Hot Cocoa! - Printable Version

Pride stepped closer. He peered down, head slightly tilted, studying what it was that Spark was doing. They were being a tad... mysterious, but he trusted them, and anyway, he was good-naturedly curious about what was going to happen next.

His silver eyes slid to the strange package they had brought with them. "This was--from Naskital?" he guessed. He was pretty sure, but--it was a polite question, too. One to engage in conversation, an invitation to explain... even if Spark was going to play up the mystery a little, first.

Pride would wait. He smiled a little, indulgent, and bar glancing up to watch Acheron and Lorelei leave, he didn't say much else.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

"Oh, that was its name?" Spark took pause from their work for once to converse with their grandfather. "He gave me it after I made a trade- free of charge! It was strange." Maybe something about Pride, or simply being with family, made Spark's once silent musings tumble out of their mouth. So much for the mystery.

"Oh, wait... the knife." Their ears droop as they're struck with an unfortunate realisation. "I traded it away before I could show it to you! Sorry." They had been awfully proud of it, though they didn't regret the exchange. Perhaps they could make something even better from the scales that sat in the box, the oil slowly starting to seep through the bottom (This escaped Spark's notice).

They returned to their task, but paused, a thoughtful talon prodding the packet idly from its place on the floor. "Naskital, he had these containers to hold the result. Cylindrical, I think? With a little handle at the side." He had also had whipped cream on the top, but Spark new that was a bit beyond their capabilities right now. "Do you have anything like that here?" They weren't looking for the exact shape, just something somewhat portable and easy to drink from.

The knife?
Ahh--was that the one that Ember had taken them to learn to create in Leo? The child of Dread and Fireheart had proven to have an unexpected creative streak, making himself into something of a smith--and Pride supposed that Spark had taken this up, now, too. He smiled. "Perhaps another one, some time? If you've learned once, you can do it again," and his mild tone held encouragement.

As for the containers, he thought back. He had seen Naskital's table this year; he thought he knew the ones that Spark was talking about. "I think I saw them. I can certainly try, but I can only do one at a time," he cautioned. "Do you have any color preference?"

He'd make one, then attempt a second for Spark--whatever color they preferred.

The first he formed was diamond, and he made it a little broad--it had a handle, but Pride could hardly use that. For Spark, he'd see what they wanted, first. But meanwhile, he settled in, folding his legs beneath his chest and haunches to lay in the snow. "As for Naskital--he is kind, generous. Every time he has come here it has been only with gifts, and he seems to want nothing in return--unlike the Collector," he added. That one always incurred a cost. "I think he enjoys it when others are kind to one another. He seems... gentle," he settled on, with a quietly approving tone. He liked Naskital--it always seemed like there weren't enough simply nice people to go around.

He watched Spark, idle, not pushing with questions. He assumed that Spark was going to be making, then, something (one of the foods or drinks) that Naskital had been serving--but he wasn't about to ruin his grandchild's attempt at mystery by asking.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

Spark took Pride's words with a nod, the topic turning to the containers once again. "Red, maybe? But I'm sure it'll look great in any colour." They tried to offer some encouragement of their own, though it came out a little awkward- It wasn't like a magician as skilled as Pride would need much reassurance.

Spark watched Pride use a familiar spell, thinking back to the little gem-self that they had tucked safely away in their hideaway. They still lived with Ember, and the thought to move out had occurred. There was no rush though, and they wanted to choose a home well. Somewhere beyond Orion maybe, places they had yet to venture; The thought was pleasant, exciting. But the idea was far away- for now.

The mug formed completely, and they admired it for a bit, and then noticed Pride's cloven limbs next to the handle. They were the only one with flexible toes- an alternative was needed. "It seems the design may be... limited. Maybe we could make a dish for everyone else? I can use that one." They moved to take the mug, submerging it in the warm water for a beat, before removing the now full cup, and finally slitting open the packet. They'd listen to Pride as he worked, emptying the contexts and watching the powder begin to dissolve. Spark began to stir with a gentle claw, the first hot cocoa coming to fruition.

Pride's eyes crinkled in a little smile at Spark's compliment. His ears flicked as he considered, gaze sliding to the diamond mug in thought. "I wonder if something could be designed that someone with hooves could use and carry?" he mused. He couldn't think of anything, off the top of his head, but it was an idea he filed away for later.

The mug he formed was of carnelian--dark, opaque red, with a rich and shining color. The shape was a little off--while it sat flat on rock, its broad mouth was tilted to one side, rather than even across the top. The handle, too, was a little twisted, but it would at least still function.

He smirked at it, as best a stag face could manage. "It's... not quite right. But it should work?" he half-asked, glancing up at Spark. "I'll try a deeper bowl shape, in a moment, something without handles--for those like me, as you say."

