TLV: IC Contact

[sixfeetofdirt]

Careful; I bite.

Comments

[sixfeetofdirt]

I haven't tried it yet. He hasn't asked for anything so very unreasonable.

[handleyourshit]

So you answered every question he had?

[sixfeetofdirt]

He didn't ask anything or say anything I haven't answered or heard before. We talked about the Rite, mostly.

[handleyourshit]

Would you feel better, worse, or ambivalent if I talked with him?

[sixfeetofdirt]

....About what?

[handleyourshit]

What, you've never heard of a shoveltalk?

[sixfeetofdirt]

I...

...no?

[handleyourshit]

It's usually given to the new boyfriend or girlfriend of someone important to you. "If you hurt them, I'll kill you." That sort of thing.

I was joking, mostly. I would like to get to know him better though, because you are important to me.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Ah. Well, feel free to speak with him, darling. I'd be interested to know what you make of him.

[handleyourshit]

Then I'll look for him.

With a trowel, maybe. Because while I know you can handle yourself, I think it's important that people know someone isn't alone.

[sixfeetofdirt]

A trowel is almost worse, if you're implying you'd go to the effort of burying him with something so small.

[handleyourshit]

Well, I left my backhoe in my other pants.

[sixfeetofdirt]

[A chuckle.] You know I don't know what that is.

[handleyourshit]

Big piece of construction equipment. For digging very large holes, very quickly.

Pretty simple to drive, turns out.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Hm.

How are you, Rosita?

[He's not unaware that this time of year is complicated for her.]

[handleyourshit]

Cold.

[Literally never going to shut up about it.]

But I'm okay. On my feet.

Chewing on some of the stuff I've talked about with you and a few others.

[sixfeetofdirt]

What kind of stuff?

...if this a conversation better had in person, you can come to me or vice versa.

[handleyourshit]

I was actually going to ask if you'd teach me to sew, anyway.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Ah! Well, I don't know what my talents are as a teacher, but I can try.

[handleyourshit]

I mean, I can hit the broad side of a barn with a bow now. Can't be too bad.

When's a good time to come over and what should I bring?

[sixfeetofdirt]

I don't know that I can take any credit for that.

Perhaps bring something damaged you'd like to repair? We can start with scraps, but it's useful to have something you'd like to work up to.

[handleyourshit]

That I can do.

I'll be by in a bit then.

[sixfeetofdirt]

I'll see you shortly, darling.

[handleyourshit]

[And she does turn up shortly thereafter, bundled in layers, pack on her back, and -]

I brought some kitchen scraps for Aylin. [- she says when the door is opened, and she's holding out a parchment paper wrapped packet that will turn out to be beef trimmings from lunch.]

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh - that's thoughtful of you, thank you. Do come in."

Aylin can smell what's going on the moment Astarion opens the parchment, and goes threading around his feet until he's placed the treats into her dish.

"Spoiled creature," he murmurs, scratching lightly behind her ears.

There's a new addition to his room: a full length mirror near his closet, with an elegant wooden frame.