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 Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 6:36 pm
QUEST
It had been only a day since Aina had telephoned Claire out of the blue to make plans, and the woman had been equal parts pleased and surprised at the young Frei's initiative. She had to admit that Ethiriel had been on her mind recently, especially after learning that her birthday fell on New Year's Eve, and this gave her an understated way to give back something, however belatedly. Aina had only a few details but together, the two of them finetuned the outline of their planned adventure; as luck would have it, Mordekai would be in town for the farmer's market in Gambino, and Aina would join him until Claire could pick her up. Just as planned, Claire swung by around 9 that morning to pick Aina up, bringing Mordekai a thermos of tea to keep him warm in the chilly January air before they parted ways. She made sure Aina was strapped in and set off for Henry and Ethiriel's house, armed with the directions typed into her phone's GPS and a vague sense of direction from the last time she had come with Aaron a month ago. The blonde hummed happily as she drove; hopefully this would prove to be just as fun an outing as she and Aina both wished it would be.
Pulling up in front of the Knight house, Claire leaned over the steering whel to see if there was anyone waiting – no sign yet – and took a moment to swipe out of the GPS from its spot in the cup holding, smiling over at Aina while turning down the radio, which had been playing the top 40 at a comfortable volume. “Wanna go pick up our company, sweetpea?”
Glancing out toward the house too, Aina pouted curiously, but smiled over at Claire. “Mhm! Um…” the young Frei started, glancing down at her lap, thinking, then nods. Finagling with the door to get it open, she hopped out of her seat and looked to Claire again for confirmation. “Miss Claire; do I have to ring the doorbell and knock too? I forget…”
Chuckling fondly when Aina leaned back into the car, Claire leaned forward over the seat to address her. “I think ringing the doorbell would be fine, or knocking! Whichever you choose, honey.”
Aina’s smile widened and she nodded again before heading over to the house. Glancing between the doorbell, which was a little too high at her natural height, then the door itself. Floating up a bit, she knocked a bit mutedly a couple of times.
The plans had been made so quickly at last notice, but Ethiriel was eager enough to spend more time with friends. The phonecall was made yesterday, a couple hours after the silvery Frei had gotten home from spending time with Aina. Agreeing, the time together was scheduled and she was more than happy to do it. The response to the door as rather quick as Ethiriel had been waiting eagerly.
Rubbing her bleary, strained eyes, Ethiriel opened the door with a bright smile and open arms for Aina. “Hello, little one!”
Smiling, Aina waved up at her fellow Raevan. “Hi, Eth!” she exclaimed, hovering forward to give the older Frei a big hug, nuzzling a bit against her arms.
Taking the hug gratefully, Ethiriel smoothed the top of Aina’s head. “Are you ready for today?”
“Mhm!” the pomegranate nodded, giggling. Taking Ethiriel’s hand in her own, Aina tugged her forward so they could move along to the car, smiling up at her. “Miss Claire is really nice an’ is drivin’ us all around! We’re gonna make a lot of pretty things with her.”
“That sounds absolutely wonderful!” Ethiriel replied, smiling wide as she glanced up to the car and offered Claire a wave.
Waving back cheerfully, Claire leaned over to make sure the doors were unlocked but decided to let them deliberate on who is in front and who is in back.
Despite the wave being to Ethiriel, Aina waved back to Claire as well, pausing in front of the car. Uncertain of where to go, she swung Eth and her own hands a bit, pointing to the front. “Miss Eth, d’you wanna sit in the front ‘cause you’re a grownup?”
Looks down and chuckles, feeding into the swinging. “Mm… I’m fine with whatever you want, little one. Would you rather be up front with Miss Claire?”
Claire laughed as she watched the two of them deliberate, rolling down the window. “If you two wanna keep chatting you can both pile into the back. I don’t mind playing chauffeur for today. It is a special treat for the both of you,” she said, smiling fondly.
“Umm…” Aina wiggled a bit, uncertain, but shook her head and nudged Eth toward the front. “It’s okay! Eth can sit in the front so she can talk to you, Miss Claire!”
Chuckling at Aina’s wiggles, Ethiriel easily followed her nudging with a smile. “If you say so, little one. Perhaps you should sit in the middle of the back seat so we can both see you, as well?” she asked, climbing into the car once things were decided and buckled herself in.
Claire covered her mouth, hiding her smile and a small laugh as Aina and Eth bantered about who sat up front, lowering it just as Eth climbs in. “Good to see you again so soon, Eth.” She said, peeking over to see if Aina was working on climbing in. “It’s going to be a fun ride today.”
Nodding diligently, Aina exclaimed, “Okay!” as she struggled a bit with the height of the seats at first, but managed to hug her arms to the edge of the seat and used her magic to float up to the seat. Remembering to put her seatbelt on, she waited, humming.
“It’s good to see you as well, Claire,” Ethiriel said, smiling warmly as she glanced back to watch Aina struggle before blinking suddenly, rubbing her eyes before turning back to Claire. “It was so sudden, but I do look forward to it!”
Adjusting her rear view mirror to peek back at Aina and make sure she was properly buckled up before checking the side mirror, putting the car into drive. “Well good, that’s what counts after all.” She said, smiling over at Eth now before focusing on the road. “The new year is always a good time to try something different, after all,” humming in a sing-song manner and continued on toward their destination; luckily with such light traffic, they would be there in no time.
They arrived at their destination in no time - the parking lot was close to the strip the ceramics store was on, and it only took them a few minutes' walk to get there. Glaze For Days, as it were, was a little shop painted in bright colors and decorated with finished pottery at the windowsills.
Sliding the car into the parking spot and turning off the ignition, Claire beamed as the two girls behold the shop she had passed several times while running errands.
Aina looked up at the shop’s name plate in awe – Mordekai had packed her off with his flip phone, and she dug her into her small satchel to hand the phone over to the tea Frei. “Eth, d’you know how to take pictures with the phone? I forget…”
Also having been distracted by the shop’s colorful scheme, though it was much more muted for her – and now slightly bleary – Eth was surprised by Aina handing over the phone. “Oh.” Taking it, the Frei looked the small machine over; she was used to her phone – a touch screen with voice commands, she sheepishly handed it over to Claire, instead. “Unfortunately, I do not…” she said, laughing lightly.
Laughing softly at the conversation between Aina and Eth, Claire took the phone. “It’s alright, I don’t mind handling the controls here. Let me see—“ she said, thumbing through the commands to find the camera controls with no problem, but pauses. “Why not get a photo of you both in front of the place first? It’d be a great start to our little adventure here,” she said, smile widening.
“Oh! It’s okay, Eth! Sorry…” Aina said, looking quietly up at Claire while retaining a small smile, though she flustered at the suggestion, wryly shaking her head a little. “Mm… um… Miss Claire, can you take the picture with Eth instead?”
Having been about to comment on how lovely an idea it was, Ethiriel stopped short of making any noise as Aina chimed in and looked down at her with raised brows. “Do you not like your picture taken, little one?”
Claire glanced up from fiddling with the phone with a puzzled frown; this was certainly a new development.
“Umm…” Aina hummed with a small smile, giggling as she shook her head a little, though she floated closer to Eth anyway and hid behind her ribbon, head poking out past her shirt. She wasn’t sure how else to ask Miss Claire for her picture.
Humming thoughtfully with a little relief as Aina smiled at her, Claire tapped the top of the phone against her chin. “Why not one with all of us, then? I’m sure an employee would be happy to take it. Much easier than trying to wrangle a selfie with such a small screen!” she laughed, bending down. “Does that seem like a fairer deal?”
