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BFB Part 108
Mar. 18th, 2019 07:37 amThis part of BFB is dedicated to the best beta reader ever, Sunhawk. Know that I will miss you terribly, my sister of the heart.
BFB – Part 108 – The Odd Couple
I took a little break from regular office work on Friday afternoon. I really wanted to get away from my co-workers for a while. They were starting to make me twitchy with all their twitching. Between the visit to Julie’s shrink and then the encounter with the fired Witch from Probation, my friends were making an art of over-protection. The shrink was easier than I expected, but I still got the third degree from the office. Even Tiffany was being oddly solicitous of me, and she’s all about letting us wallow in our own embarrassment.
And we won’t even discuss how freaked out everyone still is over my little battle with the idiot Witch. Suffice to say, I needed a break from my nearest and dearest. So, I decided to check in on Farq and Ctik and see how they were getting along after a week.
~*~
Farq opened the front door, all smiles, and looking even more tidy than last week. Maybe Ctik and Ovalia were both spiffing him up?
“Duo!” he cried happily. “We are so honored to see you!” He pulled me into the smallish living room, where Ctik waited in the shadows. The vampire enveloped me in a quick hug.
“We are indeed, friend.”
“I’m glad to see you both. How are things going?”
They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Farq waved his hand and when I looked more closely, I saw some of the graceful antiques from Ctik’s home in the living room and real art works on the wall.
“Wow! This room looks great. My compliments to the designer.”
Farq began to turn pink. Ctik shot him a grin. “Farq has a latent talent for decorating; he just needed something to work with.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “Who knew demons could decorate? Is the rest of the house done too?” And that led to me getting the $10 tour.
The house was just your standard farmhouse; three bedrooms and a bath upstairs, a living room, parlor, dining room and kitchen with breakfast nook downstairs. A balcony opened off the largest bedroom, overlooking the front. The deep porch or veranda wrapped around three sides of the building, with a nice overhang for shade. It was a once-gracious place and it seemed to be hearkening back to that graciousness.
“As you can see, the master is the only decorated room upstairs,” said Ctik. “This is where Farq sleeps.” The room looked like something out of a magazine, all restful blues and greens with a bright neon pink frame on an old-fashioned mirror. The art works on the walls and table were similarly colored, with a bright purple docking station for cell phone and other electronics opposite the colorful mirror.
Farq cleared his throat and directed me to the other two rooms. “These will be Ctik’s rooms. We’re putting an archway between the two to make an office and a sitting room.”
“It all looks fantastic,” I grinned. “I’m really glad you are getting on so well.”
They both turned a bit pink and Farq looked at his feet – in new cowboy boots, mind you – and Ctik looked quite proud.
“Come; let me show you my sleeping quarters.”
Down the steps we went to the first floor and the cellar, and then down another flight of steps to a sub-cellar.
“Is this new? I’ve never heard of Humans having sub-cellars as a matter of course.”
“I don’t believe they do, except for piles like my house. I had a crew in and had the foundations of the house strengthened and this area excavated. They’ll be back on Monday to finish up.” He opened a door and led the way into his ‘bedroom’.
Ctik didn’t have a coffin, just an open box filled with his burial dirt. It was a very handsome box, though, made of a medium color wood and ornately carved. A pair of delicate chairs sat next to a tiny table on the other side of the room and a matching wardrobe occupied a chunk of space perpendicular to the box.
“Is that teak?” I wondered, trying to place the beautiful wood.
“It is. Farq found the artist online and we offered him a bonus if he could get it built in five days. He managed it and not a peg out of place,” Ctik confirmed proudly. “I was happy to double his fee and pay for expedited shipping.”
“Wow! So modern of you!” I exclaimed. Not only had my vampire learned the ways of cell phones, but he was also moving into internet shopping. “Cool!”
“Once this area is finished, I will have a sitting room slash hobby room down here, as well.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I dabble in painting.”
