Vine looked at the box, smiled, and looked around.She found Kazuya and walked over to him.He looked at her with a pleasant smile.“Vine, you are looking better.”
“Thank you.This is a thanks for today’s healing.It will be enchanted for you on Tuesday.It is not an antique.”
He smiled and pulled out the shockingly exquisite teapot with the octopus forming the handle and arms wrapped around the spout.The cups were wrapped in tentacles and seashells.The best part of all was that everything was matte black aside from the seashells.
He was astonished when he looked at the piece.“This is amazing.Incredible.I am honoured that you thought of me for this piece.”
“May I be honest?”
“Of course.”
“I had no idea what was in there.Aside from one peek, I just told my friend what I wanted, and this is what they brought.”
He smiled.“It is still beautiful.Does she take commissions?”
“She owns a custom pottery shop, so probably.”
Kazuya asked, “May I speak with her?”
“Sure.She’s talking to Eudora by the grill.”
He nodded and carefully examined the pot again, a smile on his lips.“It is wonderfully whimsical.”
She smiled.“It is.If you will allow me, I will take it to the workshop and play with it.I have never had any issue with their pottery items.She puts her pigment in the clay, and it turns the minimally glazed pieces into art.”
He held it, turning it to appreciate the details.“It won’t be hurt?”
“No.I can do it here if you want to be sure.”She took the teapot carefully and held it against her stomach.
She poured magic into the teapot to keep everything three degrees above drinking temperature and then set the teapot in the case again.She took out the two cups and held them, focusing again and enchanting the cups to drinking temperature.She sighed and put them back in the box.“There.That was the present.”
He picked up one of the cups and said, “What does it do?”
“It keeps the tea in the pot three degrees warmer than drinking temperature, and the cups remain at drinking temperature.That’s it.Nothing weird.”
He had a thought, poured some water into the pot, then poured it out into one of the cups.Then, he sipped.His brows lifted, and he smiled.“That is very nice.Thank you, Vine.”
She inclined her head.“Thank you, Kazuya.I have been able to stay on my feet all afternoon.”
He smiled.“I would make a comment, but I believe it is a little aggressive for you.”
She shrugged.“Probably.I have to get back to the grill.”
“You do smell a lot like food.When can we eat?”
“As soon as Jennika does, and it looks like Xiroth is taking care of it, so after that.”
“Did you eat after our session today?”
“Um, nope.”
He rose to his feet and shepherded her to the start of the buffet line.There were several elves laughing at them, but others were looking wistful and then turned to look at some of the unattached women, seeking something.
Vine saw it all in a glance, blushed as Kazuya asked what she wanted, and pointed at a few items.He put them on a plate for her.He snuck half a rack of ribs onto the plate and grinned.“Because I have been thinking of your hands putting the rub on all day.”
She blushed.“Oh.‘Kay.”
Meeda was putting the last racks on the slow grill and cutting them into segments with scissors while she waited.She was working on them like she had done it before.Vine asked, “Food service experience?”
