[Closed] A Window On Earth

[Aurelie Steerpike]

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning | Brunnhold Kitchens

Waiting. Aurelie seemed to spend a great deal of her life waiting, and wondering. Waiting in particular on other people, to know if she would or would not see them again. So she had with Uzoji, so she did with Fionn, so she was now with Yazad.

At least in the last case, she had told him to come again in Dentis. So she could give him a jar of the jam she'd made, more dear than she'd expected. She had promised, after all. And they'd hardly gotten much chance to talk. They wouldn't get more if he came now, not really, but she was looking forward to that nebulous someday all the same.

Having friends, Aurelie had decided, was nice. She didn't quite understand how it was managed, or how she seemed mostly to become such with people she wasn't even supposed to talk to, but she was enjoying the experience. Mostly. It was more lonely when they weren't around than before, of course. That was the trouble. You didn't miss things you didn't have, or at least Aurelie didn't.

Not, she chided herself, that Yazad was her friend. Friendly, certainly. An odd young man, with his tidy manner and tidy dress, his strange space between her world and the world outside. Just because they'd had one nice conversation—one nice part of one conversation, even!—that didn't mean she could be so bold as to consider him a friend. Even thinking of Aremu as such seemed to be somehow crossing a line; in all likelihood, she'd never see or hear from him again. And Fionn? Fionn was a friend, she thought; but distant from her, and likely to remain so.

Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, to think so positively of the concept of friendship. Like she knew what she would have been on about.

The fog that blanketed campus made her glad, that she was in the kitchen and nowhere else. Aurelie was pleased to be here at any time of year, even sweating through her layers and layers of sensible cotton in the height of the Yaris heat, but she had to admit it was more pleasant in the fall and winter. Rainy season, too, it was almost—cozy, really. The sun hadn't yet risen high enough in the sky to burn the fog away; Aurelie wasn't sure it would, given the state of the day. It made her walk to the kitchen seem like something from a dream, even though she had traced that exact path so many times before. Nearly every day for ten years. But the details were worn off, formless and strange.

No matter. She was busy; she was always busy, she thought ruefully. The work was a blessing; Aurelie was grateful for it every day. Most days. The days she was in the kitchen, certainly. Days when she was not? Well, they did still keep her busy. Idle hands and idle minds, all of that. At least keeping her hands moving gave her something to focus on that wasn't the inside of her own foolish head.

"Aurelie!" A voice cut over the din; one of the other girls. Aurelie looked up from her cinnamon rolls, puzzled. "You have a visitor. A man." The reproach in her tone made Aurelie's face burn; it could not, she thought dazedly, be Fionn. She didn't think he would ask for her so openly. So who, then, could it be? Aurelie moved across the kitchen, wiping powdered sugar off of her hands and onto the apron she wore over her uniform for just such a purpose.

[Yazad]

Brunnhold Kitchens

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning

T he newborn morning of a non-descript Dentis day was followed the same routine Yazad had set for himself ever since their arrival to Brunnhold. After a simple dinner and an early bedtime, the man was up at dawn to prepare for the new day ahead. Days, months, years-- they were all the same to someone of his position. Rarely would a day stand out from the rest with anything other than the change of weather, but this was to be one of those rare days. Firstly, however, his obligations demanded the passive’s full attention. It was never early enough to wake up for someone who is to be the scullion, footman, and the cook all at once.

Curtains were drawn all around the house, allowing some semblance of sunlight in. It was a daily competition against time to consume a light breakfast - consisting of a slice of bread slathered with butter and homemade jam-, clean everything that needed cleaning, and prepare everything that needed preparing before tending to the needs of the house’s other occupant. Breakfast was, as usual, catered to Sophronios’ liking-- more eggs and meat than anything else. Dentis’ temperature was still a tolerable balance between warm and cool, allowing him the chance to dress up however he wanted at home. Ah, home. The resident in Brunnhold was finally beginning to feel as such. Not yet as cozy and familiar as their older place of residence in Florne, but close enough. What else was there to be done except for Yazad to live one day at a time until this becomes his new ‘familiar’?