Aina’s smile grew and she nodded eagerly from behind Eth. She then ventured out closer to Claire, blushing still. “Mhm!” she said, giving pause and looked up, tapping Claire’s hand gently. “Miss Claire, what’s a selfie? Why d’you hafta wrangle one?”
She forgets, sometimes, that things that are so common for her might be new for one as young as Aina and she smiled kindly when the Frei tapped her hand. “It’s just a word people use for taking a photo of themselves, is all. They usually do it with the camera turned around like this,” she said, hodling the phone up at arm’s length as a demonstration, aiming it downward from a slight angle. “…Although, when you do it like that, sometimes you aim too high and get a nice picture of the top of your head,” she laughed. “But oh, we should head inside, girls. Get ourselves Situated and maybe an employee can take a photo of us before we get started.” Resting a hand on Aina’s head, Claire smiled over in Ethiriel’s direction. “Shall we?”
Lifting her arm as Aina hid behind her, ending up smiling at the cute display as she looks back to Claire. Ethiriel hadn’t really known what a selfie was either, so she was a bit glad that Aina had asked. Nodding along as the suggestion to move in was made, she said, “That sounds like a wonderful idea. I’m eager to try this!”
“Oooh…” Aina responded, watching as Claire explained and giggled. She extended her arm out in front of her in a similar gesture, imagining what it’s like to take a picture like that – but with Claire’s hand on her head, she glanced up at the two ladies, nodding, and floated slowly but eagerly on toward the shop. “Mhm!”
Leading them toward the front door, Claire opened it for the two Freis to enter and followed closely behind.
The interior smelled of paint and clay, and while there were a few customers at other pottery wheels or tables painting, the place was fairly quiet. Everything looked well-loved and while not exactly spotless, did maintain a cleanliness to it that might be surprising for a pottery shop. An attendant in a bright blue apron approached them, a young girl in her 20s with a wide smile.
“Hi there, welcome!” said an attendant, clasping her hands together once, eliciting a small cloud of clay dust. “How are you all doing today?”
“We’re doing wonderfully, thank you.” Claire beamed.
“Excellent, I’m glad to hear that! Do we have some first timers today?” the attendant asked, glancing toward Aina specifically as she says so, based on the fact that she was a child, but her gaze darts up to Ethiriel as well.
“These two are first timers, I’m pretty sure,” Claire chuckled. “Although, I will need a refresher; it’s been quite a few years.”
Nodding, the attendant continued, “Perfect, perfect. Well, welcome to all of you! We’ll get you situated in a second, but is there anything in specific you’d like to make today?” she asked, looking toward Aina and Ethiriel inquiringly. “People make all sorts of things; mugs, cups, bowls, vases – and once we have that puzzled out, we’ll get your clay and set you up on a pottery wheel!”
Ethiriel had followed Claire’s lead by making sure Aina made it into the shop first, closely between the two of them. The smell of clay and paint hit her hard and she blinked her eyes a few times before they were approached, to which she smiled politely as Claire spoke with the woman and once the attention was on herself and Aina. “I’m sure anything would be fun! Perhaps a cup or mug?” she said, looking around Aina’s shoulder to meet her gaze. “For Mordekai and Henry?”
Keeping close to Claire and standing near Eth meanwhile, Aina smiled shyly at the attendant, waving. She looked around the store while thinking, perking up at a few of the suggestions and nodded up to Ethiriel. “Okay! That sounds fun…” she said. Tugging at Claire’s sleeve, she asked, “Is that okay, Miss Claire? What d’you wanna make?”
Beaming down at Aina and Eth, Claire clapped her hands together. “Mugs sound perfect and not too hard for a first time around.”
“Great! Let’s get you set up with aprons. There’s a coat rack over here if you want to leave your belongings,” the attendant said, gesturing to a painted, wooden coat cubby, much like the kind found in schools. “Be sure to roll up your sleeves, too. It’s gonna get messy, but we’ll try to avoid too much of a mess.” She laughed, winding around to the counter to fetch the aprons.
“Oh! Wait, before you go… would you mind…?” Claire started, hodling up the flip phone between both hands.
Pausing, the attendant brightened. “Oh no, of course! Where would you like it?” she asked, taking the phone from Claire and thumbed through the settings; it was clear she’d done this before.
Humming, Claire looked around and settled on having the front window with all its glazed pottery as the backdrop – she scooted over to stand in front of it. “I think here would be good,” she said, looking to Aina and Ethiriel. “What d’you two think for our first photo together?” she asked, smiling.
Beaming down at Aina, Ethiriel smiled wide. “Mugs it is, then!” she said, starting to roll up her sleeves before realizing she still had her coat on over it. Once the idea of a photo was brought back into light, she paused for a moment and then continued with a smile. “I think this is wonderful.”
Aina adjusted her satchel around her shoulders, staring between the attendant and the cubbies. She glanced down at the sleeves at the recommendation, not quite remembering how to roll them up so they didn’t slip back down, but there was a photo to tend to first. “Hm?” she hummed, glancing back at Claire, then toward the front window. Smiling wide, she nodded, “yeah!”
“Crowd in, then, everyone!” Claire said, holding her arms out for the girls and settled herself in the senter, glancing behind her to make sure that some of the pots would be visible – she need not have worried, though, as there were many stacked on different levels of shelving.
The attendant stood aside so that Ethirie land Aina could get in, thumbing through the phone’s settings to the camera, tilting it this way and that. “Lemme know when you’re ready. I’ll take a couple in succession in case one doesn’t turn out, okay?”
Ethiriel hummed happily as they crowded together and the feeling of Claire’s arm around her shoulder. She gently placed her own around Aina, hugging gently.
Quickly joining in with Claire and Ethiriel, Aina clung tightly to Claire’s arms, smiling up at her, then over at Eth before glancing back at the attendant with a curious smile.
Positioning the camera, the attendant finally said, “alright, and… everybody smile!” The camera’s falsh went off quickly once, then twice. “One more for luck—“ and the flash goes off one final time. She thumbed through the pictures to make sure they turned out, then smiled. “All done!” she exclaimed, holding the phone out.
“Thank you so much,” Claire said, taking the phone to hand back to Aina. “Why don’t we get our stuff put away and we can look at them while we’re waiting for our pottery to bake?”
Ethiriel had accidentally blinked a couple of times at the first flash, but managed to keep them open for the second and third. Rubbing her eyes once all is said and done, she smiled contently. “How long does it normally take to bake?”
Glancing up from Aina for a moment to Eth, Claire perked. “That’s actually a very good question…” she said, looking to the attendant.
Having wandered back to the counter to fish out two adult-sized aprons and one child-sized, she glanced up from the rim of the counter. “We actually fire then when everything is done. You’re going to be making your mugs and painting them while you’re here, and then we’ll fire them in the kiln for you to pick up another time!”
“I do suppose that makes sense,” Claire said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Unfortunate that we don’t get to take them home right away but I can always pick them up. Gives me another incentive to visit each of you sooner.” Fondly, she placed a hand on Aina’s shoulder and smiled at Ethiriel.
“Thank you!” Aina smiled at the attendant and received the phone back from Claire with a grin, nodding. Putting the phone back in her satchel while listening to the answer at hand, she frowned a little. “Oooh…” she seemed a tad disappointed at first at not being able to bring them home immediately, but Claire’s suggestion brightened her up immediately again and she giggled. “An’ is it okay if we paint ‘em after with you, Miss Cliare?”
Having made the same misunderstanding as Aina, Ethiriel’s shoulders slumped slightly at the news as well, but her smile remained. “That’s okay. I’m sure they’ll be well received, regardless.” She then looked down to Aina, answering despite the question not being directed toward her. “I’m sure that it is more than okay. Right, Claire?”
