Backscene: Perfectly Innocent Who: Sellion Oros (NPC), Terin Oros, Haldir Oros (NPC), Arya Oros Where: Denerim Alienage When: 9:29 Dragon Ferventis 16 Summary: Partha bakes a pie for Arya's fourth birthday, and the siblings scheme to get a piece before the celebrations begin Rating: C for cuteness?
"No, sweets, it isn't ready yet. Let it cool, and then we'll all have some for your birthday," Partha's soft voice was music to young Arya's ears; her mother tapped her on the noise, bringing forth a smile on the young elf's face. It was her fourth birthday, four years of life that were being celebrated by her family today. Once her father got hom from the carpenter's, of course - her brothers were still home, having been left behind to help their mother with the preparations for the small party they'd have. There were no decorations, necessarily, but a beautiful pot of flowers fresh from a neighbor's garden and clean though somewhat worn dishes were all laid out on the table, and the celebratory blackberry pie had been fixed.
The fruit had been purchased from a neighbor who was lucky enough to have a small blackberry bush growing in their front yard, carefully tended and cared for since the berries were so difficult to come by otherwise. Upon hearing that it was the youngest Oros' birthday, they'd gladly parted with the fruit for mere coppers. Partha had been in the kitchen all day, Arya constantly underfoot, but Partha wouldn't have it any other way.
"Haldir! Haldir, where are you, dear?" Partha moved the pie to a window sill for it to cool in the near evening breeze; the kitchen was tiny, barely five or six paces across, but it was full of the smells of various foods that Partha made throughout the day and it was possibly the best room to be in in the Oros' household. Arandur would be home soon, but Arya was feeling a little impatient. Haldir, a skinny thirteen years old, popped his head into the kitchen, his blonde hair falling over blue eyes in bad want of a haircut. Partha smiled to see her youngest boy.
"Where are your brothers?"
"Sellion and Terin are in the bedroom, Mama. Should I get them?"
Partha shook her head. "No, love. Just wanted to make sure everyone was at hand for when your father gets home. Then we'll eat, all right?" Haldir nodded, and Partha gave him an affectionate pat on his head as she moved past him into the combination living space and dining room; next to that was the bedroom they all shared, the adults and the children all crammed into the tiny space but somehow it worked. After a few moments of padding footsteps, he heard the front door open and close. Haldir looked over to his sister, who made a face at her elder brother, the kind she knew would make him laugh. His face creased into something of a smile and he just shook his head.
"What mischief is waking in that head of yours, Arya?" She pointed to the pie, high upon the windowsill. Even at thirteen Haldir wasn't quite tall enough to reach it either. They might need Sellion's or Terin's help, but Haldir was lax to ruin the pie his mother had worked so hard on for such a special occasion. He shook his head, and Arya crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.
"Pie!" She said firmly, stamping a foot. Haldir only laughed, and picked up his sister. Carrying her to the bedroom, he glanced at Terin and Sellion playing some card game for amusement while they were all waiting for Arandur to return home. Haldir watched his brothers for a moment, and then glanced at Arya, who was giving him the face again as though making him laugh would convince him to aid her in her nefarious plot to get the pie. Surely one bite wouldn't hurt, and it was Arya's birthday. The younger Oros siblings looked at the elder, and a plan was formed.
"Hey Terin? Mama needs your help outside. Sellion, Arya and I could use your help in the kitchen. Um, cleaning pots, yah know." Haldir and Arya smiled innocently, as though nothing could be afoot.