4092/Typical Solar Dinner

Typical Solar Dinner
Date of Scene:	10 May 2016
Location:	Urbania
Synopsis:	Anne Blakely invites Karal Rei Lin over for a meal and a chat.
Cast of Characters:	983, 984

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Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The directions lead to a small homey shop down the road, looking more like a house than a business. The sign has, in elaborate script, 'Mary O'nette's Supplies' on it, and the place looks... cozy, with the door open and the show room largely just in front of what is obviously doubling as a home. Shelves of simple dry goods, satchels, bags, rope... adventuring supplies dot the room, along with several shelves of basic potions that might be useful to a neophyte adventurer. Even some light leather armors and travel clothing, all mounted on mannequins to show what they look like.

    Anne appears to be putting some hot water on to boil, humming to herself. The redhead is in simple clothing, a bodice and skirt, but more importantly is not anyone that Karal Rei Lin has met before.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Karal Rei Lin is new to this darned thing! Someone handed her a smart phone. A Multiverse brand Smart Phone, but it's still running a touch screen for all it's wafer thin and incredibly flexible. It's a computer, but it's thin as a playing card. ... And only slightly larger.

    And several times she's pressed buttons without meaning to, getting stuck in menus she doesn't understand talking about things she further doesn't understand using visual styles and terminology she doesn't understand.

    But she pockets the thing - somewhere in her very exotic-for-here attire. "That's the right name!" Muses the redhead, who's now standing just in front of the door.

    She hesitates briefly, struck by an odd and fleeting shiver. Which she entirely ignores, as it was probably just a breeze anyways.

    *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

    As it's a store, Lin doesn't wait to enter. She simply opens on up and steps in. "Good evening! It's not everyday someone goes out of their way to invite a stranger over for dinner. Don't know any of the rites for this town." That last sentence comes out apoloetically...

    And, at the same time, she bows her head respectfully, as guest to host. "Karal Rei Lin!"

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Anne turns and gives a polite nod. "It isn't every day someone can just come over to a stranger's home. I am not, despite the shop name, Mary. My name is Anne Blakely." A little curtsy, and she goes back to prepping the tea. With a faint whrr, the door shuts behind Karal, but it's just glass and wood.

    As she offers a seat in the room behind the showroom, she continues, "Is there anything you'd like? I'm new the Multiverse, and only briefly looked into this... Creation place. I'm not sure what the typical expectation is, but you seemed to want bacon. I can provide."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"Hospitality rites... they aren't common here?" Lin's voice sort of cracks, going from a smooth conversational tone to a rougher one for just a moment. It's clear enough she's trying to be very polite in whatever that langauge is she's speaking. "It's customary that if comes requesting it, the head of a house must offer hospitality - food and drink, and shelter. In some places the guest is obligated only to keep the peace and be respectful, though it's a poor guest who doesn't share stories, conversation, and maybe help where they can."

    Lin's expression turns a little sheepish and she ends up scratching the back of her head a little. "Don't really have anything to offer for the latter besides tales from home... ah right!"

    She snaps back to attention, the guilty expression vanishing instantly.

    "Bacon! What IS bacon, Miss... Anne? Blakely? Pardon, I'm not sure which is the family name..."

    As if on cue, her stomach growls.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    "Hospitality rules? OH! No, not... formal ones," Anne replies. "Call me Anne. Miss Blakely is formal but... not really what I'm used to." She sets out some cups and resumes explanation. "We follow all our own. For me, I'm not going to poison you if I invite you over for food. That's... well, 'impolite' doesn't cover it, does it? Uncouth? Hmm... besides, that would be /terrible/ for business, and I've already had to move the shop once after that whole mess earlier."

    She turns and starts laying out some bacon on the skillet. "So, bacon is the back, jowl, or belly of a pig. Belly in this case. It's very good, but not very healthy. Bad for the heart." She chuckles softly. "But I'll fix some eggs or the like to go with it if you are worried."

    From the cupboard a little mechanical thing peeks out. A mouse? No... not really right. As it shuffles out it reveals skeletal wings with cloth stretched between the tines. "Oh, Norbert is saying hello. Probably a little skittish, after the knifing you gave him."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"Oh, meat!" Delighted, Lin speeds over to the chair, barely able to maintain a.... oh, bother, she's hardly dignified about it at all. Though she does TRY to shuffle over without being clumsy about it. "If that's really being offered. Meat... meat is expensive. Hardly ever have meat-" There's a mix of apology and HUNGER in her look, rather like a dog trying not to chase after a meal it's been told to not touch. Well, she's definitely not worried about health. "Everything in moderation... right?"

