Raffles & Giveaways

@LaureltheSapWing Delphina smiles kindly at Buddogaliaeth, graciously accepting his proffered bag of currency. "I'm glad to hear good reports from the Black Death Clan! There's plenty of work to do, but fortunately, we have plenty of time to get it done. Why don't you find somewhere to take a rest, first? The cave holding the travelers' den is nearest here, but..." She eyes the weary Veilspun. "...if you can't make it that far, you're welcome to nap in that crate of linen tablecloths." [center]~[/center] @Pinterry Phoebe peeks into the bag of goodies, then snaps it shut with a smile. "I can drop these off with the chef for you! I'm certain Dominic will appreciate both of you helping with the harvest, but if you want to put on a show for the reunion you should talk to Delphina at some point - she's handling the itinerary!" Regarding the harvest, Phoebe mentions the farm is located in the forest at the far end of the beach. The path into the forest is overgrown, but fortunately there are freshly painted signs posted pointing towards a sprawling field full of a variety of crops. A green-winged Imperial is loading some gourds into a crate, which matches the stacks of full crates arranged next to the path leading back to the beach. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/68121894][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/681219/68121894_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Dominic pushes back her wide-brimmed hat to wipe her brow free of sweat. “Hello, there - I’m sure glad to have some help! You’re welcome to join in on the harvest, or if you’d rather, those crates need to be carried down to the beach for the chefs.” She looks over Ardolen, then Nebula. "Are you sure you're dressed to be working out in the sun? I take it you dragons aren't from around here!"

Phoebe nodded. "Good idea about him and Aen. He's already got some experience with making drinks, so it should be a piece of cake. Thanks."
For the next few hours, Phoebe and Orpheus set up shop. Not without some stepped-on tails and angry remarks, the pair had pulled together a little booth. It was Phoebe-colored with dashes of glitter that shined when the sun hit it just right. The fermented fruit juices and colorful candies stayed by an ice block, haphazardly crafted from Phoebe's limited ice magic, to keep it cold until guests arrived.
Phoebe rested on the sand after it was all finished. Orpheus floated above her, checking the angle of the sun every few minutes.
"So what now?", he asked.
"So now, I have a job proposition for you."
"Oh great". He turned his head away and folded his arms tight against his chest.
"Oh, come on. I think you'll like it. You would be working with tea this time around, and I think you'll get along with your tea buddy. Talk to Phoebe when you're done with whatever you're doing. Ok? Or just consider it, pleeease!"
Orpheus did consider it. Doing nothing at all would be boring, but he's familiar with boring. Boring is like an old friend to him. To experience something so new as a dragon from so far away, a possible friend, would be a little scary but at the same time exciting and interesting. Would he prefer boring over this excitement? Probably not. So he made his way to where the other Phoebe stood and awkwardly asked about the job opportunity.

@pandakitty1 With a knowing smile, Phoebe points Orpheus towards a booth with the same general structure as the one he just finished constructing. It's located next to the river, where the fresh water rushes past between a waterfall and the sea. It seems Aen has only just finished putting it together; crates of supplies are scattered around the sand, waiting to be unpacked. Compared to the detailed decor Phoebe added to her stall, this one is quite plain; the only decorations Aen has added are bundles of fragrant herbs that hang from the structure's wooden frame. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/70520730][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/705208/70520730_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Aen dips a blue-and-white painted kettle into the river's cool running water before pulling it out to set atop a low flame in a pit in the sand. It's at this point that he looks up and notices Orpheus approaching. "I just put the kettle on, so it'll be a few minutes before I can serve anything," he says as he turns to unpack a crate carrying glass jars of dried herbs.

"Oh, no. That's not--" Orpheus flicked his tail, nervously. "I actually want to help you." Orpheus cracked a smile, hoping to ease the awkwardness he had just created. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/73188157][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/731882/73188157_350.png[/img][/url] "Well, Phoebe said that I could help you." Orpheus flew to the side of Aen and offered out his hand to help with the crates. "Oh, I'm Orpheus, by the way. I figure I should tell you that before you-- like give me a weird nickname-- or something", he chattered on, hoping that Aen would understand how much Orpheus was trying.

