A Father’s Brew

The first chill of Glimfall had arrived in Pangaea, sweeping across the beautiful fields with a brisk breeze that carried the scent of ripe fruits and freshly harvested tritum. Azeroth looked outside from the blurry window of their warm home, resting his face against his hand as he leaned to the wooden window frame. It was a cold, snowy day for Elysium, like always, unlike where they were headed with his dad soon; Pangaea's gorgeous farm fields. His white scales gleamed faintly in the fading light above, contrasting with the deep brown of his long horns. He wrapped his thick tail around his legs for warmth, his white, silky hair falling over his brown eyes and partially blocking his view of the outside, his hair getting in the way was something he got used to at this point so it didn't bother him.

Azeroth had always been hesitant about any kind of gatherings; he was fine with small hangouts with family and friends, sure, but that was nothing compared to the bustling, busy crowds that would soon gather for the Brewer’s Bash. So many symprites and aramelles were going to be there; some were going to be legends, and some were destined to create unforgettable memories that would be talked about for years and years to come. He hoped maybe his dear boyfriend would be there too, it would be nice to see him again after such a long time. He sighed, his breath causing small puffs of air in the cold weather. The Bash was just a few days away from now, and as much as he feared the noise and chaos of it all, it was a tradition he couldn’t escape; especially with his father, Xavier, so passionately involved.

A heavy familiar claw clapped down on his shoulder then, snapping Azeroth out of his train of thoughts. He turned his head to see his dad Xavier standing beside him with a lazy smile across his face and a questioning gaze. The elder symprite’s fur was a striking combination of purple and white, his dark purple hair was messy as if he had just woken up; which, knowing Xavier, was entirely possible.

“Still anxious about the big event, eh?” Xavier’s voice was warm and low, a familiar sleepy tone that Azeroth had grown up with that brought comfort to him whenever he needed it. Well most of the time of course, especially not when he got scolded for going out alone in his angsty teenage years. “It’s going to be a good harvest this year, I can feel it. Perfect for the Bash.” Xavier said as he looked outside as well. He was excited for this event, well any event. Except his small shop in the town he didn't really get to meet new people and do stuff outside the mundane routine of his life. So this mattered to him a lot...

Azeroth rolled his eyes playfully with a tiny smile at his father's excitement, "You say that every year." he said with a small chuckle and a shake of his head. His gaze followed his father's and he looked outside at the snow again, thoughtfully, “I just… it's not that easy for me." he said with a deep sigh, "The crowds, the noise, the intense tempo… It’s a lot to handle.” he added, a small frown forming on his lips.

Xavier gave his son a soft understanding look before pulling him into a gentle embrace. “I know bud. But it’s part of who we are! The Brew Bash is more than just a crowd, it’s a chance for people to share what they have created, to connect with others." he said gently before resting his claws on Azeroth's shoulder and pushing him away enough to look at his son's face, "And besides i can feel we're going to nail our bash this time! Isnt that exciting?" he asked with a playful tilt of his head and a hopeful grin.

Azeroth gave a hesitant look to Xavier He didn't want to protest or argue back when his father was looking forward to the Brew Bash. But he couldn't help the uneasiness inside his head. His father must have sensed it and so kept talking, “Come on,” Xavier said, patting Azeroth’s back. “Let’s go outside, to the bazaar. We’ve got some work to do if we’re going to be ready in time...”

-

After the symprites got their missing ingredients from the bustling bazaar they went back to their shed to prepare for the bash. The shed was a snug little building, full with the earthy aroma of fermenting fruits and a sharp tang of quality alcohol. Barrels were lined against the walls each one of them were labeled with the date and what type of brew they had inside. In the big center of the room was a large wood table, full with a variety of colorful ingredients; tcharry berries, prismroot, pecharins, and more. A mixture of jars and bottles that had different flora extracts were scattered across the big table, ready to be mixed into new brew for the upcoming event.

The elder symprite quickly went to work his usual sleepy demeanor was completely changed, it was focused and more energetic as he began inspecting the barrels and the jars with excitement. “We have a few delicious batches that are just about ready.” he said as he tapped one of the labeled barrels with a clawed finger. “This one seems a tcharry and prismroot blend, it should be nice and tart. And right over here we’ve got a pecharin cider that must be... aging since last Glimfall, yes! It must have a sweet kick to it, I can already taste it...” Xavier said with a wag of his tail and a small giggle. Azeroth silently watched his father work with enthusiasm, he felt a small sense of pride and energy at the sight of his dad's endeavour. It lightened up his mood as well.

“I was thinking...” Xavier started, “we could maybe try something new this year, huh? A stronger mix, perhaps? Something with a bit of craftsman's holly spirit to give it a real good punch. What do you say?” he asked with a tilt of his head and looked over at Azeroth for his opinion.

Azeroth thought for a moment before he frowned slightly. “That’s… a bit risky, don’t you think? Craftsman's holly is potent though. It could overpower the other flavors, no?” he asked with a small pout. Xavier grinned broadly, a mischievous shimmer in his blue eyes. “That’s the fun of it! We can't know unless we try. And who knows, it could be the next hit of the Bash.” he exclaimed. Azeroth let out a heavy sigh but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. His father’s enthusiasm was definitely infectious, and despite his reservations towards the whole deal, Azeroth found himself intrigued by his father's idea.

“Alright,” he said finally with an exhale and a shake of his head. “We can give it a shot, I guess. But we need to balance it out with something sweet, maybe some solseed extract?” he asked as he looked around for the thing amidst the jars and bottles. Xavier nodded, already grabbing a bottle of solseed extract from the shelf before Azeroth could spot it. “Perfect then. You can handle the mixing, and I’ll start prepping the barrels, yeah?” Xavier said as he started working with his son Azeroth accompanying him.

They worked and worked, the hours seemed to slip away without them realizing. The steady rhythm of their movements and the comforting familiarity of the brewing process eased Azeroth’s anxiety. He lost himself in the task, carefully measuring out the extracts and adding them to the brew. He tasted the brew as he went to ensure each flavor was balanced with each other. The strong and slightly bitter taste of the craftsman's holly spirit was toned down by the delicious sweetness of the solseed, creating an interesting, layered flavor that left a warm, tingling sensation on the tongue.

“Not too bad,” Azeroth murmured as he took another sip from their creation. “It definitely has a kick to it, but at the same time it’s not overwhelming. I think it’ll be a hit.” he said with a hopeful smile. Xavier beamed at his son’s approval and clapped his hands with a smile of his own. “I knew you’d come around, haha! This is going to be one of our best yet, I know it.” he said as he ruffled Azeroth's hair, getting a grumble from the younger symprite as an answer.

They continued working late into the night to finish the brew, both wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise. By the time they were finally done, Azeroth was completely exhausted, but there was a sense of satisfaction that came with knowing they had created something special, together. As they cleaned around the shed, Xavier glanced at his son, his expression softened. “You know, Azeroth, I'm glad we're doing this together. I know the Bash isn’t your favorite thing, but we're going to make a lot of people happy with what we’ve made I bet.” he said as he wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders. Azeroth looked down, "Thanks dad. Yeah, it was fun doing this with you. I just hope everything goes well in the bash." he said as he played with his hair. "Don't worry, I believe it will." Xavier said, "If it doesn't, we'll handle it together son." 

Azeroth gave a small smile to his dad before they started getting ready to go. Maybe this year wasn't going to be too bad after all.