    There's little trace of the composure she showed the other day. Largely because she's HUNGRY from all the wandering.

    "Rei Lin's my name, Karal being the family name. Lin if you like."

    But then... creak-creak peek! Her head turns slightly, eyes sweeping over... then going wide. Blink. Blink. STARE.

    "...WHAT." Croaks the redhead, throat suddenly dry and color draining from her face.

    She seems to have been struck dumb by this turn of events.

    But that'll probably only last a few seconds.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The bacon starts sizzling, and Anne doesn't seem to realize exactly that's wrong. She sees the stare and the expression, and presumes something... entirely different. "Oh don't worry, he's harmless. And much as I jest, he's also not actually intelligent, not the way you and I are. He doesn't actually 'remember' you at all. He's a machine."

    Toast! It is being buttered. "Hm, a little light for a dinner... really should have come up with something else," she comments as if there were nothing amiss. "Karal is the family name? I see. You follow what is an 'eastern' tradition in my world. The exotic orient, and so on. I wasn't fond of it, myself."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"..." Karal's sort of stupidly blinking when Anne continues on as if nothing is wrong whatsoever. Is there some kind of mistake? How can there be? She even called out the knifing?

    Anne gets a brief, can't-help-it-stinkeye'ing before Lin manages to shake her head and clear it. A calmer head prevailing. "Ah... I see. You recognized my voice between that incident and the broadband. Hopefully there's no bad blood involved here. As that job has ended I've no reason to have any quarrel with you. That machine's a masterwork by all standards I know! So I regret having to damage it." Seems she's bound and determined to explain her position on this, including an apologetic, slightly nervous grin.

    But the grin turns into a frown.

    The word poison came up earlier.

    The frown quickly intensifies...

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The bacon gets added to the plate. "You were doing a job. As I understand it, you were paid for a service and performed it. It wasn't personal toward me, and anything I would do wouldn't be personal toward you." Anne seems on the same page there!

    She pulls up a seat as the table is full now. Pouring herself some tea is probably small comfort, but she's still being casual. "I'm glad to see you appreciate my work. I've had a lot of practice."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Lin pauses only briefly after receiving the food. Perhaps offering a silent prayer to the god of pigs or something. or maybe something about how Anne phrased that was less than heartening.

    Whatever the case, the promise - and SCENT - of sizzly bacon has her almost eye-watering. "East, yes, but I've never heard of any such word... 'orient.' Though even then... the traditions I said are almost universal. And this is traditional wear for Lookshy. Supposedly it's the style the Shogunate favored!"

    She's unfamiliar with the eating utensils, but it only takes few moments to figure out that bacon can be dealt with by just... picking it up and starting to munch on it!

    Which gets her eyes lighting up.

    Here's just hoping it ISN'T poisoned!

    "My thanks for the invitation, Anne! Though... I don't understand why..."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    This... actually makes Anne giggle softly. "You really haven't had this before? What a pity." She slides her own portion over, plucking up one stick of bacon for herself to nibble on. "I don't eat much, so you can have all you like."

    Ah, but why. That is a question! "Oh, you seemed to have a lot of skill and potential. I'm always looking out for more like that. Maybe as a bodyguard. You and that... Shin fellow both seemed to be just about perfect. I'm glad you came alone, though. I only have one chassis complete, so I'd have to hold one of you for weeks if you both showed up at once. That always feels awkward for some reason."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Lin can't help but make a strangely guilty noise as more meat's offered. "A guest shouldn't deprive the host of their me-eal..." But... BACON. It looks delicious! Greasier than she's used to for sure, but... she's got this sort of puppy-eyed look in bliss as she finishes her first strip and goes for another.

    And she's halfway through it when the munching gets less vigorous. A few words start ringing in her ears.

    Gulping down the rest in a hurry - a feat that would have most people probably choking, she now tilts her head ever so slightly, mouth opening.

    Hold her for weeks? Chassis?

    Lin herself may not realize it, but her hand's drifted down out of sight for the comforting grip of her sword. It shiftin.. isn't silent thogh. There's the faintest clink of metal from the posture change.

    She's tongue-tied, but color's draining from her face again. Confusion mixing with very clear.... 'ohhhhh.... shit.'

