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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:57 pm
The sun had barely descended beyond the horizon when the flower girl and her daughter found their way to the Xi residence. Crystal, for her part, was a bundle of nerves and energy, walking with Kaoru at times and carrying her during others. She was feeling unusually playful and was in high spirits, and to say it showed was an understatement. A faerie dust clip shone against the heavy accent of her curls, which brushed over the exposed skin from her square-necked gown of royal purple, hemmed in black ribbon and corseted in the same fashion; it clung to her shoulders and no further down her arms. A necklace with a heart shaped locket rested against her collar bone, occassionally held by the daughter in her arms.
The 'daughter' in question was quite happy to be picked up and spun, a favored past time of the Scent. The child was fairly docile in the woman's arms, however, as the small bag that contained a change of clothes was also within Kaoru's grasp. Crystal had tried to convince her daughter to wear a different dress, but the child was adamant in wearing the beloved white gown that was so familiar. A dainty wrist was graced with a locket much like the flower girl's, and those crimson eyes oft turned to it in silent consideration.
Somehow, between all the playful banter, swinging and goofing around, the two women made it to the vampire's home at the designated time. Crystal, putting the laughing child down, knocked in a firm but dainty manner on the door, smiling down at Kaoru. Her excitement was decidedly vibrating over her skin, and she felt as though she may just glow at any given moment.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:24 pm
The vampire had hardly given Crystal more than a moment to knock before he was at the door, throwing it open with reckless abandon and standing in the way looking as if he were about to jump out of his own skin. Wide smile was given to Crystal, but he decided to play sweet and reached over to pluck Kaoru from her feet and swing her around onto his back. "I have picked out several wonderful ingredients for us to prepare tonight! I hope you are still up for cooking with me my dear?" Wink was flashed to the taller woman as he carried Kaoru off into the deeper reaches of his home and into the kitchen.
Once the too excitable Qadir had stepped out of the way, Orpheus was revealed to be standing quite near-by, and he would bow most regally before offering his arm to the flower-lady. "You and your daughter look quite lovely tonight Miss Crystal," he said politely, though his expression remained as impassive as usual. The boy would lead Crystal at a considerably tamer pace back into the kitchen, where the two of them would find Qadir gabbling away as excited as a child about cooking. Several small pages had been taken from the larger book for the two of them to ponder over. Too many ingredients had been scattered around the kitchen, and it was obviously up to Kaoru to choose which of the ingredients she wished to prepare. "I beg the both of you to forgive Qadir's actions. He's done nothing but talk of the two of you since our last meeting. Orpheus said with a roll of his eyes, ignoring the pout Qadir shot him.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:36 pm
Crystal displayed the greatest feat of restraint yet as her daughter was hauled off on the back of the vampire, a grin all she was able to muster before they were off again. It was strange, how that jolt of seeing him even for a moment left her wordless.
The Scent, on the other hand, had little time to do more than squeak in surprise and drop the bag, being heaved onto the back of a man who decidedly smelled delightful. Kaoru held on for dear life, giggling madly into his ear. "Of course I want to!" came the quiet exclamation, trying not to be loud since his ear was so close. "She's going to be so jealous that it's me you swept off my feet," the child added with another devious giggle.
The woman was simply delighted to see both of them, swooping down to retrieve the discarded bag. Her eyes shifted to Orpheus with surprise, giving him a deep curtsey. "You look as dashing as always," she replied, accepting his arm gingerly. As he spoke further to her, Crystal simply chuckled, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. "I can only hope you will not disdain us so, for surely you will tire of us by his words alone." She winked at the boy, genuinely happy to see him and Qadir doing so well.
"SAFFRON!" Kaoru squealed with excitement, "Saffron makes EVERYTHING better! If the dish is spicy, it's a must ha~ve!" The Scent was carrying on in a sing-song voice, scurrying around between following Qadir and selecting the ingredients laid out with great care.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:54 pm
Small smile tickled his lips at Kaoru's words and he turned his head slightly to look at the girl as they half skipped, half ran to the kitchen. Oh, he knew he'd be in trouble for not assaulting Crystal will all his love on the spot, but there were ingredients going bad in the kitchen! He also wished for Kaoru to like him, for a bad relationship with the girl could certainly sour his relationship with the other woman in his heart. "I hope she will forgive me when she sees what delightful things Orpheus and I have in store for the two of you tonight," he said with a laugh, giving her one last twirl before sitting her down on the counter so she could best see everything he'd laid out for the two of them.
