"I believe there's a sourdough starter in that cabinet, Chef Tessara. You'll want to check the supply log hanging on the door."
"Chef Kehlysch, only if you can be very quick about it. Our tour will be moving on shortly. Alternately, you can wait until after the tour. You will have time then to get yourself settled, both in your room and in the Kitchen."
Chef Sali continues answering your questions as you tour the sparkling and sizable Kitchen.
"The number of selections may vary from week to week, Chef Phillip. However, for this first week, it will be a fixed four-course menu. I'll give you the more detailed guidelines tomorrow morning when you're all ready to get to work."
"My apologies, M'am. I can certainly wait until the tour has concluded." Kehlysch lowers his eyes again.
"No need for apologies at present, Chef Kehlysch."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Tesserae checks the log and the cabinet briefly before rejoining the group.
-----
looking at his station and seeing that he is next to the plump elven woman he kind of smiles at her. examining the workstation he looks a little worried.
"Chef! the key for my drawer, I do not see one in it at all. Something's not right. I am hoping that there is a spare around here.
walking away from the workstation like it isn't an issue at this point.
Chef, is there a privy near by? I need to use the privy pretty badly
EDIT:
Gastone is far too interested in one of the many pieces of equipment to notice anything.
Too busy examining the layout of her own station, Mimi fails to note Bahram's legerdemain.
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EDIT:
"The ... wait ... what?"
Chef Sali looks confused and steps quickly over to Bahram's work station, glancing at the drawer, then scrutinizing him, her brow furrowed.
"I know for a fact there was a key in that drawer this morning, and no one other than us has been up here yet today. What exactly are you trying to pull, Chef Bahram?"
Chef Sali stares directly at Bahram, confused, suspicious, and awaiting a very good answer.
Tessara gasps as the situation turns confrontational. This was NOT how she wanted her first day to go. Even though she's not the one in trouble she quivers a bit.
An odd expression briefly crosses Chef Sali's face, but it is quickly gone.
"*huff* Ah- *puff* par- *wheeze* -don." gasps Ashley. Smiling wryly at himself, he holds up a hand, and stands more fully upright, drawing the hand down before him, and attempts to breathe deeply. Hm. The first time you hear him speak.
"Please, all." he states, "Let us not - whew - begin our time together with any problems." he moves towards Chef Sali, though he gently pulls Bahram's sleeve toward her. More quietly, he adds, "I am certain that Master Humpherdinck has a legitimate reason for his concerns. Perhaps those reasons would best be described in private, so as to not cause any public strife." he explains, softly, giving a look to both.
"P- *huff* -lease, - *heff* -all." he pants, "Let - *huuh* - let us - *wheeze* - not begin - *eph* -our time - *fuh* -together - *huff* - with any - *pant* -problems." he struggles, exhausted, towards Chef Sali, though he leans on Bahram's arm, pulling him toward her by default... though weakly. More quietly, he adds, "I am certain that Master Humpherdinck has a legitimate reason for his concerns. Perhaps those reasons would best be described in private, so as to not cause any public strife." he explains, softly, giving a look to both.
He stands up more straightly, and says, a little more loudly, "My Lady," he says to Chef Sali, his most charming smile on and fan in place, "if you don't mind, I do have a question."
He gestures to his station. "My greatest skills consist predominantly of an art built of intimacy and personal interaction on a small level. Will those services ever be called upon, or am I to simply..." he trails off, looking slightly... perterbed... "... 'mass-produce'..." his expression conveys an almost physical pain, "such teas? Beyond that, I am afraid I did not notice any breweries for either the harder liquids, or the creation of my specialty drinks. Where might I go for such? I must admit, the sets are quite... fine." he finishes at last, with a smile on his face once again, though once he finishes, he winces, noticeably...
... and then collapses to the floor.
Phillip boggles at the situation, both at what was going on with Humperdink and Ashley's collapse.
This is highly irregular. He moves to assist Ashley and bring him to a chair.
Tessara lets out a tiny shriek as she watches Ashley fall to the floor.
Chef Sali seems confused about the new cheese chef's words, confused about the panting man interjecting himself between her and her target of suspicion, and surprised when he suddenly collapses in front of her.
Fast reflexes allow Chef Sali to prevent Ashley from entirely collapsing to the floor, but a string of extremely harsh-sounding words slip from her mouth.
...
