Lunch time!

The sunshine was bright as it filtered in through the window panes of the kitchen. The long marble counter tops glistened pristinely, the entire facility kept in impeccable condition mainly by Professor Odqura, ready for the arrival of the new chef. Said dean, of course, was no where to be seen, but Valentin wasn't concerned. Surely they wouldn't be making a mess or anything of the sort. They just had to locate some sort of snack to hold Zerda over until the next mealtime.

"So what are you craving?" He asked the question excitedly, like he would even know how to deliver whatever the fox ordered. He clapped his hands together and made his way further into the large room.

The faun went for a row of cabinets tucked below the counters, but found only pots and pans. He stood and huffed, and spun in place until he spotted another group of cabinets on the far wall above the counters. He made his way there but when he opened the cabinets he found the serving ware. With a frown, he pushed the doors shut again and tries to decide where to check next. There were so many drawers and doors. A large door in the back was probably the fridge...

Zerda entered the kitchen along side Valentin and he smiled as he looked around. He felt happy to be inside and away from dangerous things of the outdoors including the deadly spiders! Watching as Valentin took the honor of looking for food, Zerda sat down and rested his leg on a chair next to him. Looking at the bruise it seemed to have gotten a little bigger, but he wasn't worried about it he just needed to relax a bit today and have a good nights rest then it would be all better! While sitting at the table Zerda began to stare at his friend and he frowned a little, "His side is hurt and he is still willing to help me out no matter what...I should help too!" He said as he stood up and helped Valentin look around the kitchen in the various cabinets for food. Unfortunately he was getting the same results as the faun, nothing but pots, pans, and silverware.

After a moment of searching Zerda returned to the chair and sat back down, "I guess anything well mean or fish!" He said before thinking if the faun would be able to handle those kinds of things. "Uh...actually Valentin, just get me something with a hmmm..." He wasn't sure how to express the flavor he was looking for as he never had to explain so before. "Uh, I believe some locals called it cinomin?" He said flustered with his thought process of it. "and some bread and water please!" He added. He hoped Valentin could find what he was hoping to get and if not he wasn't going to fret.

Zerda awaited for what Valentin would bring and as he did he laid his head on the table and began tracing his finger around on the natural wood engravings.

Valentin paused short when he heard the request for meat. Momentarily he was panicking inside because he didn't want to disappoint, but there was no way he would be able to stomach preparing meat, not that he would even know where to begin if he tried! But then the order is amended, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cinnamon?" He tossed the question over his shoulder even though he was pretty sure that's what was meant. He tracks back to a cupboard he thought he's seen some spices in, and whooped internally when he finds the spices organized alphabetically. Od was nuts. He tapped his finger down the line until he found the cinnamon and plucks the small container off the shelf triumphantly. "We have cinnamon!" He plunked it down onto the counter across from Zerda, but frowns and looks around the room helplessly again. "But what do we put it on...? The bread? Where is the bread anyway?" The end he sort of mumbled to himself as he abandoned the spice on the counter top and turns back towards the cabinets.

After a bit more searching, he finds the pantry. The door is a normal sized one, which is probably why he didn't assume to look behind it, but the pantry is in fact packed with food. "Ah HA!" The faun disappeared into the small room that had eluded them both and emerged a moment later with a wedge of cheddar cheese, a fresh loaf of bread Od or someone must have baked sometime earlier, and a pile of grapes. He nudged the door shut with his foot and carried his armful of goodies back to the counter where Zerda is.

"Here we go.." It crossed his mind as he tears two chunks off the loaf and offers one to Zerda that he really hoped it wasn't meant to be part of dinner later. But he could always deny being the culprit later. For now, it was just lunchtime.

"Oh right, water--" He crossed back to the cabinets until he found a couple glasses and used the sink to fill them with well water. Putting them onto the counter beside the food, he pushed a stool up perched himself across the surface from Zerda.

