[PRP] Ice and Fire (Icefall x Elliotte)

[Aria Starstone]

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[Aria Starstone]

Icefall stood, gazing out over the White Leaf lands from the cave she'd found and chose to use as her primary sleeping place. She wasn't all that fond of being in the sun for too long, as she found it made her horns and spikes feel melty... even if they didn't actually do so. Between that, and her fluff making her feel warm, she just preferred to stay in where it was cool, so that she could relax.

Today was... sunny but not very warm. She was trying to decide if she wanted to actually emerge, or if she was going to stay hidden inside her cave until the sun set. She knew Father worried about her staying inside so much but... she couldn't help it.  

[Aria Starstone]

Elliotte came racing down the path, his human feet making a tell tale sound as they hit the hard dirt. This wasn't unusual. Elliotte loved spending excessive amounts of time as a human. He loved tea, and he loved having hands to prepare that tea with. Sometimes he stayed that way so long that he'd be forced to change back and would proceed to rest for days on end.

When he saw his cousin he hurried over, holding up the basket of dried leaves he carried. He couldn't speak but the question was clear.

Did she want some tea?  

[Aria Starstone]

Icefall blinked, surprised, then smiled warmly and said "Cousin, I hope you are well? And yes, some tea would be lovely." She glanced around, thoughtfully. He was in human form... could he make that human cleverness, fire, and brew the tea that way? Or did he use the hot springs, even in this form?

She hadn't actually been around when he'd made tea in this form, before, so her curiousity was a natural thing. Finally, she said "Did you wish to go to the hot spring, or... can you do it here?" She was, truly, fascinated and wished to know the answer.  

[Aria Starstone]

He tucked the basket under one arm before reaching out to scratch his cousin's soft cheek. He was well, but she would have to wait a while to hear that for herself.

He took a stop back then gestured for her to follow. He was heading toward the nearest pool. It was warm, not hot, and while it was clean it was not one of the smaller pools where bathing had been banned. The water was reserved for drinking.

Once there Elliotte set down the basket then started digging around in a pile of nearby rocks.  

[Aria Starstone]

She smiled at the scratch, leaning into it, her eyes half closed. She did envy her cousin his ability to have fingers. Imagine being able to scratch almost any itch at any time! Or at least, that's how she thought of it.

Cefa, as she sometimes called herself, gave a very soft sigh, then ventured out into the sun to follow him. It wasn't so bad today, at least. She tossed her loose hair lock over her shoulder and soon cought up to her cousin, pacing him easily. When they arrived, she settled back to watch, her eyes curious as to how he was going to do this.  

[Aria Starstone]

As he moved the rocks he first pulled out two large metal bowls, big enough for horses to drink from. Then some tea stained rags, then a fire pit.

He'd need wood, and he gestured to the spent ash, hoping his cousin would help retreive some.  

[Aria Starstone]

She tilted her head, studying his actions, the peering at the ash. It took her a long moment to get it, but then she got an "OH Ohhhh ok" look on her face and trotted off to gether some wood. She found herself wishing she could understand him in his human form, because she could have gathered it on the way... But such was life. It certainly wasn't his fault!

After a little bit, she found a bunch of different sized pieces of wood. She had no idea what he'd need, so she got everything from little twigs to big chunks... Though nothing too big. She used her wings and her back to balance them carefully, and walked back. She moved slowly, and with such care that she might have looked graceful and stately... if she didn't have her back covered in wood.  

[Aria Starstone]

While she was gone Elliotte had gathered some of the nearby wood and used it to start the fire. He'd need Ice Fall's contribution to brew the tea, but for now this was fine to just get it going.

Once it was burning he turned to the brass bowls. Those he rinsed in the water before filling each two thirds full and setting them by the fire. When his cousin came back into view he had just started packing two of the tea stained pouches with dried leafs.

He looked up, then laughed. Well. If it worked, it worked.  

[Aria Starstone]

She blinked to see the fire already going, but assumed that this was needed so she kept on moving. She really was fascinated by what he was doing, though!

When he laughed, she pouted at him. She couldn't help it! "'t's not like I have hands or something... Paws really aren't the same thing!" She carefully settled herself down on the ground, and turned her head to try to unload herself, and was confronted with the fact that getting this off would be harder then... getting it on was.  

[Aria Starstone]

Elliotte hopped to his feet then hurried over to her side, happy to help unload. She'd done a great job with the wood. A couple of the smaller pieces he tossed over to the fire, but most he set down in a pile nearby.

Once he'd stoked the fire up high enough he pushed the two brass bowls in closer.  

[Aria Starstone]

She looked very relieved when he helped her get it off her back. She had never known how heavy carrying stuff on there was! "I find myself respecting Uncle Chroma, and his Traders, more then ever... As well as Papa, and the others who joined Papa and Uncle when they moved here... Carrying all that on your back is more work then I ever knew!"

She moved, carefully, away from the stack and the fire, and stretched out her wings and back, to make sure nothing got stiff or uncomfortable.  

[Aria Starstone]

Elliotte didn't pay her much mind as he watched the water heating up. When it reached the right temperature he pulled the pots off the fire and dropped the tea bags in. There hadn't been any obvious indication that it was time... he just seemed to know.

And finally, once the tea was brewing he stood up and let his human form fade away.

"Hey there, Icefall. Thanks for collecting all that wood."  

[Aria Starstone]

By the time he had finished, she'd settled back down, and was watching again. "Mmmm, of course, Elliotte. Your tiny human hands surely couldn't have carried it all." She teased him, gently. She was sitting as close as she could be without being up against the fire. "But thank you for brewing the tea... It must be a wonderful thing, to have such control."  

[Aria Starstone]

"Oh it is," he scrunched up his nose a bit as he watched the fire. "I really don't understand how those of you who can't do it can stand brewing tea... I mean. The hotsprings are fine. But nothing beats tea by a warm fire."