February 22 - Fisher and the Cook-Healer
Characters: Kassle, Philio, Hallow
Location: Camp Willow; Main Grounds
The snow chair created by Kassle in days previous has rapidly decreased in size while Spring creeps ever closer. It's more of a snow mound now, with an old rug thrown over it. But still, the ottermaid sits upon it, watching the camp disinterestedly, nursing a still steaming mug of mulled cider.
Off in the distance, way WAY down the road. An otter comes walking down toward main grounds. Whistling a jaunty tune as he kicks the snow and slush. Making his way. All on his own. He wears a nice warm coat, and in his paw he carries... something wrapped in parchment. Its wet. That much is obvious. He gets closer and acts like he is headed for the tavern, when he catches sight of her. He stops and turns slowly, his whistling getting slower and slower. Soon stoping, as his mouth hangs a bit. He just stares at her.
Huh. Whistling. Kassle remains sat, her mug at her lips and one leg crossed under the other at her ankles, but she turns her head, looking the approaching whistler over. Of course, she goes back to nursing her drink, but hesitates as he gets closer and... stops. The slowing whistle gets rather curious eyebrow raise as she looks back up at him. "Did you just freeze up? Because honestly, I thought it was getting warmer..." Slightly amused.
The otters' eyes go wide, as he didn't realize he was staring until she said something. He carefully breathes, and pulls at his collar. And after taking a full experimental gulps he decides to say something, "Uhhh..." That certainly is something. He scrunches his eyes, trying for his mind to catch up, "Uhhh... Hello. No i didn't, um, freeze. Its... Um." he unknowingly paws at the ground, "...Is... Is it hot out?" he slaps his forehead.
Rather noticeably, Kassle's eyes wander to the snow, then back to Philio. "I am doubtful that anyone would call it hot, but perhaps a little warmer than it has been... Perhaps you're getting ill. You're swallowing a lot." The ottermaid tilts her head slowly. "Fever and dehydration; could be the onset of a flu, you know." She could be teasing, her tone deliberately making it hard to tell.
When she looks away, her hold with her eyes is released from him. And his mind speeds to catch up. He tries to straighten his fur as much as he can, before she looks back. He is able to smile correctly for a little bit. Before her blue eyes intoxicates him, and he loses verbal coherence, "Imnotsick... itsjustnothotout... anditscold... imjustnervous..." he slaps his forehead once again.
Kassle allows a smirk to creep over her muzzle as his words start running together. "Ah. Nerves." She nods, dipping her head calmly to sip at her steaming mug, apparently enjoying the heat of the liquid. Letting out a rather misty breath into the cold now she looks back up. "Perhaps if we weren't strangers, it would help your nerves?"
The smirk is what does it. When she does, his stomach turns inside out. And outside in. He cant help it. But its not very visible yet. He nods quickly a few times, "Yesnerves... strangers?" he blinks a few times, "Mynameis... Phil-fo... No. Phil-mo... Fo sho..." he shakes his head vigorously, "The name is Philio... But. You can call me Phil..." Hoorah for coherencies!
"Well, I rather liked Phil-mo, to be honest, but I can call you Phil, certainly. Nice to meet you, Phil." She's grinning as she holds her drink with one paw now, extending the other toward him. "Most people call me Kassle. Some call me Kass; not many. Nice to meet you, Phil."
Philio is having a very hard time with it. Must remain sane! He takes a step forward reaching out. He then oops, and wipes his paw on his coat before reaching it and shaking her paw. A little more than normal, as his paw is actually shaking. He lets go, not for want, and he smiles back, "You can call me Phil-mo if you want too..." he blinks as that was stupid. He sighs, "Kassle... Wow..." He goes back to staring and then ohs, "Sorry..."
Kassle watches the paw approach, then withdraw to be wiped, mouth twitching upwards just slightly more at that. Her eyebrows raise again at the shakey paw-shake. "Hm. Well, I may just take you up with that permission, you realise." The smirk's back. "Wow and sorry aren't... the most common words I hear after an introduction," She comments "So, I'm afraid I can't be entirely sure of the correct response to those."
Philio blinks and mentally kick himself a few times, "Oh... Well... Its a very... beautiful name... For a..." and he goes for it, "...For a very beautiful otter..." Oh the pain in his stomach! At least its complete words, "... Nice to meet you... Kass... Umm... Kassle..." he says still nervously.
