Topic: Refills

Jolyon Gardiner

Date: 2008-10-07 16:05 EST
Jolly moved the satchel from his shoulder, balancing with care the cup of tea steaming in his other hand, and took a seat. The satchel thumped with a studious, deep sound of books and the rustle of papers on the floor beside his chair. The cafe was busy for that midday hour, but not outrageously so that one could not get a bit of peace, enjoy the view of the passersby, and take a moment. Jolyon had just that in mind when he spied the cafe, and turned in for a cup of tea and toasted sandwich, still to come.

"I dun think tha's funny!" Katie yelled behind her shoulder as she was opening the door to the cafe. However a grin was placed on her face as she finally strolled completely inside. She started heading for the counter, when a familiar face caught the corner of her eye. She headed for Jolyon, setting her bag down without asking at his table. "Hey Jolyon!"

Stirred from his reverie by the approach and the greeting, he stammered and then rose as is polite to do at the arrival of a lady. "Oh, well, hello, Katarina." He looked to where she placed her bag and then felt the following question of asking her to join him was rather futile. So, he continued on with a more proper question and found that friendly smile now able to come forth since he had regain his composure. "How are you?" This he asked just as a waiter brought up his sandwich and he gave his hearty thanks to the fellow as well as a tip.

"'m doin' real good, thanks." She sent him a brilliant grin, "Jist lookin' fer some peace 'way fra th' theatre. Ya dun mind me joinin' ya, righ'?" She briefly looked her friend over, finally having an opportunity to share more than a few words with him.

"Oh, no, please do." He nodded toward the table. "I came on a similar mission, some food needed to keep going, and a bit of my own reading outside of the warehouse research." He looked to the counter and then back to her. "I would be glad to hear your news when you've tended to your needs," with a motion of his hand to that same counter.

Smiling, she motioned that she would be right back, before heading to the counter. She promptly ordered a large mug of hot chocolate, smile still in place. Once paid for and in her hands, she went back to his table. "Ain't go' too much news." She sat down, "Workin' 'n th' next ballet."

"It is something of a treat," he laughed, "to know the next production before others do. What shall it be?" He sat and sipped his tea, then took a bite of the sandwich, a grilled ham and swiss melt slathered with a secret sauce. It looked as rich as it tasted and threatened every artery and vein, but he was in need of some heavy eating.

"Th' Nutcracker Suite. Gotta whole thin' goin' 'n wit' some orphanage." She waited for the heat of the drink to diminish, so she continued, "I like tha' one. Did Clara coupla times bafore I go' too old. It'll be good." A warm smile, "So, wha's goin' on wit' ya?"

"Ah," he chortled and patted his leg, "so the little sprite with the red hair did write that letter she was speaking about. She questioned me very thoroughly one day on ballets and if they were all killings and cheatings, as she put it. I shall definitely be attending that one." He sipped the tea and took another bite, his spirit lightened with the prospect, and he completely forgot she had asked a question of him.

She looked at him with surprise, "Ya knew 'bout it?" She forgot the question too, having several others ones to replace it, "Wha'd ya tell her? An' how do ya know so much 'bout differen' kinds o' ballets?"

Jolyon Gardiner

Date: 2008-10-07 16:06 EST
He swallowed the bite in order to answer with civility and manners. "I told her that no, some ballets were more fantastical, and while some harm came to creatures, it was only to bad ones, and that seemed to satisfy her on that notion. And as to how I know," he tried to suppress the indignant tone, realizing it was a valid question somewhat in the middle of his reply, "I do study cultures from all over, and ballets, dances, are a constant form of expression in many worlds."

"Huh. Mahbe ya should write some o' our reviews when we do differen' thin's." She finally took a sip then, "I really glad ta hear tha' they're all interested an' stuff, yanno? I's a heathy an' safe thin' ta hav' an' interes' in. So, yer th' one tha' mentioned th' Nutcracker to her?"

"The one?" The phrasing he found peculiar, but then he gave a nod, "Yes, I suppose I am. Or at least, I am a person who did. And as to their interest, I very much agree. I should stop by the foster home she was speaking about and see what they are doing by means of education. It could be I might be able to offer some aid." With that thought tucked into his mental schedule to do, he smiled, "And how is the family? Still enjoying living on your own? Are you still living on your own?" It was the closest he would get to asking about her relationships only so, as an acquaintance, he would not be completely out of the loop.

"Th' family's good. Si's still havin' a bit o' trouble wit' the pregnancy, bu' Jo's makin' sure she dun ova do nothin'." She took another sip, before nodding, "Yeah, i's jist me and Patches. Sometimes i's still hard adjusting, bu' 'm kinda likin' it now. 'm real glad ya helped me fin' th' place. I's workin' real well fer me. How's everythin' fer ya?" Finally remembering her previous question.

"I am glad I was of use, then, and that it is doing well. I," he finally managed to get to the answer of that particular question, "am doing well, I thank you. Busy but well."

"Yeah? How's yer vines goin'? An' yer still a' th' warehouse?" Vaguely remembering that he had mentioned it before.

