Dru nods, her needles still clacking, "The 'Number 4' is a true friend at the right moments."
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Cookie nods. Aye, good for the blood. We ran into quite the bout of excitement out there, but it does tire one out so! How do the young ones do it so often? I have half a mind to stay back next time, let me tell you. I can already feel the soreness creeping into my bones! Dru smiles slyly as Cookie's beverage arrives, "Drink your tea, dear..." After half a cup, Cookie understands. The aromatic tea has a bit of whiskey in it, which helps with the stiffness, but not nearly as much as the herbal admixture that deadens every bit of pain in her body and makes her joints feel pliable, like when she was a teen. The dash of euphoria is also a nice touch.
Cookie collapses into a chair. It being midday, the only OBC member present is Drusilla aka 'Dru'. She appears to be drinking tea... REAL tea this time, as she works on her knitting. Her needles clack with practiced efficiency. She offers the halfling woman a smile, "Good for the blood, I imagine!" She looks to Burt, "Be a dear and put a special kettle on - the number 4 - for Cookie, she looks positively wrung out."
All the ladies cluck about how much they've enjoyed meeting Cookie and hope to see her again soon. Gammy frowns. "Refugees and orphans? That's terrible. If you need food, a place to sleep or any help, please let me know. I can round up whatever you need. Your charges fall under the umbrella of one or another of our charities."
Cookie and the OBC… Drusilla ‘just call me Dru’ pipes up. ”Well! My daughter-in-law who – by her own admission – married ‘up’ into my family when she took the bands with my Kavin… well, she is now turning her nose up at a pretty lass that my grandson – Kavin Jr – is sweet on and calling her a social climber, just because she’s from a ‘lowly’ family… As if her family was any better when she started batting her eyes at Kavin! Honestly!” And so the ladies of the OBC return to the labyrinthine dramas of their families and plot the machinations to smooth the waters, or ‘right the ship’, or just decide who they have to wheedle to settle matters in an acceptable manner…
Cookie and the OBC… ”Yes. I would. Traveling with your home sounds like a delightfully novel experience.” At this she's gives a significant look to Odelai. The gnome chuckles, ”If I ever meet Baba Yaga, I’ll let her know.”
Cookie and the OBC… ”This house you can use or ride to travel the world... Would it ever go anywhere hopeless?” Odelai’s continues knitting, like you are just discussing an unseasonable turn in the weather. ”Hypothetically? Hmmm… Let’s say you talked with a couple of the residents that have been with the house for a long time, maybe from the beginning, and they say ‘We’ve never gone anywhere hopeless... yet.’ But everyone who’s rode the house for a while can tell you that the house goes to some very, very dangerous places. Not all the time, mind you, but it happens. And there have been some close scrapes for the residents and the house itself.” She sips at her tea, "Oh, this tea has quite gone to my head."
Cookie and the OBC… The ladies eat up the intricacies of Cookie’s life, marriages, children, grands, and great grands… not to mention the relationships between all of the siblings and half-siblings. They pepper her with questions while offering comparisons to their own husbands, children, and grandkids. And then there are the variables involved with aging… I mean how does a halfling child with a half-dwarf half-brother deal with how slow or fast the other child ages compared to them! The drama! The ladies drink a lot of ‘tea’ as the afternoon wears on into evening and their chatting continues unabated… ”Oh yes… if only I could pick that Baba Yaga's brain. She's got it figured, bringing her house wherever she goes!” Odelai, perhaps a bit in her cups, returns to one of Cookie’s initial comments. ”What if Baba Yaga isn’t the only one to figure it out? Let’s say there is a house - no a mansion - that moves… and there are all sorts of folks living there – good and bad. And you, for whatever reason, were offered a chance to go with the house. But the catch is, the house goes where it wants. You can’t steer it. It’s a chance to see the world but not on your own terms. Would you stay on or hop off?”
Cookie and the OBC…
Cookie has time to really appreciate the tea while the conversation continues. The flavors are initially simple, then they grow in complexity and appeal. Further, the flavor is crafted to be a different experience on her tongue than it is in her nose and the two are simultaneous dissonant and complementary. The aggregate effect is it triggers Cookie to reflect on her past and the feelings of comfort that home and hearth provide. Whoever concocted this ‘simple tea’ is an artisan and master at their craft. The ladies cluck approvingly at Cookie’s story and insert their own thoughts: Drusilla encourages, ”Grandchildren! They are a handful. We wouldn’t mind hearing about your grandchildren, honestly. The misadventures of Gammy’s grandson Dafid I can recite by heart…” Gammy asks, ”Not to be indelicate but… are you looking for husband number four? There aren’t a lot of suitably mature gentlemen in town but there are definitely a few we could introduce you to…” Odelai rests her needles and stares out the window a moment before returning to her work, ”Travel is so lovely – seeing exciting new places, meeting interesting strangers. It definitely keeps one young. For my people, it’s almost a requirement – the Bleaching, don’t you know… But, at a certain age, you want travel and enjoy the comforts of home. Don’t you find that to be true?”
The OBC (Old Bitty Committee) - as they call themselves - seem delighted to welcome a potential new member. They fuss about getting their chairs situated to make sure everyone has a dignified space and aren't "rubbing elbows like cattle". One of the ladies barks at the sour barman about getting a 'proper chair' for Cookie. The barman is quick to hop to it under the glaring eyes of the three founding OBC members. The barmaid is just as quickly dispatched to get a cup of tea as well. And so, after two minutes of drama, the four ladies settle down into their plush chairs. Knitting needles start clacking, tea is served, and proper introductions are made. Mama Cookie learns a few important things.
Cookie takes a sip and nearly chokes. It is a fine tea, no doubt... a lovely, hand-blended floral and herbal mixture steeped in grain alcohol. It is delicious and none of the ladies should breathe anywhere in the vicinity of an open flame. "So, dear," says Odelai, "Tell us all about yourself. We've heard each other's stories so often, they feel like our own. It'll be so nice to hear a new yarn."
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