Up go the eyebrows, smirk lining a little into more of a smile, amused but perhaps flattered too. "Well. I'm sure, as I am myself, that my ancestors are very flattered with you." She pauses, to finish her cider, then explains "Kassle is my family name, not my given name, but I like to use it. Kass," She grins again "Will be fine, thankyou. And, if we're exhanging compliments- I like your beard."
Philio chuckles. A genuine chuckle. No nervousness involved. He smiles properly and says, "Kass it is then..." he then erks and rubs at his beard thing, "Oh... You do? Really? It's there because I don't really care... and too lazy to trim it. But... Thank you..." He grins widely, "Are... Are you new around here... I haven't seen you..." He would have noticed by now.
"You're welcome. And, I guessed as much- 's why I like it. Neatness shouldn't take precedence over other things; I'd think that you probably take your job and your actions to rate above an outward appearance, but it looks nice too." She admits, then moves to the question. "Well. I've been around... a week or so? So yes, I suppose I'm pretty new around here." She confirms, looking over him again, still grinning. "Permit me to make some guesses concerning your place here before you tell me?"
Philio smiles and stops rubbing it, "Still. Thank you. Not many like it... I can tell you..." he chuckles and takes a few deep breaths. The nervous is still there. But its getting easier to control it, "Ah... That why i haven't seen you before..." he tilts his head slightly, "Uhh... Oh yes. Sure... Go right ahead..." Why not! He holds the wet package thing behind his back. What's in it is a dead give away.
"You've been here a long time, most if not all of your life, though you've almost certainly travelled. You're familiar with the camp, clearly, and rather give yourself away commenting on not seeing me here before. You keep your arms bare, yet your beard already suggests a mind concerned with more practical matters than decoration, therefore I'd suppose that sleeves may get in the way of your most common activity or livelihood. Considering that, rather obviously, we're both otters, and given the amount of mouths to feed around here, I'd say you were a fisherbeast." Smirk. "Of course, I could have said farmer, but you're rather lacking the dirt associated and your hip sports a rather useful blade- good for making sure a catch doesn't struggle away."
Philio mouth hangs open as she nails it all pretty much spot on, "Wow..." He takes the package and opens one side. Inside is in fact a large fish, "That's incredible... How did?... How can?... That was amazing..." he chuckles, "Yes. I am a fisherbeast. As my father. And his father... and so on and so forth..." he grins, "How did you tie all that stuff together? I never have seen anything like that... Its like your reading my mind!"
Kassle grins. "Only if you were thinking of those things at the time. Just don't ask me to tell you the future- I can do the 'you'll meet a tall hansome stranger' bit, but it gets disappointing if dwarves turn up instead." She eyes the large fish. "And that explains your destination before... The tavern, right?" Now that's a guess, him simply heading that way- she remembers from the whistling. "So, family of fishers? Must be rather talented at it, learning from generations of experience?" Well, it is a big prize in that fish to rather make it obvious, but still, it's nice to ask these things.
Philio laughs and nods, "I wont bother you then! Sides. Knowing the future can be a little disappointing. If you know what i mean." he scratches his head, "Yes i was. This is today's special." he shakes it around, "Thought i get is delivered before it gets too rowdy tonight..." he sighs and nods, "Yep. Family of fishers. Though i think my great great great great greatgreatgreat grandfather was a warrior of some sort..." he shrugs, "But yes. Our family can skim the water for a few seconds. And come back with a boat load of freash fishes. And my father is the best sea fisher ever..." he chuckles. At least he thinks so.
"Yes. Would take the surprise out of it all. Better to look forward to the unknown than dread the foreseen path." Kassle agrees, then eyeing the shaking fish again. "Hm. Looks delicious. And that," As he backtracks to the warrior ancestor "Is a lot of greats. But it sounds like you've got pride in your family- fisher or warrior? That's good. Fishing is certainly something to be proud of."
Philio smiles and nods, "Fishing has always been a great thing in my family. And i guess i am proud of it. Never really thought of it really..." he hrms as he thinks about it for a few seconds and then chuckles, "Thanks. I caught this last night. Native brown trout. Quite good. But i leave the tavern up to that... I just catch em' and deliver em'..." Not much else really.
