VIDEO

[songbird_slayer]

[The moon's pretty big and bright tonight, and it's casting that silvery glow over most of the grass and the sand as they mingled along the residential area. But silver blended with gold directly around the fire that crackled in view. But something blocked the fire itself; a slab of stone, and atop it, a slab of marbled meat was sizzling away.

From beyond the frame, a hand moved in, carrying a pair of what looked like chopsticks. As the meat was jostled, it seemed like the fat had been rendering and the meat was tender. That might explain the smell some of you may have been picking up over the last couple of hours. As the slab was flipped, there was a golden crust, still quietly sizzling as the sticks moved the meal in gentle circles to encourage a little browning on the other side.]

Well, that all was an adventure, wasn't it? Still, it's good to be back on somewhat familiar soil to take a breather. I'd wondered, actually, about this place specifically and decided to spend a few days in the wilds.

A few bumps and bruises, but nothing major.

[The meat was left to sizzle, but not until after one of the sticks ran across the golden crackling over the top. Nice and crispy. Combined with the tender meat in the middle, this will do just fine.]

The deer are terribly frisky, aren't they? Not that I blame them- with a moon that big, even I feel like knocking horns.

[The view tipped to an opening in the fire pit, and with a warm laugh, something she was seeing seemed to delight her.]

Well, that's that. I said I owed you a meal, dear Julius, and I'm paying up. And don't think I forgot about you, sweet Red; that multitool you've given me has come in handy! Besides-

[Those chopsticks again. She reached into the little opening of the fire pit and began to extract a pair of what looked like cylinders, but cut lengthwise. Inside seemed to be something that looked buttery. Those were split, fire-roasted bones. What even was this woman?]

I'd said I needed to introduce you to roasted marrow, didn't I? I've bread to dip into it, too. Simple, but effective. I dare say I needn't tell you "come n' get it"~

Comments

[mech_and_mutt]

[pffpaffpffpaffpffpaffwhudwhudwhudwhumpwhumpstompstompSTOMPSTOMPSTOMP aaaand here he comes across the sand, with greater vigor and haste than Madhuri had ever seen in him before.

A pity his brakes aren't quite as good-- not that a mere faceplant would stop him from tumbling back to his feet, gawking at the masterpiece of culinary lust she'd created.]

You can DO that?!

[songbird_slayer]

[Well. Hello.]

Would you like a sarcastic answer in request for clarification, or would you kindly be specific?

You're shouting, love.

[mech_and_mutt]

Gimme a break--!

[Whoops, gotta wipe off the drool.]

I've eaten stuff with bones in it before, but you're makin' it look like it was stuffed with butter since it first grew in the pig!

[songbird_slayer]

Haha...! That's the marrow! I just let it roast up and get soft. But it's where all that good flavor comes from.

[She took the flatbread she'd let stay warm by the fire, tore off a sizely chunk, and offered him a helping of the bone marrow alongside.]

The bread's nothing special- three ingredients- but it's plenty when you've got something bursting with flavor like what you've got right there. Go on, give it a try.

[mech_and_mutt]

[Don't have to tell him twice, the way his palate had been spoiling for something different for weeks now. It's all he can do to not outright snap it from her hand the moment it's been offered. Madhuri's a classy lady and all, so... maybe just a nibble.

...

and GLORMPF goes the rest stuffed into his mouth. It's only after a spot of voracious gnoshing that he's finally able to speak again.]

It's like some kinda rich, delicious bone spread! Where did you learn this??

[songbird_slayer]

The Bismarck is the finest place to dine in Eorzea. Their head chef took me in and taught me everything he knew.

I'd known boiling bones, something my father used to do to make nice broths, but when I learned about marrow and what it could do, it opened my eyes to so many possibilities! I really can use every bit of the boars we hunt.

[mech_and_mutt]

So this is where all the flavor was hiding...! [And here he was trying to eat the meat. Maybe he should try lighting up his bones sometime, see if it'd help bring out the flavor.

...no, wait, that'd be a little silly. And speaking of silly, didn't she say the name 'Bismarck' before...?]

...The sky whale you were talkin' about?

[songbird_slayer]

Ha! That's the one! I don't know if any of the chefs have ever met the big guy, considering nobody's been to the north in... centuries. Huh. Maybe they thought the name was nice.

[She shrugged.]

I hear whale isn't very tasty.

[mech_and_mutt]

Well, didn't ya say it eats mountains? probably tastes like... dirt. And it'd be tough to chew.

[A conspicuous, none-the-more-self-aware click of that bone clamped between his molars.]

You ever thought of tryin' to make bank offa this stuff? Pretty sure you could take over the island in a day if you offered food like this.

[songbird_slayer]

[Her lips curled. A finger tapped her chin.]

I could think of a few ways to accomplish that, but do tell me more about my rise as Culinary Queen...

[mech_and_mutt]

What, do I hafta put it in writing? You'd have half the coven wrapped around your finger if you give 'em food like this. You think anyone likes eatin' practically nothin' but stale boar jerky?

[songbird_slayer]

The way to the heart is the stomach, after all. I thought about teaching cooking classes of some sort. It seems quite a few here are practically starving, which leads me to curiosity in where they're from.

Are they aristocrats, for instance? Couldn't say.

[mech_and_mutt]

[Wait, is she saying he can't take care of himself?!]