Before heading straight to his room, Rendaz thought he’d allow himself to a little personal tour around this maze of a building. The tiled floor was rather uncomfortable against his claws, and they often clattered, much to his annoyance. There’d be no point in attempting to sneak.

Not that he’d have to, anyway. He was a teacher, he was a voice of authority. If anybody questioned him, he’d have every right to send them back to their dormitories. It was when he heard a couple of voices from the kitchen, he opted to take a peer. Two students, messing around, and no doubt breaking a few dozen rules while doing so. Time to have fun.
As smooth as a salamander, he slunk around the corner, oh so casually leaning against one of the counters. “What do we have here?” he sneered, careful to put as much contempt as possible in his tone. “Doing something we shouldn’t, eeeeh?” He peered around the room, assessing the damage they’d done… Except it wasn’t really damaged at all. Which probably would’ve been a good thing, but he’d been looking forward to issuing his first exclusion. Perhaps another time… He began tapping his claws against the desk, waiting for whatever terrible excuse they’d conjure.

Valentin had been too distracted with popping grapes into his mouth while staring off into space that he didn't notice the teacher enter the kitchen until the accusatory question was placed. The faun's ears shot forwards and he nearly jumped out of his skin, palms landing heavily on the counter to steady himself. He had gasped, and gulped down the grape he had just been rolling around over his tongue, causing him to then quickly bring a fist heavily into his collar while he coughed a couple times.

Valentin could feel his face as it reddened, both from the act of coughing itself as well as from the embarrassment of being caught off guard in such an ungraceful manner. It occurred to him that if he had been grazing in the forest and this lizard dude was a predator, he would be dead right now. Waitaminute, a lizard dude? The faun's brow creased curiously while he tried to discreetly clearing his throat one more time.

"You.. What? Who are you? What shouldn't we be doing??" He snapped the last question a little sharply, subconsciously trying to smother his embarrassment with attitude. He returned his palms to the counter top and leaned into them with his shoulders hunched, but his ears which were lowered submissively ruined the casually-cool stance. His gaze swept the counter for evidence that Zerda and himself had done anything wrong, but there was no mess yet.

Zerda was happy to hear that there was cinitomon....or however it was said, seemed to change every time. He watched as Valentin put the season down along with the other assortment of snacks for him and Valentin. He leaned over the table and grabbed the cinnamon and smiled at it, but what was this protective barrier around it? Valentin claimed there was cinnamon there, but all he saw was a clear container with a redish powder that tumbled around inside. Hitting it against the table he smiled as it popped opened and the little power scattered across it. He extended his tongue and began licking the powder and to his surprise it was exactly what he wanted. This was what his mother called a valuable spice! Wait mother....He remember his ma! So the day without food, and the many head counts were the cause of loose of memory.

As he picked at the spice he smiled till a sudden voice startled him. In an instant Zerda took his tongue and sprawled it over the spice picking it all up in one swoop. Looking at Valentin with a red tongue he tilted his head as if to ask, who in the world is that! Then he tilted again and smiled a little swallowing the spice, "May I taste him?" He asked in an innocent matter.

When the first victim student noticed him, Rendaz almost seeming to brighten with morbid glee. “I’ll be asking the questions around here,” he snapped almost instantly, before he’d even finished listening to the poor faun. His eyes scoured the room, searching for evidence of their misdeeds. However, there was only food - nothing that would raise suspicion in a kitchen. Despite this, he did have a basic idea of how kids should be handled - leaving them unattended with sharp knives in the room was usually a bad idea.

Even then, a temptation rose within Rendaz after watching them raid the food supplies. It was a somewhat nostalgic feeling.. He grinned deceptively. “Y’ain’t meant to be hanging around here. The chef will have your necks once she sees it.” Casually pacing towards them, he stopped to glare at Zerda, then the spice, and then back at him. “…” He puffed smoke in his face - not enough to set off any alarms, but just a minor irritation. Taste him? Hah! If it hadn’t been frowned upon, Rendaz would’ve already had them cooking in a broth. Experience had long settled his carnivorous urges, but he occasionally felt a twinge of hunger for it. Unfortunately, he happened to feel it now.

