(2023-01-04) Bruuk's Brothers: Children and the Corn

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Author:	inkie
Summary:	Ben and Elrissadel discuss agriculture and druidic GMOs; Sil arrives late from an outing with his baby nephew.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Bros of Bruuk's Corner

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Alcohol, alcohol consumption

Elrissadel runs up the stairs looking around.

Elrissadel waves at Ben.

Ben glances up from the notebooks and almanac open on the table before him. He smiles crookedly.

[Ben]: Hey, Rissa. Uh —

Ben looks around.

[Ben]: You know Sil ain't comin' tonight, yeah?

[Elrissadel]: Hey Ben, hmmm? No I didn't. But that's ok.

Ben closes his notebooks, tucking a pencil in one, and sets them on top of the almanac, then slides them all aside. He signals to Edris.

[Ben]: Okay. I just want to make sure I ain't disappointin' company.

Ben smiles again.

[Elrissadel]: Why would I be disappointed? What're you working on?

[Ben]: I mean I'm kind of kiddin', because you an' — uh. Never mind. I'm workin' on… just some farm business. Plans.

Elrissadel Looks kind of confused and shrugs and then leans over. "What are you planning?"

[Ben]: Oh, uh. You ever had– well. It isn't a plan yet so much as a… plan about a plan? I got to present to my wife. She is kind of the brains of the managin', since I'm always off gettin' my shield beat in anyway.

Ben smiles wryly.

[Ben]: But you ever had corn whiskey?

[Elrissadel]: Corn… whiskey? Um I don't think so. I know what both of those are seperately though!

Ben tips his chair back and laughs.

Elrissadel smiles. She was not actually making a joke but is enjoying his reaction regardless.

[Ben]: Well, so, not a lot've people round here have anyhow. Human people, even, I mean. It's kind of a… more southern thing. Like from where I'm from?

[Elrissadel]: Okay! I am familiar with regional specialties.

[Ben]: … actually, sometimes people call the liquor they make out've corn 'moonshine.' Reckon an elf might like that. *He gives her another crooked smile.*

Elrissadel laughs at Ben.

[Elrissadel]: It certainly sounds like something the Kaldorei would enjoy.

Ben 's smile broadens to a grin.

[Ben]: But I ain't talkin' moonshine just now, I am talkin' proper corn whiskey. Up to the Orchards — that is our place, yeah? My wife's and mine? — we do cider, and we are gonna start pear an' apple brandies.

[Ben]: But then I been thinkin' what about corn whiskey? No one else in the north does it. So I am lookin' into what kind of malt corns'll do in a Hillsbrad climate, an' all.

Ben shrugs.

[Ben]: Borin' stuff, prob'ly.

Ben smiles at Edris as she comes to set beers down before him and Elrissadel.

Elrissadel makes a hand wobble gesture. "Maybe for some."

[Elrissadel]: But I love plants, and finding how and where they'll do best.

[Elrissadel]: Are there any promising strains?

[Elrissadel]: And Hillsbrad, that's a bit cooler right?

Ben brightens. "Yes'm, that's right. Cooler an' wetter than Westfall. But there is a corn varietal I am lookin' at called Silver Mist that does with cooler weather an' a shorter season, and Widow Mae is a pretty sturdy type, so if we got a blend of 'em…"

Elrissadel 's ears perk up "You're going to try and combine the strains? Yourself or do you have someone helping?"

[Ben]: Oh, no, I don't mean, like, hybrid. I mean we grow some of each to get a blend right for the maltin'. For the liquor.

[Elrissadel]: Oh, right, right of course, that is much easier.

Ben tips his head thoughtfully, his gaze going distant with calculations. "… though if we could get a hybrid our own, that'd make us hard to beat for unique. And we could sell the —" He shakes himself off and reaches for his beer. "Sorry, sorry."

[Ben]: I am gettin' in my head.

[Ben]: … is that a thing a druid could do with, though?

[Ben]: Cross-strain and whatnot?

Elrissadel shrugs.

[Elrissadel]: Yes, or anyone with expertise in that area.

[Elrissadel]: It does not always require nature magic to make magic with nature.

Elrissadel grins at Ben.

Ben grins back at Rissa and raises his mug in a toast.

[Elrissadel]: But it’s most certainly not a quick process.

[Ben]: No, I reckon it would not be I guess.

[Ben]: I mean, the regular way. The druid way…? *He peers hopefully at her.*

[Elrissadel]: Ah, could a druid do it faster? Hmmm. *She looks thoughtful.* Some parts could be quickened. But move too much of it too fast and you'd be risking instability in the strain.

Ben nods seriously. "Hm. Okay, yeah. That would be against the point, I guess."

