It's your what?! (Kavala)

[Mizuriel]

27th of Fall OOCMizu of course knows that Sam can't really talk about anything, but it's just an expression, so bear with me. “You ought to trust me a bit more with these things. If I said we would go once our chores are finished then that’s what I meant” Mizuriel looked at Samantha awkwardly as he spoke in an apologetic manner. “Now stop acting like a sourpuss and hand me that bucket over there, we’re almost done…” he stopped talking as he had finally noticed that the girl wasn’t budging an inch. Still not paying her his full attention, Mizuriel grabbed the bucket himself and placed it back with the rest of the stuff he had just cleaned up after feeding the chickens. Finally he was done and he could start staring at the child, examining her every move. He’d done something wrong; somehow he was certain of the fact. Placing his hand on Sam’s shoulder, he knelt next to her putting forward his best effort puppy face… regardless something kept telling him that no matter what he does, the girl’s mood wouldn’t change much. Shortly after he raised his hands in defeat, asking her softly just what it was that kept her down? “I can see something is…. Well… uhm… want to talk about it?” When the girl looked from the ground and back into his eyes, he could see tears in her own. Whatever it was that she was hiding, it seemed to press onto her like iron. Suddenly she raised her fingers, five on the left hand and four on the right, nine in total, with her thumb pressed against her chest. The man’s eyes widened, but his tired mind could not comprehend the information yet. What seemed like a vague smile on Sam’s face quickly perished and she became gloomy again. It must have been hope leading the girl, because she started acting very strange. First she raised her hands in the air jumping around as if she was dancing. At first the man thought she was making fun of him, but then she started folding her hands over air until he could visualize something resembling a ball, if a bit flat on one of the sides. She raised her head up again, hopeful, but the man was still dumbstruck. But then she started imitating blowing into thin air as if she was blowing out candles on a cake… wait CAKE, that was it! The sour face, and the number nine and the imaginary candles… it was her birthday… and he had forgotten about it completely. It was fair to say Mizuriel was always bad with dates, but there was no excuse for a thing like that. Thinking off the top of his head, he quickly spoke. “Oh, you mean the birthday? Why do you think we were going out for no particular reason, as if I’d ever forget! Stay here, I just remembered I haven’t invited Kavala to join us. Yes, wait right there I’ll be right back” it hurt him to lie to her, but there wasn’t much point to truth if it broke her heart. A few moments later, the man stormed inside the Sanctuary main building and he searched the rooms one by one until he finally ran across Kavala in one of the hallways. A bit out of breath, he gasped as he spoke to her. “I… uh… I need help!”

[Kavala]

Kavala was busy in the clinic apothecary mixing herbs. Fevercool had been harvested lately and she was hanging it to dry along with a great many other herbs in order to get ready for the winter. The bark of willow trees hung in great long strips as well as a plethora of flowers and woody stems drying in the rafters. Kavala was busy. She was always busy. Work was better than no work in her mind and even Tasifal was helping by playing quietly on a blanket on the floor in the corner with blocks that had intricate designs of swords and horses on them. He was growing fast and even now Kavala had to keep a sharp eye on him to keep him out of trouble.

Kavala hadn't overheard any of the conversation that took place outside. She heard someone come in, peek into rooms, and eventually locate her. She had her hands full when he did, but Kavala didn't fail to offer him a smile. It was an unusual thing, though Mizuriel might not have realized it. She hadn't smiled a great deal in the summer and instead had thrown herself into caring for Tasival who was going on two seasons old. Kavala had been sullen, unexcited, and seemingly in a depression almost since the time her child had been born. The denizens of Sanctuary could guess why, even if she never spoke of it. Hatot and Radris hadn't come to see the child. They hadn't come at all. She'd watched and hoped and slowly had her joy stolen from her as it became more and more clear he wouldn't ever come to see his son. The konti had been in love. She'd thought she'd finally found a family she could grow old with, one that would age as she did instead of the rapid fire aging she saw in her own human origins.

