Pokemon | Moon Cookies and Other Remedies
Feb. 2nd, 2025 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedesRating: G
Fandom: Pokemon
Characters: Bede, Opal, Chairman Rose (mentioned)
Relationship: Bede & Opal
Words: 3,201
Tropes: Banter, Character Study, Domestic, Families of Choice, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort (light), Seasonal, Worldbuilding
Summary: Bede seems inherently avoidant to discussing both his past experiences with the holidays, and learning about the Fairy-types he's supposed to master. However, he, notably, does not seem to avoid the subject of food — and Opal can work with that.
This piece was for the "Winter Wonderland: Vol II" zine, which is a Pokemon zine focused on the holiday and winter season! The sub-theme for this year was holiday treats! And, of course, as the resident Fairy family expert, I immediately took it upon myself to write for them. I am predictable and I'm fine with that.
Bede was nothing if not an independent child.
Or, perhaps it might be more accurate to say he was licking the wound inflicted on his pride by refusing to stay with Opal. It frustrated her, of course, to watch him leave every single day after training. Imagining him sleeping in a tent pushed the same buttons in her mind as when her youngest would refuse to eat when they were sick.
That said, she couldn't say she didn't understand it. She had heard camping with one's Pokémon had become a rather popular activity within this round of Gym Challengers, so it made sense that he would think the logical course of action was camping in the forest next to town, rather than staying with her.
However, her understanding regarding a bruised ego only went so far. When the timid cool of fall dipped heartily into freezing and her exhales visualised as swirls of mist, Opal no longer accepted Bede declining her offer.
Thankfully, the cold seemed to be getting to him as well — the only fight he put up at that point was just for show. He was putting on a performance of not needing anyone else's help, but, for whom, Opal couldn't say.
Despite the child's initial staunch refusal, Bede was actually a surprisingly considerate housemate. Sure, the "please"s and "thank you"s could use some work, but Bede seemed to be trying his hardest to make himself small in Opal's presence. Rooms he spent time in were left in the same condition as he came. Any activity that might be loud enough to carry through the walls, he took outside.
The first few days she took him home, the difference in his demeanour nearly gave her whiplash. A few times, she had wondered if he had snuck back to Glimwood behind her back because, surely, this larger-than-life Trainer would cause more of a ruckus than this. Within just an hour, he would go from answering her quizzes and defeating her Trainers, with a bored, matter-of-fact, self-assured attitude, to having Opal forgetting that she had a housemate at all.
Still, he had his ways of reminding her of his presence.
Opal would sometimes feel his eyes lingering on her. She had never tried to find where he was when she felt it. She thought he might scurry away if she met his eyes, and, if they're to work together, this was a shaky first step towards feeling more comfortable with each other.
Besides, it wasn't as if she was ever doing anything she would particularly want to be left alone for. She didn't dislike the company. Though, she couldn't suppress her natural instinct to turn to the presence she felt for too much longer.
The first time that Opal turned to the observant eyes watching her was when she had been returning to her bowl of pastry cream after chilling it, her treat nearly ready for consumption. She had begun folding whipped cream into the mixture when she noticed she had caught Alcremie's attention. The Pokémon, having climbed all the way up the drawers to sit on the kitchen countertop, gave an excited cry. Shortly after, she noticed she caught somebody else's attention, as well — she sensed someone behind her. Without thinking, she turned to look.
The moment she locked eyes with Bede, she internally winced, sure that the boy would turn tail and scamper away on light feet. However, to her surprise, Bede simply stared back. He was mostly behind the opening that led into the hallway, leaning over to watch Opal with one hand braced against the wall. Only one narrowed eye was visible, but it was clear he was intently watching what she was doing. Daring her to say something.
So, she did. "What is it, child?" she asked, turning back around as she did. The cream for her confection was ready. She couldn't let it go stale, after all.
Bede said nothing.
She felt him watch as she piped a dollop of cream into each puff pastry she made, having to occasionally push an excited Alcremie away from the treats. Finally, after placing the rounded half on top of each, she handed one completed Poké Puff to Alcremie, and, again, turned to Bede, ready to speak to him again.
However, she cut herself short when, instead of his previous blank stare at her, she found him staring at Alcremie with wide eyes. In just a moment, his shock was replaced with a façade of anger, his fingers curling into a fist and his expression indignant. However, Opal was keen enough to pick up on the hints of scarlet painting his cheeks.
