(no subject)

[deatheater-cook.livejournal.com]

Time: Late afternoon, 25 July 2000
Place: The Manor Grounds
Status: Public
Summary: The Barbecue

Severus had prepared for this extensively, had done research as soon as he was told that he needed to provide food for a ‘barbecue’. Well, that was American, wasn’t it? A newly-published book titled The Great American Barbecue and Grilling Manual was his starting point. (The words ‘great’ and ‘American’ did not belong in the same sentence, although perhaps he might be mistaken, never having been to America.) After learning that this was not merely an American cuisine but a regional (Southern) American cuisine, he began to specialise. Having found a butcher to bring a pig and something to cook it over (yes, the whole pig, you dolt) he learned that it could have been done with a goat as it had been in the Caribbean, and with less effort.

Having put forth effort already, he pushed ahead. The intensive labour required to prepare food by the slow ‘barbecue’ method had been provided by Remus Lupin, although he surely did not understand when he volunteered exactly what it was he’d be doing. The butcher himself was also interested and so Snape had ‘invited’ him to come and help. Work for the day, eat. Bring your family with you and they can help and eat also. Only if they help. Severus’ labour shortage crisis solved.

The whole concept of barbecue sauce was confusing, so he’d made three kinds. Two for public consumption—a South Carolina style with mustard, vinegar and black pepper that seemed reasonable enough. Kansas City style that was thick, red-brown, and gloppy, made with a tomato base and molasses. The third was for Crowley, a Texas-style sauce amusingly named ‘Devil’s Spit’ made from a tomato base with cumin and hot chiles. These American chiles being unavailable, he procured an Oriental variety that were infinitely hotter. Let him call that bland.

Chicken would go on, although not for as long as the blasted pig, and sausages for the unadventurous. The Brunswick Stew might end up in the restaurant under ‘American Cuisine’. It was simple enough, with a tomato base, lima beans (or any beans), corn, other vegetables, and meat. Traditionally rabbit or squirrel but he could use leftover pork, chicken, beef or even cut-up sausages. Basically, a fine way to rid himself of leftover almost anything and he revised his opinion of American ingenuity. The true test would be Crowley’s opinion. If he disapproved, it was definitely going on the menu.

Okra and sweet potatoes proved impossible to procure. Field greens—of the turnip variety—were simple enough to cook in some of the extra pig fat. Black-eyed peas, which looked an awful lot like beans, with bacon. He made carrots in sauce of butter and brown sugar that seemed terribly French, but he simply shrugged. There would be green peas—not mushy, unfortunately, which would have made Crowley complain and Snape smile, a dish of fried apples that was a side dish, apparently popular with pork, and potato salad. It was a source of annoyance that the recipe he found for this called for red potatoes that did not need to be peeled. How brilliant would it have been to set Lupin to peeling potatoes for his own requested potato salad?

Cornbread was simple enough to make, although all the different names and types confused him. The concept of beaten biscuits was repulsive so he settled on cheddar biscuits instead. American biscuits, he found, were a bread roll that seemed a bizarre combination of bap, scone, and crumpet. But they were a Southern staple and very simple to make. Devilled eggs—also simple, seemingly French—were another extra dish along with pickles of varied types. He refused to make grits—porridge was bad enough at breakfast and he would certainly not serve it in any other time.

Cold tea, sweet, with or without lemon was also a disgusting concept. Lemonade, if people wished to drink it. Lupin had to deal with squeezing the lemons, too. He had procured some Bourbon and Belial would, he imagined, not object if any leftover made its way to the bar. Mint juleps required it. Mint grew in the garden and sugar was a staple.

Having no sweet potatoes with which to make sweet potato pie, which seemed unpleasant anyway, he went with pecan pie. It was too sweet, but someone would eat it. Pound cake with whipped cream (another job for Lupin) and blackberry cobbler, which was enough like local fare for people to be willing to eat it. If he could have found watermelon, that would have been amusing. But messy, so just as well he hadn’t found it.

