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Looking into the pantry revealed one thing to Astarion: You really could not rely on the two bards to do anything.
It had been a problem with Tav all the time, but Kantei was not the least bit better. They both forgot when he asked them to bring some food back home. Some ingredients for him to cook – given that neither of them could be trusted with cooking either.
If they were to let Tav cook, they would just eat variations of cheese-based food every day. And Kantei… Well, Kantei started cooking, then got bored, then distracted, and then whatever food there had been, would be burned.
But that they could not be asked to buy some food at the very least!
He groaned, facing the necessity for him to go outside once more. He was most certainly not going back into the city to shop, so whatever he might still find in Rivington, he would figure something out. Hopefully there was some fish to be found at least.
Frankly, he also was wondering where Tav was still. He was supposed to be home more than an hour ago, but given his dear bard’s tendency to help out whenever he got a chance, this was probably what had happened. Maybe Marigot had needed help fixing the roof or something. Yeah, that sounded about right.
Most frustrating about all of this, was one fact: Astarion hated being the responsible one. Why was he supposed to be responsible?
He sighed to himself, before getting a burlap bag to make his way to the market. Given everything, he would probably just make some sort of fish soup or stew. Get a few vegetables, a fish and call it a day. If anyone was going to complain, they had nobody but themselves to blame.
Those thoughts in mind, he left the home, heading further towards the river, towards the market street, where most grocers would be found.
He already knew his chances to get fish were rather low at this late hour. The sun was already fairly low, the light having the typical glow of a late afternoon. But at least some vegetables should be found there. Maybe some kinda stale bread.
It took him a good twenty minutes to arrive – but once he did he found out two things: Apparently there were still some fresh fish, but there was more than just him hoping for it, as a line had formed in front of the fishmonger.
He frowned, truly considering the option to just leave it be. After all, it was the fault of the two bards to not have buy groceries the day before as they had promised. But then again, it had been their job and not Them’s, and it was Them who loved the fish so much.
So, while it did not improve his mood at all, Astarion took position at the end of the line.
Really, it was rather silly. There Kantei went on complaining about him and Tav being irresponsible all the time, but it was not as if she was any better. She was untidy to say the least, she could not be trusted with cooking or shopping, and when it came to other chores, chances were, she left them undone in the faint hope one of them would take them up for her.
And gods, the line moved slowly today.
Oh, he would make sure to give those two useless bards a piece of his mind. If those two had not their heads attached to their bodies, they would lose them somewhere. That he was rather certain off.
One more person moved ahead. How long was this going to take?
Astarion was willing to take a bet, that as soon as he came home, someone would complain about the supper not being ready. Something like that.
It felt like forever until he finally got a chance to talk to the fishmonger.
“What can I get you, kind saer?” the man asked.
‘Anything,’ Astarion already wanted to say. But instead he tried: “Salmon? Or maybe trout?”
“I still have some rainbow trout,” the man replied.
“Then I will take one,” Astarion replied.
“Sure.” And finally, the fish was packed into some paper, before Astarion put it into his bag, leaving for the bakery and one of the shops set up by the local farmers.
In the end, he managed to get a loaf of stale bread, and some root vegetables – which was about as good as this would get today. With a sigh he started his way back home. At some point they should use their garden to sow some vegetables themselves, maybe some bushes for berries as well. Something to live off of, as right now groceries still took too much of their income.
His mood was not the best, when he returned to the half-timber house on the edge of Rivington. He already heard the voices as he was in front of the home, telling him that all three of his partners had by now returned, happily chatting along.
He grunted, as he entered the home – only to be greeted by a suspiciously nice scent.
“Astarion!” Tav’s eyes lit up, as he saw him. “Where were you? I was worried already.” He got up from his place by the fire, coming to hug him.
“Well, my sweet,” Astarion said sourly, “given that both of you did not do as you promised, someone had to do the grocery shopping.” Yet, he was already aware that there was a large clay pan on the fire right now.
“Yeah, I remembered that,” Tav said. “And I am sorry. But Marigot was so nice. She made us some casserole. It’s warming up right now.”
Astarion just scoffed. “And do you know what I will say, my sweet?”
Tav winced. “Something about me having to remember the things I promised to do?”
“Not only you,” he looked over to Kantei. “There is a certain other somebody, who very much forgot about her chores as well.”
And with the typical kind of non-regret, Kantei shrugged. “Happens.”
“It happens quite often, don’t you think, darling?”
“It’s not my fault, if I forget,” she said.
“How about writing it down, then?” he suggested.
Them was sitting with his feet almost inside of the fire. “I can go grocery shopping next time.”
“That’s nice of you, sweetheart, but it is not the point.” Astarion look at Kantei still. “The point is, that certain people need to remember their chores.”
Kantei rolled her eyes. “Sure. Whatever. I will try to remember it next time, alright?”