31 Plays in 31 Days, #20 - “Bannock”
Aug. 20th, 2021 09:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11Sometimes I write scenes not necessarily because I know I want something to happen in a piece, but because I want to figure something out about how the characters will interact. I frequently end up using these drafts not as a whole, but in pieces here and there across the story, because they establish useful ideas.
I’d love to work seriously on the next parts of the Adonis story. But it’s not a good use of time until I get the damn book edited. Bleh.
Day #20 - “Bannock”
From the Adonis sequels
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
AIDAN, formerly a slave and gladiator, now figurehead to a rebellion, mid-twenties
MORNA, his younger sister, the mastermind behind everything, early twenties
Countryside outside Ancient Rome
~~~
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Aidan works to raise a Celtic bread in a Roman culina. Mixing flour and water, he pours in the starter from the pouch. He brings the dough together, kneads it on the table, then lays it carefully on the edge of a hot fornax oven to watch over it as it bakes.
INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
Aidan lays the freshly made cake on the desk before Morna. She glances up from her work at it, then her eyes well with memory.
MORNA: Bannock. Where did you get that?
AIDAN: I made it.
MORNA: Like Mother used to.
Aidan breaks it apart.
AIDAN: It's not quite right. Couldn't find currants. And it's not the same in an oven.
MORNA: It's perfect, Aidan.
She tears off a small piece, holds it to her lips, and murmurs a prayer before popping it into her mouth.
AIDAN: You still pray. After all of this, you still pray.
MORNA: Don't you?
AIDAN: Not since... well...
MORNA: I know. Since then, I haven't been able to stop.
They sit in silence a moment as they eat.
AIDAN: I’ve been thinking of home, I suppose.
MORNA: Have you? I remember so little of it.
AIDAN: I remember it seemed so much… smaller. I didn’t know there could be so many people in all world then, as we’ve been here in Rome. And now… so many of them depend on us.
MORNA: You’re worried for tomorrow.
AIDAN: It’s the eyes on me. They burn right through me.
MORNA: There were more when you fought in the arena.
AIDAN: Yes, but… I had the fight to think of.
MORNA: You could not ignore the crowd. You had to win them.
AIDAN: But I didn’t have to look them in the eye.
MORNA: I wish I could spare you, Aidan. But you’re what they came to see. You’re what they believe in.
AIDAN: I know. (Sighing) This time do I talk, or not talk?
MORNA: They’ll want words from you. Not many, but something. If you can manage it.
AIDAN: Do I have a choice?
MORNA: Do it as if you did.
He breathes deep and nods.
MORNA: Now. We’d best get some rest. We’ll need it for tomorrow.
He helps Morna to her feet.
MORNA: Come on, then, Adonis.
He stops short.
AIDAN: No. They call me that. Not you.
She regards him sadly, and nods.
I’d love to work seriously on the next parts of the Adonis story. But it’s not a good use of time until I get the damn book edited. Bleh.
Day #20 - “Bannock”
From the Adonis sequels
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
AIDAN, formerly a slave and gladiator, now figurehead to a rebellion, mid-twenties
MORNA, his younger sister, the mastermind behind everything, early twenties
Countryside outside Ancient Rome
~~~
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Aidan works to raise a Celtic bread in a Roman culina. Mixing flour and water, he pours in the starter from the pouch. He brings the dough together, kneads it on the table, then lays it carefully on the edge of a hot fornax oven to watch over it as it bakes.
INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
Aidan lays the freshly made cake on the desk before Morna. She glances up from her work at it, then her eyes well with memory.
MORNA: Bannock. Where did you get that?
AIDAN: I made it.
MORNA: Like Mother used to.
Aidan breaks it apart.
AIDAN: It's not quite right. Couldn't find currants. And it's not the same in an oven.
MORNA: It's perfect, Aidan.
She tears off a small piece, holds it to her lips, and murmurs a prayer before popping it into her mouth.
AIDAN: You still pray. After all of this, you still pray.
MORNA: Don't you?
AIDAN: Not since... well...
MORNA: I know. Since then, I haven't been able to stop.
They sit in silence a moment as they eat.
AIDAN: I’ve been thinking of home, I suppose.
MORNA: Have you? I remember so little of it.
AIDAN: I remember it seemed so much… smaller. I didn’t know there could be so many people in all world then, as we’ve been here in Rome. And now… so many of them depend on us.
MORNA: You’re worried for tomorrow.
AIDAN: It’s the eyes on me. They burn right through me.
MORNA: There were more when you fought in the arena.
AIDAN: Yes, but… I had the fight to think of.
MORNA: You could not ignore the crowd. You had to win them.
AIDAN: But I didn’t have to look them in the eye.
MORNA: I wish I could spare you, Aidan. But you’re what they came to see. You’re what they believe in.
AIDAN: I know. (Sighing) This time do I talk, or not talk?
MORNA: They’ll want words from you. Not many, but something. If you can manage it.
AIDAN: Do I have a choice?
MORNA: Do it as if you did.
He breathes deep and nods.
MORNA: Now. We’d best get some rest. We’ll need it for tomorrow.
He helps Morna to her feet.
MORNA: Come on, then, Adonis.
He stops short.
AIDAN: No. They call me that. Not you.
She regards him sadly, and nods.
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