#elsewhere

At The Iron Cauldron....

They opt for a table instead of a booth -- more room for longer legs. Sylvi introduces Zane to the people who run the place (and introduces the others if they haven't already met), and they make their orders.

Zane looks curiously at the folks here but seems to get along , and why not? the family here is quite happy to greet everyone and the food is as good as the service

Zane whispers when it's just them "Okay, they are remarkably.. 'warm'" He admits

"Right?" Sylvi smiles. She seems fond of them. "They're good people, and...yeah, 'warm' like you say," she nods.

She's having a salad, but it's no skimpy affair...it's a rather robust plate of greenery and apples and nuts and bleu cheese, in fact. "They treat people right."

Colton grins "I think that slogan is taken but yeah they do" he is trying his own meat and potatoes... with some veggies on the side that look kind of tastey as well

Nadeen savors a salad as well.

For Zane, he protested he wasn't that hungry but ggot talked into a stew house special, only to learn it was of more quantity than he expected

"Okay, this tastes great, but I'm going to be rolling out of here"

"I think that's their goal with everybody. Be forewarned...you're going to have dessert strongly suggested. And it's worth it."

After the first few minutes of enjoying the meal, Sylvi asks, "So, Zane...what are you doing about school, if you're not sure where you're going to settle? You're going to finish, right?"

"Oh yeah, my dad would hunt me down otherwise. College professor" A sigh from him "But I can transfer pretty easily. Five minutes with any mortal administrator and I could have them write me up a diploma and pay me for it..." He says confident in his chicanery power. He notices the looks he's getting from the girls, and the BIG Liam guy "...but that would be wrong" he adds judiciously

"Well..." She wavers a hand. "For getting in, I think it would be okay. But pulling that with your teachers to pass a class? Nope, not so much." Then she looks around and lowers her voice, "...but let's be careful with the language around the norms, no matter how warm they are, right?"

"Sorry," Zane admits lowering his voice further "good call. Just.. so used to folks trying to talk me out of moving I was ready for that and dropped my guard. Let's just say school transfers, no problem. "

"Cool." She looks at Colton. "I was just suggesting to Zane before you got to the house that maybe he might consider joining us up here to apprentice with me at the place."

Colton knows Zane, and seems to consider "He'd.. be pretty good at it. What wiht his... party skills and alll. And , you are rather likable, Zane. Passionate about everyone getting heard" He ponders "He.. might do"

"I get the feeling I'M missing something" Nadeen admits

"Yeah. Folks at the theater took to him right away."

"And then I flubbed a script reading" Zane mutters

"Probably makes them like you more" Colton tells Zane

"You had an unlucky moment," about the script reading.

"Can't judge anything based on that," she adds reasonably.

"So, he'd like to come take a look at the place tomorrow. There's nothing unusual going on that might make it bad timing, right?"

"No, no, we retate the.." Colton looks around carefully "The work shifts, to avoid burn out" And it's true. Gate watch is nasty, patrols better for the soul so no one watches the gate fully even with it now sealed

She nods, "Yeah, Zane, in addition to working with me on my stuff, everybody has to do, ah, work shifts. It's not particularly fun, but it's necessary."

"I thought the.. " Zane enjoys his stew 'the air had been cleared? Proper ventalation?"

"It's kind of soaked in" Colton replies "Not quite like asbestos"

Zane stops, "Okay. Can we go there now and get this to go?"

Nadeen looks up from her salad "now?"

Sylvi blinks. "Um...why the rush? Can we finish dinner?"

"I .. want to be able to talk freely and I think I have something that can help" he observes"But I guess it can wait?"

"Really? That would be...." She considers. "Let's wait until we're done, but I really want to hear this." And she returns to her salad, but isn't lingering with it.

"Um...so..." Looking for more casual conversation so they don't sit the rest of the meal in silence while waiting to talk. "Everybody seen Black Widow?"

And hopefully the conversation veers towards movies and such.

And it does! Comparisios to other movies vs letting it stand on it's own, and favorite moments...

annd the food is enjoyed immensely.

Dessert is served with a 'blessed be'

"I told you," she says with satisfaction after dessert is presented. "You're gonna love this."

"Getting a salad here is a matter of self-preservation," she adds.

He tries it, then blinks "this place is dangerous . "

"I know!" she says, proud to have introduced him to it.

Dessert is enjoyed...though possibly not finished if they're all feeling pretty full already.

When the check arrives, Sylvi moves to take it unless somebody beats her to it.

Nadeen surprises everyone and beats both trolls to it "My treat."

"But...." She sighs. "Fine. But I'll pay the tip."

"Oh, if you want, annd... we'll ALL talk more on the way to Colton's 'work'"

It's with that emphasis on "ALL" that Sylvi blushes a little bit. She might have just realized how much she's left Nadeen out of the loop.

Colton grunts ("you didn't tell her yet?")

Sylvi bites her lip in reply.