OOM: Oswin's Visit To Goldkrone

[herr_bookman]

The morning mist has burned away this Saturday, and the cobblestone streets glisten with dew in Goldkrone. People mill around, getting ready for the day and greeting one another. There are no cars on the streets, but the occasional horse is put to use. Autor leads Oswin through a door near his school from Milliways.

"[Remember,]" he says in French, "[I've told my mother you're coming, so try to... I don't know, act natural? But not too natural. I don't want her scandalized.]"

Comments

[herr_bookman]

"[Shortening, I think,]" Autor says, and inquires of his mother, who nods. She retrieves another tin canister for Oswin to use. Autor turns to her. "[Do you need a recipe?]"

The tea kettle whistles, and Erna fills three mugs with the near-boiling water. After draping the tea balls and their chains in the mugs, she sets the kettle aside.

She disappears into the pantry and reappears with five eggplants, a collection of mushrooms, and a can of breadcrumbs carried in her apron. "::Tell her not to worry,::" Erna says, smiling.

"[She says not to worry,]" Autor says, resisting the urge to offer his friend a hug.

[souffle_girlek]

"[Worry? Who's worrying? You're projecting, clearly. You stop worrying.]" She takes the flour firmly in hand, wishing she'd thought to try out some German recipes before she came here. "[But a recipe might be good, yeah.]"

[herr_bookman]

Autor confers with his mother, who plucks a recipe from a small wooden box in one of the cabinets. "::Here you are, Miss Oswald,::" she says with a small smile. "::Autorchen, can you go pick out some potatoes and green beans, please?::"

"::Yes, Mutterchen,::" Autor says, and disappears into the pantry. He returns a few moments later with an armful of potatoes and a woolen bag of green beans. "[Do you need any help with that recipe, Miss Oswald? You should probably make a double; we're feeding the inn's guests as well.]"

[souffle_girlek]

Oswin gives Autor a wide-eyed stare when she's sure that his mother can't see. What does he mean, feeding the inn's guests? What if the baking goes badly? Is he insane?

"[Oh, then I'm going to need a bigger bowl.]" She tells him. Because she's so going to thwap him over the head with this one.

[herr_bookman]

Autor gets a bigger bowl out of the cabinet for her as his mother starts washing eggplants. "[Here you are,]" he says.

"::Autorchen, ask her if this is her first time in Germany, please,::" Erna says, heading into the pantry again.

"[My mother wants to know if coming to Goldkrone is your first time in Germany,]" Autor translates, raising a brow.

[souffle_girlek]

Since Oswin knows precious little about Germany, she decides that it is not in her best interests to profess any sort of especial knowledge of it.

"[Oh, no, not much anyway, my previous posts have been along the border.]"

[herr_bookman]

Autor translates for his mother as she returns from the pantry carrying green onions and olive oil. "::Ah, I see,::" she says, nodding. "::What do you think of Goldkrone?::"

"[She wants to know what you think of Goldkrone thus far,]" Autor says.

[souffle_girlek]

"[You are enjoying this way too much. And I think it's lovely, what little I've seen of it so far.]" She retorts, and... honestly, it's true. This place has more of an identity, a feel than Milliways ever has. It feels more real.

She supposes she ought to apologize to Autor, later.

[herr_bookman]

"[I am, truly,]" Autor says, grinning at her. He translates for his mother, who nods.

A little, black-haired girl hovers by the doorway, unsure if she should enter the kitchen.

"::Hello, sleepyhead! It's nearly lunchtime!::" Autor says to his sister, encouraging her to come inside with a gesture. She enters the kitchen shyly at first, but soon her steps turn into skipping.

"::I wasn't sleeping, I was playing with my dolls,::" Clara says, sticking her tongue out at him. "::Who is your friend?::"

"::This is Miss Oswald, my new French teacher,::" Autor says, and then turns to Oswin. "[Miss Oswald, this is Clara, my sister.]"

"Bonjour," Clara says, lighting up with a smile. "::That's all the French I know.::"

"[She says she doesn't know anymore French.]"

[souffle_girlek]

Okay, so the kid is adorable, she really is. Oswin never had siblings, so she's isn't quite sure what to do with a kid.

...

Though...

"[Did Autor tell you about me? Surely he must have. Do you know, I invented fish?]"

