[Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/cNtrvII.png[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/7TzeQnh.png[/img][hr][hr][b][color=7ea7d8]Event:[/color][/b] The 'Leaky Ladle' [b]|[/b] [b][color=7ea7d8]Location:[/color][/b] Ersand'Enise[hr][hr][/center]

[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/e8aQm3SoyI4[/youtube][/center]

[color=C0C0C0]“Another happy customer!”[/color], Maura smiled brightly as she give out another portion of food. Ayla is still looking rather worse to wear from the very many and active experiences in the last week. The bed just calls her longingly like a Siren to join within that soft cushiony embrace. Trade seems to be flowing well through the ‘Leaky Ladle’, a rather small establishment based in one of the poorer districts of Ersand’Enise. It offers good quality food at very reasonable prices, including the option to ‘Pay for your Neighbour’ which allows free servings to be given out into the community. In reality, the enterprise is losing a lot of money, relatively speaking as a business, but it is actually a charity and most of the money is paid out of pocket by the two girls. They do have some regular volunteers though from the Fraternity helping out, including Jamboi who despite his offers of bennies, he is encouraged to be more hands on.

Whilst the society head was welcoming to the students, being a noble, nay, a high noble, did make it difficult for Ayla to get along with the others. If it wasn’t for Maura and Jamboi, they probably wouldn’t be interacting with anyone else. They did rope in one of the exchange students, Oksana, but she will most likely be going back home soon herself.

This problem isn’t limited to the society either, despite their very reasonable rates and good intentions, Ayla being the brainchild have made a few quite reluctant, especially with the teachings of the Traveller being spread around and hatred towards the noble classes, she seems viewed with suspicion. Thankfully, a 7ft Yasoi tends to keep the peace in dissuading more active actions against them, and the Societies reputation for good work does bolster the places reputation.

Despite all the negatives, there is a lot of promise. There have been a slow but gradually increasing number of those who regularly use the services. The ‘Pay for your Neighbour’ has been a big hit too, with people giving names and addresses, and payment, in order to help a fellow commoner in need. This is greatly appreciated by those bound by the confines of their property. There is recognition at the good quality of the food too, people enjoying themselves, though there had to be scaling back in this department as people disliked the over generous attitude. They seem to be progressing at a happy medium, a learning curve, of knowing what people want and need, and how much to provide or allow them to use their own resources to solve the problem.

[color=009fff]“That is good. These games are so exhausting, it feels like there is never an opportunity to stop and sit down.”[/color]. Ayla perches upon a stool as she turns off the oven, the last of the baked dumplings are completed as the rich aroma fills the kitchen. [color=C0C0C0]“You are telling me. My legs are aching from that action.”[/color] Maura gave a cheeky smile over the choice of words, Ayla couldn’t help but smile towards her. [color=009fff]“Nothing like that ever slips by you, you catch me out every time.”[/color] [color=C0C0C0]“Well, Ayla Arslan cannot too perfect now, she needs a good dose of hulimity.”[/color]

One of the regulars Antio made their way towards the front, [color=green]“I saw you both in the colosseum! and.. oh… how is your head?”[/color]. Ayla cracked a smile as she rubs upon it. She never expected Jocasta of all people to do a cheap shot like that against her, a full powered shot aimed for the back of her head. Thankfully she was able to slow down the shot enough or she may not been simply beaned by it. [color=009fff]“Trying to decide if it knocked more sense into me or out”[/color], making light of the situation. [color=C0C0C0]“Definitely out, you are not kidding anyone”[/color] mused Maura. Antio laughs at the pair, as he holds his hands out to pass the cooking pot over to be served. [color=green]“My Ma keeps questioning me on the food. She thinks I have snuck a woman in the house”[/color], [color=C0C0C0]“Wait till you tell her you have two in your kitchen”[/color], not missing an opportunity. Ayla moves to fill the pot with the beef stew and dumplings, kindly passing the food back over. [color=009fff]“It would be lovely to meet Mrs Antio one day”[/color], Ayla replied with a smile. Antio scratched his head with a light blush, [color=green]“My Ma is unable to attend, so I can keep the ruse going a while longer of her thinking she has a good son.”[/color], [color=009fff]“and she does, you could actually be cooking for her!”[/color] Maura gasped at Ayla, and Antio looked shocked, Ayla’s eyes widen as she stammers out an apology till the pair burst out laughing. [color=green]“No no, you are entirely correct, the Century shall charge me for poisoning my Ma if I gave her my cooking”,[/color]

As Antio walks away, she turns towards Maura. [color=009fff]“You frightened me. Thought we deeply offended him then.”[/color], [color=C0C0C0]“There is no ‘we’ about it. You were merciless!”[/color], Maura shines a big smirk towards her. [color=C0C0C0]“My goody-two-shoes apprentice may graduate one day after all.”[/color]

Shadier figures decided to make their entrance today, and with the usual protection out spending time with a certain Perrench girl, it leaves the matter to Ayla and Maura to resolve. The ruffians decided to take a look at the kitchen as they started passing judgements about the quality of the establishment, especially the sewer rat special, a truly novel creation they came out with.

