Calir
Calir is the driven, introverted owner of Calir's Bakery and Bar, a longstanding establishment in the heart of Heshi Ariko. They are a baker by trade and a brewer by matter of course, and a master of both. This is only natural, of course, as Calir's name literally means baker in the Ivu language. The Ida rarely names Yashelin so bluntly, but Calir has always been proud of their clarity of purpose.
variety of creative ways to hold their feathers back, such as bands around their arms to force their wing feathers back and colorful head coverings over their unruly crest feathers. They always wear an apron at work, as gaudy as they can commission while still being practical.
Even if Calir didn't already have every step of the baking process down to a science, their baked goods would rarely fail to satisfy the appetites of their clients. Curiously, this also applies to their side-business as a brewery. So long as the ingredients are average quality and belong in the baked good to begin with, even major mistakes (like adding salt instead of sugar) seem to level themselves out into something edible.
Any improvements upon their already delicious output are largely due to Calir's drive to raise the bar for themself rather than external demand.
Physical
General Appearance
Calir is of below average height and above average weight for an Idin Yashelin. They have light brown skin. Their feathers are primarily orange with light brown speckles that people usually mistake for flour dust. At work, Calir needs a full range of motions in their arms without accidentally dropping or dragging a feather in their food. They have found a"One of these days I'm going to pluck myself bald and be done with it."
Special Abilities
by Mae Mu
Enhanced Baking
Personal
General Personality
Live to Work
Introverted
Opinionated
Creative
Patient
Conflict Avoidant
Life Story
Early Life
Calir is the 4983rd Yashelin created by the Ida, making them part of the youngest generation of Idin Yashelin. Although they were fairly certain about their desired trajectory as a baker in the Hesha Flock from the time they were created, Calir was prevented from officially pursuing it until they experimented with different flocks at first then other options within the flock. During this time, they gained extensive experience in the professional realms of agriculture and retail. Once they reached young adulthood, they started their first apprenticeship with *name,* the Master Baker of Shushani Pithin. They would go on to work in literally every bakery and pastry shop in existence at the time.The Foundation of Calir's Bakery
Despite their extensive experience working in other shops, Calir knew that they could never become a Master Baker without their own shop. They centered their attention on Heshi Ariko and submitted their proposal to transform their home into a bakery. After extensive survey and evaluation, their proposal was accepted.
Calir's Bakery and Bar quickly became a major hub for Heshi Ariko residents. They became so entrenched in Heshi Ariko's culture that many of their neighbors stopped by for breakfast every single day rather than make it in their own homes. Their bar never became as successful as their bakery, but they could always count on regular business from locals and visitors alike who were looking to unwind after work.
The Center of Controversy
Calir's establishment became the equivalent to a headquarters for the Defenders of Creation, a popular political group with increasingly fascist leanings. They had always pitied the soul-searching of their compatriots when their purpose came so easily to them. At first, Calir felt comradery with clientele who seemed "to have it all figured out." They were a sympathetic ear and sounding board for the woes of the former Extermination Crew and other discontented folks, just like they tried to be for everyone sitting at their tables."We may be bad for business, but it's easier on my back."
It had seemed like good business from true friends, until Calir realized these folks had become their only business. Calir reasoned it away: if other people didn't like their friends, especially Domini, then they're the rude ones for singling the exterminators out. They should be heralded as heroes, even, for their service to the Ida when no one else dared!
The Isolation Scheme
The isolation scheme was a policy of the Defenders of Creation to socially ostracize and isolate those they deemed adversarial to their movement or were otherwise morally incompatible with their philosophies. Domini, their leader, made it clear to Calir that they must enforce these rules as well. B By custom, Aravun Yashelin bakeries never turned down clients, even outsiders like the Fas who aren't protected by the law. By law, however, if even a single Yashelin without a shred of evidence reported that Calir had denied them service, they would be shut down until the termination of the investigation. Even without the legal repercussions, such a thing went against Calir's personal regard for the importance of community cohesion and mutual assistance. None of the Defenders cared about Calir's objections. In fact, Calir was threatened with exclusion due to the "moral incompatibility" standard, and as Domini always loved to say to people who disagreed with them: "I don't protect strays." Despite Domini's aggressive posturing, Calir rejected these demands within the confines of their own establishment, even if they couldn't change anyone's mind. It was fairly easy, anyway, since most of the people on the Defenders of Creation's isolation list already avoided the bakery. It wasn't foolproof, but they managed to skirt by for ages before it came to a head.And yes, Hanalun did pick up breakfast from Calir’s Bakery, because who the hell else would be awake at 3 in the morning? Sure, there was a bakery on the other side of town, but it just wasn't as good, ok? It had nothing to do with their friend going off the deep end with a bunch of— Nope. That's not a helpful train of thought right now. They needed to behave. Ok, knocking on the door now... When Calir opened the door, they had nearly shit themself and cursed loud enough to match. They recovered well, though: “Hanalun, good morning! What brings you to Heshi Ariko so early?” “No reason that concerns you, old friend,” Hanalun replied, wary yet warm. “May I pick up a few things for breakfast and be on my way?” “Yes, but you know you shouldn’t be here at all,” Calir whispered, but it doesn’t sound like a chastisement. “Nobody needs to know.” “No, no they really don’t.” Calir shooed them inside, all the way into the interior of their home (a glorified storage space, honestly) rather than the shop, and locked every door behind them before gathering Hanalun's order, stuffing the large bags in their arms, and herding them out the back door. All in record time.