She helps Phillip seat Ashley on a nearby stool, as there are no actual chairs here. She then checks Ashley to make sure he'll be alright, while still shooting suspicious glances at Bahram.
Phillip has no smelling salts ready but gets Ashley some water to drink.
Ashley is shockingly pale.
"Ah... I-" Ashley attempts, before falling into a coughing fit.
After a few moments, his breathing stabilizes. He nods graciously at Phillip's and Sali's assistance, though barely able to control himself.
"Er... my... my apologies. It... seems..." he looks strained, "... Mother's... "blessings"..." he coughs some more, "... are... acting up again." He takes time to regather what strength he has - even that little seemed to wind him. "Be... better... few... minutes..." he manages to finish, softly.
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....
...
...
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Chef Sali helps Ashley drink the water brought by Philip.
"Alright, calm down, everyone, he'll be fine."
She mutters softly...
She continues to purposely look at Ashley (not Bahram) as she speaks up, addressing Bahram.
"Chef Bahram, have you managed to locate your drawer key yet?"
She adds under her breath...
Kehlysch does his best to fade into the background. He observes the strange set of events with as close to a neutral expression as he can muster.
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Dinte happens to be looking up from his place next to Ashley, and across from the chef previously known as Employee Von-Humperdinck, when a twitch of arm muscles leads to a too casual restroom request.
While most likely everyone stops and looks up towards Von-Humperdinck, perhaps he himself glances back towards Dinte, to see a narrowing of eyes, and lips suddenly flatten into a hard line.
Dinte listens to Ashley start to inject, and in-between one interjection and the next he speaks very quietly, so that perhaps his neighbor, and those with REALLY good ears can overhear, or perhaps none.
Then as Ashley's legs suddenly have the strings cut, and he collapse, Dinte smoothly steps two feet to the side, laces his fingers together, and catches the poor mans head before it smashes into the desk in front of him, and carefully eases Ashley the rest of the way down, and then helps him back up to the stool when the others arrive.
As he lowers Ashley's head, but before the others rush over, he whispers again, less than a foot from his neighbor.
As soon as Ashley is sitting comfortably, Dinte retreats to his station, and is clearly trying to keep a bland expression on his face, but likely appears to be struggling to do so.
Vincent walks along, with the others of the tour. He tries to "wrap" his head around the water system but gives up after a minute or so.
I hate magic, give me a sword any day, I think to myself.
Vincent has few troubles navigating the steps. He looses his footing a slips, luckily he was near the landing so there wasn't a big tumble.
In the kitchen, Vincent's eyeballs go as big as saucers.
Everything...is...spotless. I think if we were crazy enough we could actually EAT off these floors right now.
Vincent goes to his assigned station, runs his palm face down over the surface.
You pushed me for this Terrah, thank you for never letting me settle, I say u dee my breathe.
I look on at the spectacle before me, at a loss for words.
"You," Mimi says loudly in an accusatory tone at Bahram, "You are lying. You don't need to relieve yourself at all, do you?"
She slides up next to him, and looks ready to grab him should he try to leave.
When Ashley goes into his fit, she raises an eyebrow in what might be as close to Mimi gets to an expression of concern.
"I suppose, Chef Sali, we should also ask whether this facility is equipped with a medic. If not, I suggest you remedy that."
As Ashley recovers, Mimi comments, "It is spring. Do you have allergies?"
--------------
"chef! The key was on the floor
Bending over and picking it up I slipping the key from sleeve
No chef I really do need to pee! Please please let me know where the privy is !
Crossing his legs and starts bouncing up and down
Chef Sali exhales deeply, a breath of both relief and forced composure. Breathing in again, she speaks.
"Fine. Go. Through that door over there."
She points and waits for him to enter the privy, then exhales again and scans the lot of you, looking for any more trouble or minor emergencies.
"You... you just dropped it on the floor yourself, didn't you?" She attempts to grab his arm.
And manages to catch his wrist. "I don't know where you put it once you picked it up again, but put it on the counter before you go. We are chefs here, not charlatans."
She turns to Sali. "Chef, must I share a station with this dishonorable fool?"
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"PLEASE STOP FIGHTING!" Tessara cries, much more loudly than she meant to.
When everyone turns to look at her she blushes and tries to compose herself.
