| Players: | Amiri, Dairine |
|---|---|
| Date of IC Effect: | Mar 19, 2007 |
| Location: | The Gray Albatross |
| Synopsis: | Dairine and Amiri discuss the possibilities of fish scales for dinner, among other things. |
Despite being on the docks, the Gray Albatross has a much better repute than most of its nearby ilk. True, it's a tavern; hardly a grand establishment. But it's well-lit, serves both decent drink and decent food, and its clientèle may be loud at times but they're rarely rowdy. The Albatross caters mostly to the Kalmarians who come up the river, or live in the city, being one of the few places in Maratha that sells Kalmarian brews and actual seafood, as well as river-caught fish and typical Marathan fare. The seafood is, of course, very expensive this far inland. But that may be part of the reason the Albatross can afford the charms which keep its air from smelling too strongly of alcohol, smoke, and the usual tavern miasma.
Another unusual feature of the Albatross is the sign right inside its entrance, which reads: "Beware of Dairine". The small print says 'Improper behavior towards her may result in loss of blood and/or appendages. The proprietor takes no responsibility for the consequences of your behavior.' Anyone who spends any length of time in the Albatross learns very quickly that one barmaid /only/ waits tables and cannot be importuned into anything more personal; persistence is generally rewarded with the edge of a dagger. This may have some bearing on the relatively calm atmosphere of the tavern - and doesn't seem to have any effect on its continued patronage by dockworkers and sailors.
As evening settles upon Maratha, business at the Albatross is progressing in full force. The music of the minstrel by the fireplace can be heard only vaguely beneath the din of conversation, shouted orders, and the clatter of dishes on tables. Open windows and the simple charms hanging from the rafters do a great deal to keep the air clear of things other than noise, for which Dairine is always thankful. The woman is dressed plainly today, presently leaning against the bar and assessing the floor, watching two of the tavern's full-time barmaids manage the patrons.
Amiri rushes in, dodging between patrons as they exit and enter, and quickly hangs up her coat. Almost immediately she's beset by requests, to each of which she gives a polite smile and a nod, all the while fighting her way toward the kitchen. Just as she gets to the kitchen door she spots Dairine and gives her a wave, then vanishes inside as promptly as if she were pulled.
The appearance of the beleaguered cook elicits a light grin from Dairine - a far from unusual expression for her. She dips her head in response to Amiri's waves, blue eyes tracking the younger woman's progress across the room and into the kitchen. Dare chuckles softly under her breath before looking back to the room. There she remains for a little bit, before straightening away from the counter. Ducking into the kitchen, Dare takes up a place against a wall and as close to 'out of the way' as anywhere in the room can be. "Looks like it's going to be busy and stay that way, 'Miri. Might want to stick to the menu, for once," she points out with a grin.
Amiri gives Dare a little pout, one that's only half serious, "If you like, but that means you're going to have to eat my next experiment all by yourself." The small woman squeezes up against a counter as a more important cook passes by with something hot, and as soon as she has room to work again she's filleting a fish. "Has everyone been behaving so far?"
Dairine laughs. "Not a problem," she informs Amiri. "Anything you cook is better than what Fridan ships carry for rations - even if it is an experiment!" Watching the other cook go past on their errand, the woman nods absently in Amiri's direction. "So far, yes - but the evening's young. There's always closing, too; someone's going to balk at facing the long walk home in the dark." Dare's statements are remarkably cheerful, but not because she's looking forward to breaking heads; she's just always cheerful.
Amiri waggles the knife at Dairine, "That.. sounds like a challenge. Maybe I should save the fish scales?" She finishes cutting out the bones and moves the fillet to a pan where she can begin seasoning it. "You can't really blame them. I'd hate it if I had to walk home in the dark all alone after a shift… I'm sure some of the drunks would just love that, too."
