[MINGLE] Daily lunch

[markwatney]

WHO: Mark Watney
WHERE: Inn
WHEN: 18 August, lunchtime
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: n/a
NOTES: This is a standard mingle post centered on the daily lunch! Come grab a bowl and meet someone new! It's meant to emphasize making new CR, but is open to whatever you like. I am turning off notifs so if you want to tag Mark, pls wait for his top-level.

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I have to admit, even in a situation as strange and unpredictable as this one, it's still easy to become complacent. That's just human nature, I think. But complacency isn't always bad — About some things, yes, but the human body wasn't designed to be perpetually hyper-vigilant. There need to be things that you feel comfortable relaxing about, and yeah, sometimes to the point that you forget how significant they are.

Like the daily lunch served at the inn. Kate came up with the idea not long after I first got here, with that first batch of fountain arrivals, and I honestly don't think there's been a single decision we've collectively made that's proven to be more important. Everyone, no matter who they are, knows they can come to the inn in the afternoon and take a moment to eat a hot meal and relax. A lot of hands go into making that meal, a lot of love and effort, and I think we often forget about the significance of that simple act. But that's good. That is, I think, part of the whole point.

Today, it's stew, which is pretty common — Easier to feed dozens of people that way. There's flat bread and herbal tea and tap water that's probably infinitely cleaner than even some of the bottled stuff back home. And it's good after a morning of hard work to wash my hands, grab a bowl and simply enjoy the company around me.

Comments

ota

[ethnobotany]

Beverly doesn't always come to the daily lunch gatherings, but she is at least a frequent visitor. Sometimes she gets caught up in her work or her thoughts that she just doesn't make it. When she does, the social aspect is always good for her.

So she's pried herself away from her concerns today to head down to the Inn to see what and who are there. Admittedly, she could use someone to talk to or she'll just bury herself in her garden again. The hospital seems to be doing well today, which is good, and she doesn't feel the need to stay there all day. Helping at the Inn or doing more with her garden might be the better options at this point.

She brings a restock of chamomile from her garden, ready to be made into another batch of herbal tea if this one runs out, and sets it aside where it won't get dirty or wet. With that done, she makes her own cup of herbal chamomile tea, grabs a bowl of stew with some flat bread, and heads out to an empty seat. Several chairs sit around her table, half-way out so as to be inviting, and she is welcoming of any who want to sit down with her.

"If you want a cup of tea, let me know. I'll be going back for a refill in a few minutes."

ota

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille is a regular to these lunch gatherings. She's an extremely social, albeit still secretive, girl and having the chance to meet people like this and get a feel for the general air of the village all at once is definitely a good thing for her. Sometimes she brings her puppy Raine for a little socialization. Today is one of those days. She's got him on a makeshift leash so he doesn't wander off too far or get into any trouble. Theoretically. In practice, he still manages to wander off.

Today, she's settled down at a more central table, where she can keep an eye on almost everyone and everything. She's very welcoming if anyone wants to sit down with her. The puppy wags his stump tail and most of his back half every time someone comes over. He's extremely friendly. And very cute with his blue-ish-gray base coat with black and white patches all over.

Eventually, though, he does manage to slip loose of the leash and wanders around for a time until Vanille notices. It doesn't take her too long and luckily she's finished with her lunch by then. So she falls to her hands and knees to try looking for him on his level.

"Raine? Raine, come here! Ohhh! Where did you go?"

[theimmortalweapon]

Danny was sitting and eating in one of the far corners of the inn. He had finished his stew and was enjoy the steady hum of chatter that filled the space. He disliked the quiet though it did remind him of his time in K'un-Lun. The city was loud in comparison but he'd finally been getting used to it. Now he felt like he was back in the Himalayan mountains with the monks.

He heard the pleased sounds of licking as Raine came over to lick Danny's bowl clean. He smiled down at the puppy and ruffled its fur playfully. "Hey there. You find something you like."

His head rose when he heard someone calling for Raine and assumed that this was the puppy in question. "Hey. Over here." Danny raised his hand before patting the dog gently on the head. "You shouldn't run away. You'll make people worry."

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille glances up at the voice, just in time to spot the hand accompanying it. Huffing out a breath, she gets back to her feet and makes her way over. The puppy wags his tail end at the petting and the sight of Vanille, as if that will make everything better. It sort of does.

"Thanks for catching him," she sighs, shaking her head just a little at the wandering puppy. "Raine likes to wander around too much. I hope he didn't disturb you."

[iron_beneath_beauty]

"He's here." Lyanna said from the edge of the room, looking down at the small dog that was curling around her feet. Barnabas, her cat, was still adjusting to the new rooming assignment and the loss of his freedom about a house. He had slipped out of her room in the inn and watched everything from his perch on the chair beside Lyanna.

