Winston Miller and the Saucerer's Scone

[Kisaik]

3rd of Zi'da 722

Kisaik was having more ideas of late. Perhaps it was the effect of living underneath the flag of Flibberty, or just being around some of his favorite people on a regular basis. Or maybe it was just being a part of something great and wonderful, or even having his own tribe to set an example for these days. Whatever it was, he found the ideas coming to him thick and fast, and he was ready to meet the challenge of making them a reality.

Currently, he worried about the food situation in the settlement. While the farming would be good by dint of Kisaik's Loshova mark, and the Oasis of Lovalus, it couldn't hurt to have backup. Some dried biscuits and sauce to dip them in would be just the thing to keep people warm of a night during the cold Zi'da and Cylus nights. Kisaik had the idea of alchemically infused foods. While he was no cook himself, he did know a very good cook that happened to live in Sweetsong. And that was Winston Miller.

He'd taken a liking to the cadouri, which was of course no surprise given all they seemed to have in common. But the fact that they were of a relative same height and body size was a novelty that really tickled the tunawa who was used to dealing with tall folk, apart from his own tunawa tribe memberes.

He began reciting his letter, and was helped by Alaiwa, who wrote it out in common tongue, since Kisaik couldn't write that language. He actually didn't know it, but could be understood so long as he wore his mirror of reflection. So he began dictating the letter that he'd leave for Winston:

"Dear Winston,

My friend, I've had the most marvelous idea. Winter is coming, and indeed already here if my sense of these things doesn't fail. It will be important to get the food situation settled, and to keep our food security high in the village, I propose we devise a recipe for biscuits, pastries, and sauces that can keep over a long time. As well, I think adding effects to the food through alchemy would do well. I can perhaps show you a few things about alchemy while we're at it?

The effects I had thought to add, were important to me personally. Tunawa normally go dormant during cold seasons if they don't find a way to keep warm. I'm safe and settled for my part, with a cloak gifted by Vindecaldra, the Dragon I told you about. But my tribes people will go to sleep soon, and I'd like for them to participate in all the festivities to come, that winter has to offer. So I thought we could devise a way to keep them warm of a night, using your cooking and my alchemy to create a warming scone and sauce, that wards off the chilling effects of the cold.

What do you think? If this idea agrees with you, please visit the tree, Sweetstone. You can't mimss it, it's the glittering gemmite tree off to the east of Fool's Errand, not far on the outskirts of Sweetsong itself. I look forward to showing you around the tree, and discussing this further."

Kisaik looked to Alaiwa, and smiled, "You have all that?"

"Yes Kisaik! All here. Shall I roll it up?" Kisaik nodded, and so the note was rolled and folded, and sealed.

As he went to drop it off in Winston's mailbox, near where Chest normally hung around, he began to will himself to grow one of those hot cactus seeds out of his hair. He had an idea for the ingredient they could use for the special sauce and scones...

[Winston]

Tree's need energy food too!

It was afternoon and where Winston went, Chest was sure to follow. He approached the tree, as described by Kisaik, riding atop Chest, who ambled along merrily. He admired the tree as it towered far above him.

The ferret-chef was wearing his chef's garb and brandishing a large (relative to himself) wooden mixing spoon. His floppy hat sat firmly on his head.

He had received a letter from his friend only that trial and decided that there was no better way to reply than in person. After all, it seemed to be a rally for help and they were neighbours AND this had been the first 'house call' invitation he had received. He was quite excited to be received as a guest, not to mention the prospect of doing some Alchemy!

As they stood beneath the tree, he held out his spoon as if to charge and shouted "Talley HOOOO dere! De cavalry 'as arrived!" Kisaik could not have known, but Teq had already commissioned an energy bar from the little ferret, the prototype recipe for which he held under his other arm, clenched tight in his armpit. If the two of them could refine a Tunawa varient, then he could offer both to Teq, to share the joy.

When Kisaik made himself known, Winston smiled. "Chip! Et es gud tuh see ya! Me read yuh letta an' came et once tuh 'elp. Where es de staging area?" He asked happily. Winston would follow Kasaik to his kitchen/workshop, or invite Kisaik into his own one within Chest, whichever Kasaik suggested would be better. Winston had all the cooking ingredients they could possibly need and was happy to share them all.

