Rajani Aishwara
04-11-07, 12:16 AM
After two straight nights of merrymaking with some of Scara Brae’s most influential figures I have found that the greatest asset in my arsenal in the battle for success is the exact opposite of work. Play! Merely attending the social gatherings is not nearly enough. Hosting a grand banquet of your own is what brings the cattle home. I and my new partner will be doing just that in order to finally toss our stick into the sinking sand.
– Avanti Aishwara
It was a picturesque morning at the port in New Aurient. The morning sun sat in the sky providing comfortable warmth as the breeze provided a soothing chill. The indigenous and abundant cherry trees were blooming their springtime blossoms, and the wind carried the pedals along the streets of the elven metropolis. That was the only precipitation for the day, blossom rain. Every pedal seemed to have its own conscience curling its way around every traveler and trader in the port. They all seemed to care little about this sight. Sailors, merchants, and travelers of all creeds went about their business hustling about in a current of activity. Within the river of populace a great caravan of wooden crates slowly rolled along this current.
“The powers that be have certainly smiled upon us today, Captain.” Mohana Coleville, Head Chef of the luxury liner Peregrine, said as she took a bite into a ripe red apple. “Never have I seen fruits and vegetables so magnificently fresh since we left the island of Avalon!”
Food was the last object on the lustful mind of Captain Rajani Aishwara. His dark eyes trailed off to every reasonably good looking elf that passed them by. “Never have I seen women so magnificently beautiful since…”
“Since Ettermire?” Mohana said as she rolled her hazel eyes. A sinister grin slowly cropped up on the Captain’s face as the Head Chef had hit straight on the mark. There was something about the Drow that enticed him. Before he could openly comply Mohana interrupted. “…Or Radasanth?” Rajani’s grin grew larger as he was reminded of the beautiful women of Akashima. “…Or Fallien?” Ah the dessert warriors of Fallien tickled his fancy in a one-of-a-kind way. Perhaps the challenge of the language barrier was what created such a tempting situation for him.
His smile faded away as soon as he realized he was being mocked by Mohana, which was to be expected. It was rare to hear the Chef say something that wasn’t contemptuous of his character. This time her implication was accurate. Normally he would continue their dance of insults by quickly snapping back, but he was distracted once again by an attractive passer by. They were now at the docks, and their ship, the Peregrine was in plain sight now.
Finally realizing that her partner was incommunicado for this waltz of wounding words Mohana delved deeper into his lust. “Perhaps these women are attractive as a consequence of their poise. Their body language, voice tone, and eye contact set them on the borderline of unattainable.” She made sure her voice was well heard by more than just her Captain and the crewmates pushing the giant crates. “The High Elves of Raiaera do believe themselves to be the superior race of the known world, do they not? And men desire what they cannot acquire.”
“I’m inclined to respectfully disagree with you on that flawed axiom.” Rajani was back in the dance. “You exude an air of unfeasibility and I find no attraction to you.”
Or was he? To the Chef and the crewmates that was the closest thing to a compliment the Captain had ever voiced about her. They brought their journey to a dead halt just in front of the entry ramp onto the Peregrine. “Are you implying, Captain, that I possess the beauty to justify an air of unfeasibility?”
“Nix.” Rajani said as he continued to saunter up the entry ramp. “I am implying that you simply possess an air of unfeasibility. No one is beautiful enough to justify it. By the way, you haven’t revealed the cuisine for this evening’s banquet.”
“Oh you’ll find this evening’s food pleasant and familiar,” Mohana smiled as she began to twist her long curly hair into a single bonnet with two stylish Akahiman chop sticks. It was her ritual before she began her cooking. “For the animal protein we will be having chicken breasts, veal, and filet mignon, all with various domestic seasoning and wrapped in pastry as light as clouds. Side dishes will include, but not be limited to artichoke mix, broth soaked kale, and angel hair pasta, all with various sauces and wrapped in…”
“Pastry as fluffy as marshmallows!” Rajani said with a smile as he assisted with the pulling of the crates up the ramp. This sounded familiar indeed.
Mohana continued with a smile. “We will also be enjoying a variety of sun dried fruits, sweetmeats, cherries, and sliced apples all accompanied by…”
“Pastry as diverse as the peoples of Althanas!” Helmswoman Tiberia Natalya said as the caravan of delectable food made its way onto the main deck. Like most hours of the day nearly two dozen crew hands were working on various deck chores. The Peregrine looked like an Ettermire factory for the moment. It was not normal to see her long platinum blond hair not swimming in the wind as the ship dashed along the sea.
Mohana continued once again as she picked up one of the lighter crates and kicked the door to the lower decks open. “And finally for dessert we will enjoy dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate fudge wrapped gracefully within.”
“Pastry as tasty as…” Gaius Dove, the youngest crewman on the ship, pondered for a second as to how to finish his statement and ultimately Mohana’s menu. The light flashed within his sapphire blue eyes. “As tasty as a woman!”