While Raine was interested in the cat, Barnabas gave him no attention or mind. It was an amusing thing for Lyanna, at least, reminding her of her own eagerness as a child towards some of the other nobility, and their disregard for her at times. She had never liked cats before, but she was warming to this one.

"I think he wants a bit of attention and food." She said, offering him the last scraps of meat from her plate.

[tosavecocoon]

Raine is interested in just about anything at this point, especially if it feeds him. He's getting old enough to handle solid food at least, but he's still a curious, mischievous, puppy. He keeps Vanille busy and on her toes, something Fang no doubt is happy for.

"He always does," Vanille says with a sigh worthy of a weary parent. Raine eagerly gobbles up the scraps, happily panting as though nothing is wrong at all. Vanille can't be too mad at him. "I hope he's not bothering you. I can take him back to the house if he is."

OTA

[mediumhoodie]

Kat didn't have many skills that were useful in a remote village but she was learning and trying her best to help out. She felt awful for taking food every day at lunch and having no way to repay those who prepared the meals for them.

Guilt gnawed at her as she picked at her stew. She wasn't hungry today but he finished the soup in its entirety. Kat had grown up in an environment where you didn't waist food. "There has to be some way I can help out." She mused aloud before taking the last bite of her soup. Her mind was going over things that seemed to be lacking but the system in the inn was well run and it didn't look like they needed more hands.

After eating she offered to help clean up and then grabbed herself a cup of tea to continue thinking.

"I could help garden?" She wasn't speaking to anyone in particular but she was so lost in her thoughts that Kat hadn't realized that she'd spoken out loud.

OTA

[ataashihunter]

Bull enjoys the daily lunches even if he isn't there every day. As a leader, both back with the Qunari and with the chargers he's been trying to make it a habit to get to know the people in his care and it is not that different here. Yes, they might not officially be in his care but that doesn't really matter. Bull has always had a soft spot for the lost and lonely and those that don't quite fit in and that seems to describe most of the people here.

He shows up early, often trying to help out even if he takes up a lot of space in the kitchen or he will help clean up afterwards. He is friendly and chatting and tries to sit with new people almost every day. It is a good way to get to know more people too. Some of the time he also provides stuff he has hunted.

"What I think this place is a brewery, we don't really have beer and well, tea is alright but it is not beer."

[ethnobotany]

Beverly doesn't mind the large man with horns coming out of his head. Honestly, after all of her time spent on the Enterprise, finding new species and making first contacts for all those years, this man is oddly not the strangest thing she's ever seen. So when he makes his way over, she offers the empty seat next to her without batting an eye.

"That's an ambitious project," she says with a light laugh. Alcohol might have its uses and she can think of a few medical ones she'd like to have it around for. Despite how few supplies they have to make that happen, she doesn't shoot the idea down. It's not a bad one and if they really are stuck here for years, there's no reason not to try. She doesn't think they have anyone here who would go overboard with it and that's good.

"Tea only goes so far, you're right. Why stop at just a brewery? Maybe do a combined winery and brewery. Get the best of both worlds."

[ataashihunter]

"True. But I have been told it is easy to make bad wine and much harder to make bad beer." He grins as he sits down. "Besides, I mostly drink beer so that is what I know best." He takes a few bites of his food.

"I should ask around and see if there is anyone here with experience brewing beer or wine for that matter."

OTA

[cleptes]

Bela goes to the inn almost everyday for lunch because the promise of decent food and company was hard to resist - she's also not the best of cooks. Anything she attempted to make for herself didn't turn out even half as good as the meals in the inn.

A delicious smell hits her as soon as Bela enters the inn, and she immediately heads to the table to serve herself a bowl of stew, grabbing some flat bread and a glass of water to accompany it. She'll save the tea for later, wanting to eat something first.

There are a few vacant seats surrounding her, waiting to be occupied by anyone who wanted to avail of them.

Having the company would be pleasant.

Sirius Black | OTA

[reprobate]

There are several reasons Sirius likes the daily lunch here at the inn. The first is that it's free, which hasn't been much of an issue for him in past lives, but would here put a decided crimp in his laziness otherwise. The second is that it's as convenient as he could get, given that he lives just upstairs, and when he sleeps, it tends to be until just about the time the scent of savories begins to creep under his door. The third is a bit more personally sticky, but suffice it to say he's had times in his life where things were made exponentially easier by people witnessing him actually consuming something other than strong tea and cigarettes.

He's also discovered over time that he enjoys people watching as he eats, as odd as that is to even contemplate. Azkaban has sloughed off as many of his hard edges as it added, twisting his speedometer way down the dial like he never might have imagined before he went in. There wasn't much to see on that rock that wasn't painful, and the gentle pulse of everyday humanity is reassuring now. Life goes on. His friends have died and he's here, but their children are alive and he's here, and that counts for more than just something.

