Noir

Mud Waiting to Bloom

Noir:

Mud Waiting to Bloom

Written by Ellie Borge

Part I

Year: 2077CE

The kitchen was silent. Alone, the cook began his morning routine. Early mornings in the winter were especially dark. Out the window, snow lightly floated down to the ground. Despite the warmth of the stone oven, the lone cook could see his breath. As he chopped the head off of a duck, a shuffling came from the buttery. Quietly, he investigated. As the chef entered the buttery, a figure revealed itself. It was a dark skinned human woman.

"Geshi," the cook said sternly. The Aridian woman smiled and held up a bottle of wine.

"Sduard," Geshi said through her thick accent.

"It's Stuart. And what are you doing? You know Lady Edderkopp will have your head if you're caught," the cook said. Geshi laughed and walked past him. He followed her in the kitchen. The woman uncorked the bottle and filled two glasses. She lifted it one up in the air and handed the other to Stuart. The cook raised his brow before taking it.

"Do you need help?" the Aridian woman asked after taking a sip of wine. Stuart nodded his head. He pointed at the dirty bowls in the corner. Geshi sighed as she made her way to the ceramic bowls.

"I should not have asked," she said.

"Don't ask if you only want one of the answers," Stuart chuckled. Geshi smiled and placed a pot of water next to the coals of the fire. Once it was hot, she grabbed the bag of bran and began washing the plates with the grain and hot water. Meanwhile, Stuart continued to break down the duck.

"So, any word on your family?" he asked as he cut the wing of the bird.

"No. But Hopefully they are okay. Tomorrow I will check with the courier service."

"I'm sure they're safe and sound."

"Well, you do not know Ahredehai like I do."

"From what you have told me of Aridia, I probably don't," Stuart said. Geshi shrugged and continued scrubbing the bowls.

"How is your family?" she asked after a brief moment of silence.

"They're alright. I'm still supporting them. Even if it's a few silver, it really does help them out."

"How old are they?"

"My father is seventy-eight, and my mother is fifty-two."

"That is a pretty big difference," Geshi remarked, "How old did they marry?"

"How old were they when they got married, you mean," Stuart corrected. Geshi rolled her eyes. The two exchanged smirks.

"My mother was thirteen and my father was thirty-nine," Stuart said after taking a sip of wine. Geshi raised her brow and tilted her head.

"So young?" the Aridian asked.

Stuart shrugged. Geshi frowned and shook her head. The two continued sipping their wine and working on their tasks at hand. Stuart looked down at his cooking manual and began seasoning the separated duck. He crushed black peppercorns and began rubbing it on the duck. Whilst setting the thigh of the duck in a pan, he continued on with his conversation.

"I get how it may be odd for an Aridian, but marrying young is what keeps the family going," Stuart said as he placed a pad of butter on top of the duck thigh. Geshi, after finishing her work, walked over to the table and leaned over. She took in the smell of the duck and smiled.