Dragonborn Isekoi (Sallin Kari)

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Fair enough.

(Roll:13) Your continued wandering eventually takes you across a distinct smell, cooking meat. Your mouth begins to water, and your stomach makes a sharp growl. Surely, Theresa would not mind if you found something to eat. The raw meat didn't exactly seem enticing from before, particularly considering what it was expected to be used for.

[Sallin_Kari]

With the lovely scent of cooked meat leading me, I head towards the source. It's only fair that I get to eat after she interrupted me before I could even eat breakfast. And raw meat, while acceptable, is hardly ideal.

[porne]

Looking around, you find what appears to be a kitchen, although rather than a small fire burning, there's a small crystal radiating heat underneath a pot. You can see the mana lines, and it seems odd until you realize that this far into the castle, running a chimney up would likely take a lot of work. There's a few people bustling about, and it looks like it's a general kitchen, rather than anything terribly fancy.

[Sallin_Kari]

I'm in no position to criticize anyone else's method of cooking, considering my family regularly uses a light flame breath than any proper method. Still there is the question of how to get the food. Stealing is obvious but risky. I could ask, but I don't know what rules are in place about sneaking snacks, or how much of a stickler for the rule the staff is. Thinking for a moment I decide that at the very least I should try to being diplomatic first, trying to appeal to them to at the very least give me a morsel to tide me over until mealtime, emphasizing how I had not eaten today due to extreme circumstances.

[porne]

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

It's more that it's a staff kitchen rather than one for presentation to royals.

(Roll:8)

Entering the small kitchenette, you see a woman in an apron fiddling with the various pots and pans, seeming to be preparing something. Most of it is roasted meat of some kind, and small spoon fulls of grilled vegetables. Her apron is sticking to her, either sweat or steam from the cooking, and it shows off her figure.

https://chan.sankakucomplex.com/post/show/6684507

Before you can make a noise to let her know you're there, she turns and yelps when she spots you. Her brow immediately furrows in frustration, "Out out out! Can't you see I'm cooking it so it'll be ready soon!" She tells you, getting ready to push you out. She doesn't seem to mind your desire for food, but her kitchen is not the place for you. There's a small serving window nearby, that you can wait it, or you could ask for food from outside the door. You could also try something else.

[Sallin_Kari]

I pause for a moment as she tries to hurry me out, slipping to my back foot as slowly back track. From what she said, she doesn't mind me having the food, which is my primary concern. As such I ask as I continue my way the way I came, "Could you at least give me an estimate on how long it will be before I go? I am quite famished, and my stomach would love to know how long it will be."

[porne]

"I need another thirty minutes for the meat buns, but I have soup in five minutes." She says, the beginnings of an accent coming through as she reacts with stress. You suspect she's new to this position, even if she's a cook. You suppose you could wait outside with her. As she puts her hands against your chest and pushes, you can smell the emotional issues from her, and it seems likely that she may need some verbal help if you want your food.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I know I posted a pick of her, did you want any animal ears hiding in there? Or am I thinking of someone else that likes those?

[Sallin_Kari]

Soup wouldn't be very filling, but waiting half an hour would be torture, so I think I'll probably do that to tide me over until these... 'meat buns' are done. As she tries to push me out, I let her until I reach the door frame, before grabbing onto them. Having sensed her apprehension, I let out a sigh before offering, "Do you need some help?" I pause for a moment, before clarifying, "I might not look it but I have cooked before, though I will admit it wasn't with these crystal stoves. Hell, even if you need something else, I've got nothing to do so I'll help however I can." If I'm going to play therapist, best not dive directly into probing question. People get defensive when you do that, so I got to be a bit round about. Also, I start letting out some calming pheromones. Not enough where she'll instantly relax, but enough to take off the edge, and make her more likely to accept my offer. I can crank it up more as we talk later to help ease her concerns.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I'm one of the people who likes them, so sure let's make her a kemonomimi. No particular preference on what kind so feel free to pick.

[porne]

(16)

She seems to hesitate at your offer of help, but nods to you. She reaches up, scrubbing at her hair in frustration. You notice something flicker in her hair, and she quickly places a hand over it, glaring at you. After a few moments of the glare, she exhales and seems to relax. "I'm sorry, it's my first week and I'm still not used to this." She says, tying her hair back in place and turning back to get you a bowl of heavy soup. She makes sure there's big chunks of food in it, which is nice of her, before she sets it down and returns to her kitchen.

[Sallin_Kari]

I raise an eyebrow at her hiding something in her hair, but don't comment on it, instead waving off her concerns, "Hey, no problem, I'm new here myself so I understand. My name is Talren by the way. Hey, my offer for help still stands if you need it."

[porne]

(Roll:17)

You watch her work as she hurries about her various tasks, ignoring your offer. After a few moments, and she's back into the swing of things, she comments, "No, I need to know how to do this myself." She grumbles, seeming to focus on her task, and not much else. "Thank you for understanding though." She comments after a few moments and spooning you a bowl of soup and setting it down before returning to making each pastry. After a bit of study and some decent soup, you watch her, realizing that she's making each 'meat bun' separately. She's got a big bowl of filling, mostly meat with some vegetables and gravy, and she pours a ladle full onto a rolled out bit of breading, wraps it up and sets it into the oven.

