homeless_pard | A social meeting

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jason au

A social meeting

Who: Khemrys, Jason, Nat, the leopards in general?
When: Saturday of the second week in this new world?
What: A cookout to meet other leopards! And maybe drama!

Her feet were still far more tender than she wished but at least her fingers were healing far faster? She did not need bandaging on her fingers anymore and that made most things far easier, such as finishing the lord Jason's silver bordered shirt with pawprints and silvery moons picked out in embroidery thread! It was far later than she had intended such to be completed but that was neither here nor there it seemed. She had delivered it, folded, with breakfast in the donor quarters as she'd taken up cooking as she had promised, but had been too shy to await his chance to open it.

She had much to do this day after all, such as debating which of her simple garments was best suited to an outdoor gathering (she settled for the full, deep brown skirt and cream tunic over a sage shift), and...wincingly slid her feet into boots she laced tight about the thinner bandaging. It might aid her feet in not swelling near as much? Of course, the loaned slippers were to be returned today as the lord Nathaniel had been too busy to be oft at the holdings she now lived at. She had naught else to bring, but had been assured her aid in preparing items would be a far more welcome host gift. The days were shorter here she had learned, twenty four hours with sixty minutes apiece rather than her own twenty hours with a hundred, but there was a clock that she was learning to rely on at the bedside table yes.

It was past dawn now and quiet around her, but nearing nine thirty and so she stood and brushed nervous hands down her skirt to...go wait in the hall for the lord Jason so he might drive them. She was trying to focus on the fact she would be cooking with Nathaniel rather than the trip there!

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"I had promised to rest my feet lord," she chuckled to Jason's offer, but, "we shall see how such might be come eve?" She'd not say no to a proper touch of nature once more. As welcoming as the Circus had been, well, it was sunken into stone!

Thus and so and Khemrys sifting dry ingredients by memory rather than measure for breads, then ducking away to allow Nathaniel the wet, then there was kneading for both of them to do in those bowls! "Are there mushrooms within in your refrigerator Nathaniel?" Or should they seek some beyond the garden while out during the rise?

"Well," Jason drawled, "If you sit while we're all eating, I'll work on clean up and then we can take a walk."

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows. Jason never offered to help with clean up. "Might not be a bad idea," Nathaniel added. "Besides, I think Cherry and Zane were talking about setting up a water game later if it gets warm enough." He turned and opened the fridge, glancing inside. "I have a container of baby bellas. I don't know what grows in the backyard: I've never had real wild mushrooms. I wouldn't even know what to look for."

At least when feeding lycanthropes he didn't have to worry too much about killing anyone with poisonous mushrooms, but as he didn't know anything about wild mushrooms it was never something he'd even considered.

"What might a water game be?" Khemrys blinked. It seemed an odd thing to call any one specific game? Mayhap it was..."swimming?" In a creek or pond?

She was so doomed.

"Might I see them?" she asked easily. "And we might look near your garden, in worst luck we have no other mushrooms to add!" she smiled. "But several types adds to flavor when cooking into a sauce and the like, and you have the edge of the wood with good loam nearby." So they might find at least a few safe ones!

Nathaniel shook his head. "Anita didn't want to set up a full pool. But they were talking about doing a slip 'n slide kickball game."

Jason lit up. "Dude, seriously?!"

Nathaniel laughed. "Might. I said they might. If it was warm enough they were going to see if they could get the slip 'n slides and a few other things they said we'd need."

He chewed his lower lip, but he was looking more and more excited. He pulled the container of mushrooms out of the fridge, pulling the plastic wrap off of them. "I wouldn't mind looking for more mushrooms, but you'd have to tell me what to look for."

She had...no idea what any of that was honestly, excited though Jason might be about it? So rather than interrupt that excitement she stole a small mushroom to nibble and taste, planning. Milder mushrooms these, but well enough, so seasonings were certainly needed...

...hmmm? "Ah, of course lord Nathaniel. I'd not ask you to fetch any as might be harmful!" Of course not!

Nathaniel flushed slightly. "I'm still learning a lot," he said shyly. "The garden was really new to me, having fresh stuff to grow. But finding things that are growing wild is...a little scary."

