Firedove, it's been a month with no word. Should we presume the game is dead?
If so, would you please set the game to inactive?
I hope all is well.
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I'm still here. :)
When the winners of the comfort foods are announced, despite it being the other team, Ashley holds a combination of beaming enthusiasm with self-satisfied smirk, though he tries (unsuccessfully) to hide it behind his fan.
Mimi wonders why Ashley is so hot now that the ovens are off.
"I am glad you think so, Chef Ashley. I admit, I was not expecting the competitive nature of how our work would be received. We are all experts in different areas after all. We should contribute to the harmony of True Flavor rather than the bitterness of pride."
During the weekend, Vincent will feel very homesick, adn look to the others, I am terribly sorry folks, but I must return home. I miss my family too much, and being away from them kills me every day. Good luck to all, and may your dishes be as vibrant in color as they are in taste. Mimi blinks, a little suprised, but bows at Vincent and responds without question, "May your travels guide you toward the path of True Flavor, Chef Vincent."
Yikes, I didn't mean to start a conversation that would prompt folks to leave... :( just concerned about making sure we're able to communicate. Tac -- and Firedove, whom I hope we'll hear from directly soon -- I'm sorry to hear you've had such frustrating issues. Still, we seem to only hear from Firedove in particular every 2-3 weeks which has been a trend for awhile, even prior to storm season. If it's just a matter of that's what the pace of the game will be -- please tell us, I know I can at least adjust. You can't help if the power goes out, but if you know work is going to cause delays, etc. that we can get a heads up about, that would be helpful. (My parents were both teachers, I know how disruptive changes in schedules/plans/curriculum/structure etc. can be.) If it's helpful, you're welcome to SMS text to my email address if you've lost power again so I can let the group know. ;)
I am back, although the Firedove/Tacticslion family appears to still be absent, and we are thus without a GM and a fellow player. I'll make a comment I did in Tac's last game: do you guys need to formally hiatus? I get busy family times. I really do. At the same time, we're sitting here waiting, not knowing when the next post is going to happen, and we're taking time out of our busy days to try to be sure we keep up. I would feel much better being told "check back in two weeks" than checking continuously while not knowing if the GM has disappeared forever.
Will be away from boards tomorrow through Sunday. If you're able to move things on within that time, by all means bot Mimi as needed.
"Is the title important?" Mimi asks Bahram blankly.
Mimi nods. "A functional kitchen is a collaborative one," she says, as if that is somehow a logical reply.
that's good to know, Firedove. Given the slow pace of the game however, is it okay to explore in the meantime?
Mimi nods at Bahram. "We should collect what we have developed here in general. Marking our progress toward achievement of True Flavor would be helpful." She thinks. "We would need a blank journal to write it in. And keep it here in the kitchen."
I hear you, Philip. Of course I saddled myself with a fairly nonsocial character which is my own fault, it's still hard to find ways to open up for interaction. Especially as most folks are RPing that they're just going back to their room after the action happens. Firedove, how much freedom do we have on downtime? Are there things we can instigate between competitions? Could we organize a shopping trip to town? Could we explore the manor? I realize some of this would require some response from you, but is there some stuff we can make up as we go along? I mean, you're talking about being in a weird, huge, mysterious estate, but we're actually already in one....
Mimi bows to Sali, then her teammates, then the other team, stiffly acknowledging the accomplishment and the others' worthy attempt. Going back to the kitchen, she cleans up her own station and, having been on her feet all day, decides to make herself some "comfort food" of her own, some simple rice porridge of the type served at the monastery. Of course since the monastery was a culinary one and therefore did not extend their asceticism to food, this one features lovely bits of fruit and honey.
Stay classy, people. Actually, from the suggestion back a-ways, I think a camping expedition (that does NOT turn Lord of the Flies) would be fun and full of potential shenanigans, but my character is biased toward that.
That's weird, I accidentally posted under my main name, and then when I edited it to Mimi it kept my Superstar tag. Usually it doesn't do that. And see now it's normal, with my character sheet showing instead.
Hey, Firedove, Tac, everything okay?
Eh, elves are a bit gamey.
Mimi nods at Kehlysch. "Thanks to you as well. A true chef shares his knowledge of the path of True Flavor so that all may seek it out."