This seems off to you, and it takes you a moment to realize what's going wrong. She's cooking like it's for individuals, making a small batch, cooking it, and then starting on the next. You're certain that she's making things the way she was trained, but she's spending so much energy on it that she hasn't had time to sit down and think it through.

[Sallin_Kari]

I move over by the serving window, idly consuming the soup as I watch her. Watching her for a moment, I query, "Wouldn't it be easier to make it all at once? You know, set out all the dough, place the filling into them, then put them all into the oven... They'd all be cooked the same length that way as well."

[porne]

She slows down as you discuss it, and she has to think for a moment before her head begins to turn bright red in shame. She whirls on you, startled anger visible in her eyes. She opens her mouth to counter you, but your open expression makes her hesitate. Finally, she hesitantly finishes her current batch, and then thinks for a moment and starts putting together the ingredients again, but in much bigger bunches than before. She mixes a very large bundle of the meat and herbs which makes your mouth water before laying it into the pan to soak and allow the flavors to mix. Turning back, she makes numerous little sections of dough, filling several pans rather than just the one. It doesn't take long for the entire batch to wind up in the oven at once, rather than the intermittent loading from before.

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

I suppose I could have let you figure out how to fix it on your own, but I didn't want to do either a problem you couldn't figure out, or one that was so generic as to be boring.

[Sallin_Kari]

At her face of anger, I let out an awkward smile, explaining, "I don't mean offense, I just am trying to offer suggestions to help you out." Luckily it seems that offense wasn't taken and she gives my suggestion a try. After she finishes I give her a smile, "Good work. By the way, I don't think we've been properly introduces," I reach my hand through the window to shake hands, "I'm Talren. I've been brought here because Queen Teresa wanted to discuss something with me, and currently waiting until she's got time for me."

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Well, that is what I was trying to suggest anyways, without being overly descriptive as that usually comes off condescending.Do it in mass batches, not piecemeal. It has the added benefit that since all of it goes in at the same time, it cooks the same length of time and are much closer, rather than having to babysit everyone to make sure it's properly cooked but not burned. The idea was to point her in that direction, not mock her.

[porne]

She continues to focus on her work for a moment as her face returns to a normal color rather than the reddish hue her embarrassment caused. "No, it was obvious, I just didn't think it through. Thank you." She manages to grind the last bit out, likely she was something of a know it all and is being brought to face the idea that she's not one. "The first batch is almost done though, here." She says, pulling out the pan with a thick glove and setting it down. "Give it a few moments to cool." You can see steam still escaping the buns, and you can tell it's very much a lovingly crafted item.

[Sallin_Kari]

My smile shifts into a more naturally friendly one as I encourage her, "And thank you for the food... And don't worry about it, no one fully thinks things through when they are doing something new for the first time. that's why practice makes perfect." While it is true being a know it all is hardly a good trait, letting a small crack in the road devastate yourself esteem is a far worse. Pausing for a moment, I pick up the meat bun, blowing on it once, before pointing out to her, "By the way, I gave you my name twice, yet I have yet to be given yours... May I have it?"

[porne]

She almost jumps before saying that her name is Miki and blushing a bit that she'd forgotten to tell you in her frustration. "Thank you for your help though, I really appreciate it." She gives you a shy smile now that she's back in her comfort zone of knowing what to do. She seems nice, quite friendly too. Still, she begins to busy herself with the cooking once again, as the buns and stews she set going reach their appropriate temperatures. "I work here five times a week, with today being my third day. Stop by if you need something." She says. You would think she means something else, but she seems to be quite happy with having somebody to talk to. As she finishes pulling the next batch, a small clump of servants and other castle workers begin to migrate down the hallway toward where you're sitting, likely coming to pick up their own lunches.

[Sallin_Kari]

"You are very welcome," I reply, adding, "I'll be sure to come by here when I have time." Pausing as I hear the servants starting to gather, before finishing up, "Anyways, looks like I better get going before I get in between these people and their food. See you around, Miki." After turning around and heading out I take a bite out of the meat bun, wondering what to do now, and if Teresa is ready for me.

[porne]

You think for a moment, trying to recall how long of a time frame she asked for and realize that it's probably time to head back. The meat bun is delicious as you bite into it, and you can see why they hired Miki, even if she's new to this whole cooking for a bunch of people thing. Heading back toward the small combat arena, you catch the blue haired woman as she's finishing up, and she's got the top of her armor off as she gets hosed off with cold water to wash away the sweat. The entire group of young men and women are otherwise out of their armor, but she's clearly ready to head back in once she gets the sweat off.

[Sallin_Kari]

Deciding I'd retrace my steps to see if she is ready, I finish up my meal. Catching sight of Judith again, I give her a wave before continuing on my way. I'll see if I have time after meeting with Teresa to take her up on her offer.