In which Winter has a thematically appropriate query

[shardofwinter]

Not all Nexus days can be sunshine and beautiful frost patterns. Days like this are a grim, sombre grey. The mist is so thin in places that all it does is make the distance fade away sooner than normal, but it does apply a more reserved filter on a place often filled with joyous shenanigans. No, this is unmistakeably a day which makes the multiverse feel close, secretive.

It's in this clandestine scenery that Reynard strolls about. Far from hopping or skating through the landscape, he strolls about the place, setting ice on the path and covering it with a dusting of snow. In the residential and commercial districts, he's sent ice along as many pipes as he could find. As he goes he rumbles a low slow tune. Some might recognise the sea shanty when he reaches the familiar 'Ho... Ho... and up she rises...'. He's not a bad singer, all things considered.

He looks up from his work and fixes his eyes on the nearest stranger, singing fading into a deep hum and then silence before he speaks. "What is the coldest thing you've ever done? The most cold hearted act you've ever brought yourself to commit. Go ahead. I'm not one to judge."

Just as the quiet settles back into place, he pipes up again. "Actually, you can tell me the literal coldest thing you've ever done too, if you'd prefer. I can't resist a good ice story."


((Reynard is still handing out Winter Curses & Blessings and causing trouble if you would like to avail of any. Other than that: Caution to those who talk to spirits, they are proud and fickle people.))

Comments

[shardofwinter]

There is only the smallest hint of a pause at the question and then Reynard's grinning again. "We're in a multiversal Nexus. Witchcraft is the most believable thing I've heard of here."

A small chuckle escapes him at his own joking and he waits for the server to exchange old glasses for new before he speaks again. He picks up his drink, asking before he sips, "What would you like to know?"

[fruktansvard]

"Good point," he remarked with a smile and took the new drink with gratitude. This could get dangerous, you know (not really, but Fabian is a little ridiculous when he's inebriated more than he usually is. He's an ~artist~ after all). He's not some impenetrable force who's unaffected by inebriating products. Witch or not.

"Well I opt to learn more about someone by letting them choose what they want to say. So indulge me, Mr. North. Tell me a favorite story of yours."

[shardofwinter]

That may be something Fabian should keep an eye on. Reynard won't. He has no need to stop drinking these days except to put his time to better use.

Taking his drink, he hums and sips away at it while he thinks. With a long, well lived life, there are plenty of stories to choose from. Which to choose is a more difficult choice. How much to say. His own past loves aren't a topic he's keen to share. The cruelties he has inflicted upon others, and that he has endured, are stories to be earned. Yet it should be a sharing of some sort.

"The first time I met a witch, a proper witch, not a priest or priestess, I stumbled across her by accident. I was running away from a beast that hunts spirits, and rather exhausted by the chase across a mountain range. When I'd begun to reach the end of my tether, I ended up scrambling for the door of a house in the middle of a forest."

Here he stops, smiling into his drink as he gently tilts the liquid one way and another. "She was something else... Sharp as a fresh blade, pretty, and confident... As soon as she opened the door she looked between us and told me off for my rudeness, and then the beast out for chasing me. Oh, true, it was only a temporary relief, but she did drive the creature away. And, after some convincing, allowed me to come in to rest."

[fruktansvard]

Only time would tell whether Fabian was responsible enough to keep an eye on how much he was drinking but bets were, he wasn't. Not that he'd never been in a situation uncertain and intoxicated. Truly, often his usual state of existing. Nonetheless, he was content enough now to nurse his drink and listen to the man as he spoke about a time of the past.

He was running from a beast that hunts spirits. Aha, that lodged away in his mind and rolled about while he continued to listen. Fabian wasn't unacquainted with spirits. His familiar was one, an old one at that, he'd tried to get her story every once in awhile but she was a black cat. What else can be said, really? She'll do what she wants and say what she wants when she wants if she wants.

He chuckled, "do you still keep in touch with her? She sounds lovely."

[shardofwinter]

Reynard simply shakes his head. "We spent a lovely few months together. I visited her again once or twice, but..." He shrugs. "Life moves on. We learned a lot from each other, but she made it clear that ours was not a friendship to cling to. We both knew that really."

A grin pulls at his lips and he pauses, glass at his lips. "I could say that some things are better for not lasting, but I'm sure you know a little about that." Then he takes a sip.

[fruktansvard]

It was nice to hear that someone else had similar views on the coming and going of lovers or friends. Sometimes things need to pass and that was alright. Not everything needs to last forever. Not everything should- an ironic statement, all things considered. He knew that now, though.