"I'm sorry. I just...I hate seeing everyone this upset and arguing before the restaurant even opens. Ashley clearly needs some help and we're all standing around accusing each other! He might be dying for all we know! Can we take care of him first and then work together to make the opening truly grand? Please?"
Phillip pauses, clearly irritated at Humperdink's behavior and Ashley's collapse. I do believe this has gone on for long enough. He nods at Mimi. I think this is something that must be dealt with before we go any further in this tour.
As for Chef Ashley, I believe taking the time for him to be examined and rest would be in order.[/b]
Mimi raises an eyebrow at Tessara. "There is no fighting here. And there are no accusations. Just the truth revealed." She looks at Bahram, still gripping his wrist.
"I think you and I would agree, Chef Tessara, that we must be able to work together. We will not be able to do so if there are lies and tricks amongst us before we even begin."
She nods at Philip. "Perhaps we should all take a break. And Chef Sali can deal with this as appropriate."
Damned kid is lucky he isn't in the military. The CO would have kicked his ass for lying. If he hadn't, he would wish it so for the CO would have made his do so much PT he would wish he were dead
Enough, from everyone. Tessara is right. Unless anyone has proof of any wrong doing, let us focus on the task at hand. Now, this old mans bladder is winning the battle, I shall return shortly. Vincent heads to the head, when seeing Bahram.
Listen boy, your foolish antics will either get you tossed from this employment or killed due to pissing someone off. If it were up to me, you be gone. However, I am not the head chef of this place. While I was too young AND stupid, I just don't want to see you throw this opportunity and kick yourself later in life. Take it from a wise old man, shape up or get gone, for if you pull another stunt like that I WILL interject myself...understand?
After his little speech, he relieves his bladder then heads back to the kitchen
placing the key on the counter and looking at mimi,
"Gods be glad that your not the head chef like I thought you were'
goes into the privy and relives himself.
Walking back out to the kitchen, I go to the red pipe and use it to clean my hands again and then look back at chef Sali
"Ready chef"
After a few moments, Ashley finally catches his breath enough to breathe more normally, though he's still clearly exhausted.
As the two men head to the restroom, Ashley speaks up. "I... I apologize." he explains. "My condition is not life-threatening, but, despite what some may think, it is not going to improve with training, I'm afraid." he smiles, wryly - it's clearly a bit sheepish, though amused at himself and the others.
After a moment, he starts again, a bit more seriously. "It is simply something I've lived with, and I will have to continue to do so. It is nothing contagious or able to be spread, but a function of myself. Grandmother... well," he cuts himself off, with a smile, "I'm sure you don't care. My apologies. The point is, if things get too... intense... between people, and I am involved, I can physically fall into fits of exhaustion, regardless of the amount of exertion used. Add that to the fact that my constitution isn't exactly the mightiest in the land, and these stairs had already done quite a number..." he smiles, amused at his own weakness and shrugs. "Fear not," he says, looking at Chef Sali, "cooking, even when intense and in front of many, will not trigger this. Only confrontation." he closes his eyes and nods, to himself as much as anything.
"Ah, well. In a minute or so, I should be restored to my previously merely 'really tired' state, instead of, 'unable to move'." he adds, wryly. "Ashley Kusuma Na-ti, by the way. And thank you all for your concern." he finishes, smiling at the others, if weakly.
Looking at Chef Sali, he says, "My earlier questions are still active, however. Mass-production? Breweries?" he prompts.
When Bahram disappears into the privy, Chef Sali takes another deep breath and speaks calmly and firmly.
"My apologies for the disruption, ladies and gentlemen. I will be speaking to Chef Bahram privately in order to make sure he understands that such jokes are disruptive, and not appreciated in this Kitchen."
A quirk of disapproval crosses her face, but is quickly replaced with a more serene expression, though a bit forced.
"In answer to your question about a medic, Chef Mimi, I myself am trained in the healing arts. I have examined Chef Ashley here enough to determine that he will be fine."
She gives Ashley a supposedly sympathetic pat on the shoulder (though he winces slightly at the firm grasp) and a hard look. (...or else.)
"After he has caught his breath here for a few minutes, he can rest downstairs in his quarters, as can you all, should you desire, since our tour will be continuing and concluding there next."
She speaks this firmly. It is not a matter of question.
"As for your other concerns, Chef Mimi and Chef Ashley, I will be happy to address those with you individually, after our tour has concluded."