[Kisaik]

The 'staging area' was just beyond the radius of the Sweetstone tree, the Ojogbon tree that would soon be bearing their sprouts for the tribe. As well as growing jades and other precious stones. But for now, it was a safe and comfortable place to plot the culinary alchemy that Kisaik wanted to get up to. He'd sent out Àìdá'tuli to fetch a very specific fruit that Kisaik had heard tell of, in his itime in the Sweetwine. In fact, ,it was Wendy who'd told him, and she was there now even talking about all the wondrous things the fairies made from the different parts of the plants.

"The spines of the Fromegranate make good whirly gig horns. For the musical instrument you see? But you mortals like to eat them, I can't imagine why, they're so bland!" Wendy huffed, but then smiled at Kisaik.

The tunawa was busily setting up his alchemical equipment when Winston arrived, announcing himself with all the pomp and enthusiasm he was due. Kisaik smiled and spread his arms in welcome. "Winston! Good to see you here Mister Miller! I've already gotten our kit ready for some alchemy. Now, I must ask first, what do you know of alchemy?"

While Winston was busy telling him and filling him in on his understanding of alchemy such as it was, Kisaik finished his set-up. It was around then that Àìdá'tuli arrived, carrying a small Fromegranate. The Pink-haired tunawa dropped it in front of Kisaik, and then looked up at Winston, and lifted the back of her hand to her forehead. "Oh my! You didn't say your guest was the most HANDSOME creature in the Sweetwine! What luxurious fur! What big eyes!"

Kisaik eyed Àìdá'tuli uncertainly. Always the flirtation tunawa, he shook his head, "Àìdá'tuli, this is my good friend Winston Miller. He's an expert cook, and will be aiding in that part of our work. We're going to put our heads together to figure out a way to make alchemical foods!"

Àìdá'tuli yawned a bit as Kisaik went over the technical details of what they'd be doing, and why they needed this or that ingredient. Kisaik went on, "The Fromegranate is PACKED with nutrition, and will keep people satisfied. I suggest we create a sort of flour from it's flesh, to make a sustaining biscuit or scone. Then, we'll make a variety of sauces, one for warming people up, perhaps another to cool them down (during Saun I understand many mortals get hot)."

"Unfortunately, I know zero things about cooking, that's where you come in Winston!" Kisaik nodded, and put his hands on his hips as he watched from Winston to Àìdá'tuli, who was still swooning and fawning over Winston.

Àìdá'tuli chimed in, "He's so handsome..." Her eyes grew big as she played with the flowery pink hair on her head, twirling vines and lichen and flower mattter in her fingers as she watched him.

Kisaik ignored her, however, "Are there any questions before we begin? I do have one myself... How do you make flour?"

[Winston]

Pink for girls, green for boys, their made of twigs and look like toys

Whether Kisaik was a 'hugger' or not, he opened the proverbial door and Winston walked through it, welcoming Kisaik's open arms with a friendly hug and a pat on the back. "Cheep, mun! Tis gud tuh see ya 'gain. An' yuh know wat? Even in Cadouri circals, it es not common tuh be able to 'ug someone me own size." He said with delight, as the hug ended before it got 'weird'. "Alchemy? Noting." He announced with pride. "Well, nothing dat es probably true." He put a paw up to the side of his mouth in mock secrecy and whispered. "Me 'ere tell dat Alchemists cun turn lead into gold an turn people inside out wid a drop a liquid, but me es tinking ef dat were true, yud all be rich." He smiled ...

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: OH! Perhaps Chip IS rich?!?!
Winston: Per'aps.
Curiosity: Lets keep him 'on side'. It's the cold season festival soon and puppa needs a new toolbelt.
Winston: Nat cool, mun.
Curiosity: Pffft, just sayin'. Dude lives in a tree. Just THINK of the disposable income!
Winston: Shush naw!