"The vines are plucked of their fruit, the fruit gone through half of its process and now fermenting, to be bottled and ready come a few months time. And some longer time for a few special bottles." He sipped more of the tea, or in this case, actually gulped it. "The warehouse now being organized of its artifacts, I am now studying and setting to appropriate collections for review and relations. I think my time there may be coming to its close, soon, since beyond my cataloging, I have a feeling the proprietress of the warehouse wishes to start making some money off the items there, and that is out of my dominion."

She was listening with real interest, not even watching the mug move to her mouth so that she could take a drink. "'m real glad tha' yer vines made it through th' process. I wanna be there when ya try it firs'." She gave him a proud smile, "Bu' it sounds like then ya've done yer job a' the warehouse well, yeah?"

"I hope so, and I will try to recall your desire to take a taste of the first wine." He chuckled. "So, what part do you have in the Nutcracker?"

"Go' th' Suga Plum Fairy." It was said with no hint of smugness, but her smile was wide, "Already workin' wit' mah partners. Tha' music's gonna stick 'n mah head fer months. And I dunno if ya know, bu' I kin't sing fer biscuits."

"It is a good thing then, that you dance for your biscuits instead of sing for them." He teased with a cheeky sort of smile and a wink.

She was lucky that none of her drink was in her mouth because she started laughing, "Tha's righ'!" Trying to contain her laughter to giggles, she continued, "Dun the Nutcracker lot'sa times. Nah as the fairy, though."

"Plum part," he chuckled, as he just couldn't pass up the pun. "Keep you on your toes." It was something of a sickness.

She reached out to swat his shoulder for his puns, "'m always 'n mah toes." She took another sip of her hot chocolate, before continuing, "Wha'd ya think o' La Bayadere?"

Jolyon Gardiner

Date: 2008-10-07 16:10 EST
"Grim, but it's interesting how the respective parts are developed so that even in his weakness, the main hero is rewarded in the afterlife with a love that he failed in maintaining even if she did not fail. It is often," he stopped himself from the habit of being pedantic and smiled, "I enjoyed it very much. You made a stellar debut."

She expected his intellectual explanation, a soft smile on her face as she listened to the philosophies of the play itself. Once he caught himself, she took another sip and listened to the rest, "Thanks. 'm glad ya liked it. Didn' really git a chance ta ask ya wha'cha though' aftawords." She frowned then, "Dun git ta see verry much o' ya a' all."

"Yes, well," he cleared his throat and finished off his tea, then gave her a smile, "bound to happen. I have the warehouse and winery; you have the ballet and your family. Our circles are in a rare chance to overlap, though glad I am that they did this day so we might catch each other up."

"Catch up? I've been yakkin' 'way this whole time. Wha' kinda theories hav' ya been workin' up?" She finished her hot chocolate::

"Oh, nothing in particular at this time. I have to finish up the paper on the raising of children in Rhydin, which is how I met that little girl, Lirssa is her name. Now, I am just making general observations to see what inspires me."

"An' wha' has been inspirin' ya? Really, I'd like ta know." She set her mug to the side of the table.

He was skeptical, but as she had asked and he was not inclined to be rude and refuse outright, he nodded. "I had been interested in the twaining effect. Particularly at social events, the gathering or intent to couple up and not diverge from it. Sylvia assisted me in this endeavor at the ball. I was most grateful for her cover that allowed me to observe without looking completely out of place." His smile a fond one in the memory of the pleasant night and its accomplishments.

"No fewer than ten couples arrived and spent less than a few moments apart from that person. This is an interesting phenomenon I have noticed in some cultures that is not in others, but here, at the mixing of all cultures, it seems to take precedence over the others. Just fascinating."

"Were ya 'pected tha' everyone was gonna stay wit' their partners? Er were ya jist goin' ta observe?" It was something that had never really crossed her mind, and the fact that her friend looked at things differently brought a level of respect.

"I was there only to observe, and I had hoped to be proven wrong and more mingling would occur, but I was not. In a way, it was interesting to see the style of dress as well, knowing the backgrounds of some of the folk that attended and being influenced or subverted, if you will, by the power of other cultures. Dress and attire being another illuminating element of showing which cultures are the more dominating at any time, which, naturally changes over time." He smiled and then perked up, "Oh, and of course there is the discussion to have with Mister Locke's mother about the Losedhil, which I find to be very thrilling prospect."

She was happy just watching him get excited about his own work. "'m glad tha' yer gittin' all these opportunities an' stuff. Ar' ya plannin' 'n publishin' yer work?"

"I have published one of the papers back with the University in Markland. I hope to publish the others. It may allow me to gain a more promising grant if they are well reviewed by my peers." He held the hope to a smile only, though the anxiety of it ate at the inside of him.

He sat back, his meal done, and folded his hands in his lap, one leg crossed to set ankle upon the knee of the opposite. He was, in truth, quite content.

"Yeah? I'd like ta read 'em sometime." She rested her forearms on the table, her smile soft, "'m really glad tha' I caught ya here, Jolyon." Content also, she gathered up her mug to refill it with hot chocolate, and to refill her friendship.