"But of course," Orpheus replied to Crystal's compliment on his looks, "A special night or a normal night, people should always look their best." A nod was given to the woman in agreement once more, for is there was any way he could tire of the two delightful women's company it would be because of Qadir, and not by their on means. Orpheus winced slightly at Kaoru's squeal, but he politely turned his head so she would not see the look.
Qadir was nothing but equally ecstatic as the two of them poured over the ingredients and the few recipes he'd brought over. "By all means my dear, the dishes do not always have to be spicy for Orpheus' and I's taste. We are fans of a wide range of food," the male said sweetly, only to be interrupted by the harshness of his son. "Yes, but usually this applies only when eating in the place of specialty, and not by the hands of others." It wasn't personal, simply the truth sprouted in a way that wasn't considerate. But so was the way of the younger vampire.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:03 pm
Either the child was unfettered by the comment, or simply did not understand it, fixing Orpheus with those crimson eyes. "What would you like to eat, then, Orpheus?" Kaoru practically purred with consideration, lofting delicate brows. "I will do my best to please your delicate palate." The sudden formal speech was such a turn around from the Scent's previous child-like antics that Kaoru could do little more than smile.
Crystal glanced between the two males, trying not to linger on the older too long. Carefully placing the bag by the doorway (so it would not be forgotten in the meal time festivities), the female tucked a stray curl behind her ear and smiled to Orpheus. "Is there something you'd like to do other than watch these two carry on about like old hens?" She was teasing the chefs, of course, but she also wanted to appease Orpheus as much as Qadir was trying to do so with Kaoru. The woman was quite fond of the young vampire, but found it hard to express such things to the disinclined youth.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:24 pm
Orpheus' gaze grew wide at the girl's reactions to his words, lips parting slightly as he stood stunned for a moment. A look from Qadir caused him to clear his voice and shake his head, rolling his shoulders in a shrug and looking off in the distance over her shoulder. "I am sure I would enjoy whatever you prepared for me Miss Kaoru," he replied quietly, though thankful for Crystal's interruption. Head was given a vigorous nod and he'd offer her his arm once more to lead her off in a different direction than the kitchen. "Of course. Tonight I am in charge of giving you the previously mentioned gift Qadir has prepared for you and your daughter's lockets. I wished him to allow me to give you the gift and he agreed."
The vampire waved his hand as the two left the room. "Don't fret about him. He'll eat anything put in front of him. Growing boys and all that you know," Qadir said with a laugh, obviously having been reading far too many new parenting books. A recipe was plucked from the pile and offered to her. "How does this one sound darling?" It was a Russian dish, exotic and strange, heavy on the carbs and meat, but there were salads and veggies that could easily lighten the heavy meal. A cook could always alter recipes!
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:35 pm
Kaoru smiled widely as Orpheus left, turning that childish attention back to Qadir and his recipes. "Hmm," was the oh-so insightful response, looking over the ingredients and prepreation with scrutiny. The delicate face lit with glee, curls bouncing as the child nodded enthusiastically to Qadir. "It sounds perfect!" came the delighted response, heels making a little clicking noise as the Scent bounced upon them, "Where'd you find all these? I mean, did you find them yourself in your travels in the sand?"
The comment was innocent enough for a child, one that spoke of knowing something personal without too much detail. Of course, Kaoru likely knew a great deal more simply from Crystal's stories, and the child was rather sharp; this was kept under the naive guise of an eager smile and half-moon eyes. It was times like these that Amahte would have likely pointed in horror and run for the hills.
