Tía
05-31-2009, 01:01 PM
"Mind??? Ay-yay, why'd you think I'd be minding what you're doing up there? You're a good girl, honey, a strange one but good as most and I wouldn't blink my eye but say probably better than most, and don't think I don't know what you've been doing with all those potions and brews, taking 'em down to the barracks for the boys - now don't look so surprised, he told me you told him not to tell anyone, but of course I know about it, you think much comes or goes through my inn but I don't know about it? 'Course I wouldn't have found out if you'd get yourself settled down somewhere like I keep telling you, living in an inn's no good thing for a girl like you, not that my place isn't fit for you or anyone else, even though it's the oldest one in Theramore, I've been running this business all my days, brought it over from Capital City and been in my family for years and years..."
The squat innkeeper continued talking over her shoulder as she bustled back into the kitchen to fetch Tia's porridge. Janene was a plump, sturdy woman who clucked and fussed over the paladin as she did with most of the young travelers who stayed at her inn when they passed through Theramore. Tia had found the stronghold city to be exactly what she'd been seeking when she arrived on the isle - well fortified, secure, and largely ignored by Horde marauders. Her cozy room was just big enough for her to work in, and she'd been satisfied with it for the most part, but wondered once again if perhaps she should follow Janene's advice and seek a more permanent residence. It had been pointed out to her the previous night that perhaps she was treating it a bit too much like her own, and so she'd asked Janene about it this morning.
"...need something hot in you after going out in the rain this morning all the way down to the blacksmith, as though chinks and dents can't wait to be fixed until after the weather's gotten better, then coming back looking like something the cat dragged in, ay-yay-yay..." Janene plunked a steaming bowl of porridge down on the bar in front of Tia, and outside the sky grumbled as though it was agreeing with the woman's sentiment. Her good-natured fussing continued as she bustled back into the kitchen. Tia smiled to herself and added some cream and a generous dollop of honey to the bowl, but before she could collect her tea and retire to her usual table upstairs, Janene came waddling back out.
"Just a minute there, girl, where do you think you're going?" She thrust a plate brimming with scrambled eggs and sausages at Tia, who blinked in surprise. "I didn't -"
When Tia didn't immediately take the extra food, Janene snatched the porridge and tea from her with a cluck of her tongue. "I know 'you didn't' but a tiny thing like you needs to eat more than porridge in the morning, especially if you're spending all day fighting Scourge and those brutish Northerners and who-knows-what-else you do up there that keeps you coming back with your fingers all wrapped up or limping on one side or having a half-dozen new bruises and your armor all banged up - well, come on, honey!" Janene was familiar with Tia's morning routine and had begun leading the way up to the second floor of the common room, leaving Tia in her wake and awash with the woman's constant stream of words. The tiny paladin dodged the patrons who had just moments ago melted aside to let Janene pass, and caught up with her halfway up the stairs.
"...sitting up here on your own when there's plenty of empty seats, not to mention nice folk to talk to downstairs, and how's a good boy supposed to get a look at you without breaking his neck trying to look up here, anyway? Ay-yay-yay...always this same table every time you eat, but I'm not complaining, some just like to have things the way they like them, but you'd do better sitting closer to the fire, especially after going out in the rain so early in the morning." She set Tia's breakfast down on the table and clicked her tongue again in good-natured disapproval as she pulled a chair out. Tia reddened and reached into her pocket, but Janene patted her arm and scolded her gently. "Now, now, what do you think you're doing, put your money away. Just a few eggs and sausages, and I know a dozen handfuls of people who have boys down in that garrison and they don't know you and I'll make sure they don't because you like your peace and quiet and staying out of the way, but you're going to let me say their thanks for them, understand? And that's going to include making sure you're eating well and not minding at all about whatever you want to do up there, drying flowers, mixing up potions, whatever it is. You're a good girl, honey." Janene gave the paladin a gentle pat on the cheek and bustled off downstairs.
