Truly Humbled

	Ken It’s very early in the afternoon for dinner. But that’s out of necessity - after all, the Bogovi council meets at sunset. Ken walks slightly ahead of, and in circles around, Derrick and Sanura, leading them along what he describes as a “shortcut” to Mokosh’s house. But which seems to actually involve walking in multiple circles around the same rock formation. “…after all, you can’t be bringing sharks on a train, it just won’t do! So we had to take the bus after all. And let me tell you, scrounging up last-minute bus tickets to New Delhi, well, that is not something I want to try again.” As they round the boulder a ninth time, the landscape is totally different from the first eight iterations. For starters, it includes Mokosh’s cozy little cottage.
	Sanura Sanura follows the ‘short cut’ and sighs when the cottage finally comes into view. She smirks a little “that is why you always plan ahead” said despite his story involving last minute adventure stuff.
	ST “What was wrong with taking one of the thousand bicycles?” Derrick asks, his mild humor coming through.
	Ken Ken snorts in good humor. “You try bicycling while holding a shark. I will watch. And laugh.”
	Sanura Sanura snirks softly to that and mutters softly “fins don’t reach the pedals?” folding her arms behind her back and walking with the two gents towards the cottage.
	ST “That’s why you use the basket,” Derrick suggests. The door is open… as is its usual state. Indeed, one may wonder why Mokosh bothers with a door to her cottage at all. The path is rimmed with flowers that seem even more lush and colorful than when they were last seen, myriad mild fragrances mingling in the early afternoon air. All the same Derrick stops at the threshold of the door. He looks around the premises briefly, then glances between Ken and Sanura, and tentatively curls his fist around to rap on the door. That done, he clasps his hands behind his back and settles in to wait for a response.
	Sanura Sanura chuckles a little bit and takes in the scene around them a moment. Her lashes lowering as she takes a deep breath and takes in all the scents of the forest, opening her senses to the myriad of sounds, from the forest and the cottage as well. “Lovely place” she murmurs quietly, half to herself. Watching Derricks careful giving of notice of their arrival she leans to the side to see if their hostess is coming or perhaps she’ll just give a call from the kitchen.
	Ken Ken blithely goes right on in. He walks straight over the tomato patch (not bruising any of the plants in the slightest) and sticks his head in the door. “Privyet, Mokosh!” He calls out, then switches back to English for Derrick’s sake as he continues on into the sitting room. “Ah, what could make a fine day finer than to visit such a lovely flower of womanhood, a generous host, and the mother of one of my dearest friends!” Ken sweeps his hat off in a bow to mokosh, then rises and sticks out a bag. “I brought you a little something.” He grins at her.
	ST Derrick hesitates as Ken walks in, listening to the very familiar, very comfortable greeting. The varied savory fragrances, while evident on the air before, seem almost to gain a life of their own once within the cottage. Also within, bright, gentle moonlight dances with the firelight of the massive (but far from monolithic) ever-burning hearth which always emits a very pleasant, just-barely-above-comfortable warmth, reminiscent of Sasha’s stabilizing hand. Ken encounters Mokosh part of the way out in the hall, still aproned and sleeves still rolled up, her brow furrowed in slight incredulity. It eases when she sees Ken. “Ah, Yosha!” She accepts the gift and then makes a gesture of kissing either side of his cheek in greeting. “Good to know you are still at least partially full of shit, da? You have not been tamed yet. I was wary for a moment there, when I heard the knock. I thought ‘Manners? No, it could not be.’” Her tone and cadence are good-natured, friendly. Chors steps into view from the hall, ending up just to the side of and behind Mokosh. “Tolti!” she greets warmly. She’s smiling—an unusual sight, even when she’s happy. It’s clearly held back some.
	Sanura Sanura shrugs to Derricks expression and trails in after Ken. she adjusts the leather bag on her shoulder, that should look totally out of place with the chic dress. She gives a soft laugh to Mokosh’s teasing of the older fellow and dips in a curtsy to Mokosh and the Chors. Greeting both with quiet address. She smiles warmly to Chors, always seeing brave Lena in the beautiful face. “It’s a joy to be in such radiant company once again” she folds her hands in front of her then and allows Ken to introduce Derrick, if he’s not met either of them yet, she’s unsure
	Ken “Partially full of shit? Manners? Ah, Mosya, you do me wrong!” Ken puts a hand over his heart and bows his head sorrowfully. Then he leans sideways a bit and smiles at Chors. “And good day to you too, darling, you light up the day as much as you do the night.” Ken stuffs his coat onto the coathooks and then ushers Derrick forward a bit. “This is Derrick. Derrick, this is Lady Mokosh, who makes flowers bloom from the moist earth, and Lady Chors, who carries the moon through the velvet sky.”