The attendant couldn’t help but cover her mouth at the long faces and quickly shook her head. “Oh no, no, you’ll still be able to paint them today! You’ll just have to wait to pick them up.”
“That certainly seems a better deal. I still think dropping off mugs warrants a visit though, don’t you think?” Claire said, smiling at the two girls. “Besides, I want to see Henry and Mordekai get a chance to try their new mugs as much as you both do.”
Perking up, Aina nodded at Claire while holding Ethiriel’s hand, floating toward the cubbies. “Mhm! Okay, let’s go put our stuff in the cubbies!”
Following closely behind Aina as the pomegranate led, Ethiriel began pulling her purse off from around her shoulder, then her coat – once she had everything put away, she lightly grabbed Aina’s hand once more.
Claire chuckled at the two as they headed over to the cubbies and followed closely behind, shrugging off her coat and hanging that and her purse on he hooks. “Did you still need help with your sleeves, Aina?” she asked, rolling the sleeves of her own sweater up.
Dutifully putting away her satchel and coat very quickly, Aina glanced down at her long sleeved sweater and smiled up at Claire, her smile a little shy as she held her arms out toward her, nodding a little. “Yes, please!”
Giggling at Aina’s display, Ethiriel watched them both as she re-rolled her sleeves. “Thank you again for this, you two. Such a wonderful surprise.”
Smiling and obliging, Claire gently rolled the sleeves up Aina’s arms and tucked them so that they wouldn’t come undone. Giving her exposed forearm a gentle pat and standing back up, she tucked her hair behind her ears as Eth spoke. “oh no, it was our pleasure. And the best is yet to come.”
“Alrighty, I’ve got one for the little lady here,” said the attendant, holding out a small, clean apron for Aina to grab, “—and two adults!” She held out the two with the other arm for Claire and Eth to take. “you picked a good day to come in, looks like we can set you all up on your own pottery wheels without having to take turns!”
Smiling as Claire rolled up her sleeves, Aina gave her a quick hug. “Thank you, miss Claire!” she said, floating close to Eth while nodding. “We’re gonna make lotsa stuff! It’s gonna be really fun.” Curiously, she took the apron from the attendant, giving her a quiet thanks as she turned the cloth in her hands, trying to figure out how to put it on and glanced at Eth and Claire for possible hints, then stares curiously at the attendant. “What’re pottery wheels?”
Doing mostly the same as Aina, Ethiriel looked the apron over before pulling it up and over her neck. She had no idea how to tie it, allowing it to hang around her neck and drape over her front, looking to Claire for the answer.
Chuckles and makes short work of tying her own apron before Turning to Eth, Claire said, “Here, turn around. I’ll tie it for you.” She made quick work of tying it behind Ethiriel’s back, giving her a soft pat and then bended down to help Aina. “Here you go, sweetpea, likethis.” She then took the apron from Aina’s hands, looping it over her neck and tied it.
Taking a moment while Claire was still occupied, the attendant watched the interaction with a fond smile, answering Aina’s question. “Well, that’s what we’re going to be making your mugs on!” she said. Once Claire stood, she led the three of them toward the back portion of the room where a tiny line of pottery wheels wait at th ready, bowls of water at the side of each stool. “I’m gonna run and get your clay, but since we have a couple of first timers, I’ll help you get going.
Smiling, Claire watched the attendant as she disappeared into the back. “Thank you! Now, then…” she said, clapping her hands together and looked to the two girls. “Both of you cozy up next to one.” It felt a little silly to tell them to sit with no way to do so, so she took up the stool closest to the pottery whee land sat down by means of example, showing them where they should go. There were sounds of soft thuds in the back, telling them the attendant would be back with them in a moment.
Blushing a bit, Aina nodded while watching Claire get the apron on her. She listened to the attendant, meanwhile. “How do we make mugs on wheels?” she giggled, giving Claie another big hug once the apron was on. “Thank you!” she said, nodding at both the attendant and Claire’s instruction, floating closer to another unoccupied pottery wheel. At first she poked it curiously before smoothed her hands out over it.
Ethiriel gave a gentle nod to the attendant and Claire, following Aina’s lead and took a ‘seat’ at her own wheel. Attempting to focus on the wheel, her eyes became a little bleary and sore and she gently rubbed them with the back of her hand before smiling back over at Claire once her vision’s returned to normal.
Glancing up as Ethiriel rubbed her eyes, Claire caught the Frei’s eye as she smiled, her eyebrows knit in concern. “Is everything okay, Eth?
Returning with some blocks of soft clay, the attendant sat them on the stools next to the water bowls. “Alrighty here, I see you’re all situated—“ she said, though suddenly seemed to take note of the two of them not having legs, glancing down at the foot pedals. “Lemme just do some swapping out and we’ll get cruising. Hang on…” Walking over to some of the pottery wheels further back, the attendant pushed them over, sliding one right in front of Aina and plugged it into the wall socket. “Here you are, sweetie.” She hustled to swap out Ethiriel’s as well.
Looking back at the three other woman, her arms splayed across her pottery wheel, Aina sat upright when the attendant came closer and watched her do her work. She tilted her head as she changed her pottery wheel out, then nodded. “Thank you!” she smiled, then glanced back at Eth and Claire. The pomegranate frowned a bit at Ethiriel’s display, too, heightened by Claire’s own question. “Eth?”
The silvery Frei also watched eagerly at the switch, smiling when Aina got her new wheel but kep her eyes on the other Raevan and guardian-to-be. “Hm?” She hummed, perking at the question as well as both of their worried tones. “Yes, yes, I am fine, don’t worry—“ she chuckled lightheartedly, not thinking twice about her eyes for the moment. To the attendant, she said, “Thank you, ma’am.”
Nodding slowly, Claire smiled although there was still some worry evident in her expression – any further questioning derailed by the attendant setting up Ethiriel’s automatic wheel. Claire sat down at her own, foot on the pedal, waiting to begin.
Wiping her brow, the attendant patted the wheel, grinning at Ethiriel. My pleasure. Now, then…” she said, clapping and rubbing her hands together. “Since we have some first timers here, did you wanna watch and see how it’s done first?”
Frowning a little, Aina finally perked at the attendant’s question and nodded, staring down at her pottery whee. Tapping her hands a few times on it she asked, “is it okay?” Glancing over at a few other people in the store, she wondered how they were pulling the clay so well.
With her attention fully on the attendant, Ethiriel idly rubbed her eye with the back of her hand again while smiling up at the woman, nodding. “I would like to be shown.”
“If you would like, I don’t mind being a guinea pig,” Claire chuckled, scooting her stool up to her own wheel.
Clapping her hands together in delight, the attendant continued, “That’s perfect then! Everyone gather around here,” she said, crowding close to Claire. She picked up ahunk of clay, plopping it onto her wheel. “Alright, so we’re gonna put your chunk of clay on the wheel here – see how it’s already wet? It dries really quickly so if you feel it starting to dry out, reach over here—“ she said, indicating the bowl of water on the stool, “—to moisten it up again. If you please,” she nodded to Claire, who started turning the wheel with the foot pedal. “you two have automatics so you won’t need to pump it yourself. It’s gonna go at a steady pace for you. You’ll have to reach over and switch it off when you want to stop, though!”
Flashing a secret smile at Ethiriel and Aina over the attendant’s shoulder, “Now comes the fun bit,” Claire said, reaching forward and started molding the clay as it spun.
Laughing, the attendant nodded, “It is indeed fun, but also very messy, so make sure your sleeves are rolled up nice and tight! So once you got this going, just mold it around a bit, get the hang of how fast the wheel is going, then you’re gonna shape the clay up.”