Then the blush-inducing Àìdá'tuli turned up. Winston looked over his shoulder momentarily before it became obvious that she was talking about HIM. He held up a paw and gave a cautious little wave. Winston had been working on his coat ever since he'd met Darius-chin-main. He had not yet had the chance to talk to Darius about his beard maintenance routines, which surely had to be vast and involved, but the ferret was glad that his efforts appeared to be paying off anyway. "Yuh too kind." He failed to hide the curiosity on his face as his eyes passed over Àìdá'tuli pink, flowery hair.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: This one's a girl Tunawa. I'd put money on it.
Winston: Pink does nat nececerilly mean 'girl'.
Curiosity: Sure, but really dude? She's flirting with you like crazy!
Winston: *blush*
Curiosity: Cum on dude, show some GAME.
Winston: Do wat naw?
Curiosity: At least say hello, dufus ... OH! And ask about her hair.
Winston: Me nat gonna ...
Curiosity: No-no-no, it's not like THAT ... I mean, it IS like that, cos I want to know if all girl-tunawa are pink, but girls LOVE that kind of thing ... TRUST me.

"Yuh 'air es pink." He thought out loud with a smile, perhaps without even realising it. "Et's very pretty. Et es made arf ... flowas?"

At Kisaik's introduction, Winston gave his best formal bow, which he had also been practising since the Blacks' wedding. "Tis a pleasure tuh meet yuh ..." He gestured to Chest as he continued. "... Wud yuh like some cake? Me 'ere dat et es very warming." Chest produced a little plate with a few cupcakes on it that Winston had prepared ahead of his arrival. They were very similar to the ones he had served Kisaik previously, with a little more time and thought put into them surrounding the Tunawa. He had added some hot cactus seeds for topping and nutmeg for flavour. He looked up at Kisaik. "Me 'ave made a few tweaks tuh me fud bar recipe ef yuh are interested? Me wus gonna make one far Tunawa and anodda far bigguns, cus them mostly nat like dem so hat. Me cud nat work out 'ow to extend the warming affect dough, which per'aps yuh might be able tuh help me wid? Et would be great ef it could last langa, like slow release, like a gud wheat biscuit releases enajy."

Winston listened intently as Kisaik started to explain some of the basics behind Alchemy. He was intrigued at the idea that by mixing certain things in certain way, you could get such magical results. "Da more yuh talk about dis, da more like making a sufle et es. So dont' worry, me gat yuh back. Me cun be yuh

Sous-alchemist

. But making flour es usually done wid DRY ingredients, seeds, etc." He offered conversationally. "Me don't know a Fromegranate very well, but me es very gud at

drying things out

if it's flour you need for the Alchemy. But per'aps a jam wud do? Friut makes grate jams, dese are easily preserved an' cun be baked into just about anyting yuh like." He thought for a moment again. "Me 'ave done a lot af baking wid Fairy fuds recently also. An' dem 'ave some odd properties, as me shaw yuh rebemba." He chuckled.

He asked if he could see the fruit and would proceed to examine it for suitability, pealing back a little of the flesh to check what was inside.

Winston could NOT ignore Àìdá'tuli. Asside from not being in his nature to do such a thing to a person, she and the rest of the Tunawa around the tree were genuinely still all new a shiny things for him and his curiosity would have him distracted all to easily. "A question? Gosh, just ONE? No, nat one I could ask widout all de others starting a riot." He laughed. "But me will answer yuh question first, arf cars."

Winston began describing how flour was made, normally. Then went on to extrapolate how one might make flour out of something not really intended to do so, with drying and grinding. As he did, he smiled at Àìdá'tuli from time to time. "So me tink et's possible to use dees bits tuh make a flour ef we cud get enough af et." He concluded, holding up the parts of the fruit that could either be crushed or dried and then crushed. "Everyting else cun go into udda parts af de recipe, tuh make sure nuttin' es wasted."

Winston rummaged around in his toolbelt, which at the moment had hanging from it cooking implements and not smithing ones, and pulled out a scrap of paper from one of the pouches. "Dis es me biggun

energy bar recipe

. We cun adjust et all tuh yar needs."

