Treading Air [Sivan & Torin]

[Sivan]

That his sentiment was witnessed and shared gave Sivan an unaccustomed feeling of warmth inside, a feeling as though he were a part of something, even if it was only a virtuous circle of affection. He smiled. There were compliments and support, things he hadn't asked for and didn't realize he might have always needed. There would be a great deal to unpack later.

Offering the squealmouse a hand up, he deposited his little friend upon his knee where it would be close enough for Torin to reach out and pet or feed him. All in all, he was a well-behaved little scavenger, content now that he wouldn't go hungry in Sivan's garden.

He was careful not to laugh at Destyn's admission. There was always something playful and silly about him, but he didn't know how to tell him so in a way that celebrated it rather than denigrated it. The world was so often a serious place. People like Destyn were a light.

"You are safe to relax here," he promised. "If you drink too much to fly home, you can stay the night." He turned his head toward Torin, too. "Both of you." Whether they took him up on it now or ever didn't matter. His bed was small, but the grass was comfortable and the night would be warm enough and the thought of sleeping between them wasn't an uncomfortable thought, which was also something to unpack later.

He was certain there were untoward things that could be read into his statement, but so far, these two had shown the patience to learn to communicate with him and so if they took things amiss, he had to trust they would seek clarification.

[Torin Kilvin]

The touch was comfortable and familiar, regardless of the time that had passed since it had been common. Torin's only outward response to the warm, slightly sticky hand on his leg was to move into it minutely while continuing to let his attention concentrate on the words being spoken between the three. His grin flashed at the mention of being silly when drinking and he nodded,

"I can get a little silly too." The color that rose to his face was not from the wine or the silliness but from the memories of times he'd done things that were embarrassing but not exactly silly, with Aurin, when they'd been drinking.
Moving with exaggerated care he offered tiny bits of food to the little rodent, delighted in turn by both its willingness to take things directly from his huge hands and its selectiveness in rejecting some of his offerings. It had tastes of its own, it seemed.

The offer to spend the night made Torin less hesitant to eat and drink as his desire dictated, he had slept over before, though unintentionally, and felt easy doing so. When his belly was full and the wine was buzzing pleasantly in his head he lay back on the soft grass and stretched expansively. It had been a long week.

"I hope to have a home of my own soon, not so nice as this, at first, but I'd still like to have you both over some time. To teach me how to have a garden and let me repay you in food and warmth."

It was plenty warm enough to be outside then, but Ash would grow cold and Frost would make being outside uncomfortable at best. Lolling his head from where he had been smiling absently at Destyn, mind wandering over the small changes in Destyn's features, both from growing up and the particularities of his race, he met Sivan's eye.

"I noticed you have a basement now. Was that there before and I just missed it or have you been secretly digging away in your spare time?" The other apprentice didn't seem to have much spare time, so building a basement in the little while since he'd moved into the cottaged seemed unlikely but then, maybe elves had energy more boundless than Torin knew.

[Destyn]

Treading Air

69 Searing 121

Destyn nodded, brow furrowed in an expression abounding with gravitas.

"That is a good offer, Sivan. Usually I would not worry about flying at night, but the Avialae are really bad flyers." He wrinkled his nose, "They are so aggressive! They will brush right past you- bump into you almost! And they will not even say they are sorry. They will only grunt at you like it is your fault." He huffed. Destyn obviously didn't know the customs of Kalzasi very well. Least of all, it seemed, their air traffic etiquette.

If there was aught beyond neighbourly concern to be mined from Sivan's offer, Destyn was entirely oblivious. His current focus was upon the honey as he scooped up another fingerful. He arched an eyebrow toward Torin at his mention of acquiring his own home.

"I do not understand why anyone would want to live in a house by themselfs." He took his cup in both hands and sipped the wine. It didn't taste very good with his tongue still sweet with honey. The contrast seemed to bring out a vinegary tartness that wrinkled Destyn's nose.

"We just should all get a house together. Or make this one bigger and live here." He announced, guilelessly. "Sivan keeps so much company here that you would never be lonely." His eyes darted up to the air and the many things that hovered there. "Ever."