As the attendant explained, Claire pushed the small mound of clay upward, using her fingers to create grooves in the sides and shape it into a roughly cylindrical shape.
Getting out of her seat for a moment to be closer to the attendant and Claire, Aina peered over at her potter whee with a big smile. Gasping, she leaned in a little closer to watch as Claire modled the clay. “Ah! The clays getting’ all tall! Why does it gotta be all wet?”
Ethieiel watched with interest as well, craning her neck to see better. She was a bit eager to turn hers on as well, but waited for the go-ahead from the attendant as if she needed permission.
Chuckling, the attendant answered, “Well, if it’s too dry, then it’ll crack or break when we put it in the kiln to bake! Easier to just keep it wet enough so it holds its shape without breaking. Also makes it easier when you hollow it out – if you would, ma’am—“
Claire nodded and repositioned one of ther hands to press her fingers down into the center of the cylinder, keeping her other hand on the outside so it held it shape as she hollowed it out into a cup. Smiling eagerly at Aina and Eth, her arms and hands already caked in clay.
“You gotta be careful about making it too thin, otherwise your mug is gonna cave in—“
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 6:36 pm
“Like this?” Claire laughed as her own cup folded in, just as the attendant said, and she pulled her hands away in surprise.
Chuckling, the attendant waved her own hands. “it’s totally fixable, though! You’ve just got to start again, and that’s probably the best to go through it a few times before making your final shape, just to get the feel of things.”
Mushing the clay back into a pile, Claire then reshaped it up into a cylinder. “Easy enough,” she said, still chuckling as she ran her fingers along it to recreate the grooves she made earlier.
“And that’s the gist of it. Don’t get frustrated if it takes you a few trieds – nobody gets it on the first go!” said the attendant, taking a lump from the block she brought in and sat them on Aina’s and Eth’s pottery wheels. “ready to start, girls?”
Gasping loudly, Aina held her cheeks. “We get to bake ‘em! Is it gonna get all puffy like bread?” she squeaked as Claire’s mug collapsed in on itself, but naturally rolls into laughter once Claire recollapses it into a mound of clay to reshape. She bounced eagerly near the end of the demonstration, nodding as she hurried back to her own pottery wheel. Smiling wide up at the attendant, she cheered, “Mhm!”
Ethiriel had watched carefully as the woman and Claire explained, fully attentive until Aina squeaked, laughing softly as Claire fixed the mistake and started over. “And once they’re finished backing we get to paint them, correct?” she asked, her attention moving to her own mound of clay as it was sat down, checking to make sure her sleeves were rrolled up tight before handing the clay a little to figure out its texture. She then let her hand hover over the switch to start her wheel.
Laughing at Aina’s question, the attendant switched on her wheel for her. “well, it won’t get puffy but it’ll harden up so you can paint it!” she said, looking toward Ethiriel as she stood, wiping her hands on her apron. “We’ll bisque them before they go in so they’re nice and ready for your glaze. But let’s just worry about getting the mug shape first. I’ll show you how to make the handle when we’re done with this step here so feel free to get started whenever!” she said, glancing over at the other customers, who look about ready to fire their pottery. “Give me a shout if you need anything, okay?”
Waving as the attendant departed across the room, Claire exclaimed, “thank you!” before returning her gaze to her own wheel, then back up to the two other girls as she played with her own clay a little, dipping her hands into the water bowl and smiling at the two of them, her enthusiasm apparent.
“Ooh…” Aina hummed, patting her own littme ound of clay in wonder; how could something like this become a mug? She glanced up as the attendant left, nodding, “Okay! Thank you!” Once left alone, she felt a little aimless as to what to do, but looking over at what Claire was doing certainly helped, and Aina scooped up her own handful of water to drop on the clay, giggling as some of it splashed up and hesitantly cups her hand around it, brightening as it started shaping up. “Ah! Look!”
Taking another moment to watch and chuckle at Aina before looking to her own mound, Ethiriel dipped her hands in the water and turned on the machine, watching it spin for a second before diving in and attempting to shape it up. Her brows rose and her smile widened once it started appearing to change, but shortly gets confused as it doesn’t work as well as it had with the woman, despite doing the same thing and kept trying anyway.
Smiling brightly at Aina’s surpsise, Claire said, “See? You’re getting it.” Giggling at the small splashes of water and patches of clay already visibly on her clothing – nobody ever said pottery was clean work. Turning to see how Eth was doing, the woman noted that the Frei was having a bit of trouble, but was very encouraged by her still trying; however, she did not want to fuss over her just het, and merely continued spinner her own mug, hollowing out the center again but her eye kept glancing toward Ethiriel.
Beaming up proudly at Claire despite her clay mound being nothing more than a vaguely circular mess so far, Aina glanced over to see how Eth was doing, not noticing her confusion immediately. “Are you havin’ fun, Eth?”
Noticeably wincing and blinking, Ethiriel focused hard and hardly thought anything of it. Passing glances toward Aina and Claire’s respsective wheels as if trying to figure out why hers wasn’t working out very well, she had been caught off guard. “Hm? Oh,” she chuckled, looking down at her own mound. “I just need practice, I suppose—“
Claire’s brows fell and her foot slowed on the pump as she eyed Eth with concern, pressing her lips together in worry. “Take your time, Eth, there’s no hurry at all.” Lifting a hand to reach over and pat her own, Claire stopped herself as she remembered her hands were covered in clay and water, pulling back with a small laugh. “Just play around a bit, I’m sure it’ll fall into place,” she smiled, encouragingly.
Aina nodded in agreement at Claire’s sentiment, smiling wide at Ethiriel. She didn’t seem to take notice of the fact that her clay mound was still fairly lumpy and loose around her hands. Glancing back at it, she tried to press it a little firmer, humming happily as it shaped into a dome.
“Right…” Ethiriel said, looking back to her mound which, if the wheel weren’t spinning, wouldn’t look like much of anything it is lumpy form. Trying to cup her hands around, it finally started to take shape and she sighed – then tried to make the mug’s shape but had a bit of difficulty keeping the edges even, but she didn’t give up.
As her own mug was close to getting the needed shape, Claire just ran her fingers along the side of it as it spun, glancing at Ethiriel out of the corner of her eye again, as though finally putting two and two together as she slowed the wheel and leaned on her elbows to look at the Frei with concern. “Eth… if I may… are you having a hard time because of your eyes?” she asked, remembering how much Eth had been blinking and wincing, rubbing her eyes – maybe this had been a little too hasty.
Having a ball making a real mess in her corner of the studio, Aina hadn’t finished shaping the clay as she splashed water on her half-formed mug and let it spin while she had been distracted by the stray clay bits and water below. Rulling them up in her hands she hums, a content and happy mess, until she glanced over at Claire and Eth and noticed that the woman had stopped. Frowning, she asked, “Miss Claire, is somethin’ wrong?” Floating a little closer, she added, “Eth?”
Ethiriel had been pretty okay with her eyes for the last few minutes, though still had obvious trouble with her hands and lack of coordination. “O-oh, um…” she looked to Claire with knit brows, trying to smile but it was a little forced. “I am okay, do not worry—“ she smiled at Aina a little easier after watching her display with the clay. “I am just tired, I think. Everything’s fine.”
Gaze sagging, ever doubtful – the feeling only increased by Eth’s forced smile and her hurried attention toward Aina, Claire responded, “If you’re sure, then. Just don’t push yourself, okay?” The last part had been said kindly with a gentle nod. “Let me know if you want to take a break,” she said, peddling again to work back up to speed, but there was little left for Claire to do except to let her fingers run along the outside of her cup.
