[identity profile] biblerewrite.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] hh_mirror
The making of chili had been highly successful. With River and A working together, they'd made nearly enough to feed the whole school. Thankfully, the kitchen had some pretty huge pots.

And now they were in the great hall, River on one side of the pot and A on the other, each armed with an apron, a ladel, and a spoon. Next to the pot were containers holding sour cream and various types of cheese and cut up chives, for garnish. A sign at the door read 'Free chili! Come and enjoy!'

Date: 2009-02-08 03:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
I recalled a thing Severian had told to Vodalus, and I told it to the young pair now as I took the bowl the girl offered to me: "One who truly benefits another is for a moment at a level with the Pancreator."

That was not the entirety of what Severian had said; but I thought the rest of his observation -- and in gratitude for that elevation will serve the other all his days -- not fitting to the occasion.

(Moreover, I will confess, I found it passing strange to recall an encounter of Severian's as an external thing, something which had happened to someone else, and not a thing I could experience myself through his eidetic memory. This kept my spoken utterance shorter and shakier than I would have liked, half-distracted as I was by the reminder of inner absence.)

"I am the Chatelaine Thecla," I said to the pair, as much to reassert this selfhood (and to claim it, as though it were a welcome thing) as to make a social introduction. "I have met one of you," this with a courteous nod to the boy, "but I know the names of neither."

Date: 2009-02-08 03:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com
He grinned sheepishly, not having realized that he'd forgotten to introduce himself at her sorting.

"I'm sorry, I, I'm A." The woman's height really was intimidating, as was her extreme composure. "This is River." And, because the concept made him feel a little stronger, "My girlfriend."

Date: 2009-02-08 04:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
Those might be good names or suboptimal. I lacked the context within which to discern such things now. Therefore I restricted my reaction to a nod. "A and River, what do you do when you are not giving food to others? And how is it a social experiment?"

I found a spoon as I spoke, beside the dishes of things that I interpreted as meant to go atop the main dish.

Date: 2009-02-08 04:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com
"I like to cook, and tend my gardens, and play with my cats, and spend time with my friends," A told her, watching her add cheese and sour cream to the chili. He turned to River; the 'social experiment' concept was hers.

Date: 2009-02-08 05:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
(( edited for unfortunate prepositional error XD ))

To A, I nodded, a little sadly. "Those are the things one misses most in prison."

While the girl spoke, I had been loading my dish with all the available toppings, and when she made mention of the corresponding variable in her social experiment, I could not help but smile.

"Count me curious, then: what have you learned about me by my actions of accepting food, of opting for all condiments and additives tacitly offered, and of asking your names?"

Date: 2009-02-15 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
"An exultant's body requires more fuel than others'." In more ways than one; I wondered what I would do without infusions from my khaibit; but perhaps that was no longer needed, now that my growing was done. "I have never seen any reason to be shy about eating as much as I please. This food is good; thank you."

Date: 2009-02-15 11:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com
"I am glad you like it," A told her with a broad smile. "There is plenty, and I am always glad to cook things. Is there a special kind of food you like?"

Date: 2009-02-15 11:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
"River is right. I like hearty, well-seasoned foods. They remind me of the time I spent in the countryside as a young girl, on trips away from the House Absolute."

In/on a world/time I might never see again.

"What is the countryside like here on this 'Earth'?" I wanted to know.

Date: 2009-02-15 11:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com
"The countryside here is very green and full of life," A told her. "It is winter now, but when it is spring many plants will bloom."

Date: 2009-02-16 12:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forlornexultant.livejournal.com
"Nourished by the bright sun ...? Of course. I will wish to see that."

Date: 2009-02-16 12:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com
A grinned; anyone who liked green things growing in sunlight was all right by him! "There is a forest, and I have a garden," he told her. "I have a greenhouse too, and an enchanted grove where it is always warm. River helps me care for the plants, and I grow many useful things."

Profile

hh_mirror: (Default)
HH_mirror

March 2022

S M T W T F S
  12345
67 89101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 14th, 2025 11:54 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios