Prompt Love is Blind: Amidst the Folly

[Garuda]

Art by: Feng Zhu
For Hagga (Frank) and Isra (Crow)​

---

Whatever your reason, however you got there, one thing was for certain. You find yourself sitting at a long table in a tavern called, Draco's Folly. Adventurers and mercenary's loiter about. Chatting and sharing food, drink, and secrets alike. Some play at cards, others toss dice, while coins glitter and clatter, and most, enjoy their rest beneath the grinning trophy that hangs overhead.

The refuge from the Suldazan sun, and the arid lands so near the Kaikias, is almost relief enough to forgo it. But it just... keeps... going on.

A man beside you both goes on and on about nothing anyone at the table seems interested in. Laughs at their own jokes. Probes at those gathered around who for all intents and purposes, just want to have a moment to rest.

Hot food is set before you. Drinks. The tender smiles and bids you good eats. You reach for the same plate and your hand meets a stranger's.

 

[Isra bint Kashif]

Isra's fingers brushed her companion's ever so slightly. "Apologies," and yet her fingers rested where they stayed, awkwardly. She drew away sharply, almost hugging herself. "I am sorry," she plead, her knees spreading on the pillow on which she rested, leaning back, playing it so very "cool."

The woman adorned in bandoliers of potions and belts lined in so very much brass tempted her hand again, this time without food between them. "It is a pleasure to meet you." She smiled, her hand asking, but not so impolite, "Isra." Her fingers wrapped around his. "And you are?"

"And you have tried the naan here? It is to die for with a spot of butter!"

 

[Hagga]

"Hagga is my name."
The small hand in her own large one felt very dainty but she was used to that now. Since the Tournament Hagga had been given premission to go and see the world, away from Harru-Garru and the Orkin that lived there. As an Ogre she was often mistaken for a man, it had ceased to bring her anything other than amusement now.
This place she had found herself was most interesting, she had only brushed against the other woman's hand because she was engrossed by another woman across the table who was adorned with so many facial piercings you could barely make out her skin.
Gingerly she accepted the woman's hand in hers and, mimicking the gesturs she had seen others do in this part of Suldaza, brought Isra's knuckles to her forehead, which meant she had to bow low, careful of her horns that they did not get in the way and up she rose again. Martial arts training had many practical benefits, including above average flexibility, which came in handy for the smaller folk of the world. It also helped that the seating was floor cusions.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Isra."

On the food she had not tried any of it.
"I have not, that sounds nice but I confess I do not know which of these is the naan."
She said gesturing lightly to the great spread before them, learning the language was one thing but the names of the food quite another.
"Would you mind showing me?"
It felt odd to ask but Isra seemed very open and Hagga was there to learn after all.

@Isra bint Kashif

 

[Isra bint Kashif]

“A pleasure, Hagga. May I inquire from where do you hail?” She looked to her, her eyes obviously betraying she had not seen one such as the woman before her. All the while her hand was led to this stranger’s forehead, the woman bowing low to meet them. Isra felt her cheeks flush. Though she may be a stranger, she had certainly learned her peoples’ custom. There was something to be said for that.

“I would love to show you,” Isra held back a giggle. “It is that bready bit there!” She leaned forward on her pillow to grab a hefty flat steamy circle of it and held it in both hands so as to not let it flop. “Now, personally,” she said as she smoothed a place for it on their table, “I like it a bit plain, just some melted butter and some olive oil, but really, you can choose any toppings you like and get really extravagant with it!” She looked up to Hagga and smiled. “But for now, we can just have it this way.” She tore a half of the flatbread and handed it over to her before taking a bite of her own.

“Good, right?”

 

[Hagga]

"From the north, in the Dragon's Teeth mountains. A place called Harru-Garru."
Her wide smile beamed down at Isra as the kind woman took some of this naan and split it for them.

"Thank you."
Her own features flushed lightly at Isra's laugh. It was not as mirthful as some of the laughs about the table.
Graciously accepting the gesture Hagga briefly wondered about the naan and what she might like to try on it but before that she took a small bite, not wishing to seem gluttonous in front of her latest acquaintance who seemed to be the right person speak of about food.
As her teeth mulched the dry thin bread she tasted the burn of the crust and the soft chew of the middle, it was nice and fresh and just a memory of warm.
"It is good!"
She agreed, holding her mouth over her hand as she spoke. It seemed the mannerly thing to do.
"Should we try it the way you like, with butter and oil of olives?"

@Isra bint Kashif

 

[Isra bint Kashif]

"From Harru-Garru?" She had read about it in one of her books. Hadn't she? It all blended together after a time, perhaps it was a brief mention or footnote, but the name rang clear in her pointed ears. She took another bite of her naan. "Of course," she smiled, taking a small knife to spread butter across a piece of naan, sprinkling it with small chopped garlic, and finishing it with a drizzle of olive oil. "You first," she tore off a hearty piece and offered it to Hagga.

"If you don't like this one, we have plenty more." She laughed nervously, as she held the naan to Hagga's mouth.

 

[Hagga]

"Yes, are you from the city?"
She wanted to get more put of Isra, she was so reserved. It gave Hagga the sense that she was protecting herself like a turtle.

Watching as the smaller woman prepared the next piece of naan was pleasant. Hagga was not used to people doing things for her so the novelty was appreciated.
It surprised her in fact how far Isra went with the preparation, going so far as to present it to her mouth. Tentatively she opened her mouth and took what she hoped was a modest bite, careful to not bite Isra's delicate hand.
It occured to her that it might take a good deal of courage to put ones hand so close to an Orkin's mouth, especially one of Hagga's size.

Carefully she chewed and tasted the melding of garlic and butter, which was a splendid combination and the silky oil let it slide along her tongue back to her throat where at last the hint of burnt bread taste capped it off.
"Mmmm!"
It was such a a cozy flavour and in the great hall, away from the heat of the sun she found the contrast of the warm flavours and the cool shade of heat absorbing stone perfectly balanced within her. It was almost a zen experience.

Now her eyes looked for things to add to the bread. There were many small metal bowels of coloured sauces. Yellows and reds, they looked so good.
"It's delicious. Thank you, I must make one for you now."
Eagerly she took a piece and naan and with less finesse she smeared a thin layer of what she did not know was hummus on the top before adding what she did recognize as chopped red peppers and offered it to Isra with both her hands, like an offering. Her wide mouth smiling.

@Isra bint Kashif