It Gets Worse: the Astris Contagion
The situation deteriorated further after the arrival of an Astris to Aravu. Even if the Astris was a Reincarnation and the Ida said to treat it like some kind of equal, that was never going to fly with the Defenders of Creation. With an Astris roaming the streets with the Ida's approval, every single one of the Defenders of Creation began to panic over the Astris Contagion Conspiracy Theory. If Calir hadn't agreed with their isolation scheme before, they were now taken in with the concept, albeit cautiously.
by Ahmet Yuksek
"Eve moved in with us," Petal shares idly while blowing on their mug. Calir pretends to gag. "What?" Petal inquires, feigning amusement. "Do I smell bad?" "Ha! No, Petal. I'm sorry to hear that, that's all," Calir replies, more politely. "It must be stressful." "Eh. I'll live." "Better you than me." Calir leans in close to confide, "That little Astris thinks it can walk around here like it's one of us, like it ain't just a splinter pulled out of Heyir's, well... You know." "... Oh? No, I don't believe I do." Calir persists, "I don't care who it's related to, that Astris should stay on Kivria with the rest of its kin far away from us, not flaunting itself here." "Eve would probably be better off on Kivria, yes, but is she really that much of an imposition?" "Oh, Petal, you have no idea." "Enlighten me, Cal."
Since Eve didn't naturally get the hint to leave, Calir assaulted her with a broom they had laying in the corner. They yelled at her to get out, seemingly unconscious or uncaring of the fact that Calir had trapped her in a corner with no way to get to the door. Domini stood up to intervene, then Eve pulled the cursed knife out of her cane. Unfortunately for the Defenders of Creation, Domini couldn't exterminate it - not even while brandishing a Cursed Weapons. Calir dropped the broom and put their hands up, both of them moving aside for her.
Calir's test worked out in their favor. Not only did the Astris stop harassing them, but they never heard a single word about a report. Maybe she didn't file a report, or maybe someone in the reporting office didn't care for her either. Either way, Domini was right. Calir could do this.
"Whoa!" Petal barely flinches, somehow. "That must've been scary, Calir." Eve must have been so scared, such a small girl cornered by a Yashelin who had just hit her and an Exterminator.
Eve resists, but Petal manages to drag her out to the bakery with them. The fresh mint green paint practically glows on Eve's face, its message vibrant and clear: Petal is her wanuye. Calir's expression turns stony. There is no casual, lingering conversation between Petal and Calir, not today. Although they would never do it, Calir fascinates about sprinkling poison on whichever one Eve asks for, but even this fantasy is unattainable. Eve picks up the front-most pastry from the line up herself, a breach of common decency, but fair considering Calir's roaming imagination. "Thank you, Calir." Calir and Petal make firm eye contact. Calir says, queasily, “You’re welcome, Eve. I hope you both have a nice day.” Eve brightens, all at once like a light bulb. Not at the baker, of course, but at Petal. Petal says, “Thanks, Calir. You, too.” In, and out, and back again the next day. Shakily, Calir commands: "Get out of my shop, both of you. You're no longer welcome here." Eve freezes, her grip tightening around her cane. Petal doesn't flinch. They pick their pastries and a loaf of bread personally, reaching over the barrier rather than asking permission. Eve follows their lead, but this time, only Eve dignifies the baker with any pleasantries. After all, between a thrice cursed cane and Petal's reputation, what could the baker possibly do that wouldn't fuck them over worse than they were already risking?
It Gets Better
A year later, Calir decided to reopen the bakery for a major festival, featuring their iconic Uyam Fruit cider as well as a few other drinks they had invented over the course of a long, boring protest. The intensity of community support that they received over the course of that single night blew them away. By the end of the week, they were open for business again.Current Status
Calir continues to run the bakery every morning until their selection runs dry. Nowadays, their bar only opens at night for festivals, but people can order a bottle or two directly from them throughout the year as well. Business isn't the same as it used to be, but the bakery has recovered remarkably. The same could be said of Calir themself. That certainty that they had carried with them their entire life had been terribly shaken. They will not recover from that over night, especially as a Yashelin so allergic to self-reflection, but at least they're trying and sometimes have a good humor about it.Sensing that Calir's tale is at its end, Ezeki asks, "So, Calir, did you learn anything about yourself on your, ah, extended vacation from the bakery?" "Respectfully, Ser Ezeki, I don't want to talk about that." "Who is the person behind the name, I wonder?" Ezeki persists melodramatically. "Without bread, would you continue living, or burst into a cloud of flour?" "Disrespectfully, Ezeki, shut the fuck up."
As they say, if you let one fascist drink in your bar... He definitely seems to have tried to turn himself around a bit now, though. Maybe one day there will be some self reflection.
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That's exactly what happened to Calir. They didn't see the signs until it was too late, and then the echo chamber inevitably absorbed them, too. While they're trying to turn themself around, they are really struggling on multiple levels to come to grips with it. Thankfully they have people in their corner able and willing to push them (and keep them from sinking into self-complacency).