[Crystal Gardens] So you can cook, but can you put spice in our lives? (Invite)

[Viskyia Crow]

OOCOpen to the Aestiva Reverie, Crystal Gardens Staff, Associates and Eben Bloodhawk.

TS: Third Cycle in Melora, Winter, Era XV (pf)
The Crystal Gardens Resort - during remodeling.

Viskyia had received the inquiry about a cook wanting a job. The thing about cooks was that they could talk and talk and talk about their abilities (though this one hadn't really), and yet all it boiled down to was whether or not they could impress someone with what they fed them. The problem with the Crystal Gardens really was that it was such a unique setting that they needed someone with enough force of personality to rule the roost in the kitchen, but at the same time have the creativity and knowledge base to produce dishes that inspired and were unique enough to get guests wanting to come back, over and over again.

So in that light, she'd responded to the inquiry with a invite for the potential chef to come tour the facility and using the available ingredients put on a small dinner for about ten people as a sort of interview. That way, he could take the oportunity to make sure thats exactly what he wanted to be a part of, and the already established employees could decide if the chef... both in skill and personality.. would mesh with them. Available were two assistant chefs to help him, and a whole host of ingredients. She'd requested that he send a long a 'wish list' of meat to have available and she'd make sure they were on hand.

So it was that Viskyia had gathered the ladies, and anyone else who wanted to come along for a decent meal and a night of converstation with the potential new cook. They'd set up two large tables in the back half of the main entrance to the Crystal Garden, because the foyer was the only thing that was completely finished with its tiled floors and palms that framed a sign made out of a cut geode that read "The Crystal Gardens Botanical Spa and Resort." Beyond it, the main body of the Resort with its meandering pathways was visible.

The new kitchen was completed enough to have use of its ovens, the pantries, the counters. The pumps and sinks were working, as well as all the stations set up to serve the restaurant. Although large, the restaurant itself seated only a limited number of people... a hundred and twenty six at a time, and that wasn't so many in the course of things. Most of the final touches weren't on it though, awaiting the proper staff hiring and the final menu decisions. Once those were made, whomever would be in charge of it could finish it off. Viskyia and Adelyn had both agreed. The chef needed to have free rein and be happy where he or she worked.

So, they'd loosely gathered, willing to be a 'work party' while the chef cooked, either helping him or doing other related last minute tasks within the resort while dinner was being made. Everyone had something to do... be it simply peeling vegetables, to planting flowers, to laying brick.

Viskyia was working on tile, adding mosaics to the walkways because it was something she knew how to do with jewelry, and this was only a larger scale. So whether the cook showed up or not, she'd be getting something done... adding long flowing lines of swirling color to the brickwork in the foyer and leading into the guest wings that were still under construction.

[Garit Sevenstars]

Garit was particularly interested to meet the new prospective chef. Since people frequently drank alcohol along with their meals, he considered the job of chef and bartender to be intimately linked, and he hoped to be able to get along in a spirit of helpful camaraderie.

He had brought along a small assortment of wines and a few other drinks for the dinner, which he carried hidden in a canvas bag. If the chef had made his own arrangements for wine, Garit was prepared to stay out of his way and let him give full scope to his creativity, but wanted to be able to pitch in should it be required.

Seeing Viskiya working on the mosaic, he doffed his hat and coat, and folding the coat neatly, piled his things on a crate. "Serale," he said. "I have never worked with tiles before in any capacity whatever. Still, if I can be of service I would gladly lend a hand. I can certainly pass you things, mix plaster, or something of that nature."

[M'caiyha Vosmaeri]

M'caiyha was greatly looking forward to meeting the chef. If anything, she needed very much, to get along with him, because she was going to be invading the kitchen before dawn, and again before dinner, in order to prepare the food for the birds. She wasn't much of a cook, but she was pretty handy with a knife, and with enough patience, she could make something that wasn't incinerated beyond edibility. She was prepared to assist in the kitchen today if so desired, but if the chef wanted to do his own thing, she would make herself scarce.

Ethgri had been given a very stern talking to about behavior tonight, on the threat of being left in the aviary while Aira got to come to dinner. As a result, the big macaw was sitting on the wooden handle of a wheelbarrow while Aira made her way from band to band of the leather strap that wound around the Esh's forest green hair. The bird danced and bobbed her head, wings slightly spread, For now, though, she was on her knees in the garden, having a go with the flowers, packing dirt around the different plants as she placed them in the earth. She liked flora as much as fauna, for without one, the other could not survive.