For his daily work, Yazad often preferred comfortable, presentable outfits of simple bottoms and cotton shirts. Generally speaking, the apron and hair kerchief only come out when they were a necessity. A quick wash preceded him dressing up in his clean set of liveries; already ironed and neatly folded since the night before. His hair was dried and combed, leaving the glossy black strands to smoothly frame his face with the exception of the long lock that was held and tied with a ribbon of flattering peacock green. Drops of his favorite jasmine perfume were applied to the insides of his wrists, before he lightly rubbed them against each other, then moved to dab the perfume on the sides of his neck and behind his ears. Even such small daily motions gave the man an undoubted appreciation for a life that was not easy but was still far from being insufferable.

Today was the day he was to accompany the galdor to Brunnhold’s campus, on account of a promise that he kept at the forefront of his mind. The first two weeks of Dentis had come and gone, which -Yazad had hoped- means that a suitable amount of time for jam-making had passed. While the man could not say that he had lost any sleep out of eagerness, his face still carried a hint of anticipation evident in his smile. There was no guarantee that today would be a good day for him to go see Aurelie, or that she had even made the jam she promised him yet, but he did not want to risk coming across as uncaring enough about their arrangement to even check-up with her.

Aurelie; the awkward, bright-haired young woman in blue, was the first person in Brunnhold that he has had more than just a passing polite conversation with. If one could call him dragging her through several topics in the span of an hour or so a conversation. Regardless of length, his encounter with her was pleasant enough to be remembered with a good amount of relish. What, Yazad wondered as he made his way to campus with his master, was the correct term to be used for her? He could certainly call her an acquaintance for now, surely. It sounded appropriate enough and less dry than calling her someone whom he had met once.

After splitting up with Sophronios at the very gates he had to be led towards by Aurelie during his previous visit, Yazad was determined to make his way to the kitchens on his own, without help from anyone, in an effort to make up for his failure before himself. By the time the passive had made it to his intended destination, he had to admit that he had been too ambitious. The closest person he could address was a girl who -after hearing his words- tossed him a look of confusion or suspicion--Yazad could not exactly tell. Once again, the scent of dough and sugar greeted him at the threshold. The message was relayed, and soon enough, the one he came to meet was walking across the kitchen towards him.

"A fine day to you, good madam." Yazad greeted politely, displaying his ever-present smile after a brief bow of his head. The voice he spoke with was made to be deliberately heard by those nearby. "Could I trouble you with a request from the good master? Sir Sophronios would like refreshments for two delivered at your earliest convenience. I suspect that he is also to offer a word of thanks for your kind assistance the time before. I shall wait here to aid you with the delivery." The passive touted his master’s name and intentions to assure minimum resistance from the Matron’s part if she happens to be listening and to make it known that it should be Aurelie herself -and no one else- delivering said refreshments.

Calmly, Yazad parked himself a small distance away--far enough to not be a hindrance to the laboring kitchen workers, and close enough to be able to meet Aurelie’s eyes in an unspoken statement.

‘Here I am, just as promised.’

[Aurelie Steerpike]

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning | Brunnhold Kitchens

Aurelie had been waiting, and she had been hoping that Yazad would come eventually as they’d said weeks ago now. She just hadn’t quite held out the hope that it would be so. After all, people who she would have said knew her better certainly didn’t feel so—Aurelie took the bitter path of her thoughts and turned it aside. That wasn’t the point, and she was pleased to be wrong.

She did smile, although not as brightly as she wanted to. All around them there were eyes, and ears, and mouths that would move at the slightest provocation. Her behavior elsewhere had admittedly been more worthy of rumors than this was ever going to be, but that didn’t mean she had to be completely brazen about it. She bowed, polite to the inch, just as he did. The “good madam”, she thought, was still strange.

The request did surprise her; Aurelie wondered if that was true. She didn’t yet know either of the strange Bastian men well enough to tell. Her head tilted to one side for a brief, considering moment—she nodded, polite smile still affixed firmly to her face.

”Oh! That’s—yes of course. I would be happy to. Just one moment…?” Yazad tucked himself into a small, out-of-the-way corner as soon as Aurelie agreed. She thought there was something in his face when he caught her eye as she turned away; she wasn’t sure, but she thought so. A comforting sort of something, perhaps.

