What a Beauty

Writers: Eimi, Dana
Date Posted: 14th February 2006

Characters: Cinale, Daigoro
Description: Daigoro and Cinale learn a little bit about the benefits of a little praise and extra attention
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 3

Cinale

"Fey! Come on now, honny, don't be a pest, hmm?" Cinale flicked her hand at the small green, who was trying to take the writing impliment right out of her fingers. The fire-lizard gave an indignant squawk and fluttered a little ways away. She sat down on her haunches for a brief moment, studying a working Cinale and the pen before she lunged once again, this time succeeding in taking the impliment between her jaws. Shrilling her delight in her success, she arrowed up towards the rafters and alighted lazily on one of the beams. Now she had the prize _and_
Cinale's undivided attention!

The cook glared up at the impish flit. "Fey! You need to give that back to me!"

"Well well, having trouble with pet, are we?" the Hallsecond leaning against the doorframe asked with a lazy smile.

Her glare turned into a slight scowl at the look on his face. "I think we are."

"Have you any treats lying about?" he asked as he pushed himself off the door frame and moved into the room.

"Always." She went over to one of the small cabinets and took out a small bowl. "Like this?"

"Now I didn't have any training or anything. I can only show you what I did with Wort when he was this age. Take a few treats and put them in your pocket and come and sit back down."

She did as she was told, and once she was sitting, she titled her head up to look at him. "Now what do I do?"

He placed a hand on her shoulder and said quietly. "Now, picture in your mind what you want Fey to do. Picture it so she can see it clearly, and then ignore her completely."

Cinale frowned slightly. "Ignore her?" Her eyes flickered to Fey, who was still curled up in the rafters, chewing indolently on the pen. "Shards..." she muttered.

"Now now, no need to get frustrated," he said as he squeezed her shoulder gently. "You see, Fey is still just a little child. The more you pay attention to her when she misbehaves, the more she thinks she found a great game to play. What you need to do is teach her that its more fun to do what you say. Now just picture what you want her to do and then ignore her."

She closed her eyes briefly as she pictured what she wanted that imp of a flit of hers to do. Then she opened her eyes and stared at the hide on her desk, keeping the image as firmly fixed in her mind as she could.
"How long did it take to teach Wort this?"

"Well sometimes... a while," he admitted begrudgingly. "I suppose it just depends on how fast she learns. But you have me to keep you company in the meantime."

She smiled up at him. "You can sit down if you want, hon. Did you want anything to snack on?"

"Oh, I'll be all right," he said gallantly. Daigoro decided it was best not to tell her he had already cut a slice out of the cake she had left to cool... "Besides it's best if you stay in one place."

She let out a breath and folded her arms over the hide. "I suppose it is best that I stay chained here." A slight grin twitched at her lips.

"Is it such a punishment to sit and talk with me a while?" he asked with a note of teasing sadness in his voice.

"Oh hush. You know it isn't." There was a tenderness in her tone that surprised her, and she quickly glanced down, unsure. "Has your day been productive?"

"Productive?" Interesting choice of words. "I suppose so. The Hall is still standing and the wine is still fermenting. The ale is still brewing and the apprentices and masters are still whining. I'd say over all, its been a productive day." He rubbed her shoulder gently. "And you? How has your day been?"

Her eyes slightly closed of their own volition, enjoying his touch. "Busy," she managed to murmur. "I've been going over inventories...something I've been putting off all day. I even made a cake earlier to stall." Cinale shook her head at herself, chuckling a little. "Sometimes I can be just like a child, Daigoro."

"Well, if that's what it means to be a child, then I guess I'll never grow up, I'm afraid." Daigoro sighed dramatically.

She looked up at him and grinned. "Neither one of us."

"Well, speaking of children," he glanced up at the green still looking down at the pair with the pen clutched between her dainty claws. "You best send her that image again."

She bit her lip and nodded before once again turning her mind to what she wanted Fey to do. The small green cocked her head and gave a chirp, nibbling a little on the pen. A few, long moments of silence passed before she finally took wing and reluctantly landed on Cinale's desk. She bent her head and set her prize down before sitting back on her haunches.

The cook couldn't keep the grin of success off her face. "She did it!"

"Good!" the brewer cried triumphantly. "Now pet her and scratch her. Tell her how wonderful she is and how beautiful she is and give her a treat or two."

"Fey, you're a beautiful darling. I'm so proud of you! Come here, honny." She smiled as the little green came over. Crooning compliments, Cinale slipped her two of the treats from her pocket. Fey's eyes were whirling brightly and she chirruped happily, accepting the goodies without a moment's hesitation. "There we are! See, Fey? It's fun to do as I say, isn't it?"

"Yes, she is a beauty," Daigoro smiled as he reached down to scratch the little green's eyeridge. "Now if she starts grabbing at the pen again, just imagine what you want her to do, and if she does it, pet her and give her treats and attention."

Cinale nodded before looking up at him, placing one hand briefly over his. "Thank you for teaching me that trick! I'll have to teach it to Cat later on."

"Well, I learned from working with apprentices a long time ago that a little praise and extra attention is a greater shaper of behavior than punishement." He smiled as his hand relaxed under her fingers.

She smiled back, and as her hand moved away from his, she then bent her head and brushed her cheek against the back of his palm; it was as if she'd been doing it for Turns, it felt so natural.

The backs of his fingers grazed her cheek and both were silent a moment.
Finally the Hallsecond cleared his throat and pulled his hand away.
"Well, it seems you have Fey under hand now. I'd best get back to my work as well."

"Of course." She flushed a little as she glanced at him, silently berrated herself for making him feel uncomfortable. Shards. "Try and remember to eat your supper on time tonight," Cinale told him, trying for her usual teasing to ease the sudden thickness in the air.

He gave her almost a natural smile. "If I do can I have another piece of cake?"

"You had a piece already?" She waggled a finger at him in mock sterness. "Shame on you. You didn't even ask."

"I didn't know it was _yours_," he said with a small guilty chuckle. "I'll go before I get myself into trouble. Good night then, Cinale."

"Goodnight, Daigoro." She watched him walk to the door, but before he left, she called his name. Something in her wanted to find some sense that they were both still on the same ground. When he turned, she gave him a soft, almost hesitant smile. "You can have another slice if you want to, hon."

The big brewer smiled. "What a beauty you are. Good night."

Last updated on the February 14th 2006

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