Cinnamon Bun Chapter Two Hundred and Seven - Reciprocation

Chapter Two Hundred and Seven - Reciprocation

It would take, winds willing, a few hours to get back to Insmouth. By the ti we arrived, I guesstimated that it would be an hour or two past noon. That ant that wed need to have lunch aboard the Beaver Cleaver.

I left Clive, the harpies and the Scallywags to do the complicated work of flying the airship while I headed down and into the kitchen to prepare lunch. The only hands that were free were Awen and Amaryllis and... neither was all that good at the whole cooking thing.

I was humming while inspecting the ingredients we had available when Amaryllis moved out of her room and ca to stand nearby. She leaned against the fra of the archway leading into the kitchen. Do you need help? she asked.

I tapped my chin. I could use a bit of help, sure, I said. I think Ill be making a big lunch. We might need leftovers for later. A nice veggie salad, so fried fish, maybe so porridge?

That sounds like a big al, Amaryllis said as she stood straighter and walked over. How can I help?

I eyed her up and down. You really want to help? With the cooking?

Whats wrong with wanting to help? she asked.

Nothing, I said. Just, well, didnt figure you for the cooking sort.

She huffed. I can learn, cant I?

Yup! You sure can. I nodded. "Do you want to start by chopping the veggies? Ill need them cut up into little cubes to start with.

Hmph, fine, she said.

I opened a sack of potatoes and another of turnips and then grabbed so purple-skinned carrots and set them all on the table where we could start cutting. A big cauldron ca next, so that we had a place to toss all the cut veggies.

I humd as I found a pair of knives and started working.

How are you? Amaryllis asked. The question sounded a bit strained.

I blinked and looked up to her. Im alright? I tried.

She glared at , huffed a huff that I wasnt familiar with, and went back to chopping up potatoes in... vaguely cube-like shapes. She was trying her best, so I wouldnt complain. Theyd all be mashed up anyway.

You... urgh, this isnt sothing Im good at, Amaryllis whined.

Youll get better, I said.

Im not talking about the cooking, you dolt.

I tilted my head to the side. Then what are you talking about?

Amaryllis continued to chop her veggies, she was quiet for a long bit, but it felt like she was working up to sothing, so I didnt interrupt her silence. Broccoli, she began. Youve been through a lot.

Well, yeah, I guess.

And yet youre still smiling, and youre still worried for everyone, and youre still doing your best, she continued.

Uh, yeah, thats what a good friend does.

Even when I constantly call you an idiot? And when Awen constantly depends on you to be her... pillar, I suppose?

I blinked. I didnt know exactly where she was going with all of that. Yes?

She huffed, and this ti it was a very plain, very frustrated sort of huff. Youre a... youre a pain to deal with sotis, Broccoli Bunch, she said. Most people wouldnt weather all the stuff youve been through as well as you have.

Thanks! I said.

No, Amaryllis said. It wasnt a complint. Well, I do suppose you could take it as one. What I an is, she paused, then rubbed a wing under her nose. You know, I was not always as confident as I am now.

I felt like she was trying to say sothing important without saying it, and in monts like that the best thing a good friend could do was listen. Still, I continued working on our lunch, not that it took much attention.

When I was younger I was the most timid of my sisters. Clentine can be incredible, but she casts a long shadow, and Rosaline has always been Rosaline. Loud and confident and always getting herself into trouble, then flying out of it with a wink and a smile. So... I was the timid one. That started to change as I got a little older, as I tired of my role in the family and started to... She squird a bit. Dream. As I started to dream of a future where I was my own harpy. School helped, it gave an environnt out of my sisters shadows. It gave harpies from other clans to bicker and fight with, and allowed to spread my wings a little. I don't rember any instantaneous change, no stark turning point... but bit by bit, I must have been changing. Little victories, building on each other, until without quite realizing it, I'd beco more... . I left the family, took a class that I appreciate more, and set off for adventure.

Thats when we t? I asked.

She nodded. Yes. That was an experience.

A good one, I replied.

She huffed, a very ambivalent, sarcastic huff. Lets go with that. My point with that rather trite story is to say that I understand if youre having difficulty acting as confident as you have been.

Uh, I said. I dont think I had any trouble being confident or anything. Still, Amaryllis seed worried, which was weird. There wasnt anything to worry about. Sure, the last dungeon had been tough, and we were all a bit tired by the end, but we had won, hadnt we? Did you want to tell a story about when I was young too? To make us even.

My goal wasnt to make us even or anything, Amaryllis said.

You once said that you could tell soone sothing private, and then expect them to return the favour. Rember? You called it reciprocation.

Amaryllis blinked. You rember that?

Of course I do, I said. Um, well, I rember you telling it to . The details are a bit vague now. It was a while ago.

The floor creaked a bit, and when I looked over, it was to find Awen stepping in. She had her hands folded over her tummy and was looking a bit bashful. "Awa, sorry, I kind of ... kind of had my room's door opened and I, ah, might have... overheard. A little."

Thats okay, I said.

Amaryllis harrumphed. I suppose.