He turned to face Valentin. “However, if you do one teeny tiny thing for me, I might not tell ‘em.” Gesturing slightly towards the freezer, he continued. “How about a big slice of venison? I want it cooked well done, with lots of spice…” Glaring doggedly at the spilled pile, he muttered sourly: “Or, what’s left of it….”

((Cruel, cruel irony...))

The faun snapped his jaw shut when he was interrupted. He wondered briefly over the fact that this strange lizard man had called the chef a 'she' because even though Odqura was a bit stylish and arguably girly, he definitely wasn't female, but Valentin quickly realized that this man must mean the new chef had finally arrived. He then found himself wondering if she would be as lenient about allowing access to the kitchens as Od was. He rather liked being allowed in the kitchens, and it had always been this way so long as he never left a mess. At any rate, as far as he was last informed, Zerda and he were breaking no school rules in being here, and he found confidence in that.

When the lizard puffed smoke in Zerda's face, Valentin held his tongue, but felt his gaze narrowing. Alarms went off in Valentin's head the instant this man mentioned venison. Was he threatening him?? In a split second, the faun's mind tore through his options in an instinctive fashion. Option one, was the obvious default that had served him well for many years; Run. But his gaze flickered very briefly to Zerda and that option was discarded. If they were being threatened, he couldn't leave his friend in the kitchen with this man, and it's not like he could--Option two--grab his friend and run with very much efficiency. The last realistic option he immediately saw was Defense. He had never been very good at defense, but before he'd even decided to run with that one, his hand had snaked below the counter and gripped the handle of a heavy iron skillet, pulling it to the surface in a somewhat casual manner without drawing his gaze from the lizard. He rested the skillet on the counter beside him, still gripping the handle very tightly as his ears batted backwards.

In his mind he was berating his attempt at bravery since it was obviously a stupid choice for him, but he tried to find consolation in the fact that he had about an inch on this lizard freak, and another foot or so in antlers. Not that it meant anything at all.

There was the slightest quiver in his voice that was the cause of fear, but he dearly hoped--although doubted--that it would be mistaken for anger. "We don't have any." His neurotic heart was already steadying up into a heated pace, but he did his best to school his features with his gaze still narrowed. "Tell whoever you like."

"Guys... what's going on?" she asked quite loudly walking into the door... "Nice to see you again..." she said coldly to Rendaz... She wasn't exactly seeing all these people in the kitchen. "Come on, give me your orders and go out to the dining area..." she said trying tho shoe them away... she wanted a chance to get close to the kitchen she'd have to take care of.

((sorry its short))

Rendaz rolled his eyes at Valentin’s hasty statement. You didn’t even check, pea brain, he thought musingly, although he decided not to call him out on this. If that was the way he wanted to play, then so be it. “No venison? Guess we’ll have to make our own…” He smirked, examining his claws. It was fun screwing with the minds of potential students. He wondered briefly if this student would be joining him in his own class.

His line of thought was interrupted by the arrival of an all too familiar face. “Heya, sweet cheeks,” he grinned flirtatiously. He carelessly motioned towards the students, still keeping eye contact with Rosie. “These kids thought it’d be a good idea to bungle your supplies without permission, do what you want with ‘em.” He dodgily eyed the two students, a mere quick glance, before turning his back and step towards the doorway. He lingered for a moment more - wanting to see their reactions just before he left.

