Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

" I fear I didn't gather as much information myself, having not left your side, but I did wonder, so I asked Eros, " Falcon explained. " He can only speculate, but considering her recent feelings, he concluded it is likely she got into some sort of argument with Death, and on the ball, he said Xia did come but didn't participate, just staying in Sage's pocket. When I asked about her this morning, he said she is with Sage still. "

[Mirach]

"So we could try to find Sage and if she's not with him, he'll at least know where he is," Svarik said. "I'll ask in the kitchen, that's the best source of information."

[VisAnastasis]

" That's the spirit! Let's dig out some information! " Falcon agreed readily, and when they came, they asked around. The kitchen was indeed quite busy, preparing an abundance of both familiar and strange dishes, but the atmosphere seemed calm and familiar. It was easiest to first ask Jake, given they knew each other. He was currently working on the quite sizeable cake, doing some decorations, but he paused to talk to them, bowing his head lightly to Falcon whom he didn't see for a long time.

" Yes, poor little thing... I've seen her this morning when Sage was making some orders for his Being guests, she didn't exactly look utterly depressed, but she indeed was snuggled in his pocket, not coming out, " he explained while tidying up his apron. " Sage was rather busy last days preparing the ball, but right now, it seems to me he's making the little bean his priority when he's freer. Don't take my word for it without asking him, but I believe he wants to meet her with more of her own people to give her more confidence. As far as I know, they are in reception room Sage first met you in, along with ten different Beings or so - judging by orders of food at least. I'm actually making this cake for them right now. I wouldn't call it a party exactly, but it is probably an elaborate secret babysitting coven, I'm sure of that much. "

[Mirach]

"Ah, okay then," Svarik said. "It might be good for her to meet more of her people. Could you send a message for her with the cake? Tell her we're going to have a picnic on the roof for an hour or two, and would be glad if she decided to join us. Speaking about that, we'd also need some food for that, sorry to barge in like that..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Sage informed me about your situation this morning. Don't worry... You can pick whatever you like on top, but I squeezed in some time from other things to make you a sizeable portion of fish baked in corn and apples, just in case. Would you like me to warm it up for you? " he asked like it was no big deal, but he clearly must have out an effort to fit the meal into his busy schedule. " Just thought it may cheer you up, after everything. You taught me the recipe, it would be a shame not to use it... "

[Mirach]

"However did you manage that, are you a wizard?" Svarik asked good-naturedly. "That would be lovely, thank you. I can help you with the cake while you do. Just putting on the icing, right?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Hm, wouldn't say it's *just*. You need a steady hand to have it look professional, " Jake commented wonderingly while taking out a pot of baked wish and putting it on a stove to warm it up. " It's a cake for Beings, though, some demons among that, so they tend to be more intrigued in emotion you put into making the thing, so, yeah, " he nodded confidently. " You're always overly sweet, so I guess getting some of that into the cake wouldn't hurt. I am mostly trying to stick to respect and care mindset while making Being food, but I can't muster much warmth when it's for people I don't know. "

[Mirach]

"Sorry, didn’t mean *just*... I'd be ten times slower than you doing it, of course. But if it's okay, I'd like to try..." Svarik said and took the icing, continuing in Jake's ornaments slowly and with care, putting something joyful and sunny into how the cake would taste to demons.

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon didn't participate, knowing he'd not be able to give the cake whar Svarik could. Instead, while Jake was warming the meal for Svarik, and meadow king worked on the cake, he borrowed a sizeable basket and began packing them with their favourite food for the picnic. Both him and Jake seemed pleasantly surprised with how much Svarik enjoyed the little unexpected labour of love, and they let him work on the cake as long as he liked.

[Mirach]

Svarik finished the row of ornaments Jake was doing and then went a bit off the grid with flowers spanning to the top of the cake, forgetting about the time a bit and taking longer than it would if he would give the job back to Jake. "Sorry..." he murmured when he returned the bowl with icing to him. "Got a bit carried away..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Don't worry, with Tide's favor I can hardly get in trouble here for such a thing, so what's the problem?" Jake winked innocently at him." Since lot of Beings will be staying for couple more days, and I am best with sweets, I will be all over different cakes and cookies, so you can help me out with decoration whenever you feel like, deal? " Cook said gently."  I am sure Xia as will love eating a slice of cake adorned by you like this. You did well... "

[Mirach]

"I hoped she would get a slice of it," Svarik nodded. "Thanks for letting me have fun with it."

[VisAnastasis]

" Anytime... And as for your hope, yeah, a group of Beings ordered colorful cake when meeting a youngling, and they totally aren't going to get the kid the sweetest slice," Jake teased softly, putting hand on Svarik's shoulder and patting it lightly." Your wishes are her future, not mere possibility. Do not worry, she will surely get some. Some acts of care are universal across the species. They will make sure she is not cut short. Best you can do right now is have some fun for yourself as well, so she doesn't feel bad being pampered as well."

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded. "Just let her know she's welcome to join us, but doesn't have to if she's having fun with others of her kind."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will make sure the message gets to her, " Jake promised, and with that, Conrad and Svarik were free to leave. Falcon before all else first made sure they are well dressed in case it's chilly so up in the air, and then,  he helped king climb up and they found comfortable alcove on the roof - the view, indeed, was rather splendid and freeing, especially to Conrad who liked the roofs in general.

[Mirach]

Svarik leaned back comfortably, just enjoying the food and the view and the rare moment of calm.

[VisAnastasis]

It was indeed a good choice, after what happened yesterday, to take some time away from all responsibilities and rest their mind.
They spent some time there, eating and enjoying the view on their own. Around an hour os so into their picnic, there was a sound of meddling around the trap door at the attic, and after a moment, looking around the roof hesitantly, someone approached them - Xia, climbing around in her humanoid form of a fox child.

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled broadly and shifted on the blanket to make space for her. "Hello! Come, join us..."

[VisAnastasis]

Xia seemed rather different than the last time they met. While she looked the same, she didn't act nearly as freely as before. She nodded only hesitantly, more to Svarik's broad inviting smile than words, and then, like an animal carefully examining territory, she walked forth and sat on the edge of the blanket carefully, glancing at them with every move, as if trying to figure out if she understood Svarik's gesture properly.

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded towards her encouragingly. 

[VisAnastasis]

After being apart, the creature seemed unsure of how to respond right away. In its hesitance, it responded by copying Svarik's nod back at him and slowly shifting a little to sit more comfortably.

[Mirach]

"How are you doing here?" Svarik asked, accompanying his words with hand gestures.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed creature's sign skills, the limited amount she got, deteriorated a bit - while hanging out with Death, she could communicate with her own language, since Spirit understood her, but when not around Demons that could translate for her, she had to use sign language again. She focused on his gestures, and after he repeated it once more, she gulped. There seemed to be many thoughts swirling in her mind, and she was not sure what to really say, as he began to sign with her little paws.


* Lot of... people. * she signed slowly to make sure her grammar is correct. * They... nice, but... they try to cheer up too hard, " she smiled unsurely as she admitted. " It is hard, to know... being happy is appropriate, but... you are not... "

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded in understanding and opened his arms invitingly, offering her a hug.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia seemed relieved she is not asked more, not really having the strength to discuss something so complicated and painful again so soon. Her little paws trembled, and she hesitated for a moment, but as if afraid he'll withdraw the offer, she reached to him with his little arms, and embraced him firmly, burying her face in his soft cloak, shaking a little.