Do you need help? Or I could go, if you two are having a, ah, mont, Awen offered.

I glanced at Amaryllis. Were we having a mont? Werent we always having monts?

We werent, Amaryllis said. Now co over here with those stupid human hands of yours and chop these. This knife is not made for a proper taloned hand. Im going to develop a crick in my wrist at this rate.

Oh, I didnt realize you were having a hard ti. I thought you were just really bad.

Amarylliss feathers poofed with indignation. Not just dumb, but rude too, she said. Now get on with the story, Im going to fill the pot with water.

Just about a quarter full, I said. As for stories... I dont know what to tell? My life was very boring, you know?

I doubt that, Amaryllis said.

I can tell one, Awen said. While you think, if you want.

Id love that! I cheered.

Awen smiled as she took her place on the table alongside and started working. I dont have very interesting stories. Uncle Abrahams visits were always the most exciting thing. Otherwise Id just spend the day with lessons or practicing. I liked playing with different instrunts, it was one of the only parts of being a lady that was nice. Not that I could just play anything.

Why not? I asked.

So instrunts arent lady-like. Awen said. A flute is, a piano is, but a lute or a banjo arent. They leave you with unseemly calluses and things like a cello require that the lady put herself in a compromising position to play.

Huh? I asked. Thats stupid.

Awen giggled. Yes, a little, she agreed. But thats how it is. When I beca a chanic, my parents were very disappointed, but I was a little too sickly to bring to a dungeon to change my class, and all the good, lady-like classes are in dungeons that are sowhat dangerous now, most of them near the capital and, well, whenever I heard them talking of moving over, Id play sick for a bit.

Amaryllis snorted. Well done, there.

Awen looked down. Ah, thanks. I always wanted to practice my chanical skills, but its hard to do that when youre not allowed. So I tended to be very clumsy. Id break things, then put them back together. So of the maids and servants were very helpful! Theyd bring so tools and sotis give things that needed to be fixed. Like chanical clocks and so devices in the kitchens. Thats why I was able to keep up a little, and I was always a bit better the next ti Uncle Abraham would co around.

I placed my knife on the table, stepped towards Awen, and engulfed her in a big, rib-creaking hug.

Awa?

You can do as much chanical stuff as you want when youre with us. Or none. Or if you get so other hobby, you can do that as much as you want, alright? I asked.

Awen laughed and returned the hug with a good squeeze. Youre being silly, Broc. I know all that.

Oh, I said as I loosened the hug. Well good. I nodded. My turn?

Certainly, Amaryllis said. Do we put any spices in this?

No, but put it on the stove. We need to set it to a boil so the veggies get mushy. Here, lets put the rest in too.

While the veggies boiled, I started to prepare a bit of salad for the side. Nothing much. Tiny tomatoes, so leafy greens, a few slices of carrot and so oil that I mixed with a few spices and herbs that we had drying on a rack in the little pantry.

I think... so, you girls know that I like adventure, right?

We noticed, Amaryllis said. She was sitting up on a bench built into the wall under one of the portholes, a bird enjoying the sun.

Right, well I wasnt always a huge fantasy fan. When I was really young, my parents moved often. I dont really rember all the places Ive lived in. Sotis we were only in a town for half a year, other tis it was a bit longer.

Were your parents traders? Awen asked. We had a lot of people like that in Greenshade.

Nah, my dad couldnt keep a job, nor could my mom, and they both liked moving a lot. We lived in mobile hos and apartnts and all sorts of places. Wed change provinces every so often too. Anyway, when I was.... Ah, I think I was in grade seven? So I must have been about fourteen, or maybe I was still thirteen? Around that age.

A teenager, barely a juvenile, but not quite, Amaryllis said. Old enough to lay eggs.

Uh, I said. I shook my head. Sothing like that. So, Id just moved to this new school. First year of secondary school, so all the students were new too, even though Id co in half-way into the year, it wasnt so bad. At least, Id hoped.

Did you make lots of friends? Awen asked.

Nope. Just one. It was this boy who didnt have any friends. He had a stutter, and wasnt good at sports and stuff. We were in the sa classes, and he always sat by the front, which is where I like to sit. We talked a bit and beca buddies.

Your first friend? Amaryllis asked.

One of them. He really, really liked books. Fantasy stories, with magic and wizards and all sorts of cool stuff. So I started reading those too, and we always had sothing to talk about. I felt a little sad as I set the salad aside. We should start on the fish. Awen, can you mash the veggies for ?

Ah, sure.

I got a pan out and oiled it, then fetched the fish from a rune-powered fridge. Anyway, we moved again that sumr. Never saw him again. But I still rember so of those stories. They kept company for a long ti. I guess I learned that from him.

I humd as the fish fizzled on the snapping and crackling oil.

Is... that the whole story? Amaryllis asked.

I guess so?

Amaryllis stood up and walked right up next to . Im going to hug you now. Dont go thinking anything about it. This is your one hug this week, so enjoy it.

Huh? I asked.

But then my protests were drowned in a fluffy, feathery hug.

***