Thren laughed. "I've been plenty of places that would make you want to pull up a piece of earth, stay with them, teaching them the error of their culinary ways... I'd eat just about anything, but after a few days with you, I wouldn't be able to go back."
Bob thumped Thren on the back with an approving chuckle. "I'd teach the world if it weren't full of sodding idiots. But you don't seem half-stupid, for a boy. Know a good thing when you taste it. Plenty more where it came from if you're sticking around." He looked at Vi with a gentle grin, fondness creeping into his tone. "Maybe yer not completely soft-headed after all." Vi smirked in response, shaking her head. "Thren's not staying, Bob. You're stuck with the idiot brigade."
"Pah!" Bob rolled his shoulders as if the very thought made him tense. He grabbed more pieces of the jerky along with other dried meats and shoved them at Thren. "You bring 'im to eat my food and then leave!"
Vi quirked a brow. "He wanted to meet you."
"An' I don't blame 'im!" Bob roared, his voice loud, and then stood proudly. "I'm the only one on this contraption worth the time!"
Thren collapsed under a fit of laughter. "I wouldn't say that, but you are something for sure." His face fell for a moment when Viara mentioned his departure, and once again the pang spread against his chest. He felt comfortable here, in this kitchen. More so than he'd anticipated. He shook off the momentary dismay, throwing a casual wink. "You hear that Vi, not soft headed."
Vi caught Thren's wink and chuckled, her voice lowering in timbre. She'd also reminded herself that he was leaving with her words, and the thought stuck uncomfortably between her ribs. It seemed he'd fit in well, but then again...short visits were different than long stays. "For the next five minutes. I'll be stupid again in no time." Bob, having quieted for a moment, snapped his head back at Vi. His hand found what appeared to be some kind of skewer and he shook it at her. "Stupider by the moment, girl. I need fewer idiots, d'ye hear me?" Vi rolled her eyes and tossed Bob a casual salute. He was in charge in the kitchen, and she didn't even think to question his orders, even if he'd forget about them in two minutes.
Bob rounded on Thren and inquired in his usual brusque manner, "Did ye want to meet me for any reason other than my cooking and obvious superiority?"
"As if superiority wasn't a good enough reason?" Thren chuckled. He decided to be honest with the dwarf, Viara knew as much as what he was about to say. Dwarves were impatient when it came to matters of truth, and could smell falsehood from a league away. "I was raised by a dwarf, well, mostly raised. Since he passed- I just like meeting those who came from where he did, and respect any who chose to head for the surface, like he did."
Bob raised his bushy eyebrows, letting out a booming 'HA' and hitting Thren on the back again. "No wonder you're not half-bad! A dwarf taught ye!" At the mention of the surface, Bob guffawed. "Weren't much of a choice, boy, I pissed on the statute of Paragon Caridin when I was sodding drunk, and then caused a fight when someone took offense. But who raised ye? Maybe I knew 'im. I was warrior caste, a long time ago." Vi tilted her head as Bob spoke - he didn't talk about his time before the surface often with her. She knew he was warrior caste, and that he'd been on the surface for quite a few years before she'd met him.
Thren's breath caught in his throat for a moment. "Podren Gilgirn. He was a member of your caste." He doubted that Bob knew him, and wished that he did, but if he was new to the surface, it was impossible for them to have met. "He was well respected in the Proving, but self exiled several decades ago."