victory_road | ANOMALY DETECTED

That last bit earns an amused sound out of Geddoe. Boy does he know about not being familiar with all this fancy tech!

"The fridges are nice for keeping stuff from spoiling, but I got no idea what some stuff they have even does."

Seriously, what even is an 'air fryer'? But all that aside, the mention of being limited in the available ingredients catches his attention.

"There's a storeroom down in the basement."

Well, there's a couple, but one in particular the food supplies are kept in. He's pretty sure he remembers it having some cured meats and the like.

[[Sorry about the spelling errors in the previous post. I'm using a pocket keyboard at work, so a lot more can slip through than when I'm on my old faithful at home. Means a lot better turnaround for tags though!]]

Oh!

[Lucius claps his hands in exclamation.]

That would be excellent. That would be likely to have the meats then. Let's dig-in to what they have and I can prepare some dishes based on whatever we find. Provided there's the usual suspects in terms of selection, though, what are you in the mood for?

"Hmm..."

Geddoe gives that some thought as he heads out of the kitchen. Rather than taking the door they used to come in to the tavern, though, he heads through the one that leads into the main building of the castle.

"Maybe something spicy."

It's not that spicy food doesn't exist in Johto, but it's just not the same as the Karayan fare he's had on occasion back in his world. That, and seeing Budehuc again might be making him a bit nostalgic.

As he heads through the castle though, he doesn't even spare a glance around. Not even at the couple of clear gaping holes where parts of the wall have collapsed. The building's still sound enough, and he knows where he's headed, anyway.

Spicy eh?

[Lucius rubs his chin.]

I'll have to see what they've got in regards to spices and herbs then but, provided they've got a good supply, that shouldn't be an issue. If they've got cheese and honey as well, I could cook up some Globi for dessert.

[He smilesa, licking his lips at the thought of the tasting an old favorite again.]

Nothing like some warm and sweet treats to see us off to a restful sleep eh?

"There should be some Karayan stuff left."

Their route takes them through the large entrance hall and to a small staircase tucked away in the corner. Geddoe heads down to the basement, then promptly heads around the corner to another staircase to a second basement level. A glance around passing through the first would make it clear there are some things on that floor, just not the particular storeroom Geddoe's after.

Down in the second basement is their destination, a goodly-sized room piled with crates and boxes and barrels of supplies, shelves of even more, and indeed even some racks of meat. It's not the best organized though, even if it looks like someone may have made an effort at some point.

"Globi?"

Geddoe's never heard of that.

[Dutifully following after Geddoe, Lucius enjoys seeing more of the structure as they proceed into the basement and sub-basement. As they reach the meat locker he gets a satisfied expression on his face.]

Looks to be some fine cuts of meat here. I should be able to prepare a feast and a half should we want it. If there are good selections of spices and cheese available, too, I think I may have the perfect dish to match your hunger for spices. As for Globi, they're a sort of fried cheesecake ball glazed in honey that's just delectable. Perfect little sweet treat to send you off to a restful slumber.

Edited 2022-12-21 15:24 (UTC)

"Just grab whatever you need. There's probably more than can be used since the army disbanded anyway."

There's definitely a variety of stuff here, from a variety of places and cultures, to boot. It might not be quite the same as what Lucius is used to working with, but hopefully close enough to improvise.

Though really as long as it tastes decent Geddoe's not complaining.

Whenever they're done picking up supplies, it's just a simple matter of heading back up the way they came. Though of not ise that down a further hall from the storeroom, in the opposite direction from the stairs, are a few cells. They don't seem to have been used recently though, except for one where the bars are all bent out of place. That one someone's apparently set up an office in.

[After a bit of digging around and popping back and forth from different bags of ingredients and cuts of meats Lucius has assembled a small stack of supplies to take back up to the kitchen.]

There. That should be everything we need to get things made. If it sounds good to you, I'll be making a dish called "Parthian Chicken" which consists of a roasted chicken with a savory spiced glaze. I've gathered up some nuts, herbs, and cheeses as well so we can have that with bread or crackers, and some roasted and seasoned vegetables with toasted cheese slices for a side.

[He makes a satisfied face as he describes the food, clearly envisioning the dishes as they would be upon completion.]

