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Post by Greenie on Jul 23, 2009 22:50:10 GMT -5
 It was a good thing ferrets had semi-flexible spines, Vessatha decided, else it would be very difficult to relax upside down as she was. The biped was quite comfortably arranged on a kitchen stool, both her feet and her arms touching the floor a scant foot and a half apart. Her body was entirely limp and the only thing keeping her from falling off and breaking her nose were her thick vertebrae and a good sense of balance. She was in a relaxed semi-sleep state, though her eyes were only half closed and her eyes occasionally would track someone walking around the room. One would think all the blood would rush to her head, but Vessie had been using the position to relax for years and years and had learned to ignore the sensation long ago. Her fur was bright red anyways, it wasn't as if her face color would change much. Donnie was due to arrive soon, but the ferret couldn't bring herself to move and compose herself in a more typical fashion on the stool. The wolverine would no doubt, in time, walk in on far odder things than her sleeping backwards on a stool. She was counting on it. |
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2009 22:58:02 GMT -5
 The lunch date was nearly forgotten amidst a stack of paperwork on Donnie's desk, except for the rumbling of her stomach reminding her that it had been a few hours at least since her last meal and didn't she have a date with a sandwich sometime soon? Only a few seconds after that, the memory of a burgundy ferret replaced the sandwich and she stood up abruptly with a curse, banging her knee on the top of her desk and swearing louder. She rubbed at the soon-to-form bruise and headed out of her office, stomach applauding her decision with many rounds of gurgling applause. The sight that greeted her when an absently hustling servant opened the door was... unexpected and yet worthy of a moment's thought. That right there was flexibility, and perhaps her mind shouldn't have jumped to such lewd conclusions on why her windy otter mate seemed to hang around her whenever the woman visited. Ehehe. "Sleeping beauty, it's time to rise from your slumber in a bowl of noodles and resume your upright position on the throne," she said with an amused, ironic smirk. |
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Post by Greenie on Jul 23, 2009 23:04:36 GMT -5
Vessatha didn't notice the bright purple and yellow figure standing in front of her until she was, well, right in front of her. The voice startled her and her back muscles abruptly loosened, sending her on a short ride to the floor. She caught herself from falling completely and landed on her hands and knees, and stared at the floor for a minute before blinking in a totally absent manner up at Donnie. She sat back, her brow furrowed. "A bowl of noodles?" She questioned, then yawned, her hand rising to cover her mouth.
After a moment she regained her bearings and pulled herself back onto the stool in one fluid movement, then kicked it back on two legs and propped her feet up on a nearby table. "Are we eating now or what? My stomach just remembered it's been sitting in the kitchen for an hour doing nothing related to eating." She said, then yawned again. Vessie wasn't big on thinking after waking up.
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2009 23:20:22 GMT -5
"I thought you were masquerading as lunch to fool it into a false sense of safety," Donnie replied with a grin, watching the suddenly awake ferret compose herself on the floor and resume her seated position, albeit with a touch mroe grace. "Sorry to put you to sleep. Our stomachs are apparently more in touch than we are, since it reminded me I had a meeting. Rather insistently. What's for lunch?"
She took the stool next to the ferret, eying the kitchen staff who'd taken a moment to stare until someone gave her an answer. Hungry wolverines aren't the most patient of people, but she remained quite polite as the potential options were rattled off. "I'd initially promised myself a sandwich, but I think a bowl of soup would be a good addition. Do you want to eat here, or take this somewhere else?" Meaning, did she want the kitchen staff edgy with the nobles eating right there, or did she want to give them a little breathing room?
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Post by Greenie on Jul 23, 2009 23:27:06 GMT -5
The ferret's eyes narrowed as she digested the comment, then rolled her eyes and muttered something along the lines of 'you wish' before she glanced behind her at the various bubbling pots, grilling stoves and baking ovens. "No idea. I don't remember." She said, full aware of the irony of having been in the kitchens for an hour but didn't know what was being served.
She didn't particularly listen to the mouse that gave them their options, as she'd managed to unlock the information from it's hiding position in her brain. BLT with extra mayo and pickles and french fries with actual salt, damnit. "My usual, please, Douslin. And if you 'accidentally' forget to salt my fries again, I will find a way to destroy your next batch of souffles." The ferret stated calmly, simultaneously examining her claws for any breakage.
She glanced up to see who was around. "I don't really care. They know if they repeat anything they hear here that I'll blast them, but if you'd feel more comfortable alone we can go elsewhere." Feeling more awake, she rocked the stool back and forth absently.
