Commissary

[George]

Directly up the road from the bases main gate was the commissary...It was where the soldiers could go to relax and buy necessary supplies needed...

The military commissary applied no tax and a usual price break than what could be found in the civilian world, but only military personnel could aquire these discounted goods...

It boxy layout wasn't unusual from the rest of the stone buildings on base, except for the few chairs and tables outside of the shop...

The building was fully constructed and supplied but hastily laid out on the inside...

Rows of every day goods (apples, candles, clothing, ect) and military items (uniforms, boots, belts, official weaponry) curved all around the store...No official price tags or lists had be set as of yet on account of every thing being so new...

The store clerk was a newly drafted female Elf...The usual type...Blue eyed, beautiful and intelligent...a perfect canidate to run a store filled with white-eyed recruits...

Her name was P.F.C. Windsungerth and was always ready to make a deal...

In the back of the store was a thrown together version of a bar...Four bar stools lazily rested near by....This served as a place to drink or barter for goods to buy...Mostly non alcoholic drinks were served at the bar though...Only commisiond officers were aloud to "drink"....

If you approached P.F.C. Windsungerth she will usually give you a smile and come up with a pen a paper....

"How may I be of service?"....

[Yarrow]

Corporal Yarrow Woodruff...she couldn't believe it...her a corporal now? Yarrow smiled to herself as she took a seat at the "bar". Even if she wanted beer (which she didn't because she detested the taste and what it did to people) she couldn't get it here. She nodded to the elfin women and gave a bright smile. Do you perhaps have some Elfin Tea? She inquired. And if you do...how much would it cost me to get a nice cup of it?

Yarrow paused for a moment as if she was considering something more to ask and then nodded as if to say...yes...I'll ask! Then her mouth opened and the question was formed. Do you know where I can get a good deal on a horse, ma'am? I don't know if the military are selling old draft hoses or something, but I thought...perhaps you would know?

[Daniel]

The elf nodded. "As a matter of fact, the new military brass here are very gung-ho on starting a cavalry, and are negotiating a deal with Warsteed Downs over in Carmelyn province to ship some fine warhorses over this way." She wiggled her nose, in the way elves do. "So it stands to reason that if you can't get a good deal over at the Stables in the Market Square, then the Base Stables will be the place to go. They should be up by next weekend."

She handed Yarrow a cup of tea. "First one for any customer is on the house. Word of mouth is how I stay in business, so the few crowns lost will be more than made up if you like it and tell others about this place." The tea was definitely elfin, full of mints and spices and sugars that enhanced the natural flavor. No lemon and milk in this concoction: it was sweet enough on its own, and would have gone well with the richest chocolate cake.

[Yarrow]

Thank you kindly, madam. I will certainly spread the word of your kindness and knowledge... She took a sip of the tea and smiled happily. The last time she had the pleasure of drinking such tastes was with who? She frowned thoughtfully.

It had been in Alleria...her first time perhaps...she saw his face vividly. He was a man...or elf...he was just going through a marriage perhaps...or a new relationship? No...she couldn't remember. She shook it off and let the memory died. She was never good with names that she didn't use on a daily bases and this fellow's name was gone from daily use...it was far gone and buried...a chapter of a page turned.

Yarrow finished the cup and carefully drew her hand across her mouth and smiled. The taste is lovely. Thank you for your time madam...I will surly come back...and I'll bring friends... She gave her a warm wink and stepped down from the stool...waving over her shoulder as she went...she left the store with the promise of coming back.

[Daniel]

Private First Class Windsungerth poured herself a cup of tea. It was between meal shifts, and that's when the cooks and mess specialists got to eat. Most of the privates rotated through here, peeling potatoes and doing assorted odd jobs, but a few dedicated souls like Windsungerth were here year-round. When the army was on the march, they were the ones who manned the supply depots. "An army marched on its stomach!" was the motto around these parts, and one that the PFC heartily subscribed to.