“Really? That’s so cool of you,” I cried. “Have we seen anything of yours?”
He chuckled, turning a bit pink. “No, I just do it for myself. I’m not particularly good at it, but I find it soothing after a stressful night.” He brightened a bit. “Did you know that the Humans make kits for painting according to a numbered canvas?”
I blinked, but Farq grinned. “I picked up a stack when I went to town yesterday. We’re both going to paint by number.”
“Isn’t that amazing? We can hang them among the other paintings,” said Ctik while Farq darted to a tall supply cabinet and brought out a stack of paint-by-number kits two feet high.
“I don’t really need an office, so the parlor will be my hobby room. Duo!” he exclaimed suddenly, “An artist on the other side of town is going to teach me how to card and spin wool into yarn, and then sell the yarn for me at her shop!”
“Oh my Sap! That’s great! Oh, but won’t you need more sheep?”
Ctik answered swiftly. “Already taken care of. We visited an auction website and bought six more ewes. They will be arriving on Tuesday. If that proves felicitous, we will acquire more ewes and a ram. Farq already knows how to shear the sheep and he’s been selling the wool to the artist.”
“Wow… You guys have really got it all together.” I was a little bit sad that they didn’t need my help for anything, but ridiculously pleased that my vampire and my demon were doing so well together.
Ctik laced his arm with mine and said, “Let us show you the barn and the animals. We spiffed it up a bit and had it painted. ‘Barn Red’ the can said. How appropriate for a barn.” He snickered.
The barn did indeed look beautiful in the fading dusk; almost brand new. I patted myself on the back for gathering these two together, even if by accident, and giving them a chance to be… partners? It seemed they were swiftly intertwining their businesses/hobbies. I devoutly hoped it would last.
The three sheep had been recently shorn and the two goats each had kids frolicking with them. The chickens were a colorful moving canvas, fluttering and stalking tasty food bits. A few ducks and geese paddled around the enlarged pond and a cow stood dozing next to a tree.
“They all look healthy and content,” I offered.
“We have a veterinarian on speed dial,” smirked Farq.
“That’s good. I noticed the sheep have been sheared. Is that going to be your first attempt at carding and spinning?”
“Yes! I’m taking it to her place on Tuesday and she’s going to show me everything. If I actually manage to make yarn, she’ll show me how to dye it!” He edged closer to me. Ctik was tossing some corn to the chickens so he was surrounded by birds.
“Duo,” Farq said softly, “if I manage to get something good out of the yarn, would you knit Ctik a sweater for the holidays?”
“Of course,” I whispered. One of the sheep wandered over and butted my leg gently. I looked down in surprise and she baaed out, Are you the Banshee?
“Yes, I am.”
Oh good. Would you ask the masters to have the clippers sharpened after every season? They were a little sticky this shearing and that hurts.
“I certainly will,” I told her and turned to Farq. “This lady asks if you can get the shears sharpened every season. They were pulling this time and it hurts.”
Farq gasped and threw his arms around the ewe, hugging her. “I’m so sorry! I will send them off today and buy a second set to change off with.”
Tell him thank you and that we appreciate it very much.
I passed on her thanks and Farq wibbled a bit.
“I never even considered what it would feel like. Shame on me!”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Well, you’re still new at this and the last few weeks have been pretty stressful. Now that you know, you’ll do better.”
“Yes, I will,” he nodded emphatically.
“And have you told the sheep that more ewes will be arriving next week?”
He ducked his head in embarrassment. “I didn’t know I could.”
“They’ll understand whatever you tell them.” I turned to the ewe who was leaning companionably against my leg. “The masters have acquired some more sheep,” I told her and she gave me the head-tilted inquisitive look. “Master Farq is going to learn to make yarn of your wool and he needs more sheep to accomplish that.”
Will I still be the lead ewe? she asked with a bit of a frown.
I looked at Farq. “Will your present sheep be in charge of the others?”