He tried another sip of the wine to see if it was improved at all after a bit of space from the honey. He found that it was, though he wished it were sweet. As Torin broached the basement, of which Destyn had no knowledge, he wondered to himself how honeyed wine tasted good even though wine followed by honey did not.

Treading Air

[Sivan]

"I'm never silly," he said with a straight face, but it quickly broke and he ducked his head. Of course, he had heard Torin's plans for a forge and a home of his own, and knew it was coming sooner rather than later. He smiled encouragingly. "If there is room for a garden, I will certainly help. If not, there are plants that will happily grow in windows."

At Torin's question, he smiled and shrugged.

"I'm not certain how to explain it. I mean, the sprites help with everything, of course. In the garden and in the house. But they're getting stronger. I didn't realize that was even possible; at least, not so quickly. I feed them aether, of course, per the arrangement keeping them here, but they seem to be learning and growing. Anyway, Geb was first tasked with plugging the holes that were letting freezing draughts in. Then he was helping reinforce the roof and some of the structure. He's been pulling earth and stone out from under us and transmuting it... so I have been able to direct him into more complex tasks. The best bits of earth end up in the garden for the plants. The strongest stone is helping him... make the cottage grow. The ceiling is actually higher now and eventually, I think there will be a second floor. Who knows? I may end up with a sort of wizard's tower eventually..."

He smiled a little lop-sided. The idea of staying long enough for that was new, though a part of him wouldn't have minded if they could have strapped whatever he and Torin needed for their magic to carts and gone traveling with Destyn, with Flower, and with IX. Perhaps Torin might even bring his secret lover. In truth, he didn't know what the future might bring, though he supposed even Destyn might enjoy a sort of eyrie atop a tower.

To Destyn, "I suppose 'tis best to observe Avialae rules in their city, but I hope they don't crash into you and hurt you all over again."

He frowned a little at the thought. If such a thing happened, he would have to bring Destyn to live here. He was certain with his growing strength, Khal could keep the garden balmy enough even in winter for Destyn to be comfortable recuperating there. But his frown was quickly quirked by a smile as it seemed Destyn wouldn't mind if this cottage grew in size as well. Perhaps he would quit his palatial home to flit between Sivan's garden and the garden he would help Torin build wherever his new home was. He hoped it was close enough that they could see each other often.

As he eyed Destyn and his many faces as he sipped the wine, he asked, "What sort of wine do you like best so I can have some on hand for whenever you are here?" He had been to taverns with Torin before and thought he had a fairly good idea of what the man liked. "I want to be a good host."

[Torin Kilvin]

The smith was full, and beginning to feel the effects of the wine, as well as the comfort of the warm garden evening.

"I don't want to live alone." He answered idly, not a request of any kind, merely confirming that Destyn had the right of things. "You should come stay with me if you ever get tired of living in a palace." He smiled down at the Fae as though he entirely meant the offer but did not expect it to be accepted. Turning his gaze on Sivan he added,

"I want you there as often as you want to be. I know your garden will always be nicer, but it'll help me feel at home if the place has the sense of you." The words made perfect sense to him.

Leaning down till he was laid out on his side, head resting on his hand with his elbow in the grass he watched Sivan, rapt, as the elf explained the changes taking place in his bonded sprites as well as his home.

"That's amazing." Torin loved the little bundles of light and feeling that flitted through the garden. The drone of the new bees making their home and the sound of the night breezes rustling through Flower's tree made the whole situation feel complete, somehow.

A frown to match Sivan's appeared at the idea of anyone hurting Destyn more, and he made a little motion with his body as though he wanted to pull the Fae to him and cuddle him back against the solid comfort Torin's chest offered. He didn't say anything to the effect, nor try and pull his friend closer to him. They had spent nights close like that in their youth, listening to the stories of the elders around the tribe's fires, so the human hoped his friend knew he was welcome if he wanted closeness. Grief struck people differently, and sometimes it was a whole before one wanted closeness. That was okay, Destyn could take all the time he needed, or cling if that was wanted instead.

The conversation passing between the other two blonds kept his interest even as a part of his mind simply relaxed and drifted.