Then, of course, would be the Globi for dessert. I figure we could snack on the nuts and cheeses while it cooks though, provided that all sounds good.

[Upon completing his little dissertation on the various dishes he begins packing the various foodstuffs onto himself. Satchels of nuts tuck into his belt, the chickens hang over his shoulder, and a variety of spice pouches and cheese wheels lay tucked under his arms.]

Ready to head back up then?

"Heh. Definitely sounds better than a cold sandwich."

Geddoe's neither a cook nor a picky eater, so frankly it all sounds great to him. That said, the way Lucius manages to pack all that stuff on his person is downright impressive.

"Need a hand?"

Geddoe can certainly help carry things, after all.

[It had completely slipped his mind to ask for help in carrying the foodstuffs, so having help offered to him leaves Lucius momentarily dumbfounded.]

Ah... yes. I hadn't thought to ask that.

[He looks at all the things he's carrying for a moment before extending the two chickens out to Geddoe.]

Could you carry these then? That would leave a hand free for getting back upstairs more easily.

It doesn't really show in his expression, but Geddoe's pretty amused. After all, he'd been standing right there the entire time, yet apparently completely overlooked in that regard. In any case, he does take the chickens he's handed; he could take more, of course, but given the complicated way Lucius is holding it all, it might well be more difficult to offer more than to just take it himself at this point.

"All right."

Time to head back upstairs, then! Which is exactly the same way as it was on the way down. There's not much more to see, though; while another passage or room or two in the basement certainly exists, one would have to go past the stairs to get a proper look. And Geddoe, at least, is heading straight back for the kitchen.

[[Sorry for delays again. Got sick on Christmas Eve and I've been low-key dying ever since.]

[Following Geddoe back to the kitchen Lucius sets about lighting the stove and prepping the dishes. Though he starts slowly, the more he sets the prep in-place for each dish the smoother his movements throughout the kitchen become. By the time the snacks have been set out Lucius is virtually gliding across the kitchen, humming to himself as the various dishes begin to take shape.]

This is so much better than I thought it was going to be. I was fully prepared for the reality that I'd be camping-out in some abandoned homestead in the cold, but here we are with a hot meal coming together and actual shelter all around. Excellent!

Seeing as he knows very little about cooking, Geddoe's just staying back out of Lucius's way. He'd probably lend a hand if asked, but he knows better than to try to meddle without knowing what he's doing.

"Just hope it stays that way."

Geddoe's going to remain prepared for the possibility that either or both of them could be randomly teleported elsewhere at any moment.

That's certainly something I can agree with. My first foray into travelling in this place was rather effectively sabatoged by those little bird's with the invitations for the October party, so I ended up roaming all over the woods following what I believed was the trail to the castle it had intended for me to follow.

[Shaking his head in frustration as he continues tending to the various dishes, Lucius rolls his eyes and continues.]

Thankfully that ended with me being able to take a hot bath and clean my clothes afterwards, but the experience of terrifyingly clinging to a giant bird for a round-trip flight was not something I would readily volunteer for. Thankfull, though this place seems another detour, it's one that's infinitely more my speed.

That earns an amused snort from Geddoe.

"Flying's an acquired taste, yeah."

He can't deny its usefulness, but that doesn't mean he has to like it.

"The castle's not bad if you like a place that's a bit rustic."

His team usually favors the bustling port of Vinay del Zexay or the trade outpost town of Caleria.

You can say that again. With all the learning that goes into being able to safely ride a horse the idea that hopping aboard a creature who calls the sky its home requires nothing in the way of certification or training is rather bracing. Add in the freezing temperatures of the season and the winds that come with travelling that speed and I feel safe in saying that it's an undertaking best enjoyed in the Spring and Summer months.

[The prep work done, Lucius pops the chicken into the oven and sits down across the table from Geddoe.]

This place is more my style than most of the places I've seen since coming in here despite, both for it's more-familiar means of construction and the stepped layout. There's been a marked lack of anything built in stone since coming here, and that's quite troubling to see. Concrete and wood can only take you so far before you need a good solid bedrock, so it's nice to see the familiar forms of stone foundations and stone ramparts again.