EDIT:
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Once Bahram places the key on the counter, Mimi lets go of him.
She looks at Ashley. "Where there is more than one person, there will be confrontation sooner or later. I fear for your health." Mimi does not look at all fearful.
When Bahram returns to the group, Chef Sali speaks up.
"Chef Bahram, you may take your drawer key from the counter. I did intend for you to have it in your possession."
Chef Sali looks a bit confused, but proceeds in a clear, firm tone.
"We will speak privately after the tour concludes, Chef Bahram. Certain things need to be made clear."
When Vincent returns to the group from the privy, Chef Sali speaks up.
"Alright, you'll be spending plenty time in the Kitchen later. Follow me."
Chef Sali heads out of the Kitchen and down to the second floor landing, a bit slower than before, for Ashley's sake. She heads through the door there. Following her, you find yourself in a comfortably appointed living area. Just inside the door, four plush couches with satin pillows surround a low coffee table. Beyond the sitting area is a clean, rectangular pine table surrounded by ten chairs. You can see the dumbwaiter opening beyond the table.
Seven more doors surround this circular living area. Chef Sali points to each door in turn as she speaks.
"That one's the privy. That one's the bathing chamber, although, with the red rod upstairs, you might not use it much. That bedroom will be shared by Chef Vincent and Chef Bahram. That bedroom will be shared by Chef Phillip and Chef Dinte. That bedroom will be shared by Chef Ashley and Chef Kehlysch. That bedroom will be shared by Chef Mimi and Chef Tessara. And, that room's mine, when I'm not staying in my room at the Villa."
Chef Sali looks around the living room, considering her words carefully.
"Please make yourselves at home here, and, let's all try to get along. Should your work prove satisfactory, this will be your home for the foreseeable future. You're free to use the Kitchen upstairs as desired."
A slight smirk crosses Chef Sali's face.
"Presumably you can handle cooking for yourselves. Although, if you want to work out a schedule of cooking brunch for each other, feel free. I would recommend making that a hearty meal, since you might not have a lot of opportunity to sit down and eat at other points in the day. Generally, you'll likely eat brunch as desired, spend the afternoon preparing in the kitchen, work the restaurant throughout the evening, and get to sleep late at night, possibly sleeping in a bit in the morning."
Chef Sali stares off toward a wall while describing this.
"If things go as currently planned, each Wednesday will be a preparation day, the restaurant will be open for dinner each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and you'll have Mondays and Tuesdays off."
Chef Sali suddenly tenses.
"The grand opening is this Thursday ... the day after tomorrow. So, we'll have a lot of preparing to do tomorrow. But, I'll fill you in on those details in the Kitchen tomorrow morning. For now, check out your rooms, make yourselves comfortable, and then perhaps get yourselves used to the Kitchen. You'll find uniforms and name tags in your rooms that are meant to be worn Wednesdays through Sundays. If you leave dirty laundry in the big cloth bag hung there by the door, it will be picked up each noon, and returned clean by the following noon. Although, actually, with that red rod available, we probably won't need much laundry done, but it's an available service, if desired. However, If you make a mess in the Kitchen, you're expected to clean up after yourself."
She gives you a hard, firm look.
"I'll meet you all in the Kitchen at 9am tomorrow morning to begin planning and preparations. You should arrive on time and in uniform. Until then, your time is your own. Again, welcome the tower."
She turns to Ashley, Bahram, and Mimi in turn.
"Chef Ashley, I would speak with you, but I believe, for now, you could use some rest. I would ask you to meet me upstairs in the restaurant shortly after dawn. I trust you can manage to be rested and to climb two flights of stairs by then?"
"Chef Bahram, I will wait here to give you a chance to examine your room. However, I would ask that you walk with me for a bit afterwards."
"Chef Mimi, I will return to address your concerns after I have spoken with Chef Bahram. Please feel free to examine your room and either relax or cook in the meantime."
She turns once more to address the entire group.
"As for the rest of you, I may see you around later, but in case I don't, are there any further questions at this point?"
Tessara blanches a bit when learning her roommate will be Mimi. She found Mimi only slightly less frightening than Chef Sali. She raises her hand weakly.
"Ma'am, will there need to be alterations to my particular schedule considering how some breads will need more time to rise than others? I'm used to working at night, if that's a concern."
Kehlysch nods in acknowledgement as Chef Mimi calls his name.