There was a chorus of hushed voices as she brushed past, but Aurelie ignored them as best she could. She wanted to give him the jam, so whatever she assembled had to create the excuse for the jar. Aurelie thought for a moment while she fetched a silver serving tray, and then her face lit up. She knew just the thing. Simple cream scones, made this morning, with the jam and a bit of butter and clotted cream as well. Aurelie got those, and a gleaming silver pot for tea. That she set to steep as she nipped into the pantry to get a jar, set carefully aside. The butter and the cream she put portions of into serving dishes, and she laid out plates and cups for two people.

After all of this the tea was done. She strained out the leaves and wrapped the pot itself in a cheerful cosy, autumn-themed, with two matching cloth napkins. Along with the scones, she included a few other small things for tea-time: a few small cookies, some lightly dressed vegetables, and some late-season fruit. It was a nice spread, she thought, looking at it with satisfaction.

Aurelie carried the tray over, catching Matron’s eye. She nodded and waved Aurelie off; if there was something else in her face, Aurelie chose to ignore it. Aurelie smiled again, a little warmer, when she stepped near enough to Yazad that she thought he could see it, but no one else.

”Shall we?”

[Yazad]

Brunnhold Hallways

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning

Y azad stood silently at the corner, giving Aurelie a small nod when she excused herself. For the duration in which Aurelie arranged the tray in, the male passive stood as still as a statue dressed in uniform, looking as though he was staring ahead at nothing. But the pale green orbs did move, following the many motions going on at the room. The view of Brunnhold’s packed and busy kitchen still amused him. It was very much like what he imagined a beehive to be, if bees were blue and produced Anaxan dishes instead of honey. Theirs might not be a glamorous life, or even an easy one, but hopefully not the most difficult either. And like a butterfly among the bees, Aurelie fluttered about, collecting items from here and there to assemble the tray of refreshments he requested.

When the bright-haired woman made her way towards him, tray in hand, Yazad returned her smile and motioned with one hand, ushering her out. "After you, madam." The man, once again, allowed a small space between them when he began to follow. That is, until they were a few paces away from the kitchen, enough for the noise to begin fading out.

"It is good to see you again." Yazad’s face bloomed with a smile that sat comfortably on lips that matched the healthy pink of his cheeks. "Would you like to wager a guess about who took nearly an hour to find the kitchen?" He asked with a light chuckle, moving in to close the gap between them. His hands reached for the tray in an attempt to carry it instead of Aurelie. Shame on him if he was going to have a lady do the lifting while he stood there, empty-handed. "Please, allow me." While he was not going to exactly wrestle it out of the other’s grasp if she decided to keep holding on to it, his voice was in itself firm enough.

It could not be said that Yazad was doing a good job at navigating their way through the Brunnhold corridors--not with how many times he almost took a wrong turn whenever the path forked, but he was doing marginally better than his first time walking through the hallways alone. "Goodness, this all looks rather appetizing. Is it of your own making, as well? Not the cosy, mind you. Unless knitting is also a talent that you possess." Yazad’s playful question was asked as his gaze traveled between the scones, the cookies, and the jar of jam that he assumed was to be given to him.

Finding one’s way to the office of the man he served was not something that most people would think much about, let alone be proud of. But Yazad felt just that when he managed to arrive at the office Sophronios usually occupied with minimal failure and embarrassment. When the door is opened, it would reveal a room that is neither excessively large nor too small. Aside from the carpet decorating the floor, and the few pieces of matching walnut furniture -a chair, an ornate desk, an inlaid sofa, a table, and a bookcase- there was very little else to see. Yazad himself protested several times that the office was far too dull, only to be told by Sophronios about how minimal surroundings increase his focus and that he barely spends time there anyway.

"The good master is not currently available, but he will no doubt join us as soon as he is done with the library. He mentioned something about peas." And he sounded rather mad rambling about it, but that was not something Yazad thought that Aurelie should know if he wanted her to get comfortable in said madman’s office. "So, by all means, make yourself comfortable. I do hope that what you had packed is to your liking because for now, you are my guest." And what kind of man would he be if he did not offer his guest the hospitality of tea and refreshments?

