“Okay, so in order to make the cookies, you have to…” He looked up from the recipe, blinking, as a powder of white went up into the air. “...Lily, that is not what you have to do to make the cookies.”
The Hyur coughed and waved her hand back and forth in the air in front of her, trying to get flour out of her face, “I’m sorry! I dropped the bag!”
“Well, yes. But as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” the Elezen’s arm was smacked, “the first thing you have to do for the cookies is mix all the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Not throw them on the floor.”
Lily barked out a laugh, then coughed again after more flour went flying at the motion.
“...and don’t inhale them.”
“NOT. HELPING.”
Lionnellais snickered as he worked on helping her clean up the flour so they could begin.
@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
Knocking...knocking..knocking...He awoke with a start, grunting and groaning as he turned over in bed to bury his face in his pillow. Maybe if he ignored them…Knocking...knocking…He rolled over to squint an eye at his clock beside his carbuncle lamp. Just past three in the afternoon, based on the strip of light he could see at the edge of his window curtains. Only a couple bells of sleep then...ugh.Running his fingers through his bed-mussed hair, the Elezen ascended the stairs, putting the kettle on along the way. More knocking…
“I’m coming,” he called groggily, turning on the light and heading for the door. He opened it, wincing slightly at the much brighter light outside.
Lily’s hand was lifted up to knock again, but the door moved and she smiled sheepishly up at the Elezen. “Sorry Lion...did I wake you?”
Lionnellais squinted at the light outside, stepping back to allow her inside, “Well yes…”
“Sorry, I just thought you were downstairs and couldn’t hear me…” Lily laughed a bit nervously and bent down to pick up a box of tea, carrying it inside. Lionnellais closed the door behind her and closed the curtains to stop more of the sunlight from coming in.
“You know I go to bed around one. I assumed you got lost on your way here and weren’t coming so I went to bed,” he sounded amused as he made a space for her box on the table, stifling a yawn.
“I lost track of time,” Lily toed the ground for a moment, “I was weeding the garden and the next thing I knew it was two thirty and…” she cut off at the hand atop her head and looked up at the sleepy Elezen.
“It’s alright, we can still have tea.” She beamed up at him. “...and then I’m going back to bed.”
They both laughed as the kettle started to whistle.
It wasn’t really adoption. Couldn’t even be called fostering, either. After his mother had died, Lionnellais insisted on trying to keep to himself and stand on his own two feet. ...his thirteen summer old feet.
Sylvia was nearby from where he was setting up a laundry line. He was fulms taller than Lionnellais, and, while the young Elezen was too proud to ask for help, Sylviel knew he needed it.
“I’ll hang the lines further down so you’re able to hang them yourself,” he explained to the boy, who was currently by a basin of water running his clothes along a scrub board.
Lionnellais never denied the help, but he wouldn’t ask for it either. Under the surface he was grateful for the help. He nodded, “Thank you, Sylviel.”
“Clarisse taught you how to wash them once you get the soap into them?” Sylviel questioned
There was silence as the splashing of the water paused for a moment. Sniff. “Yeah. Use another basket to wring it.” His sentences were short and Sylviel could tell from the way he hid his face that he was crying again.
“Alright. Let me know if you want any help.”
“Okay.”
Sylviel knew he wouldn’t, though. He finished with the line and helped Lionnellais get the clothes, towels and bedsheets pinned up. “Alright. Pull them down in a few bells. I’ve left some dinner on the counter in the kitchen for you. You have my pearl if you need help with anything.”
“...yeah, I’ve got it.” Sylviel looked down at the boy, whose head was lowered again to try to hide his face. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Us conjurers have to stick together, righ—oof,” Sylviel cut off as Lionnellais launched at him, grabbing his middle in a hug so tight he could hardly breathe. He wouldn’t dare tell the teenager that, though. All he could do was return the hug.
@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
It had been a long time since he’d been on the water again. How long ago had it been? Was it four moons ago or five when he had gone with his brother to Eureka? He always got anxious when getting ready to go out on the water though, regardless of how long it had been or where he was going. He always had to think twice about the first step onto the dock. At least he was a lot better now than he had been in the past.
Lionnellais blinked slightly when he get a tug on his hair. “Cookie!” the child in his arms demanded.
“Thomas, you already had one. If I give you another your father will fuss at me.” The little boy’s lip jutted out and his blue eyes shimmered with tears. “We don’t want Daddy to get fussy, right? We can play catch on the boat, how about that?”
The little boy hiccuped and sniffed mightily while he made grabby hands at Lionnellais’ robes. He eventually nodded. The Elezen chuckled as he carried the boy with him down the dock, fighting the anxious knot in his stomach.
“Unca Leo!!” a girl’s voice cheered. Thomas’ twin sister, Elenora, ran for him after wiggling her way out of her father’s arms. He bent down to catch her with his free arm, bag falling beside him on the dock.
He laughed and stood, holding the twins up. “Gods, you’re both getting so big! How old are you?”
“Four,” both of them said at the same time.
“Already four summers! Can you show me four?”
