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rix_scaeduIn this episode, the household begins to return to their normal. Well, not by much but is a beginning.
This part runs to 2,243 words and I hope that you enjoy it.
Thuwnday, 14 Deichen, 1893 C.E.
Khemaas, 4 Kaalen, 2157 T.M.L.
12 Ueuekayomatilistli, 19 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.4.0
Dear Journal,
I am not sure whether the mist expanded in the night or whether it was rising when I woke up, but when I looked out my window, everything was white. Nais assured me that this was an uncommon but familiar weather pattern here in Tlemutsiko, and we can expect the mist to be completely gone by midmorning with the rest of the day being clear and pleasantly warm. She gathered up my laundry and took it downstairs to the laundresses - with washing, drying, starching and ironing, two days should be enough time to get everything back to us in time to pack it in my luggage, and the laundresses have advised that they can organise things better if we send things down every day. Of course, the other visiting cousins and Axolin's departure affect their work too.
I am not sure if I was a little later coming downstairs this morning or the Jaguar Knights were earlier leaving the house this morning, but Matlal was closing the front door behind them as I descended the last flight of steps. I find I missed our short morning interaction - I hope that doesn't mean I am going to turn maudlin over my departure.
The rest of my male cousins were still at breakfast. As there were at least four different conversations going on, I sat in an empty seat near but not next to Cousin Mizti who was working on some sort of puzzle with a pencil and a copybook - it looked to me like he was using his elbow room. He grunted in the affirmative when I said good morning, and just after I had begun eating (a delicious fried grated potato thing with a tomato, chilli, and herb accompaniment) he asked me what I knew about the Imperial Finance Minister. Once we established that he meant either the Master of the Exchequer or the Treasury Chancellor, we wound up discussing the precious metals issue in the eastern Empire. (I made it very clear that everything I knew came from reading the newspapers.) He thanked me, commented that that all made sense, and went back to his puzzle, his pencil moving faster than previously.
After I had tidied myself, I had planned to approach Cousin Poktlilui to arrange a visit to a luggage shop but Cousins Teicuih and Ghraimh came to my room while I was there, declared that I was being taken garage shopping, and that I needed to change into clothes to leave the house. Nais was summoned, I changed into my mid-green visiting gown, and we set out.
The shop my cousins took me to was a traditional local one, and the luggage they sold in the size I need is something between my ideas of a chest and a trunk. I fell in love with a dark wood piece covered with reliefs that included very familiar fanged and spotted toad beasts and a stylized face on three sides, below the handles and the lock, and two on the back under the hinges. When we asked about the price the shop attendant suggested that the carvings were probably not to a lady's taste (the adjective "Imperial" did not pass his lips) and that a less personalised piece might suit me better. I noted that the piece was an unclaimed commission, that my family's deitical patron is The Night Sorcerer so I am quite fond of the fanged toad beasts, and I would happily accept the additional patronage of the personage depicted on the chest for my journey. My cousins did express some concerns, but the shop attendant was happy to take my money. I suspect it had been sitting awaiting sale for some time. Cousin Teicuih said she thought the original commissioner had died.
I know I got it for a good price, but it wasn't until we got it home (none of my relatives or the servants actually recoiled but there were some raised eyebrows) that I realised that the handles, lock, and hinges are made of tears of the moon. It seems I have acquired an impressive piece of luggage which will seem like a ridiculously expensive indulgence when I return to the Empire - not something I intended. Cousin Ghrus passed us on the stairs while we were taking it upstairs and commented that he rather thought he knew who the original commissioner was and that "the rascally old sorcerer" would have been amused to see his commission in my hands.
Nais and I spent some time deciding how to divide up the packing between my items of luggage, and we decided that clothing is going in my new chest/trunk, and books, embroidery, etc will go in my chest. The Nais pointed out that we will have my hat boxes as well, and I was flabbergasted because I had completely glossed over that in my mind while thinking about packing. We decided that I won't need my bonnet until we reach Scryhrial, so it can travel in the top of my chest until then.
Lunch was more elaborate than usual, still with informal seating, but with more dishes, a special set of crockery and cutlery (or at least not the everyday set used for lunches.) The dishes were also ones that I recall Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl saying that he particularly enjoyed or which he had regularly taken extra helpings of. [Not to say that he is at all greedy, but I suspect that being a Jaguar Knight takes a lot of provender - Miztli also takes second helpings often, and neither of them have anything resembling a paunch.] Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl sat between Cousin Poktlilui and Great-aunt, and made a very nice little speech thanking the household for their hospitality and support during his stay here. It was the sort of speech that one wishes was copied down and distributed as an example of how to do the thing properly.
After lunch and before he left, Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl went around and had a few individual farewell words with many of the household. I was one of those, and he wished me well for my future. He also spoke briefly with Yeitlaulli and I believe that she may have been disappointed at the interaction (she most definitely has feelings towards him, or believes she does [understandable, he is an admirable gentleman] but I have no idea whether he has any tender feelings towards her - or if he is in a position to act on them if he does) so I suspect he did not say that he would stay in contact with her family.