[Elrissadel]: I'm not a great expert on this though. I know of it. But I just tend to plants as they are. There's a good chance theres someone out there who knows far far more than me!

[Ben]: Another druid, you reckon? Maybe Miss Nell. Or Ivy, she seems damn good at plants. Or… that Caspis fellow? You know him pretty well, seemed like.

[Elrissadel]: It's a particular skill. Hard to know if someone is good at it without asking directly. But I don't see any harm in asking various folks in the company! Or even outside of it.

Ben nods thoughtfully and drums his fingers against his tankard. "I will maybe write a couple of 'em."

[Elrissadel]: It can't hurt!

Silvestre hops up the stairs, two steps at a time.

Silvestre stops at the top and smiles when he sees Rissa and Ben. "Hi all! Hope you saved some beer for me?"

Elrissadel greets Sil warmly.

Ben blinks and sits up. He grins. "Hey! Didn't think you was gonna make it. Edris, one — no, two for Sil?"

[Silvestre]: Two's good. *Sil looks around.* Reckon we don't got to share seats tonight.

Elrissadel laughs. "No, enough to go around this time."

[Ben]: I mean, don't let me stop you.

Ben raises his eyebrows.

Elrissadel looks confused as to why Ben would stop them.

Ben grins.

Silvestre just chuckles and takes one of the empty seats. "What's up with you two lately, then?"

[Elrissadel]: Ben wants to grow corn!

Ben nods firmly and pats the notebooks and almanac beside him.

[Silvestre]: Oh, yeah? *Sil smiles uncertainly.* I know uh… nothin' at all about growin' corn.

[Ben]: Yeah, I mean. We can change the subject if you want.

Ben smiles back at Sil ruefully.

[Silvestre]: Sorry, didn't mean to derail.

[Elrissadel]: I was out of info on my end. But there are so many Druids to consult in Cobalt now!

[Ben]: That's okay. Miss Rissa give me some ideas, I might write some letters. I got to talk to Mizmainy first anyhow. But how you been?

Elrissadel leans forward and peers around the giant tankards at Sil. "Yes, how have you been?"

[Silvestre]: Alright, alright. Took Nate on a day trip to Shattrath. *Sil smiles.* That's why I got here a bit late, had to get the little tyke safe home.

Elrissadel smiles at Silvestre.

[Silvestre]: I should bring him with to Bruuk's sometime! But uh, I think maybe 'Shattrath' is an easier sell than 'an Ironforge bar', as it comes to trips for babies.

[Ben]: … aw, that is real nice. What he think? Uh, I mean, I guess he could not much tell you? But he seem to like it?

[Ben]: You take Patricia too, or just Nate?

[Silvestre]: Just Nate, I was babysitting. She had something or other to do. Guess she's started trying to take on some of Simon's work. *Sil looks back to see Edris bringing him two beers. She sets them on the table.* I think he liked it, lots of happy signs.

[Ben]: Aw. *Ben looks unaccustomedly soft-eyed for a moment. Then he picks up his beer again and drinks.*

Elrissadel smiles again at the two big softies

[Silvestre]: I uh… *He looks back to Rissa a bit more seriously.* I guess I should tell you, the reason all this's come up. My brother didn't make it through the zombie plague. I been trying to help out his widow and their kid.

Elrissadel 's smile fades "I'm sorry to hear that Sil. It's good that you are there for them."

Ben looks between Sil and Rissa. "You didn't tell– oh."

Ben drinks his beer quietly.

[Elrissadel]: How are they doing? Other than trips to Outland, obviously. *She grins.*

[Silvestre]: Oh, gettin' better, I think. It's a good sign she wants to get into work, right?

[Ben]: Workin'— is she workin' with your people's firm, then? Takin' over for Simon?

Ben looks a little wary.

[Silvestre]: Yeeah… I warned her about that, but she says she'll make sure its all above board.

Ben conceals an expression of Extreme Skepticism by drinking again.

Elrissadel looks slightly confused. "What board?"

[Silvestre]: The… board. *Sil frowns, thinking.* Maybe it's talking about like a table you do deals on? Like not passing anything underneath, sneaky-like?

Elrissadel nods. She gets the idea by like 70%.

[Silvestre]: I told her she'd better go back to her own folks, but she wants to try.

[Ben]: Where's her own folks?

Silvestre chuckles. "Stormwind. Not far off. One of the shops up in the Cathedral district."

[Elrissadel]: And she's where now? Instead of there?

[Silvestre]: Stormwind, Trade District. *Sil shakes his head* World's small for some folks.

Ben looks wry. "Ain't it, though?"

[Ben]: What kind of shop her people got? I feel like I known this. Did she tell me?

[Elrissadel]: Oh… like right across the canal?