@pandakitty1 Aen returns Orpheus' smile with a small one of his own, and plunks a glass jar into his outstretched hand. Dried flower blossoms tumble around inside.

"Chamomile," Aen confirms. He points to a spot below the stall's counter; shelves are built in to hold product, and a few jars are already lined up in what seems to be alphabetical order. None of the jars are labeled, though, so it's up to the teamakers to know their ginseng from their ginger.

After a few minutes of unpacking, the kettle begins to whistle, and Aen trots over to take it off the flame. He rummages in another crate and pulls out two teacups to set on the counter.

"What's your favorite kind of tea?" he asks Orpheus.

Orpheus paused for a moment. The truth was he didn't drink much tea. He preferred coffee or just plain water. However, he remembered that his mother let him drink a type of tea when he was young, before she let him drink coffee and way before she let him drink the beverages served at the tavern. But what was the name of that tea? He puzzled.

"Do you have masha, like the green tea?" He hoped that was right, which it was probably not. Orpheus didn't know why, but he wanted to impress this dragon. Tea knowledge seemed like the way to go, but Orpheus knew he didn't have much of that... He didn't know what he would do.

@pandakitty1 "Oh- you mean matcha?" Aen asks, his expression startled before it turns sheepish. It's clear he wasn't expecting this answer; he seems to be quite thrown off. "I do have some, but it's not from the teashop..."

Instead of grabbing something from one of the crates, he reaches into a satchel slung around his waist, and pulls out a little wooden container with a whisk tied on with twine. Orpheus watches as Aen sidles up to the counter and begins to prepare the drink.

"My mentor isn't a fan of matcha, which is saying something - he likes all kinds of tea, even mint cactus -" Aen makes a sour face - "- as long as it's prepared properly. But for some reason, he doesn't like matcha, so he doesn't serve it at the teashop. I suppose I understand...it's prepared differently than other teas, so maybe it would be too much of a departure from what he and the customers are used to. But it doesn't ruin my enjoyment of it, of course! Just...decreases it. I have to go all the way down to Churnscar Wharf to buy it, and the merchant isn't always there when I have a craving..."

Aen finishes whisking the powder into the water, tilting the cup to make sure no residue is left, and pushes one cup across to Orpheus as he tidies up his tools before returning them to his satchel.

"Go ahead, take a sip! I'd love to know what you think...it's been a long time since I've had it prepared by someone else, so I hope I've been doing it right," Aen rambles on, his aloof persona seemingly dissipated. Maybe tea talk really is the way to go to get this dragon to open up!

Orpheus was embarrassed at first for getting the name wrong, but hearing Aen light up about tea soothed his embarrassment. He picked up the teacup delicately, so as to not spill it, and smiled a very genuine smile, the most genuine he's made this entire day.

He took a sip, and mouth agape, his upper body practically drooped over. That's better than I remember, he thought. He cleared his throat and regained his original rigid posture.

"It's amazing. Thank you." He gazed at the warm tea that sat in the palms of his hands. It seemed that he had finished talking before he opened his mouth again, "You know, my mom used to buy me matcha tea every so often after my lessons. It was always a treat for me. We would go to a coffee shop in our clan. My mom would gossip with the owner sometimes while I drank my tea, but the focus was usually on me." Orpheus took a long sip of tea. "My mom and I have always been close. Sometimes, though, I feel like I'm not treating her how I should. She's made so many sacrifices for me and has been so supportive, yet I find every single flaw in all of her plans. And even though she doesn't seem to care, I feel like I should be doing better. You know what I mean?"

Orpheus couldn't believe he had just opened up like that. "I'm sorry. You didn't need to hear all of that." He put his tea on the counter and turned his back towards Aen, hoping to forget about that interaction.