Zerda watched as the smoke blurred his vision for a brief moment. She smiled and inhaled the smoke that the lizard man left then slowely exhaled. Smoke didn't faze him and he couldn't help but chuckle. This man was quit interesting but was now not worth of being tasted. He was nothing but a mean person who thought of himself as boss of everyone. Looking over at Valentin he noticed the look on his face and in an instant he turned back to the man and growled. Anyone that made Valentin feel the way his face expressed was going to be an enemy. Valentin was nothing but good to him and he had to back him up. As he listened to the lizards words about making his own Venison and instantly he scooted closer to Valentin to protect his friend. He growled once more before hearing the door open behind them. He turned an ear towards the sound of Rosie but kept his gaze on the man as he started to make his way out.

He didn't like the man and that was that. Looking now to the woman he smiled as he heard the way she spoke. He was happy to now know the chef of the castle. Running up he grabbed her hand and sniffed it, "Your a friend of mine if you can cook yummy food!" He said with a smile. "May I...taste you?" He asked innocently hoping she would say yes.

((Gah so short >.<))

Rosie stepped aside letting "It" out. She still didn't know his name, "Just be on your way then if you're not ordering food. The kitchen is off limits to anyone who isn't ordering from me or expecting food." she snapped at the "thing." she looked down at the boy who had her hand, "Fine... taste me, but if you draw blood you'll be sent away without dinner, but you should probably ask for something more sustainable for your body, a few licks of me isn't going to get you very far."

Rosie ran her free hand through her bangs, she'd need some sort of a shower, she was thinking about asking Ndale if he would allow her to use his shower or something of the sort... however, food was calling her and she knew she needed to start cooking. She'd just have to wash her hands when the kid was done.

"So, my name is Rosie, obviously I'm the chef here..." she said looking at the two that she actually had respect for at the moment, and she hoped that they wouldn't turn out to be something like "it" as well...

Zerda looked up at Rosie and smiled. He was given permission to taste someone and he was so happy to hear that. Sticking his tongue out he slowly ran it across her hand and smiled with overwhelming delight. She tasted like a nice person and he was going to accept her with wide open arms, literaly. Standing strait he leaned in for a hug and then nodded, "Oh I'm Zerda Vulpes! Its sooooo nice to meet you Rosie!" He said while letting go. Looking back at the table where he left the cinnamon he thought of something fun. Turning back to Rosie he inhaled deeply then exhaled. "Rosie! Can you make me something with cinomin....uh cinnevon?" Turning back to Valentin he frowned, "I forgot how to say cendoben!" He yelled now furious and disappointed with himself.

Running back over to Valentin he bowed his head,"Teach me how to say it Valentin! Its my favorite and I can't even say it! What shall I doooo!" He said with a lite little yelp at the end. He hoped Valentin was going to help him out with this word dilemma and not only that, but Zerda just thought of the blanket idea. He hoped he didn't forget.

Valentin's head snapped in the direction of the newcomer, at first just wary because it's another person he didn't know, but then she introduced herself and he felt his diaphragm collapse in one relieved breath. He finally loosened his hold on the handle of the skillet, but his fingers remained in contact with it because his nerves weren't settled just yet.

"Rosie.." His eyes returned to the lizard man momentarily, but he felt better as the man withdrew. "I'm Valentin. It's nice to.. meet you..." The end of his sentence trailed off a little as he became distracted by Zerda's energetic ramblings. When he realized what the fox was asking for, he withdrew his fingers from the skillet's handle in favor of resting his elbow on the counter, and propping the side of his jaw on his palm. Zerda's little yelp earned him a fond smirk from Valentin.

"Sin-ah-mon." The faun spoke each syllable carefully for his friend.

"What do you have cooking there?" she asked already washing her hands, she had quite a few things that used the sweet flavor of Cinnamon as the main and crucial ingredient. She wondered what was started, more than likely she'd be able to finish it, "Sorry for the yelling." she whispered so that "it" couldn't hear her despite being across the room, "I'm not exactly at ease with the man over there..." she continued at the same level of volume.

Rosie popped her sandals off in order to feel the cool ground beneath her feet, she didn't like wearing shoes indoors anyway. She gave a soft smile, now standing at her true height of five foot six, rather than the three extra inches her sandals gave to her. She thought it was cute seeing Valentine and Zerda together, there seemed to be a spark there, but she didn't bring it up. It wasn't exactly her place...