[Yarrow]

It was a good day indeed! They had passed their sargeant's exam and had deserved a good break...they meaning Yarrow and Keeva. Yarrow came in at a slow pace. She brushed the room with an eye quickly before spotting the real interest behind their coming. Drinks...no alcohol was served here (and Yarrow didn't object to that in the least) so it was a more pleasant environment then it would be in a local tavern or inn.

The lady working here was someone Yarrow knew only because she had been here once before. She came again because she had liked what she had gotten and so it was a good idea to come again. Serale! She said in a "jolly" voice that carried about the place. I've come back and this time I've brought a friend with another on the way. Could I have some Elfin Tea please? She took one on the four stools and offered the other to Keeva and then waited for life to begin in this atmosphere.

[Daniel]

Private Windsungerth nodded. "But of course! That's exactly what this place is about, and that's exactly why I am here." She leaned forward, whispering slightly. "So, did you really like the elfin tea? You're not just being polite, are you?"

Then she glanced up as another corporal came in. "Oh but of course, I know your friend already! Private Polly, how are you? Oh-- sorry, a corporal now, I keep forgetting." She chuckled and glanced at Yarrow. "Private Polly was one of my first customers. She came in here all the time for a bowl of gravy kibble and a nice bowl of Vortex Spring water."

Polly entered the commissary. "Serale, everyone! How are you doing, PFC Jane Windsungerth? And hello Sergeant Yarrow! May I do you the courtesy of joining you, please?"

[Keeva Kaldres]

After entering the commisary, and taking the proffered seat from Yarrow, Keeva, after a good deal of shifting anf fidgeting about, soon felt satisfied enough with the relative comfort the stool provided.

'I'll try the elfin tea as well, if you please, ma'am' Keeva asked tentatively towards the Private First Class. She hadn't been in the commisary before, and she always took a short measure of time to adjust to any place new to her.

When Polly entered the room, Keeva's spirits lifted a great deal. The dorin was always amiable, and a delight to be around. Quite a bit like her own room mate Yarrow, in that sense.

With a wide smile on her face, Keeva waited for Yarrow to do the honours of offering the dorin a stool. Then, she supposed, their celebration could really begin in earnest.

[Yarrow]

I would not kid around about elfin tea. Your tea is excellent! Just then Polly arrived. excitement...the celebration would start now...Yarrow cat grinned and patted an extra seat.

We have a lot to celebrate. We just past the Sergeant's Exam... She explained to PFC Jane Windsungerth...if she hadn't gotten that before. She just hoped that she didn't sound to...well...stuck up about it. It reminded of a time back home when the village girls braged about some guy in town they had "been with"...whatever that meant...

[Daniel]

Jane poured the three budding sergeants three glasses of elfin tea, one in front of each. Keeva took a sip and noticed much of the same things that Yarrow-- or indeed any non-elf human would taste: the tea was definitely elfin, full of mints and spices and sugars that enhanced the natural flavor. No lemon and milk in this concoction: it was sweet enough on its own, and would have gone well with the richest chocolate cake.

Jane made sure that Polly was enjoying her tea, then turned to Keeva and Yarrow. "I suppose this may be the last time you all drink together as corporals, so you might as well really enjoy yourselves. A sergeant's day is never finished, and they always seem to be strutting in here at the oddest hour, needing a cup of coffee or something."

She shook her head, for she saw firsthand how tiring it was. But then she brightened and leaned forward. "I'll tell you one thing, though. Once a person makes lieutenant, they have it on easy street." Jane waved her arms around. "All you do is sit in an office all day, giving directions to corporals and sergeants! It must be the easiest job in the whole military!"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow laughed and wrinkled up her nose at the last comment. Except when there is a battle and you have to command it because everyone else is dead...I don't know...somehow I fail to think it will ever be easy!

