Archive of Our Own ^beta

For the Filling:

• 7 oz Beef shoulder
• 7 oz Beef sirloin
• 1 Carrot, peeled
• 1 Onion, finely diced
• Beef stock
• Oil
• Pepper
• Salt

1. First, prepare the bull. Speak to it softly. It will understand your intent, if not your language.
2. Your early years are spent in the care of your aunt and uncle. They hate the Kin, so you do, too. It might have something to do with your mother, whose name they never tell you. 
3. When Isidor Burakh asks to take you on as an apprentice, they trade you to him like a head of cattle and warn you not to run away. 
4. The first time your new mentor makes dumplings, you refuse to eat them. “It’s Kin food,” you say. “Not people food.” He smiles at you, which is confusing, because your aunt and uncle always got mad when you were too picky. You later relent because you see Artemy wolfing them down and they smell good.
5. They’re the best thing you’ve ever tasted. 
6. Mix the ingredients by hand. You, Cub, Gravel, and Bad Grief treat the edges of the town as your domain, claiming one of the warehouses as a secret lair. But your favorite place to go is the Basket by the Apple Road. The steppe is peaceful, the wind rattles through the long grasses, and at night the stars are bright. 
7. Artemy tells you he’s going to study medicine in the Capital because his father asked him to. You punch him. It doesn’t help. He leaves you, and you hate him for it.
8. This will throw your friendship with the others into confusion. Neither of them understand why you’re so angry. 
9. You never write to him, because he's a traitor, but at night you break into his father's study to read his letters and trace his messy handwriting with your fingertips. He doesn’t write as often as he should. You watch Isidor grow older, more tired. 
10. Get over him.
11. Try to get over him.
12.  Simmer.

For the Dough:

• 6 oz Flour, sifted
• 1 Egg
• Enough water to bind ingredients

1. Rumor has it Artemy killed your mentor. Directly or indirectly, you know this to be true. 
2. Isidor has two funerals. The first one is for the townspeople. They leave after the earth spits him back out, and you go with them.
3. You and Artemy are back to snapping at each other like dogs, but if you look at him for too long, you start to forgive him. He's already forgiven you, which is infuriating.
4. Set aside your issues for now. 
5. Take Simon Kain’s body and cut it up. 
6. The result will look like this: (a picture of you being hunted by steppe nightmares, alone and waiting to die). 
7. You have a hard time understanding why he goes to such lengths to save you. 
8. Do not fall in love with him again. When this doesn't work, attempt to join the army.
9. Wait for him to chase you down and beg you to stay. Don’t panic if this doesn’t happen right away; he has a lot on his plate right now.
10. Agree to move in with him and become his assistant. 
11. Mix until dough forms.
12. Let rest.

Assembly:

(Feeds a small family)

1. Divide the dough. Try to keep Murky from leaving small floury handprints on the cupboards.
2. Roll and form into circles. Hold the open circle in your palm, flat, like you’re feeding a skittish animal. Let Sticky drop a spoonful of meat into it.
3. Fold the edges and press them with your fingers. It should resemble a swevery bloom when you're finished. 
4. Give the dumplings to Artemy so they can be steamed. He compliments them as he arranges them in the pot, even though they look a little misshapen. “Should we put Murky in? She looks like a little dumpling.” Murky ducks her head and pouts, trying not to smile.
5. “We have to be patient now,” he tells the children. “Can’t open it until they’re finished.”
6. While you’re waiting, help him clean up. Listen to him hum an old Steppe song to himself. Kiss him. When done right, he rests his hands on your shoulders and leans against you. 
7. Serve warm.