It was now that he started unloading questions upon Kisaik, about what Alchemical regents were, when to use them and how and even picking out points in the baking process when things that Kisaik described could or should be introduced in the cooking or preparation process. He even slipped a few unrelated queries that cropped to mind as they worked. "So, do Tunawa 'ave seedlings? Nat babies? Cadouri neva know wat we gonna get ... Me mean, et's always a baby, but ets also always a surprise what we end up lookin' like. All sarts af animals. Me guess Saoire likes variety." He mused with a smile.

"So, cud we apply different Alchemical properties tuh separate ingredients, an' den bake dem into a single dish to include dem all? Or must we put de Alchemy intuh de backing arf da dish itself?" Winston would very much follow Kisaik's lead. While he might not be a backer, getting a cake wrong means bad cake... getting Alchemy wrong meant... well, Winston didn't know, but he imagined it might be worse than a soggy bottom on his bake.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik returned the hug with vigor, but keeping it short so as not to make Winston too uncomfortable. "You have a good two inches on me, sir! But I understand all too well, hugs are a problem when you're ten or twelve inches tall!" Kisaik grinned happily at him as they disengaged from the hug. Then Winston said something fascinating about alchemy. Kisaik felt compelled to reply, "Ahh, that's a quest that has driven many an alchemist. However, those who follow their greed do not generally have the patience for pursuit of true alchemy. Besides, why make lead appear as gold, when you can bottle luck, or make a single biscuit feed a grown man for a week? Perhaps there'd be money in it, but it's a rare alchemist that isn't so entranced by the possibilities of the whole of alchemy, that such wordly concerns fall by the wayside..."

That said, he patted Winston on the shoulder, and proceeded toward the equipment he'd set up. The fromegranate was rolled along toward the cauldron that he'd set up. With a ring of small jade stones surrounding it, that had been collected from the falling stones from the Sweetstone tree. On top of those, firewood to fuel the fire.

Àìdá'tuli continued to fawn over Winston, and fluttered her eyebrows at him as she said her hair was pink. "And your whiskers are so long and dashing. I could just eat you up! Teehee." She covered her mouth as a giggle came out of her. But then she put on a serious face, and looked to Kisaik, "This fromegranate is heavy..."

Kisaik shook his head at her, "It's okay, you can leave it here."

Àìdá'tuli lingered a bit, still staring at Winston and answering his question about her hair, "Ohhh! You like it! It's pink macadamia blossom fibers and lichen. Very fragrant!" She wafted her small twig-like hands at Winston, as she said it.

Kisaik shrugged at Àìdá'tuli and then took to looking at Winston as he explained his thoughts on the possibilities with the fromegranate flower. "Hmm so no flower... but how can we turn it into a powder for baking... Hmm..."

Àìdá'tuli at this point had exhausted her curiosity, and waved at Winston, blowing him a kiss. "Well, I must be getting back to my beauty sleep. Ashan is coming next cycle, and I must look my best for the Blossoming. See you around... Sugar."

Kisaik frowned as she said her parting words, but then lit up like a matchstick. "Wait, Àìdá'tuli, what did you call him just now?"

"Sugar?" She said, and then shrugged and turned around to leave.

"Thats it! You're a genius Àìdá'tuli!" But by then, Kisaik's compliments fell on deaf ears as she had decided she'd better things to do.

"You see!" Kisaik exclaimed at Winston, "We can make a sugary substance from the fromegranate, similar to how you'd make sugar from beets. It's really quite a simple scientific process, but you probably know it as a cook too."

"The process of boiling the fruit, crunching the matter down into a pulp in a cheese cloth, and then putting back into the cauldron, to soak in as much of its own juices as possible while boiling off the water... Until it reaches a thick consistency. Then we put it in a container to cool, break it out, and bust the solid grinding or crushing it into simple table sugar! That should work, and retain the satiation properties of the fromegranate!"

Kisaik was feeling very happy with his conclusion.

"Mister Arlo, Vega's husband , often used the grated skins of fruits to add flavor to his dishes too... we can do the same as well? Well, what do you think of using the sugar of the fruit?"

"That way, we can maintain satiety properties for the scones" Kisaik went on, feeling like he was on a roll and not wanting to slow down, "Then, we make alchemically enhanced sauces to boot! Sauces for warming up during cold seasons, medicated sauces for healing, sauces for keeping cool during hot weather! The possibilities are quite amazing."

