The Help May Need Help [Rhi!]

[Blue]

The sun was only just beginning to warm the sky with yellow and pink, and already the modest kitchen was smelling of food. There was some kind of porridge bubbling softly in the hanging pot, smelling savory and with a hint of spices. He'd gone out to nab a fresh loaf of bread (before the sun was rightly awake, but by now the baker down the road was used to seeing him walking up in the semi-dark), which was now sitting next to some fruit he'd purchased on a whim the day before (he had a weakness for children peddling various things on the streets). It would make for a good breakfast, all things considered.

Which he most decidedly needed on this particular daybreak.

He'd not slept properly at all the night before, for who knew what reason, and had spent almost the entirety of it tossing and turning heavily in his bedding. Thus, he was looking a bit more haggard than usual (for Yuudai was nothing if not an insufferable morning person, already bright and alert at first light), with his long black hair barely contained with a tattered ribbon and circles under his eyes. He was even leaning against the hearth as he watched the fire crackle and cook his morning meal, arms crossed loosely across his middle. Hopefully he could wear himself out enough today that he'd sleep like the dead tonight. He had to entertain a small smile though, because it was rather laughable that one single night of no sleep could cause this much fatigue in him now. There was a time not so long ago he could go days without proper rest and still be alert and ready.

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

Like all mornings, Delith popped out of bed early to attend to her duties. Once she was cleaned up and dressed for the day, she bustled out of her room, her long hair wound up into a bun, body clothed in her usual plain, shapeless dress. It was time to do the morning chores: breakfast preparations, collecting linens (excluding her master's until he woke up, at least; he needed his rest, and she let him sleep unless he asked her to wake him at a certain time), emptying chamber pots...

All the usual, unglamorous duties of her station. But Delith had grown up in this life and had known little else, so she worked without complaint.

For the most part.

Because as she headed out her room, the smell of cooking his her nose: fresh, savory scents, the smell of porridge and bread and the smoke of the hearth. Delith's eyes widened. The sun was scarcely up! And that was her job!

Bustling into the kitchen, Delith found Yuudai leaning against the hearth, and she set both hands on her broad hips and gave him her most in intimidating glower. Which, coming from a woman a foot shorter than him, couldn't have been that intimidating.

"What are ya doin'?" she asked, and then started for him, waving her hands at him to shoo him away. "Whatcha even doing up? You should still be in bed! Sun's not even up, and m'lord needs his rest! Look atcha! Ya look awful!"

[Blue]

Yuudai, for all his height and brawn, visibly flinched as the angry voice of his one and only (and quite beleaguered) house servant hit his ears. He straightened almost immediately, standing away from the hearth, but only so he could turn and face Delith. At which point his broad shoulders slumped visibly and he rubbed the back of his mussed head.
"Good morn' Delith..."

He looked the part of a sheepish young boy, if only by body language alone. He glanced nervously back at his meal, nearly done as it was, but there was no point in trying to talk his way out of this. And anyway, it wasn't as though this were something new. They'd been at odds from the get-go, as Yuudai was incredibly self sufficient. He just didn't know how to step aside and let the poor girl do her job.
"Getting up this early is an old habit. Er, I apologize for my appearance...it would seem I didn't get much sleep last night, for one reason or another."
Realizing his hair was truly in a state of disarray, he untied it and attempted to run his fingers through the strands and perhaps help it out a bit. His usual smile eventually made its way onto his face, gentle and subdued as always.
"Food's almost ready in any case, will you be having some?"

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

"Well, maybe you'd be gettin' better sleep if ya actually stayed in bed! If you're havin' trouble sleepin', ya should say somethin'! Not be a stubborn man about it and hold it all in. I coulda made ya a tea that'd help! That's my job, remember? Takin' care of things, makin' sure ya don't walk off and forget your head."

Delith went to the pot and stirred it, checking on its readiness. If there was one thing that irritated her, it was having her job done for her. She liked routine. Routine was safe. Routine meant stability, and a job meant pleasing her master, which meant not getting sold. Beneath the annoyance was anxiety, for she had only been here a week and already he was taking over for her! Was she not doing well enough?! Would he get rid of her?

She had to do better!

She grumped over the porridge, but when she glanced over at him, she saw his smile--and she was a little surprised at his offer.

"If there's any left over, I'll have whatcha don't. If ya don't mind," she answered, still stirring.

[Blue]

Yuudai jerked somewhat, straightening once again under the chastising. Or more like standing at attention.
He'd never actually heard the term 'man' used as an insult before, but he understood her point. Then again, even if he were a woman, he'd likely be just as stubborn...
Somewhat in the same way Delith was proving to be, eheh.

