Forge post

[ostro_goth]

[[OOM: Some days ago, Teja went to Gotland with Kate, and an uncomfortable truth was brought to light by little Hilde.]]

Teja is in the forge, the doors and windows thrown wide, for the heat of the forge-fire and that of the summer are combining to make breathing hard in there. Teja, however, is working upon some small, strange jewellery, for which he smelts and combines all sorts of metal. The cats are lying on the wooden bench outside the forge itself, flopping strangely, with their furry stomachs exposed and feet in the air -- they feel hot, also.

On the other side of the lake, a thunderstorm may be brewing, but it has not yet started moving over. Should it arrive before Teja is finished with his work, he has a pair of wellie boots by the door, to wade through the torrents this summer's storms like to bring, and an oilskin large enough that he can carry all the cats underneath.

But as of yet, the sun is still out, and the Goth is still busy. He will, of course, interrupt his work for any friend or strange, customer or merely a patron dropping by for some words.

The forge is open for business.-

Comments

[guppy_sandhu]

[ooc: That oom is adorable btw. Carlotta approves +++]

[ikissdhimbck]

[ooc: ~giggle~ Thank you! Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought so. ^__^]

[ikissdhimbck]

She wanted a chance to talk to him in Gotland, but with all the children and excitement it wasn't easy catching him alone. The night was wonderful; Teja's friends were kind, curious, and gracious. But Kate hasn't been able to get her mind off of that one moment.

I would indeed have asked you to be my queen, for my people could not have wished for a better one, in their darkest hour.

She's taken Concession out for a ride, despite the threat of a storm on the horizon. It helps her clear her head, and the horse needs the exercise. It's already begun to rain on the field beyond the lake, and her clothes are dappled like a leopard skin cloak by the time she rides back. The path takes her right by the forge, where she can see Teja is working.

Concession slows, sidesteps, turns a circle. She can't decide if she should stop, or keep going.

But she's never shied away from anything in her life.

[ostro_goth]

One of the cats, Count, the little grey one, gets up from his very feline flop-down position, arches his back, and looks up at her.

Then, he gives an almost questioning 'Meow?'

Teja looks up from his work.

[ikissdhimbck]

Snitch.


Kate catches Teja's eyes, and gives him a fleeting smile.

"Howdy, Teja."

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings, Kate," Teja says.

He would not make her speak of what he said, in the heat of the moment and the embarrassment at Hilde's remark, in Gotland.

As she sits there upon her horse, in scruffy rain-dappled 'cowboy' clothes, she seems to him the finest and strongest and proudest queen he might ever have had, had his life been different.

[ikissdhimbck]

"I'm surprised y'can work in such heat."

She dismounts, tying Concession's reins off on a fence post.

Count gets a few skritches as she comes closer, even if he is a traitor.

"Y'must be expirin'."

[ostro_goth]

"I have enough cold water for myself and the forge-work," Teja says. "Would you have some with me?"

In this pre-thunderstorm warmth, he would rather not make tea.

[ikissdhimbck]

She tips her hat, eyes darting around the forge nervously. Smiling, she slides her hands inside her back pockets and takes a few steps closer.

"That would be lovely, thank you."

She holds his eyes for a moment, worrying at her lip.

"I was, ah  —  hopin' t'talk t'you."

[ostro_goth]

Teja picks up Count -- perhaps he needs the emotional support? He has never done a thing like this.

"So was I," he says. "I would speak of what Hilde said, and what I then blurted out."

He stays neutral, neither pleading his case nor apologising; he will see what she says and thinks, first.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Children have a way of cuttin' t'the truth of things."

Her smile is meant to be encouraging, though it's weak at best. She toes the earth, keeping her gaze on her boots.

"I would'a answered you then, but it  —  there jus' didn't seem t'be a moment for it. Teja, I  —  I feel kinda foolish. For not knowin'."

She's never been so good at noticing things like that. All the men around here flirt; some are bigger lechers than others, but she tends to take them all in stride. It's just not how things are done.

[ostro_goth]

"Why should you have known?" Teja says. "I did not speak of it. I made no display of feelings, or treat you in a manner that might have been understood as wooing."

Pause.

"I am sorry if we embarrassed you."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Still, I  —  I acted rather forward over Cubefall."

A blush rises to her cheeks. She quickly raises her hands, eyes widening at his last remark.

"No, no  —  it wasn't that. Not at all. I jus' wasn't expectin' it. I didn't think anyone would  —  well, that ain't important. I was taken by surprise, an' I acted poorly."

[ostro_goth]

"You did not think anyone would?" Teja prompts, because that is the thing he does -- keep picking scabs, even if he suspects that he is the one that will hurt in the end.

[ikissdhimbck]

There is a pause.







"Think of me in that way."

She half-shrugs, a deep line between her brows. She lowers her head once more.

"Teja. I ain't as honorable as y'think I am."

[ostro_goth]

"So you were robbed of all you were and loved, and turned outlaw," Teja says. "I see nothing wrong with that. You are not honourable in a shiny, unblemished way, not any more than I am. We pull our honour from a much darker, jagged necessity. You would have been right as my queen in our darkest hour because of that, not just as any Goth queen down history."

[ikissdhimbck]

She lets laughter through in an exhale. The blush crawls up her face like primrose, an almost permanent pink against her skin.

"I don't know that I'm worthy of that honor."

She usually speaks so clearly, but the words come out in a murmur. She's afraid to have her eyes meet his.

"It flatters me that y'think so. I think very highly of you; you're a good man, Teja. I couldn't hope for anyone better. But I ain't sure I can give you what you deserve."

[ostro_goth]

"I am not asking for anything," Teja says, "and I do not 'deserve' anything, either -- none may make a claim upon fate, that his actions must bring him this or that boon! I hope this will not hurt our friendship, that is all."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Of course not."

She does look at him now, a sheen to her blue eyes.

"But y'do deserve — "



Better.


"I jus' ... I don't wanna hurt you."

[ostro_goth]

"You can tell me no, straight from your heart," Teja says, "and I shall not mention these things again. I will not be hurt by that."

Of course he will -- but he feels full well able to deal with the pain by himself, as he has ever done.

[ikissdhimbck]

But she doesn't.


She can't think of what to say, and for a long moment she simply looks up at him, lips parted. She finds herself cruel; perhaps it would be best to say no, straight from the heart or no. Better than treating him this way.

It's just that it isn't like that.



She glances away.

"I'm sorry. That might be for the best."

[ostro_goth]

"Good," Teja says. "Then let us forget all about it."

Teja can catch spears with his shield, and will treat this no differently.

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods almost imperceptibly.

"All right."


Maybe it's just the best she can give him.

[ostro_goth]

There is a crack of thunder, and then it starts to rain, storm, and hail, as if all the sluices of the heavens had been opened.

[ikissdhimbck]

Concession pulls at his rope when the thunder rumbles closer, nickering.

Kate swears under her breath.

"I'm sorry, Teja  —  I better get 'im inside if it's going t'carry on like this."

She fixes her hat lower, turning up the collar of her duster, and gives him one last, long look.

"We'll talk later, all right?"

[ostro_goth]

"We shall," Teja says.

And if she does not wish to, he shall have to live with.

Be dead with it.

Deal with it, as he always does.

[ikissdhimbck]

She smiles tightly, takes a breath like she's going to say something else, and changes her mind at the last second.

She nods, once, and hurries out into the storm to Concession's side.




She wishes she could say that went the way she'd hoped.