M'caiyha did not have the greenest thumb in Demios. However, she'd gotten some practice in the aviary, and was getting more here. There was work to be done, after all. Ethgri 'danced', taking several sideways steps and bobbing his head, wings spread while singing the chorus of a rather bawdy song about pirates in the Esh'lahier tongue, punctuating parts with wolf-whistles and a host of other sounds.

[Eben Bloodhawk]

Some would say that Eben Bloodhawk was full of himself. Others would even say that he oozed far too much confidence and bravado for one so young. The charming Baijani, on the other hand, merely saw himself as a capable talent, ready to take on the world. And so, as he approached The Crystal Gardens, there was no hesitation in his long, purposeful steps, no apprehension displayed upon his handsome face. He was calm, cool, and utterly collected, ready to take on the challenge of whipping up a casual dinner party for a small gathering of the spa’s employees. If the event went well he would join their team, and if it didn’t, well, he would simply move on to the next prospect. There always seemed to be a “next prospect” when it came to Eben. However, he had already convinced himself that this endeavor was going to be different. He would give this opportunity a chance and not bolt at the first sign of trouble. It was time to set up shop, to plant some roots, and where better to do that than here.

Standing at the entrance to The Gardens, Eben paused to take in the full splendor of his surroundings, for not only was he handy in the kitchen, but he also had an eye for the medicinal qualities found in both flora and fauna. Scanning the lush vegetation laid out before him, he began to make a mental list of each specimen he was able to identify upon sight:

Mango, arrowroot, bamboo, orach, chufa, nettle, nipa, papaya, banana, and tamarind, he noted as his warm, brown eyes played over each leaf and stalk, each fruit and flower.

He could have easily remained right where he was, exploring and cataloging the brightening away, but he knew he had an appointment to get to. Now was not the time to throw caution to the wind and arrive late to his meeting with…

Viskyia Crow, he reminded himself. Viskyia...Crow, he repeated.

After shifting his travel pack from his broad, left shoulder to across his massive chest, he continued on his way along the brick path that twisted and turned before him, leading deeper into the verdant garden.

Continuing to catalog the plant-life along the way, Eben soon found himself switching gears as he proceeded to focus a bit more on his personal appearance. First impressions were very important to him and so everything had to be just right. After running a nimble hand through his thick, blonde-brown hair, he readjusted his pack and then smoothed out his white, cotton tunic, making sure that everything was in its place. He even paused to ensure that his knee–high, leather boots were both neat and clean – which they were.

Viskyia Crow, he repeated one last time, just as his eyes caught sight of two forms on the path ahead of him.

One was a tall, lean male with smooth, grey skin and silver hair, while the other, currently in a crouching position, was a pale-skinned, athletic-looking female with luminous, white hair. They appeared to be conversing, so Eben took his time in approaching the two. Again, first impressions were everything to the Baijani. They usually had a way of either making or breaking the most important of interactions. There was no need for these two to know how impatient and opinionated he could be, from time-to-time, over the most trivial things, on the spur of the moment, without any apparent trigger.

“Serale,” he finally called when he sensed a break in the conversation. “I’m looking for Viskyia Crow. Do you know where I may find her? That is, as long as neither of you are her,” he was quick to add, with a flash of his signature winning smile.

[Adelyn Weiss]

The woman had spent some time running through nearly all the cabanas this brightening, putting all the linens on the beds. A confusing task, to say the least as the cabanas were themed. She held a list in her hand with the number cabana and next to it the theme. The last of them was number 15, plenty enough so that by the end making the bed and arranging the furniture the way Viskyia envisioned it became second nature. If anyone asked she could tell you exactly which cabin was which without even having to consult her list, but Adelyn would undoubtedly double-check anyway. Headed from the last cabana to the front desk, Adelyn dropped off some pieces of parchment so they would not get lost, disordered, or ruined by stains of food at the table. Food!

By now a prospective chef joining the staff should have arrived, and Adelyn began feeling the hunger pangs. Pracenda was usually done with family, friends, and the like, and this meal would be no exception to that. She smiled, glad to have another join their team. Every brightening they all grew closer to each other, the staff so big now it was hard to keep the names straight. Honestly, it might have taken Adelyn all of a few darkenings talking amongst her sisters to get their complete names memorized, and at that she blushed. She knew M'cai to be in the aviary working diligently, but hoped the Esh remembered to attend the exciting food testing.