[herr_bookman]

Autor gives her an incredulous look, but translates that for Clara. Her eyes widen. "::No, you didn't,::" she says. "::Why would you want to invent fish? They're yucky.::"

"[She says fish are gross and wants to know why you'd invent them,]" Autor says, smiling.

[souffle_girlek]

"[Well, of course, I never want to swim alone.]" Oswin replies as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

[herr_bookman]

Clara giggles once Autor explains what was said. "::You're funny,::" she says, beaming up at Oswin.

"[She thinks you're funny,]" Autor starts, until Clara tugs on his blazer.

"::And tell her she's pretty, too!::"

"[And she thinks you're pretty, too,]" Autor says, a little shyly.

[souffle_girlek]

"[She has better taste than you, Autor.]" Oswin points out, keeping 'arch' out of her tone mostly by sheer force of will. "[Do you want to help bake, Clara?]"

[herr_bookman]

"[Haha, very funny,]" Autor says, shaking his head. "::Clara, would you like to help bake?::"

"::Oh, yes, please! Please, that would be fun!::" Clara says, bouncing in place.

"[She enthusiastically accepts your offer,]" Autor says, sitting down on a bar stool again.

"::She might be too little to do much,::" Erna says, and Autor translates this. "::Just be careful, Clara. Don't get in her way.::"

"::I will be!::" Clara says, washing her hands.

[souffle_girlek]

"[Oh, I think she'll be fine. After all, I've taught her brother, I think I know the way of it.]"

It's... much harder than she thought not to flirt. Really.

Putting together the dough really isn't that much harder than her usual types of treats. Besides, now she has a tiny helper to fetch trays and tools.

[herr_bookman]

Autor doesn't bother to translate the last bit, lest it raise questions about where he's been baking.

Clara obediently hands over tools and bowls, measuring flour and water when Oswin lets her. Soon the dough is ready to be kneaded, and Clara steps back to watch Oswin work.

Autor keeps a running commentary between them, translating when necessary. "::Miss Oswald, Clara says you should probably knead the dough yourself. She's too little.::"

[souffle_girlek]

"[I could kneed the dough with her - she's hardly bigger than a rolling pin.]" Oswin teases, but soon she sets the dough aside to rise.

"[So, what should I see here in town, while I'm employed by the school?]"

[herr_bookman]

Autor translate the question for his mother, who responds, "::The bell tower gives a nice aerial view of the entire town. And the lake is lovely in better weather. Oh, and the Scharlachrennen, a horse riding tournament. There are also several museums available.::"

Autor relays this to Oswin and adds, "[Save a horse...]"

[souffle_girlek]

"[Awww, without a blush too, in front of your mum.]" Oswin grins. "[That does all sound very nice - the last place I stayed was terribly cold]"

[herr_bookman]

"[I know, I'm being corrupted by the hour,]" Autor says, smiling through his new blush. He translates the last part of what Oswin said for his mother, who slants him a look over the state of his cheeks.

"::Do you like music?::" she asks, slicing the eggplants. "::Maybe Autorchen can play the piano for us later.::"

"[She wants to know if you like music, and she's volunteering me to play the piano,]" Autor says.

[souffle_girlek]

"[Oh, yes!]" Oswin beams, making sure her enthusiasm for this idea will defeat any attempt by Autor to mangle the translation. "[I have heard that Autor is a most talented music student.]"

[herr_bookman]

"[Wait, what?]" Autor says, rubbing his cheek. "::Mutterchen, she's happy to hear me play.::"

"::I can see that, son,::" Erna says, with a wry smile.

"::Autorchen is very good at the piano, you'll see,::" Clara pipes up cheerfully, prompting a squeak from her brother.

"::Clara, that's bragging,::" Autor says, but translates it anyway.

[souffle_girlek]

"[Perhaps his playing will distract from my rolls. I don't think he shows off enough, do you?]" Oswin asks the little girl as she pulls the dough out of its bowl to punch it down and make the final rolls.

[herr_bookman]

"[That's just ridiculous,]" Autor says, executing an exaggerated sniff.

"::What did she say?::" Clara says, tugging on his blazer again.

"::She said I don't show off enough,::" Autor says, harrumphing.

"::Oh, I like her,::" Erna says, whipping a few eggs together with milk. "::She's right, you know. You don't show off enough.::"

"::Mutterchen,::" Autor starts, but a look from Clara quells him. "::Ah, fine. I'll play the piano.::" He adjusts his glasses. "[Miss Oswald, would you like me to play now or wait until later?]"