OPEN | this winter brings all the cold to the yard

[northcliffpass]

𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝

surprise!

I. Snow!

A mere week after the grisly discovery in the Deep Forest and the subsequent dispersal of the eerie spectral visitors, all Northcliff Pass residents wake one exceptionally frigid morning to find themselves buried under several feet of snow. It is of the light and fluffy variety--at least for now--which provides no shortage of entertainment for the village children, and means one is less likely to throw one's back out while trying to shovel it clear of doorways and the streets.

That is your first order of business, as it happens: free yourselves from your wintry entrapment. Or don't, if you've got enough food and drink squirrelled away in your tiny peasant house that you don't need to venture out into the elements. The world is your cold, shitty, socially stratified oyster; ditch your responsibilities, sleep in.

II. Fete! at ye olde tavern

All Souls' Day came and went, and nobody can really be blamed for forgetting about it what with the ghosts and the gloomy business of seeing to the bodies. All that aside the Hammer and Spoke seems especially welcoming that first wintry night, once all the snow shovelling is finished and the streets are clear enough for foot traffic again; lit lanterns glow warmly outside the door, and from within come the sounds of joyful music. Fiddles, whistles, a drum, and plenty of laughter; it seems the snow has stranded a troupe of minstrels in the village, which means at least two or three nights of great fun for village residents.

In truth it will take more than a few nights of drunk mischief to lift the pall cast across the village after the previous month's discoveries, but maybe that's why so many people gravitate to the light and levity and warmth of a party. After such a close call with so much death, it's good to remind oneself that there's joy in the world, too.

III. Cramped Quarters

The nights might be filled with good company, food, and drink, but during the day the village has to contend with another frustration: the roads in and out of Northcliff Pass are closed until the snow melts.

This is a common experience--in late December, January, and February. Not so much in November, when farmers are preparing to take their surplus harvest and livestock down the mountain to Cliffside, or when caravans with schedules to keep to are preparing to head east towards Woodsedge. (The only road clear in that direction is guaranteed to take them past Turn--something no one wants to risk.) Even a few late-season pilgrims have found themselves stuck between Gods' Reach at the summit of the mountain, and the creature comforts of Cliffside below.

There's nothing to be done for it, of course, except to endure the unusually crowded streets, the lack of vacancies at the tavern, and the occasional herd of sheep or goats picketed in very odd places.

Comments

[ellrigaeta]

The fact that Dain had gotten so caught up with the snowball fight not to think about his position, and that by comparison Lorne had been, says quite a lot about Dain. So too does the easy way he introduces himself. Lorne is a little bit regretful that he's reminded Dain to be more serious, though he's well familiar with the mantle of duty. Perhaps too familiar, seeing as he's barely cracked a real smile this whole time.

"That's a philosophy I can get behind. It's refreshing," Lorne says. For a Shepherd, he does not say. He's accustomed to dour and grim faces, not fun. Ever. But Lorne has witnessed the hardship children have experienced in this village and elsewhere, and people who are kind to children in an unkind world are worth paying attention to. "Shepherds usually keep their distance," he adds diplomatically. "And adults here are often so fed up with snow, year after year, that it's hard to take any enjoyment from it."

Speaking of hair being down, Lorne glances around for the missing scarf. "I imagine you didn't plan to be stuck here for the winter. Are you staying with the vicar for the time being?"

[shepherddain]

Because it defies easy explanation, or to avoid further scrutiny from the church? Dain frowns, weighing between asking for more information and staying on the good side of the Captain of the Watch; but in the end, it's an easy choice to make.

"Thank you," Dain says. "That's already more information than I expected." He gestures at the tavern he'd been heading toward. "Can I bring you anything? A hot drink, or some food?"

[ferruginous]

"... I see."

That makes her ... strangely upset in a way. No, not upset, sad? That's not right either. Regardless there's an odd stone of emotion sinking in her chest.

"I don't think many would feel honored by drinking and dancing."

[ferruginous]

"Is he any good?"

