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Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 8:25 pm
 Elros Namasi Baldr couldn't see. Not because he was ill or injured; he was just carrying a high stack of crates, each lovingly packed with different fruits from his orchard. Sitting atop the stack was his little buddy Badong, who had been doing a pretty good job directing Baldr on their way into Breeheart so far. At least, until he spotted a pretty wilwarin girl coming out of one of their scheduled stops for the day.
In her case, Badong waited until the last possible moment to cry out, "Woah slow down, big guy. Cutie dead ahead!" In response to his wingman's warning, Baldr immediately put on the brakes, but not quickly enough to prevent somepae from bonking into him and his armful of goods (which didn't even jostle).
"I'm sorry! Are you alright?" the land sprite asked, shifting and balancing his burden more on one arm so he could peer around the side at whoever he'd run into. Menelie Natela was exiting the shop, having dropped off a delivery of jam. She was saying a last goodbye to the shopkeeper and wasn't looking ahead, and crashed straight into what appeared to be a wall of crates. She lost her balance and landed squarely on her backside with a small "oof!", but was otherwise unharmed. She wondered when someone put a stack of crates in the doorway, and what they'd been thinking, until they moved and somepae stuck his head out from behind them.
"I'm fine," said Natela with a good-natured laugh, starting to pick herself up. "It's a good thing I didn't--wait are you carrying all those?" She asked in an impressed tone. Elros Namasi Baldr (pointedly ignoring Badong wildly waving his mistletoe sprig around the two of them and making kissy faces) started to smile at her reassurances, but stopped midway, thrown a little by her question. "Um, yeah? I don't have a fancy cart with wheels. I mean, I could push or pull the crates, but that'd just leave deep ruts all over the road.."
Blinking his very blue eyes, Baldr set down his fruit crates (even though he did so gently, they still made a heavy thunk sound and raised a puff of road dust) and then turned to her, putting his hands on her upper arms and lifting her to her feet with the barest of effort.
"Badong was supposed to be look-out," he explained, pointing to the still-cavorting wingman. "You can call me Baldr, and I really am sorry about that, Miss..?" he said, trailing off into a question and prompt for her name. Menelie Natela listened as he sort of missed the point of her question. "That's true, it's just a lot for one pae to--" She interrupted herself, again, as he picked her up effortlessly and set her on her feet. Oh. Did her heart go pitter-pat a little? It did go pitter-pat a little. "....carry." She finished somewhat faintly. Alright, be cool, don't make things more awkward than they already are. She cleared her throat and began to brush herself off, wings flicking to clear them of dust, then looked up when he spoke again with a smile. She nodded politely to the mellon before addressing Baldr. "Natela," she said, straightening up.
She offered her hand for a handshake, and the basket that had been holding her jam jars slid down from her elbow. The bottom was busted out. "Eesh," she said, and quickly removed it with her other hand, whisking it behind her back and offering her hand again. "It's lovely to have run into you, Baldr," she said with a bit of a cheeky expression. "Though, I'm glad to have done it after I made my delivery or I'd be covered in jam." Not that that was particularly different than normal, she was often sticky from cooked fruit and sugar when she was making jam. Elros Namasi Used to going unacknowledged, Badong was not prepared for her polite nod. Reddening, the mellon suddenly ceased his dancing and squeezed into one of the crates, instead.
"Miss Natela," Baldr confirmed, reaching out to take her offered hand. He only got to about halfway before he froze, watching the drama with the busted basket unfold with surprising speed. Cautiously, Baldr finished the motion when she held out her hand the second time and shook.
"That's lucky, at least. I'm glad the basket's the only thing that broke," he said, getting ready to pick up his crates again. "I can get it fixed for you, if you want. But I've got deliveries to make myself first."
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2022 8:39 pm
Menelie Natela almost waved off Baldr's offer to have the basket repaired, but something stopped her. "That would be lovely, it's quite important for my work and I'd appreciate it. Here, let me get the door for you." Natela opened the shop door and then scooted out of the way. "What is it you're delivering, if you don't mind my asking?" she inquired, tipping her head curiously at the crates. "I'm sorry if I've offended your friend," she said apologetically, peering at the crate that the mellon had disappeared into. Elros Namasi "Oh, he's not offended. Just flustered," Baldr laughed, scooting through the doorway passed her and nodding his thanks then gesturing with his chin for her to follow. Baldr made his way toward a section of countertop meant for trade goods, unstacking and setting down his crates next to each other. "These are filled with fruit from my orchard. Cherries, plums, and figs," he named each as he took off the lid, fishing Badong out of the plum crate and draping the now slightly bloated mellon over his shoulder.
After working out the details with the shopkeep (Baldr would be back the next day to pick up his emptied and refilled crates), Baldr took the basket from Natela and offered her his arm, leading her a short way outside of Breeheart before stepping off the path and into the Quiet Woods. Stopping near some tall grasses and ferns, Baldr held out the basket and asked politely, of seemingly no one in particular, "I hate to bother you, but could you please help me fix my friend's basket?"
With a soft rustling and swaying, vines crept out and took the basket from the sprite's hand, expertly reweaving it with dried grasses and bendy twigs, possibly better and faster than skilled pae hands could. "Thank you so much! You're very talented," Baldr gushed, taking the basket back and handing it to Natela while the various flora did their very best to blush and wave him away. Menelie Natela looked a little starry-eyed at the crates of fruit as they were opened. She'd never made cherry, plum, or fig jellies before. She made a mental note to come back tomorrow to see about purchasing some to experiment. She couldn't help but giggle at the poor avalon fairy who appeared to have...overindulged. "Oh dear," she said, covering her grin with one hand.
