there for a few minutes before it's finished and can be poured into mugs and finished off with sugar and cream. Vanadi's mug of black coffee gets set near him, out of the way of his cooking efforts. ]

[highborn]

[ The coffee gets noticed pretty quick -- sniffed out as the odd smell among cooking smells, mostly. Vanadi pauses to snatch it up for a few sips, and briefly lifts it to Athessa with a fond smile. ]

Much obliged.

[ ok back to work again, bye ]

[clawings]

[ Well, that was amusing and kind of cute to watch, Erik is into it.

But, back to the atrocity that is lemon coffee. Whomever Holden is, he has possibly the worst taste Erik has ever heard of. ]

Sounds real gross. [ He picks up his coffee and blows on it gently before taking a sip. ] This is pretty damned good, thanks.

[ A kiss on the cheek for Athessa. ]

[sulahnan]

[ Gosh. A kiss on the cheek! ]

Okay, I have to ask, [ Athessa leans against the big slab of a table that sits in the center of the kitchen, tipping her head as she regards Erik. ] Is being sweet part of the whole... trying something different thing? Or were you making women blush with kisses on the cheek back in your world, too?

[ It's an incongruity that she finds fascinating, not only because there are qualities to this man that remind her of a certain trauma-bound qunari she knew. ]

[clawings]

[ Erik has the grace to look a little abashed, one side of his mouth quirking up in an expression that's not exactly a smile. ]

Definitely part of 'tryin' something different'. [ His nostrils flare as he remembers the way he kissed Linda which was far from sweet affection left on her cheek, and then his expression darkens as he recalls how she died at his hands.

But his features clear after a blink, and he shrugs. ] All I got to go by are movies n' shit, so.

[highborn]

[ Okay, someone is paying a bit of attention, and as he empties diced ingredients into a tall pot on the stove, Vanadi calls over: ]

It seems movies n' shit haven't steered you wrong, if that's any consolation.

[sulahnan]

Movies?

[ A glance between Erik and Vanadi. She doesn't know what movies are. Clearly. ]

Do those teach you moves or...?

[clawings]

Nah, they're.... [ He scratches at his chin, wondering how to explain (and if Vanadi knows what they are or not). ] Popular media. Moving pictures with sound. Stories come to life, that kinda thing. Like a play! But recorded so you ain't gotta see it live or whatever.

There's movies about everyfuckingthing, from history to romance to comedy to science fiction and fantasy.

[highborn]

[ Yeah, no, he totally has no idea what that is — or what science fiction is, for that matter. He shoots a shrug at Athessa if he can catch her eye, and gets back to work. ]

[sulahnan]

[ What the heck is science fiction? ]

What was your favorite of these movie-stories?