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 Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:18 pm
The orchard was bustling with activity, everyone excitedly trying to forage up the best samples of their favorite fall treats. Fruit trees and ground vines grew in the cleanest rows anyone could see on a farm, and the plucking was carefully regulated to prevent anyone from taking too many.
Of course, that was no concern with Zota. Her little basket held only two apples, but they were the most delicious looking apples she had seen so far. She was being very particular about which produce she was willing to take. Nothing but the best for her! Climbing up one of the stepladders, she reached up on her toes for a particularly yummy looking fruit hanging from the branch above.. but it was just out of reach.
"Uncle Ari! Help me get that one, please!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 2:26 pm
It still felt strange to be reminded that he was an uncle. He loved his nieces, but they lived so far away... by the time he got to see them again, he had to go throguh the whole process all over again! The other difficulty was being the one in charge. He was fine with letting others take the lead, but it was just him and Omari watching the youngling. He was never one of the oldest anywhere! Thankfully, Zota seemed pretty independent as it was.
And quite picky at that! He looked over when his brother was called for and saw how light the youngling's basket was. In contrast, his was already halfway filled. "Come on, Zota. You gotta get that basket real full if you want those pies!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:03 pm
"Mmm, pies." Teased Omari as he passed his sibling to walk up to Zota. "We're not the ones making them, right?" The teen glanced between the youngling and the fruit hanging on the branch. The easiest way to deal with the situation would be for him to take a stepladder and pluck the apple for himself, but the teen had a better idea that would be more fun for them both. "Get on my shoulders, Zota." He teased with a light wink towards his niece. While his twin struggled a bit with the concept of the two girls who visited every so often, Omari fully embraced being an uncle. It was nice to get to dote on two adorable young girls instead of him being called the baby!
Omari braced himself so that Zota could climb onto his shoulders and pluck whatever fruit she wanted from the new height. Thankfully for Zota, Omari was already fairly lanky for his age and almost as tall as the tallest earthlings. No tree should be a match for them!
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:08 pm
Alinta 1
Thankfully Alinta was allowed out and about in the city without much trouble. She wasn't like her nephews who seemingly had to be kept in the shadows and the girl enjoyed every moment of it. The golden child bounced around as she darted between the orchard of fruit trees. They had fruits in their home but it was far more exciting to come out here and explore what this area had to offer. Plus, it would be more of a surprise if Alinta came home with a basket of fruits so that she could make tarts for everyone! Even if the boys could be little turds the girl still enjoyed making things for them, a sign of her much greater maturity as their aunt.
However, she couldn't help but to be disappointed when she saw a pair taking on the fruit that she had caught sight of from the other side. A sigh left her lips before the youngling found herself cocking a hand on a hip, her basket hanging on her arm with its few prized fruits, "Care to grab that other one if you can while you're up there? It's only fair since you took the first one like that."
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:32 pm
Oly snorted. "Yeah, like mom would trust me to bake anything." He hadn't been allowed in the kitchen since the pasta incident! He still went in there for simpler fares, but heating up anything without supervision was strictly prohibited. He liked to be his own man.. but even he knew that some chores were best left to others. His ears practically twitched when Omari suggested the climb, and he took a full step away from the pair. "Don't blame me if you fall," he teased again.
He looked over at the new arrival with surprise, then looked to the others and shrugged. "I mean, since you're up there..?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:40 pm
"I'm going to help grandma make them," she assured with a raise of her chin, "and they'll be the best pies because I'm not just grabbing every apple here." It seemed she would have to be sure her apples got their own pie.... Maaaayyyyyyybe she would save a thin slice for Uncle Omari. Grinning, she nodded and carefully climbed up onto her uncle's shoulders. "I'm going to blame you just because you said not to," she teased, sticking her tongue out at Oly.
Her attention shifted to the girl, blinking slightly with interest. Fair? Well, in that case.. "I would be happy to get the other one for you, but you have to say the magic word first, you know."
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:59 pm
Omari 2
"We have you to catch us if we do fall." Teased Omari back with a chuckle. But his twin was right about neither of them being around the kitchen. One too many incidents had rightfully barred their return to that place where so many accidents could happen. The one time Omari thought he had made a wonderful treat for everyone turned into a nightmare as the hottest pepper flakes apparently had been mistaken for crushed cinnamon. Yeah...I'll avoid that.