Might as well get the information from the source. She has a feeling he'll be honest if she's about to get a very, very temporary fix.

[ferruginous]

Fíadh's bought enough candles in her lifetime to know around where it should come out to, and sixpence doesn't exactly add up. She narrows her eyes at the candles then looks up to Kendrick.

"Are these damaged or something?"

[keenly]

"Um, no? Those were new to us." But immediately Colin has to think about whether what he just said is true. "Except for the forest. People go missing in it, especially at night. Everyone knows not to do that now."

[keenly]

Oh, that's what inspired that spark of admiration Colin sensed. His hand goes to his face automatically, and he beams at the compliment.

"It's good! I mean, everyone needs bread, so it's a pretty stable job. Except for the week everyone fasts. What are you doing these days?"

[shepherddain]

Dain's never been very good at keeping his distance, both for legitimate and for indefensible reasons. He doesn't say that out loud, though, even in a village so far away from everything else and choked by snow for six months out of the year. Even though it's just been about as obvious as it can be.

He does laugh about the latter part. "I certainly didn't," he admits. "Strictly speaking, I'm not meant to be away for so long, but there's nothing anyone can do. And yes, Father Normand was generous enough to offer me some room at the chapel." Dain pauses, studying Lorne, a man so ready to stoop to childish enjoyment, but without the ready smile that usually comes with such a penchant. "And you? You're clearly not so fed up with snow. Are you a seasonal traveller as well?"

[pestler]

"Well," Finian pauses to bite his lower lip.
"Whatever makes you feel like you're alive, I guess," he says with a self-conscious shrug of his shoulder. "I think... I like that we celebrate, because we're showing them we don't take our time for granted."

[ferruginous]

Again there's the press in her chest, and she can't stop herself from sounding bitter as her words come out.

"This is taking it for granted. Singing, dancing, pissing the troubles away while the troubles are still out there. We can do better for the ones we've lost. For the dead in the woods."

The last words come out rushed and tacked on, but she knows she means them. Maybe it got to her worse than she thought. Or maybe winter is just miserable despite the forced joy.

[pestler]

Finian looks a bit surprised by Fiadh's shift in demeanor, but he holds his ground, just thinking on it silently for a moment. Then, "...well... sometimes the only better you can do is to keep living your life, and trying to stop people being taken before their time."
He frowns.
"For the dead in the woods, though. Yeah." Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighs. "The Watch-- they're stretched so thin just in town, there's no way they could patrol the roads too. But if you have any ideas, I bet they'd like to hear them." While it would be easy enough to say any of this with derision or judgment, Finian is, as ever, completely sincere.

[ferruginous]

"You can't just live your life and stop people from being hurt. It's one or the other, you have to make a choice."

She made hers. The weight in her chest shifts to something more familiar, guilt. Disgust. She shouldn't be here.

"Maybe I should talk to the Watch Captain, though" she stands, wiping her hands on her pants, more as something to do with her hands than anything else.

[pestler]

It's an odd stance to take while talking to the friendlier of the town's medics, but even so Finian responds only by looking slightly troubled. He watches her stand, sipping his drink and deliberating on whether or not to say more; and ultimately, he decides on it.

"Sometimes people can't be saved," he says quietly, "...that's not your fault."

[ellrigaeta]

It's always nice to see Colin smiling like that, unreservedly, and an echoing smile tugs at Lorne's mouth.

"I'm glad to hear it all the same." Stability sometimes feels very hard to come by, which may explain in part why he's come back. "Ideally, I'll be serving in the Watch here after I pay the Captain a visit. I decided to move back home." A touch sheepishly: "I'd have sent a message but I wasn't certain I'd get here before the roads were impassable."

He has very few personal possessions, so it was a simple enough choice to pack everything up and leave. Dragging a wagon with him would almost certainly have slowed his pace and delayed his arrival for months.