He turned around and stormed off, with an audible huff.
He was embarrassed. But why?
It took a few days for Opal to connect this event with another that had happened a week or so earlier. A few of her Poké Puffs which she left on the counter had gone missing by the time that she returned to them. She had assumed one of her Pokémon had gotten up there, somehow. That said, once she remembered that incident, in combination with Bede seeming embarrassed that Alcremie was given a Poké Puff, it seemed more likely that Bede had seen the treats and silently taken a few for himself, unaware that they were made for Pokémon.
Was he not eating enough? she wondered. He was on the skinny side. Perhaps she should be more insistent about giving him his meals.
Or, perhaps, she could use his noted interest in food in another way.
Bede was very averse to the idea of eating more food than he had been previously. He seemed, if anything, embarrassed by Opal taking the time to bake for him, rather than just letting him have the leftovers she left out.
Opal, as she read from her worn, handwritten recipe book, reminded him, "If nothing else, it is the holiday season. Should we not take the time to enjoy a few festive treats?"
That subject seemed to make Bede only more defensive. He crossed his arms and tilted his head back, leaning against one of the countertops that was far out of Opal's way. "Oh, please. If we're going by the 'spirit of the season', you ought to be putting that energy into spending time with your family, not your housemate."
Opal cleared her throat, trying to give an excuse for why the edges of her mouth twitched upward. There was something about this young child describing himself as her 'housemate' that tickled her. Nonetheless, she went along with it, simply shaking her head. "Come, now, you know that all of my children have long moved away. They have my grandbabies to spend time with now."
She paused for a beat, before exhaling just loud enough for Bede to hear. She saw him perk up from the corner of her eye. "They don't make time for a boring old lady like me..." she sighed, with just a hint of artificial melancholy.
In her defence, that was not entirely a lie. It was merely that she left out how much of a say she had in the matter. Just earlier that day, she had been called by her oldest, asking if she would like to come to their celebration. The fact that Opal told her daughter not to make time for her wasn't relevant.
Her goal was achieved without needing to push any further. Bede tilted his head back downward, observing her for just a second, before pushing himself off of the counter, going to stand by her side.
"Fine," he said after a long minute, the furrow of his eyebrows showing he was still not pleased with the state of affairs. "But, if you insist on cooking for me, I will be of use." Bede skimmed over the recipe that Opal had opened to, toying with his oversized watch. He then walked to her cabinet, standing on his toes to collect the named ingredients. He added quietly, almost to himself: "I am no mentor's burden."
As it turned out, Bede cooked like he battled: prioritising efficiency above all else. He followed the recipe Opal wrote down exactly, discarding any optional ingredients or spices to get everything done all the more quickly. The only times he showed any particular interest, or even really talked about what he was doing, seemed to be when he could pause to gloat. ("Look—I told you. Breaking eggs on flat surfaces is much better~")
Though, near the end, he spoke up. As he topped the biscuits with white confectioners' sugar, sprinkling it on top of the warm treat and letting it fall like snow, Bede stated, "I've never seen these types of biscuits before. I've only seen gingerbread biscuits used to celebrate Christmas."
Opal glanced down at him, slightly surprised by the attempt at small talk, but went back to focusing on topping the shortbread, crescent-shaped sweets. "That would be because I do not celebrate Christmas. These are called moon cookies. They celebrate Yule."
She saw a motion to her side; Bede's head turning to fully look at her. Apparently, that got his attention.
Not only did the subject of Yule seem to capture Bede's attention—it kept it. Bede continued to shadow Opal, dutifully observing her traditions from behind a corner. And Opal, thankfully, now knew how to coax Bede out. The promise of treats always did the trick, regardless of how hesitantly he skulked out during the process.
Then, once he was out, Bede would slowly start to ask questions. Once she began to teach him, Opal immediately understood what the Chairman had seen in Bede that had prompted him to sponsor his journey. He took in new information like a sponge, eager to hold as much knowledge as he could get his hands on. He must have been like this when he was first learning about Pokémon battling too, before he became certain he knew everything he needed to. It was a shame she had missed such a time.
Although, she had found she could redirect that scholar's spark back to the area where she needed him to be passionate.
Opal had brought out her box of decorations one evening, and, before she had even set out her third decoration, spotted Bede hiding behind the half-closed door. After being lured out with non-alcoholic spiced cider, the two of them got to work setting up her decorations—greenery and berries and candles, though, as Bede noted out loud, without the ribbons and ornaments associated with Christmas.
