nexus_sages | In which Winter has a thematically appropriate query

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.))

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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."

"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.

"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."

"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."

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."

"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."

"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.

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."

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."

"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?"

"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?"

"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."

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?"

"It's easier to think of yourself as inhuman than to think if yourself as a human being who just happened to make atrocious decisions. If I'm human, than that means I had choice and I chose wrong." He paused, and leaned an elbow on the back of his chair.

Reynard's brow comes together in a frown as he works this one out. "So... You say it, even though you know it's not true, to make yourself feel better, even though it doesn't really, because you know it's a lie?"

"Never underestimate the ability to convince yourself of complete garbage, most of the world sustains on is." Of course, it didn't work in his case and he's more than sure that Raynard has figured that much out, but you couldn't blame him for trying could you?

Here an eyebrow goes up sceptically. "Some garbage smells too foul to ignore for long."

In which Winter has a thematically appropriate query

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