30th Searing 124 The discussions as to what to use in the creation of the commission had gone on for days. The final conversation had barely involved Torin at all as two of the eldest apprentices had sat facing one another across one of the meal tables one evening arguing the merits and drawbacks o...

24rd Searing, 124 Torin had never been one to settle for the simple when it came to his crafts. Had always pushed himself beyond what his teachers demanded, sought paths beyond what was already known. Here in Sol'Valen, he had spent the first month of his training doing the opposite. The teachers a...

In one moment Torin went from feeling at connect to the world around him in harmony to feeling like he was a confused and awkward foreigner again. The appearance of the statuesque elven women went entirely without his noticed as he procured snacks. At least until Sivan's aura went all embarrassed a...

In the months that he had spent under the tutelage of those who had once studied under Sivan's beloved master, Torin had learned that it was easier for him to make his way through the city dressed as a craftsman. He had tried, in the first few weeks, to dress in the native fashions but this had ear...

The chance to see a Sol'Valen festival celebrated had been enough to pull Torin away from his studies and the projects that they had led to. With Sivan at his side, clad in the work of local tailors for the occasion, at least he need not be ashamed. No more so than the shame associated with feeling...

The smith listened, intent on Sivan's words enough that he forgot to eat while he was speaking. Torin had explained his own history, in the dark on nights when he needed comfort more than sleep. His lovers both knew of his father's treatment of him, of his mother's flight with him, of his life as a...

The smith nodded enthusiastically. He wanted to try as much of the local food as he could while he was in the city, but they had time and after exasperating their hunger with affectionate activities he was more than ready to take whatever interesting option presented itself first. They emerged from...

The human listened, carefully ensuring that each corner and under each table and shelf were swept clean without needing the use of his mind. He had thought about being boys with both of his lovers, what that might have been like. Aurin would have been an older boy to look up to, if their ages remai...

As soon as he walked into the workrooms of Tavárinoikos, Torin had felt the history of the place. The whole city had a history, but most cities did and it wasn't something he ever really felt. But the dark woods of the floors, stained by the passage of many feet, the dark and bright oiled metals of...

Torin nodded, his alcohol slowed mind turning the statement over in and applying it to himself. "Yeah. Me too. I mean, you make me feel that way too." He needed to feel 'normal' in one sense, because he'd always been an outsider, and he wanted to feel special in another. Maybe part of the...