Log 1.2 - Invitation

For Benezet, his normal lunch would consist of a basic dry sandwich and juice, the only things he could afford to eat while on the go. He had stories to chase, so a full sit down meal was never an option. Many times he would skip it, opting for an earlier dinner instead.

Today, however, the lunch prepared for him was larger than any sort of dinner or meal he'd ever bought. As he stepped into the opening dining area, he could make out cut pieces of warm meat, chopped salads topped with a rainbow of items, and small cookies and tarts he couldn't even recognize. All, entirely, for his enjoyment.

It took everything he had to not let his jaw drop to the floor. It was more than enough food for a party of people. Where should he start? Could his stomach hold that much food? “There’s so much!”

The maid continued to fidget and turn the dish placements, not satisfied until they were in the exact place and spot. “Is this all satisfactory to your request?”

“It’s amazing!” Benezet replied. He struggled to hide his excitement at the sight of simple food. It really showed his lack of wealth. “Though...it is quite a lot.”

“Oh? My mistake.”

Benezet’s eyes floated across the table, unable to remain still. He could find a way to eat it all later. For now, his brain had been taken over with the basic desire to experiment and try. What should he start with first? The steaming meat covered in sticky honey? The pile of steaming rice with seasoning and red spices scattered atop?  Or maybe the gooey casserole coated in layers of multi-colored cheese?

“Do you want some as well? If not, I can save them for leftovers,” Benezet asked. He waved the maid over to the table to join him. With such a large table and offering of food, it would be a waste to eat by himself.

The maid backed away even further, as if scared. “Share? No no, Visitor Benezet, I will be just fine.”

"Are you sure? You must be an amazing cook, you deserve to enjoy your work! Look at all of this!"

That comment brought her confidence back to life. Yet she still hesitated. "...Per my protocol, I must decline. I'm sorry."

Protocol? What protocol would forbid someone from eating a little food? "Not even a bite? I don't mind sharing."

Before the maid girl could respond, two knocks at the front door caught their attention. She dipped away from the conversation and towards the front of the small home, relieved she didn't have to answer. Benezet opted to not push further, leaning back into the excitement building in his chest. 

After minutes of building his towering plate with layers of food, Benezet sat down at the end of the table and began to plot a strategy to tackle it all. He was overwhelmed with flavors, new flavors he couldn't even name. It were as if a small explosion had erupted on his taste buds.

Not long after, the maid girl returned with a large golden envelope in hand. An intricate crest made of crystals was emblazoned on the front, a symbol of importance. That didn't appear to matter to the maid, as she flipped and pressed and ripped it with little regard. Almost as if she hated it. “It appears you have received an invitation to the Visitor Inauguration, tonight at the Royal Palace.”

Benezet struggled to keep up with all of the new words and terms. “Palace? There is royalty here as well?” At home, an invitation to any castle was huge. He’d never gotten the attention of any upper-class families his entire life, er, old life. Meeting any royals had been a far-flung dream. Was being a ‘Visitor’ in Marvash truly that impressive?

The maid bobbed her head. “The Trika family and branch families make up the royal line. Their decrees are law for all local Marvashans. You, however, are held to the laws established by the Visitor Council.”

The Visitor Council. It was a name that had been plastered over the packet of documents he had signed ensuring Marvash was not responsible for any accidents that happened. They described the Council as a group of people who passed and upheld the laws for all Visitors, and who held no authority over the well-being of the local Marvashans.

Benezet couldn't recall a country from home that used two radically different forms of government. “Will I get to meet them?”

“Yes, tonight. You’ll meet the Council, the Royal Family, as well as other Visitors and locals. Heh, if you’re lucky, you may even meet someone from your old world.”

Old world. It still sounded so surreal. He’d never imagined he would ever get to explore beyond the borders of his country. Now he supposedly had a whole world of things to do, things he’d never heard of before like ‘sky-diving’ and ‘speed-ship-racing’. Maybe one of the other guests could give him a list of things to do.

"How formal will this party be?” Benezet asked, swallowing down a bite of casserole. Even the most formal of parties he had attended were for work, requiring that he wear his uniform. He never attended any on his own; he hadn't the social standing to do so.

“The best or nicest clothes you own. But..." the maid girl ran her eyes up and down Benezet, unimpressed. "Seeing how you have minimal items, we will have to go seek a seamstress."

“Huh? I can’t afford that!” Seamstresses were for those with money and access. He couldn’t even afford a new pair of shoes yet from the cheapest shoemaker. Buying custom-fitted clothes were out of the question.

“Currency is no longer your worry, Visitor Benezet. We’ll call for one as soon as we can.” The maid responded curtly. She passed the envelope over to him to view the contents. “It is important you look your best when starting your new life. Marvash will spare no expense in your endeavors.”

Benezet took the letter into his hands. The paper was pristine and sturdy, with not a single inch bent or cut out of place. A golden border surrounded perfectly structured black letters, printed on with what Benezet assumed was the highest-quality typewriter. He was careful to keep his fingerprints to a minimum; he didn’t want to dirty such a pristine document. “Are you sure? Surely I can help pay for something-“

“No, Visitor Benezet,” the maid said sharply, her voice rising in volume. “The Gods declared that we Marvashans support you, no matter what. Please, we shall handle the costs.”

All Benezet had the confidence to do was nod. This girl was oddly insistent about following certain rules. Why, he didn't know. But he didn't want to cause problems for her, especially after she was helping him so much. “O-Oh…right. Thank you, Miss…”

The maid girl tipped her head sideways like a confused puppy. “Are you asking for my name?”

“Well, it feels a bit awkward to call you ‘Miss Maid’, don’t you think? You already know mine, somehow.”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. It is none of your concern, Visitor Benezet. I am simply your Maid. Once you are ready, come find me and we can leave to find an available seamstress.”

With a small curtsy, the maid departed from the kitchen and back upstairs, most likely off to attend to some other work.

Benezet sat alone at the full table, staring straight into the food around him. As he took bites from everything piece of food he could, his mind could not help but start to formulate and pull together details. Why did the Maid not want to say her name? Did the citizens of Marvash not have names? And why did she appear worried when he offered her food? Were the rules she had to follow tied to that?

No, he wasn’t working as a writer for the Blanchine Times any more. That was his past now, apparently. He didn’t have to explore or investigate every little thing for work. He could kick back and explore all of the opportunities that were available, and eat all sorts of food till his belt had busted.

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-END OF REPORT LOG -