But there was another Akalak now. He was quieter, far different than Hatot had been, and though he held Kavala's contract as a Nakivak, he didn't come and impose himself on her daily as she thought the next would. Instead, he stopped by, spent time, and often required nothing at all. It had relaxed Sanctuary's Mistress a bit and now she smiled sometimes, at least a little, and especially at those she trusted.

"What's up Mizuriel? Is everything okay?" Kavala asked, quickly hanging the plants she was stringing so they could dry.

[Mizuriel]

OOCI know it's shorter than what i usually post, but it's something to get things started. When he finally saw Kavala smiling, Mizuriel started feeling as if he got hit on the head. Samantha and him weren’t the happiest characters around, but compared to even them the Konti seemed depressed as of late. The man hadn’t known her well enough to guess all the things that worried her; actually he hadn’t known her at all. Still, it was fairly easy to guess she was missing her blue friend; Ratot or Hadris.. or something. Not many times in his life had Mizuriel been as nervous as he was while asking for help. “I have forgotten Samantha’s birthday and I figured you could help me out since you know your way around Riverfall. Also, she was probably expecting some sort of a party and since I have no idea what to do… what sort of presents do girls like anyway? Please help me, I promise I’ll do as many chores as I can for the rest of the year… please say yes…” Mizuriel sounded somewhere between desperate and ashamed, definitely disoriented though. He wasn’t quite sure just why it was that he went straight to Kavala when he needed help. After all he was much closer with Riki or Lakara. Something in the woman’s presence gave him the confidence to think she was the go to person for any sort of trouble he might have had. Waiting for an answer felt like forever, even while it most definitely wouldn’t be that long.

[Kavala]

Kavala thought quickly. The root of the problem was completely and utterly clear. Town? If Mizuriel wanted a party there was no time to go to town. "Town isn't going to help us, Mizuriel, not really unless there's something specific you want there. We'll be needing to make her a cake and gather everyone for a group meal tonight. I think the kelvics have a fat buck hanging in the bathhouse until one of us can get to it to dress it..." Kavala said, a hint of irritation filling her tone. She didn't like her bathhouse used even though it was an easy place to wash up blood.

"As for a present, there's puppies in the kennel. I brought back dogs from Endrykas on my last trip home visiting my family. Why don't you let her pick one out as a present? The only other thing she really needs is some clothing. I don't know if you've noticed but she's grown again. Her things are smaller than she needs them to be, especially shoes. You can take her to town while I make the cake to surprise her with or perhaps someone else can while we both do it. I know she's fond of Aweston and often helps him on his chore rounds. We could ask him to do it... she'll know its because we're getting ready for a party. I think I even have streamers of cloth left over from festival that I can brighten the Veranda with." Kavala suggested, studying Mizuriel thoughtfully.

It didn't surprise her he'd forgotten all about the girls' birthday. They'd all been hugely busy and had worked extra hard to get Sanctuary read to bed down for the winter. Samantha stayed out from under foot and while she was only a child, she was a good girl and not prone to ever draw anyone's attention.

[Mizuriel]