Dairine grins, undaunted. "By all means. Go ahead." She has no fear; Amiri, deliberately cook something bad? Wouldn't happen. "Oh, I don't blame them." The woman taps a finger against her left temple, on the scar that rakes up into her hair. "Even the crooks keep to daylight where they can. Isn't another city in the world where that's true." At least, not the small portion of the world Dare's visited. "But if they're afraid of the dark and the ferals, they shouldn't drink right up until hunting time." She shakes her head a bit.
Well there was that one time that jerk wouldn't leave her alone and… well… a warm flakey crust can hide deceit. Strawberries too, but mostly deceit! "Maybe they're hoping they can drink themselves to sleep and you'll have to carry them?" She stands on tippytoes to look over the spice rack, selecting a few bottles with great care.
Dairine snorts. "And the river's bottom-feeders will learn to fly," is her prompt retort. "They collapse here and haven't arranged for a room, they get pitched out on the street. Same rule as the rest of the city." Leaning back against the wall, Dare folds her arms. "That's got to be even worse than walking home." And one reason she doesn't get drunk. "No, I don't think I'm going anywhere after closing, tonight."
Amiri leaves her fish alone and moves over to an oven, where she spears a roll with her knife, "Me neither but… I don't know where else I might go anyway, other than to bed." Back at the fish she starts tearing the roll up into little crumbs.
Dairine nods in Amiri's direction. "There's a point. Not much to do, after even the taverns close." In Dairine's case, she'd be going home, since she doesn't stay at the tavern. Not all the time, anyway. She idly pulls the short dagger out of her boot, running her thumb along the edge to test it. "Rumor is, more's getting through the walls lately. Little things, but still tainted."
Amiri can't help but shiver, "But.. but they aren't dangerous, right? The hunters and guards take care of them before they hurt anyone… right?"
Dairine shrugs one shoulder. She won't lie to Amiri. "Anything tainted is dangerous." Everyone knows that. Straightening, she slides her knife back into the top of her boot. "So far, there haven't been any more casualties than, well, the usual." Which is to say, drunkards and criminals who gamble on the midnight hours and lose. "So they're keeping up."
Amiri bites her lip, occupying herself with the crumbs for a few moments of awkward silence. Then she lights up again, "But… you won't let any of them around here, right? You're toughter than some stupid little tainted thing." Oh please?
Tougher? Not necessarily. But one thing Dare is, is confident. She smiles at Amiri. "You'll be safe here; you have my word." The smile broadens into a playful grin, entirely at odds with the finger Dairine proceeds to shake at the younger woman. "But if you start feeding me fish scales… I can't promise I'll be able to keep up my strength."
Amiri turns to face Dare, shaking her head and wagging a finger in return, "Fish scales are actually very good for you! Did you know that if you're in the middle of the ocean and you have no other food, you can get everything you need by eating the entire fish?"
Dairine gives Amiri a grin that isn't quite condescending - it isn't in Dare's nature to be so - but gets as close as she ever does. "'Miri, do you have any idea how many times I've done that?" is the older woman's counter-query. "Trust me. Fish scales are overrated." A beat. "But if you like them that much, I'll introduce you to a couple old shipmates on their next run upriver. I'm sure they'll have something scaly enough for you."
Amiri loosk downward in thought, "If you grind the scales up enough they become like a seasoning… Hmm… I bet I could get you to eat some and like it without you ever knowing the difference." She sprinkles the breadcrumbs onto the fish and presses them in.
Dairine raises a brow at the cook. "If they don't taste like scales, that is a difference," she disagrees. Voices out in the main room raise enough to be heard clearly through the walls, and Dare turns to give the main room a look. Pity she can't actually look through solid objects. "Excuse me. I think I should go remind a few people of where they are." And she slips back out the door.
Amiri waves cheerfully to the amazonian barmaid, "Crack a few skulls for me, all right? I'll have dinner ready for you by the time you get back, I promise."
Mar 21: Just a Little Bit >>
