Nightfall, Children of the Elements

Manda shrugged. "It's okay. I'm used to it."

Either she's not pissed or I'm gonna die within the next minute. Aculeus was able to hide his confusion at Sparrow's tone after a brief moment. He looked at Manda too, "Your mom did a good job with you. She would be proud I think."

Manda gave Aculeus a smile. "I like to hope so."

"I'm pretty sure she is," Suzume nodded, and then leaned forwards. resting her chin on her arms, on top of the table.

Aculeus smiled back at Manda. "Are you two hungry?" he questioned the girls. "I know you like apples Manda but what does Sparrow like?"

Manda waited for Suzume to answer by playing with her duck oragami. "Hee hee..."

"I can get my own food," Suzume responded to Aculeus.

"You will be getting it yourself," Aculeus said as a small apple tree began to grow my Manda, "I'll just be growing some of Her bounty for you to get." Aculeus grew a cherry tree to get food for himself. What is she thinking about?

"Thank you very much, Mr. Aculeus." Manda replied. "We should make something for you sometime..."

"I'm not hungry right now," came Suzumes next argument.

"You're welcome Manda, and it isn't necessary to cook for me. Thank you though." Aculeus turned to Sparrow, "Let's make a bet Sparrow."

"Not interested," Suzume said rather bluntly.

"It'll be fun, you must like fun," Aculeus was going to try something he never thought he would say to Sparrow. He took a deep breath as he started, "Pretty please with whip cream and cherries and sprinkles and strawberries on top with your favorite food on the side with you favorite beverage beside it?" He hoped it would work, or at least get a smile.

"No." Suzume said, poker faced. "The last time someone offered a bet to me, if he won, I would have had to have sex with him." She added on, still poker faced. "Men only have one thing on their mind really."

"I wasn't planning on banging you," Aculeus said, "I was actually going to say if I won you would tell me your favorite flower or fruit. If you won you would've gotten to choose what you would get. I play fair." Aculeus really wanted to know as much about Sparrow as he could.

"I dont have a favourite flower, or fruit." Suzume said still blank faced.

"Lies,"Aculeus told her, "Lies and illogical fallacies." Aculeus thought for a moment. "At least tell me what you want to wager?" he asked Sparrow.

"I don't bet," Suzume said.

"Fine then, what's your idea of fun?" Aculeus was hoping he would get a good response out of her this time.

Suzume glanced over at Manda and the oragami duck. "I don't have any sense of fun."

Aculeus caught the glance at the paper duck and he came up with an idea. Reeds began to grow around his feet. "Can you make me a knife please? I'll need it for about 5 minutes." He hoped he could still remember how to make the pipes right.

"Whatever," Suzume said as a hunting knife seemed to form in front of Aculeus. Suzume then leaned back down.

Aculeus took the knife and cut a few of the reeds down and began to make a reed pipe using the knife to make the reeds the right size and making sure the pipes would sound the way they were supposed to. The process would take a bit of time.

Suzume yawned, and reached into her pocket to feel a pendant necklace. I still have it...good...

After 15 minutes of cutting and tying things together Aculeus finally had a finished reed pipe. He gave it a few puffs and it didn't sound too bad. "Any requests my ladies?" he asked the two girls sitting with him.