[Silvestre]: Yep. Right across. *Sil turns to Ben* Plate shop, I think? Holy Plates or something.

[Ben]: In Cathedral? *Ben considers, narrowing his eyes in thought.* Plate. I got to know i– Righteous? Righteous Plates?

[Silvestre]: Oh, yeah! I think that's the one! Moulaine was her name, before she was a Sullivan.

[Ben]: I do not know 'em, the people, but I know they do good work. Fellows at the Cathedral know 'em.

Elrissadel takes a drink, looking very confused.

[Silvestre]: Well, that's good. I never bought any plate armor, so I wouldn't know. *He turns back to Rissa* When human folks get married, sometimes they change their name.

Elrissadel nods

[Elrissadel]: But it means they can't be with their original family? Even if they're so close?!

[Silvestre]: Oh, that! *Sil laughs.* They been helping her, I think. I just meant for a career, you know?

[Elrissadel]: Ooohhhhh. *She looks relieved.*

[Elrissadel]: That seemed very extreme.

[Silvestre]: Like, working with Sullivan Trade and Transport or going back to help out at Righteous Plates.

Elrissadel nods her head vigorously. She totally gets it now, and is a little embarassed that she misunderstood so extremely

[Silvestre]: The baby, though, I think he really liked A'dal. And Aze was really good with him.

[Ben]: … Aze was?

[Ben]: With a baby?

[Ben]: Good?

Ben is so astonished he is having trouble Doing Sentences.

Silvestre looks at Ben in surprise. "Why wouldn't she be? Okay… don't answer that. But yeah, she was real sweet with him."

[Ben]: Well. Okay, that's — good, that's nice. How is she doin'? Generally. I ain't seen her since, uh. Before the whole — Temple thing.

[Silvestre]: Doin' pretty good, I think. *He turns to Rissa.* She's my sin'dorei friend, up in Shattrath. Kind of a refugee.

Elrissadel 's ears twitch. "I think I've heard you mention her?" She sits back.

[Elrissadel]: I can't imagine a place where you can interact with Sin'dorei.

[Elrissadel]: Or any of the Horde. Peacefully i mean.

[Ben]: You got to, in Shattrath. The naaru set out the rules.

[Elrissadel]: We haven't made it there yet. But I'm sure we will soon. I am excited honestly.

Silvestre nods. "It's a neutral city, and a lot of them folks do socialize. I got in with the Scyers, which're part of the sin'dorei went over years before the Portal opened."

Elrissadel looks curious. "You like them? The… Scry-ers?

[Silvestre]: Oh yeah, they've been real nice. So many books. An' thats where I met Aze… Aszera. She was one of them, sorta.

Elrissadel nods at Silvestre.

[Elrissadel]: I'm not surprised an elf, of any kind, is good with babies. All of our races have so few.

Ben raises his eyebrows again.

Silvestre smiles at Rissa. "I do want you to meet Nate sometime. When you're 'round in Stormwind you can let me know?"

Elrissadel smiles back. "I would love to meet him. I'm back fairly regularly? But I can get a note to you a few days before I come in next time!"

[Silvestre]: Oh, that'd be great! *Sil grins at Ben.* You too, if you're free from Secret Kirin Tor Tower Duty.

[Ben]: Oh, uh.

Ben grimaces.

Elrissadel leans across the table and whispers loudly, "That is not how you keep secrets, Sil."

[Ben]: Yeah. Soon, maybe? But yeah, I would like to see the little fellow again. And Patricia, if that is okay with her.

[Silvestre]: Yeah, I think we're friends now. She'd be way less frosty this time around.

Ben grins. "I knew she'd come around on you. You got that charm."

[Ben]: … oh, sh*t, is that the time?

[Elrissadel]: Yes. The very… very loud horn.

Ben hastily chugs the rest of his beer and reaches for his notebooks and almanac, pushing his chair back as he rises.

[Ben]: I got to get back.

Silvestre throws back the rest of his beer.

[Silvestre]: Yeah, guess it's time to head out.

Elrissadel does not finish her beer, but rises.

[Elrissadel]: Indeed. Sil, it was good to see you.

[Silvestre]: Good to see you too, Rissa!

[Elrissadel]: We'll see each other again soon, Sil.

[Silvestre]: Good luck with the corn, Ben!

[Ben]: Glad you made it by, Sil. And thanks!

Elrissadel turns to Ben. "Yes, tell me if you find someone to help!"

[Elrissadel]: If you don't, I can ask around at the Circle.

[Ben]: Yes'm, thanks for talkin' it over with me. I will get in touch with some people.

[Ben]: 'Preciate you both.

[Elrissadel]: Night, boys.

Silvestre waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!