Alethiro took a step back, "Either of you have any fire?"
Ammon took a step closer to the bars and looked closer. Wonder if I could break them?
She gives Esme a smile, "Thanks, some things come out better than others though. It's just a matter of finding out what tastes good together. When you're cooking a whole bird like this though....you want to make sure that it cooks all the way through and that it doesn't dry out as you're cooking it. So about every thirty minutes or so you want to pour some of the juices over it to keep it moist. For one this size you give it about an hour at first to cook before adding whatever vegetables you like, and then give it another hour or so with vegetables or until they reach whatever level of softness that you like. You can use any seasonings really...but I find that I really like garlic and rosemary for things like this....sometimes I use a little basil too. You have to make sure to clean the bird too. I rub it down with fresh lemon. If you wanted to, you could even stuff it with dressing or whatever before cooking it." She says as she passes a bowl of biscuits to Esme, "Care for a biscuit? I have honey and butter on the table as well." She says before taking one for herself and applying some butter and honey to it she bites into it...humming softly to herself as she enjoys her food.
Charity shakes her head. "Nope."
"That's a lot to remember," Esme says. "I'm used to meat plus fire equals dinner. Maybe I should bring a notebook next time."
She takes a biscuit and puts some butter on it. "I love warm biscuits."
"Me either," Pandi answers. "How about we shut the door?"
Arista giggles as she takes another bite of her biscuit, "I really like them too." Taking a half she puts some honey on it and gives it to Celine who devours it before going back to her chicken and vegetables. Looking at Celine she asks, "Celine honey, did you get enough? Are you still hungry?"
After letting out a little belch she rubs her tummy, "No mommy...I good."
Arista laughs, "I would say so. If you're done, please go wash your hands and you can play for a little bit before it's time to go to bed."
Looking back at Esme she says, "Konstantyna taught me how to cook, or the basics of it at least. I was never around in the kitchen long enough for my mother to teach me....so I was pretty clueless at first about it. Once you start trying different things though, you'll get the hang of it. Breakfast is one of the easiest ones to learn I think. I'm sure you can do anything you set your mind to." She says with a smile.
"I think I can burrow around it if no one has a faster solution." Cyna says.
"That might be best. Cutting through the bars or breaking through might take too much time and be pretty loud. And I an only teleport myself to the other side." Sadhana replies.
Finishing her milk she wipes her face with a napkin before getting down from the table and running off to the bathroom. After a few minutes she can be heard playing with her toys in the living room.
After a while of enjoying the wine, fruit, cheese, and crackers she sets the tray and her empty glass aside. Holding Rhy close she asks, "Is there anything else I can get for you before dinner? It should be ready soon....." She trails off as she looks into her wife's eyes and moves the hair back from her face before leaning in and kissing her softly.
Taking her wife's advice and focusing on their delicious snack so as not to get distracted by other inclinations, Rhadaya enjoys the decadence of it all draining the last of her wine and putting down her glass as Tes holds her close, brushing her hair aside. Gazing into her wife's intoxicating eyes she leans up into the kiss, lost in a haze of bliss.
When they eventually take a moment she smiles running her finger along the outer edge of one of Tes' ears. "Anything else I want would be more like dessert." she says with an impish grin. "And I definitely don't want to get distracted and ruin the amazing smelling meal you've prepared my love."
She sighs happily "I'm willing to bet there are even some princesses that don't feel this special."
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She lets out a contented sigh. No one knew her like her Rhy, no one ever could. Smiling a bit impishly herself she says, "I'm pretty sure we have a few days before we absolutely have to be anywhere...so there will be plenty of time for....dessert later. There is only ONE princess that I'm concerned about, and that is you my love. Would you like to come downstairs with me and check on our meal? I'm pretty sure it should be just about ready what with all the...distractions we've already had." She sits up while still holding Rhy. Taking her hand she kisses it before reluctantly sliding out of bed and picking up the almost empty tray and empty wine glasses.
"Once I quit devoting myself to things I don't really need anymore," Esme says.
"Probably the best plan at this point," Sienna says to Cyna.
She looks up at her, "What do you mean?"
Cyna casts a spell upon herself and proceeds to dig out the steel bars from the stone.
"I still practice with my swords and stuff," Esme says, sipping on her wine. "But I don't really need to do that anymore, do I?"
After Cyna digs them out, the bars fall with an echoing clang onto the stone floor.
She sighs as she looks up at her, "Only if you want to. It doesn't hurt to keep up those skills. Better than to lose them and need them later." She says before going back to her chicken and biscuits.
"You know there's like three dozen people in this town alone that run around with swords, right? You included," Esme says. "I'm just a big sister and a friend these days, anyway."
She smiles at her then, "You really are a great big sister. At least retain enough knowledge to defend yourself should the need ever arise. Mostly...just do what you think would make you happy. What do you want to do Esme? What do you want out of this life?"
"My what lousy neighbors we have." Cyna says as she proceeds into the cave.
