Winter

[petty_dabbler]

The winter was miserable. John was tired of the cold. He grumbled as he gathered wood and stoked the fire, magic making it blaze to chase away the morning chill as quickly as possible. He made his tea and smoked his pipe and waited for Winter to turn up. Sometimes he slept late, sometimes John never heard him duck out to bother the chickens or gather dawn mushrooms.

John had a thought and smiled to himself. The midwinter preparations would be well underway in the King's Realm. Maybe he could convince the pixie to come to the market with him.

Comments

[winter_wisp]

"I like it," Winter said. "I like you," he added quietly.

[petty_dabbler]

John heard him, ndca beat layer, he heard him. It made him stop in his tracks.

"Say that again?" he asked, wanting to be sure hecwasnt having some senile fantasy.

[winter_wisp]

"I said I like the tower- And I like you," Winter replied, shrugging one shoulder and trying not to look embarrassed.

[petty_dabbler]

John smiled at that.

"I like you, too, Winter," he replied.

He didn't understand why Winter would, John thought he was rather unpleasant, but the pixie did many things that surprised him.

[winter_wisp]

Winter lit up at that, grinning and bouncing just a bit as they walked.

[petty_dabbler]

"Is that really why you want to be in my room?" John asked, finally eating the chestnut now that it was a bit cooler.

[winter_wisp]

"I dunno, maybe..." Winter said softly. "It is cold though, I wasn't lying" he added quickly.

[petty_dabbler]

"I wouldn't mind if you joined me," he said, trying to keep it casual even though his heart beat a bit faster.

[winter_wisp]

"Yeah?" Winter smiled. "Sometimes I worry you think about me like a kid, like you do Q, but I'm grown."

[petty_dabbler]

John didn't want to point out that everyone was a child when you got to be as old as he was.

"No, you're different than Q," he nodded, though looking at Winter in the lad's left behind jumper did tug at his heart.

[winter_wisp]

Winter grinned, holding John's arm and leaning into him.

"What should we buy the chickens?" he asked.

For a being that had been on the planet for a solid thirty years, Winter did still have a very youthful attitude.

[petty_dabbler]

"It's midwinter, why don't we get them a treat? Maybe they'd like to peck a winter squash for a change?" John suggested thoughtfully.

Though he wasn't much thinking about chickens with Winter so close.

[winter_wisp]

"Oh! Yes, they would like that. A big squash," Winter nodded. "Oh! Look at those blankets!" he said, slowing to a stop and pointing as a display of thick wool blankets.

[petty_dabbler]

"Do you think you need another blanket? I have so many on my bed," John said. "But if you'd like one of your own, we could get one."

[winter_wisp]

"No, I will share yours," Winter said, shaking his head. "It's warmer if we share."

[petty_dabbler]

"I promise I'll keep you warm," he smiled, then slowly, gently slipped his arm around him to pull him close.

John was remarkably warm. he didn't mind the drafty, dark tower because the cold didn't much touch him. The fire that burned within him, the magic he drew his power from, it was enough to keep him warm, and Winter, too.

[winter_wisp]

Winter leaned in, pleased to be held. It had been so long since he'd been held- And even then, it had been by someone he hadn't wanted. ...He wanted John. He couldn't explain it, but the man was often on his mind, especially at night when he was all alone. He thought about John. What he'd say to him, what he might do with him.

[petty_dabbler]

John was happy to wander the market, looking at cheeses and toys, blankets and bags. He stopped at one stall and began to look at shiny trinkets and jewelry.

He found one he liked, but with Winter there, he couldn't buy it for the holiday...

"Say," he said. "Go over there and ask that man where to get a goat."

He pointed at a young man with a sleeping dog. John knew he was the butcher's son, and would tie Winter up long enough that he could swap his coin in secret.

[winter_wisp]

"Oh! Yes! Goats!" Winter peeped, rushing off to do just that. He and the boy vanished for a bit. He returned a while later with a baby goat, it's fur black and a silver bell around it's neck.

"Look!" Winter said excitedly. "Isn't she lovely? And they said we can have it for free. He said this makes you even though? I dunno what that means, but she's a good goat."

[petty_dabbler]

John had pocketed away the shiny bauble he'd picked for Winter's gift and smiled at the pixie when he returned.

"Even? If I'd have known he was willing to give me a goat, we could have already had a goat," he chuckled. "Should we take her home? We can stop and get some pies to take home."

He smiled fondly at Winter.

"And cake."

[winter_wisp]

The pixie's eyes lit up at the mention of cake, and he nodded excitedly. "Yes, let's."

The goat was on a little lead, and Winter held tight as they walked.

"What should we name her?" he asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"A sensible name," John said thoughtfully, leading them to a stall with all sorts of pies, meat and veg and sweet, too. There were pastries and cakes, and grilled meat on a stick.

John ordered dinner and thought a moment.

"What about Agnes?"

[winter_wisp]

"I was thinking princess fluffy bum, but your name is good too," Winter replied, distracted now that food was about.

"I'm sure she'll like whatever we call her, so long as it's never dinner."

[petty_dabbler]

"Princess Agnes Fluffy Bum," John said as he handed the money over.

"We're going to need to find her a prince in the spring. Then we can have milk. And I'll show you how to make cheese," he said as he finally allowed himself to picture a future with Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"Do you want a prince?" Winter asked the goat.

Thankfully, the goat did not answer.