songerein | [Open Mingle] Entry 003

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[Open Mingle] Entry 003

Who: Kazuma Asogi, Soldier: 76, Susato Mikotoba and anyone else.
Which: Open mingle
Where: The Wild Harvest, located on the ground floor of Kazuma's home.
What: Soft opening for a small pub called the Wild Harvest.

A new pub has opened in Reverein, though the news is only being spread through word of mouth, or if people just happen by the place this month. Kazuma isn't exactly new to managing a pub, but he wanted to be sure he does it right this time. So he's keeping things small and simple, while the crew work out any issues that may come up during the month.

The place already has a much more welcoming feel to it compared to the Hydeout, like a quaint little neighborhood pub. Right next to the pub was a garden, part of it growing into the pub itself. There's a herb station setup if people want grab something else to add to their dishes, though at the moment, the selection is limited until they can grow more plants. There are garnish and spice noodle dragons also roaming about, and they will occasionally add a little extra to a customer's food or drink.

The menu itself is moderately simple, listing various eastern and western style street food dishes. There is also a note that reads: Can request something to be cooked off menu, as long as there are ingredients.

A sign has been put up near the entrance, listing the seasonal specials for the month.

Hot Chocolate (Alchoholic and Non)
Eggnog (Alchoholic and Non)
Cinnamon Apple Spice Tea
Meat Stew.
Roast Fowl.

Note: Meat will vary depending on what's available for the day.

Another can be found at the bar, this one being a "help wanted" sign. While Kazuma is satisfied having a crew he can trust, he could probably do with a full time bartender and bouncer. There are only three staffed at this pub right now. Kazuma is handling the front the best he can. He's not as conversive as his Hyde counterpart, but he'll try since he'll be the one most people will see. Occasionally 76 can be seen at the bar handling drinks, otherwise he'll be preparing the food along with Susato in the kitchen. A few times she'll peek out from the back to help clear tables, talking to the others during down time as she adjust to working a restaurant.

[This is basically an open mingle log for people to use the pub setting for whatever they like! Kazuma, Susato and/or 76 may also tag in, unless specified. Pub and garden area are open to the public.]

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[Van Zieks watches the miniature reptile with some small amount of interest, not unlike his reaction to a much larger dragon. The man seems to attract them... These creatures are certainly useful, aren't they?

He accepts the drink with a nod of thanks, simply allowing the warmth to seep through his glove for the time being.]

Quite well. I find myself becoming more accustomed to life here... village-wide dreams aside.

[He had a hat with antlers he couldn't remove? It was a whole thing. Utterly bizarre, moreso than the rest of this.]

May I ask the same of you?

Those are definitely... something, to say the least. Did not miss the hooves for feet.

[Easy guess to what happened to him.

For the moment 76 let himself relax, leaning against the counter in a way that also allowed him to watch for any others approaching he bar. Otherwise the few tables were covered, and he could at least stay in place.]

Doing better, for the most part. Been spending time out by the farms, lending farmers a hand since I'm an old hand at farm work. Blue's been enjoying the open spaces to play in the snow.

It would be preferable to remain in one's natural form...

[Hooves, is it. Van Zieks is starting to get the impression he should be grateful he wasn't turned into a stuffed cat again. #DreamworldProblems.]

Then the two of you have been keeping busy. [Exploring, farming, setting up a pub... if only van Zieks had so many tasks to take up his time. It would certainly feel more familiar than the amount of free time he has now, and he can only do so much training with dreamotion magic.]

Your family tended to a farm, then, I presume? [Despite his obvious aristocratic origins, Barok seems interested.] I have been considering learning more of such work. I've found that my typical expertise has very little use here.

Last world I was stuck with hooves, but at least I was still bipedal and had hands.

[So this one was much preferred, even if dreamscapes at times changed him in to something else- at least it wasn't a giant dog or a centaur. He'd turned in to a few things. Some weird wolf reindeer was pleasantly tame.

A low hum.] I'm usually good at finding ways to keep busy. Usually.

Yeah, parents owned it and had daily chores growing up. Worked with the farm hands, or helped my mother with her garden. [Reason he just took to helping the returning farmers. Kept him out of town enough he didn't get overly antsy being around so many people again.] Always use for a pair of good hands, and a strong back.