[Aurelie Steerpike]

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning | Sophronios' Office, Brunnhold

Aurelie smiled, very near to a laugh; she had wondered, a little, if finding the kitchen again might prove a barrier to coming to claim the jar she'd promised. When he reached for the tray she shook her head, smiling still, but her refusal was firm. She didn't think—it was a little different than when Uzoji had offered to do the same, all that time ago. But Aurelie was still uncertain how it would look at a casual glance—her blue uniform more easily recognized than his black one, her with her hands empty.

"Thank you," she said, and her mouth tilted strange, "but it—it wouldn't be right." As they walked, she peered up at him, hesitant. Once again she was struck by how odd it was, that he was so outside of what she had known most of her life. And yet she knew, if she reached out, if she tried hard enough, she could feel that not-nothing there too. "It's—what I'm here for," she added. In case that helped, and made her seem less rude.

Aurelie wasn't sure Yazad quite knew where they were going. Once or twice she was tempted to just ask, and to guide them there herself. But it felt important to let him guide them on his own, without her intervention. Perhaps she was reading too much into it, putting a feeling on him that the other passive didn't have. All she really knew was that she would have wanted to try, and not have some small busybody take over.

"Oh! Well," she said, with a faint blush as she looked down, "I'm not sure if I made these, I have to confess. I made some, but I couldn't tell you which ones."

"Not," she said thoughtfully, "the tea cosy, no. I, er—I can't knit at all. I can only—oh. Well, ah, I do a bit of... of fancywork. Embroidery, that sort of... I'm not very good," she added hastily. She didn't want to give the wrong impression, like it was something she really knew how to do. It was just a hobby, just a way to pass small idle moments and keep her hands occupied. She shouldn't have even mentioned it, but it had come tumbling out of her mouth anyway.

The office they arrived at, after a few false turns and a bit of backtracking, wasn't particularly ornate. Really, it had very little in it at all. The office of a man who had not been there long, she supposed; or one who didn't decorate. Looking at Yazad, she rather thought it was the former. He didn't seem the type to let a room stay so very bare.

There was also, she noticed with some small surprised, nobody else in it. She was just moving to set the tray down on the table when he spoke again. Her eyebrows raised, eyes just a little wide. Peas, she thought, not quite understanding but—she rarely did, with the faculty here. And then Yazad continued, and her eyes got a little wider.

"Oh! I—Really? Ah, hmm." She did set the tray down at least, though she stood uneasily, shifting her weight and frowning as she thought. She did want to talk a little more; it was nice, having someone to talk to. She was, Aurelie thought with a bitter taste on the back of her tongue, just the slightest bit lonely these days. She wasn't sure if she could, though. After all she... Oh.

Well. Aurelie smiled again, hesitant but bright. "I think I may—I could stay a bit, then. I do like all of these things," she admitted, and laughed, surprised. Yazad had given rather the perfect alibi; she supposed it was the same one used the few times she had gone to the lab. If not a bit better, because Yazad's master hadn't the reputation of Professor Moore for beyond-normal levels of eccentricity.

"T-the jar is for you, by the way. Ah. It might not be to terribly pretty—we make quite a lot of it at once—but it is... it is good. I can promise that much." Aurelie took a careful seat, reaching to pour tea for both of them.

[Yazad]

Sophronios’ Office

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning

A urelie’s earlier refusal to hand over the tray was -outwardly, at least- easily accepted by the raven-haired man who simply smiled and nodded, not wanting to create a scene of two people verbally tussling over who gets to carry something. The foolish voice of shame calling him out for not doing what a man is supposed to do was silenced promptly. Clearly, the woman was doing just well on her own, without the need for his assistance. If anything, she sounded just as firm as he did, which is saying something considering how hesitant and awkward she often was. In the end, Yazad decided that another’s comfort was far more important than him maintaining his ego.

"Ah, I am certain that whatever your level of adequacy is, you are still better than me at it. I can barely stitch a rip in my own clothes, and that only if I am certain no one else will see me in that article. Regardless, it is your enjoyment that matters, rather than the results." Yazad’s smile was that of someone who related to the other’s sentiment. In some way, the passive never quite felt that his duties could not be enjoyed to a certain degree, but outside of work and obligations, people like them had very little chances to do anything recreational--or so Yazad assumed in regards to someone working in the campus kitchen. Still, that often did not stop him from enjoying his own hobbies when time and circumstances allow it. While he would not be awarded the title of best belly dancer in Brunnhold anytime soon, or ever, he continued to do what brought him joy regardless.