"Hm. Brown trout? Baked, little bit of pepper, some hotroot," Of course, otter staple- hotroot "Little bit of sorrel maybe... Served with parsnips and a dill and greensap butter..." She grins at him. "I like to cook. And, well, good. The catching and delivering part's pretty much more important than the cooking- what's to cook without the catch?"
Skipper on the move, Hallow makes her appearance from the south of the grounds. Morning training and teaching done, the odd fresh bruise earned though still more given even if she is slowing down. She rolls her bad shoulder, trying to get it comfortable as she heads for the tavern for lunch when she catches onto what sounds like a very tempting lunch and stops to look around, spotting the pair.
Philio keeps his mouth tightly shut, to keep his mouth watering all over himself. That would not look good. He gulps all that away before saying, "That sounded... great. Seems almost a waste to give this to the keeper..." he eyes the fish, "... If you can do that with it..." he hrms, "I don't know..." he sighs and will think about it later. "That is true. But i never really think of it like that... I think i'm more of delivering smiles!" And he smiles. His ears tilt back at the approaching beast. But he got lost in her eyes again. Tsk Tsk for him.
Kassle judges the time, with a quick look to the sky. "Good morning and good afternoon Skipper!" She calls, still sat in her very depleted snow-chair, complete with old rug cushion. An empty mug, still smelling of the warm cider that had occupied it, in her lap. She shakes her head a little, still smiling. "Still present it to the keeper, please. Perhaps I'll look into helping with the preparation and cooking. And, well, smiles are important to a lot of beasts too. You've certainly rather ditched your nerves, I think. Guess knowing eachother's names helps, hm?"
Hallow eyes Philio's fish for a second but Kassle's greeting draws her attention and she smiles back, heading over that way "Large building, Kassle, good day" a nod is sent to the fisher too "And...Philio I believe" she remembers names, usually "I heard talk of food and just had t'investigate"
Philio tilts his head, 'Skipper'? He blinks and looks behind him and he ergs, "OH! Hello Skip!" he bows his head slightly in respect, "Yes. Philio. I was just delivering the food to the keeper..." But he got sidetracked. He grins slightly back at Kassle, "If you do. You know i will be there..." He then paws at the dirt, "Im still a bit nervous... just im better now...Kass..." he hides a warm grin.
"Mm. I'm afraid I rather distracted Phil-mo with talk of how I may cook the fish, Skipper." Kassle admits, smirking, but apologetically. She the grins at Philio. "Goodto hear. I'll do my best not to disappoint. And, well, better is better. You're disguising them very well. I can hardly tell and only because I knew from before."
Hallow chuckles lightly "That's alright, just mind it gets there before a mob of hungry otters finds you carrying fish, for your own safety of course. Though if Kassle can cook as she described they might be easily distracted" dirt pawing and other bits of the conversation she notes with a little amusement. Young beasts.
Philio nods, "I should get it in soon... But i still have time before lunch" If he keeps it wrapped in it parchment it should be okay for now. It just look like a wet package. So he does so, carrying it loosely in his paw. He closes his eyes at the 'Phil-mo' that is never going to go away. Is it? Probably not.
"Oh, I can." She's not actively boasting, she simply believes that she can cook that well. For all her observation earlier, she seems to be missing those dirt-pawings and such, or at least missing the meaning to them, perhaps. "Hm. And if not lunch, it will do just as well for dinner, I suspect. The tavern's probably got stock for lunch enough, I'm sure, if not quite as special as Phil-mo's fish." Kassle was given permission to call him that, it's likely only to get worse; wait 'til she's calling him simply 'Mo'.
Hallow nods along, giving the tavern a look "Probably, they haven't run out in quite a while, not since we had that week or two fish shortage the other year anyway. I suppose the vegetables were a change anyway" the Skipper does have an unfortunate habit of reminiscing at random "Well, certainly cook dinner, see how good you really are"
"Oh! I remember that. Or at least. My father told me something about it..." Philio rubs the top of his head. And the fur decides to stick up every which way when his does. He doesn't notice. Nor care for now, "They do have enough. Gave them a boat load yesterday of little ones..." he holds up his paw and makes a size with his foreclaw and thumb, "But there not as good as this... But we only get one or two a week like this. And they wanted it..." he smiles, "I'm sure it will taste amazing... Just like..." he pauses, and paws the ground again.