Jason smiled at him. "Knowing you, Nat, you'd spend hours researching so you couldn't possibly make a mistake."

"You've a nose and a keen mind lord," she smiled, "and shall be far more apt in learning than most given your drive to feed and tend others." He would do fine!

Honest!

"And I promise if we do find aught the flavor will be worth the stress!"

Nathaniel grinned, lovingly covering the bowls to rise. "Want to go look now? We can see the garden and then check the woods. You'll need your boots though."

Jason blinked, swallowing his chips. "Can I come too?"

Nathaniel gave him a teasing look. "Only if you put those chip in a bowl and set it out for everyone."

She rinsed flour from her hands in the sink and dried her fingers, smiling, "you'll need a small basket?" she offered. "Which shouldst allow me time to relace my boots tight?" Since he seemed so eager and ready to go!

"Mayhap the lord Jason might carry it." He could make himself useful!

Nathaniel frowned. Where was he going to find a basket? He didn't even have one yet for the garden, though that was going on his next shopping wish list. Then he remembered something and dashed down to the basement, returning shortly with an Easter basket. "Here! A basket. From last year's egg hunt!"

Jason pressed his lips together and dutifully took the basket. He wasn't interested in wearing shoes.

She couldn't help laughing at that odd comment, "are they dangerous then, these eggs you hunted?" How very strange, though the bright colors of the basket were rather cute?

A last tug of laces and she was standing once more, "do lead on lord."

Jason snickered. "Very. They were hard plastic and filled with sugary sweets."

But seeing everyone so excited hunting for eggs was definitely worth it. Too many of them hadn't had proper childhoods...

Jason gestured for Nathaniel to lead the way and he pushed open the sliding door to the back deck. His garden was off to the side as they walked down the few steps, and Micah and Merle looked up from their work as they approached. "Micah!" Nathaniel called. "Merle! Khemrys and Jason are here!"

"Have been here awhile," Jason laughed softly. The men approached with smiles. The smaller one had very curly hair and his eyes were surprisingly like a leopard's, even as he held his human form. He smiled warmly and held a hand out to Khemrys. "Micah. It's so good to finally meet you."

The other one, who must be Merle, was...a large figure, grizzled looking with grey facial hair and a scar down his face. He also had an oddly comforting smile on his face. "Merle," he said in a deep drawl.

"...what a strange thing to do to eggs," she mused. How very strange.

Ah but then there were people and rather than show nerves she swept into a deep curtsy, skirts pooling easy on the decking, "lords," she greeted quietly. No handshakes were not a thing she was yet used to and it was very strange besides! "My apology in delaying such respects." It was obvious why given how badly her collarbone still showed and how thin her face and wrists were.

Merle looked...concerned as she dipped down, but Nathaniel must have give Micah a heads-up at least. He smiled warmly. "No worries!" he offered. "We all know how excited Nathaniel's been to show you his kitchen."

Merle gave a short laugh before nodding a greeting to Jason. "So this is Khemrys, the girl from another world?" He was smiling, and seemingly sincere. "You're a tiny thing, aren't you? Jason, she's been here how many weeks now? Aren't you feeding her?" He gave her a wink. "I've got the barbecue pit firing up now and we'll get some good food into you."

Ah so that was common knowledge here? That she was not of this world? She had not been certain how far beyond the Circus such knowledge gad been allowed! "'Tis a fine kitchen," she agreed, lifting her gaze if not rising.

Merle got a quiet look then a wince? "Please do not think the lord Jason remiss, he has been naught but kind. There is simply much to recover from due to the lengths I ran." She'd defend her benefactor if necessary!

Micah held out his hand, offering to help her up. "No need for all of that. We're pretty low-key in this group."

Merle gave Jason a sideways glance, but smiled. "I'm only teasing. Even if I know those kids eat nothing but junk. You wait until I get some food off the barbecue: I'll make sure you get your pick before the rest of these vultures inhale it all." He grinned at Nat. "You backing me up in that kitchen? You know I got the proteins, but you've got to handle the rest."

Nathaniel laughed. "Yeah, but I have backup today: Khemrys is an amazing cook. We're going out to look for mushrooms and then get some herbs from the garden."