“Of course. They’re my first sheep, so they have… seniority.”
“Did you get that, lady?”
I did. Will you thank the master for that? My sisters will be relieved also.
I passed on her thanks and asked her, “Will you be able to understand the masters, if they have more information for you?”
Yes. We hear them quite well, though some word concepts are strange to us. Will you and the master tell the others or shall we do it?
“I’ll have Farq do it, so he gets used to talking to all of you.”
Thank you so much.
Farq gave me a similar cocked-head look after the sheep went on her way.
I smirked at him. “Your new assignment is to keep all of your animals apprised of anything that impacts them. That means new animals coming in, old animals going out, vet visits, even general farm goings-on. They like to know what’s happening in their world.”
The demon blinked at me. “O-okay. I can do that. I kinda talk to myself or them anyway; now that I know they’re listening I’ll be more informative.”
“Excellent!” I applauded.
“What is excellent?” asked Ctik, joining us once more.
“Farq is going to start talking to the animals, so they know what’s going on around here.”
“Oh. Should I also speak to them?”
“If you want. I think they’d like it.” I grinned at the both of them. My pride in my misfits just got bigger.
“Well, then, we will both do so.” He turned to the animals, all of whom seemed to be waiting on us, and said, “Good evening, ladies. May I say that being able to keep you apprised of the news and views of the farm will be our pleasure.” And he swept a deep bow to the silent gathering. Then the animals all burst out in noise.
“I’d say they approve,” I laughed. “Farq takes the morning news and Ctik the evening. And someone needs to tell the horse and cow.”
~*~
The rest of my visit was pretty normal, given that I was sitting on the porch, drinking lemonade and eating home-baked cookies with a vampire and a demon.
I remembered to ask if I could buy one of the Heero-gargoyles and Ctik laughed at me and gave me one, to be picked up whenever I liked. I also mentioned Beren’s like of the lion-headed gargoyle and Ctik said that a deal for a pair of them had already been done and they would probably be installed at the Clanhold entrance within the week.
“I’ll let Trowa know. He’ll get a kick out of it.”
They shared a private look.
“Okay, what’s the joke?”
“Beren wasn’t the only one to want a gargoyle,” said Ctik, hiding a smirk.
“Cathy wanted one, too. And Silvan asked about one for her den. Annnd Rothe wants a pair. Beren says she has ambitions,” laughed Farq.
“We’ve plenty of opportunities for disbursement,” Ctik smirked. “Would you like to reserve a pair while you’re here?”
I tried to keep a straight face, but failed. “I guess I’d better,” I snickered. “Yes, I will take a pair.” A thought occurred to me. “Can I place a hold on the rest of the dragon ones? I have a feeling Heero’s Clan might want a few. Dozen.”
“Of course! You really think they would want all of them? I can certainly accommodate Heero’s Clan. He’s been very helpful to us, as well as tolerant of our life crises.“ Again, they shared a look. I was beginning to wonder about the two of them. How long before they wound up as a real couple? Something else to keep my imagination on ‘over-active’.
“Yeah, I think a lot of them would. The gargoyles look exactly like Wyverns, but you’ve seen Heero in his dragon form, so you know that.” The sun was totally gone now and the environment was pitch black, except for a feeble new moon trying to slink unnoticed into the night sky.
“Oops! Damn guys, I’ve got to go. Heero will only wait so long before he breaks out in full on worry mode and comes after me.”
“Of course, Duo,” said Ctik. “We will look forward to your next visit. And feel free to come during the day if you like. You can better see what we’re doing with the place.”
“Oh yes! Please come again,” cried Farq. “I’m going to work on baking bread next.”
“I will. I’ll bring Heero; he’ll be interest to see what you’ve accomplished.”
I walked out to the road to my port spot and pinged Jake, who arrived almost before the second ping chimed.
“You okay?” he demanded, looking me over.