Disappointed that he recieved so little attention, Rendaz turned his head once more to stare at Rosie. "Oh, and I want the biggest slab of steak you can find. Well done, and without any salad." May as well give the chef her first orders while she was here. He half expected a complete mess of a meal when she was finished - it wasn't every day he trusted a crazy woman with daggers to cook his dinner.

Without waiting for a reply, he snorted and left the room - an obvious chip on his shoulder.

Zerda smiled as he pronounced the word over and over again. He was happy yo finally remember it so he may ask for more dishes with it. Valentin was so smart and helpful and he began to think of a way to possibly pay him back. There had to be something that would make him happier beyond belief. Zerda would come up with something, he had to. Looking at Rosie he smiled as she would get lunch and dinner prepared for the students. He wondered if he would be able to meet more people tonight. Walked over to Valentin he looked down at his leg and smiled as the pain seemed to have subsided a bit, but he still wanted his bandages and shorts, this dress was beginning to feel strange on him. Why now, he didn't know. Maybe he was just done being a girl to amuse Valentin now, either way he was done with it.

Looking back to his friend he smiled and then sighed a little, "May we go and get my clothes Valentin? I also wanted to see about that blanket....I don't want to die tonight. Though cuddling with you naked in the library was fun, I wouldn't mind it." He said laughing a little as he thought of the first night being inn someones arms, though his plans for it to be a man were unknown. Grabbing Valentin's hand he pulled him up, "Well can we?" He said as he smiled gently at his friend. "Besides food should be done by the time we get my clothes and uh I think the blanket before the dinner is served. I at least hope so." He said not realizing that they had made no plans to create the blanket, well he hadn't he wasn't to sure about Valentin.

Valentin heard Rendaz ordering his steak, but instead of letting it get to him again, he smirked at the new chef, already deciding she was alright, since she didn't like this lizard dude either. "Oh we're having ah... bread and cinnamon. And grapes" He smiled sheepishly at his lack of culinary genius.

Returning his attention to his friend, he nodded patiently at Zerda's attempts to get the word 'cinnamon' down. At the mention of the blanket, he quickly recalled the rough blueprint he'd been working on mentally before they'd fallen asleep last night... last night--

Suddenly he could feel his face rapidly growing beet-red with embarrassment. He stared wide-eyed at Zerda and his ears fell so low so fast, they would have slipped off entirely had they not been attached to his head. Very quickly, his gaze shot to Rosie, wondering if she'd heard and what she would think because it totally hadn't been like Zerda's comment made it sound!

"I-- we didn't-!" His gaze tore between the two others in the room, struggling for the right words that would explain the situation, but they just weren't there. He finally settled for nodding dumbly at his friend, muttering meekly, "..Sure thing, kiddo.."

Rosie was just getting the spices on the largest steak she could find, when she heard what the male in the dress had said. She couldn't help but snicker a bit, "So long as you two are happy with it, to each his own." she laughed lightly. The steak was already seasoned correctly and she looked over the two, smiling at how cut the image was of them together. She wasn't being terribly cold, but she wasn't letting them in either. She had done enough of that on the trip INTO the castle.

"So, I assume you'd like something like cinnamon roles and some nice dinner food too..." she said looking over to the smaller of the two, "How's that sound mister Zerda?" she asked with a nice smile, "And Valentine, don't worry about covering things up, honestly I don't care..." she laughs lightly, "It won't make me think any more or less of you who you love. If you're nice to me... I'll be nice to you..."