But then, Winston had asked questions, and Kisaik was feeling rude to have spoken over them. "Yes, seedlings... You see, when a boy tunawa chooses his bride or a mate, as the case may be, the male plucks a flower that grows during ashan from his hair, and plants it in the hair of the female. From there, it will grow to a sprout, at which point when it has grown enough, it will be moved into the soil of the Ojogbon tree..." Kisaik swept a hand to encompass the massive Gemmite tree that stood just a while away from the staging area. "That's our Ojogbon tree, that we planted just this season... It was quite the story actually and Vega was there, all the tall folk joining our tribe in growing the tree... But we can tell tales later."

"As for different properties... YES. That's what the sauces will be for. Each with its own purpose, clearly labeled in jars and preserved as best we can with what materials we have to hand." Kisaik scratched his chin, "Oh, we could... Perhaps find some green sand to keep it well preserved and cool. I know Vega used similar materials for the Beacon in Hopetoun. To keep the foods cool in the kitchen at the top."

Kisaik took a deep breath, and then smiled as he let it out. "But... now.... Shall we get started? I suppose the first thing to do would be to chop up those fromegranates, and put them in to boil..."

[Winston]

As usual, his friend's words seemed very wise and Winston nodded sagely as Kisaik spoke of the motivation of an Alchemyst.

As Àìdá'tuli lingered, Winston smiled. "Tank yuh far gettin' dis far us. Et wus eva-so kind af yuh." He looked back at the enormous fruit, not allowing Àìdá'tuli to many opportunities to hold his attention. He was rather worried by her intentions, in a very sheepish fashion, and didn't want to spoil their efforts at hand.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Àìdá'tuli and Winston sitting in a tree.
Winston: Nat helpful.
Curiosity: K. I. S. S. I. N. G!
Winston: Still nat helpful.
Curiosity: Come on maaaan. What's the worst that can happen?
Winston: Splinters.
Curiosity: I small price for roooomance
Winston: Me need tuh focus an de alchemy, or me might get exploded!
Curiosity: Naaaaah. Chip's got that and you could cook a gormet meal with both hands tied behind your back ... Now THAT's an idea. I wonder if Àìdá'tuli has some handcuffs?

For some reason, Winston choked on his words. "Very ... Sorry. Very nice." He replied as she spoke of the flowers.

Winston waived at Àìdá'tuli as she left, trying not to vanish into himself as she blew the kiss. "A pleasha."

"OH! Yes! Fruit sugar es lovely." His relief to be talking about something he understood again was palpable as all distracting thoughts of Àìdá'tuli faded with her absence. He listened to Kisaik's proposal, nodding as he went on. Winston was still totally clueless as to how they were going to go about transferring the warming and cooling properties using Alchemy, but in Kisaik he trusted.

The story of their procreation was interesting and he marvelled at the symbiotic relationship they shared with the big tree. "Woh. Dat gat big fast!"

As they moved back to business, he clapped his hands together with determination in his eyes. "Yus indeed." Winston took to work. In this part, he was confident and so if Kisaik was happy to follow his lead, they would have the fruit prepared and cooking in no time.

He eyeballed the fruit. He was used to dealing with cooking ingredients that were hard to handle, given most things were the same size as him. That being said, this was a particularly large item. "Chest ...!" He began with gusto. "... me cookin' clothes please, an' dis es gonna take da lang fruit-saw, me flesh shovel and a juice tray." Chest wobbled from side to side slightly before opening to reveal the requested items for the two of them to take. Winston picked up the saw, speaking conversationally as he did so. "Me asked Chest to stop spittin' out de sharp items after one particularly unfortunate encounta wid a butchering axe." He shuddered for a moment, before continuing to unpack the equipment.

He put on the clothes, which included some booties and gloves to accompany his hat and apron. It had to be said, he looked a little comical, but would wink should he catch Kisaik looking. "No body like ferret fur in dere fud."