Crystal was polite enough not to cast a glance over her shoulder at the two, being mindful to give Orpheus her full attention. "That's very considerate of you," she replied with muted surprise. This wasn't the Princely Orpheus that she knew and remembered, but rather...a noble. "They are truly beautiful. Thank you for thinking of us, Orpheus." She was being as kind as she knew how, her words honest and from the heart. It made her swell with pride to feel that the boy thought well enough of her and Kaoru to put such effort into a decision as a gift for them. There was a good chance he didnt' see it that way, but it made her smile fully all the same.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:48 pm
Qadir smiled and nodded, reaching out to ruffle Kaoru's curls at her questions. "Well, not only in the sand dear. I've traveled everywhere by now I believe," he said in a sort of distant tone before laughing and giving a wink, "Ok, well, maybe not everywhere, but certainly all the major spots." Couldn't blame him for not visiting every tiny little village in the world! He was talking in a more broad spectrum of course when he said 'everywhere'. The vampire wasn't concerned with how much Kaoru knew or didn't know. Honestly, if she wanted stories he would have given her stories.
"I'm glad you like them," the boy said absently, leading her over to a small chestnut box, carved and decorated with gold and silver. Lifting it, he would motion over to the woman for her to lean in and look at it. Inside was fine gold dust, a slight glow edging the red velvet that coated the inside of the box and hugged the glittering material inside it. "Know what it is?" he asked, though there was a tone of smugness that rolled off his tongue. Of course she wouldn't know what it was, and it would be him that she asked and it would be him that got to tell her all about the magnificent gold dust.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:58 pm
Kaoru was practically dancing around in a jauntry way, looking between the recipe and the ingredients, gathering that which was necessary as well as a few extra things. "Of course not, this meal is not from your homeland," the child chattered happily, starting to look around for utensils. The Scent gave Qadir a playful push on his side, grinning up at him, "C'mon, it's not gonna make itself!" Another giggle escaped the curly-haired child, looking at him expectantly.
The woman bit her bottom lip as she was lead onwards by Orpheus, pausing and peering over the lip of the box to see what it held. Her brows creased in both wonder and confusion, shaking her thick curls slowly. "I do not recognize it," Crystal admitted, naively playing directly into the boy's hands. She truly had no conception of just how cunning and intelligent the children were, despite her acknowledgement of it. "It's lovely," she murmured softly, the glitter and shine reminding her of a certain vampire's eyes.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:30 pm
Orpheus' lips curled into a crooked expression, almost a smile as he picked up a bit of the dust and rubbed it between his fingers. "Usually, when sand gets super heated it makes glass, right?" the boy asked, turning to look at the woman expectantly. It was an easy enough thing to know about after all. "Well, dragon's fire combined with sand makes, well, this." The boy held out his hand for the woman's locket expectantly, though he didn't explicitly ask for it. Little prat.
Pulling a pot from the rack above the stove he'd laugh at her eagerness and slight impatience with him. "I'm going, I'm going!" he replied with a smile, placing the pots on the stove and heating them with oils and butters depending on what they were planning on tossing in. "How about you prepare the salad for us?" he asked, grabbing a chair and pulling it over to the counter so she wouldn't have to stand on her tip-toes the whole while. All the ingredients were pushed over to her, a bowl, cutting board and knife provided. Thought she probably shouldn't be handling knives, he generally trusted her and made sure to keep an eye on her anyway. Better than leaving her alone with the stove in his opinion. "You be careful though darling, I confess, I'm not very good with blood if you go and cut yourself..."
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:52 pm
"I know, mom is always careful not to pick out dark reds when we're gonna see you" Kaoru quipped to his remark, clamboring onto the chair and looking over the assembling goods with careful regard. The child clearly gave the vampire's preperation a stamp of approval with a vocalized, "Mmm!" before setting to work, picking up the greens and preparing to tear them as necessary. "What type of dressing do you like?"
Work worn hands gently gathered fair skirts within their grasp, so that she could kneel a little by Orpheus to better see. Crystal did, in fact, know about glass just because she was lower class and thus was a duty part of her extended family dabbled in. She tilted her head at his explanation, both not understanding what he was implying or that he wanted the locket. Instead, she lifted her hands to encircle his wrist, observing the remnants on his fingers. "But what is it?" she inquired, the perfect face of naivity. "If it's not glass, what could it possibly be?