"Ahem, pay no heed to the miserable state of this room. It is a work in progress, made difficult by the fact that the good master is rather territorial about his place of study." Yazad commented, noticing Aurelie’s look when they had entered the office, his lips alternating between a smile and a sigh. He did consider bringing at least a vase, or three, to brighten the rather drab interior. Unfortunately, he did not make the trip to campus with Sophronios daily, and any flowers he arranges will sit there, unwatered and forgotten, until they rot and crumble away. If there was one thing that he could trust the man to do, it would be to not pay attention to things that do not have complicated words of scholarly nature printed on them.

"Really." There was an affirming nod as the male passive spoke the word with a smile and calm cordiality. "My very first guest, I should add, so do forgive me for any lapses of hospitality." Yazad chimed the addition, his hands clapping gently once in what could be his show of anticipation. No time came to memory in which he had hosted someone who was there to talk to him and not to Sophronios. Someone whom he actually found to be rather pleasant to spend time with, too. Was it selfish of him to have created such an opportunity under the assumption that Aurelie might feel the same? In hindsight, it probably is. Did the man regret it? Not at all. If the woman decided to step out right then and there, then he will not hold it against her.

Much to his delight, Aurelie seemed to be willing enough to indulge him. The placid smile widened, and the man moved forward to gesture for Aurelie to make herself comfortable on one side of the sofa so he could take the other. An image flashed of him this very morning, asking Sophronios to demand that he requests refreshments for two delivered to his office, just so it would not be a lie. The look his master gave him was one of utter confusion, but then again, that was the exact same look Yazad often gave the man himself. Just what was that about peas?

As soon as Aurelie had confirmed that the jar of jam was his to take, the male passive gave her a gracefully-executed bow. "Thank you kindly. You were under no obligation to do this for me, but you did, and I appreciate it greatly." Slowly, he straightened up and lifted a hand to tuck a few stray strands of hair behind his ear. He simply has to give the generous lady something in return now, but that was something for him to contemplate at a later time. For now, he just wanted to enjoy his time with his rather adorable, awkward guest.

"Ah, I will be handling that.” From where he had sat after Aurelie did, Yazad’s hand moved to intercept hers, attempting to gently push it away from the teapot. Hurte forfends that he tries something like this ungloved. ”It is what I am here for." The statement was coupled with a chuckle and a playful wink, but with enough adamance to make it known that he absolutely will not have his guest work on something that was a host’s job. ”Perhaps you can tell me of your favorite refreshments, should we find ourselves in the good master’s office again." The implication was clear enough, or Yazad hoped that it was. He would arrange for yet another ‘summoning’ of Aurelie if she wanted it as much as he did.

[Aurelie Steerpike]

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning | Sophronios' Office, Brunnhold

That sort of statement, that it was the pleasure in the activity more than the results that mattered, was the sort of thing that reminded Aurelie that not only was Yazad not gated now, but he never had been. She knew it was a reasonable sentiment; she even agreed with it. But whatever duty of care the Brunnhold administration felt towards their passive charges, it didn't extended to giving them leisure hours. Of course, for all she knew, leisure hours opened the door to diablerie. But she was starting to find that less and less likely, as unsettled as that made her.

Still, she had smiled, at that sentiment and the idea of him being a poor hand with a needle and thread. That surprised her somehow, even though she thought she wouldn't even have blinked to hear that from any other man. There was just something about him that made her think it striking. The same something, perhaps, that compelled him to make excuses for the rather spare office without her saying anything. Theirs was a strange relationship, Yazad and his Master; a strange relationship for strange people.

"Oh, w-well. I'm not used to being a... a guest, so I think we can meet somewhere in the middle." His first guest! She knew they hadn't been here long, Yazad and Sophronios, but that too caught her by surprise. Although... Aurelie thought about it a little more in a corner of her mind. She knew, with a sinking sort of certainty, that gating or no, he might be... slightly pressed for this sort of company. "I'll, uhm, try to be worthy of the honor."