"Have you been to one of the big cities yet? Some of the buildings are too tall and narrow for stone to work anyway."

Well, unless one uses magic, maybe, but the Pokemon aside this world doesn't seem to have that. Heck, Geddoe's world does have magic, but there's still a notable lack of skyscrapers anyway.

I haven't. The only places I've been to so far are the little town I entered this place in, a town called Cherrygrove, and that colossal castle the party was at last month. Considering the size of the buildings I've both seen and helped to construct, though, I can't see stone ever being off the table. The idea that someone has built places of sufficient height but insufficient width for it to be a fitting construction material seems on-brand for what I've seen of this place though. The people here seem to thrive on doing incredible things in the least efficient ways possible.

[Gathering up a handful of nuts, Lucius jiggles them in his hand for a moment before popping them into his mouth.]

The construction of this place seems more logical all things considered. I hope to find more places that use their topography intelligently like this place does, but I'm not holding my breath considering decent roads are a rare commodity here.

"You should see Goldenrod city. Some buildings there have twenty, maybe thirty floors, and don't even take up an entire 'block', as they call them."

It's pretty impressive, really, but definitely not feasible to build out of stone. That said, Geddoe raises an eyebrow at that last remark.

"... Like I said before, Budehuc Castle is from my world, not Johto. And it definitely wasn't here before."

No doubt why its construction makes sense. Even the castles of the other land don't make sense. They're needlessly meandering and rife with tunnels beneath them that leave vulnerability to sappers.

[He takes another handful of nuts.]

If these weird weekends you mentioned are responsible for places from other lands appearing here, then perhaps I'll have to look forward to those times to see intelligent construction. Given what I saw in Cherrygrove it seems the people here have much better bathing traditions then they have urban planning. The majority of buildings I've seen seem built of layered woods and either plaster or sheetrock, all of which leave much to be desired in terms of endurance and longevity. Would that I could, I would start up my Architectura firm again and be the change I wish to see.

"Dunno if it's normal. Usually people warned about getting teleported to random places, not other places ending up here."

But Geddoe hasn't been in this world all that long, so he can't really say definitively. That's something one would have to ask of someone who's been here a couple years at least.

[A savory smell begins to eminate from the saucepan and Lucius pops to his feet and goes to tend to the cooking line. Stirring the mixture of oils and spices with a stubby wooden ladel, he tends to the poultry on the side with a smile on his face.]

So if this place is from your home, I suppose that makes me wonder how you've adapted in finding a home here yourself. I've only been here a couple of months, but lodgings and any semblance of stability have been entirely elusive. You seem a sturdy sort, though, and you're familiar with a world of relatively the same means as my own so I'm curious how you've landed on your feet.

That earns a slight, amused sound from Geddoe.

"Don't think I could call this place home in particular, we just stayed here because it was being used as the army's headquarters." And he left as soon as said war was over.

"Mercenary work has a lot of travel sometimes, anyway." Did he mention he was a mercenary before? If not, well, there it is. "It's not hard to find inns if you know what to look for and what questions to ask, and money's not a problem if you're not picky about work."

[The mention of Geddoe's occupation causes Lucius to raise an eyebrow.]

You're a sellsword then? That's a dangerous occupation. I lived alongside some sellswords during my time travelling with Emperor Hadrian, and they were a truly mixed bag. Some were the height of professionalism, some exotic and dangerous, and others were little more than violent barbarians. It wasn't a life I would pick for myself, but there were certainly those among them who seemed to thrive in that calling.

[He looks back in Geddoe's direction with an expression of curiousity.]

If I may ask, what led you to pursue that life rather than joining the regular army?

Geddoe doesn't appear particularly surprised by that reaction, but then again that may just be his usual stoic demeanor at play. In any case he just shrugs at the question.

"I guess I just like having a bit more of a chance to pick what I wanna do and how to do it."

That, and his homeland is long gone, any army he might join would inherently be as a foreign mercenary soldier anyway.

ANOMALY DETECTED

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Was travelling over last week. My apologies for delays.

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with this I am caught up on tags for... 2 out of 3 characters lol

Re: with this I am caught up on tags for... 2 out of 3 characters lol

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