	ST Derrick follows after Sanura, turning his head this way and that as he examines the bright coloring and elaborate designs painted all over the walls, seeming to jump out from all over. Only his left eye can regard all this, so his neck gets a good stretch. But then, he moves into the hall and sets eyes upon the two goddesses. He flinches a little, as if in pain, and bows his head—but resists the impulse to fall utterly prostrate. From there, after he’s introduced, he doesn’t look up but instead bows deep. “I am honored and truly humbled that you would extend the hand of hospitality, Lady Mokosh, and that you would agree to meet me, Lady Chors.” He remains bowed, waiting on their word. The two goddesses look upon him. Mokosh’s critical gaze runs over him, his eye, his crisp, neat clothing and his deep bow. Chors’s smile fades in favor of the gravity introduced by his greeting and she straightens to her full height. “Good. Now get up, get up. We would not want you to get stuck that way,” Mokosh urges. But she’s not unfriendly about it. He does as bid, his gaze coming up to them far slower than he straightens. But by the time it rests, it seems as if it’ll remain.
	Sanura Sanura notices the flinch, and as he straightens she’d pat his arm lightly and give him an encouraging smile, seeming to say "You’ve got this’. She then looks to Chors and her lips turn into a warmer smile again and she glides across the room and extends her hands. “I’m glad to see you again, how have you been?” she questions. Attempting to ease the moon goddess back into a more comfortable place.
	Ken Ken holds back a bit to give Derrick some space to introduce himself, and to get used to whatever-it-is he sees when he sees the Bogovi women. Then as business returns to usual he says, “Are you going to let me help set the table this time, Mokosh? I practiced. This time I am very sure I know where all the spoons go.”
	Sanura Sanura hmms softly and says over her shoulder. “They don’t all go next to your plate so you get all the best treats” she teases playfully.
	Ken “Ja, ja, I know. You cannot resist my beautiful music!” Ken teases her back with a grin. “You just hear that clackety-clack of spoons, and can’t help but shower me in treats, eh?” If Mokosh doesn’t indicate otherwise, Ken starts to set the table…. which he does decently well, joking aside. It’s not perfectly neat, but everything is roughly in the right spots.
	ST “So, Derrick—I trust you have been properly introduced to the rules of my house,” Mokosh states. “I…” He glances briefly between Sanura and Ken. “… am afraid I missed that seminar.” She clicks her tongue. After the pause is just edging into uncomfortable, she says, “Well. You seem like a smart man. I am sure you will pick it up. I have not exiled anyone from my cottage yet.” “It is a pleasure to see you too.” Chors bows her head briefly to Sanura. “I am doing well, thank you.” She warms a little. “I had a lovely picnic just yesterday with Pinya and Yes—Lena. The dawn sky positively yawned with the rising of Sasha’s chariot.” The goddess warms further, her glow brightening. Derrick looks to Chors, a little stricken, then turns his gaze downward briefly to consider. When he turns it up again, he faces her. “Lady Chors, forgive me if I seem effusive, but I am compelled to take this opportunity to tell you that I have had the pleasure of watching your daughter grow from a girl of seven to the young woman she is now—I have never seen such a remarkable child before or since.” Chors regards him again, and her glow blushes ever so slightly pink even as her cheeks do. “Please, sir—the credit belongs not with me.” She’s quiet, almost shy. “I daresay it belongs in your hands, which have surely held and guided her.” Derrick glances at his hands. “Ah, please forgive my mistake.” He pauses. “The credit doesn’t belong with me, either.” He considers for a moment. “My dear friend Alvaro was a large part of her upbringing. If you should desire, I could introduce you to him once… should he return.” Derrick keeps his tone neutral. “I can also introduce you to another dear friend of mine, Johanna, who is currently present—she assisted as well.” Chors hesitates for a moment. “I… would like that. Sometime.” She’s quieter than before, and the silence fills the cottage but for the crackling of the fire. “I hope you are all ready to eat!” Mokosh claps her hands once and then upon Ken’s offer, gives him a dubious look. “I will give you one last chance, you wily squirrel. But if I sit on another spoon I will make you eat by yourself in the corner.”
