Flashback [The Rearing Stallion] Kneading, Baking, Chopping and Dicing

[Taylani]

34 Fall 511

The tavern was in business, obviously as patrons lined the bar and the tables waiting for their drinks or their food. The night was young still so fortunately there weren't many that were into their cups yet, which was something that was a requirement in the mind of Angelia as she towed her daughter through the doors of the establishment.

Instantly it would take a blind man to miss the relation between the two women that entered. Both had the same vibrant almost-orange red hair, though the older -and shorter- of the two had generous streaks of grey within hers. Both had the same blue eyes. though the younger's were more lively and fire filled then the older calmer woman. The resemblance was uncanny, as the mother and daughter moved toward the back. "I have already talked to the proprietor Tayla, so no sulking. You need to learn a trade other then Dance, for one day your body will grow old and then what will you do?" Angelia lectured even as she managed to fill the lecture with love and a smile drifts across her lips. "Come straight home mind you! No dallying."

"Yes Mama." Taylani answered dutifully though her face spoke volumes about her desire to not be here. But she was obedient, and even if she didn't want to be learning to cook -colossal waste of time in her young opinion- she would do so with the same determination she did most other things with. Angelia departed and Taylani moved to open the door to the kitchens.

Her dress, as always, was serviceable and worn. Unbleached linen lined her body and allowed her easy movement, and would not matter if she got messy. Her hair was pulled back in just a simple ponytail that brushed the middle of her back from high on her crown. Even at sixteen she stood a tall five foot seven inches, and hopefully only had another inch to grow or else she was afraid she might just grow right through her parents roof. Though she was irritated by her height she did not slouch or slump, for her dance instructor had with pained care took years to break her of that habit. Blue eyes caste about the room, watching the people there work quickly. The aromas were at once pleasant but also overwhelming, almost as if she was at a concert that every musician was playing a different song.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion reached up wipe the sweat from his brow, the linen fabric soaking up the droplets in their threads. It had been a long day already, and the back kitchen of the Rearing Stallion was unforgiving in its lack of ventilation. Several wood stoves burned, driving the temperature up in the crowded room. The blue eyed man had been hard at work since the early afternoon, chopping, dicing, boiling, and baking, but the evening was just beginning.  Chef Rondo Vustakoff was moving about in full force, his high pitched voice piercing the hectic environment. Each and every fault, problem, and inaccuracy was pointed out loudly, but no one batted an eye. It was normal for the boisterous man to scream and pitch a fit about everything, but as long as the food got out in a timely manner, no one seriously complained.  "That's enough!" The large chef stopped in the middle of the kitchen, crossing meaty arms across his chest. "Clearly, this isn't working, and we're going to have to change it. I've decided to unveil my newest special. It's simple, and it's delicious. When the night laborers finish, they'll have 'Rondo's Meat Pie' to savor and devour! You, you, you, and you! Come with me. I'll show you the wonders of cooking!" The rotund man pointed at several of the workers, one of whom was Orion, and waved them all over to the far side of the kitchen. "The rest of you, keep working to serve our current customers. We cannot let down our patrons. If I find out you do, I will -personally- throw you out the gates and let the creatures of the night take you!"  Orion rolled his eyes, both at the food's name and the cook's words, but not without turning his head away from Chef Vustakoff. The man was attentive and prone to explosive outbursts. He wasn't any more volatile than normal, but it was still quite annoying. His attention was shifted, however, when a young woman pushed open the door to the kitchen and stood there, looking around. "..Can I help you?" Orion called out to the girl, wondering if she had a question about the food. Before he could move to approach her, Rondo called out.  "Orion, leave her alone," cried the chef, waddling over to get between him and Taylani. "This young one is here at my permission. She too will understand and respect the amazing skills of Rondo Vustakoff!" He clasped his hands together, grinning down at the teenager. "Come! Come! Let us learn the magic of taste!" This man is out of his mind...

[Taylani]

Mama is out of her mind

Taylani thought instantly when the large man who seemed to be in charge began to ...well shout. She wasn't a stranger to someone shouting, though when her instructor shouted it was to be heard over both the music and the slap of feet against the stage as the dancers practiced. However the noise in here was not what she would consider quiet, so perhaps that is why the man was screaming. Though his threats at the end caused her eyes to widen.

Her hand moved to cover her arm, where four small scars circled her arm. The scars are barely visible, and most likely in another five or ten years they probably would not be any longer so faint were they now. However they had served to give her a lesson as to why it is not safe to step foot outside the gates.

She had of course, only heard the very last bit which happened to be the threat as she opened the door to enter. The wave of heat from the stoves surprised the dancer a little, only because she hadn't thought to expect that, she was suppose to learn what here exactly? What she did not want to do when she finished Dancing -as if that ever would happen-.

The sixteen year old turned her attention to the man who spoke, even parted her lips to reply when the shouter came between them causing Taylani to take a step back almost defensively. "Uh.. Yes I suppose I will ...try ...and understand...Rondo's skill..?" Her words were drawn out, as if she wasn't sure that is what the man wanted to hear. One hand reaches up to tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear...before she remembered her hair was pulled back. Stupid bad habits would be the end of her dance career if she did not learn to control them.

She leaned around the chef to look at the man who had offered to help..ok asked if she needed any help. Her brows raise in question with a glance toward the boisterous man before she smiles her best 'I am here to learn' smile at the Chef. "Let's see some...magic?"