[MINGLE] Harvest Feast 🍂

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: 6I Inn
WHEN: 10 November, all day
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE POST
NOTE: Details can be found here.

---

In the wee hours of November 10th, before even the earliest risers have roused themselves for another day, items begin to appear in the front room of the Inn. Decorations first — Boughs of autumn leaves in their reds and golds, wreaths of dried flowers and silken ribbon, flickering candles among the goards and berries and acorns. The food arrives next, the decadent aroma slipping up the Inn stairs to tempt those lingering in bed — Every imaginable harvest time delicacy, from roast turkey and ham to smoked salmon and oysters; fresh, soft bread warm from the oven to plum pudding and ice cream. And did we mention pie?

Once again, it's time for a feast. The bar is stocked, the coffee is brewed and the tables are groaning with food. Indulge, there's more than enough for everyone — That is, if you don't lose your appetite worrying about what it will all cost.

Comments

[markwatney]

"Houston, Texas," I answer, and after a beat, add, "That's on Earth, in case you're one of our few from more far-flung places." There haven't been many of them, but I've spent enough time around Nerys to remember to check myself when these conversations inevitably happen.

"Yourself?"

[cleptes]

"England. In the south." Though she doesn't live there now. "Also on Earth." Bela clarifies for him, now adding a potato beside the green beans.

"I've never been to Texas before. Is it nice?" Still keeping on with the conversation, even if it's more like small talk at this point. Bela could ask him something more important about the village, but she holds off for now.

[markwatney]

"It's not bad," I reply with a slight shrug. "Honestly, I don't think I would choose to live there if not for work, but I don't mind it. The people are friendly, and I'd gotten used to it."

Enough that I stayed when I could have gone just about anywhere I wanted. I'd had job offers from literally every continent. I'd even had offers that would have let me move somewhere else and stay working for NASA, but Houston let me stay in the thick of things, even if I was only going to be a lowly professor.

"I worked for the Space Administration," I clarify, and nod Bela's way. "Did you work?"

[cleptes]

"I did, yes." Bela says, deciding to take some more of the green beans. "Self employed really. Working on behalf of clients who paid me to source rare antiquities for their personal collection."

Her answer was as close to the truth that Mark was going to get. Bela doesn't know him well enough to disclose what she really did for a living back home and even if she did, it wasn't something that Bela would be keen to bring up.

"Space Administration. Now that sounds like an interesting career."

[markwatney]

"It was," I agree, and settle back into a chair. I don't have much on my plate, just a few dabs really, but I'll probably graze all day. "I spent several years in space, but before here, I was teaching candidates for the space program, which was interesting in a different way. It sounds like you went some interesting places yourself, if you were looking for antiquities. I imagine that's a good job if you like to travel a lot."

[cleptes]

"That's amazing." Suffice to say Bela has never met anyone who's been up to space before let alone teach anyone about it. She's also being genuine with her comment, fascinated by what he just told her. "I have travelled to some interesting places, yeah. Not so long ago I was in the Middle East. But it also depends on where my clients need me to go to get them what they want. I'm primarily based in the United States."

[markwatney]

"When you say antiquities, are you talking about finding other dealers who have what you need, or more archeaological?" I didn't ask when she's from, so it's possible she's been able to play Indiana Jones, however problematic that might be.

"I've actually never been to the Middle East," I muse. "I did some traveling when I finally got back to Earth, but that was one place I missed. There's a lot of history there."

[cleptes]

"No, nothing to do with archaeology. I've never been at a dig site, trying to retrieve historical artifacts from the dirt." Bela laughs, a little amused. "The first one is correct. I seek out other dealers."

Well, it was only partially the truth. With a few omissions.

"Mhm, you're right. There is such a wealth of history in that part of the world. I liked it." She got a good deal out of it. "Where have you been, then?"

[markwatney]

"Just about everywhere else," I reply on a laugh. "I basically did a world tour for NASA. All over Europe. China, Japan, Australia, South Africa. They were good enough to give me some time to actually see most of the places I stopped, too, which was nice since they were footing the bill." Not that the publicity they got from my Martian jaunt didn't pay for that trip a hundred times over.

"How are you adjusting, being here? Not that you don't seem like you are, but I'm sure it's tough going from flying all over the world to being stuck here."

[cleptes]

'Tough' was an apt word. Just when Bela thought she was figuring things out and her plan was coming together she was unexpectedly taken from her world and dumped in a place with out of date technology and strangers.

"That's an excellent question." One that required a short while to think about on how to best answer it. "I think I'm doing alright. Although, I am slightly concerned about the upcoming winter months and how to cope with them. Back home I could just fly off to a warmer climate throughout those months. Here, I don't have much of a choice."

[markwatney]

"Well, unless we get a massive surge of newbies, we should be okay. I've been working with Gaius, he looks after the stores, keeps track of things. It's looking good at least as far as rations for food and firewood are concerned." I smile, tilting my head. "Of course, I realize that 'good' is relative, and for most people the bar is probably a little higher than not starving or freezing to death."

The people who were here last winter, they'll probably just be glad things have improved. The new folks... well, most of them probably have a big adjustment coming.

[cleptes]

She let out a laugh at that, feeling bemused. "Normally, the bar would be set a little higher for me but I'll settle for having enough food and firewood to survive." It wasn't like the village was awash with luxuries to make the experience more pleasant for her.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help." If she wanted to come off as someone who was willing to work with others, Bela had to say something.