my manager said she wanted a drabble on her desk by the EOD. - AHEM.
each time that qifrey took on another apprentice, a small part of orluggio cursed the day he was tasked with becoming qifrey's watchful eye.
just as orluggio's head leaned back against his sweet feather pillow and he'd closed his eyes, that's when young coco rapped her knuckles against the oaken door. cursing beneath his breath, a calloused hand ran through his unkempt hair. he was not a babysitter, despite what qifrey seemed to think.
" what now, coco? " stretching his aching limbs, orluggio huffed a breath. pushing his body to sit up, an eyebrow rose in the direction of the young witch as she scurried into the room; always such a ball of energy. he was even more tired now than he was minutes ago and she'd yet to speak a word.
" master olly!! ... i - " she began, only to be cut off when olruggio shook his head.
" how many times have i told you? it's orluggio! and i am not your master! "
coco simply stares as if she hadn't heard his complaints at all. - compliments. her mother used this tactic in her shop all the time with unruly customers - perhaps it would be of help to her here? before she loses her momentum, coco continues. " master, don't be silly! you're a very talented witch and you're always helping us out! besides! master qifrey would be so sad if he heard you saying something like that! "
with something akin between a grumble and a growl, orluggio crosses his arms hastily and averts his gaze. there was no way this young pipsqueak would catch any sight of the growing redness on his cheeks. though, he pretended to stare at something on the mantle until he was sure it was safe to look back in her direction.
" since i am not your master, little miss witch, you do not need to explain yourself to me.. " with a sigh, and a large heave of his shoulders, coco finally garnered orluggio's full attention. " - now, what is it that you wanted to ask me? "
at the first mention of little miss witch, coco knew she'd won over master olly. a smile bright enough to turn any frown upside down immediately fell onto her lips. setting down her candle, coco nodded her head. " right, thank you, master olly! "
doing his absolute best not to interrupt her, orluggio let's the girl continue. but did shut his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose.
with an earnestness, coco fidgets with a loose hem on the sleeve of her night dress. she's nervous to ask the question, but also eagerly wants master olly's opinions! " i think i'm struggling.. with fire spells! i know you're really good with fire magic.. can you help me? "
orluggio had an inkling it was something along these lines. but, in order to help, first he needed to gauge where coco was at in terms of what she'd already learned. " alright then.. go on, show me the spell you've been working on. "
excitedly, coco reaches into her dress pocket to retrieve her palm quire and pen. she'd already had several premade spells drawn, ready to go like agot had taught her! " okay, i'll try it right now! "
leaning over coco's shoulder, orluggio inspects her palm quire, noticing the elongated patterns indicating for a higher flame, likely her problem she'd been facing. " wait. coco! hold on just a mome- COCO!!! "
just as orluggio tried to stop her, coco had connected the last line of her circle, and poor orluggio was right in the line of fire.
the flame wasn' tall enough to burn him nor the whole atelier down.. but, it was long enough to reach his chin, and singe nearly all of his goatee off, and it had.
once coco realized what had happened, she panicked, and reached for a pitcher of water on the nearby table. she doused the flame by dumping the entire pitcher of water over her master's head. " sorry, master!!!!!!! "
with little wisps of smoke still radiating off of orluggio's cheeks he shuts his eyes and points to the door. "..out.. " he whispers once and only once. his patience, gone along with his goatee.
coco can't hear him through the sound of her heart beating loudly in her ears, so she blinks, and begins to spew out more apologies instead. she finds a cloth and presses it to his chin; another showing of coco begging for her mater's forgiveness.
orluggio just sighs and places a hand on her head, which quiets her in an instant. his other hand takes the cloth from her hands and uses it to hold against his still tingling chin. the smell of burnt hair was beginning to fill his chambers.
" i know you didn't mean it coco, but i think it's time you went to bed.. i'll draw up some notes and give them to qifrey for you to study.. goodnight. " ushering her to the door, he shut it behind her, locked it, and shook his head.
wiping the still dripping water from his hair and brow, orluggio shakes his head. " these damn kids'll be the death of me, i swear it.. "
dabbing at his chin, he finds a medicinal ointment in his bag, pressing lightly against the areas of his skin that the flame had kissed. his skin was not burnt in any manner of the word, but, it was better to be safe than sorry when playing with fire. he'd learned that much over the years.
as he touches his face, olruggio realizes that parts of his goatee are still intact. frowning, he crosses the room to a mirror, and shaves the rest of it off, careful not to allow the blade to reach the other side of his face.
shortly after that, (orluggio cannot remember quite when), a dreamless sleep took him.
he awoke the next morning to find qifrey at his side, inspecting his face with an unreadable expression. suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious, orluggio has the urge to pull the blanket over his head and roll over. but, all he can do is look up at qifrey, with a worried look in his dark blue eyes. " .. well ? it's not that bad, right?! "
after a long moment of further introspective study, qifrey simply shook his head as a growing smile adorned his already poised features, especially in the morning light that cascaded in from the window. " i quite like it. our dear coco did you a favor, old friend. "
