Cherry, who had been raised under the rigid social mores of Hylian civilization, had learned long ago that it was impolite to arrive as someone's guest empty handed. Unfortunately, with limited resources and even more limited time to plan, she was forced to do some minor embezzling. It wasn't really embezzling if she had a stake in the brewery? Was it? Anyway, it wasn't stock meant to be distributed. It was a prototype of some new labels she was playing around with.
This particular one, which she had yet to approach Cris about, had a large honeybee painted on the side, wearing an elaborate mask with feathers and sequins and beads. Cherry had always had something of a love/hate relationship with masks. When they were brightly colored and elaborate, she loved them. When they were monochromatic and plain, they had a singular ability to scare her witless. It was the difference between wearing a mask to play and wearing a mask to hide your identity.
Of course, she knew who to blame for that particular set of neuroses
( ... )
Jack pulled open the door with a broad grin on his face. "Morning. Beautiful day isn't it? Crisp." He stepped to the side and swept one hand in a casual invitation. "Come on in. Would you like some coffee? Cake?" He should probably put her at ease about the situation, but he didn't want her completely settled. He wanted to catch her a little off guard - make her answer impulsively.
There was something a little weird going on with the old man. Cherry had no idea what, but she had supposed as much from the early-morning summons and her suspicions were now definitely being confirmed. No one was this perky, this early in the morning. And Cherry was a self-professed morning person, herself. "Crisp," she repeated with a wry smile, sweeping past Jack and into the embassy with the bottles.
A smell in the embassy was somewhat out of place. Cherry couldn't properly describe it, but it peaked her interest further. It was, however, quite rude to walk into a place and say, 'What's that smell?' Instead, she turned around to face Jack, holding out the bottles.
"A big of a gift, compliments of the brewery. I realize it's a little early in the morning to be getting skunked. I figured you could set them aside for a special occasion." She smiled, twisting one bottle around to show him the new label. "Brand new, limited edition packaging. I designed the mask."
"You didn't have to do that," Jack said, relieving her of her burden. "That doesn't mean I won't take it, of course." He inspected the label more closely, one side of his mouth quirking up at the incredibly detailed drawing. "Is that a carnival mask?" Now the other side of his mouth also quirked up in his usual easy grin. "I still think this place could do with a good masquerade party. There must be something we could use as an excuse to celebrate."
He set the bottles on a table and bent down to kiss Cherry's cheek. "Thank you. I hope you'll be my special occasion for one of them, at least?"
Cherry gave him a sly wink. "Don't get fresh, old man," she teased, making it very clear that she would be only too happy to get smashed with him, pretty much any time, anywhere. She was less thrilled with the idea of a masquerade party, but she wasn't about to rain on his parade.
"So..." She clapped her hands together in front of her chest. "Are we going to waste time with small talk, or are we cutting to the chase? I'm fine with either, really, but I'd appreciate a heads up."
She swayed slightly from side to side. Today, she was wearing her light blue jumper over a long-sleeved, white chemise. It reminded her a lot of the uniform she used to wear, at the behest of Headmaster Kazan. While he was all in favor of free spirits, he fully recognized that many of the parents of her students would be unhappy, as it was, with a Human teacher, let alone one who wore clothing that was questionable by Hylian standards.
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This particular one, which she had yet to approach Cris about, had a large honeybee painted on the side, wearing an elaborate mask with feathers and sequins and beads. Cherry had always had something of a love/hate relationship with masks. When they were brightly colored and elaborate, she loved them. When they were monochromatic and plain, they had a singular ability to scare her witless. It was the difference between wearing a mask to play and wearing a mask to hide your identity.
Of course, she knew who to blame for that particular set of neuroses ( ... )
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A smell in the embassy was somewhat out of place. Cherry couldn't properly describe it, but it peaked her interest further. It was, however, quite rude to walk into a place and say, 'What's that smell?' Instead, she turned around to face Jack, holding out the bottles.
"A big of a gift, compliments of the brewery. I realize it's a little early in the morning to be getting skunked. I figured you could set them aside for a special occasion." She smiled, twisting one bottle around to show him the new label. "Brand new, limited edition packaging. I designed the mask."
Reply
He set the bottles on a table and bent down to kiss Cherry's cheek. "Thank you. I hope you'll be my special occasion for one of them, at least?"
Reply
"So..." She clapped her hands together in front of her chest. "Are we going to waste time with small talk, or are we cutting to the chase? I'm fine with either, really, but I'd appreciate a heads up."
She swayed slightly from side to side. Today, she was wearing her light blue jumper over a long-sleeved, white chemise. It reminded her a lot of the uniform she used to wear, at the behest of Headmaster Kazan. While he was all in favor of free spirits, he fully recognized that many of the parents of her students would be unhappy, as it was, with a Human teacher, let alone one who wore clothing that was questionable by Hylian standards.
Reply
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