Hey, I ain't starvin', I just... don't have a lot of options. When all I can get is boar, every meal is pork chops.

That and I didn't have a sky-whale-restaurant where I could learn the ropes.

[songbird_slayer]

Now, now, no need to be defensive! It's a viable pondering. Not everyone can be thrust into a situation where they suddenly have to oversee every step of their meal without going to a market or even needing to cook it.

For instance, what if a coven member was vegetarian?

[mech_and_mutt]

A what?

[songbird_slayer]

Someone who avoids consuming animal flesh. No meat, no fish. Only vegetables, milk, eggs and the like.

[mech_and_mutt]

No wonder I ain't ever heard of it, I don't even think that's possible.

[Speaketh the man from a society of cats and dogs.]

[songbird_slayer]

Ah, that's right- it's all dogs from the ground up back in your world, isn't it?

[She looked away, smiling impishly.]

Do you circle the bed before you climb in...? Surely it isn't rude to ask, is it?

[mech_and_mutt]

Dogs and cats, or at least that's what you'd probably call 'em.

[And another crunch of the bone as he ruminates over the particulars of her words. Why would that be rude to ask...?]

...No, usually just kinda flop onto it. Why'd ya ask?

[songbird_slayer]

Nothing. Just imagining you sizing up the bed before you roll into it sounds adorable, especially if you kick your legs while you sleep.

[mech_and_mutt]

Okay, either I'm seriously lost or you're puttin' a lot of thought into somethin' kinda weird here. I'm not gonna wake up to you in the corner of my bedroom like some sorta bad ghost story, am I?

[songbird_slayer]

...Nnnno, it's... okay-

In a vast majority of other worlds I've been to, dogs are small animals that were wild at first but were then domesticated. They're pets, non-verbal companions. Think chickens, dear.

[mech_and_mutt]

Pets.

[He may not have had that much interaction with humans back home, but thinking back to some of the conversations he'd had after his arrival here...

His bone nearly falls out of his mouth in the middle of his deadpan glare.He tips it back in with a finger.]

And I suppose it'd be just as normal if someone put a leash on you?

[songbird_slayer]

Well, that all depends. After the third date, if there's some considerable chemistry, I may consider it normal.

[mech_and_mutt]

wh

what

[This isn't usually how you leave people breathless, is it, Madhuri? His entire analogy got immediately derailed.]

you, uh... you're... into that kinda thing? Really?

[songbird_slayer]

Well, certainly. Aren't you?

1/2

[mech_and_mutt]

Well, if it's on y--

2/2

[mech_and_mutt]

Hold on is this really the kinda thing we should be talkin' about?!

Re: 2/2

[songbird_slayer]

You brought it up. Don't give me that tone, dear.

[mech_and_mutt]

Hey, that ain't fair--

[Okay. Okay. Enough squirming when she pokes you.]

Look, either way you gotta agree the pet thing's a little weird, right?

[songbird_slayer]

I'm sure it must be to you! I apologize for asking.

Well, regardless... how's the bone?

[mech_and_mutt]

[Munch.]

Kinda crunchy, but can't complain about the chewy center. You gotta teach me some'a these tricks sometime.

[songbird_slayer]

Certainly. I've always wanted to instruct on cooking among other things.

Now, enjoy. Let me put some other things together for you.

[mech_and_mutt]

Yes, ma'am! [This was the sort of test animal he was okay with being.]

What else y'got here?

[songbird_slayer]

I've got some bread that's just finished and some seared herbed pork belly. What I wouldn't give for some fiddleheads, but I can't even begin to fathom the seasons here!

[bulletbiter]

[ Julius comes much slower than Red, dressed in a simple cloak. His hair shines a little in the moonlight, its silver glow reflected in golden eyes. ]

You didn't have to, really. But - thank you.

[songbird_slayer]

[All told, if he'd arrived with the same enthusiasm as Red, she'd be equal parts impressed and terrified. But she's up and at 'em, fixing up some of this boar belly with greens she'd managed to rustle up during one of her foraging trips.]

Please- It's the least I can do. Besides, our hosts are terrible cooks.

[She nodded upon her whispered emphasis, and passed the grub along.]

[bulletbiter]

[ Her food is taken with a nod edging into a half-bow. He doesn't quite eat first, instead inspecting what had been given. ]

How did you make all of these?

[songbird_slayer]

For lack of a proper kitchen, I took the smoothest stone slab I could find and made a griddle for the boar I'd hunted. The belly is fatty, but becomes quite tender after a little TLC. The herbs grow in the east. I'm going to wait for them to produce seeds and see about starting my own garden...

Ah, but the flatbread- if you'd like some, of course- is cattail starch, a little salt and water. If I can get my hands on some leavening agents, I could make some fluffier, tastier traditional loaves.

[She smiled.]

Domesticity is my hobby, I suppose. I'd cook and do gardening in my spare time.

[bulletbiter]

[ He's only heard of some of these techniques, so her words have him nodding along. ]

It's quite incredible to have such a skill.

[ Considering that food in his world are all factory-made, these are all things beyond his imagination. ]

Could you teach me?

[songbird_slayer]

I've been learning that a lot since I got here. So many different worlds, such struggles to keep one's self fed...

I'd be delighted to teach. Stick with me, darling, and you won't burn your eggs in the morning.