Too Many Cooks?

[Mark Cross]

[member="Jairdain"]

"Whoa...whoa...easy..."

Mark Cross wrestled with the controls of his newly purchased freighter from the Jast Shipwright Co. It was a Jast 1, the entry level model. He'd gone in there acting as if that was going to be exactly the craft he needed, that the fact it was a great platform for modifications to make it truly unique for him. In truth, it was actually all he could afford. A big chunk of his stash of credits spent on a ship basically thrown together from salvaged or scrap parts. As he fought for control on the landing sequence, trying his level best not to dislodge anything, or send anyone unsuspecting flying, it was perhaps a sign that maybe he should have saved just that little bit longer.

As he touched down on the relative safety of the landing pad on Commenor, he let out an audible sigh of relief, slumping back into his chair, reflecting on the positives. It wasn't all bad. This ship was FAST. Really fast. It was pretty much built as a modular piece of kit too, needed an upgrade? Swap out a part. Need more firepower? If you don't mind losing some storage space, there was probably a way to get it done. Plus, it gave him a new level of independence that he didn't have before. Plus, he had a ship now. It made him infinitely more useful. It meant he was getting a bigger slice of the pie, sometimes all of it, when it came to jobs. And he could get to them without having to hitch-hike across the Galaxy to get to them.

Once a simple chef, he'd become a gun for hire, a pirate, a merchant, a trader, and as the maiden voyage of his yet-to-be-named craft revealed, he'd soon be adding freighter mechanic to the ever-growing list of things he'd have to learn as he went along.

His first stop, Commenor. Known as a large trading hub, he figured it would be a great place to pick up a steady stream of regular work. He had to replenish the cost of the ship somehow. Plus, it was also home to the Commenor Systems Alliance, a faction that he would probably have held a lot of affinities for, had remaining independent not been key to keeping his options open. Maybe, one day in the future, it would be a place for him to call home too.

He didn't have much of a plan, other than the usual. Find a local bar, start asking around, see if they needed help in the kitchen, that kind of thing. It was hardly an in-depth strategy, but it tended to heed results. If it ain't broke...

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

The young advisor to the Crown Prince was quite often trying to expand her knowledge in just about every way you could think of. Cooking was one area she knew very little of. Being blind really hindered what she learned on her own. She could make food for herself and that ended up being something from what she remembered of her childhood. Not having learned anything new on Commenor, she set out to do just that.

Leaving word at a few establishments she knew of she was interested in expanding what she knew of cooking, she now waited to hear back from anybody that answered. While she did not state it in her initial message, if real interest was expressed, it would be made clear she was blind. Whoever accepted should have that knowledge that it might be a challenge to teaching her.

An invitation would be extended to any serious applicants to come to the Palace and meet her. If that meeting went well, then a room would be offered and lessons begin shortly after that. Now the advisor waited to hear if there was any such adventurous chef around that would be up to the challenge of guiding a blind woman in the art of cooking.

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

"We're all set for staff right now" The bartender poured Mark a second glass of whiskey as he wiped down the bar. It was the third establishment he'd been to, and so far seemed to be striking out.

"Can't catch a break huh?" Mark downed the glass. That would have to be it, burning through his credits on spirits wouldn't be wise until he had work locked down.

"Hey...you said you're a Master Chef right?" he glanced at the console behind him to remind him of the message he'd seen a few days ago. "How's your patience?"

Mark laughed, a bit of a strange question. "I've been called worse. As for patience? I spend most of my working life dealing with guys that don't know the first thing about food, and I haven't sliced anyone's face off yet. I think it's good enough. What are you thinking?"

"This advisor at the Palace was asking about cooking lessons..." he turned back to give his full attention to the console. Maybe he was thinking that getting in the good books of someone at the CSA might be good for business. "I'll tell them you're interested. Come back tomorrow."

"Oh...wow...ok sure, I can do that..."

"And if you're not buying another drink, I'm going to need you to get off that stool..."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Later that day a message was sent to Jairdain of a prospective teacher for her. A new face to the scene with no name or history included. The barkeep she was a little familiar with and trusted he wouldn't send some random thug for this. Returning the message would be the instructions for the chef to visit the palace the day after. This way if he had any other business to attend to it gave him the opportunity to do so.

In the years since she joined the Jedi, her clothing of choice had changed. Her time with the Sith had introduced pants to the young woman. Finding them easier to work than the formal robes of the Jedi, she choose to wear them. Her shirts varied in color and while she could not see what it was, today it was maroon in color. On top of that she wore a black vest. Her pants were also black.

While this would be for a chef, she wanted the initial meeting to take place not in the kitchen. Wanting to know if they would get along first, she had a comfortable room arranged and set up for the interview.

Directions and instructions were included with the invitation and now the advisor waited for her guest to show up.

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

Mark's eyes darted about the interior of the Palace, trying to take it all in as best he good, despite the best efforts of his guide to make sure he didn't hang around anywhere too long. Probably to make sure he didn't wander off into places he wasn't supposed to be. Or steal something. Given he was a journeyman and pretty well unknown in these parts, stealing something was probably what they were must worried about. Thankfully times weren't that hard. Unless they had any ship parts lying about in plain sight, that was....