"Mm, I do. Temporary is sometimes more beautiful than lasting."

[shardofwinter]

"Temporary is an inevitability. For most things. For most people." Eventually he himself might move on. Might die. The strange thought gets a moment and then he takes a hearty swig of his drink. Dying is something best left to other people.

[fruktansvard]

Fabian will take this moment of silence and hearty drink that follows as an opportune moment to learn more.

"So," he let's it pause a little as he takes his own glass. "you're a spirit?"

[shardofwinter]

"And you're a mage. Not an uncommon pair to meet, but usually not over drinks."

[fruktansvard]

He shrugs, "more of a kitchen witch, really. In my world there's three types of Magic users. Depends on where you draw the energy from. My familiar is a spirit, she found me in worse state."

A chuckle, "I can assume of what you're a spirit, but perhaps it's better to hear it?" Something cold, winter, or snow, or something like that he thinks.

[shardofwinter]

Nodding his understanding, he grins. "I shall have to come to you on tips to improve my stews then."

"Oh, please." He waves a hand and smiles wide in a welcoming gesture. "Guessing amuses me."

[fruktansvard]

"Particularly if you'd like a stew to help you come across money or good health," he laughed a little once more and casted a glass to his drink not remembering when he's finished that off. Oh well.

"Something to do with winter, I'd imagine. I suppose that's my guess."

[shardofwinter]

His grin widens at the laughter and he shrugs. "I wouldn't object to either."

"I'm a Spirit of Winter, yes. That is it, exactly."

[fruktansvard]

"I'll bring something for you next time I stop by, then. Are you here often?" Well, that was interesting. He hadn't met many spirits. Have met a few warlocks, though, one that had a particular affinity with ice.

[shardofwinter]

"I'm intrigued," he purrs. "I am. Funny thing, working with two Winters. It makes me far more energetic, not less. And this place is a pleasure to work with."

[fruktansvard]

"What strikes your fancy, money, health," he leaned in with a smile, "potential romantic adventures? I have a tea for that."

An idle rummage of his hands through his hair marked the continued conversation, "do you disappear in the summertime, or simply become less influential over your surroundings? Then I suppose, you could always just most to Australia in those months."

[shardofwinter]

Fabian's smile is matched with a grin. "Hm... All of those strike my fancy."

"I become more human." The shifting in his seat is only partly to hide discomfort at the thought. His tone turns playful. "Just as well, really. Mortals can't handle me like this, and I do enjoy good company."

[fruktansvard]

"I do love a hedonist," he chuckled.

He'll have to think of something to bring the next time he is around, then. Perhaps he'll bring several items and set up a tiny shop and see who wanted what. Why not, right?

"Oh? Why is that? I find you quite easy to get along with."

[shardofwinter]

"For now." Finishing off his drink punctuates the response with a short silence before he continues. "There are more dislikeable aspects to Winter. The hunting, the struggle, the treachery... But more often they don't like how cold I am."

To demonstrate, he blows a little puff of air at Fabian with a grin. It is indeed, icy and sharp.

[fruktansvard]

Was that a challenge? It was likely true. Friendships, like lovers, like people in general, come and go. Although when you live long enough you stop expecting people to hit a certain standard. You start to realize that people will be both good and bad, some more one than others, and hurt was as inevitable as joy.

It was certainly cold, and he wrinkled his face at the experience of it but sighed out when his hands found an empty drink as if that was the bigger disappointment. "I come from Sweden, my dear. Your Wintery terror does not frighten me," a light laugh. "Everyone has disagreeable components of them. Such is the balance of all things."

[shardofwinter]

The 'Sweden' comment is met with laughter and he shakes his head, grinning. His chuckling finished, he motions for more drinks. "It is, but people get touchy when they realise you're dangerous. I'm as likely to kill you during Winter as to drink with you. I won't make apologies for that. It is the way of things. Surely I'm kinder for being honest about it."

[fruktansvard]

"Admitting a bad side doesn't particularly make it better," he laughed. Not that he faulted a Spirit for being a Spirit, that was ridiculous. "People are funny things, though. Aren't they?"

[shardofwinter]

"Giving them a head start does," he jokes in return.

"That is a grand understatement." He tilts his head at the man before him. "You don't consider yourself one of them?"

[fruktansvard]

"Suppose that is so," he said, a bit calmer in manner and for a moment his attention drifted off elsewhere but he quickly came back. "I was beginning to, but I think it might be best to not."

[shardofwinter]

Waiting for the server to swap glasses for drinks again, he's quiet until they're alone. Then he'll give Fabian a curious look. "No? And why not?"