Mimi, getting used to her new environs, does better than the week prior, treating her vegetables with more delicate art and managing to balance their flavors. While still likely not the blow-away portion of the meals, she contributes with her art more than adequately to both the puffs and with tasty bite size chunks of potato, carrot, rutabaga, and onion to the pot roast. She stays out of everyone else's way, keeps herself and her station immaculately presented at all times, and is helpful to others when called upon. And she even manages to do this without outright offending anyone. It is possible, even, that she might have smiled at someone once, but that was probably a trick of the light.
"When we get to exotic... would wild plants qualify? It is something of an expertise of mine. I expect Lord Schmultzfeather's guests have seldom had jack-in-the-pulpit root or even perhaps actual marsh mallow, the plant derivative."
"That could work. Being buttery and flaky, it should qualify as what our employer considers 'comforting.'"
This game never ceases to make me hungry.
"Thank you for showing me this. Perhaps we can both expand our repertoires."
"Chef Vincent, what do you think of my suggestion of pot roast rather than stew? Either way my work will not be much different." To the discussion of macaroni and cheese, "So we have a... starch course with the macaroni and cheese, and a meat and vegetable course. Before we finalize those recipes, perhaps we should choose what our third course will be, then refine. "For a first course, we might want something lighter before the heavier courses are presented. A broth, perhaps. If we were to use the third as a final course, I would suggest perhaps a fruit and cheese plate, or perhaps Tessara could think of something that could be baked? "While I am technically vegetable chef, I consider myself accomplished with all produce and could assist with fruit selections and preparation."
Mimi watches Kehlysch with almost comic (to anyone but her) intensity, eyes darting back and forth to note the rhythms of his movements and breaths. She nods, and carefully removes her jacket (under which is simple wrappings around her chest) and rolls up the legs of her hakama, removing her slippers. Trying to mimic him, she steps into the waiter, waits patiently and when opportunity strikes, tries to grab a fish.
And manages to do so successfully on the first try! There is just for a hair's breadth of a second a brightening of her eyes as she might, just might, be delighted by her accomplishment, but she quickly regains her stoic composure. "Thank you very much. Fresh fish is of course the tastiest. I suggest cleaning and cooking them at once."
If Mimi notices the mark Kehlysch has on his chest, she unfortunately does not seem to grasp its significance and perhaps even presumes it is simply a gillman birthmark.
Mimi is quiet awhile in thought as she ponders the strange names given the different kinds of foods. In the Chop Do monastery, acolytes came from all over the world and submitted all kinds of dishes as they attempted to master their craft. It was all both comforting and exotic at the same time. But she took Sali's interpretation as "central Avistan peasant food" to mean "comfort" and "Garundian, Vanaran, and beyond" to mean "exotic" although of course she found such epithets confoundingly inaccurate. She finally reconciled the idea as it was what Lord Schmultzfeather himself thought might belong to such categories, and then it made more sense to her. She nods at Vincent. "I would trust your instincts regardless as to your specialty, but I particularly agree a lean, slow-cooked meat would be most agreeable. Earthy vegetables, as you say, such as root vegetables, would compliment. Indeed, as foods aligned with Earth, they calm folk who are overbalanced in Water and Fire. Wood-aligned vegetables may also suit, such as kale and cabbage. I shall check the root cellar to see what is available. Rather than a stew, however, may I suggest a braise? Something like a pot roast. "Tessara and Bahram could then focus on the other two courses."
I'm sorry for being so stupid, Firedove. I swear I did read the original posts, several times, and just didn't see some of the details for reasons I can't explain. I guess I was just having trouble taking it all in. I'm sure it's very frustrating for you to have to repeat yourself, and I'm sorry to do that to you.
Mimi nods to Kehlysch and leads him to a spot she wanted to try at the edge of the property, with a small river running through. She is reticent at first, but falls into pointing out plants that have various medicinal or edible uses, and he may notice she seems more relaxed than she has been than anywhere else. She finds a good spot to camp and gets a fire going while he begins to fish.
"Chef Sali, what would your guests consider exotic? You have been able to import a great deal, from how far away would be considered untried? And would we be able to get very rare ingredients if so?" "Likewise for comfort food, what is considered 'comfort' for your guests? Where do they come from? One man's homestyle meal is another's rare delicacy."
