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

[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.

[petty_dabbler]

John chuckled and collected the bundle to take home.

"Let's get home. We can get her settled in the barnyard and eat. Did you have a good day?" he asked, rather pleased that he'd distracted Winter long enough to get him a surprise.

If he could keep it hidden...

[winter_wisp]

"Yeah, I like when we go places. It feels special," Winter admitted. "We should go places more often."

[petty_dabbler]

"What sorts of places do you want to go to?" He asked.

Because gods knew the places he went alone would be no fun at all for Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"I dunno," Winter admitted, shrugging one shoulder and taking some of the food from John to help carry it home. "Fun places. Pretty places."

[petty_dabbler]

"I haven't been to anywhere fun in quite some time," John said. "In the spring there will be more to do."

He opened the portal and stepped through to the tower. THe weather was much colder and a soaking mist was hanging in the air.

"Put the goat in the pen and I'll set up our feast," he said, giving Winter's shoulder a squeeze.

[winter_wisp]

Winter nodded a little, taking the goat to the pen and making sure there was plenty of hay and bedding.

He eventually joined John, lingering so close he had to be in the way.

[petty_dabbler]

John was just finishing a pot of cocoa for them both. Once oured, he produced a paper packet and opened it to reveal two peppermint sticks. He dropped Winter's in his cup and handed it to him.

"Sit down, sit down," he scolded, taking his own cup.

And a meat pie in his fist.

He settled into his favourite chair before the fire.

[winter_wisp]

"I like this," Winter said as he sat, happily sipping his drink. "It's delicious."

[petty_dabbler]

"I like it on a night when snow is on the wind. We'll be covered by morning," he said. "It'll be a cold night."

He took a sip.

"A good night to not sleep alone."