[Van Zieks turns a look to the soldier when he explains his situation in the Realm of Stories, as if to display the disbelief that only barely shows in his expression. ... yeah, he's going to be grateful that he came to this world and not the one 76 and Asogi were stuck in. It sounds like it was an utter mess to live in, to put it lightly.]

Most of us must pick up new skills in this world, it would seem. [Pretty inconvenient to not have servants, tbh.] I admit to finding it somewhat strange, however, that as mere dream manifestations we require the same amount of sustenance as in reality.

[He takes a sip of his tea, now that it's had time to cool off somewhat. A well-made brew to be sure, especially with the addition of the small piece of bark...]

... but then, I suppose magic must make the process somewhat easier. [Or is that wishful thinking...?]

[Shoulders shrugged a bit; all the reason as to why he was adjusting to this place a little easier than he might have without that experience. It was nice to look like himself and not some weird chimeric creature.]

Still had to eat and sleep when we were figments with souls, I'm just guessing it's some way to keep up energy for all of the dream emotional magic. What makes sense to our brains. [It helped him wrap his head around it at least. Make it more grounded in some bit of reality to exist in a world of dreams.

At least he wasn't mentioning the fact they were souls with fake-souls in their body back home for the Story Realm, honestly.

76 made himself comfortable, leaning just a bit of weight on the bar counter.]

It can, however it manifests. Bit of brute strength and magic can go a long way- or the smarts to puzzle out a solution with what you've got on hand.

For it to simply be the result of a familiarity in our collective minds... [He hums thoughtfully, though with a slight edge of disgruntlement.] It no more nonsense than anything here thus far.

[Not that he doesn't enjoy food, of course. It's just not as logical as he might have liked, is all... and it would certainly free up resources to not worry about such things.

Speaking of procuring food, though.]

You must be well equipped for these sorts of puzzles, with your experience in farm work and another magical realm. [Van Zieks, meanwhile, is sure he has a lot of work ahead of him if he wants to get involved in such things. He's used to some thinking outside of the box, but this?]

If you can bleed and get injured? Makes enough sense you need to eat, too.

[Sometimes what did and didn't make sense just needed to be compartmentalized to make things easier for one's own sanity.

Honestly? This place was no where near as bad as the story realm as far as he was concerned, for the most part.]

Yeah, has been helping me find out where I can pick up certain things, or just go hunting for meat. [Came in handy for contributing towards the pub, since it was easer to cook for others than himself.] Made friends with the farmers, so I can get good trade deals- or borrow tools when the need be.

[Yeah, well... the injury part sucks too. Van Zieks simply takes another sip of his tea, thinking to himself that it could probably be worse, as far as sustaining themselves. Magic and the supernatural could have opened up a lot of potentially unpleasant possibilities... ~~like being turned into a vampire or something.~~]

I suppose it's necessity that's allowed a community of such unlike individuals to thrive. [Though thrive may be a strong word.] Regardless, I should count us fortunate to be able to benefit from talents such as yours.

[Imagine if nobody here knew how to farm. Phew.]

Do you bring Blue along to your hunts?

[Boy does the injury part suck a lot, even if so far it had all been something he could walk away from so far. Heard enough about what happened for Van Zieks, too. No details, but enough from his talk with Kazuma when it happened.

Having to eat and drink was at least the most harmless of things. Hopefully remained harmless.]

It helps, more so when other people take up interest in learning- group effort can go a long way. [Like that communal garden some had started and opened to others, closer to town. All it needed was going in the direction of a greenhouse- which meant people who knew how to construct one. A possibility down the road.

76 nodded as he leaned against the bar top a bit.]

I do. For company and she acts like a second pair of eyes, along with helping carry anything I can't myself. [She enjoyed the time together at the very least-] Can hunt herself, too.

[A reason he didn't worry about her, if something ever did happen to him.]

[Hopefully.

After taking another longer sip of his tea, Barok remains silent rather than respond verbally, merely nodding to the idea of collaboration in this strange village of theirs. Though to consider it theirs feels just as odd as it sounds correct, he can't deny that they're making their mark on the space, and he has his own plans, after all. To think he'd even bother with such efforts...

Hm. Barok turns away from his thoughts and his drink, back to 76.]

An instinctive talent of hers, or did you train her specifically?

[The man did say he raised the dragon.]