[3ofswords]

It took some patience and adjusted planning--mostly, it took sitting at the very bottom corner of the door and hopping in when someone else opened it--but Kira has managed to get into the kitchens without Kate driving him off with a broom.

It's another shift missed, but they're a big enough group now, a pair of hands will appear to bridge the gap. Food's made, everyone's at the tables. He can drop the lot of messages and move on from watching the door. Having kept to the floor on his way in, he'll only have so much time once he gets up there.

Which means tooling around between feet until he finds what he hopes are the right pair of red pants. A magpie rattles up and ruffles at Sirius' elbow, scattering a series of ripped papers. Pecking at one until it flips over, it takes a moment to make his bird brain recognize I'd sell you to Satan for one corn chip, reject it, change his mind and shift it over, then peck at the others.

Eventually he gets it right, picking up and dropping the desired note next to the man's plate. Redeem for one free kick in the dick (aka moonshine) inked onto old wrapping paper.

[reprobate]

All of this Sirius watches with calm interest, his spoon poised just against the lip of his bowl. Mild surprise only bleeds in near the end, and only then over the fact that they're here, in this place without trained owls or ravens or other message-carrying shit machines.

He lets the spoon scrape further down into the bowl as he reaches for the message and then silently reads it, frowning.

"Hold on," he says, distinctly affronted. "Are you that bloke who kicked me in the bollocks?"

Honestly, he ought to be excited at the idea that animagus magic might actually work here, but instead he's just irritated that of all the people to manage it, it's that skinny arsehole.

"Don't forget babysitting your fucking goat you owe me for, too."

[ataashihunter]

Bull settles down to next to him one day, a huge pile of food on his plate and he grins as he sinks into the chair and takes a few bites. "Not bad at all. This whole eating together like this almost reminds me of being home."

[reprobate]

"Yeah?" Sirius asks, eyebrows lifting as he settles his spoon against the side of his bowl. "It does remind me of school a bit," he concedes as he casts a glance around. "Bit less noisy, though." And a bit more amiable overall, now that he considers it, without Slytherin staring squinty-eyed across the hall.

"You've a big family?"

[scathefires]

Life goes on with or without you; Jason's seen both sides of that coin. And what can you do but soldier on, one foot in front of the other? Give up - sure, that's an option, but that's not the way Jason's wired, not even a little bit. He may be twice removed from everything familiar in this place, but that's no reason to just quit. He's confident he'll find a way out eventually, and until then, he's taking each day as it comes, using the time to gather data.

You can learn plenty about people in public settings. Observing the other villagers is not only a way to kill time, it's an assessment of potential threats and allies. So far, no one seems particularly noteworthy, but that can always change. Jason picks an isolated seat around the far edge of the room, kicks his feet up on the adjacent chair, and starts in on his lunch, blue eyes scanning the room around him.

[reprobate]

It isn't James — This Sirius knows as instantly and intrinsicly as his own name. He spent seven years in the bed next to James Potter, and sometimes in closer quarters than that besides. He made a focused study of his best mate and could have picked him out by the scuff of his footfalls alone. So no, this isn't James, and the differences leap out at him like neon lights — The eye color is wrong, the gruffness of bearing — but there's enough familiar that the spoon slips from Sirius' grip all the same and clanks down against the side of his bowl.

A bowl he then immediately picks up and carries over to the far table, where he settles himself adjacent without a word, bracing splayed elbows across the tabletop.

"What's your name?"

Mark Watney | OTA

[markwatney]

I really don't know how in the hell I can still get a sunburn at this point, but I can distinctly feel one blooming across my nose. You know, I went the whole time on Mars — Years, let's be clear — and didn't get a sunburn. Of course, I was only ever outside in my NASA-approved space suit, but it was Mars, and I spent way more time than I like to remember out in the blazing sun shoveling dirt for one reason or another. No sunburn.

I've been out in the sun all season without a problem, and I'm even wearing a hat today. If there's somebody out there who can drop off a box with some SPF 30, I'd appreciate it.

At least it's nice and cool inside as I settle in with my lunch. I preemptively carried out two glasses of water with my soup: The one I'm going to drink straight down right now, and the one I'll have with my meal.

steve rogers | ota

[ex_enlisted288]

Steve hasn't been social much lately. Being in the village is the first time he can remember having nothing to do, and being idle doesn't sit well. He's also got some things to work out in his head and maybe he figures he wouldn't be good company for anyone.

So he's been around, but not in a friendly, neighborhood super soldier way.