Yarrow took a sip of the tea and breathed a sigh. Her last cup had been when she had last been in here. Tastes great, huh? How much do I owe you? She opened her purse and glanced up, eye raised and a slight smile pinning itself onto her face. She didn't mind paying when she had the money, but when she started to run low she would have to watch her budget.

[Agaenos Phidion]

OOC: I don't know whether I could do a timestamp like that - please correct me if I'm wrong... trying out my new style of timestamping...

IC:

Timestamp:
Winter, Era X Post Aetherfracture/Era III of the Reign of the Mageocracy of Julos "The Mad"
Era I, Third Cycle of Ponutis, 35th (Aslanica), 6 hours after dawn, Brightening.
Abestat Base Commissary Paradigm: Soon after Keeva and Yarrow entered

Of course, he had heard about the commisionary from many people. He had actually passed by it a couple of times already. Sadly, none of those times was he free enough to stop by, and browse the things on sale. Deciding it was finally time to pay the place a visit, he entered the commisionary.

The soothing, relaxing atmosphere quickly to began working on Agaenos. Breathing in deeply, he glanced around, looking at the wares, and in particular, the make-shift bar - though before he could even notice the two new Sergeants gossiping, Private First-Class Windsungerth caught his eyes - not in an affectionate kind of way - just a friendly way. Really. "Yes, really just that." He reinforced his thought.

"Ah, serale," an optimistic smile lined his face, "Do you have in store any arm greaves? Preferably from Elven Steel?"

He had acquired a free Dwarven Steel crotch guard. He knew the arm greaves, if Private First-Class Windsungerth had any, would not be free - he could only hope it was not too expensive.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow took another sip of the liquid. It was really the best drink there was to drink...in her book. It slid down her throat and came to res tin her stomach... Ahhh! That hits the spot... Yarrow murmured.

[Spock]

Yarrow soon was greeted by a glob of mashed potatoes that nailed Yarrow in the face. Splat! A loud laughter, but also a quick hush by some erupted in the commissary. Then an old man put the spoon of mashed potatoes in Agaenos's hand. The spoon dripped with mashed tatters. As Yarrow cleaned doff, and looked around she saw Agaenos with the big spoon dripping with mashed tatters. The old man slammed it into gear, and was seen no more. In essence Agaenos looked completely guilty as all the men in the room pointed at Agaenos in blame....

[Agaenos Phidion]

Suddenly, Agaenos, who was then requesting a pair of Elven Steel arm greaves from Private First Class Windsungerth, saw a glob of mashed potatoes arcing its way skillfully across the room, sailing through the air...

And landed squarely on Yarrow's face.

Immediately after, and old man stuffed a spoon into Agaenos' hand, full of the dripping, mashed food. "What in the Commissary..." his mind cried out with alert, realising that he was trying to lay the blame on him. Clutching the spoon tightly in his hand, his knuckles white and tight, he tried to stop the old man. In vain.

His wits were quick enough, for sure. With his full suit of armour, however, he was nowhere near the status of "nimble", and as he stumbled out of the store, and looked for the culprit... he was gone, vanished from sight. "Oi!" He shouted after him. Of course, in vain.

Furiously stepping back in, his face flushing, he just noticed Yarrow, along with the others in the structure staring at him. All the men pointed to Agaenos. Blinking Aeterniatis...

"That - was - not - me!" He cried out in self defence, speaking every word with profoundness, his face notably scrunched up, pointing towards the door. "That old man who just ran out did that! He stuffed the spoon to me! Honest!"

His glanced jumped quickly from one angry face to another, his eyes clearly pleading for understanding. His glance went to Keeva, then to Yarrow, and to the Private-First-Class. "Someone believe me, Aeterniatis! Keeva? Yarrow? Someone??"

This had indeed been a great day for him. First, someone released some diabolical rupture into his room, trying to subtly poison everybody in there, and such "destructive" that even Orod would refuse to speak about. Now, he was blamed for something he witnessed, but had not done. Accursed Aeternia, what turn of serendipity is he having right now?