Miztli escorted Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl to the airship port to see him off, saying that he would be working after that but did expect to be home for dinner. I spent the afternoon in the parlor with my embroidery, receiving visitors with my cousins. Our callers included various committee ladies, Crimson Blossom of the Ninth, and some distant Yahari cousins who had apparently only just discovered that our mutual relatives are visiting the city. Cousin Nochehualt was noticeably short with them, while his mother and their dowager could have slain each other with the icy daggers their eyes were shooting at each other. I spent the length of their visit concentrating on my embroidery. The ladies, including Crimson Blossom of the Ninth, who I had previously met were happy to discuss my plans to return home and to suggest locations I should visit. If I understand correctly, the Yahari cousins were so keen for my Yahari relations to return to their home that they were seeking their commitment to a departure date, and from his tone Cousin Nochehualt was adding an extra day to their visit for every query after the first two, Given that the Yahari cousins stayed for the bare twenty minutes of a visit between acquaintances, they raised that question a lot.
Given that she has a legitimate distaste (if that word is strong enough for her feelings on the subject) for the Empire, I do not think Crimson Blossom of the Ninth and I could ever be close friends, but she is someone I wish I could retain in my circle of acquaintances. I wish I had asked her this afternoon if I might write to her when I return home - I must ask Cousin Poktlilui tomorrow whether I am likely to see her again before I leave so I can rectify this.
At dinner I sat between Miztli and Chiccetlalli. Miztli conveyed Lord Elnaith conveyed Lord Elnaith's apologies for not calling on me today - it seems he spent the day with the Jaguar Knights in discussions and providing other assistance. I asked if Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl's departure had gone well, and Miztli confirmed that it had. From something Miztli said quite casually, I realised that either some airship transport in the Confederation is quite different to that in the Empire, or the Tekatl is returning home on the equivalent of a fast courier. I thought it best not to enquire too closely - if it is an official fast courier, he might have obtained a berth by serendipity but if it was making the trip for him, then that suggests that he and his task here are more important than I realised, and that is probably none of my business.
Chiccetlalli's conversation was about business and trade and much what I would expect from someone at home with a productive estate to nurture and develop. He has also, I gathered, developed an interest in a lady who is a connection of Cousin Poktlilui's, the daughter of a Hutitlahuatli cousin. I hope that the lady is similarly interested.
When we ladies withdrew to the parlor for our kasoolht after dinner, Cousin Poktlilui asked me what food and dishes I have particularly enjoyed during my stay here. With today's farewell lunch for Tekatl Umetlalliyaotl in mind, it was easy for me to divine that she was asking as part of planning a farewell meal for me. I said as much, and said that I appreciated the thought but did not want anyone to feel that I was imposing a second lavish meal within a week on the household's resources. Cousin Poktlilui put me in my place by pointing out that a farewell meal was a basic expectation of long-term hospitality in her culture, particularly as I had disrupted my life by coming here at their request. I pointed out that, if anything, I was in their debt because answering their request had not only given me a long break and truly glorious holiday from the duties required of me in my mother's household but I had made the close acquaintance of my closest relatives beyond my immediate family, who also happened to be the best connected of my relations, and my journey here had led to my engagement to be married to an estimable gentleman who I would never have met otherwise. I repeated that, if anything, I was in the Forbaigns' debt - Nantli Yahari gave a snort of laughter and Cousin Ghraimh commented that one does like to leave things better than one found them. Cousin Poktlilui and I then discussed the dinner for the night before I leave, and struck a balance between her hospitable instincts and my desire not to impose unreasonably on my hosts. By the time the gentlemen joined us, I was explaining to my cousins who hadn't already heard from me on the subject just how many more varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, and chillies they have in the markets here. That reminded me to ask Cousin Poktlilui about the recipes I was hoping to get from Cook - or at least instructions on how to put together a reasonable facsimile if she doesn't want to share her own recipes. Cousin Poktlilui assured me that she would remind Cook of my request.
I spent the rest of the evening playing maistoto with a selection of cousins that I had not previously played cards with. Later, after our game was done, Chicyouali and Necuameyl complained that Axolin and Miztli had set them up. Personally, I thought that would only apply if we had been playing for money. Cousin Mizti merely remarked blandly that he hoped my future acquaintance would value me at least as much as he was beginning to.
I am not sure what he was getting at, but I think it was said with an implication of admiration.
Before I went up to bed, I was drawn into the end of a conversation with Great-aunt and some of my younger cousins about the role of embroidery in a lady's life in the Empire. They all understood that if you wanted a decorated fabric item, then you would probably need to do it yourself, but the idea of it being personal artistic expression (particularly when you are unable to develop skill in another medium) is one they have difficulty with. I do not know if this is their personal mindset or a Confederation mindset.
There was a clear sky tonight, and no mist. I thought I could hear waves breaking on the sea wall, but just when I thought I'd caught the sound for certain, it disappeared. If the weather here is good, then could heavy seas here be a sign of bad weather elsewhere?
Anadrasata Nearabhigan
no subject
Date: 2025-10-02 08:14 pm (UTC)ETA: Caught up! Oh no, I shall have to wait for the next installment instead of binge-reading.
<attempts to wait patiently>
no subject
Date: 2025-10-07 09:08 pm (UTC)"Miztli conveyed Lord Elnaith conveyed Lord Elnaith's apologies" -> remove duplicate text.