“I’m fine! C’mon! Stop fussing over me. Ctik and Farq are friends; neither of them would hurt me. Now, let’s go home,” I snapped.
BFB – Part 108 – The Odd Couple
I took a little break from regular office work on Friday afternoon. I really wanted to get away from my co-workers for a while. They were starting to make me twitchy with all their twitching. Between the visit to Julie’s shrink and then the encounter with the fired Witch from Probation, my friends were making an art of over-protection. The shrink was easier than I expected, but I still got the third degree from the office. Even Tiffany was being oddly solicitous of me, and she’s all about letting us wallow in our own embarrassment.
And we won’t even discuss how freaked out everyone still is over my little battle with the idiot Witch. Suffice to say, I needed a break from my nearest and dearest. So, I decided to check in on Farq and Ctik and see how they were getting along after a week.
~*~
Farq opened the front door, all smiles, and looking even more tidy than last week. Maybe Ctik and Ovalia were both spiffing him up?
“Duo!” he cried happily. “We are so honored to see you!” He pulled me into the smallish living room, where Ctik waited in the shadows. The vampire enveloped me in a quick hug.
“We are indeed, friend.”
“I’m glad to see you both. How are things going?”
They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Farq waved his hand and when I looked more closely, I saw some of the graceful antiques from Ctik’s home in the living room and real art works on the wall.
“Wow! This room looks great. My compliments to the designer.”
Farq began to turn pink. Ctik shot him a grin. “Farq has a latent talent for decorating; he just needed something to work with.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “Who knew demons could decorate? Is the rest of the house done too?” And that led to me getting the $10 tour.
The house was just your standard farmhouse; three bedrooms and a bath upstairs, a living room, parlor, dining room and kitchen with breakfast nook downstairs. A balcony opened off the largest bedroom, overlooking the front. The deep porch or veranda wrapped around three sides of the building, with a nice overhang for shade. It was a once-gracious place and it seemed to be hearkening back to that graciousness.
“As you can see, the master is the only decorated room upstairs,” said Ctik. “This is where Farq sleeps.” The room looked like something out of a magazine, all restful blues and greens with a bright neon pink frame on an old-fashioned mirror. The art works on the walls and table were similarly colored, with a bright purple docking station for cell phone and other electronics opposite the colorful mirror.
Farq cleared his throat and directed me to the other two rooms. “These will be Ctik’s rooms. We’re putting an archway between the two to make an office and a sitting room.”
“It all looks fantastic,” I grinned. “I’m really glad you are getting on so well.”
They both turned a bit pink and Farq looked at his feet – in new cowboy boots, mind you – and Ctik looked quite proud.
“Come; let me show you my sleeping quarters.”
Down the steps we went to the first floor and the cellar, and then down another flight of steps to a sub-cellar.
“Is this new? I’ve never heard of Humans having sub-cellars as a matter of course.”
“I don’t believe they do, except for piles like my house. I had a crew in and had the foundations of the house strengthened and this area excavated. They’ll be back on Monday to finish up.” He opened a door and led the way into his ‘bedroom’.
Ctik didn’t have a coffin, just an open box filled with his burial dirt. It was a very handsome box, though, made of a medium color wood and ornately carved. A pair of delicate chairs sat next to a tiny table on the other side of the room and a matching wardrobe occupied a chunk of space perpendicular to the box.
“Is that teak?” I wondered, trying to place the beautiful wood.
“It is. Farq found the artist online and we offered him a bonus if he could get it built in five days. He managed it and not a peg out of place,” Ctik confirmed proudly. “I was happy to double his fee and pay for expedited shipping.”
“Wow! So modern of you!” I exclaimed. Not only had my vampire learned the ways of cell phones, but he was also moving into internet shopping. “Cool!”
“Once this area is finished, I will have a sitting room slash hobby room down here, as well.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I dabble in painting.”
“Really? That’s so cool of you,” I cried. “Have we seen anything of yours?”