As the two of them worked, Opal asked Bede a question. "Have you ever heard somebody say I was a multi-type specialist?"
"I have," Bede replied, not turning from where he was setting up Pokémon figurines. "That was before the Fairy-type was formally recognized."
"But I recognized it," Opal said. Bede, at attention, turned his head to look at her. She couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "Now, now, calm down. As much as I'd love to take the credit for myself, it wasn't just me. Pagans from all over recognized Fairy-types as a unique category of Pokémon, decades before even I was born."
Bede nodded dutifully with a hum, before making his way back to the box to retrieve something else to set up. "Then what took the professors so long to recognize it? Was it truly that they simply did not like the idea of listening to a bunch of witches?"
"Partially. It was also that pagans have not had much attention for many decades now. This is partially due to the fact that many of our traditions have been incorporated into other mainstream holidays, like Christmas. Now, that is what everyone associates them with. For example, feasting is a key part of Yule, and it is now largely associated with Christmas."
"Really? That part was always my favourite."
Opal's eyes darted over to Bede when he said that. She had never heard him speak about his own experiences with the holidays before. In fact, he rather stubbornly avoided the topic at every opportunity.
Despite this, he continued talking. "The Chairman would host a big buffet for everybody in Macros Cosmos that was working over Christmas day. I always heard everyone there say they'd just prefer a raise, though." There was a slight chuckle in his voice, with the last sentence. "I'd find my way to it with Miss Oleana each year, and I'd have her fill my plate twice over, at least. And, since he was always too busy to stop by, I'd always save a treat in case I ran into—"
Then, just as quickly, he stopped. Still facing away from Opal, his head ducked, and Opal saw his hand go to fidget with his watch. She looked back to her own task of hanging her wreath, in case he looked back to her. "In case you ran into?"
"Nobody," he responded, his voice regaining that gruff, defensive quality that Opal hadn't heard from him in a bit of time. "It doesn't matter. We weren't talking about me. We were talking about Fairy-types."
Opal knew Bede was trying to use her attempted education to try and escape the topic at hand. She considered calling him out on it. Not wanting to be thought of as a fool, she ended up doing so, coolly replying, "I know what you're doing, child. But because I realise you don't want to talk about this any longer..."
When Bede next walked by her, a blush from being called out was still burning on his face. She smirked to herself. As gentle as she must be with such a sensitive child, she also definitely cannot have him thinking he outwitted her.
The first time that one of Opal's children spent the holidays with their in-laws, going through her favourite traditions felt bittersweet. The season was so deeply intertwined with family, both in general popular culture and her own memories. Even just having that one member missing made everything feel just a little bit off. A little bit more lonesome.
She could not bring herself to imagine what it would be like to be abandoned by that family, and then be forcefully surrounded by these traditions and sensations.
So, Opal resolved to not allow Bede to feel lonely.
On the first day of Yule, Opal's kitchen was radiating waves of warmth from the oven and crackling fireplace. As Bede added each ingredient to a chilled bowl — soon to be the filling to their gingerbread Yule log — Opal explained each one's associated magical property.
"What we use to cook today is important," Opal explained, "because they represent what we will bring into the new year. So, I chose a recipe which includes cinnamon.”
Bede tilted his head in confusion.
“It represents warmth and abundance. And ginger, for its protection and healing..." She handed the ground cinnamon and ginger to Bede, who measured and added them to the bowl as she continued. "... and vanilla, which is vitality and energy." As she handed the bottle of vanilla extract, she warned, "Careful, child — you only need a little bit. It's easy for this to overwhelm the taste."
"I've been following the measurements, haven't I?" Bede responded with a smug grin.
"I know, but it was worth a warning."
Bede rolled his eyes without dropping his grin, before measuring and adding the vanilla extract to the bowl. He then reached over and took the whisk before starting to beat the ingredients.
"I did consider getting something which incorporated peppermint," Opal continued, "But peppermint is its own flavour which doesn't tend to pair well with other common flavours of Yule. I thought that getting cinnamon, ginger and vanilla all in one go was better. Peppermint represents purity, and I thought that protection and healing cover similar ground anyhow."
Bede nodded, furrowing his brows, before perking up with Opal when the Rotom oven sang a tune to let them know it was done."Go get that," he stated, before bringing his full attention back to the bowl.
