[JRP]The calm before the party (Jacundi, Heimdall, Esteryti)

[Annchen]

It was the opposite of his season, but Heimdall liked the summer too. The Kaskazi parties and games were excellent, and he didn't just say that because his mate helped run them. Summer was special to him, because it was the season he joined Sikukuu all those years ago. One of the best decisions he'd ever made.

He yawned, and then shook his head to try to banish the sleepiness. It was no wonder he was a bit tired since he'd been up since before dawn. One of the minors in the Mrao clan had suffered from terrible night terrors lately, and since the cub's mother was exhausted Heimdall had volunteered to watch over the little one as she slept. She didn't dare to sleep alone, but he must have done something right since she'd slept soundly for a couple of hours at least. He wondered if it was the heat that was getting to her. It was unusually hot and cubs could be vulnerable.

However, now was not the time to be tired so he decided to go put his head in one of the small but cold mountain streams before meeting his mate. If that didn't clear his head he didn't know what to do about it!  

[Talencia]

Ester was waiting with great anticipation. Today she and her mate had an appointment with one of the pride's favorite crafters. The hyena was known for his generosity, but also for his skill. Of course, the little primate helped him, but it was Jacundi's mind that directed how things were created. It had been hard to occupy herself for the morning thus far, but she'd managed somehow. She had been gathering the largest, widest leaves she could find, piling them carefully to be marked as game pieces in a Midsummer game for the little ones. They'd end up being scattered from tree branches for the youngest to scramble about and collect. There would be occasional brightly colored feathers from the largest of the eagles to snatch too. She was so looking forward to watching the littles run about, squealing and laughing, gathering leaves and feathers and ending up with lovely prizes!

Even though her official job was to tend to the sick or injured, everyone helped out in preparing for and executing the games. She'd be on hand for the game, to tend to any accidental or temperamental injuries. They were rarely serious, especially amongst the cubs, but she still wanted to be present to tend to the small wounds and unhappinesses.

She was now reclining in the shade, though. She'd already drank and refreshed herself, leaving her pile of leaves with one of the Entertainers. Her tail was flipping excitedly as she waited for Heim to return. They had been waiting for this for some time now! They were meant for a private ceremony of a devotion to each other, a way to reaffirm their love for one another and show their love with a matching set of something that they would wear most of the time. Now where was Heim?!

Today was different than most days. Usually his day consisted of either searching for materials, designing new trinkets, or assembling the ideas into tradable goods. His little bushbaby companion was sound asleep, since it was nocturnal and worked mostly at night. But the more time passed, the more deft Jacundi was becoming at doing a good deal of the more delicate work himself. But today... today he had an appointment!

He didn't often get specific requests. Generally he'd learn what this person or that individual liked and secretly produce something ahead of time. This was part of his reputation! But he had not anticipated the desire of these two lovebirds to desire matching ornamentation. Even if he had, he likely would have let them come to him, as designing something to suit both was a tricky endeavor. Oh, it wasn't that the couple was the bickering, arguing sort. No no, it just was difficult to anticipate the desires of more than one individual for a single design. Thus it worked much better to let them come and design it with him!

It was nearly time for them to arrive, so he neatly organized his materials, bringing out his prettiest stones, his brightest wire, along with interesting pieces of wood, slabs of rock, and a handful of seashells. Those were rare, and weren't often used due to their delicate nature. He somehow doubted they'd want them, but he wanted them to have the best selection to work with.  

[Annchen]

Ester didn't have to wait for very long. Soon enough her mate showed up, mane a shade darker from the spring water. Ahh... Everything felt much better with a cool head. The earth colored female did much better in warm weather, and he noticed she'd found a nice place in the shade to wait for him. It was the busiest time of year for her, and he was glad that she'd allowed herself time for this. His mate deserved good things. He'd heard good things about Jacundi.

"Is it supposed to be this warm," he asked and sighed, "I think I forget how bad it can get this season."

Perhaps he should go live in that stream until they got some rain... Nah. Then he might miss the summer festivities, and that would make him truly sad.  

[Talencia]

She saw him coming, and her eyes crinkled up at his damp fur. He was so handsome, even soaking wet! His complaint made her smile more gently in sympathy. "Y-y-you p-poor d-d-dear," she said sweetly, completely ignoring the stutter she'd had ever since she'd begun speaking as a cub. "Every y-year, and y-you say the same thing," she continued, reaching to tuck a damp lock of his mane back from his face. It had to be hot, having that whole thick mass of fur around one's face and neck! "I c-c-could ask Jac-cundi to meet us after d-d-dinner if you'd rather?"