She took a seat on the sofa as he gestured; even if she hadn't thought the excuse very good, and it was, she could hardly have refused after that little clap. A tiny gesture, but Aurelie thought—it was rather charming, wasn't it? She certainly thought so. Interestingly so; she would never have said this, but he reminded her rather strongly of one of her cousins. Cousin Natalia was closer to her sister's age than her own, but she and Yazad shared a sort of neatly-kept air about them, and a gentleness. She thought he might find it insulting, to be compared to a female cousin, so she kept that to herself.

Before he sat, she had indicated to the jar. He bowed, polite and neat; that too was charming. She shook her head, a gentle dismissal and acceptance at once. No obligation, no, but a promise. She took her promises seriously, even the ones she knew she ought not to be making. "I promised, didn't I?" Her smile then was a little mischievous, a small flash of teeth. "And you'll have to tell me what you think of it, next you want a guest."

She had moved to pour for the both of them out of a sort of mechanical habit, but found her hands pushed away. Well, that was all right then. She covered her mouth as a small laugh escaped her at the wink. Very strange, she thought again. "I'm easy to please," she admitted when he asked for her favorites. "I, ah, I do like just about anything, when made well. Or made at least decently. Nurse always said—oh, ah, that is. Well. Er, when I was a child, that is. She always said that, ah, a cook shouldn't be a picky eater."

Now that Aurelie thought about it, that had been a strange thing to tell her. It wasn't as if she could have become a chef of any kind, had she not been... Well. Perhaps she just thought to convince a young Aurelie to eat her vegetables. That struck her as likely. She smiled at the memory, then placed it gently aside. Back on the shelf of her mind, where all such things were kept.

"What are your favorites?" Aurelie asked, bright and curious. After all, if they were to ever do this again—such an odd idea, that one—she would be the one putting together the tray. She could certainly accommodate them both, depending on the season and, of course, his answer.

[Yazad]

Sophronios’ Office

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning

I t was a cozy, easy atmosphere that had engulfed the room, Yazad thought, pleased with the relaxed demeanor Aurelie was displaying in comparison to how she was back in the kitchen. He did not expect that she would get to sit and have a drink of tea with company all that often, so her remark came as no surprise to him. "A good learning experience for the both of us, then." It was amusing how much he could relate to Aurelie’s sentiment. Should the roles be reversed, he would be a far worse guest than what she is, and him feeling discomfort would be all but guaranteed. "If you are to try something, then simply try to enjoy yourself. That is what any host would want." The smiling man wanted his guest to worry less about how she thinks she should be, and more about what she wanted to do and say.

A fleeting thought of possible ramifications passed through his mind, but Yazad chose to not allow himself the worry. True, there could be some rules and regulations regarding allowed passive behavior within the campus -which he, no doubt, did not know of-, but it is not as if they were doing anything that is in any way inappropriate or harmful to anyone. Aurelie’s absence was already arranged for, and he had planned things in detail simply to make sure that the woman who lived in and was under the authority of Brunnhold will not face any type of criticism. That Matron did look rather stern.

"Goodness, this is the brightest that I have seen you smile. You indeed should do that more often." Yazad’s own smile gained in playfulness as he made his remark, which was spoken with the sincere intention to compliment her more than anything. "You promised and you kept it. It is now my turn to promise an honest review, whenever another meeting is possible." Him repeatedly showing up at the campus kitchen to whisk Aurelie away might not be the wisest course of action, but another, more suitable method could reveal itself to him in the future. The thoughtfulness on his face disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Deftly, Yazad’s hands took hold of the dressed teapot, pouring a steady line of the aromatic drink into Aurelie’s cup first. His own cup was filled a little more than halfway through before he set the teapot down, steaming spout facing him. The two folded napkins were placed on the table, one before each passive, with saucer and cup set to the right of them. From his side, Aurelie’s little laugh caused a bit of warmth to bloom in his chest. It felt rather nice to know that she was comfortable enough to do that. "Much to my fortune, I suppose." Yazad chuckled against the back of his gloved hand at the admission, his pale green eyes peeking from behind his knuckle. "I must say that I would have disappointed your good Nurse. I have been a rather selective eater as a child, and I still am as an adult." And he was not even ashamed to admit it.