He looks at Ashley for a long moment, silently assessing his new roommate.
"No questions at the moment, M'am," he replies. "Would it now be appropriate to retrieve my things from the foyer?"
Phillip gives a light shake of his head when asked for questions and will enter his room when left to his own devices.
"Chef Tessara, as long as you can start tomorrow morning at 9am and have something good ready by the following day at 5pm, I'm not concerned. You may work all night, if you wish, as long as you're also working during restaurant hours."
"Chef Kehlysch, you may retrieve your things now."
"Thank you, M'am," Kehlysch replies with a respectful nod. He exits the room quickly and quietly, moving back down the stairs to the foyer.
Finding his heavily loaded back where he had left it, he shoulders his burden and makes his way back up the stairs to the kitchen.
Lowering his pack to the floor near his station, he begins removing his pots, pans and utensils. Using the key to open his cabinet, Kehlysch hangs some on the various hooks and places others on the shelves. When only a few pots remain, and the only location for them is the top most shelf he steps back and speaks:
"Uln nog geb uaaah."
He is using a common cantrip known as the "Mage Hand", that allows the caster to move small objects telekinetically.
With a casual gesture of his hand, the first pot rises gently to the top shelf. After a moment, the second follows, and finally the last floats gently up to its resting place.
He glances over the layout of his cookware, and after a moment, nods in satisfaction. He then closes the cabinet doors, and locks them. Removing the key from the lock, he places it inside the neck of his shirt.
They key wasn't on a thong, and the shirt appears to be a rough shirt, with no pockets.
Something inside his shirt moved while his hand was out of sight. The movement appeared to be something alive, like a very small animal. The shirt is not very thick, and there does not appear to be sufficient material to hide an animal, even a tiny one.
He shoulders his pack and moves out of the kitchen; downstairs to his room.
It is clearly both exhausting and painful, but Ashley continues the tour, and seems exceedingly relieved to be in the final rooms. That fan is definitely in place the whole time, though.
Upon hearing of their partnership, Ashley looks at Kehysch, and smiles, bowing his head. "It will be a pleasure." he says, sincerely.
He turns to Chef Sali.
"Thank you for your graciousness," he starts, bowing, before straightening and continuing, "and I look forward to it tomorrow. It seems, by implication, my duties are to be mass production? And what of the distilleries and breweries for the other drinks...?" he trails off, questioningly.
"Chef Tessara, as long as you can start tomorrow morning at 9am and have something good ready by the following day at 5pm, I'm not concerned. You may work all night, if you wish, as long as you're also working during restaurant hours."
"Chef Kehlysch, you may retrieve your things now."
Tessara curtsies.
"Thank you, ma'am. Given the restaurant will operate in the evening and the afternoon will be used for preparation, starting in the morning should make things relatively easy. Working through the night is largely to ensure fresh bread in the morning."
Chef Sali exhales audibly at Ashley's questions, but then puts on a professional smile.
"It seems, by repetition, that you are unwilling to wait until our discussion tomorrow morning for answers. Very well. First, I believe you will find what equipment you need for distillation and brewing among the areas in the basement, and in the cabinets of the Kitchen. You simply didn't inquire out the location while we were there. If, however, I am mistaken, and there is something important missing, then, I sincerely apologize, and you can place an order for the equipment tomorrow morning, but you'll likely have to make do with what we have for the first weekend. Next, I am sorry that the idea of preparing drinks for a dozen tables at a time seems to be a distasteful form of mass production to you. I would not have imagined this to be the case, considering you went out of your way to apply for a restaurant position. However, in addition to mass production, we have ideas for ways in which your flair for the dramatic might be put to good use, including either pre-dinner visits with guests in the grand entry hall, or traveling table-to-table with a drinks-and-dessert cart towards the end of the meal. The specifics can be further discussed once the theme of the first weekend is revealed ... tomorrow."
Ashley smiles, amused, and bowing at the neck, adds, "A most... straight-forward answer, Chef Sali. I thank you for both your candor and your sense of self-control with those you consider your lessers. Additionally, I appreciate you coming through on your offer to answer questions at this time - most gracious."
Ashley nods to his fellows, and retreats, carefully, unsteadily, to his room.
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Chef Sali's brow furrows at Ashley's response, and a pained look crosses her face. She opens her mouth as if to respond, but then simply purses her lips.