deercountry | OPEN | september catch all

[ Sersi spends her time all over the city, it feels. Keeping her hands busy and helping others was always what she felt most at home doing... especially if it meant being around people.

At the orphanage, she feels like she can make the most difference. She can generally be found in the kitchen: either preparing meals by herself or with other volunteers... or teaching the kids and young adults that live there different recipes. There are 7,000+ years and countless civilizations' worth of recipes that are practically embedded in her memory, the least she can do is pass along this knowledge.

It's also better than subjecting them to sandwiches day in and day out.

With a bright smile on her face, ties an apron around her waist and heads over to the pantry to peer inside. ]

Alright- what should we make today?

[ The question isn't addressed to anyone in particular, but she's more than happy to take suggestions. ]

[ Considering Daniel spent most of his time after arriving in this place helping a group of kids out, it feels only natural to move on to trying to help out some other kids after said first group has settled in. And when he heard that the orphanage could always use a little bit of extra help - well, of course he's going to offer to help out there then as well with some of the time he's got.

That's the way he's ended up here at the kitchen with Sersi. A stranger, sure, but Daniel doesn't necessarily mind that. He's found that so many people are helpful and kind in their own ways in this city, and anyone who helps out at the orphanage is bound to be even more that way. So cooperation with a stranger is a-okay with him right now. It might be a good way to meet new people. ]

Well, I'm open for suggestions. [ Not that he doesn't have ideas, but-- ] You seem like you've been helping out here more than I have.

[ Just from how Sersi knows her way around this place, in his opinion. ]

If you have an idea, I don't mind playing kitchen assistant today.

[ Sersi beams over at him as she ties her hair back. While it's never just her in the kitchen for long, it does seem that it's not where most people want to end up when helping out... not that she can blame them. ]

I feel like it's always the luck of the draw with what's been donated here.

[ And then there was the fact that they were cooking for a group. ]

How does gazpacho sound? I don't want them eating anything too hot when it's not yet cold outside. Unless you have something else in mind?

[ He shakes his head. ]

Sounds fine to me.

[ It's not something he's exactly super familiar with making, but it's at least a dish he's actually heard of and knows what it is.. Which is more than he can say for the food in this place at times. It's just a side effect of people from so many different worlds being shoved into the same place - there's bound to be a whole lot you don't exactly recognize. ]

As long as someone donated some vegetables, then we should be fine for that, right? Though it does seem sometimes like vegetables are harder to get around here than I'm used to. [ You know, with so little vegetation growing around town. But maybe that's exactly what would make people kinder in donating stuff just because it's scarce in the first place. ]

[ Anakin didn't arrive at the Trench as a spectacular cook. He can follow directions and make passable meals, but they weren't overly flavorful at first. He's gotten better over time, but he's always interested in learning something new. Books and recipes are fine, but it's something else entirely to work with another person. So he's not the least bit bothered to be sharing the kitchen today.

Anakin ties on his own apron. ]

I'm not sure about a main course, but I was going to make something sweet as a treat.

Oh?

[ Sersi's eyes light up at that as she turns to face him completely. ]

I think that's a fantastic idea! What do you have in mind?

[ Anakin considers for a moment. He has a few ideas, but it depends on what they have. ]

Do you know what 'cupcakes' are?

[ Little miniature cakes sounds nice, right? ]

I do! I think that's the perfect choice.

[ Little miniature cakes always sound nice! ]

What flavor were you thinking of?

I haven't decided. Do you know what flavor has the broadest appeal?

Oh...

[ She hums thoughtfully. ]

I suppose vanilla or chocolate are always the safest bets... and it's easy enough to split the batch into two and make one half one kind and the other half the second?

[ Anakin brightens slightly. ]

That sounds like a perfect solution.

And while we're making those, we can do something simple and light for the meal before.

[ She takes a moment to think about this while she collects the flour and other dry ingredients from the pantry in front of her. ]

Skewered meat- whatever they have around... And some fresh vegetables with a dip.

I'll see what we have. The meat needs to be marinated first, right?

Thank you!

[ She smiles over at him again as she hauls the dry ingredients over to the counter. ]

And yes- just a simple marinade is fine... let's see what we have before we make any decisions on that.

[ Anakin opens the refrigerator to check the meat they have on hand. It takes him a moment to remember the proper animal but-- ]

There's chicken in the fridge. I think it's been here a day or two so we should probably use it up.

[ After setting the ingredients down, she joins him at the refrigerator and nods her head. ]

Then let's do that... and it looks like there are some vegetables that need to be used up rather quickly as well. We can skewer them with the chicken to make everything easier.

