In the Between 1.3

Mar kept her eyes glued in front of her as she walked in to the mess hall. Any sort of calm she had before entering was gone as soon at her foot first hit the tile, and that did not go unnoticed by the painted cat. Of course there was a rather large shark of some kind slobbering up whatever it had in a bowl in front of it. Desi remembered what those were from history books about the Aivlys Ocean before it had evaporated. She didn't however remember  that they ate out of bowls, perhaps the history books were wrong.

"Good evening Miss Riley."

The shorter girl's voice brought her attention back to the serving bar they now stood before, causing her to stop not a moment to soon if she didn't want to run in to the Quollan. Big green eyes moved from her shorter friend up to the woman who was standing further back behind the counter.

"Oh Mar, I was wondering when I'd see you today!" There was a mighty clattering as the chef moved from whatever she'd been doing to the counter, all the while wiping her hands clean on a towel that had been hanging out of her pocket. "Still in the red I see," the numbat snickered a little to herself.

Desi's eyes instantly roved up and down the cook, taking in all the little details that could be offered. In particular she honed right in on the single white bud resting on the woman's chest, there seemed to be some sort of wire leading up to one of her ears but the painted cat's attention locked on the one at her bust. She was pretty sure there was some sort of sounds coming from it, but what it was exactly eluded her.

After a couple of moments trying to figure out what it was with no luck a rough cough brought her back, only then did she register the other two had been chatting softly in the background. The Chef caught Desi's eye and pointed to her own eyes, "Up here Poncho."

The repti-mammal straightened a little as her ears flicked back apologetically after registering what she meant. Humourlessly this time the chef addressed Mar, "Is this the native you brought back that's been layin' up in your room the last few days?" The Quollan simply nodded, her eyes chancing a glance at her companion. Riley's eyes follwed, gaze locking with the painted cat's, "Not very social, are you?"

Instantly Desi gathered herself at this comment, ears perking back up. With a shallow clearing of her throat the tall woman offered one hand to the chef, smiling as sweetly as she could muster. The Numbat Looked hesitant for a moment before taking her hand in a shake.

"Greetin's an' salutations Miss. . . Riley, was it? 'M terrible sorry for my manners, Ah was jes' tryin' to gander at what that was hanging from yer ear," after the handshake she drew her hand back to paw at where the white drop would be on her own chest, just to solidify what she was referring too.

"Oh this?" the chef asked, clearly a lot more forgiving after hearing the misunderstanding explained as she picked up the wire, "You don't know about ear buds? Where did you come from and arid, uninhabited wasteland?"

There was a semi awkward silence between the three.

Riley shook her head a bit, "Oh right Mar went to the desert right? So that's probably a yes. Okay come here." The numbat waved her free hand to motion Desi closer.

The repti-mammal leaned in, bracing herself with one hand on the counter as she did so. After nearly jumping back when her ear was touched, Mar-Lynn laughing at her panic did wonders to make the desert dweller still, Riley secured the second ear bud. Almost in slow motion Desi's eyes opened wider, her mouth gaping a couple of times like a fish out of water. She even waved her hands about before finally finding her words, "MAR. Omigod Mar! Thur's music comin' outta this whatever. I hear music in m'head!"

Riley and Mar-Lynn both shared a laugh at the feline's amazement. Until the repti-mammal moved a little too much and nearly ripped the ear bud out the chef's ear, actually causing it to fall out of her own in the process. The numbat hissed a little in pain, fixing her own ear piece once more as Desi continued to rave rather loudly about whatever the things was that made the noise and magic.

"Oh right, I made something for you Mar. I remember you mentioned liking eucalyptus, hopefully I did it justice," Riley mentioned, going back to grab a small tray with muffins on it and placing it under the glass for the Quollan to grab.

The mention of food brought Desi back from her rant as Mar picked up a muffin and nibbled delicately on it. She took her time swallowing before smiling broadly and nodding at Riley, seeing the painted cat's curiosity she broke off a piece and handed it to her. The bite was gone so quickly and in the feline's mouth so quickly Mar actually jumped back in shock, a loud thank you could just barely be heard before the repti-mammal downed the bit of muffin.

Almost as fast as it had vanish in to her mouth the desert native started choking on the food. Not wanting to spit up what her face clearly told everyone she thought was disgusting, she hit her chest a little bit and swallowed anyway.

Riley just smirked a little bit, even laughing when the repti-mammal's stomach growled loudly, "Not much for vegetation then? Lucky for you I've plenty of other, more 'normal', options. And you've been out for a few days right? No wonder you're so famished."

It only took a couple of moments for the chef to pile up a plate, and share a warning not to tell anyone she'd given the desert dweller a double helping since she'd been out. Apparently there was some sort of rationing going on right now. Desi merely joked about eating fast as she and Mar walked off.
-----x-----

The unlikely duo ate their food back in the room, after all there were way to many scary competitors in the mess hall and common areas. The second helping on Desi's plate was gone almost as soon as the two sat down at the small table in the room. Only after having gotten that squared away did Desi finally speak up.

"Was I really out for a few days?"

Mar nibbled on one of her muffins as a source of distraction, following it up with a sip of tea which Riley had also managed to make special for her. Even after that she still remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, "Almost a week. I'm not sure how long you were up before the fourty-eight hours with me but it really took a toll on you I guess. I was starting to get worried but all your vitals and everything were stable. I guess your body just needed to rest up."

"There were a couple of times I thought you were awake, but then you just went back to sleep," the Quollan laughed a little before going back to eat.

The painted cat nodded and took a few more bites before asking her next question, "What else happened while I was out?"

Once more Mar-Lynn took a sip of tea before replying, "Well, I was wanting to mention this. You're basically stuck here. Until the competition is over."

"Competition?"

"Yes, the Race of Aleria. Basically there are a handful of people 'racing' to prove that they are worthy to defeat the dragons," Mar commented matter-of-factly.

"Alright," Desi nodded slowly, "Now pretendin' any of that made sense I'm gettin' that yer doin' a bunch ah battles for the privilege t'fight the biggest battle of all?"

"Precisely"

"That doesn't seem like yer forte, what's in it fer you?" the repti-mammal questioned skeptically as she raised her fork to her mouth once more.

"Well, I'm basically in it to prove to myself that I can do things without d-dying."

Mar swallowed softly, cursing her stutter for breaking out in a place where it wasn't likely to be overlooked. Desi, however, said nothing and merely let silence stretch between them briefly, "okay so when's it over?"

"When one of the competitors wins I guess. Or when I die."

"So I get to wait here and worry about you while yer off who knows where, doin' who knows what, and getting all sorts a new 'tour guides'?"

"More or less," Mar spoke uneasily. "Although, I have a plan to fix that. At least it will allow you something to do, i-if you're interested."

Desi just nodded, too pre-occupied enjoying her food still.

"There's a surveillance room, that has videos on all of the competitors. I've made a little device, similar to the one you saw earlier, that will hook on your ear. If you keep that on you'll be able to hear me, and I'll pick up what you're saying. With that if you stay in the surveillance room it'll be kind of like you're there with me." The Quollan stirred her spoon idly in her cup, not even bothering to look up. Her attention did snap up however when her new room-mate spoke.

"Tha' seems like a grand idea. 'Ell I might even see sommat you can't if they got the camera angles right. know what I'm sayin'?"

Further conversation was cut short as an announcement blared over the intercoms: "All contestants, please make you way to the transportation room immediately. Thank you."