(2024-06-07) Pots and Pans and Wedding Plans

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Birdie extends a warm welcome to Kenelly and her family while filling her in on the history of Westfall's troubles.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: EK Newbies

Soup has been served, and Salma Saldean has put in the call for dinner. As the crowd of temporary residents and orphans makes their way downstairs to come get something to eat, Birdie retreats to the kitchen to help clean up.

Kenelly spends a few minutes helping Salma dish out helpings to the initial wave of residents before following Birdie into the kitchen.

[Kenelly]: Need a hand?

Bertrand grins at her. "Sure. Better to get this stuff out of the way before all the bowls and spoons come in. You want to wash or dry?"

Kenelly steps up to the sink, pulling her sleeves up. "I'll wash."

Bertrand collects a dish cloth and waits by the drain. "Alright. I'll dry. Was today what you expected?"

[Kenelly]: To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. I do want to thank you, though, for being so welcoming. I'd have understood if everyone was a bit more cautious around me.

Bertrand chuckles. "Yeah. So there's some things you ought to know. I figure I'm the best one to fill you in."

Kenelly lifts her brow. "Alright. I'm all ears."

[Bertrand]: I'm Bertrand, of House Aspenwood. Ference, Cobalt Company's founder and recruitment guy, brought me onto this team because he figured I'd have the right sort of… social chameleon skills for the job.

Kenelly nods, peering curiously at him. "And…the station of your birth is a secret?"

[Bertrand]: No, it isn't, but it's also not the kind of thing you want to brag about around people who don't know where their next meal is coming from. There's a ton of anti-Crown sentiment around here.

[Bertrand]: People from towns outside Stormwind City itself feel neglected and angry, and whatever change is enacted isn't going fast enough for everyone's liking.

Kenelly sighs, nodding. "We saw something similar in Gilneas. It led to a rebellion that nearly tore the kingdom apart."

[Bertrand]: Somebody mentioned the Defias, earlier. They used to be the Stonemasons' Guild, and they didn't get paid their due for their part rebuilding Stormwind. Turned to banditry and open rebellion, and they did more damage to the common people out here than they did to the King in the end, salting the fields like they did.

[Bertrand]: It was Cobalt Company who eventually put an end to them. I was fighting in Warsong Gulch, overseas, at the time. With the army.

Kenelly frowns deeply. "It's so awful. I'm glad they were stopped. But I can see the scars they left behind. I hope I can help."

Kenelly scrubs at a particularly stubborn pan.

Bertrand nods. "I'm so sorry for the loss of your homeland, Lady Kenelly."

Bertrand dries off a wooden spoon and sticks it into a jar of cooking utensils.

Kenelly takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Thank you." She gives him a meager smile, trying to contain her emotions. "Perhaps someday we can reclaim it. But for now, I must look forward."

Bertrand nods, looking at her with sympathy. "Your family has taken up residence in Stormwind, I've heard. I'll be getting married later this month. There might be a formal invitation somewhere in your parents' inbox already, but if you can come, I'd be happy to help introduce you and your family to some members of Society you might want to know."

Kenelly gives Birdie a grateful smile. "Aww, that's very sweet of you! Of course I would love to come, and I'm sure my family would be delighted to meet some of our local peers." She hesitates, "Are you sure it won't be a problem…having someone like me there?"

Bertrand smiles and asks bluntly, "A worgen, you mean?"

[Bertrand]: My understanding is that a large percentage of Gilneas' surviving population was infected by the curse, is that correct?

Kenelly nods, even as she puts a finger to her lips, lest anyone overhear him. "Quite a lot of us, yes."

Bertrand nods. "Then you won't be the only one 'like you' there, not by a long shot."

Kenelly lifts her brow in surprise. "You're inviting other worgen?"

[Bertrand]: I don't know, but I would assume so. Other Gilnean families like yours, certainly. You can't be one of a kind.

Kenelly sighs with a warm smile. "You're being very kind to us. Thank you. I'm sure you know how much this will help us to be accepted here. Even the uncursed."

Bertrand nods. "Of course. You're welcome."

Kenelly hands him another plate to dry. "I should also say congratulations on your nuptials."

Bertrand grins brightly. "Thank you. I'll have to introduce you to Scilla, she's wonderful."

[Kenelly]: I look forward to it!

Bertrand stacks the plate up neatly in a cabinet. "Anyway, I hope you don't mind 'Nelly', for working with these folks."

Kenelly grins. "You're the first to call me that. But I rather like it. It feels…homey. Is that strange to say?"

[Bertrand]: Not at all. 'Birdie' came from Scilla, she picked it for me. I like birds.

Kenelly chuckles. "I've noticed. I'm quite fond of animals, myself. Father was not in favor of pets, though, other than hunting dogs."

Bertrand smiles. Around then, the door to the kitchen opens, and people start bringing in their bowls from dinner. Birdie goes to meet them at the door and stack things neatly to pass to Kenelly. "Here ya go."

[Bertrand]: If you want to switch up at some point, I can do a washing shift. Pans are the worst.

Kenelly takes the bowls. "No, it's fine. I like the work. I think it helps our class to stay humble. Or humbler, anyhow."

Bertrand nods to her. "I knew you seemed like a good fit," he says. "Cobalt'll let you in, I'm sure, just give it a week or three and some good reports."

[Kenelly]: "I hope so. It seems like an honorable company. But, even if they decide against it, I still want to try to help these people. Westfall could really use a coven of harvest-witches to help restore this land."

[Bertrand]: Yeah. You'll find a place here, I'm sure.

[Kenelly]: I hope so. We all know it's going to be a hard road. But Gilneans are sturdy and honest folk. We're determined to prove ourselves.