	Sanura Sanura smiles happily at the news of the picnic and the goddess’ clear enjoyment of it. She’d forgotten the connection between Derrick and his crew and Lena. She’d been so intent that the girl not buy into their false ideas that she now feels a churn of guilt as she wraps her arms around her stomach a little and then returns her features to their normally pleasant composure. “I’m more than ready Lady, may I help with anything? Odds and ends to bring out from the kitchen?” she offers before she’d take the two bottles of wine from her bag. She looks to Mokosh and holds the home brew out for her approval. “I hope these will pair well.” she pauses and .. then continues. “ah as a note please forgive me if I speak out of turn this evening.. Ken has tasked me with being more direct.. so I suppose the flowery speech is going to be up to him now.” she smiles a little bit at ‘threat’ of Ken.
	Ken “Ah, Mosya! You are too kind. Do not worry, I will not sit on any spoons this time.” When he sees Sanura’s discomfort, Ken grips her shoulder reassuringly. “I am not much for flowery anything. But that is alright. I am very good with pinecones. We can have pineconey speech instead. Everybody likes a good pinecone.”
	ST “Oh yes. That is why the people cry out the name of the gods when they step on them,” Mokosh says, deadpan, as she ushers them around the dinner table. “And I said if I sit on another spoon. You can sit on all the spoons you please.” Upon drawing closer to her own seat, Chors pauses, pulls it back, smiles very slightly and mildly, and says, “Tolti, my delight, would you please allow me to offer you this seat?” Mokosh disappears in the kitchen to bring out the food. Derrick, meanwhile, stands behind his own seat, waiting for the hostess to seat herself before taking his own. A teapot sits in the middle, beside a large vase of flowers. From its spout drifts gentle, smoky-smelling steam. Delicate-looking, gold-rimmed porcelain teacups have already been arranged on their elegant saucers.
	Sanura Sanura chuckles softly at that and then as her offer wasn’t denied she’d trail after Mokosh in order to help with the serving of the food. Finding a cool place to set the wine she’d brought along. She’d speak to Ken from the kitchen “pinecones.. make good centerpiece accents and grow good trees I don’t know if we need them in speech” she smiles a little bit as she awaits some order or to be handed a platter or bowl.
	Ken The corner of Ken’s mouth twitches in the slightest bit of a smile as Chors catches him out. But he plays it off smoothly. “Ah, my dear Chors, I could not do such a thing! Not and put you farther from our new guest…” he indicates Derrick. “…when the two of you have hardly even met.” Ken folds the last napkin and sets it in place.
	ST Chors tilts her head again. “Your bogatyr’s heart speaks once more. Always considering others before yourself.” Sanura would find herself beset by cast-iron pots hanging low from the ceiling—as only Mokosh goes untouched in her kitchen, as not even her somewhat untameable curly hair brushes a lone pan. Even so, Mokosh turns to Sanura and hands her a couple of large bowls filled with steaming food, before turning and retrieving some more parts to the meal. Soon enough (sooner still with Sanura helping) everyone is served, Chors has gently urged everyone to take a small bit of food from their plates and a small splash of wine from their glasses and place it in a bowl lying empty and seemingly abandoned in a corner, Mokosh’s apron is doffed, and she faces everyone around the table. “Please, be seated!” she urges. With that, Chors slides smoothly into her seat, and Mokosh pulls out her own seat, turns to face Ken, a mild expression on her face, and slowly lowers, keeping her eyes pinned unblinking on him. Then, after a pause for some kind of effect, she scoots the chair in, lifts her glass, and begins to direct the first three toasts nonchalantly. Derrick, as he sits, rises a little, suddenly, and glances at his seat. Then he looks around and reaches behind him before sitting again and spares Ken a bit of a puzzled and incredulous look.
	Ken Ken, already familiar with how to treat the house spirits, needs no urging to put an offering out for them. He takes his seat and his glass, when offered, for the toasts. But at Derrick’s look he says, innocently, “Is everything alright, Derrick?”
	Sanura Sanura smiles as she helps at least in this small way with the meals preparation. She carefully doles out the portions into the bowl and then moves to seat herself as instructed. She isn’t nearly as composed as Derrick and gives a soft yelp as she rises from sitting before she’d even settled. "Ken… " she huffs softly and blushes. Surely being direct didn’t mean to embarrass ones self in front of exhaulted company. She murmurs a soft beg pardon as she retrieves the spoon and sets it neatly on the table before once more seating herself. Had they been alone she’d have given Ken what for but instead she takes a breath and exhales before turning a schooled expression to their hostess. Her hands folding in her lap once the toasts are seen to.