Since none of those seemed to be present, he followed obediently through paths and corridors until they reached the room, which was held open for him. The room was finely furnished and had a warm, plush, overall comfortable feel about it. As his stepped inside, the person leading here did not follow, and instead closed the door behind him. Looks like he was making his own introductions then.

"Advisor Jairdain?" he asked of the young woman in front of him. "I'm Mark Cross"


[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

She could hear the approach of the guard and the patient man that had agreed to meet with her to see if they were a good match for cooking lessons. The guard escorted him in, dropped him and closed the door. Not bothering to announce they had arrived or anything, Jairdain just shook her head after the guard left.

That was only for a second or two before turning her attention to her guest.

"Yes, I am Jairdain Ismet. Please do come in, Mr. Cross. No need to call me Advisor here."

Motioning to one of the chairs, she took a seat in another. A small table was between them and was set with tea for the two of them. Lady Kay would have it no other way. While not being given the finest tea set in the palace, it wasn't a poor one either. ​

"Would you care for some tea?"

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

[member="Jairdain"]

“I would actually, how about for yourself?” Mark set about pouring himself a cup. He wasn’t much of a tea drinker. In fact, he drank very little other than water and alcohol, but having reached his thirties on Earth Years the hangovers had started to worsen, so perhaps it was time to change tactics a little on that front.

“Thanks for agreeing to meet me. I’ve onky just arrived on the planet, so it came at the right time”

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"Yes, please."

When he poured the tea, it surprised her a little. Accepting the cup from him, Jairdain took a sip as she considered how to open the conversation now the introductions were made.

"Are you aware of why patience might be needed?"

It should have been included when he did his follow up with the barkeep, but one never knew if all the information was provided. If he paid attention then he would notice that while her eyes were clear, they did not focus.

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

Mark thought back to his discussion with the bartender. “Go here, don’t be late.” He was clearly a man of few words.

“I’m afraid I don’t” Mark took a sip of his tea, drinking in (literally) the complex flavours. He could get used to this. “My only guess is that you have a history of burning down kitchens, and if that’s the case we may have to discuss hazard pay...”

He said it with a smile on his face, which would go unseen, but he was only half joking.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

When Jairdain learned Mark had no idea why patience would be needed, she decided she would have words with the bartender later.

"No need to be afraid. Not going to bite you or burn the place down...hopefully."

The hopefully was said with some humor before Jairdain got serious again.
​
"What he didn't tell you is I'm blind. So reading things is almost impossible and well, I cook more or less by smell or texture of the food."

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

[member="Jairdain"]

“Hmm...interesting...” Mark took a long moment to think about that.

There were two schools of thought. The first, you eat with your eyes first. Presentation is key, an attractive looking fish is automatically an appetising dish. If the person wants to eat it, that’s half the battle. The second, who cares as long as it tastes good? If there’s great flavours, I want it piled high in great quantities and I don’t care what state if comes in. I’m going to enjoy every mouthful.

He decided that being able to see wasn’t a big factor. Practicality wise, it meant making sure everything was placed conveniently, and in orders that made sense, but kitchen planning was key to what he did. When Mark had a kitchen set up right, he could literally cook in it with his eyes closed.

“I think we can work with that. Do you know the layout of your kitchen? As I think getting that right will be the first place to start”

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

At least when Jairdain explained to him why the patience was needed, he didn't just get up and walk away. It was a sign to her that perhaps he did have what it would take teach her through the finer points of cooking. He understood what he faced.

After a few moments, he stated he felt he could work with her. Mark asked if she knew the layout of her kitchen and she sent a rather flat look in his direction. She did have a small smile though at his accepting of the job ahead.

"Yes, I know the layout of my personal kitchen, how not the one where the lessons will take place."

They would be using a small section of the one in the palace and hopefully the staff there would know to leave that area alone.

[member="Mark Cross"]

 

[Mark Cross]

[member="Jairdain"]

“Alright...well on a positive note, a lot of working kitchens are laid out in a similar fashion. You don’t need to attend a fancy culinary school to lay it out so it’s functional” he remarked with a touch of bitterness. Mark had trained by learning on the job rather than in a classroom, and had often been judged negatively for doing so.

“Have you done much cooking before?” He asked, trying to get a feel of where to be starting. “I’m assuming you have to go primarily by taste and smell to get by? Stating the obvious I know...”

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

When Mark said most kitchens were laid out in similar ways. Not sure if her own kitchen was arranged like any others, she would find out soon enough. It was certainly set up to be functional, everything had its place and if somebody else got things out of order, dinner usually ended up tasting odd when she cooked again.

Like Mark Jairdain had learned to cook on her own and had her kitchen laid out to make it easy for her to cook.

"Mostly for myself. If I had company coming over, I would make a stew or something ahead of time and not worry about fixing something on the run. Just everyday food and nothing special."

He asked if she taste or smell to go off when cooking and she smiled slightly.

"Taste and smell yes, but also texture sometimes."

[member="Mark Cross"]