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:19 pm
Qadir lofted his brows curiously at the girl's confession, head tilting to the side as he grabbed a bowl and began tossing together onions and cubes of beef as well as peppers, salt and pepper seasoning. "That's very considerate of your mother, though I must say such a colour would be...strange upon her I feel. Pastels truly suit her best, though you would look simply stunning in a dress of dark red. I could find nothing unappealing about such a look on you my dear." He said with a smile before looking at the salad she was preparing with a bit of a shrug. "Usually I prefer only salt on my salads, but I am happy to enjoy any dressing you might choose for us."
Orpheus didn't honestly know what it was called, and so, unwilling to admit such a thing, simply shrugged his shoulders and gave a wrinkle of his nose. "It's enchanted," was all he would reply with, blinking curiously as she took his wrist and did not promptly present to her the locket which he desired. "This sand is worthless with out a carrier," the boy said pointedly, narrowing his gaze upon her locket. He couldn't show her the tricks enchanted sand could preform without the enchantment being completed. The same for the fairy dust that lay within her hair piece.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:30 pm
The child chuckled, taking his compliment in stride. Red would look remarkable with those garnet eyes, but truthfully, Kaoru was happy with what Crystal had. At Qadir's next comment, the Scent palmed a random piece of cut vegetable and tossed it at the vampire. "I have no favorite, and I'd like to try yours anyway!" In the epitome of ladylike behavior, Kaoru's small tongue stuck out at the older man.
Crystal looked a little startled as it appeared Orpheus was staring directly at her chest, but upon releasing him, her hand moved to her collar instinctively, brushing over the warm metal of the locket. "O-oh! Forgive me," she apologized profusely, reaching behind her river of curls to unclasp the chain. Safely removing the piece, she delicately placed the locket within his awaiting palm, smiling a little sheepishly.
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:47 am
Qadir, with reflexes of a cat, caught the fruit and stuck his tongue right back out at the girl before tossing it into the air, tilting his head back and catching it within his mouth. Smirk was given to the girl as he chewed on the fruit before turning back to his own preparations with a shrug. "Perhaps we could have a simple oil and vinegar dressing? I'd not want the dressing to over-power the taste of the beef." Fingers were licked clean of the seasonings that clung to them, the dried and reached into the bag of flour to pinch a bit of it and then sprinkle it atop her head playfully.
"But of course," Orpheus said dismissively, taking the locket and turning slightly to face the box once more. Opening the locket, he'd sprinkle some of the gold dust into the open compartment and mutter something in another language. Perhaps Latin or other, perhaps something forgotten to most everyone but those who live forever. Turning back to her he'd hold out the locket, closed once more. Were she to open it, it would glow slightly, as the dust had, but there was no dust remaining, strangely disappeared. "Say his name. He's already got the enchantment on his pocket watch."
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:48 am
His quick reaction made the child 'oooh!' in delight; certainly Kaoru knew he was different, but it was still quite a display. Snacking upon his assailant only made the Scent giggle, which turned into a bout of squealing and laughter as the flour frosted the red stained chestnut curls. It was only fair that he had returned her assault, but mischief shone brightly in those dark eyes, momentarily weighing the prospect of a food fight. Oh, but it was so delightful and plausible! And he was so fast, no doubt that only the child would be left wearing the contents of the battle...
Kaoru chuckled quietly, cutting a few extra pieces with careful pressure from the knife. The battle was fair, for now; maybe it could be picked up again in a way that wouldn't end so horribly for all four of them (what meal would be left after such a war?). "That would accent the beef nicely," the Scent agreed happily. Qadir had impressed the young pomegranate, and the playful soul was momentarily satisfied.
Crystal watched Orpheus with open curiosity, grey eyes shifting between the boy's face and his work. She recalled one of Qadir's letters explaining that the youth had taught himself Arabic; she couldn't help but wonder if this 'enchantment' was one of the same, or if Qadir himself had taught his son such magic. She was admittedly fascinated, for never had she even dreamed of the things the vampires so knew with ease, and it was quite simple to garner her admiration in such an instance.
Delicate fingers accepted the locket, biting her lower lip again. Of course the woman would open it out of intruige, and her surprise was evident over her bewildered features. At his instruction, Crystal nodded faintly, gazing upon the gift in her hands. She wasn't sure about what he meant about the same thing being on the vampire's pocketwatch, but she was sure to find out momentarily. "Qadir..." she murmured softly, as though it were he she looked upon instead of a necklace.
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