|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jul 22, 2008 22:14:06 GMT -5
The woman gave him a quick up-and-down, but seemed less outright hostile than many Tulgeys seemed to be about his heritage. "Good to know," she said with a return of her genial smile, referring to Femi's comment on the children. "I wouldn't want to walk all the way from your village alone either, you know, no matter what time it was. Please, come in. Both of you." It was a gracious enough invitation, especially considering that the woman's workplace was also her home.
Femi giggled a little bit, more than pleased that the woman had been reasonable about her husband. She'd walked longer distances in the Wood by herself in searching for him, even if she hadn't known at the time just 'who' she was searching for. They didn't hold any great panic for her as a Queen except at night.
They were seated around a circular table that looked as though many people had sat there before. The craftsmanship on the base, as well as the intricately whittled carvings around the edge, were the work of a master. The woman looked to be somewhere above forty and below fifty years old. "So now, let's get started then. I'll give you some samples of various finishes and woods to look over while I make some tea, and then we can discuss your preferences."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 22, 2008 22:24:00 GMT -5
He was more thank thankful that she let them in. He was still silent though, he didn't want to over step his boundaries with that sort of glance. Femi was the only Tulgey that he knew of who didn't automatically think of him as an enemy.
The wolf was more than surprised by the table. Well, if she wasn't a skilled craftsmen he would eat his own tale. They would get some sturdy furniture out of this deal weren't they? It was going to be expensive but well worth it.
Even Aunt Josephine didn't have furniture this well made. Well, that he remembered. She was pretty proud of all of her furniture and Highlander made products. He would have to see what happened next time she came for a visit... and yes their would be another visit.
For now he had to focus on furniture.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jul 22, 2008 23:40:03 GMT -5
Furniture wasn't hard to focus on in this woman's home. She introduced herself as Tillda and came back with some hot tea that tasted vaguely like maple syrup, though of course only in flavoring. The book she had with her of sketches and drawings and diagrams, each of them crafted at least once before, was silent testament to her experience. Femi looked at much of it like a kid in a candy shop. She'd never gotten to pick out any sort of furniture in her home - her mother picked furniture and that was that, except for their bed, which her daddy had demanded made to his own specifications. Even the furniture in her old single-person house had been from her parents!
This was something new to her and, in its own way, almost as exhilarating as picking out brand new outfits to be made for her dolls. She had a blast.
By the time they were done, the woman told them in a pleased voice that it would take six to nine months to complete every piece of their order, but she would have friends of hers haul them as they were finished back to their village. There were ways to ship in Tulgey. They were just... sketchy sometimes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 22, 2008 23:50:28 GMT -5
Good quality furniture was expensive. The time it took to build them was only a reminder. However, Kazifel was more than willing to pay whatever it took. After all, Femi was so happy.... he wasn't about to refuse her.
The shipping thing didn't sound one hundred percent legal or safe. Then again he had no idea how people did things like that. This home and his other home were completely different worlds.
Either way it would be a while before everything was finished, and he would have to worry about things as they came. They did have enough furniture to keep going. And if things got bad he could always "borrow" something from Aunt Josephine. She would give an arm and a leg to see Thyme. One day he would have to explain to Femi about that... thankfully he could put a lot of things off. It wasn't time to worry.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2008 12:13:23 GMT -5
Femi remained blissfully unaware of Kazifel's thoughts on his aunt and their daughter, holding onto his arm and asking the woman if there was somewhere the two of them could bunk up for the night. It was already evening and with a two hour walk ahead of them... well, she wasn't as familiar with the Wood in this direction and she didn't want to chance getting lost. Or eaten. 'Inns' didn't really exist in the Tulgey. They didn't want travelers. You either found someone to stay with, or you didn't. If you were a native, though, chances were that someone would give you a room for the night if you pressed them enough.