All in all, it was a great effort on his part, slave labour or no, and people had better appreciate it else he would be extremely put out.

"Let Wensleydale handle things in the kitchen, Lupin. The butcher will take care of serving the meat. You can clear plates and make sure the dishes are all filled." He had planned this. "The butcher's wife can help with drinks. The children have been disposed of."

Out of the way, nothing more sinister. Eating now, washing dishes later. Work for food, and a good trade on his part.

"Keep an eye on the biscuits, Wensleydale, and see that they don't burn. And make sure there is plenty of ice."

He turned.

"No, mint juleps are not sweets, get away from me, you silly child." Weren't they supposed to be on the far side of the lawn, eating their supper?

Attention Edit: As of this point the Devil's Spit sauce is no longer on the serving table but in Snape's hands, doled out by him. Please do not have your character get into it.

Comments

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

As War knelt at ground-level, the shout she'd heard as she chopped the girl registered. She knew that voice, even if the last time she heard it had been several months before, when it's owner had moved out of her room after she'd... taken care of him.

"Mic!" she called out joyfully, most of her mind and all of her strength still focussed on pinning the girl to the earth. "It's been too long!"

[demon-mictain.livejournal.com]

"It has," agreed Mictain, walking a bit closer -- not too close, though. He didn't want anybody to think that he might have anything to do with the fight. "I had some things to take care of. Visited Hell, for one thing. Got beaten by a group of angels for another. First time I've lost, too." He grimaced. "I was out of action for quite some time. Yourself?"

He saw nothing wrong with the idea of talking during a battle. After all, War should be well able to handle both a human and a conversation at the same time.

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

She could sense him walking toward them without looking, and grinned to herself. He'd probably enjoyed watching the fight.

"Sounds like you've been busy. Mind you, I have too, travelling with work. Had been enjoying my time back in the Manor - until this one turned up," she said viciously, pushing down hard onto the girl's shoulders and digging a knee into her thigh so her leg turned out at an awkward angle, preventing her jumping up even if she tried.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" yelled a furious Adam storming towards the two women, eyes blazing. "War, get off Pepper this second. I know fightin' is your nature, but you know it's not allowed here. And Pep, you didn't hafta fight back. Are you hurt real bad?"

He kneeled at her side to look over her injuries and turned back to address the crowd. "Someone get Anathema."

[demon-mictain.livejournal.com]

Mictain took a step back as he saw Adam approaching. He could probably claim that he wouldn't have been able to break off the fight anyway. It was at least partly true, even -- of all people he'd ever met, War was the only one he wasn't sure he could win in a one-to-one combat.

"I had nothing to do with it," he said, a bit defensively. He really, really didn't want to be kicked out again.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam directed a cold stare in Mictain's direction, not appreciating the interruption. His look said, 'Don't you think I know that?' but he said nothing, directing his attention back to Pepper.

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

War - or anyone else, probably - couldn't help hearing that voice. Oh, Antichrist...

She jumped off the girl - Pep... Pepper, of course! - immediately, and stood a good few paces back, but not so far Adam would think she was trying to run away. She didn't want to give Adam any more ammunition - and she more more than likely wasn't going to get any support from the crowd of onlookers, either. Why had she had to lose her temper so completely?

"I think it's her collarbone," she offered quietly.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

His voice was low, but Adam's words carried though the ambient noise like a siren. "We have a doctor and nurse who will take care of whatever is wrong."

He looked directly into her eyes. "I trusted you, War, and this is how you repay that? I'm real disappointed in you..."

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

The message was clear in her mind: anything she said wouldn't make a blind bit of difference. It made sense.

Inside, she was thinking at a ferocious pace.
I completely and utterly lost it. I shouldn't have done - shouldn't have launched into an attack without thinking. Defence, sure, but not to attack someone. And it was so stupid. It was years ago, and what difference did it make? None at all: I'm here, back again. Or at least - I was here, given I'll probably have to leave now. It's stupid... I knew Adam trusted me - all of us - to behave here. But I'm not used to it - people don't trust War. People run away and scream... except here. Odds bobs, I had friends here, more or less. And now I blew it. Well, way to go, Scarlett. You've just uprooted yourself, and you're an idiot for it, even if it isn't for the first time.