"A fish shortage? Either must have been a drought or a flood that year, I suppose? I've never really seen a time where the fish were, um, limited. That must have been..." Well, she wants to say intriguing or interesting, but given it's concerning the major food supply "...difficult." She eyes Philio as he paws the ground again. Hm. "Well, a big brown trout, I'm sure I agree it will taste very nice. But, you've forgotten to finish your sentence, I think?"
Hallow chuckles quietly, mind going back again "Well as I remember the river was a bit higher than usual then, personally I think we managed to fish the spot bare, had to get a group sent out to sea to bring back fish for a while, seems to be alright this year, I believe?" a look for confirmation going to funny haired Phil.
Philio looks over to Skip and nods, "Yah, its alright. We no longer over fish like we used too. Which have angered some. But its for the best... And as long as the water stays like it should be. I should see no decrease in fish for the coming year." He chuckles. He then looks back to Kassle and the pains in his stomach return. He looks down slightly and shakes his head, "It... Itwasnothingreally." The nervousness returns, as it was.
"Well. There are rather a lot of otters..." Kassle notes, with a quick look around at simply the size of the place. "I can imagine that in a year, this place could well go through a whole lake-full of fish..." She eyes Philio again as the nerves and such return, and pays attention as he shakes his head looking down. "Are you sure you aren't getting ill?"
Hallow nods back to Phil before there's another chuckle for Kassle "Yes, most of the inhabitants like to take their chances at the odd bit of fishing in the pond or river, if we started fishing at home the place would be bare in no time" she tilts her head at the ill question though and looks the fisher up and down curiously.
Philio continues to look down, "No... Imnotsick... Really..." Another rub to his fur, and it continues to stick up abnormally. He looks up and stares straight back into her blue eyes and he cringes, "Iwaswonderingifyouwanttodosomethinglater?..." he blinks and turns around, "I'm sorry....I have to go...now..." and he makes to turn around and head into the tavern.
Phil's hair gets an amused look. And she nods slowly, though a little more confused as he talks fast and claims not to be sick. "If you're sure..." Then, he's looking at her again and asking something rather quickly. Pause to decipher, but she blinks as he's turning to get away before she answers. "Um. Alright... But, the answer's yes, by the way. Drink or something after meal, hm?" A slightly confused blink to the Skipper. What was all that?
Hallow is amused, biting her lip subtly to keep from laughing and embarrassing Phil even more. She shakes her head at Kass' look, if she doesn't get it Hallow's not explaining.
The door of the tavern seems so far away. He has to get away. He embarrassed himself so much. And with the skipper watching to boot! He wishes he could just disappear. But the tavern will do. Every step Philio takes to get closer. Another two he has to make. The door at the long long path. Then the 'yes' flies through his ears. And the reality of... reality comes back. And it turns out the door wasn't so far away after all. As the otter runs into it heavily. Completely thrown off he falls back, the fish landing on his chest. He blinks at the sky until his brain catches up, "Really?"
"Um." Kassle peers. He... just ran into the door. She narrows her eyes, and grabs at the staff at her side to lever heself from the snow-furniture. "As of now I've seen fever, dehydration, extremely fast talking either leading too, or suggesting, panic and breathlessness and now, it seems, disorientation with some sort of visual... obstruction or... misjudgement of perspective. Are you -sure- you didn't eat something odd fishing, or that you aren't ill?" A look to Hallow, still bemused and rather confused, though still addressing Phil. "And, yes, really, by the way."
Hallow snorts, must not laugh. A small happy sigh and she runs a paw over her headfur before following Kassle over "I'm sure he's fine, just being nervous and clumsy. He'll behave better at dinner, won't you Phil?"
Philio gets up in quite a hurry, dusting off the excess snow off his coat. The snow on his head gets passed over. He looks deeply into Kassle's eyes and he smiles, "Yes?..." Is now the sweetest words in existence, "Thats great... Wonderful!" He looks over to Hallow, "Dinner?" he looks back over at Kassle, "Uhh. Yeah. Yes. Yesyesyes... Dinner. Ill be better... Much better..." He wishes upon wish that he will be.