He took a breath, resting himself for a moment, nodding toward Spark's packaging. "You do have me curious, now," he said, warm amusement in his tone.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

"Hmmm."
Pride's idea had a market, that was obvious enough - but how would one go about designing such an object? Without toes of some kind, most hooved creatures interacted with objects with their mouth (Their mind flickered back to Wicker - how were they doing these days?). Perhaps a handle that sticks out for one to mouth, with some sort of padding of course. The curved handle on the mug seemed inherently inaccessable to most and an inconvenience to others, even Spark was not sure whether to place their fourth claw when holding it. An alternative was needed if they wanted to share their concoctions - an idea they settled in the back of their mind to ask dad about later.

They acknowledged the second mug and didn't pay much attention to any deformities. All it needed was to hold and transport the cocoa effectively, and it Spark couldn't see any holes. They nodded, then turned back to their mug.

The water had become a rich warm brown, the smell of it wafting through the air. They rose it to their lips, and after a bird-like tilt of the head, took a sip before pulling it away shortly after, eyes sparkling with new interest. This - this was good. They turned to Pride, expression filled with the need to share the experience. "Its finished!" They approached the deer, setting down the mug to scooch foward, before holding it up to Pride's face. "Try!" A bit forceful - Spark was close enough for their little chocolate 'moustache' to be noticable.

He'd been about to try and make a second bowl when Spark called him to try the drink. Ahh, he thought--he hadn't realized he'd been meant to drink from this one, too! That was fine, and really, he was still trying to consider how one might make a hands-free cup. Or hoofs-free, as the case might be.

He dipped his head over, nostrils flaring, scenting it curiously. "It is the same as what he was serving?" he asked, with interest. How kind of Naskital to offer the food out. "I'd never considered the idea of having a food that's nearly complete, that one can carry around and simply... add water to," he mused. (As a magical stag in a magical cave system, he'd never had instant ramen or the like.)

His sip was careful, his smirk at spotting Spark's chocolate mustache eclipsed very quickly by one of his own. He came up with a thoughtful expression, ears flicking and tongue rasping off the worst of his new decor. "It's good," he said, with some surprise. Magical, like bananas? Or just--good? He didn't know, for sure.

"And you have more of that?" He tilted his head, blinking at the drink with fascination.

He could see, now, why Spark had been so excited to show this to him!

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

The mug wasn't intended for Pride, but Spark was eager to share this new drink, too eager to bother waiting it seemed. Their feathered tail wagged from side to side, the sharp edge hidden at its end coming close to scraping the cave floor at times. "Yes, that's what he told me." They briefly pondered Pride's unfamiliarity with the nature of the powdered mix. "Yes, its strange, isn't it? I suppose its easier to transport - and maybe longer lived." Being a carnivore themselves, they were quite familiar with spoiling food. They had been warned by Ember to be wary of some carcasses, sickness and rot hidden beneath the dead skin. Most of what they ate was especially susceptible.

Spark's smile widened to a wolf-grin. It is! Their mind echoed, but they were sure Pride was well aware already. "I have plenty, enough for all four of us at least." Still, they didn't know when Archeron or Lorelei might return, if they would. In the mean time, they could catch up with their grandpa. "How are things as of late? Had anymore kids?" They jibed friendily - they only had a vague idea of the amount of Pride's spawn (adopted or otherwise), but it still seemed large to them.

Pride chuckled, trying to keep his mood light. The last few children he'd created--some his, one adopted--had not, after all, been on a whim. They'd been the gemstones of dead friends.

He didn't say that, though. It seemed like it'd ruin the friendly atmosphere. "Not recently," he joked, "but check back next week, hmm?"

He offered a smile, and took another drink of the cocoa before stepping back. He nodded to it. "Do you know how to make more of that?" he asked, curious. "I wonder what it's even made of. I've never tasted anything quite like that, before. It's... almost like fruits--sweet--but earthy, too. Hmm."

Ahh, well. That aside...

"Anyway, what of you, Spark? Where have you been living; what have you been up to?" Possibly they'd simply been in and out of Orion, and he and they had been crossing one another's paths without realizing--but quite possibly they'd been travelling. Adventuring, even. Pride settled back, content to hopefully listen.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

Was it coincidence, that Spark had too, been revived from a the stone of the deceased, as Pride's more recent litters had been? Or maybe, more likely, Ember had inherited this strange benevolence; To honour the dead by creating something new in their absence, in their image. Whether the hybrid would continue this tradition - that was a question only they could answer.

Its expression settled into a smile, one that grew momentarily in response to their grandfather's answer. They moved back to the where they originally sat, setting down the mug in front of Pride. They laid on their stomach, curled around the divot where the rest of the mix still settled. "I do- its just hot water and powder. Its strange, isn't it! Very... distinct, but nice." Spark's experience with fruit was limited to the occasional, magical banana, which only classified as fruit if you didn't know how fruits are classified.

"Well, I've been thinking of moving around." Their smile was nervous this time - these plans were still developing. "I've been in Orion for most of my life. You might say that's reason to shake it up - but I've only really been to Fornax, and not for long - and I'd left the chrysalis like, days before? Its a big change, you understand."