"'Go get that,'" Opal repeated back bluntly with a stern, stoic expression.
"... Please go get that."
Opal, satisfied, went to the oven to bring out the cake part of the confection. Being the adult, she was much more equipped to handle hot ovens and other such machines. When it came to precise measurements and manual mixing, Bede's steadier and less pain-prone hands and wrists were much better for the job.
As she prepped the cakes for the filling, Bede pointed the end of the whisk at her, and, even from the corner of her eye, Opal could see that the edges were still covered in bits of dripping filling.
"That reminds me," Bede said, "Purity seems pretty important to you lot, especially if you wanted to bake something with peppermint just for that."
"One could say so."
"Are such concepts related to how the Fairy-type is weak to the Poison-type?"
Opal's eyes darted to Bede in surprise, just blinking for a few moments. She then cleared her throat, and responded, "Yes. That's an excellent observation. I'm surprised."
Before Bede could attempt to deflect, Opal quickly changed the subject, directing him on how to spread the filling, and then rolling up the cake herself. Bede watched her as she spread the remaining filling over top of the cake, and sprinkled it with cinnamon. After which, at Bede's request (which he did not vocalise in an attempt to be polite, but Opal could tell he was most certainly screaming in his mind), she cut and served immediately.
Bede was the first to get a piece in his mouth, Opal hearing his hum of delight before she even picked up her fork. She made an approving noise, as well, once she got a taste, the nostalgic and homey flavour feeling as if it warmed her whole body.
It was only after taking a good few bites that Bede tried to speak properly again. "This is by far the best cake I've had, to my memory." His smile shifted to more of a celebratory smirk. "I'm great at celebrating Yule."
Opal was unable to hold back a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand to hide that she was still chewing. She swallowed, before lowering her hand. "It's not a competition," she chastised softly. She then thought for a moment as she picked up her fork, before jabbing it at Bede accusingly. "But if it was, I would be winning. Who was it that nearly mixed up the salt with the sugar, again?"
"But I was the one who caught it, also!! You wouldn't have noticed it!"
"You don't know I wouldn't have later."
Before Bede responded, he wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist; free to do so, with his watch set down and out of the way on the countertop.
Fandom: Pokemon
Characters: Bede, Opal, Chairman Rose (mentioned)
Relationship: Bede & Opal
Words: 3,201
Tropes: Banter, Character Study, Domestic, Families of Choice, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort (light), Seasonal, Worldbuilding
Summary: Bede seems inherently avoidant to discussing both his past experiences with the holidays, and learning about the Fairy-types he's supposed to master. However, he, notably, does not seem to avoid the subject of food — and Opal can work with that.
This piece was for the "Winter Wonderland: Vol II" zine, which is a Pokemon zine focused on the holiday and winter season! The sub-theme for this year was holiday treats! And, of course, as the resident Fairy family expert, I immediately took it upon myself to write for them. I am predictable and I'm fine with that.
Bede was nothing if not an independent child.
Or, perhaps it might be more accurate to say he was licking the wound inflicted on his pride by refusing to stay with Opal. It frustrated her, of course, to watch him leave every single day after training. Imagining him sleeping in a tent pushed the same buttons in her mind as when her youngest would refuse to eat when they were sick.
That said, she couldn't say she didn't understand it. She had heard camping with one's Pokémon had become a rather popular activity within this round of Gym Challengers, so it made sense that he would think the logical course of action was camping in the forest next to town, rather than staying with her.
However, her understanding regarding a bruised ego only went so far. When the timid cool of fall dipped heartily into freezing and her exhales visualised as swirls of mist, Opal no longer accepted Bede declining her offer.
Thankfully, the cold seemed to be getting to him as well — the only fight he put up at that point was just for show. He was putting on a performance of not needing anyone else's help, but, for whom, Opal couldn't say.
Despite the child's initial staunch refusal, Bede was actually a surprisingly considerate housemate. Sure, the "please"s and "thank you"s could use some work, but Bede seemed to be trying his hardest to make himself small in Opal's presence. Rooms he spent time in were left in the same condition as he came. Any activity that might be loud enough to carry through the walls, he took outside.
The first few days she took him home, the difference in his demeanour nearly gave her whiplash. A few times, she had wondered if he had snuck back to Glimwood behind her back because, surely, this larger-than-life Trainer would cause more of a ruckus than this. Within just an hour, he would go from answering her quizzes and defeating her Trainers, with a bored, matter-of-fact, self-assured attitude, to having Opal forgetting that she had a housemate at all.
