Private Finished Just Checking In

Keen

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Nov 23, 2016
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Takisu felt guilty for leaving Rafael behind. Or, well, not really. More like he could feel how Rafael felt and realized he needed to check in on his guardian. So while Smokey was off at school, Takisu took the time to fly through the heavy snowfall to give Rafael a surprise visit at home.

The pair were comfortable enough with one another for Takisu to be able to freely enter his house, and he was able to instantly tell Rafael was in his library through their bond. In Takisu's hands were gifts. It was more traditional for people who weren't family to bring a gift to enter another's house and be treated as their own, but Takisu's gift was more of an apology for leaving Rafael on such a sudden notice. These gifts were containers to separate some smoked salmon, figs, and lastly, flamefruit, an edible berry that when eaten makes it feel like sweet firecrackers going off in your mouth. The latter was more of a fun snack than anything.

"Rafael? I brought you some gifts. Are you busy?"


 

Zora

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Rafael had been, quite truthfully, in a bit of a mood since Takisu had left for Ilada because of the snow. He knew that he shouldn't be, that he could defend for himself quite well. However, over the centuries, Rafael had come to depend on Takisu. He was, perhaps, the one constant in Rafael's long-lived life.

Hearing a familiar voice enter the library, Rafael put his newspaper down. "About bloody time," he muttered gruffly to himself, happy that his friend was home, but not overly comfortable with admitting that either.

"Yes, I am free," Rafael said rather stiffly as he stood up from his chair and turned to look at his assistant. Eyeing his friend for a moment as he stood there at the door, spotting his gifts, Rafael nodded, he was actually relieved to see that he was okay.

"You are back?" he asked calmly as he gestured that Takisu should come in a take a seat.
 

Keen

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"No. The winter storm is still too dangerous for my family. I only come here through shifts to help take Smokey to school and work. I noticed you were feeling a bit lonely without me and thought it was time I made a visit." While Takisu did not smile, there was a playful tone to his voice within that last sentence. Rafael may not openly admit it, but Takisu could tell that he missed his companion. Takisu felt the same way back. To him, it felt like he was missing a limb.

Takisu then tilted his head towards the exit of the library. "I brought you food. I'd like a chance to take off my clothes too. The snow is starting to melt." He was bundled up in heavy winter clothing, and while not obvious, he was shaking. Even turning off his element did nothing to rid himself of how cold he was. It merely made it less fatal.
 

Zora

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Rafael's hopes fell a little when Takisu said it was just a visit, but he did understand. How could he not? He knew how much the cold affected him and his family. It was part of the reason Rafael had accepted his granddaughter's invitation to the island. He had hoped to find somewhere where he could be closer to Celeste and her children, and where the weather suited both of them. Rafael was not a huge fan of too much heat, but he knew Takisu was not a huge fan of the cold. The weather on MC had seemed perfect - until recently.

"Me? Lonely?" Rafael scoffed, "With Celeste and her family of ragamuffins? And the business, and that crazy granddaughter of mine and her hairbrained schemes?" he grumbled, barely keeping a smile in check, and the amusement out of his voice as he tried to shrug off the fact that Takisu knew him all too well.

Then, his facade broke, and Rafael laughed.

"Dreadfully so," he admitted. "This godforsaken snow is a bloody nightmare. I am just glad you made it back somehow," he said as he sat back down in his chair near the fire.

"Food?" Rafael stated curiously as he watched Takisu remove all the layers of winter clothing," You wouldn't happen to have some flamefruits in there?" he asked somewhat hopefully. Early on in their friendship, Takisu had introduced Rafael to the frighteningly delicious exotic fruit from Ilada.
 

Keen

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It hurt to disappoint his guardian, but Takisu had his first family to worry about too. Before he could feel too guilty, Rafael lightened up the mood. Having someone like Rafael there to keep him from getting too wrapped up in sad thoughts made life so much easier.

"Of course I do. I also brought smoked salmon and figs. I did well to keep them in good quality for you." Takisu let out a small, awkward smile. All of his smiles were awkward, but it didn't feel embarrassing when around family.

Takisu sat the containers beside Rafael on a table, then took off his heavy winter clothing to bathe in the heat of the fire. "How is your family during this mess? Mine has been fine since we moved back. They're a bit disappointed that they were settling in here, only to need to leave."
 

Zora

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"Smoked salmon, figs and flamefruit..." Rafael stated, extremely pleased by this as he watched Takisu unpack the containers and packages. "You spoil me," he chuckled lightly as he looked at everything and picked up the figs first.

"Surprisingly well, actually. Celeste's family seems rather immune to the cold, except of course, Ebviony," he said with a softer, more affectionate tone, "And Zoraida and the chap she's dating, just seem to teleport everywhere lately... which is damn inconvenient especially when they suddenly pop up somewhere unexpectedly and unannounced..." he stated gruffly.

As Takisu warmed himself by the fire, Rafael added another log to keep the flames burning and to help warm the room a bit more.

"Smokey, he's the youngest in your family, no?" Rafael asked, "Still in school as I recall..." he said as he picked out a fig from the container, offering one to Takisu in the process.

"This snow must be especially hard on them, I imagine? Not being able to hang out as much with his friends and all that." he added thoughtfully.
 

Keen

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Takisu imagined that teleportation would be very convenient. Not so much with setting the house up to prepare for guests, but during this weather, it was certainly helpful.

Takisu declined the fig, too deep in thought about Rafael's questions. "Yes... We're doing our best to keep them in school for now, but if this keeps going, we may just need to pull them out. At that point, I imagine us staying in Ilada would be easier. We can't keep going back and forth all the time for one person. ... It's difficult, especially since Zaydri started a job they're very happy with."
 

Zora

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"But of course, that is totally understandable. Kids come first, they almost always should when it comes to schooling," he agreed. Rafael wasn't too keen on them staying in Ilada, but he clearly understood why they might have too. Besides, Rafael always believed in giving children the best chance at a good future.

"Oh, what type of job?" Rafael asked, peeling the top part of the fig, quite interested in what Zaydi was doing. Takisu had not mentioned them in quite a while, and Rafael had almost forgotten about them completely.
 

Keen

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"Have you heard of La Bussola? Zaydri described it as an authentic Italian restaurant. The food is very nice. They're working there with their friend Ju—Oh right, he doesn't like being called that anymore. They're working with their friend Angelo as a waiter."

Though not smiling, a sense of pride could be felt from Takisu. Smokey was becoming independent and had many elementalist allies. They were developing so fast for someone so young. It scared Takisu in some ways and made him immensely proud in others.
 

Zora

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"La Bussola," Rafael nodded approvingly. He had indeed heard of the place. It was his job in a way to be on top of any financial happenings on the island, no matter how small they were. Successes almost always started small and often rose from nothing to something unexpectedly.

"Ah, yes... the Genovese boy," Rafael said as he instantly recalled who Smokey's friend was. The young man had been Zoraida's PA for a short while, and a damn good one too. He had always thought it was a shame that his granddaughter had cocked that up. Rafael had definitely seen potential in him.

"Do they have tartufo or budino?" Rafael enquired of Takisu, a big fan of the Italian desserts and getting hungry at the thought of them.

"I wonder if they make arancini?" he mused, thinking fondly of the Italian fried rice balls that he had had a few years ago in Sicily.
 
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