The men in the crew roared in approval as the majority of the women humorously scolded the eighteen year old Coronian for making such a vulgar statement. Rajani never made it his mission to count, but the crew of his ship seemed to be equally proportioned between male and female. “Where do these dishes come from?” A random voice within the fray of the ship said.
“Home.” Rajani said in a soft and somewhat poignant voice as he and Mohana made eye contact and smiled. Despite their constantly butting heads the Head Chef and the Captain could always unite in one resemblance. They were the only two people on the ship to come from the island of Avalon. He could now think of her choice of cuisine not only as a nostalgic showcase of her talent, but as an ode to their odd yet increasingly valuable friendship. “Madame Coleville, would you care to join us on deck as we discuss the plans for the banquet?”
“My critical part in the evening’s success begins in the kitchen. I would like to complete the food preparation as soon as possible so that the kitchen staff may enjoy themselves as well. In addition, if it wouldn’t inconvenience the director too much, I would like to play the part of the bartender tonight.”
Still smiling Rajani nodded his head and Mohana continued inside. A middle aged bald man held the door out and greeted her with a nod as he was making his way out to the deck. Chief Mate Aton Mira saluted Rajani. “Good morning, Captain. Are you looking forward to tonight’s party?”
“Indeed I am. Would you be so kind as to call the present crew to order as we discuss tonight in greater detail?”
”To Order!" The middle aged man’s voice carried more belt than one would imagine when looking at him. It served its purpose well as the entire crew gathered around the young captain.
Rajani stood leaning on his sheathed blade. He cleared his throat with the intention of adding a hint of commanding base to his voice. “Ladies and gentlemen of the Peregrine crew tonight we are not setting sale for a distant destination, we are not pit up against a formidable foe, and we haven’t nature to fight against as it is in our favor, but it will be an adventure nonetheless. Tonight we will hold our first banquet promoting the concept of the cruise. For those of you who don’t know the cruise is a recreational voyage, where the voyage itself and the ships amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. Since the Peregrine is by far one of the most luxurious vessels on the sea it would be natural to make a profit through such a venture. Now we won’t be setting sail tonight, but the patrons of this social gathering will experience the pure luxury of the ship. Advertisements have been placed in strategic locations around the city, and a few guests of honor have been directly contacted.”
“Tonight we will all be in uniform, the officers will wear their executive shawls, and we will answer to formal calls and commands. We will charge the patrons no golden piece unless they intend on staying overnight, and in such case we will charge them one hundred golden pieces each, providing them a key to their quarters. We will close the deck at fifty guests in light that we shall not be outnumbered by the visiting company. The Chief Mate has planned a special shift schedule for tonight so that the entire crew can enjoy the festivity at one time or another. I know the day is young but evening shall creep up on us with utmost haste, so complete your routine chores and prepare yourselves.”
– Avanti Aishwara
It was a picturesque morning at the port in New Aurient. The morning sun sat in the sky providing comfortable warmth as the breeze provided a soothing chill. The indigenous and abundant cherry trees were blooming their springtime blossoms, and the wind carried the pedals along the streets of the elven metropolis. That was the only precipitation for the day, blossom rain. Every pedal seemed to have its own conscience curling its way around every traveler and trader in the port. They all seemed to care little about this sight. Sailors, merchants, and travelers of all creeds went about their business hustling about in a current of activity. Within the river of populace a great caravan of wooden crates slowly rolled along this current.
“The powers that be have certainly smiled upon us today, Captain.” Mohana Coleville, Head Chef of the luxury liner Peregrine, said as she took a bite into a ripe red apple. “Never have I seen fruits and vegetables so magnificently fresh since we left the island of Avalon!”
Food was the last object on the lustful mind of Captain Rajani Aishwara. His dark eyes trailed off to every reasonably good looking elf that passed them by. “Never have I seen women so magnificently beautiful since…”
“Since Ettermire?” Mohana said as she rolled her hazel eyes. A sinister grin slowly cropped up on the Captain’s face as the Head Chef had hit straight on the mark. There was something about the Drow that enticed him. Before he could openly comply Mohana interrupted. “…Or Radasanth?” Rajani’s grin grew larger as he was reminded of the beautiful women of Akashima. “…Or Fallien?” Ah the dessert warriors of Fallien tickled his fancy in a one-of-a-kind way. Perhaps the challenge of the language barrier was what created such a tempting situation for him.
His smile faded away as soon as he realized he was being mocked by Mohana, which was to be expected. It was rare to hear the Chef say something that wasn’t contemptuous of his character. This time her implication was accurate. Normally he would continue their dance of insults by quickly snapping back, but he was distracted once again by an attractive passer by. They were now at the docks, and their ship, the Peregrine was in plain sight now.
Finally realizing that her partner was incommunicado for this waltz of wounding words Mohana delved deeper into his lust. “Perhaps these women are attractive as a consequence of their poise. Their body language, voice tone, and eye contact set them on the borderline of unattainable.” She made sure her voice was well heard by more than just her Captain and the crewmates pushing the giant crates. “The High Elves of Raiaera do believe themselves to be the superior race of the known world, do they not? And men desire what they cannot acquire.”