Still, he had his ways of reminding her of his presence.
Opal would sometimes feel his eyes lingering on her. She had never tried to find where he was when she felt it. She thought he might scurry away if she met his eyes, and, if they're to work together, this was a shaky first step towards feeling more comfortable with each other.
Besides, it wasn't as if she was ever doing anything she would particularly want to be left alone for. She didn't dislike the company. Though, she couldn't suppress her natural instinct to turn to the presence she felt for too much longer.
The first time that Opal turned to the observant eyes watching her was when she had been returning to her bowl of pastry cream after chilling it, her treat nearly ready for consumption. She had begun folding whipped cream into the mixture when she noticed she had caught Alcremie's attention. The Pokémon, having climbed all the way up the drawers to sit on the kitchen countertop, gave an excited cry. Shortly after, she noticed she caught somebody else's attention, as well — she sensed someone behind her. Without thinking, she turned to look.
The moment she locked eyes with Bede, she internally winced, sure that the boy would turn tail and scamper away on light feet. However, to her surprise, Bede simply stared back. He was mostly behind the opening that led into the hallway, leaning over to watch Opal with one hand braced against the wall. Only one narrowed eye was visible, but it was clear he was intently watching what she was doing. Daring her to say something.
So, she did. "What is it, child?" she asked, turning back around as she did. The cream for her confection was ready. She couldn't let it go stale, after all.
Bede said nothing.
She felt him watch as she piped a dollop of cream into each puff pastry she made, having to occasionally push an excited Alcremie away from the treats. Finally, after placing the rounded half on top of each, she handed one completed Poké Puff to Alcremie, and, again, turned to Bede, ready to speak to him again.
However, she cut herself short when, instead of his previous blank stare at her, she found him staring at Alcremie with wide eyes. In just a moment, his shock was replaced with a façade of anger, his fingers curling into a fist and his expression indignant. However, Opal was keen enough to pick up on the hints of scarlet painting his cheeks.
He turned around and stormed off, with an audible huff.
He was embarrassed. But why?
It took a few days for Opal to connect this event with another that had happened a week or so earlier. A few of her Poké Puffs which she left on the counter had gone missing by the time that she returned to them. She had assumed one of her Pokémon had gotten up there, somehow. That said, once she remembered that incident, in combination with Bede seeming embarrassed that Alcremie was given a Poké Puff, it seemed more likely that Bede had seen the treats and silently taken a few for himself, unaware that they were made for Pokémon.
Was he not eating enough? she wondered. He was on the skinny side. Perhaps she should be more insistent about giving him his meals.
Or, perhaps, she could use his noted interest in food in another way.
Bede was very averse to the idea of eating more food than he had been previously. He seemed, if anything, embarrassed by Opal taking the time to bake for him, rather than just letting him have the leftovers she left out.
Opal, as she read from her worn, handwritten recipe book, reminded him, "If nothing else, it is the holiday season. Should we not take the time to enjoy a few festive treats?"
That subject seemed to make Bede only more defensive. He crossed his arms and tilted his head back, leaning against one of the countertops that was far out of Opal's way. "Oh, please. If we're going by the 'spirit of the season', you ought to be putting that energy into spending time with your family, not your housemate."
Opal cleared her throat, trying to give an excuse for why the edges of her mouth twitched upward. There was something about this young child describing himself as her 'housemate' that tickled her. Nonetheless, she went along with it, simply shaking her head. "Come, now, you know that all of my children have long moved away. They have my grandbabies to spend time with now."
She paused for a beat, before exhaling just loud enough for Bede to hear. She saw him perk up from the corner of her eye. "They don't make time for a boring old lady like me..." she sighed, with just a hint of artificial melancholy.
In her defence, that was not entirely a lie. It was merely that she left out how much of a say she had in the matter. Just earlier that day, she had been called by her oldest, asking if she would like to come to their celebration. The fact that Opal told her daughter not to make time for her wasn't relevant.
Her goal was achieved without needing to push any further. Bede tilted his head back downward, observing her for just a second, before pushing himself off of the counter, going to stand by her side.
"Fine," he said after a long minute, the furrow of his eyebrows showing he was still not pleased with the state of affairs. "But, if you insist on cooking for me, I will be of use." Bede skimmed over the recipe that Opal had opened to, toying with his oversized watch. He then walked to her cabinet, standing on his toes to collect the named ingredients. He added quietly, almost to himself: "I am no mentor's burden."