Frowning a bit all the while, Aina managed a small smile at the older Frei’s reassurance. She glanced back at her own pottery wheel, poking at her clay mound until she let go of the stray bits to return to her work – the mug had come out rather misshapen on her end.
“I won’t…” Ethiriel smiled again, a bit more naturally this time as it met her eyes. She nodded to Aina before resuming her own work – she still couldn’t manage to get it passed a lump stage and exhaled sharply before removing her hands entirely, watching Aina and Claire work as she took a short break.
Claire’s smiled as well, feeling a little relieved that Eth decided to take a break and recharge herself. Letting her gaze wander over to Aina, who seemed to be having fun with what she was doing, an idea occurred to her – perhaps it might be better to lead by example. “Would you like a little help, Aina?” she said, stopping her pumping as her mug was mostly finished and stood, wiping her hands on her apron. “Looks like you’ve got a great start; maybe between the two of us we could make it a little stronger,” she smiled encouragingly.
Despite her clay mound being less than perfect, Aina seemed happy enough working at it. She blinked up when Claire stopped working on her own to stand, and her smile widened as she scrutinized her own mug. “Mm…” she hummed, tilting her head every which-way, glancing between her mug’s current state and Claire’s, then nods and smiles briefly toward Eth, too. “Okay!” Um… mine’s still all lumpy…” her hands grazing lightly against the clay mound as it had been for a while, with little to no pressure to make it smoother on the exterior.
Smiling at Aina’s glance, Ethiriel watched the two of them work for a moment before turning back to her own spinning mound, deflating a little in thought. Remembering the day before, how she had trouble with the piano, and hummed quietly in thought before bringing her hands back to her mound and closing her eyes. She hesitated for a moment before trying to shape it a little better and manages success, even though it’s still a bit misshaped, but at least she was able to work with it a little better. Smiling to herself, Ethiriel sighed once she opened her eyes and sees that it was in better shape.
“That’s okay. We’ll smooth it out together so that way it won’t fall in on itself when it’s time to bake.” Claire said, kneeling next to Aina and hovered her hands over the Frei’s, pressing them a little more firmly into the sides of her mug to smooth out some of the bumps. “Just gotta be careful not to press too hard, otherwise we’ll thin it too much,” she smiled, keeping the pressure there so Aina would get the feel for it, then slowly lifts her own from the girl’s tiny hands. Glancing over to Eth, she noticed her closing her eyes and going back to work, her hands seemed to move a little more confidently, even if it wasn’t perfect – was this what was missing? “I knew you’d get the hang of it, Eth,” she nodded encouragingly.
Watching the clay as Claire helped her, Aina’s fingers curled a little at the slimy feeling of the clay on her hands. She giggled in delight, straightening out her fingers again, focused on watching the clay form for a moment, though she glanced up at Eth too. Brightening, her wings fluttered, “Your mug’s really pretty, Eth!” she said, glancing down at hers – it was more of a cylinder than am ug just yet, and she looked up at Claire again, forgetting how to make the groove inside. “Miss Claire? How’s papa gonna be able to drink outta it…?”
Humming at Claire’s comment, Eth stared at the lumpy mess before closing her eyes again, working toward molding it like so – the cylinder was still solid, but as her thumbs felt over the top she hesitantly applied pressure and shaped it to be hollow. “Thank you, little one!” she said, seeming to be more into it now, more chipper. At Aina’s question, she opened her eyes and looked to her mound before passing a glance over to Claire as well.
Laughing gently at Eth’s reply to Aina, and Aina’s question in turn, Claire pretended to look thoughtfully at Aina’s mug. “Hmm. That is a pickle.” She said, looking over to Eth’s mug, which she had just begun to hollow out beautifully with the pressy she was applying with her thumbs. “Take a look at what Eth is doing. Let’s try to do like her, okay?” She gently placed her hands over Aina’s again and guided them up toward the top, and with a mischievous giggle, pressed the child’s thumbs down to begin the process. “Look at that, more room for your papa’s drink!” She beamed.
Smiling wide at Eth, Aina hummed, “Mhm!” before glancing back at Claire, humming again and nodding in agreement, then looks over to Eth as instructed while she made gentle grooves in the mug. “Ooh…” Aina’s attention returned to her own mug as Claire guided her hands again, and she giggled alongside her at the sensation of her thumb pressing down into the clay. She brightened as the mug began taking shape. “Thank you, Miss Claire! He can drink lots’n lotsa soup from here…”
Humming a laugh, Ethiriel kept her eyes closed as she worked on her own mug, but did peek curiously as the two of them giggled. Her expression softened from concentration at Aina’s comment, letting out another laugh before opening her eyes fully and glanced over. “I’m sure he’s going to love it, little one.”
“Soup and tea and lots of wonderful things,” Claire said, grinning at both Eth and Aina as she lifted her hands up and away to her to finish the process, nodding fondly over at Eth’s cup. “Your mugs are coming together beautifully. I can’t wait to see what they’ll look like when we’re all done,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron.
Finally making her way back over, likewise appraising the work that has been done, the attendant said, “Very nice! These are looking great! Let me get the handles ready for us to put on!” Setting to work, she pulled and rolled some long strands of clay from the nearest block of leftovers, which happened to be Claire’s, and hustled them over to the counter where a small torch was on standby to help dry the handles a little. “just let me know when you’re all done and we’ll get these bad boys on!”
Aina beamed at both Eth and Claire, humming and wiggling a little. She glanced down once the groove was properly shaped inside of the mug, then let go, watching the mug spin onward on the pottery wheel. After a moment, She went back to playing with the stray odds and ends of clay poking out from the water in the basin below her. Picking them up to form in her hands, she got water and clay all over herself. Glancing up at the attendant when she returned, Aina’s wings fluttered. “Can we paint ‘em soon, too?”
While her mug was far from perfect, Ethiriel was content enough with it – it would do its job well enough. “Thank you, Claire. Yours looks wonderful, too!” she said, lifting her chin at the attendant as she prepared the handles and leaned back a little to allow access to her own mug, reaching over and turning the wheel off while waiting and gave the attendant a nod. Smiling again at Aina, easily reaching her eyes – making her instinctively rub them again as they went bleary for a moment.
The attendant laughed as she finished the soft trying on the handles and walked around the counter, lifting Claire’s mug carefully so as to not create any dents. “Just as soon as I trim the bottoms and put the handles on, we’ll throw the bisque on them and then you’ll be good to go!” she said, gently flipping Claire’s mug upside down and steadied it with a few extra pieces of clay from one of the blocks. With a few careful movements she shaped one of the long pieces of clay she was drying into the curved shape of a mug handle – a small chisel was pulled from her apron pocket and she made short work of attaching it, smoothing the edges so they blended into the cup nicely. Next, she ran along the underside of the cup to flatten it and trim the extra that left the cup off kilter; she leaned back momentarily to observe her work.
Claire had been watching at the counter for a moment, eyes holding a note of surprise. “That took you no time at all.”
Laughing again, the attendant responded, “Well, when you do this as often as I do, it comes pretty quickly. Fishing out another, smaller chisel out from her pocket, she slid it across the counter to Claire. “Go ahead and carefully etch your name on the bottom here.” She rounded the counter to collect Eth and Aina’s mugs in turn so that she may do the same.
Picking up the tiny chisel in her fingers, Claire stared at her upturned cup, hand poised… and then her mouth softened into a small “oh” as she got an idea. “Say, Aina… think you could help me etch my name on the bottom of this cup? Your handwriting is much cuter than mine,” she said, smiling fondly.