All she said was, "I know," and bit the inside of her lip.

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"Consider this your warnin'," he replied, calm now that the danger had passed. Adam looked at Pepper, not sure whether she'd be able to understand right now but he could tell her again later. "Yours too, Pepper. Any more fights and I'm gonna ask you both to leave. Even if I don't want it, I hafta do what's safe for everyone."

He sighed. "I keep tellin' people this but no one's been listenin'. We hafta stick together. All of us. If even we can't keep from fightin', nobody will be able to."

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

"I don't have to leave?"

As soon as she'd let the words out of her mouth, War regretted it - she didn't want to give Adam a chance to change his mind. Despite this, War sighed inwardly with relief, and all the tension drained out of her body. It was against her nature, but she had been terrified of losing this place - and these people. What was it - "Do not talk to me of cities: for what is a city without its people?"... Plato's Republic. She'd never minded leaving anywhere before, because there'd never been people there who mattered.

If they mattered, she shouldn't fight them. "I've been too... trigger-happy, I guess you'd say, recently, I know. And I know that here we have to stick together, and protect each other. I'll watch myself and my temper - but I'll watch our backs, too."

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

"No, you don't hafta leave. Maybe you should look into findin' a way to get out your extra energy, though. Combat classes for the residents? I don't think you're the only one who'd enjoy the exercise..."

Sometimes it was hard being the grown-up.

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

War bit her lip, visibly this time. "Thank you."

She grinned, though maybe with less energy than usual. "Maybe you're right. I'll think about it - let people know they can join me training, maybe, or something. Though from what I've seen, a lot of us seem to have at least the basics already," she finished, wryly, and rubbed the side of her neck, wincing slightly.

Turning round, she looked to see if she could see any friendly faces in the people milling around them.

[demon-mictain.livejournal.com]

This, Mictain decided, might be a good time to step forward. He probably also counted as a friendly face, but that wasn't what he was thinking about -- he was just trying to get War out of any further trouble.

"If you need somebody to train with, I'm available," he said. "I need something to do as well." Yes, it was nice to have his sword back, but it was also kind of frustrating when he couldn't use it.

He smirked then, cocking his head to one side. "At least with me, you wouldn't have to worry about the teaching part."

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

At last, War saw the body she knew had been attached to the voice she'd been conversing with during the f... during what had happened.

She smirked right back at him. If that was the game they were playing, she could play it just as well as him. "True, with a sword. But when was the last time you shot a recurved bow, hm?"

"But, as you say, seems we both need chance to work off excess energy - I'm quite happy for you to join me training, especially for fencing and sword-fighting. There's only so far you can get practising the swings and blocks without matching them to something."

[tardis-lord.livejournal.com]

The Doctor had heard the commotion, but, being rather deeply involved in a conversation with Mictain and then deeply involved in looking at the food, he hadn't paid it much attention.

It was only after most of it was over did he turn his head from his plate of chicken and peas (unfortunately, there were no jelly babies) and catch sight of Pepper, lying on the ground, a new blond man he recognized as Adam from Uriel's picture, and War turning away.

And then he felt something surprising. Sympathy. Sympathy for her, the fierce red-head, as she scanned the crowd. Sympathy for her as she tried to look as tough and warrior-like as ever. Sympathy as he saw vulnerability in her.

He struggled with himself for a moment, then decided what the heck; he'd just become official allies with a demon. He might as well go whole-hog by attempting to befriend the woman who had shot at him only yesterday.

He walked over to her, hands in his pockets. "Sword-fighting?" he asked. He smiled a little. "Mind if I join? I could use some practice."

[swords-love-me.livejournal.com]

"Duckie?" War said, with a note of surprise in her voice. "I didn't think you liked fighting?"

