(Untitled)

[bloodtie]

Dalmasca is in the middle of a desert. It kind of explains why the summers are so hot and dry, but as soon as the calendar year starts to draw to a close, the heat very quickly descends into something of a permanent cold-snap. It only gets worse at night

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[danceswithgoths]

The scene plays out, bringing a wide grin to Miki's face, "O' course." As Basch moves over to take hold of The Lump (who seems to be garnering more and more capitalised letters as the evening wears on), she swings off of the counter, smoothly making her way over to the kettle. It takes but a moment to take hold of the kettle, and figure out how one turns the stove off.

Setting the pot down on a cool burner, she turns to watch the proceedings. Bishop seems to have realised that whatever potential danger has passed, and settles back down with a huff. Chaos being momentarily dealt with, the world can proceed apace. Apace seems to imply rolling over, and scratching one's back against the leg of the coffee table before getting back to the business of sleep.

Now propped against the counter, Miki waves at The Lump, still grinning. "Oi, Little-Bit."

[bloodtie]

Basch makes his way over, half-mumbling something in the way of an amused "yes, yes, I'm coming" when The Lump doesn't seem to put her arms down. Apparently the longer you hold them up, the more you mean it. She looks Very Disappointed in Basch for waking her, yes she does. She's wearing a plain white dressing gown... probably her nightie.

He takes her underneath the arms and probably intends to rest her on a hip, but this model of kid apparently comes with Neck-Clamping Action. She locks eyes on Miki, sleepy and maybe a little bit scared. Or suspicious. You never know with kids.

"Miki, this is Portia. Portia, this is Miki."

There's a moment where he waits for The Lump formerly known as Portia to respond, but she doesn't.

"Sie Ihnen 'hallo'," he says to her, quietly enough to be an aside, "erklärte was Sie sagen?"

The Lump stares at him, disdainfully, like she's considering this, and then looks back to Miki. She waves in the way that entails slowly opening and closing your hand, the other still around his neck.

"Hello."

[danceswithgoths]

Now more aware of the operating dynamic, Miki nods, quietly amused. This, she can totally roll with. Though it might bear noting that she now has a renewed intent to purchase copious amounts of baked goods for Nikki's consumption.

Thoughts of tiny pies set aside, she clears her throat a touch, "Angenehm. Wie geht es dir?" Her accent's of a surety different than what the girl's used to, but her enunciation more than makes up for it.

[bloodtie]

Basch is surprised and then remembers that yes, she spoke "Landian"... though he probably doesn't show it. However, that accent, to his ear, is adorable.

But now is not the time. He glances down at Portia, whose hand has drifted to her face and is gazing at Miki curiously, albeit shyly. She hugs around his neck, suddenly, and buries her head into his shoulder. "Gut," she says, voice tiny and muffled.

She's the kind of kid you wonder why her parents even entertained the thought of it not being his. She's like a teensy, female, rounded version of that bumbling teenage kid that so happened into the Nexus, that one fateful day.

However, she's apparently in for a shock if she expects molly-coddling. Basch carefully untangles her from round him and places her on the floor, then gives her a gentle nudge in Miki's direction.

"She won't hurt you. Go say hello."

She stumbles forward a step or two, and looks up -- way up. Oh God that is a tall scary lady.

[danceswithgoths]

Well aware of the disparity in height and the troubles there-in, Miki kneels down. Her grin softens by degrees as she notes the similarities between said gangly lad, and the wee girl she's been presented with. It's a terribly charming thing, as far as she's concerned.

Holding out a hand, she nods, "He's the right of it, I've not the tendency towards child consumption." With a wink, she nods again. Hopefully the attempt at humour with go over well.

Head canted to the side, she thinks to ask the one thing that every wee child is eager to go on about, "Wie alt bist du?" Age being a badge of pride amidst the wee.

[bloodtie]

She smiles a bit and hobbles forward as the wee tend to in lieu of walking. Whether it's at the humor or the bright colors or the general friendly lilt, we may never know.

To the question, Portia holds out one hand, and then gradually folds under two fingers. After a brief moment for re-counting, she holds it up, proudly.

"D..." there's a break for a breathy giggle, apropos of absolutely nothing, and then, "diese viele."

Satisfied at this, Basch takes his leave to apportion the tea. Portia, however, has already caught on to the conversational cue. She points at Miki's face, age and related pride already forgotten.

"Stern!" She chirps. It really, really is! On her face, too. "Violett." :D

[danceswithgoths]

Looking over the out-held fingers, Miki treats it with all due solemnity and nods. "Wunderbar."

Reaching up, Miki touches her cheek, curious. Wait, that's right, she did have that tattoo. "Ja, es unt Stern." She pauses, her hand falling to her leg. "Magst du das?"

Shifting, she moves to sit cross legged. It'll be a moment before she shifts again, thinking to grab her rucksack and dole out the gifts held within. But for the moment, she's more than happy to sit around, talking shapes.

[bloodtie]

When Miki sits, Portia, without having to be told or invited, puts her palms on the floor in front of her and falls onto her backside with a small "oof". Pow-Wow time is nau.