"Atta girl." Omari laughed at Zota's teasing before making certain to hold onto her legs. He wanted to help her keep her balance as they slowly walked around the trees towards the fruits. No one would be having any pies if Omari let Zota fall! So he was determined to keep her safe until the appearance of another youngling caused him to nearly stumble in surprise. She had been so demanding, but for a second if he hadn't been already with Zota the boy may have accidentally called out to her instead. Well only if she had been turned away. Now that he studied the stranger and waited on her response to Zota's suggestion Omari could easily see all of the differences between the pair. It was simply the similar long blond hair in this area that took him by surprise.
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:03 pm
Alinta 2
"Oh good." Alinta beamed at the older boy who seemed on page with her. Why not help since they were already in the process of picking things? It wasn't as if she had the option to climb someone else's shoulders like that! The youngling found herself smiling before the rest of the other girl's sentence made her lose the expression in favor of a frown. What magic word did they want from her? Didn't they know she was important?
Alinta huffed as she thought about her options. "He already agreed so I don't know why you would make a big ordeal about it." Did they want money from her? The youngling shifted her basket as she thought over things. "Magic word? Really?" Honestly! If she was thinking something else then Alinta found herself being almost at a loss. Was it supposed to be alakazam or something silly like that?
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:14 pm
Oly sighed and stepped closer to the tower of family. "Yeah, yeah, I gotcha." They weren't wrong, of course. If there was a tumble, he needed to be there to make the grand catch! He hated to think what Kyril might do to him, and Omari, if Zota got hurt on their watch. Even if it wasn't his idea!
Ordeal? He shrugged his shoulders while keeping his eyes on his charges. "You know, the magic word for when you want someone to do something for you." His gaze did shift over briefly. She did know the magic word... didn't she?
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:23 pm
Zota's brow rose curiously. Not condescending or the like; just curious and mildly confused. "Uncle Oly agreed, but I'm the one up here. I said I'll get it for you, but you gotta ask nice and use the magic word." She leaned forward slightly, bracing her free hand on the top of Omari's head. "Does your family call it something different? The polite word or the special word maybe?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:32 pm
Omari was just as baffled as his family members. What did she mean ordeal? Did she not understand what the magic word was? His parents always made certain to make them use it while growing up so what type of youngling...Omari just found himself blinking, especially when he noticed the rising frustration crossing the girl's features. The teen shifted lightly as he kept a hold on Zota, his shoulders feeling a bit of the burden but thankfully strong enough to endure because of so much dance practice. "It begins with a 'p' if that helps?" He offered with a confused glance towards Oly. Was this kid for real?
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:40 pm
Alinta found herself bristling at the questions. Why did they want some sort of special word? Did it look like she worked here or knew some sort of family code that those three shared? The young hybrid tossed some of her hair over a shoulder with a huff. "I'm sorry if I'm not taught some special 'p' word that apparently involves picking fruits. Is it like Pedra or something?" She tried to say some of the strange words she had heard around the area, but none of them seemed right. Like what type of special 'p' word would someone....oh, OH.
"Seriously? All of this over someone saying please?" Alinta placed a hand on her hip as she stared at the trio. "Then could I please have some fruits? That one on the right side looks lovely."
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:01 pm
Oly couldn't tell if the new youngling was kidding or being serious... but she seemed to be serious. Pedra?! He managed to hold back a laugh, but only just. "Of course she's serious. You're always supposed to say things like please and thank you." That was a basic fact of life! Of course, not everyone was taught the same. Not everyone had manners. Was it her parents? He turned his focus on his niece and held up his arms. "Alright, get on down now."
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 6:09 pm
For her part, Zota's brow just tightened with confusion. Pedra.... What? "I'm sorry for the confusion. We're just so used to calling it that. I will gladly hand you the fruit on the right." Satisfied, she reached up to pluck the fresh fruit, giving it a quick check for bugs or any hidden flaws. "This one is definitely meant for you. It goes with your eyes!" she chirped as she held the apple down for Omari to hand over to the girl. The rosy flesh indeed matched the girl's eye color, much to Zota's delight.
She looked over at Oly's hands and playfully hugged her hands around Omari's head. "Nope! I need to stay up here for reaching more apples!" she teased.
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:51 pm
"And she did it." Omari would have clapped if it wouldn't have risked dropping Zota. Still, he helped his niece around so that they could pluck all of the fruits that she wanted. Omari took the apple before handing it over towards the youngling. "Hopefully this is to your liking." He teased as he gave the fruit over. He tensed though when he thought Oly was going to take his niece but then she was hugging around his head. "Ca-careful!" He called out as he caught his balance. "I can't see, Zota..." The teen pursed his lips as he stood still in protest. "Hard to get anything this way."
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