As it turned out, Bede cooked like he battled: prioritising efficiency above all else. He followed the recipe Opal wrote down exactly, discarding any optional ingredients or spices to get everything done all the more quickly. The only times he showed any particular interest, or even really talked about what he was doing, seemed to be when he could pause to gloat. ("Look—I told you. Breaking eggs on flat surfaces is much better~")
Though, near the end, he spoke up. As he topped the biscuits with white confectioners' sugar, sprinkling it on top of the warm treat and letting it fall like snow, Bede stated, "I've never seen these types of biscuits before. I've only seen gingerbread biscuits used to celebrate Christmas."
Opal glanced down at him, slightly surprised by the attempt at small talk, but went back to focusing on topping the shortbread, crescent-shaped sweets. "That would be because I do not celebrate Christmas. These are called moon cookies. They celebrate Yule."
She saw a motion to her side; Bede's head turning to fully look at her. Apparently, that got his attention.
Not only did the subject of Yule seem to capture Bede's attention—it kept it. Bede continued to shadow Opal, dutifully observing her traditions from behind a corner. And Opal, thankfully, now knew how to coax Bede out. The promise of treats always did the trick, regardless of how hesitantly he skulked out during the process.
Then, once he was out, Bede would slowly start to ask questions. Once she began to teach him, Opal immediately understood what the Chairman had seen in Bede that had prompted him to sponsor his journey. He took in new information like a sponge, eager to hold as much knowledge as he could get his hands on. He must have been like this when he was first learning about Pokémon battling too, before he became certain he knew everything he needed to. It was a shame she had missed such a time.
Although, she had found she could redirect that scholar's spark back to the area where she needed him to be passionate.
Opal had brought out her box of decorations one evening, and, before she had even set out her third decoration, spotted Bede hiding behind the half-closed door. After being lured out with non-alcoholic spiced cider, the two of them got to work setting up her decorations—greenery and berries and candles, though, as Bede noted out loud, without the ribbons and ornaments associated with Christmas.
As the two of them worked, Opal asked Bede a question. "Have you ever heard somebody say I was a multi-type specialist?"
"I have," Bede replied, not turning from where he was setting up Pokémon figurines. "That was before the Fairy-type was formally recognized."
"But I recognized it," Opal said. Bede, at attention, turned his head to look at her. She couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "Now, now, calm down. As much as I'd love to take the credit for myself, it wasn't just me. Pagans from all over recognized Fairy-types as a unique category of Pokémon, decades before even I was born."
Bede nodded dutifully with a hum, before making his way back to the box to retrieve something else to set up. "Then what took the professors so long to recognize it? Was it truly that they simply did not like the idea of listening to a bunch of witches?"
"Partially. It was also that pagans have not had much attention for many decades now. This is partially due to the fact that many of our traditions have been incorporated into other mainstream holidays, like Christmas. Now, that is what everyone associates them with. For example, feasting is a key part of Yule, and it is now largely associated with Christmas."
"Really? That part was always my favourite."
Opal's eyes darted over to Bede when he said that. She had never heard him speak about his own experiences with the holidays before. In fact, he rather stubbornly avoided the topic at every opportunity.
Despite this, he continued talking. "The Chairman would host a big buffet for everybody in Macros Cosmos that was working over Christmas day. I always heard everyone there say they'd just prefer a raise, though." There was a slight chuckle in his voice, with the last sentence. "I'd find my way to it with Miss Oleana each year, and I'd have her fill my plate twice over, at least. And, since he was always too busy to stop by, I'd always save a treat in case I ran into—"
Then, just as quickly, he stopped. Still facing away from Opal, his head ducked, and Opal saw his hand go to fidget with his watch. She looked back to her own task of hanging her wreath, in case he looked back to her. "In case you ran into?"
"Nobody," he responded, his voice regaining that gruff, defensive quality that Opal hadn't heard from him in a bit of time. "It doesn't matter. We weren't talking about me. We were talking about Fairy-types."
Opal knew Bede was trying to use her attempted education to try and escape the topic at hand. She considered calling him out on it. Not wanting to be thought of as a fool, she ended up doing so, coolly replying, "I know what you're doing, child. But because I realise you don't want to talk about this any longer..."