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2009 23:34:09 GMT -5
Such an observant woman. Donnie tried not to outright snort. She was still waking up, probably. At least the smells emerging from various pans and busily working hands was enough to make the wolverine's stomach start pleading again in a decidedly gurgling fashion. "If it tastes as good as it smells, we're fine. And don't give mine quite as much salt, if you can help it." She wanted to taste the potato more than she did the salt. Besides, she would probably be dipping them in something salty.
Hmm. "I'm less worried about them repeating something and more worried about distracting them," she commented wryly, catching one or two watching them both out of the corner of their eyes. It was probably pretty damn unnerving, having the Queen of the Court and her King both waiting on a meal in their working space. "Let's go somewhere else. Inside or out?" Hopefully that would be enough hint for the staff to use cups less prone to spilling when carried on a tray. She'd broken at least two during her time there.
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Post by Greenie on Jul 23, 2009 23:39:55 GMT -5
The ferret gave the mouse a disgusted look, already annoyed at her future unsalted fries. "Oh, don't worry. He's a health nut and has tried on several occasions to misdirect all incoming salt. He's managed to throw out my stores on several occasions. Bastard. I'm skinny, I can eat salt, damnit." The last part came out in a disgruntled mutter, and she glared behind her once more for emphasis.
She snorted and shrugged. "I run a crew of busybodies, what can I say? They like to watch. This place has more eyes than a fly with a growth problem." Vessatha had no problems about using her rank to intimidate her staff into working better, but in general had no need to do so; her cheerful, upbeat demeanor was usually enough stimulus for her crew. "Whatever floats your boat, woman. I just want to eat. You lead and I'll follow with what better be my salty fries." The last part was said overly loud, just in case anyone outside the kitchens needed to hear.
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2009 23:47:17 GMT -5
Donnie couldn't hold back her grin at the ferret's pointed grumbling. So this was the King of Spades. The thought was one to relish. They weren't led by a namby-pamby little waif and her incompetent and often absent King any longer, no. They were slowly gaining a modicum of respectability in the world. It was amazing what a strong personality and a willingness to act could do for a reputation. "You keep your skinny, and your salt. I've got to watch my ass. That's where all the extra butter goes if I let it in."
She tapped her fingers on the table absently while their food was being prepared. "So long as they get the job done, I'm fine with them watching. When they don't watch is when things start getting sloppy. How does the garden sound? I don't get to spend nearly as much time outside as I used to." The flowers weren't Yarrow-quality, but they were a pleasant background for meetings that didn't require her to be at her most intimidating.
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Post by Greenie on Jul 23, 2009 23:54:39 GMT -5
Vessatha glared at the amused grin. "What's so funny, huh? I keep him around because he makes good fries, he just refuses the salt the damn things." Douslin was one of her best chefs, but she wasn't about to admit that where he could hear it. His ego was big enough, what with him getting rid of her salt. At Donnie's comment she raised an eyebrow and pointedly looked the woman's figure over. "Your ass is fine. At least you have one. Damn ferret genes keep me like a toothpick. I wouldn't have a butt even if I ate chocolate cookies for days straight." Generally Vessatha didn't have a problem with her figure, but it would be nice to have some actual curves. Maybe when she got old and everything started to droop she could pretend..
"Sloppy? Not while I'm around. They know what, whom, and when to watch, and when to repeat it to me. If one of them fails to do it accurately, they'll be hitting the can, and they know it. I've personally taught each and every one of them how to be a good snoop!" The ferret said, proud of her accomplishment. Not everyone made a good tattletale, but she was always careful to hire the discreetly gossipy ones.
"The garden? She said with a frown. "What season is it? As long as nothing obnoxious is blooming, sure. Some of that crap makes me sneeze."
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Post by The Jenn on Jul 24, 2009 0:44:36 GMT -5
"The relationships between you and your kitchen staff probably aren't any of my business," Donnie replied in mock-defense, grin moderated by the glare into something less outright amused. How had a woman like this come out of Kahmden? Maybe that's why she'd left, though. Heh. The Court was certainly benefiting from the realm's loss.
She stopped the tapping of her fingers for a moment to consider what would happen if the ferret met that many chocolate cookies. It was a hilarious sight. "You're right, the chocolate would be too heavy. It would all sink to your thighs. Then you'd start turning into a tree with twin trunks." Amused by the mental image of a rooted and thoroughly pissy Vessie, Donnie's expression returned to its former grin.
"So long as they snoop for us rather than against us, I'm just fine with that." She eyed the staff with a mock-suspicious sweep of her eyes that may or may not have been interpreted properly, and then perked up when a tray made its way in her direction. Oh good.
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