Warmest place in winter

[1stmacleod]

((This is an open post intended for anybody who'd like to play a thread visiting Connor at his forge. I consider any threads on this post fair game for Kai to jump in on, too. Additional similar posts available on request!))



The smithy, Connor's pride and joy, is technically a refurbished shed a little ways out from the back of the house he shares with Kairos. What started as an ivy covered, mostly stone building has since had most of one wall removed and replaced with a set of barn doors, with a sturdy support beam between them. It makes the place drafty and cold in winter, when it's not in use, but once the big forge has been going for an hour or two, it can get hot enough that the open doors let in a welcome breeze.

He has the doors open now, and the open side of the building faces the huge garden plot that takes up much of the back yard. It's covered with snow, now, cross-crossed with doggy pawprints of two different sizes. There's a semicircle of ground before the open doors that's free of snow, although it may be muddy in places. Frequent opening and closing of the doors combined with the heat of the place have melted it away. The sound of hammer on anvil rings out across the yard, and Sorcha is rolling at the edge of the snow with a big stick dragged from the nearby woodsy patch. It's a peaceful scene.

Comments

[1stmacleod]

"Nothing you can't heal from." Connor flashes an impish little grin. It's a common joke in those rare immortal friendships, but he does mean it. Balthazar may be a little more fragile than he's used to, but he knows how to pull his blows.

His gaze drops, though, and he fiddles with a pair of tongs left lying on a nearby table. "Sometimes I think I've been down most of my life, with just a few bright spots."

[grimholdkeeper]

"Sure, just keep in mind I don't heal the way you do." He nudges him with his elbow, but he's not really worried. An immortal in a world of mortals learns pretty quickly how much to pull blows.

He sobers at Connor's confession, though. "That's...a hard thing to say. I'm sorry. I'm...not sure what to tell you."

The last thing Balthazar wants to do is start calculating percentages. He's been on his quest for too long. But... "Maybe you should give the bright spots more credit. You've been down, but you've never been out."

[1stmacleod]

Connor glances up again with a wry little smile, slightly skeptical. "I'm not sure how you mean that. The bright spots are important, though. I wouldn't be able to keep going without them." He's thinking of Heather, at least partly. Having that stability and love earlier in his immortal life has been a piece of warmth he's carried with him through the centuries, and he'd be a different man without it.

[grimholdkeeper]

"You've maintained a sense of self, all this time. Not saying you've never strayed. I'm sure you have. But you've found your way back to something worth living for. I know how hard that is."

[1stmacleod]

Connor's gaze drops again, and he continues to play with the tongs, tracing the handles absently for the sake of something to fiddle with. "I didn't find my way. I've just been lucky to run into people who pulled me back from over the edge." He includes Balthazar in that, as well as Clark and April, even if Kairos is the most obvious figure. Reuniting with his kinsman was a desperately needed step in there, too.

[grimholdkeeper]

"Well...I'm glad you let yourself get pulled." He elbows him in the side lightly. "Sometimes we need someone else to remind us what we're living for."

[1stmacleod]

Connor makes a face good-naturedly. "I'm glad you're doing better, too."

[grimholdkeeper]

"So, when shall we have a sparring match/drinking session/doggy play-date next?" He grins, mostly joking. Sparring match and drinking session don't belong in the same afternoon, but any other combination ought to work.

[1stmacleod]

They go together in Connor's world, but Balthazar may not want to try matching him for that. Drunk sparring could go wrong very fast.

"Heheh, anytime. I'm not really busy, you know. But Kai might want to be in on this." Not the sparring part, mind you, but she could watch and she'd want Regina to be a part of the doggy play.

[grimholdkeeper]

"I wonder if Maximus would like to come. It would be nice if you two met." Admittedly, he's not sure how well they would get along, but they're both his friends. His first BFF, lost and found again, plus a new friend who's the closest he's had in a very long time.

"But, yes, absolutely, Kai should come, with Regina. We could ask Jelani, too."

[1stmacleod]

"I think... you've mentioned him before..." Connor moves on slowly, trailing towards the wall where there's a sword rack. "You're starting to make it sound like a party."

It's not that he doesn't like all these people, Kai and Jelani and Balthazar, and his unknown friend, but all of them at once is a lot.

[grimholdkeeper]

Fortunately, Balthazar can read that tone of voice. Oops. He forgot he was more gregarious than Connor. "Too much? Sorry. Let's just do you and me and Kai, then, for now. Maybe I'll throw a party if I buy a cottage in the Nexus."

[1stmacleod]

He shrugs, just a little sheepish. "That's fine. And I'll come to your party." Because Kai will want to come, and feel obligated, but he may play wallflower. Connor is gruff and prickly, but under that he's a little shy.

"What do you want for a housewarming gift?" The sword rack was an easy pick for Jelani's new home, but Balthazar he's less sure of.

[grimholdkeeper]

"Well, I haven't even looked for a place yet. I'll let you know later." He laughs.

[1stmacleod]

"Well, I'll bring you a bottle of something, at least." Whatever he brings ought to be good. Connor has expensive tastes.