	ST In response to Ken, Derrick merely places the spoon on the table. Then he lets it go unremarked. After Sanura and Derrick place their spoons on the table, Chors places her own spoon on the table, her smile breaking through a tad bit. Mokosh does not address any of this, instead remaining nonchalant about the toast. The toasts are regarded much more solemnly, and smoothly. To Lord Father Svarozhich, to the weavings of Fate that brought them all here around this table today, to the company. And then when that is done and everyone is urged to eat by an ever-emphatic Mokosh. Derrick takes up his utensils before waiting for the hostess to take the first bite, as is polite… and she nearly does. But at the last second she pulls the food away and says, “No no no no.” This seems rather firm—something must be amiss. She points the flat of her knife to Derrick’s hands. “The fork and knife each go in the other hands.” She doesn’t elaborate on why, nor correct anyone else who’s using the fork and knife the same way as Derrick at present. “Thank you for the correction, Lady Mokosh.” He switches them, then glances around the table. Seemingly mollified, Mokosh then proceeds to eat.
	Sanura Sanura gives Ken one last glare before responding to the toasts with the proper solemnity. Sanura admires the food set out before them and to herself has a moment of gratitude that they are so blessed. Her attention following Mokosh’s words and gestures she quirks a dark brow and watches as Derrick politely goes along with Mokosh’s orders. She nips the inside of her lip lightly but is sure he can manage on his own, surely it was no great hardship to eat thusly. Sanura would quietly partake of the food, giving honest compliment to the spread. She glances to Chors and then to Derrick.. they were both so polite.. and he was dark where she was light.. a really cute couple. The wheels turning. Who was to say the new myths couldn’t allow Chors to find a new love.
	Ken Ken pays absolutely no attention to the spoons. Spoons? Nope, nothing to do with him. Although he does flash Sanura a very quick foxish smile when she calls him out on her silverware seat. “Ah, Mokosh, how do you make things like this?” Ken jabs his fork towards the plate after taking the first bite of draniki. “No, no, do not tell me… I would never be able to do it so well anyways.”
	Sanura Sanura snorts a little “you’d eat your dishes before they left the stove I bet” a faint smile turning her lips. Her tone soft and quiet.
	ST “That is when they are freshest, Zvedzmila,” Mokosh points out. She then points her fork to Ken. “It is good that you took it back. I have many secret family recipes.” She pauses, recalls her fork, snorts, and says, “No, this is a lie. I made these recipes myself. My Lord Father Rod can harvest nuts and herbs and berries like no other but cannot cook to save his life, and my dear sister only cares to bake. And none of my children care to have them. So I suppose no family, no secret.” Derrick meanwhile struggles very slightly to eat with the utensils reversed, proving a tad clumsy about it, but he goes at it somewhat patiently. The food is well worth it, anyway. After Mokosh finishes speaking, he pauses, thinking, and then asks, “So you would share them, then?” Mokosh looks to him sharply. “No no no!” She places her fork down and holds up a finger. “You are a new guest, little more than a stranger. You must begin every statement or question with ‘zvesnya’.” It’s very clearly a nonsense word to fluent Russian speakers. “Mosya!” Chors exclaims gently, sending her a beseeching look. But it’s not the only expression edging in, although the other is not clear. Mokosh holds up her hand, then looks directly at Chors. “Trust me—this must be done, syestrichka. It is a rule of my house.” Chors hesitates, then silently concedes, eased somewhat but still a little trepidatious. After looking at Chors, then examining Mokosh for an extra moment through his left eye, taking a moment of assessment, he replies slowly, “Zvesnya, forgive me, Lady Mokosh.” He then stares at her for another moment before saying, “Zvesnya, would you share these recipes with someone, then?” “Chmorskya, I would.” Another nonsense Russian word, spoken so smoothly and with such confidence that maybe it belongs there after all. “Do you cook much, Derrick?” “Zvesnya, not I. But I know someone to whom it would be a most valuable gift.” “Chmorskya, and who would this be?” “Zvesnya, I don’t know if you’ve heard of Maureen Hickey.” Mokosh lifts her chin some. “I have.” Derrick hesitates at the diversion from the rules, furrowing his brow. Then he attempts to follow suit. “She’s—” Mokosh interrupts him with a pointed lift of her brows. “Zvesnya, she’s a wonderful chef. I’m certain she’ll be able to do a similar credit to your recipes as you do.” Chors, meanwhile, is concentrating on her plate, seemingly calm and composed.