For nearly the entire duration of his formative years, Yazad had been a child who is the very definition of being ‘spoiled rotten’. He had been showered with love, gifts, and physical affection. Those were days when the boy needed only to ask with a smile and a polite ‘please~’ to get his wishes granted. Gods and goddesses bestowed their graces on those they deemed worthy, but back then, he did not need the favor of gods and goddesses, for he had parents.

"I myself favor balance. A slice of bread with apricot jam, lemon tart and berries, honey mixed with mint tea. Complex and strong flavors do not appeal to me all that often, nor does indecisive food. Take jellies, for example. They cannot decide if they want to be liquid or solid." Yazad answered, chuckling, to the question of his preferences. Porcelain fingers delicately held into the half-full cup of tea, rosy lips meeting the rim to take a soundless sip of tea. Downcast eyes looked up as soon as the warm cup was placed back down on the saucer. "It is such simple joys that make a day, do you not agree?" Such simple, mundane things in a very complicated, very elaborate world. Once again, he found himself drawn to the balance of contrasts, even outside of the context of food.

[Aurelie Steerpike]

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning | Sophronios' Office, Brunnhold

Bells and chimes, had she smiled so brightly? She hadn't meant to; she hadn't stopped herself either, but she didn't think—was she so serious as that, to make her smile worthy of comment? No wonder the other girls so rarely wanted her company, then. She could admit that she had a tendency to be stiff-backed and timid, but...

Well, no more of that line of thought. She did turn a rather vivid shade of red, but that was natural enough. She thought so, anyway—it wasn't every day one heard someone say such things, even politely. Well, perhaps other people did, but Aurelie surely didn't. Yazad went on though, and promised her an honest review. Some of the shyness lifted from her face at that. Aurelie tried to keep her expectations low, of course—there was no telling when that opportunity might be. The anticipation was there anyway, no matter what she told herself.

"I-I look forward to it, then." Yazad poured for both of them, just as neatly and gracefully as she would have assumed. She was starting to form a better picture of him, or at least it felt so. She inclined her head gratefully, but didn't reach for the cup right away. There was cream and sugar on the tray in addition to the snacks, and two wedges of lemon. Aurelie took none of these, although sometimes she was inclined to a bit of cream if she were in a hurry and thought she could get away with it. She was in no such hurry today, and was content to wait for the temperature to lower on its own.

Somehow, she wasn't surprised to hear Yazad admit to being a fussy eater. Selective was a nicer word for it; she resolved to think of it so, at least in his case. He was, at least to her general brief impression, a selective sort of person in general. Her sister was so, as well; at least, she had been at one time and was still in Aurelie's memory. Her mouth tugged into a soft sort of smile, thinking of it. Ana's opinions had always been rather clear-cut. Aurelie's Nurse had not been Ana's Nurse, she supposed; her Nurse had not allowed such behavior.

"Balance is important," Aurelie agreed, although she did quite like jellies herself. "I admit I am—it's textures, really, that I dislike more than flavors." She turned a little pink, admitting it. Aurelie did strive to get over such things as much as possible; it felt to her rather childish, to not want to eat a food that tasted good because it was unpleasant in the mouth. Sometimes she simply couldn't help herself.

Bread and apricot jam, lemon tarts, berries, honey and mint. Aurelie noted all of these in the back of her mind, for when—'when', she insisted to herself, not 'if'—she needed to know these things. The luxury of pleasant company wasn't one she indulged in often, really, and she had no intention to waste it.

"Y-you'll like the scones then, I think—they're just a bit of cream, sugar and some vanilla. So they don't overwhelm the other things." Aurelie offered this recommendation hopefully and slightly unsure. They might be too plain. She liked them, and did think they suited, but... well. They were pretty, at least, in their rough way, with their sparkling dust of sugar on top. She should have, she realized with some dismay, picked a second jam. She hadn't been thinking.

Simple joys, he went on, and asked if she agreed. It was a light question, but Aurelie paused to think on it a moment before she nodded. "One must take pleasures as they're found," she agreed with a slightly wistful smile. It seemed a silly sort of thing to say. "I mean, ah, well. I-I think so. Er." Tea. She should have some of her tea. Aurelie reached for the cup at last, and busied herself with having some of it.