Adelyn had let the Head Chef Geoffrey Given know about it so that he could come and see if he could work well with Eben in the kitchen. Given had such a lighthearted air about him that no one else on the staff had a problem with him and Adelyn suspected Eben wouldn't either. "Oh I hope they get along fabulously," she muttered to herself. In fact, Given started teaching the woman some basics to baking and in the near future Adelyn just might bake the Aestiva a surprise cake, "Maybe for the grand opening," she smiled.

Before getting to work on another part of the resort Adelyn made it a point to introduce herself. From the front desk it was not a long ways to the entrance of the resort. With her emerald eyes she spotted Eben - or at least who she thought was Eben. She turned her face sideways, glancing rather curiously at him. He didn't really look like a chef, but looks were deceiving, and that Adelyn had decided early in life. "Serale! I take you to be Eben Bloodhawk? No... I'm not Viskyia at all, but that happens to be her with the very long near-white hair. And I think our birdkeeper M'caiyha is in the aviary right now. My name is Adelyn Weiss. I work here at The Crystal Gardens alongside Viskyia. You can of course, speak with Viskyia and then after have me lead you straight to the kitchen where you can begin working. Our head chef is in there tonight, but he won't be cooking. In fact he is here to assist you in anything you may need to join the cooking staff. Nice to meet you!"

[Michael Poe]

Michael and plants usually didn't get along so well. If they had, he probably would have tried to study druidism rather than the mysticism classes he'd just recently started. That being the case, he decided instead to stick with good old-fashioned bricklaying. He had no practice at it, but luckily, slathering the sides and bottom of a rectangular stone, lining it up, and squishing it in didn't take the work of an artist. So, he went about laying bricks, not that overly far from where Kyia was doing her tilework. He heard Garit approach and offer his services and he stood, wiping his brow.

He'd been hard at work trying to complete this task since arriving, and at some point had stripped his tunic, borrowed from Jobe since his old one got torn, and was now hard at work in his boots and trousers with no shirt on. His broad chest was exposed and virtually hairless. Despite his advanced age, his physique was still in excellent shape due to practicing with his sword, going for a run every now and then, and his being accustomed to hard labor. While he couldn't keep up with Kyia, he'd still taken to going on runs along the beach with her, even though she usually outpaced him.

He turned to face them, wiping his face with a towel he kept nearby, and meandered their direction, picking up the waterskin he had with him. It was the season of winter, sure, but when one was working with such intent and speed, it had a tendancy to make one sweat no matter the weather. He let a little hit his face before sucking on it for a few gulps, glancing down at Garit and Kyia.

"I could use him," he called out with a grin, "Just because I've been working on these bricks all brightening doesn't mean that I'm anywhere close to done...there's a fething lot of them left to go," he chuckled, hitching his thumb behind him towards the area he'd just come from. He was about to directly suggest it to the man when another person spoke up. The man's grin told him, quite clearly, that he was used to being as charming as Michael was. This knowledge made him chuckle a bit, and he heard Adelyn expound on it by mentioning his name and why he was present.

"Eben Bloodhawk, hmm?" he asked aloud, stepping forward to face the man. He extended his hand, offering a shake, as he introduced himself. "A pleasure. I'm Michael Poe, and I'll be in charge of Special Operations here...which pretty much means dealings with the government and security and such are my area." He offered a mock salute and grinned roguishly. "So long as I am here, I'll do my best to make sure your ingredients and servingware will be safe from thieves." He then quieted down, letting the others speak, sure that Kyia probably wished to say something to him directly without being cut off by another introduction.

[Garit Sevenstars]

Garit called out to Michael, "I believe I could get the knack of laying bricks, if you're willing to work with a novice. Give me just a moment to meet the new man and I shall be right over."

To Eben he said "as the lady says, here is our fearless leader." He indicated Viskiya. "I am Garit, the head bartender. I have brought a selection of wines for the meal but shan't step on your toes if you already have plans along those lines."

Garit surveyed the area with evidence satisfaction. He had been busy all day speaking to suppliers and testing the quality of a case of brandy snifters he was considering, and now that he was on site again was pleased to see how things were progressing. He liked the lush natural look of the place, and was glad they had largely steered away from fussily organized plants in artificial looking arrangements. He still had yet to look in to the aviary, and made a mental note to do so before he left.