"But," she continued, in a considered tone, "As far as I'm concerned, you're welcome to join me if you want to learn and practice. That is" - she paused, and glanced over to the blond demon standing next to her - "as long as Mictain doesn't mind?"

[demon-mictain.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you know me," Mictain replied, still smirking. "I pretty much stick to my sword. Or, lately, a knife. Why change something that works? And when, exactly, was the last time you shot a bow?" Probably the very same day, knowing her. Ah, well. Practising new things should help him occupy himself.

At her last comment, he snorted. "You're telling me. It doesn't matter how perfect your moves are if you don't time -- or aim -- them right. Or your attacks, as the case may be." It may not have been the kindest thing to say, but he had a reputation to keep. Besides, he was referring to himself just as well as to her.

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow arrived prepared to drag the woman bodily off the prone figure, but Adam seemed to have things well in hand, so instead he stopped beside the young man.

"Can I do anything to help?" he asked.

He would gladly carry the girl to a more comfortable place, although perhaps it wasn't wise to move her just yet, or help cart the other woman off to... well, wherever Adam wanted to put her. After all, this wasn't just an ordinary hotel which would call the cops on assault and battery like this.

[dangeroushabits.livejournal.com]

"What the fuck was that all about?" John demanded, coming up on Shadow's heels. "She all right? You want me to find Gabriel, Adam?" Of all the times to have left the damn trench behind. He could at least have covered the poor kid up. She'd be in shock for sure. What the blazes had got into War?

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam gave the man a faint brittle smile. Yes, the fight was over with, but now one of his best friends was hurt and needed care.

"Thanks," he said, relieved. "Let's let someone take a look at her first and then if it's okay to move her, maybe you'd carry her to hospital for me?" Adam could do it, but Shadow was bigger and stronger. Wondering where Anathema and Gabriel were, he turned his attention back to his unconscious friend.

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Shadow said, nodding.

Adam seemed concerned about the girl, as did the man Shadow had just met, but there were others milling about as though nothing had happened, including two men who were talking to the other redhead about... weapons, or something, as though no one was the least bit concerned, or angry about what she had done. Shadow found that odd and rather upsetting.

He crouched down beside Adam and the girl's still form.

"Do you want me to do something about her?" he asked quietly, jerking his head subtly in the direction of the unconscious girl's attacker. "Get her out of here?"

[average-adam.livejournal.com]

Adam glanced at War talking to Mictain and the Doctor with hooded eyes. "No, thanks. I talked to her. It's not gonna happen again or else she'll be leavin' for good." As he said it, he radiated an aura of utter confidence and subtle menace that would have been impossible to argue with. "Besides, no offense or anythin', but as strong as you are, she's prob'ly stronger. People aren't everythin' they seem 'round here."

[classic-palm.livejournal.com]

Shadow nodded slowly.

He'd always known that someday he'd stumble back into this. He'd walked side by side with Gods, worked with them, eaten with them, fought with them, and he couldn't close his eyes to them again even if he had wanted to.

Now he needed to remember which world he was living in; that woman could be anyone, a goddess of war, perhaps, some patron of soldiers. The boy sitting next to him could be anyone, and most certainly he was someone. You could feel it.

Shadow wondered who the injured girl was, and what she had done to the goddess of war to warrant this. As he peered down at her unconscious face he realized suddenly it looked familiar. Where had he seen her before?

"What's her name?" he asked.

[playswithboys.livejournal.com]

Pepper could vaguely make out what Adam was saying, and it was not what she wanted to hear. He had the gaul to say that this was even partly her fault? How did that make sense? She wanted to yell at him, but even preparing to raise her voice made everything around her left shoulder flare up in sharp pain. She grit her teeth, refusing to admit to herself that she might feel a little ashamed for falling into the trap this whole fiasco had been.

And she felt weak and bested, and she felt very alone, and she felt her eyes burning though she wasn't sure why, but before she could get a handle on anything her vision fizzed out, blackened to a dark grey and everything was easy and quiet.