Peek: A New Course

Lem vanishes after he and Warnd get off work, filling his friends hands with his coin pouch before the elf can throttle him. Before he could weigh the benefits of chasing the changeling down, Marle speaks up from behind him.

"So, where should we go to eat?" she asks with a smile, banishing all murderous thoughts from Warnd's mind.

"Uh... what do you like to eat?" he asks, pocketing the coins without even making a mental note to do something terrible to Lem later.

Marle hums as she thinks, her tail idly swinging behind her. Warnd's eyes follow it for a few moments before he looks away, uncertain if looking is inappropriate or not. "Something without fish? I don't hate seafood, but I guess I'm still not used to it."

Warnd smiles at that and nods, motioning for her to follow him. "I was basically brought up on fish, but it's nice to have something else sometimes. The Silent Rooster tavern has a really good roast chicken, if you want to try that?"

Marle's eyes light up at that and she eagerly follows. "I always liked cave fowl, and chicken isn't far off!"

"You'll probably like it, then. I'm told they roast it over a pan of stale ale, which sounds weird to me. They must have some serious cooking skill to not only make the chicken juicier, but also turn the drippings into an amazing gravy."

"Oohh, that sounds good. I've heard a lot of fancy cooking methods, but never had much chance to try them." She smiles at the opportunity to have a taste, and Warnd can't help but wonder about her past.

"So... how're you adjusting?" he cautiously asks, his curiosity warring with his desire to not upset her. Her smile turns a bit melancholic, but she doesn't look mad, at least.

"It's a lot to take in. I think I'm doing pretty well, but... I also think I had a good... job." She snorts at that and shakes her head. "If you can call being looked at like part of the cart as 'good'. Still, nobody wants to damage a hauler. They might have to do the hauling themselves."

Warnd gives a sympathetic nod to that. "I'm glad you don't have to deal with that anymore."

She sighs and favors him with a small smile. "Me too. Others had it worse, but comparing... doesn't help anyone."

"That sounds like a good way to look at it."

"Yeah..." She trails off, her tail thrashing for a moment before she changes the subject. "How about you? You're probably used to all this dungeon stuff since you're from around here?"

Warnd shakes his head. "I came from Gofnardale, by lake Gofnar. My parents are shipwrights, so I guess I'm continuing the family business. I came to Fourdock with the first spring caravans, since I heard the seas were open again."

"Have you gone out on them?"

"Not really. My family was always too busy making ships to go ride on them, and we haven't finished any of the ones here yet to even have the chance."

Marle nods at that as the tavern comes into view. "A chef should taste his cooking as he goes, but I guess a half-finished boat would just sink."

Warnd snorts at that and nods as he opens the door for her. "We'll sometimes do a float test once the hull is done, but usually only for a new design. An empty shell sits in the water completely different from a finished ship."

"Do you think the harbormaster will want to float the ship we're working on?"

He shrugs before offering her a hand up to sit at the bar. They're a bit early for the dinner rush, so there's plenty of room. She takes his help with a smile and he tries to ignore the fluttering in his chest that that, and takes his seat before finally answering her.

"It's hard to say. The design isn't anything special. I think if he does, it'll more be to test the flooding and draining than to test the ship."

She nods at that. "A working kitchen is just as important as the chefs in it."

Warnd smiles. "You have a lot of cooking metaphors. Did you want to be a cook instead of a hauler?"

She looks away and he gets the feeling he's stepped in it. Before he can apologize, the tavern keeper approaches them with a service smile. "What can I get you two?" the elf asks, and Warnd awkwardly answers.

"Uh... the roast chicken and ale, please." The keeper looks to Marle, who quietly nods, before he goes to get their food.

"I'm sorry..." he starts.

"It's not your fault," she quickly responds, though she doesn't meet his eyes. "The S... the Maw was a glutton. Food was everything to it. So there's a lot of cooking sayings, I guess."

Warnd doesn't know what to say to that, so all he can do is gently put a hand on her shoulder. He's glad she doesn't flinch away, and even more happy when she sets her hand atop his for a few moments.

"You couldn't know. It's just another thing to adjust to, I guess. As for learning to cook on my own... I know some, but I don't want to do it for a living. A good meal is good, but..." she trails off, and Warns tries to imagine what it would be like.

"Everything is still a bit too... fresh to want to pursue it?" he offers.

She nods and gives his hand a squeeze before straightening herself a bit. "I think so, yeah."

He gives her shoulder a squeeze as the keeper returns with their chicken, the heavenly aroma making it difficult to stay gloomy. "Here you folks go! Let me know if you need anything else, yeah?"

Warnd nods and thanks him, while Marle gives a wistful smile as the keeper goes. "That kind of thing helps, though."

"Talking about it?" Warnd asks as he picks up the knife and considers what of the chicken to take off first.

"I guess that, too. But more being treated... normal. Like a person. People here might give us kobolds a second look, but it's because they've never seen us, not because they think we need to do something. Even the curious looks are already fading."

Warnd smiles and slices into the chicken, cleanly removing a breast, a wing, and a leg for Marle. "I guess people lump you in with Thedeim's weirdness."

She smirks and smacks him in the arm. "You think I'm weird, too?"

"A good kind of weird, yeah." He smirks and slides the plate to her, as well as the gravy boat, and soon the two are more concerned with their dinner than their conversation. A companionable quiet surrounds them, each enjoying good food and good company, and even the onset of the dinner rush around them can't hurry their meal together.