John

[winter_wisp]

Winter peeked through the window, then another, before fluttering in through the front door. He was doing his best to be silent, sneaking his way up to the bedroom and beaming as he saw John still in bed. Excitedly, he started to sing as he fluttered around the room. "Wake up! I'm home! Wake up, wake up!" he sang, letting out a little giggle, then landing on one of the bedposts.

Comments

[petty_dabbler]

"Of course," he said, looking over at him. "What would you like to know?"

[winter_wisp]

"If he's not your blood, who's blood is he?" Winter asked, glancing over at John. "He must be someone's blood."

[petty_dabbler]

"He's an orphan. He was lost at sea on his way to slave in the mines. But he was rescued and brought to me," John explained.

[winter_wisp]

"He's learned your magic though, not everyone can do that, no? So his blood is similar to yours, yes?" Winter asked, looking puzzled.

[petty_dabbler]

"He does have talent," he nodded. "Magic may run in his line. But we'll never know."

[winter_wisp]

"Maybe he is your blood," Winter suggested cheerfully, starting to toss mushrooms into the hot pan.

[petty_dabbler]

John wanted to discount that outright. It couldn't be possible. It simply couldn't be.

He scowled in thought as that idea settled in to linger and bother him.

"I imagine it's...possible," he grumbled.

[winter_wisp]

"There are potions to test these things," Winter added, oblivious to John's conflicted feelings. "I could brew some."

[petty_dabbler]

"That would be something to offer to him," he replied.

"But only the fates know when he'll come back."

[winter_wisp]

"Oh, right, he lives on the waves with the rude pirate. I hope he doesn't keep him in a lantern. It's undignified. I'm not a firefly," he added with a huff.

[petty_dabbler]

"No, you're not. And I'm glad you came to me, rather than be captive on his ship," he said, a bitter note to his tone as he spoke of Bond.

[winter_wisp]

"You are my hero," Winter admitted quietly, ducking his head and falling silent as he finished cooking.

[petty_dabbler]

John sat, head tilted, a bit confused by that. He hadn't realized it meant so much to Winter.

"Hmph," he grumbled, a bit embarrassed.

[winter_wisp]

Finishing off the food, Winter brought the plates to the table before fetching the kettle to pour some tea.

"Dinner," he announced proudly.

[petty_dabbler]

"It smells delicious. Much better than porridge," he smiled. John could cook, but without Q here, there was little joy in it. And he didn't mind porridge.

But this was much better.

[winter_wisp]

"I like porridge," Winter assured him with a smile as he dug into his meal.

[petty_dabbler]

"You're a very good cook," john said after a few bites. "Tomorrow we can eat at the tavern, then come home and eat cake, hmm? We'll have a lovely day."

[winter_wisp]

"Do we not have work to do? I've been away so long, is there nothing to tend to? I've learned a lot about building things and tending to things... I'm much more useful now, I think," he added proudly.

[petty_dabbler]

"There's plenty to tend to. There always is. But I promised you cake..."

He speared a mushroom and pointed at him.

"And now I want cake," he smiled.

[winter_wisp]

Winter smiled at that, nodding a little.

"Cake is good," he admitted, eating another bite and swinging his legs under the table.

[petty_dabbler]

"Tell me more about all the things you've learned," John asked, then devoured a potato.

[winter_wisp]

Winter chatted away about building little villages, how they needed to flow and have enough green and shade. He talked about the gardens, about learning where to plant things, and how the elves had given him books with pictures to help.

[petty_dabbler]

John listened closely, more and more impressed with every revelation.

"You're going to be of more use around here than I am. Perhaps you can get more to grow than just roots."

[winter_wisp]

"Yes, maybe, but we still need seeds. We might need to go to the fae realms to fetch some. They're more likely to grow in a harsher climate, I think, yes?" Winter asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"We will need some hardy plants. Ones that thrive amongst stones," he smiled. "It would be nice to have things grow well here."