[ But for now, she's grabbing the other ingredients needed for the cupcakes: a few eggs and whatever else is nearby. ]

[ He notices her pulling out different ingredients. Surely they don't need eggs for a marinade. ]

Oh, we cook the cupcakes first?

[ When it comes time for the tide to start bringing in new Sleepers, Sersi aims to spend more of her days down on the boardwalk and near the beach. Longing for a familiar face, she tries to keep her time there contained... or at the very least: busy.

The fishermen are more than happy to oblige. Sersi has past knowledge of crafting fishing nets, and the ones they use here aren't much different if they even are at all.

She sits off to the side of the stall, fingers working on the net in a practiced sort of rhythm, watching the fishermen teach other curious Sleepers about the technique needed. She smiles gently at another Sleeper working on a net nearby and leans in so she can speak at a comfortable level. ]

There's something very soothing about this, don't you think?

[ it's maybe a little strange to find erwin here, dutifully working on weaving together fishing nets. the man only has one arm but he's jury-rigged something that utilizes what's left of his right arm, his lifted knee, and his full left arm to carefully work on it.

he picked it up surprisingly quickly, too: perhaps he's had some kind of experience in the past, or maybe he's just infuriatingly good at things.

in any case he hums in agreement, tightening a knot with his teeth, then nods. ]

I agree. It's good to keep busy, and it's much more relaxing than a lot of the other options.

[ Sersi's gaze only lingers long enough to mentally work out the system he has going- her fingers only stilling briefly before getting right back to work. While she doesn't need the system herself, it could come in handy (no pun intended) for someone else in the future.

She hums a little before chuckling under her breath and asks, teasingly: ]

Are you to tell me you prefer this over, say... deep sea diving?

[ it's an intricate system in some ways (or at least just annoying, as most things you have to come up with to accommodate yourself can be) but not impossible to replicate by any means. it works for him, it could probably work for someone else.

there's a faint red handprint on one side of his face as he turns to look at her more properly now that his mouth is free of the net material, a low laugh escaping him. ]

I don't know if I'm brave enough for that. I'd never seen the ocean before I came here.

[ Logically, Sersi knows there's plenty of people who've never seen the ocean... but it still takes her by surprise. She raises her eyebrows and tilts her head a little. ]

Really? I'd never have guessed!

[ Partly because of how comfortable he seemed to be making these nets. ]

[ sometimes a guy just knows how to make nets. it's not weird at all or whatever.

he shrugs with his good shoulder, expression mild. ]

I've been here a couple of months so I've gotten used to being near it, at least. Perhaps not being in it, though. Did you frequent the ocean in your home?

Back home I moved a lot, and part of that meant finding myself in different coastal areas... When I lived near the ocean, you couldn't keep me away.

[ It was always most peaceful there.

Though bringing up the ocean did remind her of the fact that the last time she was at a beach back home, they were stopping the emergence... ]

But I like being where people are the most, I think.

It is beautiful. Dangerous, but what isn't? There's little with true safety.

[ being where people are... hm, yes. he nods. there's a thoughtful pause, like he's deeply considering his words even in a response in a casual conversation. ]

I think that's a good way to be. I love being out in the wilds, but it's nice to have somewhere to come back to.

It might sound silly, but sometimes the danger around them is what makes things even more beautiful.

[ She laughs a little at herself as she continues on the net in her hands. ]

I don't know how to be any other way. I tried to live farther away from people for a while, but it just wasn't for me.

[ ... mind you, her husband had just ghosted her at that point. But that's beside the point. ]

How long have you been here?

No, I agree. Sometimes the danger itself can be beautiful in its own way, certainly.

[ he focuses, for a moment, on the task at hand. he's still listening though, and hums his agreement once more. ]

I get restless if I stay put long, but I couldn't stay out forever either.

[ a beat. ]

A few months. My companion and I arrived at the same time.

[ Sersi can't help the slight pang of jealousy she feels at that, her hands stilling momentarily before she shakes it off.

Then, gently: ]

That must be nice- having someone special from your home here with you.

It is. I feel more grounded than I would otherwise. I'm sorry.

[ it's in a tone that implies sympathy, empathy perhaps; he's not apologizing for anything he did, but expressing that her position without anyone from home is less than ideal.

he looks over at her briefly, eyes soft. ]

How long have you been here?

OPEN | september catch all - sersi

At the orphanage - mid to late August

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Boardwalk - late august, early september

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