He chuckled, turning a bit pink. “No, I just do it for myself. I’m not particularly good at it, but I find it soothing after a stressful night.” He brightened a bit. “Did you know that the Humans make kits for painting according to a numbered canvas?”
I blinked, but Farq grinned. “I picked up a stack when I went to town yesterday. We’re both going to paint by number.”
“Isn’t that amazing? We can hang them among the other paintings,” said Ctik while Farq darted to a tall supply cabinet and brought out a stack of paint-by-number kits two feet high.
“I don’t really need an office, so the parlor will be my hobby room. Duo!” he exclaimed suddenly, “An artist on the other side of town is going to teach me how to card and spin wool into yarn, and then sell the yarn for me at her shop!”
“Oh my Sap! That’s great! Oh, but won’t you need more sheep?”
Ctik answered swiftly. “Already taken care of. We visited an auction website and bought six more ewes. They will be arriving on Tuesday. If that proves felicitous, we will acquire more ewes and a ram. Farq already knows how to shear the sheep and he’s been selling the wool to the artist.”
“Wow… You guys have really got it all together.” I was a little bit sad that they didn’t need my help for anything, but ridiculously pleased that my vampire and my demon were doing so well together.
Ctik laced his arm with mine and said, “Let us show you the barn and the animals. We spiffed it up a bit and had it painted. ‘Barn Red’ the can said. How appropriate for a barn.” He snickered.
The barn did indeed look beautiful in the fading dusk; almost brand new. I patted myself on the back for gathering these two together, even if by accident, and giving them a chance to be… partners? It seemed they were swiftly intertwining their businesses/hobbies. I devoutly hoped it would last.
The three sheep had been recently shorn and the two goats each had kids frolicking with them. The chickens were a colorful moving canvas, fluttering and stalking tasty food bits. A few ducks and geese paddled around the enlarged pond and a cow stood dozing next to a tree.
“They all look healthy and content,” I offered.
“We have a veterinarian on speed dial,” smirked Farq.
“That’s good. I noticed the sheep have been sheared. Is that going to be your first attempt at carding and spinning?”
“Yes! I’m taking it to her place on Tuesday and she’s going to show me everything. If I actually manage to make yarn, she’ll show me how to dye it!” He edged closer to me. Ctik was tossing some corn to the chickens so he was surrounded by birds.
“Duo,” Farq said softly, “if I manage to get something good out of the yarn, would you knit Ctik a sweater for the holidays?”
“Of course,” I whispered. One of the sheep wandered over and butted my leg gently. I looked down in surprise and she baaed out, Are you the Banshee?
“Yes, I am.”
Oh good. Would you ask the masters to have the clippers sharpened after every season? They were a little sticky this shearing and that hurts.
“I certainly will,” I told her and turned to Farq. “This lady asks if you can get the shears sharpened every season. They were pulling this time and it hurts.”
Farq gasped and threw his arms around the ewe, hugging her. “I’m so sorry! I will send them off today and buy a second set to change off with.”
Tell him thank you and that we appreciate it very much.
I passed on her thanks and Farq wibbled a bit.
“I never even considered what it would feel like. Shame on me!”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Well, you’re still new at this and the last few weeks have been pretty stressful. Now that you know, you’ll do better.”
“Yes, I will,” he nodded emphatically.
“And have you told the sheep that more ewes will be arriving next week?”
He ducked his head in embarrassment. “I didn’t know I could.”
“They’ll understand whatever you tell them.” I turned to the ewe who was leaning companionably against my leg. “The masters have acquired some more sheep,” I told her and she gave me the head-tilted inquisitive look. “Master Farq is going to learn to make yarn of your wool and he needs more sheep to accomplish that.”
Will I still be the lead ewe? she asked with a bit of a frown.
I looked at Farq. “Will your present sheep be in charge of the others?”
“Of course. They’re my first sheep, so they have… seniority.”
“Did you get that, lady?”
