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

[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."

[winter_wisp]

"And flowers! We need flowers!" Winter peeped.

[petty_dabbler]

"And flowers," he nodded.

John thought a moment as he finished his plate.

"And some thorny vines," he decided.

[winter_wisp]

"Thorns? Why?" Winter asked, holding his mug in both hands as he sipped his tea.

[petty_dabbler]

"For unwelcome visitors," he replied.

For Bond, primarily.

[winter_wisp]

"I like visitors, they bring gifts," Winter replied innocently.

[petty_dabbler]

"Not always," John said. "And I like my privacy. If I want to see people, I go to another land."

[winter_wisp]

"We could have parties though! Birthday parties! When's your birthday?" he asked.

[petty_dabbler]

"Close to the spring equinox," he said. "When's yours?"

[winter_wisp]

"It already passed," Winter admitted. "It is the winter solstice. It's what I am named for."