[Viskyia Crow]

OOCSorry I'm late! It was a wild weekend.

There was something to be said about greeting a future employee and hopefully a partner on one's knees, covered with grout, and elbow deep in colorful tile. But work was work, and if the Crystal Gardens were going to open on time, everyone had to buckle down and get everything done. It was at the point where there was no more 'her work' or 'his work' ... it was all 'their work'. And so the collective 'their' had gathered to give it a good showing. Many many things were on hold, delayed, or waiting the completion of other projects. The kitchen was no exception. It was awaiting a final hiring of a force of personality to get something accomplished.

But she was happy... blissfully happy... amongst the staff of the Gardens, all of them toiling away at various things. Garit she appreciated most of all, for a bartender.. he was pretty handy being down on his knees right beside her helping to decide which colors to place where in order to form long flowing lines of blues and greens leading towards the garden pathways like elegant flames or vines. "You do good work!" She said to him, after moving aside and showing him how to lay a thin layer of plaster down, set tiles evenly spaced within it, and press. Though she was covered in grout, the section they were currently working on needed to cure before they could mix up the 'seam' plaster and pour that in place as well. "Sure, join me... think visually pleasing, and whatever you do will be fine." She'd said to Garit, and then they'd worked on, side-by-side in quiet effort for a bit. Viskyia knew it wouldn't last though. Michael had a notion to get more of the brickwork done and she knew it was a matter of time before her added help was seized for more manly pursuits.

M'caiyha was buried in the aviary, though she had come and went setting up established 'bird perching' stations throughout the restaurant. Workers were sinking big driftwood logs to rise out of the garden in strategic places, so the birds would be elegant and have a sheltered place to linger where guests couldn't touch them unless they came to the guests. Viskyia liked it that way, knowing part of the dining excitement was going to be coaxing some of the lovely avians to come share from plates or take treats the restaurant staff provided for them along with the baskets of bread and bottles of wine. Cai was in her element, fussing and .... climbing a tree? By the Lady... Viskyia nudged Garit casually and whispered... "don't look now... but shes halfway up that tall palm... and she didn't even bother to tuck her skirts in this time. Lords... I'll bet you my desert tonight she doesn't even slow once all the rest of the way up." Viskyia added, grinning.

Adelyn had been flitting about organizing things and seeing to the last minute preparations. Viskyia was really impressed with the care and detail the young woman had taken picking out the silver and stemware for the restaurant. It would be debuted today at their impromptu mean with Eben. The plate settings and accessories were also Adelyn's fussing, promising to be something that matched the motif of the Gardens perfectly. She honestly couldn't wait to see the whole table dressed out the way Adelyn envisioned the diners experiencing their meals.

When Eben put in an appearance, Viskyia rose, brushed off her hands and shook his. "I'm Viskyia Crow... how can I help you? We aren't exactly open yet, unless your our expected chef, Mr. Bloodhawk." The half-esh said, smiling slightly. She took a long moment to get a look at him and decide how she felt about initial appearances. She wasn't so much concerned about looks, though he did have a bright smile. She looked instead for kindness in his eyes, laugh lines, a good sense of humor... all these were important.

[Eben Bloodhawk]

Eben's attention was swiftly drawn away from the two individuals found on the path before him as a third figure suddenly appeared. "Serale," the attractive girl offered before continuing to disclose several details about herself, her coworkers, and the spa itself.

So, the woman crouching on the path, mucking it about was the owner and his contact. Well, Eben could easily respect someone who dug right in, clearly not afraid to get their hands a little dirty to get the job done.

Turning his attention back to the lithe girl, he locked eyes with her, drinking in the delightful coloring of her two sparkling orbs, and replied, "Adelyn, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I would appreciate your assistance after I meet with Lady Crow."

With a slight bow and nod, Eben turned away, ready to meet with Viskyia, however, a fourth figure seemed to arrive on the scene virtually out of thin air. This time it was a strapping individual who also appeared unafraid of a little hard labor, as he was stripped down to his trousers, exposing a sweat slicked torso. He too offered a greeting and a little insight as to who he was in the grand scheme of things.