I did. Will you thank the master for that? My sisters will be relieved also.
I passed on her thanks and asked her, “Will you be able to understand the masters, if they have more information for you?”
Yes. We hear them quite well, though some word concepts are strange to us. Will you and the master tell the others or shall we do it?
“I’ll have Farq do it, so he gets used to talking to all of you.”
Thank you so much.
Farq gave me a similar cocked-head look after the sheep went on her way.
I smirked at him. “Your new assignment is to keep all of your animals apprised of anything that impacts them. That means new animals coming in, old animals going out, vet visits, even general farm goings-on. They like to know what’s happening in their world.”
The demon blinked at me. “O-okay. I can do that. I kinda talk to myself or them anyway; now that I know they’re listening I’ll be more informative.”
“Excellent!” I applauded.
“What is excellent?” asked Ctik, joining us once more.
“Farq is going to start talking to the animals, so they know what’s going on around here.”
“Oh. Should I also speak to them?”
“If you want. I think they’d like it.” I grinned at the both of them. My pride in my misfits just got bigger.
“Well, then, we will both do so.” He turned to the animals, all of whom seemed to be waiting on us, and said, “Good evening, ladies. May I say that being able to keep you apprised of the news and views of the farm will be our pleasure.” And he swept a deep bow to the silent gathering. Then the animals all burst out in noise.
“I’d say they approve,” I laughed. “Farq takes the morning news and Ctik the evening. And someone needs to tell the horse and cow.”
~*~
The rest of my visit was pretty normal, given that I was sitting on the porch, drinking lemonade and eating home-baked cookies with a vampire and a demon.
I remembered to ask if I could buy one of the Heero-gargoyles and Ctik laughed at me and gave me one, to be picked up whenever I liked. I also mentioned Beren’s like of the lion-headed gargoyle and Ctik said that a deal for a pair of them had already been done and they would probably be installed at the Clanhold entrance within the week.
“I’ll let Trowa know. He’ll get a kick out of it.”
They shared a private look.
“Okay, what’s the joke?”
“Beren wasn’t the only one to want a gargoyle,” said Ctik, hiding a smirk.
“Cathy wanted one, too. And Silvan asked about one for her den. Annnd Rothe wants a pair. Beren says she has ambitions,” laughed Farq.
“We’ve plenty of opportunities for disbursement,” Ctik smirked. “Would you like to reserve a pair while you’re here?”
I tried to keep a straight face, but failed. “I guess I’d better,” I snickered. “Yes, I will take a pair.” A thought occurred to me. “Can I place a hold on the rest of the dragon ones? I have a feeling Heero’s Clan might want a few. Dozen.”
“Of course! You really think they would want all of them? I can certainly accommodate Heero’s Clan. He’s been very helpful to us, as well as tolerant of our life crises.“ Again, they shared a look. I was beginning to wonder about the two of them. How long before they wound up as a real couple? Something else to keep my imagination on ‘over-active’.
“Yeah, I think a lot of them would. The gargoyles look exactly like Wyverns, but you’ve seen Heero in his dragon form, so you know that.” The sun was totally gone now and the environment was pitch black, except for a feeble new moon trying to slink unnoticed into the night sky.
“Oops! Damn guys, I’ve got to go. Heero will only wait so long before he breaks out in full on worry mode and comes after me.”
“Of course, Duo,” said Ctik. “We will look forward to your next visit. And feel free to come during the day if you like. You can better see what we’re doing with the place.”
“Oh yes! Please come again,” cried Farq. “I’m going to work on baking bread next.”
“I will. I’ll bring Heero; he’ll be interest to see what you’ve accomplished.”
I walked out to the road to my port spot and pinged Jake, who arrived almost before the second ping chimed.
“You okay?” he demanded, looking me over.
“I’m fine! C’mon! Stop fussing over me. Ctik and Farq are friends; neither of them would hurt me. Now, let’s go home,” I snapped.
