Well at least Ben has something in common with the neighbours now.

He allows himself to be led closer to their modest hearth, bag forgotten by the door for the moment. There's nothing in there that won't keep until morning anyway, and certainly nothing that he would prioritize over the man in front of him. "Not bad," he answers, "it was good work, decent pay. Still not sure why some guy in Cliffside wanted a carpenter from up the mountain, but it's enough coin to get us through the winter months."

He peels his gloves off and, flexing his fingers, holds them out towards the fire, thawing some of the chill that has worked its way deep into his bones. He gives Ben an askance look. "How long has all this--" and Ben should definitely know what that means, "--been going on?"