Ayla simply sat there with a smile plastered upon her face as she deadpan replied, [color=009fff]“Unfortunately we do not have this on the menu, but would beef and dumplings work as a suitable substitute? We can offer a taste so you may see if it is to your liking”[/color]. The makeshift leader cocked their brow at Ayla’s response, [color=red]“Are YOU being FUNNY with ME?”[/color], he raises his voice towards her. Ayla shakes her head politely, [color=009fff]“It is freshly made today, and we put a lot of effort into it. Would you care to taste it? I would appreciate your honest opinion. Your friends too. Have a seat and make yourselves at home.”[/color] The ruffians kind of look towards eachother, making jokes, [color=red]“Yeah, you better SERVE US, huh”[/color] with emphasis upon her nobility. They slapped upon eachother arms as they made themselves comfortable. Maura soon pulled up towards them, serving from a tray upon her lap. [color=C0C0C0]“Here you are, enjoy yourselves!”[/color]. They dig into the food and appear pleasantly pleased, though the makeshift leader has some more words to say [color=red]“GRAVY? More like SOAP WATER, right boys?”[/color], they all chuckle and laugh. Maura, still in proximity bowed her head, [color=C0C0C0]“We are sorry to hear you disapprove. Please hand over the bowls and we will dispose it for you”[/color]. The table became silent, as they looked towards the ringleader [color=yellow]“Boss, it is rather good actually.”[/color], [color=pink]“If you don’t like it, I could take that soap water off you”[/color]. The ringleader starts to flush red in embarrassment and anger. [color=red]“You’re NOT having ANY OF IT”[/color] as he snarls, [color=red]“Now CRIPPLE, why don’t-''[/color] though the words cease despite his talking, the others taking note as the ring leader shows awareness. Ayla claps her hands together, [color=009fff]“Now now, as my Ma used to say. No talking whilst you are eating. There is plenty more if you need it.”[/color] She releases the sonic dampening as the Ring leader opens his mouth to speak again, as she then quickly clicks her fingers to silence him as quickly. [color=pink]“I think he is trying to say he would prefer a spoon”[/color], the meeker up speaking up for him. Ayla simply smiles as she stops the dampening, [color=009fff]“Then why didn’t he say that with his inside voice, we can gladly provide him with a spoon”[/color]. Maura uses her magnetic magic to bring over a spoon, then politely hands it over. The Ruffian chief grunts as he enjoys the food, the group getting a second helping. At the end of it, the majority of the group even paid their fair share before walking away without much ruckus.

One of them even came to the counter afterwards, Enthish tang to his voice. [color=orange]“We were well rude there, you did us good. We heard this place was ran by a noble bird taking advantage of us and we came to see her out”[/color]. Ayla politely smiled, [color=009fff]“One was born a noble, you are correct.”[/color] The gentleman looked towards her rather puzzled, [color=orange]“If you don’t mind me asking miss, but why you here of all places and not in your fancy castle?”[/color]. Maura couldn’t resist but chip in, [color=C0C0C0]“Don’t ask her that if you want to be home before Dawn.”[/color] Ayla blushed a little as she replied, attempting to give a briefer response. It seems to have a growing reputation about long winded monologues. [color=009fff]“To put simply… those who have, should help those who have not.”[/color] she moves towards the ‘Pay for your Neighbour’ jar. [color=009fff]“People who are poor in coin are not poor in heart, they freely offer to help out their neighbour. The nobility have lost sight of this, and become poor in heart. This needs to change.”[/color] The gentleman looks towards the jar, as he grasps the meaning, [color=orange]“So the Traveller is right. We must cast them down and burn down their castles… yours excluded Miss, obviously.”[/color] Maura couldn’t help but giggle at the exception. [color=009fff]“The Traveller isn’t right. The Traveller preaches that Justice is an Eye for an Eye, but all this would achieve is making the world blind. If helping someone who is in need of a coin is answered by giving them a coin, wouldn’t helping someone in need of heart, by showing them heart?”[/color]. The Enthish lad did look very confused and irrate at this, [color=orange]“So we respond to their brutality by rolling over like dogs?!”[/color]. She shook her head as she moves her hand upon his. [color=009fff]“No, you respond by showing them how to treat someone properly. Firmly but fairly. You show them that you have heart. You show them they are in the wrong, not you. You win by changing their heart, making them see the error of their ways. You don’t drop to their level, you raise them to ours.”[/color] The Enthish lad looks a little confused, but definitely calmer. [color=orange]“So yer saying… we treat them good then they start treating us good?”[/color], Ayla gives a nod, [color=009fff]“When you came in earlier. Were you insulted? were you thrown out? were you treated bad?”[/color], the lad shakes his head, [color=orange]“No Miss, you were mighty fine”[/color], [color=009fff]“And now, you and your friends have full bellies, feeling happier, and we were not escourted to our fancy castles. We get to have this chat instead, a far better outcome!”[/color]. Maura shakes her head, [color=C0C0C0]“Oh, is that dawn on the horizon?”[/color].

The lad takes that as a cue as prepares to leave, [color=orange]“I don’t follow all them fancy words, but you are sound like a pound Miss.”[/color] Ayla takes the hand and holds it, [color=009fff]“Wait, what is your name, you never gave it. My name is Ayla Arslan.”[/color], [color=C0C0C0]“Maura Mercador''[/color]. The lad looks a little embarrassed, [color=orange]“Erm.. Smith, John Smith. My father is, you know, the smithy.”[/color] Ayla beams widely, [color=009fff]“An important occupation. May Ipte enchant you and your family”[/color]. [color=orange]“You two too, Misses.”[/color]

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