Both of the children fumbled with their fingers. Elenora showed him four fingers on one hand, and Thomas showed him three fingers on one hand and one on the other. He chuckled, “Very good! You’re both so smart.”
“Leo.”
Lionnellais looked up when he heard the voice to see a tall, bald Highlander hopping off the side of his ship. He crossed his arms over his chest and shifted his mustache. He looked expectant. “Ah, Essy! I would hug you, but...arms are somewhat full. Precious cargo for the ship.”
Esmond’s mustache shifted again and he stepped over to give Lionnellais and the children a big bear hug. The twins giggled and squirmed until their father let them go.
“Permission to carry the precious cargo on board?” Lionnellais asked with a grin.
Esmond nabbed the red tinted goggles from around Lionnellais’ neck to put them over his eyes. Only then did he jut his thumb over his shoulder toward the ship behind him and pass to pick up Lionnellais’ dropped bag.
“How long until we leave?” Lionnellais asked as he carefully climbed onto the ship, carrying the twins with him.
“Raph,” Esmond responded as he put Lionnellais’ bag on the deck.
“Alright. I’ll keep the little ones occupied until he gets here then. Who wants to play a game?” Children’s cheers went out over the water in response. He was more than happy to play with his godchildren while they waited.
My dearest flower,
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve written you a letter, much less even a note. I know we used to do it all the time when I would be teaching and you would be working in the weaver’s stall...but I felt it appropriate now to write for you.
It’s taken a long time to make it here...to this point I’m at where I have a family again, where I’m happy to wake up and do something. Of course, the happiness isn’t always there. There are the occasional moments of dread and sadness, but I’m accepting that that’s the balance. I’m no longer wallowing in self pity and grief, but almost overwhelmed with love and care.
Along with everything else, I wanted to let you know that I believe I’ve finally forgiven myself. I know there’s nothing I could have done to make things end differently...but I’ve forgiven myself for living when you didn’t. I know you would rather want me to continue on to share your memory in good company than wither away in loneliness.
I just wanted you to know.
Thinking of you,
Your star
@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
It was easy to say that it was the fight’s fault. To say that they shouldn’t have gotten involved in a fight in the first place. To say that if they hadn’t been fighting, he wouldn’t have died.
It would also be easy to say that it was the observer’s fault...for not saying something sooner. To say that they should have broken it up. To say that they should have done something more than they did.
By that same token, it would also have been fair to say that it was the fault of the transporters. To say that they were the ones who jostled them around too much. To say that they shouldn’t have removed the blade when they did without a healer present.
But while it would be easier to say that all the other parties involved were at fault...I felt that I was to blame for his death. That were was something more that I could have done. That if I had only been a little faster...if I had only used my spell just a tick sooner...I could have saved them.
It would be easy to blame someone else.
But I feel like I can only blame myself.
@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast
The old Elezen looked up from his tea, bewildered, at the other Elezen that sat across from him. “Say what now?”
“What if Colette says no?” Lionnellais anxiously shifted in his seat, shoulders hunched as he clutched onto his tea cup.
Sylvie barked out a laugh, “What ever would make you think she would say no?”
“She said no when I first tried to give her chocolate,” Lionnellais reasoned, looking aside with a worried sigh.
“That was literal cycles ago though. How long have you been courting her now?” Sylviel leaned back in his chair, legs crossing as he sipped his tea.
“Ah...six summers? Perhaps seven...” The younger of the two sighed.
“If she hasn’t tired of your company by now, I don’t think she’ll say no,” Sylviel smiled, leaning forward to pat Lionnellais’ arm. “Just ask her. It’s the only way you’ll know.”
“Uuuggghhhh...” Lionnellais groaned as his head slowly sank down to rest on the table. Sylviel chuckled and poured him more tea.
They both sat staring at their cards. Occasionally one would glance up at the other, then back down. The Triple Triad game has gotten intense. The ‘winning spoils’ included a bottle of red wine, cookies and chocolate. Both were eager to take the prize home with them.
“So, plus and chaos, right?” Lily asked, glancing up at Lionnellais as they prepared their hands for the final match.
“Mm, that was the agreement,” Lionnellais nodded.
“Great...” Lily frowned, grumbling, “I hate plus...”
“You could always withdraw,” the Elezen glanced up at her.
Lily barked out a laugh, “No chance. Alright I’ve got my cards. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Lionnellais said. They exchanged hands briefly to shuffle without looking, then returned the cards to their original owner face down. Lionnellais took a coin. “Heads or tails?”
“Tails,” Lily smiled at him.
Lionnellais flipped the coin up, commenting, “Keep your fingers crossed then.” He caught it in his palm and showed it to her. Tails.
“Hah! My turn first,” Lily grinned, drawing her first card.
The match grew incredibly quiet as each thought. Lily took every tick of the clock she could for her turn before she was forced to play her card. Lionnellais in turn took one glance at his card, playing it after doing some quick math in his head.
Lily captured some of his cards with the plus rule, and he would capture them back. On the last card...the game resulted in a draw. Both of them looked at each other, then at the winning spoils. They shared another look.
“I’ll open the cookies,” Lily said.
Lionnellais started to get up, “I’ll get the wine glasses, then.”