FYI I may be offline for a couple days, and also have a bit of a busy weekend. Will check in when I can, but may be sporadic.
Mimi nods in what might be a favorable glance to Kehlysch. "Let's depart just after sunrise, meeting outside at the kitchen door. We can catch our breakfast." Provided Kehlysch finds that satisfactory, she will meet him at the proposed place with her pack. "I don't have fishing gear, but I suspect your methods don't involve tackle."
Mimi nods at Kehlysch. "It's best to be near fresh water. If you share your knowledge of the fish, I will show you the edible plants nearby."
"I am going to go into the woods to camp overnight and forage." Mimi announces this as its own statement, but getting used once again living amongst other people, it occurs to her to note. "Should any of you wish to join me, you are welcome." She pauses again and adds. "It will not be comfortable."
Mimi shrugs. "Unless you are telepathic and know what these people are thinking, it strikes me the only person doing the judging is yourself." She tilts her head. "You came here to have your food judged. Let your food speak for itself. That is what I intend to do. And if you did not wish to seek judgment at all, not even of your food, I suggest you do some discernment on your vocation."
Mimi blinks uncomprehendingly. "Do you fear being trampled? Did you think the diners were armed?"
When Tessara comes back to the room, Mimi, mid-odd pose, asks "What happened?"
As others start offering advice and words of encouragement to Tessara, Mimi pulls away, not wanting her to feel overwhelmed. She sniffs and purses her lips when she hears that Ashley and Dinte "won" the evening, so to speak. But she knows the theme was something out of her experience, and that indeed, it would be hard to beat the sweet course in a romantic dinner. She does not even consider her manner or presentation as part of the factor, for to her all that needs to happen is for her food to speak for itself, and that is where she must have failed. Mimi does quietly approach Bahram, saying quiet words that come slowly, with great difficulty. "I apologize if my failures contributed to our lack of success. I will not do anything to cause you dishonor again." She goes to clean up her workstation, with the usual meticulous attention to hygiene, and then goes to her room to first to check on her roommate and then to practice Chop Fu kata. -----
Mimi nods to Sali. "I will do as you command," Mimi says stiffly. "But I came here to make my food the spectacle, not myself."
"Now more normal breaths. It should feel natural," Mimi advises. "Just focus on your breath." She looks up at Sali. "Chef, are we expected to return to the dining room?"
"Chef Tessara," Mimi looks the elf right in the eyes. "Take some deep breaths now. In. Out. In. Out. Focus on the breath." If Tessara does as Mimi says, after a few minutes, she adds, "The event is come and gone. Let go of your distress with your exhalation and be gone as well."
Mimi mutters quietly to those near her and to Tessara. "Perhaps we should get Tessara back to the kitchen." She offers Tessara a hand up.
All you can do is try, Lady Firedove. I appreciate it. :)
Also to add--Firedove did give us a heads up which is much appreciated. The issue I have is when GMs just disappear without warning, but that's NOT what happened here. As a friendly request, I would suggest that if Firedove anticipates an absence due to schoolwork/inservice/kids to not leave us in a position where we may need GM feedback but are free to RP with each other. For example, say if we're in the middle of combat when she knows she needs a break, to auto-end the combat so we aren't waiting for the monster to act, etc. :)
Hey, Firedove, could we perhaps say we carry Tessara back into the kitchen and regroup, so we can RP with each other while you're gone? I understand the busy-ness of the time of year --- work at a university, and my parents were public school teachers --- but if we can sit in a more "comfortable" position as it were it puts less pressure on you and we can find something to do so we don't lose our muses.
Seeing her roommate fall, Mimi sidesteps to try to catch her. She stumbles herself in the process, so while she does not manage to catch Tessara, she is quickly kneeling beside her, and gives Tessara's face a light slap.
Mimi of course is impeccably dressed and presented. But whether the focused expression comes off as professional or sour and disinterested...
... Fortunately for Mimi she has managed less of a "resting b*~%@ face" and rather a more confidence-inspiring set of her jaw.
It's been there for awhile... I just kept forgetting to comment on it. I'm pretty sure it was not there from the get-go though....
Also, I noticed the new tag line you've put on the game under the campaigns tab.... CRE-epy..... Daeslan 844 has not participated in any online campaigns. |