“I’m inclined to respectfully disagree with you on that flawed axiom.” Rajani was back in the dance. “You exude an air of unfeasibility and I find no attraction to you.”
Or was he? To the Chef and the crewmates that was the closest thing to a compliment the Captain had ever voiced about her. They brought their journey to a dead halt just in front of the entry ramp onto the Peregrine. “Are you implying, Captain, that I possess the beauty to justify an air of unfeasibility?”
“Nix.” Rajani said as he continued to saunter up the entry ramp. “I am implying that you simply possess an air of unfeasibility. No one is beautiful enough to justify it. By the way, you haven’t revealed the cuisine for this evening’s banquet.”
“Oh you’ll find this evening’s food pleasant and familiar,” Mohana smiled as she began to twist her long curly hair into a single bonnet with two stylish Akahiman chop sticks. It was her ritual before she began her cooking. “For the animal protein we will be having chicken breasts, veal, and filet mignon, all with various domestic seasoning and wrapped in pastry as light as clouds. Side dishes will include, but not be limited to artichoke mix, broth soaked kale, and angel hair pasta, all with various sauces and wrapped in…”
“Pastry as fluffy as marshmallows!” Rajani said with a smile as he assisted with the pulling of the crates up the ramp. This sounded familiar indeed.
Mohana continued with a smile. “We will also be enjoying a variety of sun dried fruits, sweetmeats, cherries, and sliced apples all accompanied by…”
“Pastry as diverse as the peoples of Althanas!” Helmswoman Tiberia Natalya said as the caravan of delectable food made its way onto the main deck. Like most hours of the day nearly two dozen crew hands were working on various deck chores. The Peregrine looked like an Ettermire factory for the moment. It was not normal to see her long platinum blond hair not swimming in the wind as the ship dashed along the sea.
Mohana continued once again as she picked up one of the lighter crates and kicked the door to the lower decks open. “And finally for dessert we will enjoy dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate fudge wrapped gracefully within.”
“Pastry as tasty as…” Gaius Dove, the youngest crewman on the ship, pondered for a second as to how to finish his statement and ultimately Mohana’s menu. The light flashed within his sapphire blue eyes. “As tasty as a woman!”
The men in the crew roared in approval as the majority of the women humorously scolded the eighteen year old Coronian for making such a vulgar statement. Rajani never made it his mission to count, but the crew of his ship seemed to be equally proportioned between male and female. “Where do these dishes come from?” A random voice within the fray of the ship said.
“Home.” Rajani said in a soft and somewhat poignant voice as he and Mohana made eye contact and smiled. Despite their constantly butting heads the Head Chef and the Captain could always unite in one resemblance. They were the only two people on the ship to come from the island of Avalon. He could now think of her choice of cuisine not only as a nostalgic showcase of her talent, but as an ode to their odd yet increasingly valuable friendship. “Madame Coleville, would you care to join us on deck as we discuss the plans for the banquet?”
“My critical part in the evening’s success begins in the kitchen. I would like to complete the food preparation as soon as possible so that the kitchen staff may enjoy themselves as well. In addition, if it wouldn’t inconvenience the director too much, I would like to play the part of the bartender tonight.”
Still smiling Rajani nodded his head and Mohana continued inside. A middle aged bald man held the door out and greeted her with a nod as he was making his way out to the deck. Chief Mate Aton Mira saluted Rajani. “Good morning, Captain. Are you looking forward to tonight’s party?”
“Indeed I am. Would you be so kind as to call the present crew to order as we discuss tonight in greater detail?”
”To Order!" The middle aged man’s voice carried more belt than one would imagine when looking at him. It served its purpose well as the entire crew gathered around the young captain.
Rajani stood leaning on his sheathed blade. He cleared his throat with the intention of adding a hint of commanding base to his voice. “Ladies and gentlemen of the Peregrine crew tonight we are not setting sale for a distant destination, we are not pit up against a formidable foe, and we haven’t nature to fight against as it is in our favor, but it will be an adventure nonetheless. Tonight we will hold our first banquet promoting the concept of the cruise. For those of you who don’t know the cruise is a recreational voyage, where the voyage itself and the ships amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. Since the Peregrine is by far one of the most luxurious vessels on the sea it would be natural to make a profit through such a venture. Now we won’t be setting sail tonight, but the patrons of this social gathering will experience the pure luxury of the ship. Advertisements have been placed in strategic locations around the city, and a few guests of honor have been directly contacted.”
“Tonight we will all be in uniform, the officers will wear their executive shawls, and we will answer to formal calls and commands. We will charge the patrons no golden piece unless they intend on staying overnight, and in such case we will charge them one hundred golden pieces each, providing them a key to their quarters. We will close the deck at fifty guests in light that we shall not be outnumbered by the visiting company. The Chief Mate has planned a special shift schedule for tonight so that the entire crew can enjoy the festivity at one time or another. I know the day is young but evening shall creep up on us with utmost haste, so complete your routine chores and prepare yourselves.”