steepwithdead | Folkmore

[It's a quick walk to the kitchen from the garden; the Xhorhaus looks the same as ever, though over time it's become more decorated, green and floral to offset that dark maroon panelling throughout. A little more furniture to fill the space, make it look more lived in, even with most of the rooms still empty.

Once they reach the kitchen, Caduceus sets the veggies next to the sink, and sets the kettle to boil before turning towards Fjord.]

There we are. I'm all yours.

[A place of this size should be imposing, with the dark paneling. But as always, the Xhorhaus is strangely homey in some way. Maybe it was the decorations, the furniture chosen, the greenery that was undoubtedly Caduceus' doing.

Fjord padded after Caduceus to the kitchen, pausing near one of the counters to set the bag down to pull out the package inside, looking almost sheepish as he held it out to the firbolg.]

I ah... saw this while I was out. Thought you'd like it.

[He's definitely but the work in to make it look nice. If nothing else, he's had the free time for it.

Caduceus accepts the bag, curious and confused as he opens it. He's not really used to being the recipient of gifts, truth be told. It's normally the other way around.]

[It's likely not surprising at all that Fjord thought of Caduceus when he saw this. A clear glass teapot, decorated with a few little enameled flowers and a dragonfly near the handle, and a small blue tin. If Caduceus peeked inside it held several little round bundles that were undoubtedly tea of some sort.

Fjord couldn't help but be a bit nervous- where Caduceus wasn't used to receiving gifts, he was likewise unused to giving them, watching the firbolg for signs of his opinion.]

The tea's apparently... if you put one of the bundles in the pot and pour the hot water over it's supposed to be real pretty while it steeps.

Oh!

[The delight Caduceus feels is apparent and immediate, first lifting the pot to examine the decorations - very fitting, very personal, he's genuinely touched - then the little tea balls. He's familiar with the concept, tea guru that he is, but it's still been a long time since he's had any.]

That's wonderful, thank you. I'll brew some right now for us, how about that?

[He gives it a sniff to check the flavour. It smells really nice.]

[Fjord is fairly certain that of everyone he knows, Caduceus knows how the tea balls work. But he's still quietly pleased at the clear delight that the firbolg is examining his gift with. And if that tail of his is wagging a bit behind him as his own expression and smile soften to something a bit warmer and less nervous...]

That sounds great to me. [Fjord wasn't sure what kinds of tea there were- he'd asked the clerk to help pick the ones that would be the most interesting to watch, and would trust Caduceus to choose whichever one seemed to please him most.]

[The kettle's already boiling, so he gives the new pot a rinse and drops one of the tea balls in, filling it up with water and placing it on the table between them. He sits down adjacent to Fjord and watches as it slowly unfurls into a bloom.]

...Ah, that's nice.

[Not an ounce of sarcasm in this guy. He really is so content to watch a little flower blossom in a teapot. It's the little things.]

[This wasn't really something Fjord was about normally. Settling to quietly watch the tea blossom was the meditative sort of thing that if he was on his own would have him about crawling out of his own skin wanting to find something to do, for reasons he wasn't really comfortable looking closely at. He wasn't the best company for himself.

Caduceus on the other hand...

It was strangely soothing, nice even, to be sat with him in the moment, a soft, pleased little hum slipping from him at the unfurl of petals and leaves as the tea was doing it's thing.]

...y'know, it is.

Mmm. [Caduceus really can just sit and watch, enjoying the bloom and the company. He knows it's not for everyone, though, so after a respectful amount of time, as the tea is on the edge of being sufficiently steeped to pour, he turns his gaze back to Fjord.]

It's very kind of you to think of me while you're out and about.

[For once, Fjord is content with a quiet moment. Definitely because of the firbolg's company, there's no way he'd be nearly so meditative about watching that unfurl of petals and leaves in the pot on his own.

Whatever the case, he can't help the sheepish cast to his grin as he glances sideways towards Caduceus.] Why wouldn't I?

[...And why did he feel like it just went entirely went without saying that he would think of Caduceus?]

[Caduceus blinks back at him, somewhat confused to have it thrown back at him. Ah... that wasn't the most courteous thing he could have said, was it? It sounds like he'd assumed Fjord wouldn't. And maybe he did, a little. Their relationship is still growing, and the truth is, he must still be mostly a stranger to Fjord. He knows all of those secrets, many of which even Fjord himself still doesn't know. He's been... cagey, maybe. Not wanting to be too personal, while desperately longing to reach out.

Maybe he's been contributing to this distance between them, himself.]

Oh, you know. Nothing very interesting going on here! I'm sure you're used to a much more exciting life.

[Y'know. Adventuring. Living on the ocean. Whatever else he's been getting up to.]

