Barthus noticed little things around the shop. Damaged items repaired, clothes sewn, better clothes for Makana, etc
The faerie folk cared for those that took care of their new young ones. And made life hard for those that made life harder for the caretakers.
@internutter/challenge-04719-l335-newfound-family -- Anon Guest
Explaining the whole world a bit at a time was eye-opening. Barthus had never thought to question the things his new prentice/child did, but now the questions were there, they had to admit something most adults never would, "I don't know," they would say. "It's just the way things are. Never thought to wonder why."
And of course, Makana would wonder, "Why?"
"Folks get used to things being. Takes less energy from other tasks as needs doing." Barthus never thought to punish Makana for asking too many questions. Near as they figured, the strange two-cubit-tall Faekindred was no more than a handful of days old. At the same stage of life, Human babies were still experiencing the horrors of being tired, being hungry, and having messes in their pants for the first time in their lives.
They had done their best for Makana. Making sure they had clothes, food, comfort, and care. That said, clothing a small being with butterfly wings and adult proportions was a challenge a bit beyond the skills of a leatherworker. Barthus only knew enough fibrecrafts to patch a hole in their pants, so Makana's first clothes... fit enough.
The neighbourhood prodnoses were eager to supply baby clothes, not so eager to dress a strange new Faekindred. They asked awkward questions, trying to find out more than they truly had a right to know.
"Is your Makana a boy or a girl?"
"They're a they, just like me," said Barthus.
"Er. Which kind of pants should we make?"
"Braies do well enough."
"Is pink or blue suitable for formal clothing?"
"Makana prefers primrose, but mustard will do for a colour."
In so far as Barthus could tell, this only vexed them more. They were too prim to ask in a rude manner and all the polite versions had alternate answers. Further, they still campaigned for Barthus to gain a housemate, and preferably a bedmate, so they could discuss body-wrought children for Barthus.
There was just no satisfying some people.
In a week after taking in Makana, Barthus started to notice odd little things. Broken tools put aside for replacement were found whole as if they were never broken. Good, if not better, than new. Holes in their clothes on the border of patching were repaired as if the holes were never there.
Makana said they weren't doing that and didn't know how. So there must be a Brauniin somewhere being kind. Which was an immense relief, because Barthus knew what to do about Brauniin. In gratitude, they left out some spiced milk in a yellow cup, since they couldn't get their hands on gold.
And somehow Makana had a wardrobe of much better clothing than Barthus could put together. Shirts, pants, dresses or something much like them. Makana saw no reason why they should stick to one gender's clothing and neither did Barthus.
Which only annoyed the gossips more.
[Photo by David Clode on Unsplash]
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