Dining Experience (OPEN TO ALL)

[ladybarbossa]

Humming away in the kitchen throughout the afternoon after returning to the garden to work on it. Now she was getting back to her routine. And she was looking forward to making supper at least for her family. Perhaps others. She hoped. Why wouldn't they join them? This Manor had a good number of residents now and they all should at least come to enjoy a good evening meal like a civilized family. In a way, she deduced, they were some odd family. All with similar names and circumstances. Now that they were under one massive roof, they should at least start behaving like a family. And families usually partook of an evening dinner together. Didn't they?

As she continued to hum and occasionally break out into a little song, from time to time a little sway or twirl. She was happy now. She had all she wanted. Why wouldn't she be happy? Her Husband, her son, good friends and Lenoir. She was a happy woman.

Hoping that the smell of food being made will help draw people to the kitchen or dining room to see there were plenty of settings. The Dining Hall was a large one. Quite lengthy and was some poor version of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The table definitely lengthy enough to accommodate everyone in the Manor.

A little flour here dusted the apron over her dress. But again, she was a very happy woman at this time. She looked forward to evening dinner with her family and hopefully Erik Carriere since she invited him to supper before her disappearance. Now it was time to collect that invitation and she won't take 'no' for an answer.

[wr]

Starting to feel a bit hungry Martin had decided he would go to the kitchen and get some food. Besides the place where he slept this was one room he had learned the direction to. But thus far he still hadn't met all that many people here, and somehow he always seemed to arrive at the kitchen when no-one were there, so it was a little unexpected to hear someone humming and singing. A woman, judging by the voice. He couldn't help a little smile to himself as any pretty female voice made him think of Christine.

He opened the kitchen door somewhat and poked his head inside, seeing a brown haired woman flittering about as she prepared a meal. He stayed by the door a minute or so, not wanting to disturb her if she was busy, but as it seemed that she wasn't really paying attention to anything but the food and whatever was on her mind eventually he opened the door fully and stepped into the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting you, mademoiselle..."

[ladybarbossa]

Rather oblivious to a new entry into the Kitchen since her back was turned to him as she pulled out madeleines from the oven humming a sweet old song. It was as she turned to place them upon a rack that he spoke. Not exactly half frightened but his voice did grab her instant attention with a rather slight start. "Oh!" tossing off the oven mitts swiftly as she then wiped her hands upon the apron, smiling at the man who enter. He had that de Chagny type of appearance and wondered.

"Forgive me for my lack of civility, Monsieur," and smiled. "No. No you are not interrupting at all. Would you like a madeleine? I just took them out of the oven. They are always best right from the oven. At least," and she looked as though she were trying to peer around him like she was awaiting for someone to come rushing in, "that is when my son likes them most."

As she finished wiping her hands and stepped towards him. "Can I help you with something?" Wondering if he was seeking someone or simply wanting something to eat or drink.

[Erik Carriere]

It was a lovely afternoon. Everything had been quite lovely since he had given that little gift to the younger Christine and had been invited to her wedding. It had been quite lovely indeed. And since then he had been in a jolly good mood. Things had settled down, even after his Christine seemed to have come back from who knows where.

Erik hadn't seen Erika or his Christine since seeing them for the first time... well... for Christine... the fist time since her long disappearance. He thought things would be havoc when his Christine came back. But since he hadn't seen the both of them for a while, it allowed his mind to be swallowed into a numb ease and be able to keep to himself a bit. It was strange, he continued to sort of go back as he was... and yet at the same time, develop into something more. It was like going back in time and making new, happier, and more pleasant memories.

As Erik walked toward the kitchen, with the grand smell of something tasty being made, he got close enough to the doors then paused to hear an on going conversation going inside. He was delighted to hear a familiar voice, the Vicomtess, and then there was another voice that he did not recognize. Erik then carefully came in, though not exactly quietly. He stood there, smiling quite cheerfully in a his traditional wear, white shirt, black vest. All he was missing was his cane, hat, cape, and tail coat. "Good afternoon, Mademoiselle, and to you as well Monsieur. It is good to see you out and about, doing so well, Mademoiselle de Chagny." He said happily with a slight bow of his head to the each of them.

[ladybarbossa]

Turning her head as she saw a familiar person enter the kitchen and his presence drew a smile to spread upon her lips. To be called Mademoiselle even though she'd been married for ten years, almost made her blush. It was rather... odd but not unwelcome. Though she and Raoul were not estranged, at least no any longer, she would not stand to correct anyone for truly such things are for a reason, were they not?

"Monsieur Carriere!" she chimed with happiness and strode over to him with gliding grace, her hands outstretched to him in greeting. "It is good to be well and in good spirits to at least get back into my daily routine." A larger smile, "And.." her voice bolder with overwhelming happiness, " my son has been found!"

She turned to glance behind at the other man, "Oh, do forgive me, gentlemen. My manners hath slipped from me." Looking at Raoul Martin with a rather stunned realization she did not know who he was. So she motioned to introduce Erik to the other man, "This is Monsieur Carriere and I... and Christine de Changy," she smiled. "I'm afraid we never did get to introductions." Facing Raoul Martin once again.