The woman looked hesitant, but eventually offered them her attic. It was the best they were likely to get, and safer than quite a few, so she agreed and smiled at Kazifel before they sat down to share the woman's dinner. Finding a good craftsman sometimes took several village-hops in the Wood, so Tillda wasn't unused to such requests. And after all... these people had just given her a lot of money.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 23, 2008 13:03:00 GMT -5
Kazifel was more than thankful for staying the night in an attic. He couldn't imagine finding a place for the night with him tagging along would be easy. He was also more than thankful for a meal. Hospitality was appreciated after shelling out so much money.
He still felt awkward. As happy as Femi was he felt out of place, like he always did. The wolf could never quite belong no matter he was. He just felt it right now. Once the meal was over he glanced at Femi. This entire time he'd only said about two words so he could avoid dirty looks. He wanted to say something...but he wasn't about to say it until Femi and he were "alone."
Femi probably knew how awkward he felt or maybe not. Kazifel wasn't all that hard to read, it was just a matter of noticing. The wolf finished off his drink. Could they leave the table sometime soon?
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2008 13:17:06 GMT -5
Tillda was much more 'fine' with Kazifel than she would otherwise be because of his apparent submission to his wife. He remained quiet, respectful, and only spoke when asked a direct question. She approved of his manners, if not necessarily of his wife's choice. There was no accounting for taste or preference, she supposed.
'Noticing' things tended to be one of Femi's greatest flaws, especially when she was in good spirits herself. Still, after dinner she excused them both and said that they were going to rest and go to bed early so that they could set out very early tomorrow morning. She and the fox exchanged pleasantries for another minute, and then the squirrel took her husband's hand and led him where their hostess indicated they should stay. Her tail was puffed up - in a good way - and she made an excited little chittering noise once they were alone.
"It's going to be so pretty!" she enthused, jumping at him in an eager hug. "Like a giant dollhouse that we get to decorate ourselves!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 23, 2008 14:34:06 GMT -5
Kazifel would never get tired of Femi's comparisons. He couldn't help but smile at the comment. Then again it was bit of a mixed emotion. He wasn't a doll anymore.... he shook it off mental.
"Everything is going to look fantastic when it's done. To be honest, I doubt my Aunt has ever met a craftsmen half as good as this one." He smiled at the thought of Josephine being jealous. That was something he never thought would happen.
"We should leave pretty early," Kazifel said, changing the subject. "And we should probably stop to go shopping. We're running out of food. The kids do eat a lot more than they did before, so we should probably stock up on a little bit more."
That was probably the most Kazifel had spoken in the entire day. Of course, they were going to bed soon so they could wake up early tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Jul 23, 2008 14:51:14 GMT -5
When she finally started paying more attention to Kazifel's mood, she saw the smile and her own only increased. So the day hadn't been too bad for him! That was good. She wrapped her arms around his middle and leaned on him, sighing happily into his jacket. "Your craftsmen on the Outside are probably too preoccupied by all that moving around and all the people everywhere to get the kind of work done that ours can. We spend a lot more time away from people here, from everything I saw of the Outside."
The thought of Josephine being jealous of their beautiful house once everything was said and done gave the squirrel a quiet, smug little glow in the back of her mind. Kazifel was her King, and they would have their palace and their children, and everything would be wonderful. Even if one of them was a vampire. And another one seemed to be perpetually sugar-high. And still another was a fluffy squirrel with fairy wings. She loved her babies.
"I'm all for going back early," she agreed, continuing to put her weight on him. "If we make a detour after an hour and a half, we can stop by the village where we normally do the shopping and be back to the house probably sometime in the early afternoon."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 23, 2008 15:04:26 GMT -5
Kazifel's smile grew wider. Femi's touch made him feel ten times better. "I wouldn't doubt that. Everyone has to compete with everyone else otherwise... they won't end up successful. Quality just seems to decrease. Among other things." He still missed it. How could he not miss it? Then again he had a new home.
"All right, then I suppose we should get some sleep then? I don't think the shopping will take that long, I know what we're out of and what we're going to be out of soon. Everything'll be a piece of cake." And maybe he could pick up something extra just for the sake of a treat. Maybe he could get some baking in to make Femi and the kids a cake.
Sometimes he really over thought things. It would be better if he just went to sleep now and dealt with everything in the morning.
|
|