@pandakitty1 Aen looks quite proud as he watches his cousin visibly enjoy the tea; in between sips of his own, he listens to Orpheus with a calm expression. When Orpheus turns away, Aen sets his teacup down on the counter and speaks softly, haltingly, as if he's unused to giving others comfort in such a way.

"I don't know your mother enough to say for certain, but I imagine she wouldn't have invited you to come along if she were truly bothered by your attitude. And I must say, criticism is plenty important in any field of work; if you hadn't liked the matcha, I'd appreciate your honesty far more than empty platitudes." He pauses and regards his own teacup, which is a few short sips from being empty, with a faraway look in his eye.

"I haven't seen my parents in many years, but there's no shortage of parental love in my life...still, there's nothing quite like connecting with someone who's known you since birth. I'd think if you told her what you told me just now - reflecting on how things used to be, and how they've changed - she might have some thoughts to share from her own perspective. I'm not well equipped for conversations such as these, but your admission is far from the most shocking I've heard from customers at the tea bar." Aen chuckles lightheartedly, hoping his attempt at bringing Orpheus' mood up was a success.

As preparations continue on the beach and elsewhere, there's a whistling in the Eastern sky that's steadily increasing in volume. There, breaking through the cloudbank, a dragon can be seen hurtling toward the beach and clinging to some contraption. As she corkscrews ever closer to the beach, the pearlcatcher spins with the contraption causing it to emit different whistles. Breaking out of the corkscrew, she begins to flip head-over-tail, getting dangerously close to the ground now. She breaks away from the contraption, sending it gliding off to land elsewhere, unfurling her wings as she attempts to avoid colliding with the ground. Unfortunately, she'd bailed just a little too late as she bounces across the peaks of pitted sand, spraying said sand in all directions. Pulling her head out of the sand, she hops to her feet, victoriously throwing her arms up in the air with claws clenched into fists, and lands back down on her haunches. "Woohoooooooooo! Yeah! Whadda rush!" She exclaims as she shakes sand out of her mane. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78276326][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/782764/78276326_350.png[/img][/url] Moments later, another dragon seems to fade into existence trailed by dispersing wisps of gentle green mist for a moment. As he lands, The bells on his scarf become audible, jingling merrily. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/3801593][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/38016/3801593_350.png[/img][/url] From his back two tiny creatures climb down. What appeared to be a tiny, fluffy fae dragon and a young raven-feathered talonok lass hit the sand and began running toward the pearlcatcher. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65331326][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/653314/65331326_350.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/74781803][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/747819/74781803_350.png[/img][/url] "You ok, Treskana?" The tiny fae called to the lively pearlcatcher, his frills half folded in concern. "Yup! not the best landing, but I'm still in one piece! ... I think?" Treskana looks herself over, "anywho, now that we're here, what was it we're here for again, Zalva?" she looks around at all the preparation work going on and the confused dragons staring at the strange group that had just shown up. Looking her up and down to check for injury, the skydancer replies, "we're here to offer our assistance in setting up a celebration. I believe they might have need of your specific skillset in fact." After assessing that she was indeed 'in one piece', he added, "and yes, you seem to be no worse for the wear, though the same might not be said for the glideboard." He points at the contraption lying in the sand, its gliding cloth torn by the impact. "Oops..." She shrugs, and looks down as the fae pokes her leg. Scooping up the little guy and his friend, she asks, "What'd you guys think? More flip, less spin next time?" Zalva smiles and shakes his head as he walks past them to look for someone who might give them some directions. "I thought it was a pretty good run!" The fae chirps as Treskana begins moving to gather the wrecked glideboard, and then follow Zalva. "It was-" The talonok girl whistles before continuing, "nice." She clambers up onto Treskana's shoulder. As Treskana collects the board and begins fastening it to her wing, she pauses, "What if... you and Mia hide inside the cake, and then pop out when the foodening happens, Ausket? I mean, they've gotta have cake if it's a celebration, right?" She whispers to the fae. Ausket chuckles at the thought.