[Whether they liked it or not they did have to live here, may as well do what was needed for their own lives- and those of others that ended up here. More so for those who might not exactly be comfortable eating food gifted by fae, and honestly there'd be no blame from 76.

One fae feast was enough for him the experience a lot of bullshit, and he was glad he was a giant dog during the majority of it considering what other people had ran in to. He got off lucky.

76 nodded.]

I trained her, to make sure she could. Some of it came naturally, but she needed to be shown at first like any young being. Once she got the hang of it, more instinct came in to play. [Wouldn't take credit for all of her ways of a hunt, but if he'd left her alone she might not have been able to pick it up without being shown.

Teaching her how to catch fish was kind of funny.] Guess she takes the part of a hunting dog along with a horse on top of it all.

She's grown well.

[Boy, Barok wishes hunting dogs weren't as sore a point as they are. When he feels the downturn to his mood, he takes a slow, silent breath and pushes it aside. Just think about the nice dragon.]

That much was apparent upon meeting her.

[As if he knows anything about her species. Speaking of hunting, though—it's a nice segue.]

As I recall, there is a stew on the menu today?

Can hardly tell she used to be small enough to sleep in the hood of a coat when I first got her these days, too.

[Once upon a time it was her favorite spot, and one of the only ways to get her to actually sleep or stay put. Had a Time with her at first, that was for sure.

A nod, standing back up straight.]

There is, meat fresh from today. Can get a bowl for you if you'd care for some.

[Ah, a miniature dragon. If only he could have seen it.

The vague description of meat gives van Ziek some pause, but only for a moment; he does trust that they'd do their best to serve dishes worth eating, even if they happen to be made from mystery dreamland ingredients.

Well, what has he got to lose?]

I would, thank you.

[He'll probably take his leave after that, though; he'd rather not ruffle any... scales with his presence, as it were.]

It's deer today, by the way.

[It really did depend on what was available; beef from one of the farms, or whatever someone had hunted up. Could adjust other ingredients as needed, an he made sure to get in early enough that it would cook down flavorful and tender.

So with that he moved off in to the kitchen to dip up a bowl, one of the spicy noodles perching on his shoulder on the way out as he set the bowl down in front of van Ziek-]

Take a taste, if it needs an extra touch this little one can help with that. [Said spicy Noodle slipping to sit in a curl on the bar counter.] Been getting them used to waiting to see once it's been served to someone. Can be a little enthusiastic.

[At least he'd have a full stomach to leave on.]

[What kind of nonsense dream sort of deer, he wonders—but no matter. It probably tastes similar enough for him.

While he's certain the stew is quite fine on its own... he simply nods towards the bowl to grant the flying creature permission.]

It may do as it will. I'm curious to see what it deems appropriate.

[He's attempting to try new things; the more he can experience here in the positive-to-neutral realm of things, the better, surely. He may regret it? It's fine.]

[At the very least it isn't a mushroom deer, but rather one that's similar to normal deer so it would taste as stewed deer meat should.

The Spicy Noodle chirruped before circling above, adding just a little bit of green onion along with just a little more herb after staring up at van Ziek, as if analyzing the man. Some attempt to shift things more to a personal taste- then again Noodle Dragons could only do so much.]

Sometimes it's just a little top off, other times it's- that. All that's left to see if it's good for you.

[okay but mushroom deer sounds delicious—

Van Zieks watches the dragon intently as it does its thing, and though his gaze remains as apparently stern as ever, the counter seems more polished. When did that get so shiny? Magic is mysterious.

Either way, when the thing is finished, he takes an appreciable spoonful of the stew, judging its taste for a few moments. He nods his approval before expressing it in words:]

A commendable effort. [pause] By all involved.

[You could just say thank you or well done like a normal person, Barok.]

[That's gonna make for a very delicious dish all on its own eventually, no doubt.

The dragon seemed pleased enough with the words before it would be goin elsewhere. With all of the Spicy and Garnish Noodles about the place, they were busy little things and strangely sociable as well. Good thing, perhaps.

76 nodded.]

That one might remember your face and go about memorizing your tastes however many times you drop by. [A warning and a 'come by more often, get possibly pub adopted by a little dragon-like creature'.]

Enjoy your meal, and don't hesitate to catch my or anyone's attention if that's all for the moment.

[An easy out to simply enjoy the meal in peace as he pleased.]

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[Open Mingle] Entry 003

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