Watching in awe as the attendant worked on smoothing out Claire’s mug, a ball of wet clay still in her hands as she played with it, Aina glanced down and formed the lumps of clay into a misshapen little blob of a star. Her attention was regained when Claire and the attendant speak. “Ooh…” she said, admiring Claire and the attendant’s handiwork. Like Eth, her much was a little misshapen, but still very functional with Claire’s help. Looking diligently up and Claire when she addressed her, then beamed, wings fluttering excitably as she floated closer. Giggling a little, she shyly pulled her hands at her apron at the compliment. “U-um… I can do that for you, Miss Claire,” she nodded, looking over at the cup, then the chisel. “Is it like a pen?”
Ethiriel also stared in awe as the attendant did her work, an idle smile forming on her lips. As Claire offered the idea of Aina writing her name, she looked to the other Frei happily. “Would you mind writing min, as well?” Indeed, her handwriting would be cuter, but it also didn’t help that she didn’t know how to read or write.
“Exactly like a pen,” Claire confirmed, chuckling as she passed the chisel over to Aina. “Just be careful not to press down too hard when you write. I guess that’s kind of the same as writing with a pen, too,” she smiled, shrugging.
Just as she finished trimming Aina and Eth’s mugs and attached the handles, the attendant paused and frowned. “Oh nuts, left the bisque in the back.” Fussing with her apron to wipe the little bit of clay that had accumulated on her hands from working with the chisel and handles, she asked, “I’m sorry, would one of you mind smoothing out the handles while I go get that set? Sorry, I’ll be right back!” Already partway out the door, she glanced over their heads to check that the other customers were okay before heading toward the back.
Calling after the attendant, Claire offered, “you’re fine!” before looking down at the upended mugs. All the handles needed were a little smoothing out towards where they connected to the mug itself, as well as a little extra shaping along the way; her gaze flickered up to Eth and she gave her a smile that touched her eyes. “Would you like to give it a try, Eth?” If anyone knew the feel of a mug best out of the three of them, Claire figured, it would be Eth.
Fluttering moreso when Eth requests the same, Aina nodded shyly. “Mhm…!” Dropping her clay star off somewhere safe near her pottery wheel, she carefully reached for the chisel from Claire’s hand, nodding once as she focused on staring at the mug. She began with the letter ‘C,’ then grinned up at Eth and Claire, pausing in confusion at realizing what the attendant said. “Are we really puttin’ soup on our mugs? Why do we hafta do that?” It was a term she’d heard often from living in a household that loved soup and seafood in equal portions; she looked down at the mug again, uncertain for a moment of how to spell Miss Claire’s name, but continued on anyway.
Ethiriel perked as the attention mentioned the bisque, brows raised as she looked back to the woman while she scurried away. She didn’t look back to Claire, eyes on the attendant, but lanced over once her name was called. “Mm? Oh, yes; I can give it a try—“ she said, trying to mimic what the woman did. First with sight, and while it wasn’t nearly as difficult as the mug itself, she found some frustration with it. However, she cheered up when Aina asked about the soup and chuckled before continuing with the handles. Once it’d given her some trouble, she sighed and leaned back for a moment before taking a deep breath, closing her eyes and feeling out the clay that way – still far from perfect, she managed to mold the handles properly, smoothing out the shapes just in time for the attendant to come back.
Claire held a hand over her mouth to hide the small giggle at Aina’s comment before softly gasping at remembering the clay on her fingers, and now had a nice smudge of it along her cheeks, which coaxed more smiles as she leaned over Aina. “Bisque, in this case, is just a coating we put on pottery so we can paint it. It makes the colors stand out nice and bright.” Her eyes find Aina’s little star as she glanced back at the pottery wheels, then turned to Eth and watched her work with the handles with her eyes closed. She was very glad that she found a work around to her prior difficulties adjusting to sight.
Coming back in time with a large bowl of white bisque, the attendant looked in approval at Eth’s shaping of the handles. “Excellent work! These will look wonderful! Now then…” she rubbed her hands together. “I’ll get these guys bisque and then you can start painting. They’ll just have to stand for about ten or fifteen minutes so they can dry enough for you to paint.” She then laid out a sheet of paper to set the bisqued mugs on and then smiled over at Aina. “Lemme know when you’re done, kiddo!”
Giggling up at Claire given the clay on her cheeks, Aina now was bubbly as ever. “That’s nothin’ like soup! Why did someone name it after soup?” she asked, patting her own cheeks to gesture at Claire, which in turn get ssome clay on the Frei as well. “An’ Miss Claire, you got some clay on you!” When the attendant called out to her, she hurried up her etching – gentle with the chisel given her little strength – and handed Claire’s (dutifully spelled MS CLAIR) mug out to her. “Okay! I’ve just gotta finish two more…” she said, smiling brightly over at Eth Fashioning the mugs, then extended her arms out, wiggling her fingers a little. “Eth, can I write on yours now, too?”
Nodding at the attending, Ethiriel laughed as Aina pat her cheeks and again with the bisque comments, she then carefully hands over her own mug, ready for her to sign and gives a nod. With no more busywork for her hands, she rubbed off the excess clay with her apron and watched Aina sign hers now this time, smiling wide.
“It is a mystery, isn’t it?” Claire giggled again at Aina’s matching smudge as she handed over the mug. “And you got a little bit on you too, it’s right – here~” She said, dabbing it on her nose with a finger to add another tiny spot, smiling mischievously as Aina set to work on writing Eth’s name.
The attendant carefully handled Claire’s mug and turned it this way and that to see if there were any last minute adjustments that needed to be made. “Perfect; first one up for the dip.” She said, lowering it slowly into the bisque with two fingers on the lip, as the handle wasn’t yet steady enough, coating it evenly on the inside and out. “Theeeere we go, excellent.” Pulling it out and very lightly shaking the excess, the bisque takes easily though and does not seem to drip much. Setting it on the paper to the side, upside down, and takes another flat, smooth tool out, preparing to go after any drips just in case, but her hands were well-used to doing this and it coated nicely.
Eagerly taking Eth’s mug, Aina hopped up a little to give the older Frei a smooch on the cheek. “Thank you!” Settling back down into her seat, she looked up at Claire curiously at the remark, trailing into a fit of giggles whne Claire pokes her nose, wings twitching in slight surprise. “Ah!!” Diligently, she etched Eth’s name on the bottom of her mug – ‘ETH’ – then held it out for the attendant. “Just one more!” she proclaims, humming and reaching out for her own, turning it over and writing out her name with lots of curly Qs. Holding it up for Eth and Claire to see, she asked, “Are the mugs okay now?”
Ethiriel chuckled as Claire poked Aina’s nose and hummed at the kiss to her cheek, smiling warmly at Aina’s etchings and watching as the attendant took and dipped them. Looking to the woman, clearly impressed by her work, Ethiriel glanced back to Aina for a moment, her smile meeting her eyes as she turned back to the attendant.
As the attendant took Eth’s mug and dipped it, Claire beamed at Aina and leaned over to inspect her curled signature, nodding in approval. “Looks wonderful, Aina.”
Gently shaking the excess from the mug, the attendant set it aside upside down next to Claire’s before reaching for Aina’s mug, last of all, with a smile. “it’ll just be about ten or fifteen minutes before these guys are dry enough for you to pain, but just keep in mind the clay is still a little soft so don’t press too hard with your brushes, okay?” she said, dipping Aina’s mug, shaking it and setting it down. “We’ll paint right at the counter; why don’t you all get washed up at the sink over there and come pick out your glaze colors? She asked, indicating the sink next to the cubbies with her hand and turned to gesture lightly at the wall behind her and the counter – bottles of glaze were displayed in cubbies of their own for the customers to pick.
