Summer Sampler|Autus

[Darastrix]

Hat-ib hummed a bit to herself as she walked the familiar path to Shion's shop. The warm summer days and vibrant greenery of Autus had the healer in high spirits. She'd been full of energy all day as she tended to her clinic and had enough to spare that afternoon to go on a bit of a baking spree.

She didn't consider herself a fantastic cook, but she did enjoy baking, and the pies she'd made earlier had come out quite well, if she did say so herself. She wasn't completely sure which the crystomorph would prefer, so third of each was in the cloth-covered basket she carried on one arm.

She opened the door to his shop and stepped inside. "Shion?" she called softly. She'd finally begun calling him by his first name, it just seemed so ridiculously stiff and formal to keep calling him "Mister Reegis." "Are you busy?"

[Deleted]

Don Reacher was on the counter, sitting on the pillow he had claimed as his. He chirped a greeting to Hat-ib as Shion came around a shelf, duster in hand and a bright smile on his face. Today he was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt with laces across the shoulders, a sash and taupe-colored pants, all lightweight in deference to the season, and stylishly cut for old clothes. With winter well behind, the season and greenery of flourishing plants had rendered him cheerful and energetic.

"Hat-ib, it's so nice to see you!" the shopkeeper said brightly, taking the woman's hand. "How have you been?" he inquired.

[Darastrix]

"Quite well, thank you," she replied with a smile of her own. "The weather's been so nice and I've had so much energy today." Though, to be completely honest with herself, Hat-ib had to admit that the prospect of visiting Shion helped her energy level at least as much as the weather did.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," she added, nodding at the duster in his other hand.

[Deleted]

"Nothing that can't wait," Shion promised, tossing the duster to Reacher. The raccoon snatched it out of the air with his mouth, teeth clamping on the stick before he turned his head to lay the tool on the counter.

"So what brings you here, and what is it in that basket that smells so delightful?" the crystomorph inquired, flicking his braid over his shoulder.

[Darastrix]

Hat-ib giggled softly at the raccoon before answering Shion; Reacher never failed to amuse her.

"Well, I seem to have had an abundance of energy today, and it's left me with an abundance of pies," she said, offering the basket to Shion. "I didn't know which you'd prefer, so I brought you some of each. Peach, blackberry, and strawberry."

[Deleted]

Shion's eyes lit up. "Hat-ib, you wonderful woman. I love pie," he said brightly, and dared to kiss her on the cheek before he claimed the basket. Looking in, he commented, "And they're all the right sizes to share, as well." Eyes twinkling, he grinned at the sweet healer and teasingly inquired "Now, do you know someone who likes pie as well?"

[Darastrix]

She blushed brightly at the kiss, but did nothing to discourage the Earth, instead smiling at his obvious pleasure.

"Well, I think Reacher might like some pie," Hat-ib replied lightly, attempting to speak with a straight face and failing miserably.

[Deleted]

Shion grinned as Reacher chirped loudly, indicated that yes, he would indeed like some pie. "You're going to get fat," he scolded the 'coon, who only seemed to shrug. "How about we go upstairs and have afternoon tea?" he suggested, motioning to the steps. "I have a nice berry-spice blend that would go wonderfully with these pies."

[Darastrix]

"That sounds lovely," Hat-ib said, a light flush still on her cheeks as she started towards the stairs. "I do hope you like the pies." Naturally, she'd sampled them before cutting and packing them in the basket, and she thought they were rather tasty, but she worried a bit about Shion's opinion anyway.

[Deleted]

"Of course I will," Shion said simply. "You made them." Grinning, he escorted Hat-ib up the stairs, Don Reacher jumping off the counter to follow them.

Upstairs, the windows were open to welcome the winds of summer, and a potted orchid Shion had recently acquired soaked up the sunlight. Reacher headed for the windowseat, fluffing a pillow as his master put the basket on the table and went to fill the teapot. "How would you like your tea today, Hat-ib?"

[Darastrix]

Hat-ib couldn't help but smile at Shion's reassurance; the thought that he might enjoy something by simple virtue of the fact that she'd done it made her feel almost giddy.

"Strong, please, if that's all right," she said, moving over to the windowseat to scratch Reacher gently between the ears. "Oh, what a pretty flower!" the healer exclaimed as her eyes fell on the orchid. "What kind is it?"

[Deleted]

"An orchid," Shion explained as he pumped water into the kettle and set it to boil. "Mother gave it to me; she said if I spend too much time amongst my stones, I'll forget what real flowers look like." He chuckled, indicating how likely that was in Worg's city. "But it seems to like it here, if that makes any sense. If you like it, I could ask Mother for one to give to you," the blond offered as he brought out milk to put in his tea, and plates and forks.

[Darastrix]

Hat-ib giggled softly, catching the humour of his mother's words. "I wouldn't want to impose," she said, though she was well aware that obtaining most any flower in Autus would be about as difficult as remembering what they looked like. "But it is a beautiful flower. I suppose, if you're sure she wouldn't mind, of course."

"And it does make sense," she added, going back to his prior comment about the orchid. "It must be happy here, you're here."

[Deleted]

"Oh no, she wouldn't mind in the least," Shion assured his friend. "The inns she and Father work for are glad to let them have clippings and plants from overcrowded gardens." The shopkeeper blushed slightly. "I bet you could make some plants happy too." He stopped thoughtfully for a moment, then offered, "They're coming over for dinner in three days. I don't suppose you would like to join us?"

[Darastrix]

"That would be lovely. I'm sure I'd like your parents; they both sound so nice," Hat-ib said, accepting the invitation with a smile. The healer was blushing herself at both actually managing to say what she just did and having the complement returned.