Between them, they cut the fruit, pushing and pulling on the great saw from either end. After cutting 'the safety cut' from the bottom of the fruit to stop it from rolling around the work really started. They scooped out all the usable fruit, boiled it, strained and reduced the result ready for cooling into sugar. It took a few candle marks to get it all done, but there was plenty of opportunity between stages for conversation and other prep work. Kisaik would find that Winston kept a very ship-shape kitchen, as, after each stage, cleaning occurred as a reflex between steps. As amiable and easily distracted as he was usually, with the cooking process came a focus and fluidity that was almost transformative as Winston went about his work.

The juice was collected as it ran out of the fruit from the cutting process into the tray in which it sat. This was poured into glasses and enjoyed between steps as a refreshing rejuvinator.

He let out a satisfied sigh. They had managed to get every drop of sugar out of the fruit without burning a single drop. "Dat's dat." He said, turning to Kisaik. "We cun just add dat inta any recipe den. So wat sauce yuh want tuh make?" He asked Chest for a recipe book. "Me cus start to mix up a base tuh add whateva yuh need tuh. Me don't know when de Alchemy begins, but the sauces are all 'ere." He said, patting the pages in his hand.

[Kisaik]

Now, we sing the magic words...

To say Kisaik was excited to be working on alchemy again, after having only dabbled here or there for the past few years, was an understatement. There was of course the instance with the bees in Haven, and the formulation of royal jelly, which had been an enlightening and eye-opening experience. But now, he was exploring a whole new avenue for alchemy. That of alchemificated foods! Doran would surely be proud of them, if he knew what they were trying here. He would have to visit sometime, to tell him of what Winston and he had accomplished. But first they had to succeed!

"Right! Now there are, as I see it, five essential reagents that are needed in order to make everything play properly together." Kisaik said, and then pointed toward his belt, which really took up a large area around his waist. There were no less than five cylindrical drawing implements, or what looked like chalk and crayons.

Kisaik held up the first, "Lẹmun! or seed. This is the first essence of tunawa alchemy. It is what the tall folk alchemist and the scientists call a primer."

He tucked that one away on his belt, and then held up another, this one waxy and spongy almost. "This one is ïbẹẹrẹ, or water. It is the accelerator, that engenders a swift activation of the effect, once the other reagents have been introduced."

Again he put it away, and with the other hand took out another one, this chalky and dry, and ochre in color. "Musdus! or sunlight is the triggering reagent. You see there's a pattern to tunawa alchemy? It's very related to the essential aspects of gardening, all that's needed for one is translated into alchemy itself. Musdus is vital importance, without it, nothing would work."

"Next, kägubọt, or soil. The material to which all other things are added, in our case it will be the flour we use. Whatever it might be. It is the sealant, which properly contains all other ingredients and their effects until they're set to release." He held up the kägubọt chalk, for Winston to take a good look at.

"Finally, dunï, or sap syrup or sugar. You know how sap and sugar sticks to things? It is the binding reagent. It allows us to wrap up several effects into one. More than one sugar is needed for more than two effects. Fortunately, we have our Fromegranate sugar, as well as my own sap, which I fully intend to introduce to the sauces."

This said, he slid a needle from his alchemy toolbelt, and pricked his wrist with it. "Ouch!" He winced, but then smiled at Winston, "That' always smarts, not to worry it will heal."

Soon, Kisaik was clearing the cutting board that Chest had coughed up, and began drawing and etching with his reagent chalk and crayons. He began writing and drawing special symbols around an empty space. "See, the empty spaces is where some of the ingredients will go, and the activated reagents. The stuff that will lend its effects to the sauces and scones."

Over time, he managed to draw what looked roughly like a tree, with the seed reagent circling the red hot chili pepper that Kisaik intended to use as a warming reagent. Once he placed it gingerly in the lẹmun position, he began adding other ingredients. To the musdus, he added sprigs from his own beard, to alleviate colds and allergies. If Winston asked or else gave him a curious look to wonder why he was adding his own hair, he'd explain swiftly, "You see, Tunawa hair and flowers are good for tamping down on histamine reactions. Good for reducing inflammation. Very refreshing, I'm told by tall folk."

Then he proceeded to add all the other ingredients for the sauce. A small jar, containing a droplet of Kisaik's sap as well as some maple syrup, was placed in the arcane symbol for 'dunï'.