“Wonderful. Shall we get washed up, girls?” Claire exclaimed, clapping her hands goether where some of the clay had already dried and smiled to Aina and Eth.
Aina hummed, smiling wide at Eth and Claire. “Thank you!” she said, handing her mug do the attendant and listened closely to her instructions, though her eyes wandered after a moment to see if she could hone out where the paint is stored in the shop. Glancing excitedly back at the attendant with a full nod, she hummed, “Mhm!” Eager to get started with painting, she almost forgot how much clay she had on herself. Floating toward the paint cubbies before Claire piped up, she paused and looked down at her own palms, coated with dry clay. Bouncing a little, she asked, “Do we have to?”
Nodding along with Claire, Eth smiled at Aina before the attendant piped up and started giving instructions again. Nods again, this time in confirmation at the attendant’s words and floated alongside Claire to the washing station. Chuckling at Aina, she said, “you wouldn’t want to get fresh clay all over your finished mug, would you?” She then gently led Aina with her arm rather than her hands as to not get the younger Frei’s shirt dirty.
Claire’s mouth had been open to reply to Aina before Eth piped in, and she slowly shut it with a soft smile and laugh. “Now, now; Eth has a very good point. Don’t want to ruin your nice new coat of glaze, would you?” She said, queuing up behing them to wash her hands, still chuckling.
Fifteen minutes came and went quickly enough, and soon all three of them sat at the counter in front of their mugs with freshly-scrubbed hands. An array of their chosen glaze colors were in palettes before them (and in some cases small bowls; the attendant had recommended a bottom dip for a simple but classy accent of color), as well as a few well-used but clean paintbrushes.
Humming quietly, Claire lowered the bottom half of her mug into a sapphire blue glaze, lifting it out to shake the xcess and set it back on the paper spread before her with a satisfied smile. Her gaze wandered to Eth and Aina as they worked in turn. “Thank you both for coming out with me today. I felt awful not coming prepared on New Years for your birthday, Eth! I hope today’ll make up for it.” She laughed gently and smiled, picking up her paintbrush at last and coming to the topic that had been circling her head when she first picked the girls up. “How did you enjoy your birthday, by the way?”
Aina watched curiously as Claire dipped her mug into the blue paint, eyes wide when she pulled it out and some of the paint dribbled back down. She hummed and pouted while looking between the separate colors, rethinking her choice in orange but carefully dips it in anyway. Smiling at Claire, she nodded – then grinned, head tilting toward Ethiriel, her mug still dipped in paint. “Did you get lots of presents?”
Having dipped her own mug in a forest green glaze, Ethiriel watched Claire carefully to make sure she was doing right, idly smiling as she worked – however, at the sudden questions she perked. To Claire’s she deflated after a moment of thought, remembering the sight that had been plaguing her since, giving a low, mostly silent chuckle. “It was… it was fine. I had a good time at the New Years party.” Immediately, she moved onto Aina’s question. “There was little I asked for, but Henry surprised me with some necklaces when he came home from work that night.” It was obvious that she was a little uncomfortable with the topic in general.
Hand pausing over the lavender glaze at Eth’s redirection towards Aina’s question with a light frown, Claire, would not let it rest despite the tea Frei’s obvious discomfort until she had a stronger confirmation, the mother in her taking over – she took a small, shaky breath before she continued; just one more small push. “I’m glad to hear that. I was a little worried given how… sad? Sad, I suppose, you seemed at the party. It was so sudden.” She said, dabbing the paintbrush into the mug in little clustered dots to make a small array of light purple flowers along the rim.
Aina frowned a bit, glancing back to her mug and lifting it up from the orange glaze, letting the paint drip down as Claire had for just a moment, then pulls it away and rests it on the paper, elbows resting on the table with her cheeks at her palms while she thought on what to do next. She looked back at Claire and Eth, her own frown growing more pronounced, and she wiggled. “Is it ‘cause Cesc said you weren’t kissy friends? He didn’t mean to make you all sad…”
Pauses with the green glaze dripping down her own mug, setting it down on the counter with a sigh. She didn’t look to etiher of them, eyes strictly on her mug – partially figuring out what to do next and over her words. “I was… I was jealous. I know he didn’t mean to, but…” Without thinking, she gently placed both hands on either side of the mug, holding it in place.
Eyebrows lifting at Aina’s grain of truth, Claire looked to Eth for confirmation, but her defeated tone and how she avoided their eyes told her plenty; at last, the mystery about the shift in mood at New Years Eve was soved, but she also paused and hummed, trying to figure out what to say next. “Have you talked to him about it? About your feelings?” she asked, pursing her lips and setting the paintbrush down.
Setting her mug down on the paper surface, Aina seemed preoccupied with Eth’s worries now, earnestly confused; she leaned forward and tilted her head toward Eth, head resting against her arm. “Why were you jealous?” she aske,d glancing at the table to think over the meaning of the word, the nlooked back at Eth. “Does he have another kissy friend?”
“N-no, no… I couldn’t bother him with that. Besides…” Ethiriel started, her shoulder slumping, looking down at Aina as she rested her head on her arm and gave an exhausted smile – it doesn’t last, however, as Aina points out what she was going to say next. “He feels for Zurine. I saw them be so… passionate. I couldn’t compare.”
Claire decidedly frowns at Eth’s answer and sighs, nudging her mug away to reach over and place a hand on Eth’s wrists to gently get her attention. She saw so much of her younger self in the Frei, with her doubts and uncertainties, that she could not keep silent. “Eth. Listen to me.” She paused for another moment to gather her thoughts, leaning forward to look Eth in the face. “Do not undermine your own feelings. I can’t say I know Rhedefre very well or know what his relationship status is or anything like that – but what I do know is that what you see might not always be right. You will never know what’s going on unless you talk to him.” Squeezing Eth’s arm gently, Claire continued, “You can’t expect him to know how you feel without saying anything, just as you can’t expect to know how he feels without him saying anything. And for all any of us know, the New Years atmosphere could have just gone to their head, but you won’t know unless you talk. To. Him.” She gently pat Eth’s arm as she emphasized each word before retracting her hand and sat back up, taking the paintbrush between her fingers again. “Neither of you are psychic. Talking it out will solve so many of your problems. It helped me and Aaron, after all.” She smiled serenely. “So please don’t dismiss your own feelings by saying you don’t want to bother someone, because all you’re doing is making assumptions. And assumptions are dangerous. It won’t do you any favors in the long run.”
Aina had a question burning in her head but didn’t want to interrupt the conversation going between Eth and Claire; while listening, she bounced a little, eyes wandering to the paintbrushes and she chose one with a very small tip, smiling despite the heavy air at how few hairs it was made up; then she pulls her palette closer, dipping it into some blue paint to begin drawing swirls all around the mug – the brush was sure to be a frazzled mess by the time she was done with her painting. When she looked up at the two women again, she noticed Claire with a serene smile, smiled herself, then tilted her head toward Ethiriel again. “Eth?” She stopped painting for a second. “Who’s Zurine?”
Taking a moment to meet Claire’s eyes as she began speaking, the longer the woman spoke Ethiriel’s eyes drifted away and back to the woman’s, though it was hard to keep contact. She had some very good points and it reminded the Frei of Gabe telling her to drop the formality act, and finally she kept eye contact; a torn, exhausted smile formed on her face as her brows knit together. As she was about to say something, Aina chimed in and she swallowed hard. Looking down, the Raevan’s smile faded. “Zurine is… a… a friend of mine and Rhede’s. I do not know if you have met her… she is the snow owl of the Lab—“
Claire brightened as Eth seemed to consider what she was saying seriously, but noticed the downshift at Aina’s innocent question, but she hummed thoughtfully while the two of them talked, painting more of the purple flowers on her mug in the meantime, glance alternating between Aina and Eth in turn.