Smiling, Rhadaya gets out of bed as well slipping on a robe and preparing to follow her wife downstairs.
Sādhanā chuckles as she follows, a soft glow beginning to emanate from her tattoos.
Tesia ties her robe around her as she waits for her wife. Picking up the tray and empty wine glasses, she heads downstairs to check on the stew she was making.
While they wait for Nyder to come back she puts one of her hands on top of his, "So, how was your day at the school?"
"It was fine," Dillon answers. "We have a new instructor and we had to show him around."
Cyna sees a humanoid figure peering at the group from behind a rock. It quickly runs off.
Esme shrugs while polishing off her glass of wine. "I dunno."
Kierk steps up behind Alethiro, Pandi and Charity and lobs a vial of alchemist's fire into the room. "Ah wuss wonderin' what wuss takin' ye so long."
"Nice timing," Pandi says. "We haven't found anything yet."
"Course not," Kierk says. "Yer sniffer's aren't trained enough to know what t' look fer."
He sniffs the air a couple of times before heading to a door on the right. "Here."
Charity opens the door to reveal a forge and several weapons and armors in good repair. "How'd you know?"
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"Bein' a blacksmith, Ah know what smells t' pick up on," Kierk answers proudly, a wide grin on his face. "E'en if they're old."
His eyes widen as he notices the forge. The dwarf quickly runs over to it. "An honest t' goodness dwarven forge! Oooohh, the things Ah'll craft on this beastie!"
Kierk rubs his hands together almost comically. "Ah can't wait t' get this outside!"
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Pandi chuckles. "Looks like we're done here."
Nyder returns with Rajni and Dillon's food.
"Good," Charity says, shouldering her lance. "I'm not fond of the underground...no matter what you've heard about halflings."
Stirring her tea a little to make sure the honey and lemon is well mixed she takes a sip of it, "A new teacher huh? Seems like this place is getting bigger by the minute. So...what do they teach? Or are you not allowed to talk about it?" She asks curiously.
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"I hadn't heard anything like that about halflings," Pandi says, a little confused. She starts heading out of the fortress and turns back to Alethiro. "Coming?"
"Just another sorcerer," Dillon says. "But he knows more than just sorcery so that's why Michael invited him to teach."
Charity follows Pandi. "Just that we like to live in burrows and such."
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Pandi shakes her head. "You don't look like a rabbit to me."
Rajni nods, "Ohhhh...okay. Well...Mr. Michael seems very very smart so if he wanted him there I suppose he has good reason for it. I was just curious anyways." She stops talking as she sees the food come to their table, nearly visibly salivating at the smell of it. Her eyes getting a little large she looks up at Nyder, "Thanks Nyder, it all looks sooo good. Tell him I said thanks for the salad too."
She takes just a moment to just smell the food before looking up at Dillon, "Doesn't it just smell divine? I bet it tastes even better...hmmm....I wonder." Picking up her fork and knife she cuts off several strips of the steak and puts it in her salad. Taking a few bites she makes a few yummy sounds. After swallowing she looks up at Dillon with an expression of complete bliss, "I was right...it is sooooo good." She says before happily going back to her meat salad.
Arista eats some more chicken and vegetables between taking drinks of her milk. Looking thoughtful she says, "Well...you're still young and have plenty of time to figure out what you really want to do with your life. You don't have to decide anything right away....just....whatever you decide...make sure it's a decision you can live with and that it makes you happy." She pauses for a moment as she finishes up the food on her own plate as well as her milk. Giving Esme a smile she asks, "Is there anything else I can get you to eat or some more wine? I can also make some coffee if you'd like, I think I have some more cookies in the kitchen if something sweet sounds good."
"More wine sounds good," Esme replies.
Dillon chuckles and starts eating.
Trying to remember that they were in a public place, she slows down on inhaling her food and taking a roll she tears it in half and puts a little butter on it before getting some more of the salad and meat on her fork. Holding it up for a moment she looks at Dillon, "Would you like to try it? It's pretty tasty." She asks, her pupilless eyes seem to almost radiate happiness and contentment.
Arista nods and gives her a smile, "Sure, I'll be right back." Getting up she gathers up the dirty dishes as well as Esme's empty wine glass and goes into the kitchen. Putting the dishes in the sink she pours some more wine into her glass before filling her cup with milk and getting a few of the cookies, she puts them on a plate.
Putting the wine, plate of cookies, and her milk on a tray she takes it back out to the dining room. She hands Esme the glass of wine, sets the cookies between them and then sits down next to her with her cup of milk. Snatching a cookie off the plate she dips it in her milk before taking a bite.
Hearing mommy say something about cookies she sits for a little bit, since she wasn't sure if she really meant it or not. She can smell those cookies though almost as soon as mommy takes them in the room where they were eating. Being too much to resist she gets up from the floor and runs back in the room where her mommy and auntie were still sitting. Getting up in the chair next to her auntie she holds out her hand, "Cookie pwease? Pwease Auntie?" She asks while batting her eyelashes at her and giving her the cutest smile imaginable.