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

[keenly]

"It's nothing to do with logic," Colin says with some amusement. "It's to do with the hope that sharing humiliation might cut it in half."

Some of the more complex emotions and auras still elude Colin a bit, but whatever it is he's sensing from Lorne, he feels oddly flattered by it. At the very least, Lorne is glad to see him, and he is glad to see Lorne. Before they move to join the dancers, Colin gets out of the way what's necessary--a big hug.

"Welcome home."

[ellrigaeta]

"Here's hoping for half instead of double. I haven't had to dance in a long while," he says, laughter in his tone. Lorne returns the hug without reservation, clapping him warmly on the back. "It's good to be home, ridiculously early snow aside."

He releases Colin and makes only a cursory step or two towards the open space used for dancing. "You're looking well. Older," Lorne tells him, chafing a hand against his jaw to indicate Colin's beard. "Good choice. How's the bakery?"

[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?"

[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.

[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."