When Bede next walked by her, a blush from being called out was still burning on his face. She smirked to herself. As gentle as she must be with such a sensitive child, she also definitely cannot have him thinking he outwitted her.
The first time that one of Opal's children spent the holidays with their in-laws, going through her favourite traditions felt bittersweet. The season was so deeply intertwined with family, both in general popular culture and her own memories. Even just having that one member missing made everything feel just a little bit off. A little bit more lonesome.
She could not bring herself to imagine what it would be like to be abandoned by that family, and then be forcefully surrounded by these traditions and sensations.
There was someone that was once here to celebrate these things with me that is not there now. There was someone that was once here to spend this day with who no longer wants anything to do with me. There was someone who once considered me their family that doesn't anymore.
So, Opal resolved to not allow Bede to feel lonely.
On the first day of Yule, Opal's kitchen was radiating waves of warmth from the oven and crackling fireplace. As Bede added each ingredient to a chilled bowl — soon to be the filling to their gingerbread Yule log — Opal explained each one's associated magical property.
"What we use to cook today is important," Opal explained, "because they represent what we will bring into the new year. So, I chose a recipe which includes cinnamon.”
Bede tilted his head in confusion.
“It represents warmth and abundance. And ginger, for its protection and healing..." She handed the ground cinnamon and ginger to Bede, who measured and added them to the bowl as she continued. "... and vanilla, which is vitality and energy." As she handed the bottle of vanilla extract, she warned, "Careful, child — you only need a little bit. It's easy for this to overwhelm the taste."
"I've been following the measurements, haven't I?" Bede responded with a smug grin.
"I know, but it was worth a warning."
Bede rolled his eyes without dropping his grin, before measuring and adding the vanilla extract to the bowl. He then reached over and took the whisk before starting to beat the ingredients.
"I did consider getting something which incorporated peppermint," Opal continued, "But peppermint is its own flavour which doesn't tend to pair well with other common flavours of Yule. I thought that getting cinnamon, ginger and vanilla all in one go was better. Peppermint represents purity, and I thought that protection and healing cover similar ground anyhow."
Bede nodded, furrowing his brows, before perking up with Opal when the Rotom oven sang a tune to let them know it was done."Go get that," he stated, before bringing his full attention back to the bowl.
"'Go get that,'" Opal repeated back bluntly with a stern, stoic expression.
"... Please go get that."
Opal, satisfied, went to the oven to bring out the cake part of the confection. Being the adult, she was much more equipped to handle hot ovens and other such machines. When it came to precise measurements and manual mixing, Bede's steadier and less pain-prone hands and wrists were much better for the job.
As she prepped the cakes for the filling, Bede pointed the end of the whisk at her, and, even from the corner of her eye, Opal could see that the edges were still covered in bits of dripping filling.
"That reminds me," Bede said, "Purity seems pretty important to you lot, especially if you wanted to bake something with peppermint just for that."
"One could say so."
"Are such concepts related to how the Fairy-type is weak to the Poison-type?"
Opal's eyes darted to Bede in surprise, just blinking for a few moments. She then cleared her throat, and responded, "Yes. That's an excellent observation. I'm surprised."
Before Bede could attempt to deflect, Opal quickly changed the subject, directing him on how to spread the filling, and then rolling up the cake herself. Bede watched her as she spread the remaining filling over top of the cake, and sprinkled it with cinnamon. After which, at Bede's request (which he did not vocalise in an attempt to be polite, but Opal could tell he was most certainly screaming in his mind), she cut and served immediately.
Bede was the first to get a piece in his mouth, Opal hearing his hum of delight before she even picked up her fork. She made an approving noise, as well, once she got a taste, the nostalgic and homey flavour feeling as if it warmed her whole body.
It was only after taking a good few bites that Bede tried to speak properly again. "This is by far the best cake I've had, to my memory." His smile shifted to more of a celebratory smirk. "I'm great at celebrating Yule."
Opal was unable to hold back a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand to hide that she was still chewing. She swallowed, before lowering her hand. "It's not a competition," she chastised softly. She then thought for a moment as she picked up her fork, before jabbing it at Bede accusingly. "But if it was, I would be winning. Who was it that nearly mixed up the salt with the sugar, again?"
"But I was the one who caught it, also!! You wouldn't have noticed it!"
"You don't know I wouldn't have later."
Before Bede responded, he wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist; free to do so, with his watch set down and out of the way on the countertop.