Truly she should have considered this, but in the end, they'd end up still having to do something during the hot days. There were quite a few though who admittedly slept through the hot summer days, only creeping out when things cooled off a bit after the sun went down. That's part of why the Midsummer Dance was so popular, after all! "B-but if we aren't going to w-wait, w-we should go now," she added encouragingly, stepping in the direction of the crafter's space rather than towards home, glancing back at her mate inquiringly.  

[Annchen]

Heimdall smiled, perhaps he was getting a bit predictable. Ah, but it seemed hotter than usual... Visiting Jacundi the crafter today would be good, and he could always go back to the stream and cool off later. It was so hot and dry everywhere else.

"No," he said and smiled, "We don't have to wait for my sake. I'm here now, aren't I?"

He was already following her, and soon they walked side by side. It would be exciting to see what the hyena could come up with! Heimdall's mane was starting to dry, but hopefully the hyena wouldn't mind his somewhat messy appearance.

"Greetings Jacundi," he called as they arrived.  

[Talencia]

Jacundi looked up with a wide smile on his canine muzzle. "Heim, Ester! Good day to you both!" He rose to greet them effusively with a lick to the cheek of each, in his dog-like way. Sometimes folks didn't like it over much, but usually it was tolerated well. After all, it was done with great affection. "Another sweltering day, is it not?" He gave the male an understanding look, noting the damp mane. "Ah, but it is cool under the trees here. Come, sit!" He turned and led them back under the shade where he worked.

Sitting down amidst his crafting materials, he gazed back and forth between them. "Now, what is it you are wanting me to make for you?" His tone was eager and pleasant. He adored working his magic for people, and more-so when it was for loving couples. The bond between the two lions was clear and obvious, and it made him happy that they would come to him together for this.


Ester padded beside her mate as they approached the hyena's crafting area. She loved walking beside him, even though he tended to tower over her. She glanced up at him admiringly before turning to accept the exuberant canine greeting, enduring the lick to the cheek with good-natured laughter. She followed him into the welcome shade of the large, spreading tree he often worked under. Almost everyone in the pride knew that this was where he could be found, and his den was near at hand as well.

She settled herself, eyes wide as she gazed at the astonishing variety of materials he'd set up for them to look at. All these colors, shapes, textures... it was overwhelming! "W-well," she began, turning back to Jacundi after glancing to share a smile with her mate, "w-we are w-wanting to c-c-commission y-you to make us m-m-matching j-jewelry," she stuttered. She didn't even think about it as stuttering any more, really. She'd long ago gotten over being embarrassed or flustered by her halting speech pattern. If people mocked her for it, she didn't have to talk to them. Most didn't, though. Sikukuu was a very kindly place to have grown up in, for the most part.  

[Annchen]

Heimdall watched Jacundi's collection of raw materials with great interest. It was fascinating to think that this could become beautiful accessories in the right paws. It took someone special to figure out what combinations would look good, and he'd heard good things about the hyena. He was confident that the crafter would let them know what fit them and - if he should need to - what didn't work for them.

"Do you think you could add some kind of noise makers to it," he asked, looking eagerly at the different materials. It would be even more fun dancing if something rattled or jingled or... He looked over at Ester to see if she'd be comfortable with that idea.  

[Talencia]

Ah, noisemakers! Jacundi beamed at the lion who towered over him, then swiftly gathered a efw different items from various parts of his stash. He laid them together in front of the couple. It included a pile of small seed pods that still had their seeds inside, some large nutshells that contained a rock in each and bound together again with dried vine tendrils, and a curious collection of oddly shaped things that glinted of metal. Those metal pieces were rare and worth quite a bit. Still, he was happy enough to offer them to such a loving couple. They should go to a good home that would appreciate their specialness, to the heyna's mind. "Is there anything else you want especially?" he asked, tipping his head inquisitively, his large ears cocked appealingly.


Ester smiled at her mate, then examined the offered noisemakers before looking up to find the hyena regarding her inquiringly. Hmm. What would she want on them? What would mean something special to her? She ran her eyes across the myriad objects around them, finding her eyes drawn to various things that were white. Yes, that would suit! "S-s-something white," she replied decisively, turning to gaze into Heim's eyes. "To represent the p-purity of our l-love." Saying it aloud seemed a little silly, heating her face, but it was entirely true! She lowered her eyes with a soft smile, then stole a sheepish look at Jacundi. Would he think her silly? To her relief, he merely was nodding agreement and gathering up several white objects. Feathers, rocks of several kinds, and some neat little white discs that clattered together and shone iridescent in the sun. "Oh, those are l-l-lovely!" she exclaimed in surprise.  