[ellrigaeta]

The corner of Lorne's mouth twitches up, the barest suggestion of a smile. "No, I grew up here and started plenty of snowball fights when I was their age," he answers, a touch wry. "My father is the magistrate. I've been living in a nearby village for a number of years and decided it was time to come back home."

Ah - he catches a glimpse of cloth beneath some kicked-up snow and goes to retrieve what turns out to be Dain's scarf. He shakes it out a bit to get most of the snow off, but it's going to be wet and chilly and therefore basically useless for its intended purpose. "You'll probably be able to send word of your status with one of the messenger birds; there aren't many and they can't fly during storms, but it's better than nothing." Lorne holds the scarf out to Dain. "In the meantime, you may wish to go somewhere warm before you catch a cold. The tavern sometimes has hot cider."

There is the lilt of invitation in Lorne's tone without words actually getting involved. He's Officially Curious about this Shepherd but doesn't want to be nosy.

[keenly]

A look of stunned surprise, then the gladdest smile yet.

"Really? You're back for good?"

[ellrigaeta]

"That's the plan," Lorne confirms, flashing him a grin. There's no way to anticipate exactly what the future might bring, but his every intention is to stay.

"Almost everything and everyone I care about is here except Camilla and Roland, and their families. When Pippa isn't off getting herself into trouble, that is." His expression is of resigned fondness and he shrugs lightly. "It made sense."

[keenly]

Camilla is someone Lorne cares about, which means Colin is as well. It's a nice realization.

"Between your long journey and the good news, are you up for dancing, or should we go to my house to celebrate? I don't know if you've eaten. And the food here's...I mean, it's food." But it's not like real home cooking.

[ellrigaeta]

Despite the myriad complications surrounding welcoming his foster siblings to the family (beyond even the rumors of magic), Colin and Camilla are family in Lorne's eyes. Blood isn't everything. Lorne resolves show that more often, where he can.

He considers the out Colin is giving him to escape dancing. "One dance, it's only fair of me," Lorne replies. "Then I'll gladly take you up on some of your cooking."

[ferruginous]

Fíadh's breath hitches as he says it, and that stone in her chest seems to sink harder and harder until it explodes into a fire of anger. She whirls on the boy with a look of rage etched into her face but eyes wide. Her mouth opens to say something, then closes. What does he know? But he's a medic, he does know. But that doesn't mean he's experienced the worst of it. But maybe he has. Logic and rage war in her brain as she flaps her mouth like a fish until finally something instinctively pops out.

"Trasna ort féin!"

She jams her hand into her coinpurse and slams some money on the table, not bothering to count the amount.

"This was a mistake."

She whirls to the door and strides to leave, brushing people aside easily.

[shepherddain]

"Ah, Magistrate Emery Ward." Dain's heard quite a few things by this point, and all of them good. In fact, not many people have had a bad word to say about anyone living here. Quite different from Fairport, and very refreshing.

It also serves as a good reminder that many of the people Dain speaks to in this village will be related to each other in some form or other.

He makes a mental note about the messenger birds, takes his wet scarf back, and glances longingly towards the tavern. It's not quite time for a break yet, but it is rude to ignore an invitation, and he wasn't counting on getting soaked with snow when he planned his day. "Yes," he answers slowly, "I think I will. They say you'll grow accustomed to the cold in a matter of days, but I'm beginning to think I'm the exception to that rule."

And then, both an offer to pay and a brief clarification in case Dain misunderstood: "Would you like some as well?"

[engravitas]

"When he's back," Ben says, with growing irritation. He's not his partner's keeper! What a stupid question.

[engravitas]

This seems to strike a cord.
"Of course he's good," Ben snaps, glancing at her like he can't believe she'd ask such a foolish question. "He's rebuilt half this ramshackle shitheap."

[beane]

"What? No! No, goodness me, it's a discount for your labor," He gestures to the cauldron. The last thing he expects is anyone to help him set up shop, so her doing so automatically, even such a small action, is surprising and appreciated.

[beane]

"Oh. I see. Well, that's at once reassuring and...worrying. I'll remember to steer clear of the forest, I suppose."