At this point, Eben made direct eye contact with the operations officer and upon taking his extended hand, firmly replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Michael. Now, allow me to put your mind a bit at ease by informing you that I run a very tight kitchen. So, the odds of something going amiss are slim to none. However, I would be a fool to turn down a second set of eyes, so, thank you for the offer of your services. If I do indeed secure a position here, I will consider you my greatest ally." Then, with a slight nod and a smile upon his thick lips, he advanced once more toward Viskyia.

Yet, once again, he found himself confronted by another employee of the spa. It was the lean fellow who was speaking with the owner upon his arrival. As with the other two, Garit, the bartender, offered a welcome, but he also presented something to the cook that was a bit more enticing - a selection of wines.

Extending a hand, Eben replied, "Excellent. I'm sure there is a bottle or two to be found within your collection that will compliment my simple, yet captivating meal perfectly. So, thank you. I will check in with you a bit later, however, I believe I have kept Lady Crow patiently waiting for far too long. Pardon me."

With a glance to the left and then to the right, Eben gave a mock expression of reluctance before finally approaching Viskyia and whispering, "Is it safe to approach...or should I expect to meet the entire staff of your lovely establishment before I have the privilege of meeting the one that currently matters the most? After all, you are the one who has the final say in regard to my future...correct?" Smiling, the young cook was then quick to offer his hand, and in a rich, deep voice he warmly stated, "Eben Bloodhawk, reporting for duty, my lady. Thank you for taking the time to consider me for a position within your staff. I believe you will find that while my skills are somewhat basic in their nature, my ability to put a unique spin on everything I create will ultimately win you over. If not, well, I will simply take it upon myself to consume several of the most poisonous plants in your garden, for my failure to impress you and your staff would be utterly unacceptable. It would be a crushing blow to one who prides himself on a job that is not only done well, but is memorable and enriching for many candlemarks beyond the meal itself.”

Smiling once again, Eben cast Viskyia a knowing wink, confirming that he was being playful and not serious in the least about offing himself. He inwardly hoped she was agreeable to such lightness. There was a certain something in her breathtakingly beautiful eyes that supported such a disposition to be found within her.

[Viskyia Crow]

OOCsorry I'm sorta going out of turn, but I want to get this thread going again so Eben doesn't have to wait for my response and no one else does to get going :)

Trouble. Definitely trouble. With a face like that, a disarming smile, and the ability to charm the pants off the most stoic of old maids, Viskyia knew they were all in trouble. She chuckled at his words, and gestured around them. "Well, the thing is, you don't have to impress me overly much. Its they who are the somewhat demanding crowd. We work as a team here, Mr. Bloodhawk. And before you ask, I'll call you Eben only if you don't mind calling me Viskyia or just plain Kyia. I don't actually have the final say, for all I go about with great aires of importance. I'm a softie at heart, and if they want you they'll get you as their cook if you're in agreement. I'm inclined to let anyone cook, so long as they make a decent meal... thats just how much I like to eat. But they...." Her hand swept the audience and she grinned. "They are the ones you're going to have to impress. And if we hire you... you'll be right there in the thick of them, demanding the next guy who's applying for the next critical role impress you just as much. I don't trust my own judgment nearly as much as I do theirs. So relax, at least with me.... no self imposed poisonings... at least on that face." She said, grinning. Already she felt a little bit more open than normal. Viskyia had been changing over the last month. Melora had been.... amazing in more ways than one.

"I only hope our facility impresses you. Even if your cooking is basic, thats not a problem, because we all are doing this project together to grow as a group. I'm sure each of us needs improvements one way or another. And its always been my thought, especially with this crowd, that we do well when we set goals together." She said, gesturing... at her tiling, Michael's brickwork, M'caiyha's flowers, Adelyn's linens, and Garits organization.

"And as for the kitchen, what you will find in there so far is Adelyn's work. She's been taking baking lessons in hopes of helping you out.. and I think you will find she's done a thousand things to make a chef's life easier in there." Viskyia confessed, her eyes gleaming as she glanced at Adelyn pointedly. "She probably thinks we don't notice, so don't make too big of a fuss out of it. The girl goes pink in a heartbeat, but shes as fierce as dervish when cornered." Viskyia said, wondering suddenly why she felt the need to tease Adelyn. Dusting off her hands again, she glanced around at the group. "Shall we go tour the kitchens really fast?" She asked, wondering who wanted to come and who just wanted her to leave the chef alone so he could cook.

