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Post by djaq on May 20, 2009 18:58:54 GMT 1
Djaq was skimming through a collection of notes that she had written. She was not quite reading them, but rather revising familiar information. She was always curious to learn new things, and today that trait of hers would be put on the ultimate test, for she was going to attempt to learn something she had never expressed any interest in the past: cooking. That mere word made her certain that she would fail. When her mother had tried to teach her, she had shown so much impatience and disregard which often resulted in the food being under prepared or over prepared. A smile crept on Djaq's lips as she recalled those memories. She had taken advantage of how much she was blessed with and right now, she would give anything to relive those days.
But swimming in self pity was not something Djaq often did. Her heart ached for her family, indeed, but now she had a new family and within them, a man who cooked . . . which was a rarity on her own, but no more obscure than a woman disguised as a boy and being part of the 'merry men' gang.
She closed her notebook and waited patiently for Much to come. She was sitting near the fire, eager to learn the ways of making uncooked food into something edible. This was going to be a fascinating process indeed. She was already mentally preparing a list of questions she was ready to ask . . . even before she knew what he was cooking for them today. --- Tag Much ---
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Post by Much on May 20, 2009 20:19:20 GMT 1
Much was elated. Djaq wanted help with her cooking skills and had correctly come to Much for the help she needed. Of course he had accepted straight away and had rushed off to find all the utensils he would need for his first lesson. Much had instantly dashed off to the camp to collect one large cooking pot, a battered ladle or two, a knife and a sack of vegetables. Unfortunately some one had snacked the knife before he reached the camp and Much had to settle for a plain wooden handled dagger. He had a sneaky suspicion that the knife snatching criminal was either Allan or Anya but that was only a hunch.
Hopefully his new pupil would be far more attentive and ready to learn than his last. Anya was a terrible cook and was an even worse student. Every thing Much had said to her had gone in one ear and out the other. The simple act of stirring a broth had even proved a challenge for her. What was wrong with that girl?
Much stumbled up the large slope which lead to the clearing he had left Djaq in an hour or so before. It was hard to remember why he had picked a spot so far away from the camp. Just as he neared the top of the slope his foot slipped and Much and his untangles went crashing to the ground. The vegetable bag split open sending carrots Onions potatoes and leeks rolling down the steep slope getting battered and dirty as they bounced. Luckily no one had seen his fall. He was sure Anya would have fallen to the floor in fits of Giggles and Allan would no doubt stick some ill comment in his face that the others would find amusing.
Grumbling under his breath e gathered up all the bruised vegetables and with more care clambered up the slope. The next lesson would have to take place in the camp.
“I hate the forest I really do,” he muttered dramatically placing the metal pot on the ground to the side of Djaq. One by one he pulled out the ingredients and dusted them off.
“Well where to begin. I was thinking a broth would be a good starting point. Broths are good and healthy. They may not be the grandest of meals but there is nothing like a good broth to warm the belly and mind. Have you ever done any cooking?”
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Post by djaq on May 20, 2009 21:22:01 GMT 1
Djaq gave a bright smile as she saw Much approach . . . who looked less excited than she did. He looked agitated. "You are okay?" She asked him, her eyes slightly widening in concern for he did not look happy. . . well, as happy as her anyway. She certainly did hope she was not inconveniencing him by asking him to teach her. Then again, unless they had a specific mission they were working on . . . the lot of them never really did anything. She would return the favor somehow.
She watched him assemble the necessary materials, and pulled out her notebook with a writing utensil. She wrote in bold Arabic letters at the top of the page 'Broth'. She was ready. "That is perfect!" She was very eager indeed to learn something that she was entirely incompetent doing. "I cook before, with my family. My mother tried to teach me . . . but I was not interested, back then. I am now." She was not sure why she wanted to learn to cook. Maybe one day, if she ever had a family of her own . . . she wanted to provide for them, and while she had strayed from her culture, she still carried parts of it around. "How long you been cooking for Much?" She asked curiously, while she continued to write, listing the ingredients set before her. [/blockquote]
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Post by Much on May 21, 2009 0:53:53 GMT 1
“You are okay?"
Much tilted his head to the side and sighed deeply. Was he okay? He lived in a forest filled with vermin and fleas when he could be in Bonchurch by a fire with Eve. Could any one be ok with that contrast?
“Yes, thank you” he answered ruefully and gave a weak smile. He kept his eyes down as he laid the dusted down vegetables in a neat line on top of the spread out sack.
His mood brightened as he observed her readiness. Why could Anya not have been as egger as Djaq and saved him all that unnecessary stress! At her question he paused and tapped his chin with the carrot he was holding as he thought. He had only taken up cookery when he moved to Locksley to become Robins manservant and that was many years ago now.
“Too many years ago now, let not think about that shall we. Right well you know what all of these are,” he said running the carrot along the line of vegetables.” You have your Onions, potatoes, you leeks, never for get the leeks they make the broth you know. If I had my way leeks would be in every meal that is if they tasted right with everything which they don’t. I do like leeks. Where was I…. Ahh yes and Carrots!”
Carefully Much split the pile of listed ingredients in to two piles, one fore himself and one for his student. He tried as inconspicuously as possible to peek at what she was writing down but Much was never one for suitilty.
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