Honestly... before the whole thing that got me in with Jester and the rest? [The sabotage the shipwreck, the whole mess with his patron that had led him to adventure.]

Life was pretty quiet. I mean there were bumps here and there but on a merchant ship things are fairly routine and unremarkable if you're doin' things right, and I was... well I dunno if I was satisfied with it to be honest, but I'd come to some sorta contentment with the idea of that bein' how the rest of my years might've gone.

You have always seemed more at ease on the open water.

[Even considering... well. Everything he's been through, and Uk'otoa's eyes on him. it's part of why the Wildmother was so well-suited for him. Safety on the sea... it's just what he'd needed.]

You're not wrong.

[Fjord chuckled softly, with a small shrug, though he seemed quite relaxed in the moment. Caduceus and his chill vibes working their magic? Maybe.]

Even when I was a kid, before I'd so much as set foot on a boat I knew that's where I wanted to be.

[While some of that was the idea of escape that the ocean offered, but that wasn't the whole of it. It never had been.]

What drew you to it?

[He's curious. Both because this is an aspect of Fjord that he hasn't gotten a lot of detail on, but also because he's sure there is some comfort for Fjord to be able to share his history directly, rather than the vague "this guy knows more about me than I remember sharing".]

[It's easier too, that this is something more tame. But Caduceus isn't wrong that Fjord feels infinitely better about being asked about these things rather than someone else just knowing about him.]

The horizon. [The half-orc smiled lightly, glancing towards Caduceus.] When I was little and stood on the beach you could just... look out on the water and it looked like it went on forever. Like you could go sailin' your whole life and still not see the whole ocean. And then when I was divin' for salvage... you really got to see how much was under the surface, and it was... surprisingly soothing down there.

That does sound really nice.

[Having spent enough time at sea at this point to get used to it, he can appreciate a few parts of the experience. It does help that it is still an aspect of the Wildmother's domain. Easier to feel her presence in the open sea than in a big city.]

I never spent much time by the water, let alone boats. Grew up too far inland. After I joined up with everyone, first impressions of boats were not... that great. It sure does look amazing out there, though. A realm of endless potential. I came around over time.

Yeah, you were more... in a place with lots of woods, right? At least from what you and the others told me.

[And really that sort of place suited the cleric as far as he could tell.]

Yeah, sometimes a person can get a bad first impression depending on the situation, [And the weather, given how temperamental the ocean could be at times.] Glad to hear you changed your opinion though.

The Savalirwood.

[Basically the neighbourhood around where Fjord was taken prisoner, so conveniently close.]

We had to leave port in a hurry, and I wasn't on board. Had to swim to catch up in the dark. Not a great start for someone normally landlocked. [He chuckles faintly, shaking his head. He'd been so very naive about what was expected of him, back then. Thank goodness for Jester.] A few days on the open water made a big difference.

Oooh, yeah. [Fjord can't help but wince sympathetically.]

Night swimmin' can be a lot even for someone that knows the ocean. For that to be your intro, especially in that kinda situation... I can see why it took a bit to warm up.

Uh-huh. I got salt in my mouth.

[He points, for a needless added effect.]

Did you know the Wildmother is the patron protector of ships and travellers on open water?

Oof, did that before. Learnin' to swim, got a unfortunately good mouthful. [Fjord laughs in a wry tone.] Definitely made an impression, that's for sure.

[This shift though had him curious, head tilting as he considered that.]

I... haven't heard that before that I know of.

[Surprise, Fjord, Caduceus opened his own door and you walked through with him. It's Wildmom time.]

She guides and protects those in nature, those who belong and those who wander through. Ships at sea are within her domain, and she watches over them. Often, she will take those lost in the water and bring them back to the safety of shore.

[Sounds familiar...]

I was adrift, too far from my home, with people I didn't know- and didn't know if I belonged with, yet. I was frightened, wondering if I'd made the wrong call. But once I settled, I could hear her loud and clear, in the wind and the sails. I was in her safe harbour, and all of you would become my family.

[It does sound familiar. And once again, makes Fjord wonder what must be wrong with him, that he was found, rescued by something else, something he could only guess was not nearly as protective as the Wildmother was of hers.

He didn't show the thought though, just smiling lightly as he nodded his understanding.]

I'm glad. That she was able to protect you like that. That we... I dunno, work? I admit I can't help but wonder here and there. All the big personalities, goals and secrets everyone in the group's got, hard to see how it'll shake out sometimes.

Give it time, you'll get there. [It sure did take TIME, though. Overtime. Many, many times. Lots of fighting over stupid things and serious things and clashing of heads. Or sharp things. Sometimes you try to kill each other and sometimes you save each other, and the scales balance in your favour.] We seem to be working out well here.

[Friendship is winning, Fjord. Sometimes it just kinda happens, and you get to keep the good things.]

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