[M'caiyha Vosmaeri]

M'caiyha had been in and out of the aviary for the better part of the day, here and there, checking on the driftwood, testing it and eying the plants in the restaurant. She had the doors of the aviary wide open for a number of reasons - including keeping an eye on who or what was coming. Ethgri was still singing his same few lines of his song, though by now he'd started testing the different flights - swinging on the ropes, playing with the severed coconuts, examining each and every toy before going to get himself a drink at the water fountain near the middle of the aviary in the open area, where each of the flights opened to. Aira swung from ropes, an avian acrobat, as as far as M'cai was concerned as she sat on a driftwood log, poetry in motion.

Still, though, these birds brought a joy to her. The song Ethgri kept repeating was an old one, and it brightened her mood considerably. She started singing, from the beginning, as Ethgri paused to check out a nesting box. M'caiyha got up, stretching from her tiptoes to her fingers up above her head, and began to sing as she worked. She got to the last verse with Ethgri making some rather interesting sounds. It might've sounded like mumbling to the uninitiated, but the Esh knew better, and just kept on singing. What he was trying to do was duplicate her singing, sounding the words out. He did, however, join her for the last few lines as Aira whistled and catcalled overhead.

"Oh, daughter didn't I teach you to forgive and to forget?
Your father might have sowed his oats, but still you needn't fret.
Your father may be father to all the boys in town, but still
He's not the one who sired you so marry who you will!"

Ethgri finished with her and cackled madly, climbing up of that flight and back over to the wheelbarrow. He held a foot out to M'caiyha. He stood on the edge, and held a big black foot out to her from where she was crouched along the walkway, dealing with the plants. "Upup, ma? Upup. Upupup?" M'cai obliged him, offering her leather-covered wrist. M'caiyha looked up at the big tree in the middle. It wasn't so tall that it scraped the ceiling, but it was short, round, and fat. She'd run her hammock in here soon enough. Sure, the 'store room' on the main level was bedroom, but M'cai didn't plan on using it all too much for sleeping in. The hammock was all she needed.

She was checking the rope swing, again, when she noticed someone walking up. She stripped her gloves off, whacking them gently against the wheelbarrow before dusting her silvery pants while Ethgri got his feet in the loops of her sleeve. "Serale," he grumbled. "Serale!?"

"Aira, come on. Time to go see who's here. Come on, pretty bird," M'caiyha held her other hand out to the lorikeet, who dove down, wings flaring to land on her fingers.

"Pretty Aira, pretty bird!" Aira cooed as M'cai left the aviary as it was. She'd come back and do more later, certainly. But it was taking fruit, and she was happy with that. She was turning it, too, to a place where she wanted to have be, and that was important. Make it a place you want to be and will enjoy, and you'll have happier birds. She pulled off her gloves as they headed out the double doors, and made her way towards the main building once again.

Her leather gauntlets dangled from her belt as she skipped along the pathway, Aira having climbed to the top of the wide leather strap that held her hair back. Ethgri held onto her fingers, and she was windmilling her arm while he flapped his wings. By the time she approached the knot of activity, Ethgri had settled on her shoulder. The new cook was here.

M'caiyha and both birds eyed him with interest. The trio was fond of food. M'cai just hoped he didn't plan on using mountains of mangoes for centerpieces. She was developing a bad habit of a mango or two before bed, and the avians would share them. With twenty new birds coming in... they were going to be going through a lot more mangoes. "Serale, and welcome. My name is M'caiyha," she bowed slightly. Aira bobbed her head eagerly from the Esh's green hair, and Ethgri spread his wings as the two birds repeated the greeting. But she'd not join them for now in the kitchen. Plenty of time for that later.

For now, though, she could help Michael and Garit with the bricks, or start worrying the garden.

[Adelyn Weiss]

OOCTrying to finish my baking thread asap so I can cook something in this thread to help you out, Eben!

The shady pathway masked the woman's blush. Adelyn marveled at how Viskyia managed to describe the resort as though it were anything but extravagant. The Crystal Gardens was no modest establishment, and she smiled at Eben at mention of some of the work she contributed to the kitchen. For the petite girl it had been a pleasure, and nothing pleased her more than to help out regardless of receiving mention or not. Her head shook back and forth, and her hand went up politely, "Oh, Viskyia's only half-kidding. We're not really that hard when it comes to accepting a new employee. More helping hands simply means the work is divvied up and spread out amongst us all and that is always a pleasure."

She nodded when Eben's cooking skills were brought up, "We have a temporary chef right now just h