"I, ah, apologize."
His hair was kind of better than before, but it was loose and something of a mane and he realized he'd probably have to go properly comb it later. Instead he just gathered it into another haphazard tail and tied it off.
"Though my head is usually firmly attached."
He couldn't shake the smile, sorry Delith! He really did feel rather bad for it...he just couldn't help it. Old habits and all...

"Oh, wonderful!"
Perking visibly, Yuudai was suddenly moving, striding on long legs in the small kitchen. Within moments he'd withdrawn bowls and cut the bread and divided the fruit, making space for two people right there on the low slung tabletop. Honestly, Yuudai wasn't one for using the proper dining room - sometimes he even ate standing at the hearth.
...Old habits, heh...
"Let's eat then."
Humming happily, he smoothly slid Delith aside and ladled up some of the porridge into the two bowls, easily holding them both and not seeming to mind any residual heat. Well, he did still have his calluses, after all!

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

...Huh??

Delith watched in dismayed silence as Yuudai jumped into action, once again doing her job in arranging and serving the food. Feeling useless, Delith fluttered nearby, hands itching with the desire to do something, but the work was already done.

Even more baffling, but Yuudai had set up two place settings.

Two bowls.

Two servings of fruit and bread and porridge.

Delith stared at him as he happily invited her to eat, and she didn't move. She just stood there, staring from him to the table and back, and when she could finally find words, she gestured at the table.

"...There, m'lord?" she asked, eyebrows raised. "Join you? At the table?"

[Blue]

Yuudai was eager for the food, and already had half his bread eaten when Delith finally spoke up. Blinking at her, he slowly finished chewing, hands paused mid-meal.
While he wasn't a messy eater, he generally used his hands as his utensils, aside from cases needing a spoon (although you could often drink those sorts of foods if necessary). Qadir had the same quirk, and as always it was a callback to their glory days on the field.

"Well, I suppose you don't have to sit at the table. I've been known to eat standing."
He gave a dismissive shrug, though he was still looking at Delith with a quizzical look. It was clear that the large man had no idea why she was questioning him.
Then again, this was his first time 'owning' another person (dammit Qadir!) and chances were high he'd never quite shake that habit of...well...treating her like an ordinary person.

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

What a confusing answer!

Delith's brow furrowed, not quite sure how to take that. Was he telling her to eat over here, standing up? Or to join him? Usually, she had always taken her meals alone so she had never run into this problem. She had certainly not shared meals with previous masters.

But the 'let's' implied he meant the both of them.

Hands fluttering nervously, not quite sure whether she should wait or not, folded her hands together and stood by to wait instead, in case he needed anything. It had sounded like an invitation, but she didn't want to be presumptuous.

[Blue]

Still blinking slowly in his confusion, he watched her fidget. Well something was clearly the matter, and while Yuudai was no dull fellow, he was having a bit of a time trying to puzzle this one out. Perhaps he had misspoke? Obviously he understood the concept of slavery, but he'd been a soldier most of his life, and it wasn't as though he'd had much reason or chance to interact with slaves or their masters.

Straightening up, he tilted his head slightly at her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't intend to make it seem as though you had to stand. I simply meant you were welcome to eat your meal wherever was most comfortable for you. Sitting at the table, standing at the hearth, or wherever else you'd like."

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

"At...really?" Delith repeated, still trying to process what he was telling her! Masters didn't eat with their slaves. Slaves got the leftovers if they were lucky, and they took their meals out of sight. After all, to a master, a slave wasn't really a full person, were they? At least, that is how it had been with her last one. Her job was to work while making herself as invisible as she could.

But nevertheless, if her master said it was okay to do, it was okay to do. So with a confused look Yuudai's way, she pulled out the chair across from him and took a seat at the table. "Thank you, m'lord," she said, blinking slowly.

"That's...a first."

[Blue]

Though awkward, it seemed Delith had finally opted to accept his offer of a place at the kitchen table. While she seemed quite capable of being a spitfire, perhaps he was intimidating to her on some front? Was it his size? His scars? The fact he now bore the title of 'lord'?
He sorely wished that wasn't so. He would feel far more comfortable if she too were comfortable. He'd have to endeavor to make her feel more at home then.

Midway through a bite of food, he paused a moment at her statement. A first?? Truly he was ignorant in the ways of slavery then! And he was quite glad of that! Swallowing properly, he finally moved to speak.
"I am...sorry to hear that Delith. But in this house, you don't need to be so...mmm...I'm not sure what the correct word is. All I can say is, I am a soldier at heart, not a noble."
Sighing, he sat back and scratched at his head in a quiet moment.
"Qadir purchasing you for me was something like a cruel joke on his part, but then again perhaps he realized there were worse places you could end up."

@Rhi-Rhi

[Rhindeer]

At that statement, Delith's expression soured. Her lip curled and she shifted her eyes away, arms folding across her ample chest.

"Ah, so he was playin' a joke, was he? 'Cause he didn't get ya a pretty slave?"