	Ken Ken manages to keep a straight face for most of the interaction, quietly munching on roast beets. But when Mokosh gives that pointed lift of her brows to Derrick, he cracks. It’s just too much. Ken starts laughing his head off.
	Sanura Sanura pauses at the first strange word and then quickly stuffs her bite of food in her mouth to not daring to speak as they have an entire polite conversation … interspersed with nonsense words. Sanura glances over to Derrick and tries to catch his eye long enough to impart an encouraging smile. Returning her attention to her plate a moment before she glances to Chors and clears her throat, her words soft so as not to interrupt the other conversation at the table. Kens laughter makes her bite down on her lower lip a moment before taking a calming breath. “ahm.. Lady Chors.. I’d be really happy if I might join you again some dawn, I enjoyed or last meeting in the forest. Would it be …” she considers her words. “Would you enjoy if I joined you again?” she poses more directly than she might have. Holding her breath a moment as she braces for rejection.
	Ken When Sanura continues on like nothing’s amiss, Ken just laughs harder, until he’s doubled over with his head on the table, smacking a fist uselessly against the tablecloth in helpless hilarity.
	ST “Certainly,” Chors says, looking to Sanura. “Do you mind if Pinya comes along too?” This question is asked smoothly, despite Ken’s humor overcoming him. Her poker face, when she sets her mind to it, is impeccable. But Mokosh on the other hand casually brings her knuckles up to conceal her lips. But her eyes crinkle with uncovered humor, revealing the ruse further. Derrick takes a breath, calmly sets his utensils down, and covers his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, smiling in both embarrassment and humor—but it’s unclear which is more prominent. Color rises to his cheeks.
	Sanura Sanura exhales and then smiles brightly “oh I’d love nothing more .. we must discuss it further later on” she half suggests before she glanced to Derrick with a hint of concern. Though.. at least he was smiling along with the blush. She gives a gasp and a little giggle. “oh my gosh.. look what you did” half admiring and half gentle sort of.. scolding though without any.. authority, to Mokosh as she reaches over and pokes Derricks warm cheek and then gives another little laugh. “I’m impressed” she admits
	Ken Ken manages to get ahold of himself, still breathless from laughing so hard. “Do not worry, Derrick. She does this to everyone. But you managed the… ‘zvesnya’… so well!” He cracks up a little again just thinking about it.
	ST Derrick upgrades from the thumb and forefinger to his full hand as he endures further teasing from Sanura and Ken. His lips press back and forth between grimace and smile as he attempts to master his painful embarrassment and balance his humor. Chors reaches across the table to squeeze Derrick’s free hand between both of hers in painfully earnest sympathy. Mokosh rises and moves over to Derrick, putting her hands on his shoulders. “Oh, you are… how you say… such a good sport, Rikushya. And clever, too! We did not even get to the teapot song. You may use your knife and fork how you like now. And I will bake you a proper consolation, da?”
	Ken Ken clears his throat and passes over Derrick’s embarrassment, to give the poor guy some time to relax. “Ah, Chors, if you are going out in the woods you should visit lake Isabella. She is such a sweet spirit, and I am sure she would enjoy the company.”
	Sanura Sanura smiles and glances up to Mokosh as she comes over. “Lady you’re such a naughty hostess” she smirks a bit and shakes her head before looking over at Chors and her comforting gesture to the embarrassed one. Her smile growing and gaining warmth. She really adored the Goddesses gentle spirit and kindness. It was one of the things that really brought her joy and pride that she’d helped return these beings to the world. She returns her attention to Derrick and is smiling a little at his adorable expression. Shaking her head softly as she returns her attention to her food.
	ST Mokosh clicks her tongue once sharply at Sanura. “Naughty nothing! My house, my rules.” After a few deep breaths and an easing of his color and heat, Derrick pulls his hand away. “Lady Mokosh, if I may presume to ask one thing of you… please grant me clemency from now on. I think we all know I am no match for you.” She pats him consolingly. “Of course, dear. It would not work anyway—you know better than to trust me now.” “Please, you are a friend of Yosha’s,” Chors adds, releasing his hand. “You need not stand so firmly on formality.” Mokosh nods. “Just only a little. Maybe hop on one foot.” Derrick switches the sides his utensils are on, his movements mild and his expression getting there, before looking to everyone again. “I’ll… try. I confess I am… unused to… hopping.” Mokosh clicks her tongue again. “Well. Do not worry. You will get used to it soon.”

Campaign of the Month: February 2017

God-Touched

In which Ken and Sanura introduce Derrick to Mokosh and Chors

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