[Destyn]

Treading Air

69 Searing 121

Destyn parted his lips to counter Sivan's seeming endorsement of potted plants, but then he thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut again. He had to remind himself that city folk had different ways, and he was the odd one out here. It was a lesson frequently hammered home, and one he was only beginning to learn after so much time in Kalzasi.

As Sivan spoke of his spritely assistants, Destyn pursed his lips slightly. His own connection to the spirit world had quite dwindled of late. He hadn't noticed it straight away, as his concerns had been elsewhere in the immediate aftermath of his traumatic loss, but now things that had once seemed effortless riddled him with doubt. Those doubts had formed battalions that crippled his Craft, so that even now he needed to consciously expend effort to see the spirits present. If he wasn't thinking about them, he didn't see them. It hadn't always been thus, but more and more now...

"Avialae are too slow to hit me. They are just..." He sought out the word, and chuckled when he remembered the Common term: "...clumsy." There was no denying it was a silly word and sounded very much like the attribute it described. He didn't pronounce it quite correctly, as he hadn't quite mastered when to use a voiced S and tended to give the benefit of the doubt to its unvoiced cousin consonant.

"I... cannot answer this, Sivan. I have no tried much wine or spirit. Not enough to bear opinion, but... Mead? I have tried this and very much enjoy it." He nodded sagely, before turning his attentions to Torin.

"I do not like living in a palace. It makes me feel like a cave-dweller, which... Nothing wrong with this, but I am a child of swamp and stream. I am green, not grey. I am of Summer and castles are cold, wintery places..." He wrinkled his nose at the notion.

"I think I lose myself in the grey, sometimes..."

Treading Air

[Sivan]

While listening to his friends, Sivan realized that he rarely felt alone. Sometimes, late at night, if Master Jacun left him to his work, he was alone. All the same, the celestial he hoped to form a Sacrament with tended to be awake in his mind, observing if not commenting. And his home was full of spirits, summoned as well as native, bees, a squealmouse, the faint presence of Flower, and the silent knowledge that IX remained. At least Torin would have his apprentice in his home, and his lover from time to time. And Destyn had his strange noble family.

"Of course, you are both welcome here if you ever feel lonely," he said. "I could have a key made for you, Torin, and Destyn usually comes directly to the garden, and I rarely remember to lock the back door. I mean, I'm either working or I'm here most of the time. Even if you don't necessarily want to do anything, but don't want to be alone, you know..." It was one of those times he wondered if his Common was failing him. He smiled and shrugged.

Then, as Torin was making himself comfortable, he took a bottle and scooted over to lean against the tree, which almost seemed to make room for him. Glancing down at Torin, he smiled and let his free hand fall to brush at his hair. The squealmouse scampered up his leg to perch upon his knee and peer beadily at Destyn, its little nose twitching. Then Sivan looked to the fae'ethalan, as well, concerned. Both of these two had made him more comfortable, able to accept affection. There hadn't been much of that since he left his little siblings behind in Dalquia, but he supposed one had to form an approximation of family at some point. Destyn certainly craved what had been taken away from him.

"Perhaps I ought to also commission some braziers from Torin when he has his forge. Between those and Khal, we ought to be able to keep the garden green if not summery for you. I wouldn't want you to feel gray all through Frost."

[Torin Kilvin]

Torin frowned while listening to the sadness that came into Destyn's voice while he spoke about his life in his current home. The thought of his vibrant little friend in a place that his instincts thought of as more of a prison than a palace hurt.

"Well," He said, slowly, "My house isn't grand, and it but it isn't made of stone. It's wood, though, not living wood, I'm sorry. I'd be happy for your help with the yard and the garden too, if you wanted to try. I understand if you don't, but I have extra rooms upstairs. They would need some work, since the place is old, but I can do my best."

His frown lightened and he said,

"I can make sure to keep different types of spirits and wine, so you can try them and then I can carry you up to your bed when you can't walk anymore." He found this quite clever, even if it wasn't, and almost laughed at the image of a drunk Destyn nuzzling at his chest while he hauled him up the stairs. Another image, one of only a very tired Destyn, using his wings to float him up the stairs because he didn't want to walk was equally amusing.

