“Yes Urberer, and it is delicious. Succulent, earthy, and leaves the best after taste. You really should have one I say. They are quite the treat,” Georgio says in an excited tone, reaching for another canister and continuing to eat.
Shelly continued, now leaning on the edge of her seat as if preparing to stand. “Yes, and the dish comes from that area. It is banned on the mainland due to how it is prepared. The songbird eyes are dashed by a chefs blade while it’s alive. This causes the bird to believe its in perpetual darkness and thus goards itself on food, causing it to be overweight as it lives in a cage. The bird itself is then drowned in liqor, roasted in that same liquid with the potent herbs you smell, and then eaten whole. As, sir Wyncrest is doing right at your side. This is the only place you can get this item”
Urberer head slowly turned to the side to look at his bench-mate. He could see the pool of liquid growing underneath the large napkin. He could see the unused napkins laying dormant. And he could smell the spices, and the alcohol. And he could hear the crunching and slight murmurs of enjoyment.
“And when the bird is entirely consumed, the liquir is consumed to further savor the dish and wash down the bits of blood caused by the bones cutting the eaters mouth. Which I imagine is some of the liquid you see on the table.”
Eldre arrives with two plates of food, seeming as excited as they were to be there with his plain expression, only hidden by his formal tone stating “Your food is here Miss Hali and mister Monk.” Eldre placed the plates in front of both of them.
Shelly immediately grabbed a coin purse from her cloak and placed it in the middle of the table. Eldre paused, nodded, collected the funds. He mouth the words “Thank you,” before walking off.
The food was as a beautiful as a painting. He could imagine himself sitting down in stuffing it in his face like he would a meal back in his youth. However, he couldn’t smell it. All he could smell was Georgio’s meal, which simply left him uninterested.
Shell rose “Sir Wyncrest, if you will excuse us. I am late for a very important meeting. We must go immediately as tardiness is unbecoming. I apologize …. That we won’t be good eating partners, but we must go.”
The sound of lips being licked preceded a strong sigh from Georgio. He began to scoot out, keeping the napkin on his head and standing up. “I guess it can’t be helped, but I do understand the plight of you commoners.” Georgio sides steps a bit more out, and gestures to Urberer.
Urberer scoots out of the bench, pausing only to look at the brown liquid and the canisters that sat where Georgio was.
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Poor things.
Urberer stood up and was met with a hand on his shoulder. Georgio still was wearing his napkin, but moved in closer to Urberer. Georgio then lifted the side of his napkin just enough for him and Urberer to see each other. The face reminded Urberer of the times when he’s seen a dog who had just eaten, with blood stains around its mouth and dripping.
The only difference here is that those liquids are a marinade.
Georgio smiled and said “I really do hope to speak to you about the orphanage, and “ Georgio pulls Urberer closer, partially under the garment that was filled with the scent of spices “please watch our for Miss Hali. My brother would lose it if anything happened to her. Also, I’m sure we can find ways to directly donate to the orphanage. Maybe even to some of your pet projects, I imagine.” He massages Urberers shoulder and then lets go, at the same time letting his napkin close back up on him again. “Please be safe miss Hali. Enjoy your meeting …” As Hali moves past both of them “sister-in-law.”
As Hali walked pass she grabbed ahold of Urberer’s sleeve and gave the gentlest of pulls. Eldre met them as they reached the door and quietly opened it. Eldre mouthed the words “sorry” to Shelly as they walked out. He quietly closed the door behind them.
The sound of the door gently clicking behind made Urberer confident that they no one had followed them out. They stood several paces out from the restaurant, past even their outside dining, and almost in the way of the numerous people walking the Merchant Quarter.
What a shit show of an experience. People wonder why I try to keep my required timed around those of the merchant class low, and those around nobles even lower. Heck. This whole mess was between a merchant and a noble. I can only imagine how it’s going to be in the future. Especially … His mind drifted from the recent present to what life what be for Shelly. She was treated this way in a simple upscale restaurant. Imagine down the line, sitting in a Grand Hall at the dinner table with nobles. Georgio was a unique sort in how he approached his interactions with Shelly. But imagine other nobles, not joining families with her. They’ll pick at her like a pack of wolves and she will be the lamb sacrificed to the appetite of their rage and conceit. Everywhere she’ll look will be an adversary. One more person looking to sink their teeth into her soft parts and shear off chunks of dignity with their critiques, be it her form of dress, etiquette, family’s business, and the easiest, of course, her non-noble pedigree. They’ll circle around her, distracting her, confusing her with their movements. Feints of attacking kind to set up a strike, snarls taking the form of acting overly repulsed by any smallest move, and howls of intimidation. And the leader will be the a wolf wearing purple and who happens to like eating little birds as snacks. That. Is. Terrible.
Words without thought stuttered out of Urberer’s mouth. “I’m sor” he started but his words were cut with a simple shake of Shelly’s head. Slow, controlled movements shakes in the negative said nothing, yet seemed to move with emotional weight. Urberer couldn’t read her facial expression as she stood in front of him. But the experience reminded him of the times when he and his father would get into it. His mother would always come and try to settle the issues. But sometimes, too much was said, too much pain had occurred, and even the salve of his mothers words and embrace were too much of an irritant at the moment to help. The wound simply needed to air first. And he would not rob Shelly of this.