But Steve's around this afternoon, wearing white scrubs that look clean but maybe a little threadbare, and carrying around a bowl of stew and something in a cup. He's obviously looking for a place to settle that won't inconvenience anyone else, and his shoulders are slumped more than normal, if anyone's been keeping track. (If not, he simply looks a little tired.)

And then he spots an empty seat, ambling over unobtrusively, to flop down and take a sip of his drink.

[digging]

So, Karen has not been unaware that Captain America is here. Generally speaking, she knows that everyone is here because she makes a point of knowing. She's not the only one keeping up with those sort of records, but she likes keeping her own. There hasn't really been a pattern to find in the names, but at least she has the list if one emerges.

But none of that is really the point when it's Captain America sitting across from you at the lunch table. Yes, he is still a man, and deserves to be treated like anybody else, but it's going to be a little startling even for someone like her. The superheroes she knows are still called vigilantes.

To her credit, she falters but doesn't stare, her spoon hovering over her bowl a moment before she lowers it again with a quiet clearing of her throat.

"Hi. Long day?"

[ex_enlisted288]

Well, now Karen can add a fugitive to the superheroes she knows. Steve lowers his cup and sets it down, maybe having not realized how rude it is to just sit down somewhere and not introduce himself. Or ask if the empty chair is, in fact, empty. Perhaps the woman is with someone and he just stole their seat.

"Yes, ma'am," he starts, then amends it to, "Long morning anyway. Do you mind if I sit here?"

Look, now that's he thought about it, the right thing to do is ask. If there's a problem, he'll move. If not, he won't feel so bad for acting like the back half of a farm horse.

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille knows nothing of Captain America. She barely even knows anything about "America." Maybe that's for the best, all told. At least she won't be one to stare. The most she does when she ends up in the other empty chair at the table Steve has taken up is smile brightly.

"Hi!" she says, her accent near to something like Australian. "D'you mind if I sit here? I promise Raine won't bother you, either."

She nods her head at the blueish-colored puppy with black and white spots by her feet. The puppy is on a leash for now, but he's been known to escape at times and she'll be keeping an eye on him.

[littledhampir]

The lunchtime ritual that saw half the village swarm the Inn was hardly Rose’s favorite part of the day. One would think that an opportunity to eat a hot meal she hadn’t disastrously tried to prepare would have been seized by the brunette. She could admit there was a time when she’d quite enjoyed the process, but less so in the last couple of weeks. It would be easier to pick and choose her company if the place she called ‘home’ - something she did with little emotion - wasn’t overrun by the masses once a day.

It wasn’t that she preferred solitude to the company of others. If anything, Rose had always been a more social creature, or at least she had been before coming here. What she’d learned about the people in this place, however, was that they weren’t like the ones she knew back home. They didn’t sweep the bad things under the rug but allowed themselves to feel it. They didn’t dismiss those who fought monsters and helped keep them safe as simply doing what was expected, but made a point of checking in on them after the fact.

Perhaps she should have welcomed it: Being appreciated, having people show affection or concern but for somebody who was used to being dismissed when it came to risking her life, it didn’t sit easily. She honestly thought she’d rather go back to the time when nearly dying was par for the course. If only so she didn’t have to see another tentative smile or poorly masked look of worry.

It’s why she now kept to the outskirts of the dining area, choosing a table that was further away from others, but the needs of the hungry never allowed her to be alone for very long and she lacked the company of somebody she knew, to keep her from feeling the expectation to interact with those who joined her. More than that, she lacked the ability to sit in silence for too long.

“I take it nobody has bothered to show you the room out back?” Speaking up after a minute or two of silently watching Steve over her bowl of stew. Rose lifted her hand and ran her thumb beneath the strap of her tank top to indicate clothes, her own ensemble very different from the standard issue scrubs. As much as she bitched about having Magenta? Surely nothing would be worse than white.

“As long as you don’t mind hand-me-downs… There’s bound to be something that isn’t… that.” A hand waving in the air as if to indicate what he’s wearing. She sounded friendly enough, despite her poorly delivered attempt at being ‘helpful’.

We need this

[collaronhisneck]

Another man in white scrubs that have seen better days, this one with glasses and a contented smile on his face, looks up from the book he's reading as Steve sits down, the smile spreading wider at the sight of the weary man. "Ah, it looks like you could do with a bite to eat. Go right ahead - Miss Kelly's foods are very nourishing, and quite filling. She's able to go quite a long way with limited resources, it's just amazing."

The village has been a very somber place for the last couple of months. Secrets exposed, brutal attacks, and death - things he was unfortunately familiar with. But Mulcahy has noticed an upswing in morale since that party, and the arrival of a few books he greatly missed has been a long source of buoyancy for him. At the moment he's working his way through Plato's Dialogues, again, and still enjoying every word like he did the first time he read it all those years ago.