Perhaps Torin was starting to be drunk himself. Having another housemate would be nice, so long as...

"I hope you wouldn't mind if my... friend, came to spend the night with me." He didn't want to say 'he is safe' or 'he is nice' since neither of those things were strictly true, though Torin thought Aurin was very nice to him.

He stretched back, laying down to look up at the darkening sky, then glanced up at Sivan.

"I could make keys, if you need them. I'll have plenty of metal bits laying around to melt for them and I've made keys before. You helped me, actually, by letting me practice with gears." The hand coming to pet him was warm and welcome, and he closed his eyes for a moment, adjusting a fraction closer so his welcome would be known. His strong hand came to wrap loosely about Sivan's ankle with no thought but to anchor himself, emotionally with touch.

His mind wandered a bit but the conversation about him forging had his eyes open again,

"I think I will go to the academy, now that I have a noble house's writ to enter, and try to find schematics for something that will immidate Searing in a small space."

The garden wasn't a huge space; it felt cozy for being outdoors. Surely a runesmith in the past had come up with such a device, and even if the schema was for something grand and huge he should be able to par it down to fit something this size.

[Destyn]

Treading Air

69 Searing 121

Destyn smiled broadly, seeming suddenly transformed from sullen to celebratory.

"Then I am, as the humans say, 'spoilt for choice'!" He beamed. "I can lay my head in any season with so many options open to me." His gaze met Sivan's, then Torin's, then the squealmouse's. He tilted his head, a tad bemusedly as he regarded the little beady eyes that gaped so curiously at him.

"I think he would like to gnaw on my bark." Destyn supposed, "I will have to remember to keep my back covered if I ever sleep out here." The way he chuckled made it unclear whether or not he was making on odd joke or whether he earnestly believed the little critter might have designs on his spine.

Destyn shifted his attention back to Torin, canting his head in the opposite direction albeit with the same intention behind the gesture.

"It is your home. I would not dream of barring you from inviting your friends to visit whenever you like." He shrugged, cavalierly, and took another sip of the wine, since it seemed both of his companions were keen on having him hone his palate for such things. He let the fluid roll around in his mouth, swirling his tongue in its midst and pondering the way it tasted in the different parts of his mouth. Eventually he swallowed and nodded, sagely.

"Mhm, mhm... I am detecting, I think, the faintest hints of oak." He absolutely wasn't, but it was something he'd overheard at the party where he'd met the half-Druskai, and it had tickled him to the point of retention. "And is that a note of glapefruit?" He didn't know the Common word for grapefruit and had, apparently, misheard it uttered.

Treading Air

[Sivan]

It made Sivan smile to hear them all come together to offer support and possible solutions to their problems and worries. He was glad that one way or another, Destyn would have a friend to stay with who would want him to make their home his home. If it weren't for the roots of the tree keeping Flower's curse at bay and the weight of IX, he might have suggested they both move into Torin's home, buying a part of it in order to pay for repairs. He might even find work with Torin or for his noble patron, though he didn't let that daydreaming go too far.

The squealmouse scampered down his leg, over Torin's chest, and up to Destyn, apparently wanting to make friends with the fae'ethalan.

Sivan was also glad Torin seemed to appreciate the small gestures of physical affection. Perhaps the elf would be more demonstrative with his friends in the future, knowing it would be a virtuous circle and not an unwelcome thing.

"Well, we'll have you make keys then. One for you and one for Destyn just in case he needs to come in through the front door for any reason. And we should plan some clockwork projects to do together when work allows..." He smiled, thinking it would be helpful on many levels if he could keep clockwork and artificing in his mind more often, even getting new perspectives as he taught Torin a thing or two and the runeforger offered his unique perspectives. Then perhaps IX would come back to him as well.

"And he might sharpen his teeth on you a bit, Destyn, but I'll keep him well fed so he won't find you too appetizing."

He laughed. Summer was a good season, even here where it was mild. Soon enough the leaves would change, and soon enough the snow would come, but they were all of them magical men, and they would keep Destyn comfortable through the antipodal season. Knowing Destyn had support helped Sivan realize that he had it as well, which was new, and strangely welcome.

fin.