[wr]

"Oh?" he replied curiously as he began to follow her gaze before turning back to her. He wondered if her son might have been the boy he'd met in the hall the other.

At the sound of a voice he turned to the door again. He stepped back to let the man in and listened to the two as they were clearly acquainted.

When the woman introduced the other man to him he gave a slight nod. "Raoul Martin d'Aubert." He blinked a few times when he heard her name. "It is a pleasure to meet you both..." Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise to meet new people here. "I met a boy the other day, madame..." Though he had originally thought she was a mademoiselle it only made sense to call her her madame if she had a husband and son. "Come to think of it, he looked a little like you."

[Erik Carriere]

((Sorry for delayed reply. Pookey muse is being stubborn. >.> ))

"Indeed!" He greeted back happily. Erik's smile then widened as she spoke that her son had been found! "That's wonderful! I expect he was found in good condition." He said happily. He was extremely glad that Christine had found her son, it was good to see her in such high spirits, even higher of spirits then when Erik had first met her. Happiness was contagious.

Erik bowed his head slightly, respectively, towards the man. "Nice to meet you, Monsieur DAubert." He said in a happy tone. "Monsieur DAubert, how long have you been at the manor? At all pleasant so far?" He asked. It was strange, if he was ever in a lesser mood as he was today, which would be his usual mood, he would perhaps say, 'when were you taken to the manor', or something hinting more towards unpleasantness. However, he was obviously in an extreme happy mood which was very rare. Hopefully it would last for a good long time.

[ladybarbossa]

With a joyful countenance she conversed with the two men while sporting a smile which revealed her happiness at the time being. "A pleasure to meet you, Monsieur d'Aubert," Then nodded as a grin spread upon her lips, "Yes, most likely that was my son, Gustave." Not wanting to boast the boy's talents but what parent could keep quiet? "I do hope he did not disturb you. He has a tendency to seek out anything... musical."

Then turned to Carriere with the never ending grin, "Yes! Yes! My Husband found him while I was missing. Only recently did I get to reunite with my little darling boy." One would have to be blind to not see how she beamed with pride and joy over her son.

Shifting her eyes between the two men for a moment, "If you will excuse me, Gentlemen I must continue to prepare dinner," but did not leave the Kitchen but began to mill about and continue to cook and baking but still she will be present in the conversation so long as it was held in the Kitchen. Before she got to the roasted chicken, she shifted some little cakes to a platter then brought them over to both Carriere and d'Aubert. "Madeleines, Gentlemen? I just made them. Fresh from the oven." And smiled as she offered them the little tasty french cakes. Some were lemon, some chocolate, some were honey.

[wr]

"Not at all, madame! I'm no musician..." Martin replied. "But it was a pleasure helping him with the wind-up toy." He turned to the masked man next. "Uh, well... I'm not sure... And that, I might add, answers both of your questions." It felt like weeks but he couldn't imagine it was more than a few days. Maybe a week or so at most... He shook his head. It was odd not knowing the time. "Being here has been..." He trailed off and shrugged, not sure how to describe his time at the manor. "To be honest, I don't even know how I got here." His face scrounged up in a grimace of uncertainty, as he was fully expecting them to think he was crazy or something.

When the Madame de Chagny offered him a Madeleine again he wasn't slow to reach out a hand to take one of the treats. He wasn't much of a cook himself so it was likely to be some of the best he'd eaten in a while. "Merci..." A smile on contentment soon spread on his face. He loved honey! Martin continued to nibble on the cake as he watched the other two, wondering which of the two owned this place and what their relationship was. "You went missing, madame? What happened"

[ladybarbossa]

Raising her brows for a split second and smile, almost stunned with glee. "Thank you. I appreciate your assistance in helping my son." No doubt Gustave appreciated the man's assistance as well. This man's good deal kept that smile upon her face. Despite the horrors that were within these walls, there were good people that she could count upon without a doubt.

Looking between them as she left the platter of madeleines close to them before she went back to making tonight's dinner. Glancing at Martin a moment as she checked the baked potato dish, "We all go through it, too, Monsieur d'Aubert. The Manor has a strange effect upon people, not only when they arrive, but as long as one is here, they are at the mercy of this estate." Straightening up as she wiped her hands and faced the both of them, her face rather strained but gentle nevertheless. "But we cannot allow this place to get to us." Not caring if she said too much nor was it her intention to fright them. She wanted to convey to them both that they had to keep their wits and strength. Smiling at them in hopes to at least put them back at ease.

She continued on, checking the braised chicken and ratatouille. Nodding, "Yes," not looking at d'Aubert as she slowly, gently stirred the veggie mixture. "I was kidnapped by a man from below the Manor. Luckily, I have not seen him as of late. I escaped from his underground lair but was lost for some time in the caverns and tunnels under the Manor," she said with such a non-chalant air and tone of voice as though it never bothered her. But it did. She simply could let them see how much the whole ordeal disturbed her. It would make for no good to show it now when she was preparing tonight's meal for all.

Moving over to a cupboard and pulled out a flour, "I must have been gone for a good fort night," then moved to pick out a couple of good eggs from a basket.