#earthrunes

"Actually it smells good, I just.. huh" A look at August "Did we do something wrong?"

"I don't know." mystified.

"I suppose we should ..eat?" Poking at it

"Should we wait for the Steward to return with news?"

"I'm not sure. This is.. odd"

Delores returns "I am so sorry, but I can find neither of them. i did leave word for them that if they return while you're eating they're welcome to join you, of course. Please, enjoy the meal"

"Thank you." August gives Earl a look of forboding, and serves himself some... mac and cheese.

It's actually quite tasty. More than one kind of cheese

Earl tries some "mm haven't had this since I was .. 9? Not bad thoguh"

"It is good." August agrees, and takes a sip of his... milk.

There is also juice as an option

August will drink what's in his glass like a good boy.

GOld fish Casrole, hot dog things and mac and cheese dishes.. all not bad.

And when they finish, delores comes out, "Did you want desert?"

"Ahhh.... would... you ..... recomend it?"

"I would" She says

"Yes, please."

"Yes, please" earl says too

Two small bowls of home made ice cream with cool whip, fudge, and sprinkles are brought out

"Thank you."

Earl enjoys , it's a bit rich, but nice

August observes to himself that it's a lot of dairy, but does not say anything.

Earl will admit softly "ive had less dairy on the farm, and we had cows"

"Shhhh......"

He shushes

August makes his dishes clean.

Soon, both done, Delores comes out "I hope you both enjoyed?" Then she somehow whispers through her teeth "it's okay to have favorites of the dishes but please for the love of god, do not sneer at any of them"

Earl blinks then looks at August for a clue as to what is going on

August blinks back at him, then to Delores "They... It.... I thought it was... all very good. We said as much to each other. Very good."

"The Cheese was extra cheesy " Earl says with troll sincerity

"WONderful" The Steward nods "Now, let me introduce you to the chefs for today's Future Chefs of Earth Runes competition"

Blink.

Earl blinks again, and gives August a look anew and says something in that troll gutural he doesn't understand but can guess at

August stands.

Bewildered but polite.

Earl does as well.

Three childlings come in. A troll boy, a boggan girl, and a pooka girl. they bow to the nobles. They were little chef hats with stars on them

August nods in return. "Thank you for the delicious meal."

"This," Delores says "is Tomlok, Mighty Future Hearth, master of Fire." /Tomlock gives a troll salute and grunts/ "This is Martina, she likes using her hands but wants you to know she always washes them." /The girl with the golden gills, a gets touched on the shoulder "This is Jawsica. She thinks folks should live in glass houses and have food rain down on them, or so she tells me"

"Kids, this is THE Baron August Truthbranch, and THE Sir Earl DeBuke."

"OOOOO" the kids say

"Now, as your judges, they'll be fair but honest, so no hurt feelings when they tell us which dish they liked best. And why"

The kids look expectantly, eagerly

A slight amused sound from behind the frame of the open door.

"Ah... " he looks, maybe a bit panicked, at Earl.

August is NOT a troll, but he knows Earl well enough to realize Earl is thinking of Flickerflashing out of here in a rare 'every troll for himself' move

And COradel can read that look too!

Coradel clears her throat gently and moves into the room. "If I may suggest...judging by category?"

August turns a bit suddenly, and she sees a look for relief in his eyes.

"Baroness, what a treat" The Steward says