Listening with a pout while she rested her head against the table, Aina watched Eth – seeming dissatisfied with the answer, somehow, she sat upright and stared back at her own mug and at the swirls she’d painted. “Oh… okay…” she said, fiddling with the nib of her paintbrush with her finger, getting paint all over it while she thought. “But if you an’ Cesc an’ Zurine are all friends together, they wouldn’t wanna make you all sad…”
Ethiriel eased once it seemed like Aina wasn’t going to press further, though she didn’t tense as the small Frei continued. “I’m sure they don’t…” she said, leaning her elbow against the table, her chin resting on her wrists as to not get paint all over her. “I… I don’t know. I don’t want to get in the way of their happiness…” This was a fib; she wanted to be with the stag quite badly and was nearly resenting Zurine for this, but her own slef-worth was getting in her way.
Looking back to Eth, Aina shook her head; the answer seemed plain to her, and she spoke clearly. “They’re gonna be sad too if you’re sad! They’re your friends.” Confused, she looked down at her mug and dipped her pain in a nice pink, though she forgot to wash off the blue from earlier – then hesitates, holding her paintbrush in both of her hands and steeling her expression to look up at Eth, raising her shoulders up a bit. “I can talk to Cesc an’ Zurine if you want!”
Visibly paling with wide eyes at Aina’s suggestion, Ethiriel quickly shook her head with a nervous laugh. “N-no, no, Aina; there’s no need ofr that—“ she said, glancing down to watch the other Frei paint rather than staring off into the distance. “I appreciate the thought… I just… I don’t know. I don’t want to be a bother to him. Or Zurine.”
Painting with as stern a frown as she could muster, Aina became confused as to why her paint strokes were coming out a pastel purple with streaks of blue in it rather than pink. “Mm-mm! You gotta! Miss Claire said.” She looked up at Eth and shook her head, deflating. “An’ now you sound all sad again…”
Claire had just sat back after listening to the two of them talk with a level gaze and a slight frown, and as Aina looked confusedly at her colors, she passed her a clean brush. “Try this one instead, sweetie—“ She then turned her attention to Eth again. “Eth… I know if might not feel that way, but your feelings deserve to be acknowledged.” Setting her paintbrush back down, she laced her fingers. “Remember what I said, that assumptions are dangerous? I didn’t share my feelings with Aaron for years and it was almost disastrous for us.” She chuckled humorlessly as she recalled the momery. “Communication in any relationship is important, e it between friends or family or anything else. Otherwise you’re not playing on a level field. You’ve got to open up.” Rsting on her arms, her gaze dropped to her clasped hands as they tap lightly on the table. “Besides, I think Aina has a good point. I think they would both be very sad to know that they have made you sad.” Looking up at Eth again, she gave a hopeful smile. “I know I’ts hard, honey, but please tell me you’re going to try to talk to him. Don’t destroy yourself over what-if’s; it is 100% not worth it. Take my word for it.”
Sighing as Aina pointed out her current mood, Ethiriel tried her best to give a genuine smile but it fell flat. Listening closely to Claire, what little smile she had fading, Eth finally nodded her head. “I just don’t know when to even mention it. I don’t even know if it’s been obvious or not. I just—“ Pausing, she sighed again.
Claire unliked her fingers and leaned back in her chair, seemingly puzzling over her mug but she also mulled over an answer. “There’s your answer right there – you don’t know. Sometimes we have to create an opening. I’m not saying go in and force it if it goes agains the grain of things and the moment but… sometimes you have to set aside a chance to do it. Otherwise this is going to haunt you, Eth, and you’ll be waiting forever for the right opportunity to come up. Letting out a slow exhale, Claire looked over to Eth with concern. “Your mental health is not worth that. Opening up is the best thing ou can do for yourself, and I’d say it’s about time you did something for yourself rather than for someone else. We’ve all got the right to think of ourselves in situations like this. And they’re your friends – I know they likely want you to be happy as well.” Claire nodded, for the moment satisfied with her piece before tacking on one last bit. “Just as Aina and I want you to be happy. Trust in that, at least. She finished with a smile and glanced toward Aina.
“Hm?” Aina perked a little when Claire gave her a clean brush, but with a small ‘thank you,’ she takes it and puts some pink on it from the palette – but she didn’t continue painting, listening quietly as Eth and Claire spoke. Smiling up at Claire when she glanced down at her, she nodded. “Mhm! An’ you’ve always gotta do what makes you happy.” A sentiment she echoed a lot from home; she floated away from her chair to give Eth a small hug on her side, quietly saying, “Please?”
With Claire speaking from experience, Ethiriel smiled a little more natural and at Aina’s loving gestures, she gave in with a nod. Chuckling, she lifted her arm at Aina’s hug and gently squeezed her in return. “Okay, okay…” she said, removing her hands from her mug; handprints were left where they had rested and she stared with surprised interest, decided to leave them there. “I’ll do my best. I will try to speak with him soon.”
Claire’s smile widened, finally satisfied with this answer. “I’m very glad to hear that,” she chuckled down at Eth’s unexpected design on her cup and decidedly places her hands on the wet glaze and pulled them away, resulting in handprints of blue and lavender. Then, she nodded approvingly toward Eth with her smile quirking into a grin. “You can tell us all about it while we enjoy something to drink from these guys. How does that sound?” she asked, turning toward Aina as she spoke as well with a hint of laughter in her voice. “Wanna join the Handprint Squad?”
With a contented hum, Aina bounced up to give Eth a small kiss on the cheek, then pulled away to return to her seat. She nodded at Claire’s sentiments, smiling wide, then giggled at both of their mugs. Glancing down at her how, hands hovering over it tentatively, she asked “Do I just hafta do this?” she glanced back at the women when her hands were finally pressed into the glaze and she laughed at how sleek the paint felt against her palms and fingers.
Surprised at the kiss for a second, Ethiriel laughed and leaned down to return the kiss to Aina’s hairline before pulling away. Rubbing her hands together, she chuckled again. “It will be nice. I’m sure the people they’re gifts for won’t mind us using them.”
Claire nodded at Eth. “Share and share alike, I say. Besides, getting in the way of a chat between friends is terribly rude,” she said, mockingly lifting her chin in fake offense but is softened by her laugh and a playful wink before redirecting her attention toward Aina as she pressed her hands against the mug, coaxing more laughter from her. “You’re a pottery pro already, Aina!”
Giggling, Aina lifted her hands off of the mug and admired the handiwork on all of their mugs. Beaming up at Eth and Claire, she raised her hands up to reveal painted orange-and-blue palmst. “We have tattoos now!”
Nodding and laughing lightly, Ethiriel glanced down to Aina once the attention is turned on her and smiles warmly. Looking to her own hands, now green, she held them up for Aina to admire. “We certainly do! I hope you like those colors, little one, because you’re stuck with them now!” She laughed, leaning down and giving Aina another kiss to her hairline.
Wandering back around to see them all laughing, hands covered in glaze and moods seemingly much improved from when she looked over earlier, the attendant cheered, “Look at all these beautiful mugs! And… new tattoos, I daresay?” Her eyes crinkle as she too laughs, hinting at the last bit of their conversation she managed to catch.
“Friendship tattoos,” Claire laughed, holding her hands up for the girls to inspect; blue and lavender, and wiggled her fingers in Aina’s direction as she looped an arm around her tiny shoulders after Eth kisses her (careful to avoid leaving any glaze in her hair), pressing close to both girls. “Friendship tattoos and friendship mugs, yeah?”
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