"As you say lord," she noted, rising smoothly with barely any weight placed on the man's hand at all, too thin fingers cool compared to his. "But for the welcome of the hearth my gratitude, the feasting of the board my thanks. My hand to your aid should need arise." He was the high lord here, it was only proper, even if he'd not met her at the door.

At the junk comment though Merle had her attention once more, "aye mayhap, before my arrival, but they have allowed me to cook for those who need such in the high lord's holdings." So no more junk! "And my thanks. I cannot eat near as much as it seems the shifters of this world do so it shall not hinder meals for others." She promised.

Micah looked a little lost at her formal greeting, but he gave her hand a friendly squeeze. "I'm looking forward to sitting down and talking at some point, learn a little about you and where you're from."

Merle let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. "Don't you worry about them, honey: they all eat just fine. But I'm glad to hear you're teaching them a bit about proper food." He paused and caught Nathaniel's hurt expression. "Not you, boy. You'd be running a Michelin three-star restaurant outta that kitchen if you could. So I know this girl's gotta be a good cook if you're letting her in your kitchen."

Nathaniel all but blushed at the praise from Merle. "We've got a lot of food planned," he managed.

"I am to sit after food is served else the lords may fuss," she agreed genially to Micah. "As my hands have healed before my feet." Alas for slow healing, she might envy that in the shifters here!

"It but made sense as summat I may do to repay kindness granted me," she blinked. "But the lord Nathaniel will be teaching me to make a potato salad? I will be teaching a batter bread!" And that was actually quite exciting to her!

Micah glanced down at her feet. "Still after so long? You must heal like a human, then." He threw a glance at Nathaniel and Jason. "I'm glad they're making sure you rest, then. This is a party for you to get to know everyone and welcome you; I don't want you to wear yourself out trying to help."

Nathaniel nodded. "She'll rest. Right now we're going to see if there are mushrooms in the woods. She knows how to tell if you can eat them or not."

Jason held up the Easter basket. "I get to hold the basket."

"Aye, I was fair shocked at the speed at which shifters may heal here," she admitted wryly. "Though your shift seems fair unkind in comparison to mine own." So there was that?

Ah yes, "mushrooms for a sauce and layering in batter breads!" she smiled. "Though if I may lord Merle, what meats do you intend this eve? So I might choose and cook vegetables to layer as well as may compliment such?" Granted, she could just prepare a large variety even as they were with the flatbreads?

Jason smirked. "Yeah, but you haven't seen Micah shift: so smooth."

Micah rolled his eyes. "Go and find your mushrooms. Khemrys, I'll come find you when you're enjoying the party and resting your feet."

Merle pursed his lips and crossed his arms, looking skyward. "I got pork ribs, some tri-tip, I got that marinated chicken you boys liked so much last time, I got sausages and some burger patties as back-up if people start needing snacks later on, and..." he grinned proudly. "I already got brisket and a pork shoulder in the smoker. Should be ready around midday."

"Nor am I like to for some time, I'll be in poor shape for the moon in a few days, and you are not all bound to fur as long as I am," so she'd be curled at home as it were. "But glad I am that at least some may shift kinder here."

Ah, she was being dismissed so she dipped slightly in agreement and then offered a smile to Merle, "a feast indeed, a variety it shall be then," as he seemed to have no focus beyond quantity?

Right, waiting upon Nathaniel to lead once more!

"Gotta be a variety with this group, but at least they don't let anything go to waste!" Merle laughed. Micah seemed curious at her mention of the full moon, but Merle was already waving the group on to get back to his preparation.

Nathaniel waited until they'd turned away before bringing his attention back to Khemrys. "Garden or woods first? I know I haven't seen anything mushroomy in the garden the last time I looked."

He would have her undivided attention later for answering questions? She had promised to allow time to speak after all, he just needed to lay out his thoughts before then! "Aye, so little left for luncheon," she sighed to Merle as he left. Like locusts, the people here!

Free though, she smiled at Nat, "the herbs so we might know what we are cooking with aught we might find?" she chuckled. "And so as not to overfill lord Jason's basket..."

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