#rivervale_lodge

"That's up to you. Letters, symbols, patterns, spots, blobs. How about this...play with it for now, get the feel of how it flows, and I'll show you more precision next time."

"I just want them to be nice..." But she tries - wobbly smiley faces on the people, uneven stripes on candy canes, 'garland' and blobs on the trees... nothing too out of the box,

She pushes the smart phone away with a sigh. She will NOT look. Lump can have his life. She is better than this.

"Well, there's an easy way that involves a lot of icing, and then Siv can add things like sprinkle sugar. Do an outline on the edges, then fill the space...the icing will spread a bit to fill the space. And then Siv takes over."

"Mmm?" Looking up

She bites on her lip, and then goes back to her first cookie to fill it in over the shaky lines.

To Siv, "When she finishes that one, you sprinkle colored sugar over the top."

"oh sure," she rises, "team work"

"Or, put the sugar on a plate, and just press the icing side of the cookie into it lightly."

"You etch, I sprinkle..." And "Thanks. I think I need my mind off... things"

She quietly goes over her first attempts, erasing the messy designs with solid white icing.

And she sprinkles on cue

"Of course. I'm sure if you need more distraction, your parents to think of some engaging chores, too."

"There's such a thing as too much help, Aunt Kerri" Faux stoicly

"Sweetheart, honestly, when you're heartsick, there's no such thing as too much distraction." She gives a wry grin.

"And to think, a few days ago I was feeling guilty for oggling Hastein." A sigh "Now I'm stressing. Maybe you're right. Maybe I should try to build a kayak or something... with my bare hands."

"Or maybe see if your mother could teach you something new in woodcraft. What do you two think of Hastein, anyway?"

Now all of the messy cookies are fixed. "He seems cool."

"He's gorgeous, got a bad boy vibe...and I both resent and enjoy that it works on me...all the more because I don't think he's doing anything deliberate" A huff

A nod. "I know a thing or two about being caught by the bad boy vibe." She doesn't seem particularly embarrassed by the fact.

More solid cookies. She doesn't try to make designs on these.

A chuckle

"Another option is to wait until the icing firms just a little, and then carve patterns into it with the toothpick. But that's delicate work, and if you wait too long it can get crumbly."

She shakes her head. "I can't do that."

"Niether could i. ..might practice it"

"I don't always get it right, either."

Considering, "Looks aside, for a unseelie sort...and I mean no disrespect to Uncle Olgar... he's well mannered enough. Hastien might grumble back at his mentor, but he's polite if guarded around most. Not a lot of fancy, but not a bunch of rude either? And he risked his life to save someone ..even if itw as a trap. So... he's got a lot more than looks. " Amused "If the DeBuke women knew he was about, they might form a hunting party."

Behind Siv, Sally Mae, who just came in , tilts her head, a bit amused

Purple!

And is not letting Siv knows she's in yet. Indeed, the Kinian looks over to the Hearth with a knowing look

Kerri notes Sally Mae's arrival with amusement. "You think they'd hog tie him and carry him off?"

"Then fatten him up, poor fellow might be worried he was being prepared for sacrifice." A thought " I wonder if they'd draw lots for him?" Siv says very cleverly, well ShE thinks it's clever.

"I don't think that's very nice."

"Oh, come on Dagmar. The Debukes are great, but the ladies have to put up with just mostly cousins ,so a lad who isn't related, it's like catnip to a barn full of cats"

"And you, of course, are above such behavior?"

Sally Mae does not look offended per se.

"Well, I have my boy issues and I do love to flirt, so maybe not, but still...there's only one of me, there's like a dozen DeBuke ladies my age. " A grin from Siv. "With me, whoever would have a fighting chance. Truthfully, though, I think I'd rather be chased rather than chasing."

"Oh, we're chaste enough, least as far as our elders know," Sally Mae chimes

Kerri grins.

Sugar flies into the air as the normally deft Siv gets startled.

"I... I just mean... I dunno. He's nice." Purple again and a scowl.

"He is nice," Sally mae says to Dagmar "Fine young man." Then tisks at Siv, "Siv, you okay? Don't worry, we never declare blood feuds in the kitchen. It would kill the fun of gossip"

The sound of sugar crystals falling to the floor, and Kerri shakes her head in amusement as she gets the broom.

"I.. uh.. " BRIGHt purple "Oh goddess" Siv says, face palming, and perhaps forgetting the sugar on her hand

Sally Mae gets the dustpan