Keeping Secrets | Tales from the Fifthstone Keep

Keeping Secrets

 "Mushroom circles? Why in the planes would you be asking about my connection to mushroom circles, Mimicry?"

The cook stopped stirring and looked down at the tiny, purple tiefling who had wandered into his kitchen. As she began to pull up a stool, he paused, staring into the pot. "Is it because I'm making mushroom stew?"

"Well, yes," Even with the extra height from her seat, Mimicry had to stand on the tip of her hooves to gaze into the swirling void of delicious soup. "But also, no. I saw you doin' something to one, earlier this morning!"

"Spying, were you?"

"No! I mean-- no. I was just walking by, Chef Vernal. As I always do."

Mimicry did not pass that deception check. The cook saw right through her mischievous smile and telling gaze. Vernal let out a breathy bit of laughter, continuing to stir the stew as Mimicry's tail swayed back and forth; like a cat, with the curiosity to match. He drew a ladle from a stash of various utensils, and as if on cue, the young tiefling pulled out a bowl from the cupboard above.

"Thank you," Vernal took the bowl. "Your helpfulness is cute, but not convincing."

"Oh, come on! Please?" Mimicry rushed off the stool, circling the cook as he began to work around the kitchen. "I saw you, so you have to tell me what you were up to!"

"But I don't."

"But you could."

Vernal turned, meeting Mimicry's beady-eyed, begging, and slightly annoyed gaze. A few seconds passed before the elf squatted down, causing an excited smile to launch across her lips. Vernal placed a finger over his mouth before she could let out a squeal.

"Very well. You must promise not to tell anyone," His uneasy gaze showed that he needed complete trust. "This is a serious secret, but one I'm sure you will take to heart."

"Yes, I promise! Okay, okay, what is it?"

"You're too hasty," Vernal teased, taking off a glove and tussling Mimicry's hair. "Though I appreciate the enthusiasm. I need you to... what do you call 'em? Pinkie-promises?"

"Yeah!" Still smiling, her expression grew slightly more sincere. Pinkie-promises meant business. "Yeah, yeah! Here, just wrap yours around mine."

Placing her pinkie out, Mimicry offered it to Vernal. He put his out as well, pulling her purplish finger into a teensy hug. For good measure, the two shook them up and down, as if it were a handshake... but, with pinkies. This sealed the deal even tighter. As Vernal withdrew, his kind expression was replaced with bits of coyness.

"I really am trusting you, Mimicry. This secret will help you learn things, though; I want to teach you, and I want you to use whatever skills you obtain for good. Can you do that?" He spoke slowly, as if he were talking to a child-- which, he quite literally was.

"Well, what else would I use 'skills' for?" Mimicry asked, much too innocently.

"Spying?"

"That's not a skill. Tell me the secret, Vernal!"

It was the cook's turn to play mischievously, rendering a dirty-but-still-curious look from the tiefling. With a final sigh, he motioned for her to calm down. Vernal hesitated for moments more as he collected his thoughts, causing more impatience to swell between the two.

"Alright," There was no use in beating around the bush. "I'm an eladrin elf."

Silence echoed throughout the kitchen. Mimicry stared expectantly.

"And?"

"That's it."

"But we've always known you're an elf."

"No, Mimicry, that's not--" Vernal placed a hand on his forehead, drawing it down to the brim of his nose. "I'm an eladrin elf. I hail, originally, from the Faewild."

Mimicry let out an understanding "Ooh," which quickly shifted into excitement and sudden realization. "OOH-- you're fae! Vernal, you're fae!" She danced from one hoof to the other. "That's incredible! And you said... are you going to teach me things?"

"Only some magic, if you're up for it." Though he continued to motion for Mimicry to keep quiet, he seemed just as happy and playful. After setting his utensils to the side and placing a lid over the simmering pot, Vernal began to lead Mimicry out of the kitchen. "You're lucky I'm associating with spring. Any other season, and I'd barely tolerate a rascal the likes of you."

With a skip to her step, Mimicry was quick to follow.