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The expression makes Anne frown. "Oh... did some of them get burned? That happens, sometimes. Every package is different, but at least we don't need to slice them ourselves these days. Much more convenient." She takes a sip of tea, then points out, "Your toast is getting cold."

    It doesn't look like she thinks she's said anything wrong at all. It might be mistaken for a misheard statement if not for the mechanical, whrring arm that comes around the corner... followed by an intricate, copper and bronze man, gears turning and cables twanging faintly with every motion. "Ah, Mistress," the tinny voice states. "You had a call. I told them you'd be finished in a few hours, at most, but they said they'd try back later." That mechanical body is far, far more articulate and animated than any machine has a right to be.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
The incredibly natural way in which Anne takes the comment gets Lin feeling increasingly small and guilty. "N-no, not at all!" She lets go of the sword, bowing her head once apologetically. "Maybe culture shock's harder to deal with than I expected, eheh." Tentatively she grabs a third piece of bacon in one hand, and toast in the other, and starts munching on BOTH back and forth. But she's mid-swallow when the arm appears. And the rest of the body.

    And it TALKS.

    Lin's whole body tenses to the max! She swallows HARD, but it's hard to say if that's from being WEIRDED OUT by the thing or awed. There's aspects of BOTh in her gaze as her mouth starts to gape slightly. "What an intricate... auto... automaton?!"

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Sipping tea, Anne replies, "Thank you, Alvin." Alvin nods and vanishes again, but the compliment has Anne smiling pleasantly. "He's one of the more... delicate models, for fine work. I'm very proud of him. That level of detail takes a long while to finish, as I'm sure you can imagine."

    She sets the tea down and stretches, "Your model will be a lot more rugged. Oh, since you've been so pleasant, did you prefer a humanoid one, or something more intimidating? I only have a humanoid available, but if you're willing to wait..."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"What... WHAT do you mean, my model?!" Now Lin sounds - and LOOKS - rather worried. Her chair creaks and shuffles back as she shoves with her feet to get some space. In no time at all Lin rises to her feet, hand again near.. but not actually touching... the grip of her sheathed sword.

    "I was willin' to tell all kinds of tales, talk about craftsmanship, all kinds'a stuff... but now you've got me thinkin' this wasn't an invitation for just a friendly visit."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    "Of course it is," Anne says, not rising from her chair. "But I also thought you were a wonderful candidate for another guardian. Though I admit you've put me into a bit of a quandry... usually, my new additions resist quite a lot, but those rules of hospitality you mentioned..." She heaves a dramatic sigh.

    "I suppose you'd be willing to fight your way out of here, hmm?" She looks at the sword. "I'll never understand that. Well I can't very well /fight/ you here after you extended your own rules so politely."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Lin's SCOWLING now! "You... you TRAP people to make these things?! Sacrifices?!" Seems that while Lin might be naive, she's not THAT clueless, with enough pieces of the puzzle presented. Her gut's churning.

    Both with fear and pure horrified revulsion.

    THAT HAS TO STOP, screams an ancient voice in her head. A voice that's familiar yet not.

    "Kgh... can't say I know what's going on in your head. If you feel a crisis of conscience but plan on doing this with Shin too..."

    She stands up straight, but... it's clear that this is both NOT really an advantage for Anne if Lin chose to attack... nor a declaration of being about to do so. Lin's glancing around with fleeting looks here and there, eyes open for any surprises near the door.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Calling it a crisis of conscience makes Anne look confused for a moment. She shakes her head, then makes a motion, waving. "No, no. It would be even more awkward to take you now. I think I want to talk to you more than I need another guardian, at least for now. You are free to go-"

    Anne stops, then picks up her tea. "Well, you can finish your meal first. I wouldn't mind knowing what sort of crafts you HAVE seen in your world."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"Ye-" For a moment, JUST a brief moment, Lin's resolve falters. THAT FOOD IS GOOD. Very tempeting, all that meat. But.... that's not enough to break her resolve, in the end. "If I didn't come here as a guest and found out this was your goal there'd be a fight alright." The hand finally reaches her sword, shifting it slightly for emphasis.

    "Lemme tell you.... can't say whether you'd be able to catch me or not, but a few've tried. Wouldn't be much left of this shop here afterwards whatever the outcome."

    "But I did come here as a guest, and I'm not about to break that tradition by harming my host."