"Hm. If you start shivering or trying to pass out, I'm going to make you eat charcoal." Kassle states with a decisive nod. "But, clumsy and nervous, hm? Okay then." She smiles again, smirking at each of his reactions now. "Well, I'm glad that's such a good thing... And, that's a lot of 'yes's." She's made her way towards Phil, having had the intention to help him up, but he seems to be doing well on his own. Another bemused look at Hallow. How does she know he'll 'behave better'. Kassle's still concerned he might be ill.
Hallow is getting on a bit, she just knows these things. She raises a brow at Kass' charcoal comment, clearly interested "Bit of a healer too perhaps or is that some old trick I haven't heard of?"
Philio gulps to himself as she gets nearer. But he trying with all his might to not appear to be nervous or clumsy. But by golly. Its a difficult task to do! He lets Hallow's question give him time to gather himself. He takes a few deep cleansing breaths. He then looks over to Kassle and gives a very warm smile, "I'll be fine Kass... I promise im not sick!" he chuckles.
"He doesn't have the flu- his sinuses sound fine and he's been breathless rather than wheezing. Not sounding blocked up at all. But he was claiming to be too hot, swallowing a lot, talking very fast and just collided with a door," Kassle answers the Skipper without turning for the moment "Without an illness, that leaves a poison- at this time of year you can only practically grow parsnips near the river to a full vegetable which are easy to confuse with water hemlock. Given I don't think anyone might wish to poison Phil-mo deliberately, if he had been poisoned, accidental ingestion of water hemlock would fit the symptons. Thus, charcoal could counteract it's effects. In short, yes- a bit of a healer." Back to Philio. "Good. Your breathing sounds clear and regular now. I believe you."
Hallow looks rather impressed "That's...some very clever thinking really. We're a little short on healers, little short on cooks too, or our cook's a little short" she smirks "Take your pick. Anyway, do stop by the infirmary sometime perhaps, if you fancy a little work"
Philio tilts his head back when she explains that the symptoms might be poisoning due to water hemlock. What an odd combination of events that could have been. Though he doesn't think ingesting charcoal will help what he has got. He smiles at her and nods, "Thanks. I rather not eat charcoal... I tell you later what was wrong with me!" Why is it, that the words 'I believe you' can make one feel good. He listens to what Hallow is saying and he nods, "Yep. I think you would make a great cooky... or healer..." Either way. You know where he will be.
"Well... I particularly enjoy cooking. But healing certainly has its satisfaction- each are extremely interesting, and more similar than most people realise, I think. Mind if I stick with both? I can split my time." She smiles at Philio. "Well. I'm glad you're not poisoned then- I won't make you eat charcoal- as long as you do promise to tell me."
Hallow chuckles "Perfectly fine with me, the camp gets a cook and a healer, you'd not be the only beast with more than one job around here" she looks round the grounds quickly "Well, no one's poisoned, thank seasons, I might just head for the mess hall instead, see if I can bump into our small cook and get something special"
Philio rubs at his chin fur. How is he going to fit both in? Fake being sick AND be really hungry. That's going to be tough. But he will do it. Just watch him do it. He nods at Kassle, "Of course ill tell you. But later. And... more alone..." he says the last part very quietly. Just above a whisper. He hrms, but he seems to be okay with it. He sighs and ohs, "OH! Your going to the Mess? Can you tell cooky that the fish wont be here until tomorrow? I forgot to run by..." the sidetracking continues!
So she's still a little confused by some of it. She guesses though, that he's embarrassed or reluctant to reveal -something- in front of the Skipper, so she nods amiably. "Okay. Later then." She agrees, then looks between the two. "Well, if it's getting close a meal time, I think I'd better go wash up and work up an appetite- hm, by visiting the kitchen, perhaps. Learn where everything is..."
Hallow waves Kassle to follow her as she heads for the residential area "I'll show you where it is, introduce you to Lurakra, he's been our cook for a long time now. Let him know to expect fish tomorrow too"
Philio waves as they leave, "See you later Skip..." And then he looks to Kassle, and grins "Good-bye Kass... Ill meet you here tonight..." He smiles at her and when they are gone and out of sight, he bangs his head against the side of the inn, "I'm so stupid... But she said yes..." He laughs, "She said yes... Waahoo!" he jumps up and down before heading inside into the tavern.
Kassle follows along after Hallow. "Thankyou Skipper." She waves a paw to Philio as she goes "See you later, Phil-mo." And, off to the kitchen.
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