OOCIf you mind Kavala talking with Aweston, I'll edit my post to incorporate that too. Of course town wasn’t going to help them, what was he thinking? As soon as Kavala had started talking, Mizuriel’s face pulled up in a smile. There was definitely something strange about the girl and the ease with which she organized everything he had just blurted out. “So I go and talk to Samantha, point her to Aweston and tell her something open ended so she doesn’t become convinced I’ve forgotten her birthday… would you mind getting the boy and I’ll talk to her?” his tone was still uneven and he felt like an idiot, but hey at least they had a plan. Mizuriel then headed for the front, but he turned before he completely left the room. “So we meet here or would somewhere else be more fitting?” once hearing the answer he would finally exit. His awkward exit was only furthered by his head popping back into the hallway, as if he was bending backwards to fit it in. “And thank you…” *** “Change of plans, you will be going to town with Aweston, I seem to have forgotten promising Kavala help with the dishes. So you behave like a good girl, alright?” Mizuriel stared at her for a bit before he got a nod in response. Sam seemed suspicious of the whole ‘change of plans’ but she didn’t seem like she wanted any further discussion on the matter. Instead the two waited a couple of chimes until Aweston showed up. In the time they had to spend, Mizuriel kept nagging about how she should keep herself away from trouble. “… and always look both ways before crossing the street, not every wagon will stop you know. Oh and don’t go running off without a reason, it would be rude to the man escorting you… and don’t forget too…” then he finally stopped as the girl pulled his sleeve. “Hello Aweston, thank you for being here on such short notice!” Mizuriel’s tone was grateful, but he still eyed the man warily. He trusted him, yes, but leaving Sam alone with someone else was a very foreign thought to him; especially if he couldn’t reach her quickly. Letting the thought aside for the time, he waved at the other man. “Good luck, and be careful… she’s way faster than she looks!” strangely enough, Mizuriel had meant what he said as he waved them goodbye… now would Aweston be unlucky enough to find out for himself? *** Finally getting back inside, he waved at Kavala as he came in. Getting some of his spirit back after what seemed like a successful dealing his daughter, the man smiled unsure of how they should proceed. Listening to orders was one thing, but he was never really much of a planer. Even when there was only him and Sam, it was clear that some of his choices could have been better. “So, what now?”

[Kavala]

OOCAssume away! I never mind at all in threads.

Kavala nodded. She took off post haste to speak with Aweston and then supplied him with coin to buy Samantha some new clothes and perhaps a toy. The real present would be the dog though, whichever she picked out, and meanwhile Kavala would have to raid the pantry for both supplies for the cake and a recipe that both her and Miz could follow.

Aweston had the pony cart hitched up in short order and was calling to Samantha to join him at the gate. The two packed a brief bag, received Kavala's 'list of supplies' Aweston was fetching, and rolled off with the promise of being gone two to three hours or more giving Kavala and Mizuriel time to get everything together.

"Okay, Mizuriel... I have this recipe from my baking book. We need to get all the ingredients together from the storage and see what we an do about making a cake. I have the fire built up so it should be hot enough in the oven by the time we get the cake made." She said, then displayed the slip of paper to him she'd copied down the basic cake recipe on. "I have blackberries or raspberries from the garden to garnish and make a filling for it... which would Samantha like better? To make that all we have to do is boil them in a little sugar water and then throw in some corn starch to thicken it as it warms..." She added, looking hurried. She wanted to get the cake going so they had time to decorate the place even though decorations were sparse around Sanctuary.

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla beans (crushed)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions

Heat oven.
Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla beans.
Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth.
Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the hot oven.
Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

"What do you think?" She asked... wondering what part he wanted to work on and how knowledgeable about baking he was. "All we need for the frosting is powered sugar and milk and a tad bit of vanilla bean again. That's easy to make." She added, knowing they could do that last.

[Mizuriel]

Mizuriel remained astounded at the relative ease everything was set up with. A bit out of it, he kept following Kavala until she turned around introducing him to a filled out sheet of paper. Recipe, as she had called it. As he inspected the paper, he could make out basic components, but how well would they fit together or if at all was beyond him. Following on Kavala’s words was easy enough, but once she actually asked for his opinion, feeling lost came almost too natural. “I don’t really have much of an idea when it comes to cooking. Quite honestly we would probably be better off eating Samantha’s mud pies.” He tried to be funny on the last bit, but it only made him worry if he had appeared as a bad parent (it certainly made him feel like one). “I know she’s a fan of all things sweet, so I guess either will do.” He announced, trying to be knowledgeable on at least something. His mood fell apart fairly quickly, after all what kid didn’t like candy? “I guess I could go to the pantry and get the supplies, and afterwards grease and flour the pan while you work on doing that cream and once I’m done, maybe I could help out with something?” the man caught himself sounding terribly anxious and insecure, and he didn’t like the feeling one bit. He wasn't yet quite sure how did he even get to asking Kavala for help, but it seemed like it had been a good choice. Prior to his coming to the Sanctuary, Mizuriel rarely leaned onto anyone. It was a pleasant feeling, and an almost forgotten one.