Tia always felt a bit flustered after talking to - or rather, being talked to - by the kindly innkeeper. After a moment of gathering herself, she sank down into the chair and arranged her food on the table. Porridge centered, tea to the left, the plate of eggs and sausages to her right. She sat for a few seconds, breathing deeply of the aromas, enjoying the mere fact that she could enjoy them. Enjoying the honey and cream disappearing as they swirled into the porridge. Enjoying, as she always did, the taste of food. Grateful, as she always was, of tasting it - after so many years of being unable to. Small bites, savoring each one, aware of how sacred an act eating was.
Outside, the rain drummed softly on the roof.
The squat innkeeper continued talking over her shoulder as she bustled back into the kitchen to fetch Tia's porridge. Janene was a plump, sturdy woman who clucked and fussed over the paladin as she did with most of the young travelers who stayed at her inn when they passed through Theramore. Tia had found the stronghold city to be exactly what she'd been seeking when she arrived on the isle - well fortified, secure, and largely ignored by Horde marauders. Her cozy room was just big enough for her to work in, and she'd been satisfied with it for the most part, but wondered once again if perhaps she should follow Janene's advice and seek a more permanent residence. It had been pointed out to her the previous night that perhaps she was treating it a bit too much like her own, and so she'd asked Janene about it this morning.
"...need something hot in you after going out in the rain this morning all the way down to the blacksmith, as though chinks and dents can't wait to be fixed until after the weather's gotten better, then coming back looking like something the cat dragged in, ay-yay-yay..." Janene plunked a steaming bowl of porridge down on the bar in front of Tia, and outside the sky grumbled as though it was agreeing with the woman's sentiment. Her good-natured fussing continued as she bustled back into the kitchen. Tia smiled to herself and added some cream and a generous dollop of honey to the bowl, but before she could collect her tea and retire to her usual table upstairs, Janene came waddling back out.
"Just a minute there, girl, where do you think you're going?" She thrust a plate brimming with scrambled eggs and sausages at Tia, who blinked in surprise. "I didn't -"
When Tia didn't immediately take the extra food, Janene snatched the porridge and tea from her with a cluck of her tongue. "I know 'you didn't' but a tiny thing like you needs to eat more than porridge in the morning, especially if you're spending all day fighting Scourge and those brutish Northerners and who-knows-what-else you do up there that keeps you coming back with your fingers all wrapped up or limping on one side or having a half-dozen new bruises and your armor all banged up - well, come on, honey!" Janene was familiar with Tia's morning routine and had begun leading the way up to the second floor of the common room, leaving Tia in her wake and awash with the woman's constant stream of words. The tiny paladin dodged the patrons who had just moments ago melted aside to let Janene pass, and caught up with her halfway up the stairs.
"...sitting up here on your own when there's plenty of empty seats, not to mention nice folk to talk to downstairs, and how's a good boy supposed to get a look at you without breaking his neck trying to look up here, anyway? Ay-yay-yay...always this same table every time you eat, but I'm not complaining, some just like to have things the way they like them, but you'd do better sitting closer to the fire, especially after going out in the rain so early in the morning." She set Tia's breakfast down on the table and clicked her tongue again in good-natured disapproval as she pulled a chair out. Tia reddened and reached into her pocket, but Janene patted her arm and scolded her gently. "Now, now, what do you think you're doing, put your money away. Just a few eggs and sausages, and I know a dozen handfuls of people who have boys down in that garrison and they don't know you and I'll make sure they don't because you like your peace and quiet and staying out of the way, but you're going to let me say their thanks for them, understand? And that's going to include making sure you're eating well and not minding at all about whatever you want to do up there, drying flowers, mixing up potions, whatever it is. You're a good girl, honey." Janene gave the paladin a gentle pat on the cheek and bustled off downstairs.
Tia always felt a bit flustered after talking to - or rather, being talked to - by the kindly innkeeper. After a moment of gathering herself, she sank down into the chair and arranged her food on the table. Porridge centered, tea to the left, the plate of eggs and sausages to her right. She sat for a few seconds, breathing deeply of the aromas, enjoying the mere fact that she could enjoy them. Enjoying the honey and cream disappearing as they swirled into the porridge. Enjoying, as she always did, the taste of food. Grateful, as she always was, of tasting it - after so many years of being unable to. Small bites, savoring each one, aware of how sacred an act eating was.
Outside, the rain drummed softly on the roof.