For water, some fresh Lovalus oasis water was placed in a phial, which was stood up on the ïbẹẹrẹ rune. Then, the kägubọt chalk was used in order to connect all of the various ingredients.

"Now, we chant and sing and play our instruments, to inspire the alchemy to work. When we're done, we'll gather all of this, with a special brush, into a little pile in the center, where it'll be mixed together. That will be the essence of our sauce, from which we can make gallons and gallons of the stuff."

"Here..." Kisaik handed Winston a script from his alchemy belt. It contained the words in Xanthean, written into common script by none other than Ce'nija. "These are the magic words, at every high note I play with my flute, you will intone these words in order. This is very important part of tunawa alchemy, so do pay attention!"

So saying, Kisaik made ready to play his Song-Forged flute, and then began changing in treetalk, which with his poorly trained singing voice, sounded more like the braying of a crow. It wasn't very nice, but it had always worked.

[Winston]

A sing and a song...

As Kisaik started speaking of regents, Winston flicked to an empty page of his recipe book and without being asked, Chest spat out a pencil for him to write with. He listened intently. This really WAS just like cooking ... He scribbled down notes in the book.

He nodded, taking every word Kisaik spoke as gospel truth. He took the kägubọt chalk, rubbing it between his fingers tentatively. Unless Kisaik suggested he should not, he sniffed it and studied its residue on his fingers, trying to become familiar with it. "Es Tunawa Alchemy different frame biggun Alchemy den?" He asked, noticing the deliberate references as he continued to explore the substance before handing it back.

Winston failed miserably to hind his surprise when Kisaik announced that he would use his own sap. "Yuh own sap? Inna mix? Wid da fud? Es dat ... hygenic?" Winston was sure if it was well cooked, it would be fine, but he could not hide that the prospect that he would be cooking his friend had caught him off guard.

Winston was surprised, not reluctant, and so as his companion draw sap Winston simply asked. "Wud me use me blood den? Ar es it actually de sap dat es needed?"

Winston was right back to scribbling in his book as Kisaik draw and explained the shapes. Winston was about to ask about the addition of the other parts of his friend's own body when the explanation came. He nodded, making a note of that for later use should he ever need it outside Alchemy.

At first, Winston smiles as Kisaik spoke of singing, but as it became apparent that he was NOT joking, he shrugged ...

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Wait-What? He's serious?
Winston: Me don't tink him es joking, nuh.
Curiosity: Well, here's hoping the success of this does not depend upon your singing ability.
Winston: 'ay. Wat me lack in talent, me make up far en gusto!
Curiosity: Yeah, that's what parents usually say about their kids at recital ... while the other parent's ears start bleeding.
Winston: Pffffft ...

He took the words. "Chant. Right. Yup. Me cun do dat." Winston nodded furiously as Kisaik emphasised the importance of his role. He was taking no prisoners and Winston no chances. He cleared his throat. He took a moment to read and speak aloud the words a couple of times before Kisaik began.

Winston listened for the high notes, as instructed, watching for any other prompts from his friend as he played. He recognised the affect of the Song-Forged music and smiled as he prepared to sing his part ... "Lẹmun, kägubọt, ïbẹẹrẹ, Musdus, dunï" As his sang, his own Song-Forged ability kicked in. Unlike his fellow performer, Winston's 'instrument' was his voice and so he sang with the voices of a chorus of Ferrets.

Something Winston had noticed the longer he spent in Sweetsong, was how much easier working with others was here. His words came more easily as he sang and even his singing voice was not gawd awful for once. Together they played, sang and forged their alchemical ingredients into something more than their constituent parts.

If they were successful, which Winston would only take from Kisaik's lead, Winston would do a little fist-pump. "Nice, mun! Time to get SAAAAUUUUUCYYYYY!" and back to backing they would go.

[Kisaik]

What Saucery is This?!

"Tunawa alchemy is just my own personal name for the alchemical process. It's what I was taught in Magani when I was just a sprout." Kisaik explained to Winston before they got underway. "The process is different from what I've seen big people do, in that it's less reliant on flames to burn or steam or boil ingredients and reagents... Tunawa are highly flamable, you see. Well," Kisaik puffed out his chest proudly with a flourish of his special cloak given by the dragon Vindecaldra, "Most of us are."