[Kavala]

Kavala nodded. "Okay... lets use raspberries then. I know they are Aweston's favorite too so since he took Samantha to town it will be a treat for him as well." She said, deciding instantly and then looking thoughtful. "Go ahead and grab the ingredients. We'll make the cake out on the veranda at the big table and I'll get the hearth oven all stoked so its at the right heat when we get ready to bake it. I'll bring the mixing bowls and pans we need. Just lay everything out on the table. It's lovely that its a nice day for doing this." Kavala gathered up Tasi and slipped him into his bouncing seat, leaving a few of his blocks so he could continue playing with them. She installed him on the table in plain sight where his bouncing in his chair could not endanger him to a fall, and went to get a tray filled with mixing bowls and pans, wooden spoons, and measuring cups. Someday she'd have a real kitchen, and not be cooking out on the Veranda all the time. But a home for the animals had come first. And truthfully if Sanctuary was going to be expanded, she'd turn it into a right proper house will a full set of living quarters as well. And she'd not go up anymore or out. She'd go down into the cliff itself. And to do that she'd need a reimancer or at least be able to learn the art for herself.

When Mizuriel got the ingredients out of the storage, Kavala carefully began mixing the dry ingredients together and then followed the directions carefully, only pausing to run to the chicken house to retrieve the needed eggs. She creamed the sugar and butter, beat in the eggs, then stirred in the Vanilla beans. Then she added the dry to the wet mixture and had the batter ready for the cake pan in no time.

Then, unexpectedly, she had Miz fetch a second pan and she doubled the recipe making two batches so Samantha had a tall fluffy cake to rival any birthday cake anywhere.... well modest cake, of course. If Mizuriel did his part, she'd have from him a pair of floured pan ready and have the batter in it and be sliding it into the oven in no time.

"So you can say you did most of this, lets go pick raspberries out on the side garden and you can make the filling for the layer between cakes, and then the glaze for the top." She said, knowing he could do it. They both took baskets and with Tasi in a pack, Kavala lead the way to the garden where late fall raspberries were still coming on. Quietly, she began picking beside Mizuriel.

"Samantha's lucky to have a father like you." She said abruptly, thoughtfully. "I wish Tasi's father would show up and remember his birthday... but he wasn't present and has never visited. I don't know what to think about that. I mistakenly thought he loved us. But his life goes on... and so too shall ours. Samantha is so fortunate." Kavala reafirmed.

[Mizuriel]

OOCAnd I think I'm finally back in shape! Mizuriel went to the pantry at a quickened pace, piece of paper tagging along in his hand. It was not like he considered himself an idiot, but he surely didn’t want to forget anything. Once inside, the man proceeded with gathering up the supplies, one by one, while reading the recipe. At least the preparations for the cake looked simple enough, so he felt helpful in a small manner. Whatever it was that Kavala used to exert authority over the folks of Sanctuary, it was working. The thought of it made Mizuriel a bit jealous. If only he could be better with people, maybe life might be better for Samantha. Deep in thought, he almost dropped something he knocked off a shelf. Catching it mid air barely, he placed the item back where it belonged without examining it any further. Looking back at the list after having looked at the items he already got, Mizuriel came to the conclusion that everything was accounted for. Upon arriving back to the table at the Veranda, Mizuriel slowly started placing things down. Once his hands were empty, he grabbed some butter and started coating inner side of the pan. Surprisingly enough, the coating progressed along with relative ease, with only his insecurity getting in the way. Because of it, the man over greased some spots just to be sure he hadn’t missed anything. Finally looking around the pan, he concluded it was greased alright. Putting the butter aside, he slowly started pouring out the flour. Bit by bit, and with shaky hands, Mizuriel got what he thought was enough flour into the pan. The shaky hands, he quickly found out were an efficient tool for quickly spreading the flour. Spreading it slowly, he added some more flour upon witnessing the lack of it. Once done, he sighed in relief. He had both seen and done basic surgery, and this felt a lot like it. Just as he finished, the Konti told him to grab another pan and grease that one too. Not yet getting the gist of it, Mizuriel took the pan and with a lot more confidence greased it to what he thought was perfection. Cakes were in the oven and they were in the garden, picking up raspberries. Noticing how close he was to Kavala while picking the fruits, Mizuriel stepped back a bit awkwardly, almost stepping on a plant behind his back. He felt awkward. Was he supposed to feel awkward? Was something wrong? Why were they silent? Was he supposed to talk about something? Would it be bett… and the woman finally spoke, easing his mind. What she said, however, only worsened the uncomfortable situation. “Samantha is far from lucky. You know, I watch her sometimes without her noticing it, and she just stares off into the distance, disregarding her playtime for a bit. I’m not sure if I ever told you this, but I’m not her parent by blood. Even now, I feel like just a caretaker most of the time. She had the misfortune to know both of her parents, and while I’m not sure of it, it is quite possible that she had witnessed them both die. She isn’t fortunate. She’s just taken care of. I don’t think she’s happy, I don’t really think I can make her a happy child. She is fine physically too, and it makes me wonder if she’ll ever speak up again. The thought also terrifies me, maybe I’m just scared that she would blame me for something…” he got a lot over his lips before parting them again. “That should be enough. We should go and make that filling. ” After he had finished speaking, Mizuriel got up and headed back to the Veranda. He didn’t really mean to be rude. He just wasn’t the type that could chat on endlessly about these things.