Zerda watched as Valentin's face grew red and he smiled slightly. Was Valentin reacting the same way he was only hours ago? It couldn't be Valentin was to much to himself and the world of mechanics, but then again he was very helpfl towards Zerda in his times of need. With a slight laugh at the words Rosie had said he nodded and pretended to not understand what just went through Valentin's mind to spare him any more embarrisment. Turning to Rosie he nodded at the sound of cinnamon roles, "Those sound so good! Yes I would love that!" He said with a great expression of gratitude. The rest of the dinner was up to her he was pretty much up for anything at this point. With a spin on his heal he turned towards Valentin and grabbed his hand, "Alright then Val Val! Lets get going! I wanna see your brain at work!" He said as he pulled Valentin closer then turned and pulled him out of the kitchen itself in hopes to find his clothes first. That was his true main worry at this point, then the blanket. "Valentin...do you have a mate?" He asked just before the slipped out of the door.

He wasn't sure if his family selected mates like his did, and he was just curious about, well...everything about Valentin. He needed to know more and in time he would have a mind full of Valentin facts and opinions. You can't really judge one till you get to know them of course. This was Zerda's long time goal: To get to know everyone on a deeper level of friendship and history.

Valentin's ears shot back up in response to Rosie's words. "I'm not trying to cover up.. anything! It's not--like that. Or anything." He felt sort of like he was wasting his words, because they probably weren't going to be listened to.. or believed.

He let himself be pulled along after Zerda, grateful for their retreat because the smell of the steak was wafting and steadily making him feel nauseous.

But of course, the stress never ends, and when Zerda asked him about a mate, Valentin gave an undignified squeak. "What! No! No, of course not!" He shook his head defiantly, as if the question was preposterous. While he understood the concept of dating, it was all very human as far as he was concerned. Back home in his herd, someone chose a mate when they were ready to begin building a family. They typically would become life-partners, but not always. The main purpose of mating was procreation. "I'm definitely not ready for a family yet!"

He mentally shuddered at the thought of raising little faun-fawns and how much stress that would entail, especially without the support of a herd. No, he didn't imagine he'd ever be ready for that. But why would Zerda ask such a thing?

"You don't have a mate, do you??" He hadn't imagined Zerda did since they were both young, but who knew!

Subconsciously, he started to meander them in the direction of the southern exit so that they could cross the dirt road towards the dorm houses. He was fairly sure that Zerda's clothes would have ended up in their room. Whenever Valentin left clothing in the laundry cellar, somehow they magically re-appeared in a day or so, folded neatly on his desk. He wasn't sure who did that, but it was nifty. And happily, that's where they should be heading if Zerda wants to work on the heated blanket anyways.

Rosie laughed, she didn't really care, there was nothing for her to believe or disbelieve. She decided to continue cooking everything. She put Rendaz's food to the side when she was done, as well as the cinnamon roles and vegetarian meal for the two that had left not but ten minutes prior. She started cooking herself a small piece of steak using her kunai to make it a truly Japanese looking meal. Her tools flipped around in her hands, and everything was going both quickly and smoothly. She really enjoyed her job in the kitchen.

Elizabeth poked her head around the kitchen door. She had been able to smell food in the corridor she was wandering in and had followed it down here. "Hello?" She called. Suddenly she noticed a girl, maybe early twenties chopping at a steak. "Are you the cook?" she asked, giving a little smile and coming out from behind the door.

(( Just thought i'd reply on this one rather than starting a whole new topic hope you dont mind! ))

"That would be me. I'm Rosie, and who, may I ask, are you miss?" she gave a small cool smile. She didn't have an edge though, "Is there something that I can get for you?" she asked as she was tossing her meal watching the large steak getting cold in slight anger. She didn't take it out on anything or anyone else. The woman was playing with her kunai and the food.

((sorry It's short))

"Oh-uh yes please!" Lizzie gave a big smile. "Can you make anything ?" she asked. Slipping in properly now and coming a bit closer. "What are those?" She pointed at her knives with a miniscule finger. Why was there a giant steak lying on the side? It was huge! Elizabeth watched with big eyes at Rosie's graceful cutting and chopping. "Thats amazing" She whispered...

(( Sorry for shortness! :/ ))