"It differs in that it uses less in the way of science, more in the way of medicine and mysticism." Kisaik further explained, "And also these special runes are not always used by big people I've noticed, so I presume it's a unique form of alchemy that was taught to me." Kisaik shrugged, "At the end of the trial, what is different is not so important as what is the same, and that is the migration of properties and effects of reagents. That is the main thing in either big people alchemy and tunawa alchemy."

Kisaik smiled at Winston, when he mentioned pricking his sap, "Oh don't worry about that! It's perfectly safe for big folk as well as cadouri I'm sure. For the most part tunawa, like our plant bretheren, don't mind having parts of us consumed as long as the whole remains intact. But for your blood?" Kisaik scratched his chin, "Perhaps, if you were going to use blood magic on a potion, but that's a more advanced lesson, and only useful if you yourself wield magic to impart upon the alchemy." The tunawa mortalborn shook his head, "No, you need not add your blood. Sugar is the main thing, or sap, or syrup of some kind to act as an additional binding reagent."

This all said, he took a deep breath, and began the ritual with Winston.

They sang their little hearts out, and to Kisaik's surprise, his own voice in tree-talk sounded better than it ever had before! He sounded like a chorus of beautiful nightengales, while Winston sounded amazing too! It all went well and to plan, and before long, as Kisaik took a special brush and began sweeping the reagents into the center, it began to coalesce in a soft ball of matter at the center of it all, gathered into the empty circle at the end of the 'branches' of the drawing. The fruit of the product, basically.

Kisaik rolled the matter into a doughy ball. It was quite small, no bigger than either Kisaik or Winston's head. "It will get smaller as it dries out... It looks like our base for the sauce will be as bouillon, a solid piece to add to a larger whole. However, it's activation is contained in the mixing with the sugar from the fromegranate, I've made it so, to preserve the alchemical potency of the mix."

"So the fromegranate sugar acts as a catalyst, you see? So the magic of the alchemy doesn't fade in time, and stays well preserved."

"So..." Kisaik looked at the ball, which was hardening even as they spoke, "This little ball of matter will be added to the sauces. And then... We'll have nice warming sauce for our villagers during the winter, that can fight off colds, as well as your great fromegranate scones!"

Kisaik seemed rather enthused about the entire prospect, as he began slicing the doughy matter up into cubes. To further dry in doses. In the end, he had four doses of the stuff. "These will last for at least a couple seasons, I reckon, if we're using them sparingly. We can probably make more if needed."

That said, Kisaik smiled at Winston, "Shall we tell Vega and the rest of the villagers what we've done, then?!"

Kisaik gathered up the bouilon, and handed a couple to Winston, for him to look at. Then they'd make for the administrative tent, to record what they'd been up to. It'd been a productive day, on the whole.

[Winston]

Tunawa alchemy

Winston let out a great "Ahhhhhhhh ..." As Kisaik explained the difference between his alchemy and others. The images of potions and bubbling brews dispelled from his mind suddenly had somewhere to go. He liked understanding things and he now felt eminently privileged to have been taught something so unique!

Winston was beginning to get the idea behind it all now and as Kisaik explained the longevity of what they had produced he added, enthusiastically. "Yes, I get it! And if that was not good enough, we could transfer the presurvative properties of salt to extend its life without affecting its flavour." It was a rhetorical statement, something he was certain his tutor was already aware, but like any eagar student, he was excited to start forming conclusions of his own.

"Yes! We will need taste-testers!" He agreed enthusiastically "And we must share the recipe with the others of Sweetsong." He beamed with achievement. "For this could be a big help for many, this coming cold season." Winston was not big into secrets and despite his initial impression of alchemy and gold, the idea that they might hold on to the secrets of food alchemy to turn a profit had not even entered his head.

"Thank you SO much for showing me all of this." He said. "I'd offer you a cake ..." He glanced at the plate of cakes already pilled high to one side and shrugged. "... but you know, you might have plenty already."

And so it was that together they set of to share what they had done with the settlement.