Outside, Natela took Baldr's arm cheerfully. What a charming sprite he was, and without any artifice. She was curious to go where he led her, and was rewarded with a...repaired basket. "Wow," she breathed, impressed all over again. "Thank you so much!" She said, both to Baldr and the...forest?
"You are full of surprises," she said to Baldr. She was intrigued by him, even having just met him. He was dazzlingly handsome, polite and sweet, and remembering how easily he'd lifted her to her feet? Had her heart beating faster. She didn't want this chance encounter to be over.
She cleared her throat gently. "I'd love to see your orchard," she said. "I'm a big fan of fruit." She wanted to tell him about making jam, because she loved to share it. On the other hand, she didn't want him to think she was interested in a business transaction. Well, maybe she was, but not today. Elros Namasi Baldr had been preparing to turn around, lead Natela back to the path, and there part company with her when she cleared her throat and expressed an interest in seeing his orchard. Cocking his head to one side, Baldr took a moment to carefully think it over. His little abode was less than a mile further on and he did have to go back there, anyway, to get the rest of his deliveries (which were much smaller baskets of fruit meant to be traded specifically for specialty, mostly baked, goods). And, while he had facilitated the repair of her basket, he, himself, hadn't really done anything to make up for causing the accident in the first place. Decided, Baldr told her, "Well, if you're not busy and don't mind a bit of a walk, you can come meet them."
Roughly fifteen minutes of brisk, but unhurried, walking along what appeared to be well-established game trails found them standing in a kidney-shaped clearing. Along the outside edge were six fruit trees (two cherry, two fig, and two plum), spaced evenly apart and positively groaning under the weight of beautiful juicy fruit. The indent side of the open space was dominated by a treehouse. Said treehouse was not, in fact, a house built into and around a tree, but rather a house made out of trees, almost like a ground-level pae-sized bird's nest. Stacked closer to the trees, was a pile of fruit-filled baskets; the rest of today's haul. Menelie Natela felt energized by the walk (and the company), although she was typically a more lounge-y type. She mostly filled the space with chit-chat--a skill of hers, to be able to chat with anyone for a seemingly indefinite amount of time. However the sight of the orchard, though small, left her speechless. The smell was incredible. The fruit filled the air with a sweet, honeyed smell that she breathed deeply, appreciative. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of all the fruit, and she was sorely tempted to reach for a plum, but she'd control herself unless and until she was invited to do so. This was his livelihood, after all. "This is beautiful," she said finally. "These trees, your home, it's like something out of a storybook." She was well and truly enchanted. "I don't know much about growing or cultivating fruit, I just make jam out of it, but you must give these trees excellent care for them to give fruit like this." Elros Namasi Honestly, all he really did was keep them as free of pests and disease as possible while the trees themselves did the rest and he said as much to her, gesturing for her to pick some. "Just tell them thank you. They try really hard for me and do a good job, but they always make too much because they like me a lot." That was about as much as he could explain; it was just how things worked.
Baldr gave Natela permission to not only sample some fruit, but also to go ahead and make use of her newly-mended basket, waiting patiently while she filled it before scooping up his own and starting back along the trail to Breeheart. Menelie "You do seem quite likeable," commented Natela, approaching the plum tree. She picked what she estimated to be enough plums to make a jar of jam, as an experiment (with an extra just to eat), and thanked the tree sincerely. She didn't quite understand it, but she could tell that Baldr had some kind of connection with the local flora. "These look delicious, you've done so well," she gushed. She did the same with the cherries and figs, offering each tree a unique compliment and thanks. She hoped it was enough.
When she was finished, she joined Baldr on the path back to Breeheart. "Once we reach town I'd love for you to stop by my place. I'll give you a jar of jam to take back." Elros Namasi "Oh, that'd be great, thank you," Baldr responded amiably, taking the lead back through the woodlands. When they reached the same spot where they'd left the main road before, he stepped to the side and dropped back to make way for Natela to take over as guide. The land sprite had a little bit of a spring in his step; he very much enjoyed things that were made with fruit, but he had no talent for the making part himself. Which would be why he habitually traded baskets of whole fruit for the cakes and pies (and jams) he craved. The crates were for necessities, though he'd likely argue that a good tart is absolutely necessary. Menelie Natela did indeed take the lead, taking his arm again and steering them toward her home. It was simple, not lavishly decorated, and if he were to peek inside he'd see that she wasn't a very tidy individual. "Wait just here, I'll be right back!" Natela disappeared inside and grabbed three small (sample size!) jars--one each of raspberry, strawberry, and peach jam. She re-emerged and showed them to him, explaining how to tell the difference between raspberry and strawberry, and tucked them into the bottommost basket he carried. "If you save the jars and return them I will happily refill them for you," she said with a wink. She straightened up and put her hands on her hips. "I hope we run into each other again soon," she said, smiling broadly. Elros Namasi Baldr politely did not glance inside, but Badong (who had finally woken from his plum-induced coma somewhere in Breeheart) had no such qualms and fluttered to the doorjamb to peer at the clutter. When Natela returned, the fairy scrambled back onto Baldr's shoulder and watched with rapt attention while she explained how to tell the red, seedy jams apart.
Baldr for his part took special note of which basket she tucked the jars into (he didn't want to accidentally trade those away) and then beamed an unintentionally devastating smile at her. "I imagine we will. Hopefully I won't knock you down and break your basket next time."
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