"Hübsch," she replies, but is distracted; sitting down? Hard work. "...Können schlafen?"

[danceswithgoths]

It is! Especially if one is wee and in an oversized nightshirt that can botch the proceedings.

Though the wee one's comment does provoke some confusion on Miki's part. After all, it's Nikki that looks like a vampire, not her. "Warum wurde ich nicht?"

[bloodtie]

"Das..." she reaches her hands out; it looks like bastard child of the the 'pick me up' gesture and the way photographers 'frame' things with their hands. "Licht erhält in Ihren Augen."

Basch responds to this by quirking an eyebrow and furtively glancing over; the correlation is slow in coming, but when it does, he has himself a bit of a chuckle, shaking his head.

He places Miki's cup on the counter, off to the side, in a way that's meant to get her attention but doesn't interfere with the 'conversation', then leans back, also off to the side, and listens. Really, it's entertaining. And very cute.

[danceswithgoths]

A moment or three passes as Miki parses out what the wee one is attempting to express. Once comprehension dawns, she smiles something fierce, rubbing lightly at her cheek with the heel of her palm. Sparing a glance over at Basch, she raises a brow, her smile not fading in the least.

"Eins wächst an es gewohnt." Nodding firmly, she reaches up for the mug. It takes a small bit of fumbling, but soon enough she's sipping lightly at it. Wouldn't do to scald her tongue at the moment.

Well settled with the tea, she looks from Portia to her rucksack and back again. "Magst du Musik," a pause, as she takes another sip, "und Geschenke?"

[bloodtie]

The blend of incredulous head-shaking and his facial expression could really only say "I'm not sure where she gets it".

Predictably, there is an excited squeak and a nod at the prospect of presents. She even scoots forward a little, watching Miki intently.

Basch, however, is ever the taskmaster. "Warten Sie ein minuziöses... was Sie sagen?"

Portia looks up at him, half-dismayed and half-confused. What does he want? b-b-but... presents... D:

"Sie erhalten nicht Geschenke, wenn Sie nicht zu ihr nett sind."

She turns back to Miki, and looks shy for a minute, not meeting her face at all and then says to the floor, "Bitte und danke?" With that tiny voice again.

Basch is satisfied, and as such indulges in tea.

[danceswithgoths]

Thrilled by the response, Miki's smile makes a repeat performance, "Bitte sehr." With a roll she's on her feet, pawing through her rucksack. It takes a moment, but shortly she pulls out a set of brightly coloured drum-sticks that look to be attached to a tiny amplifier. This will obviously be the source of much auditory hell joy on the part of the parental unit. As what loving parent -doesn't- want to see their child pick up the musical arts?

These are set on the counter as she reaches back in, this time pulling out a small, plush sea mammal. The shape is similar to that of a dolphin, but for the four dorsal fins and tiny plush horn.

Items now in hand, she kneels down and offers them up. Hopefully, they'll be met with approval.

[bloodtie]

Basch does indeed raise an eyebrow! What the hell is that...? It looks...

Portia does indeed accept these with much enthusiasm, but predictably goes for the fishy thing first. She has the intent, intentionally slow grasp of a child that has obviously been chided many times about grabbing.

She seems very satisfied with just the fishy right now. She's a distracted kidlet.

"Are you going to take the other ones?" Basch asks, apparently keen on switching up the language for a moment or two. Portia shakes her head and snuggles the fish.

[danceswithgoths]

"They'll still be there on the morrow." Besides, knowing entirely what the stick entail, Miki is rather loathe to disturb the peace with radical drumming.

It may be noted at this time, that the tiny amplifier has recently seen some heavy modification. There will be no tinny sounding drumline as Portia takes swipes at the air, not at all. There are tiny solder marks on Miki's hands that will attest to the sound on that drum-kit.

Reaching over, she runs a finger over a plush dorsal fin, "Now, you'd best make certain this stays warm. Cherufe are most fond of heat." Nodding with all due gravity, she rises, a smile tugging at her lips. Again making a move for her rucksack, she casts a glance in Basch's direction, "And as it would seem I missed your," she trails off, brow furrowing as she attempts to recall the local turn of phrase. "Your name day, I've something for you as well." Well pleased with her recollection, she resumes her rummaging, briefly wondering how Nikki managed to wrap up one bottle in so much swaddling.

[bloodtie]

Basch is momentarily confused. Did he ever tell her his Name-Day? Well, obviously... and she remembered.

Huh...

He moves a little closer (so she doesn't have to!), and has a sip of his tea, before setting it down. Bishop sidles over from where he was sleeping to sniff gloomily at the Cherufe's dorsal; Portia makes a little horrified noise, knowing full well what dogs to do toys made of anything that's not bone, and takes off... not quite running, rather hobbling, after rocking herself to her feet.

Bishop, thinking this is a game, gives... not exactly chase, rather "trot". Another squeak comes from the other side of the room once enough time has passed for the dog to catch up, and back Portia comes, holding her fishie protectively. She hides behind one of Basch's legs, then clamps onto it. Bishop goes to sniff around the side, almost like "found you!" before Basch nudges him away with the side of a foot.

From the way he hefts her weight without noticing it, yeah, it's probably always like this.