[Annchen]

Talencia

Heimdall poked and prodded the various noisemakers as Jacundi laid them out in front of them. He tried the sound of the seed pods and the nutshell rattlers and admired the metal bits. The point of this visit was to get matching jewelry, but he might have to come back later and talk to the hyena about something he could use for work too. There were plenty of performers willing to make music for him, but he liked the idea of making the music himself, as he danced.

Luckily Jacundi derailed that train of thought by asking Ester what she wanted. Heimdall felt a bit sheepish for getting carried away, if only in his mind. He nodded as Ester suggested something white, and pretended not to notice her embarrassment.

"What are those things," he asked when Jacundi laid out the white discs, speaking almost at the same time as Ester. He laughed. "I guess we both like those then."  

[Talencia]

Annchen

The hyena beamed as they both exclaimed in admiration for the same thing. Ah, he loved his job! Discovering just the right materials to use that made his customers very happy was his biggest joy. Well, nearly so. Giving away such things was a greater joy still. "Ah, I was told that those are made from shells, the home of strange sea creatures. Such things wash up on the beaches, and clever fingers," he glanced up at his slumbering primate companion, "can carve them into many things, like these." He tapped the pile again, appreciating the musical quality to the sound they made. Yes, those definitely needed to be part of the jewelry.

"I am thinking," he began, "that I will make each of you a bracelet and an ear ornament from these." He raised one paw to forestall any arguments that may or may not have been forthcoming. "That way our dear healer can wear a bracelet when she's not working, and the ear loop when she is." He canted his ears inquisitively. "So that you both will always match, but it won't get in the way of your minstrations."


Ester pondered this, turning her gaze to Heim. She tried to imagine him with any sort of loop from his ear and shook her head. To her mind, he would look rather silly. She herself wasn't sure if she liked the idea of sometime tinkling in her ear constantly either. "If I m-m-may," she said slowly, meeting her mate's eyes, though she spoke to Jacundi. "I think it w-would s-serve us b-better if you m-m-made Heim a b-bracelet... no, a p-b-bair of b-bracelets," she amended, eyes lighting up, "and m-myself a n-necklace with j-just a few of those on it." She turned back to the hyena. "I d-do n-not n-n-need the p-p-pretty sound as m-much as he d-does."

She turned her eyes back to the materials then, her eyes scanning them more intently now that she knew what she wanted. She reached a paw and gathered a large pawful of dried green berries, then rose to pad around and carefully pick out a bunch of feathers that were brown with blue tips. "And these," she said more confidently, laying them beside the white shells. "C-colors for the b-both of us." She turned a brilliant smile on Heim, hoping he approved and seeking his additions. Any ideas he had were more than welcome to be added or even changed in what she'd laid out.  

[Annchen]

Talencia

Heimdall waited for Ester to finish speaking. She had that look in her eye that meant she had an idea, and he knew better than to interrupt before she was done. Living with Ester had made him a more patient lion. Not that he had been terribly impatient before, but still. He knew it was worth waiting the few more heartbeats it took for Ester to speak her mind.

"That's a good idea," he said, "They don't have to be exactly the same."

He watched with interest as she picked out her additions, and he nodded his approval. His talent was dancing, and while he could appreciate a beautiful item he was not talented in finding colours that went well together. He walked slowly along the gathered materials, feeling overwhelmed. He made another pass, touching and scenting various items. He finally settled on a rolled up bundle of long, thin leather strips. They must have been treated somehow, because they were soft and almost smelled earthy.

"Something like that to string it all up, perhaps?" he suggested.  

[Talencia]

Annchen

Jacundi nodded approval and interest as the lioness picked out bits and pieces, then grinned in canine pleasure at the thongs Heim chose. "I can definitely do all this," he said confidently. "It will be a pleasure." Making anything for couples was always a pleasure, especially ones as affectionate and stable as these two. Perhaps someday he might enjoy such a blessing as having a mate to share everything with. Cheerfully he pushed aside thoughts of himself as he gathered up the materials. "I can have these made and ready by tomorrow, in plenty of time for the Midsummer dance!" He knew this was going to be a big deal for the couple, and that they were likely to want the accessories for the occasion.

"Just come back tomorrow evening, and I will have them ready for you." He waved a paw then, turning his head away. "And don't breathe a word about payment. Consider this a gift." His tongue lolled in happiness, as he found genuine fulfillment in doing such things for pride members. Most visitors still had to trade him something in exchange for their trinkets, but very rarely did pride members have to pay for their chosen decorations. "I will see you both tomorrow." So saying, he began to rearrange his many things, tucking most of it away while leaving their chosen baubles out to be worked together into their requested forms. The hyena highly approved of the design Ester had come up with, and reflected idly that she would have made an excellent crafter!