[Yazad]

Sophronios’ Office

Dentis 13, 2719 - Morning

T here was nothing but amusement in Yazad’s eyes as he witnessed Aurelie turn a shade of red that almost rivaled her bright hair after he made his comment about her smile. "Oh my." The man huffed a chuckle behind his hand. Had no one ever told the woman that before? It seemed rather unbelievable with how many people she seemed to be surrounded by, though he recalls her looking rather focused and reserved during both of his kitchen visits.

Beauty in all of its endless forms is worthy of praise and appreciation, the man mused to himself. It was found in the slowly rising wisps of steam escaping his teacup, in the harmonious blend of colors and shapes within the tray of refreshments, in the sunny smile of an awkward yet sweet young woman. Thinking back on it, this particular penchant of his to admire beauty had been present ever since his days of childhood.

"And so do I." Yazad responded simply to Aurelie, leaving the other to choose any desired additions to her tea, but she ended up reaching for nothing. He, just as similarly, was content to sip on his plain tea for the time being. It was not very often that the man used sugar or cream with his tea, mostly preferring to take it with a side of something relatively sweet instead. Lemons were lovely ingredients for desserts and pastries, but do not -in his opinion- belong in a beverage that is not meant to be a medicine of some sort.

"Goodness, those as well." The man nodded his head in agreement at the mention of textures. Tactile textures of any kind mattered to him, but he was perhaps fortunate enough to not eat anything that immediately comes to mind as texturely disgusting. It was at least something to keep in mind should he try to make a gift of food for her later on.

It would be wise to allow some time to pass before doing that, as to not make it feel like he was rushing to be relieved of an obligation. There was also the matter of seasonal crops to consider.

"That does sound rather appetizing, so I shall do just that." The smiling passive set his teacup down, nimbly uncrossing his legs and folding his hands over his legs. "Frankly, I find it difficult to resist both the taste and the scent of vanilla." It was then that the man reached for a napkin to smooth it over his lap, then pulled at the tips of his fingers to unglove his right hand to lay it on his lap as well, closer to his knees. With a degree of satisfaction, the man glanced at his clean and perfectly trimmed nails before gingerly pinching a scone between his thumb and index. As Yazad sat with an erect back, the scone was lifted up to his mouth while his other hand covered the bite.

The mild sweetness was such a delightful contrast to the bitterness of his tea, true to Aurelie’s words. Yazad took a moment to finish the remaining morsel then reached with his left hand to follow it with a sip of tea.

"My, this was indeed delectable, especially with tea." Yazad raised his gaze to smile at Aurelie. "And it does remind me that I am in need to purchase more confectioners’ sugar for the kitchen." It boggles his mind to think of how many ingredients one must need to operate a kitchen such as the one in the Brunnhold campus, which served a number of people far beyond his knowledge. His own list of items to shop for must be laughably short in comparison.

Now that he was a little more familiar with her, Yazad could begin to form an understanding of when Aurelie was openly talking, and when he was awkwardly hesitant. Though he noted both her soulful smile and her stumbling, he said nothing about either. Instead, his smile remained unchanged. "Correct you are. These moments of delight are a gift, and it is rather ill-mannered to not accept a gift." There was a brief pause and a small nod. "And I do enjoy listening to what you think." Even if the woman herself looked like she found sharing her thoughts to be difficult.

All too suddenly, the office’s door burst open, and the tall galdor rushed through it. Today, he wore a dark blue suit coupled with a grey vest, with simple embroidery decorating the corners of his black notch lapels. For less than a moment, the hurrying man had paused mid-movement to look at the two passives seated on his office’s sofa. While startled at first, Yazad did not look all that surprised with the other male’s method of arrival. Seconds ticked by, blue and green eyes met in a wordless exchange, and then, Sophronios continued his hasty rush to his bookcase. Not long after, the professor was nearly dashing his way out of the office, slamming the door on his way out, now with a rather thick book in hand. During it all, Yazad remained unmoving.

After the storm-like interruption, the raven-haired man breathed out, took in another sip of his tea, then turned his head to look at Aurelie. "Please, do help yourself to something with your tea, good madam." The words were spoken in the tone of a man who wanted the past moment or so to be entirely ignored and forgotten.