[Kavala]

Kavala watched Mizuriel go with only a weak "I see." as a response. She felt the wall he threw up like it was a tangible thing. Speak of nothing personal seemed to be his message. Private things were to remain private. Give nothing away, especially not thanks where it was due. She closed her eyes for a moment, her scaled and webbed hands continuing to reach for berries among the tamed canes. There was no base for a friendship there. There was no welcome of personal worry shared or exchanged. Mizuriel viewed Samantha as tragic. Kavala saw her as blessed - she lived and had someone who loved her - because in her eyes Samantha had it all even if there was no blood between herself and Mizuriel.

And while Kavala had just told Mizuriel something of herself, something that had driven her deep depression since Tasifal had been born, he'd rejected all of it by not acknowledging it. How could he have known she'd never spoken of it to anyone? In fact, she had rarely spoken over the last season, only talking business when necessary. Her smiles had come slowly and had only been reserved for her son. Kavala hadn't opened up to anyone about what drove her inner sadness.

Nor would she again.

As close as she wanted the folks of Sanctuary to be, she couldn't ask them to do things they didn't want to do. She couldn't teach a healer to be a better listener nor to look at things with a broader eye in order to heal the minds of a patient as well. Kavala wondered if it was Mizuriel's humanity that got in his way. Were they so short lived that they wanted no close ties to anything that didn't share their mortality? She shook her head, picking berries a few minutes longer to regroup her thoughts and make sure there was enough for what they needed them for. Sometimes even healers needed comfort. Sometimes healers needed to be healed. In that moment, she felt exhausted but she couldn't rest. There was always too much to do.

Samantha's day. Today was Samantha's day. Kavala turned, clutched her bucket of berries to her chest, and headed back to the Veranda to help Mizuriel finish making the filling and glaze.

One back on the Veranda, Kavala nodded to Mizuriel and picked up a large pot. She upended her berries into the pot and then added an enormous amount of sugar and corn starch. Then she added Mizuriel's berries and hung the pot over the fire. "Go ahead and just stir this until the berries break up and it gets nice and thick then take it off the fire." She said, handing him a wooden spoon and indicating the pot hanging over the fire.

Kavala tested the cakes, saw they were progressing well, and ducked inside the clinic returning with a basket and several things in her hand. She laid down a leash, a collar, a dog bowl, and some scraps of burlap in plain brown and some bright colored hair ribbons. She pulled scissors from her pocket and carefully began to wrap the things in burlap cut to shape and then polished them off with bright hair ribbons. Finally she added them to the basket - all the little gifts - and then added one more ribbon to the handle of the basket. "I think she'll really like this. Hows the filling coming?" Kavala asked.