(no subject)

[not_his_pa]

William comes through the front door with an oilcloth jacket pulled tight around him and rain dripping off him.

At the shift in light from what he expected to be the barn to the Bar, he blinks and stares before heading to the fire.

There he stares at the fish in the fire, they're comforting, he's been riding for almost two days dealing with a flash flood and this is the warmest he's felt in days. Dry will take some time then he'll think about food, now he'll drip on the rug in front of the fire and anything or anyone in the area.

Comments

[katyafeline]

Slender hands settle on his shoulders, warmer than they have any right to be, warm enough to heat straight through his wet clothing.

"Would you have aid, glupyy mal'chishka?" She purrs in his ear, curling just close enough to be a solid presence at his back.

[not_his_pa]

The warmth feels good and he relaxes his stance as he says,

"Yes, please, been ridin' too long but only lost seven cattle."

[katyafeline]

She hums softly under her breath, a soft wordless lullaby, as the cold surges like a rising mist around his ankles, around his knees, before drifting away, taking the water soaked into his clothing with it.

She huffs in his ear, with a playful tug of teeth on his earlobe before she recedes as well, curling up on the couch.

[not_his_pa]

He smiles at the tug and turns before collapsing on the couch next to her,

"Thank you. Order some food and tea on my tab."

[katyafeline]

She catches the attention of the nearest waitrat, sending it skittering off to the kitchens to fetch food and drink. She's still, a silver and jeans-cloth statue taking up the corner of the couch, watching the fish in the fireplace.

[not_his_pa]

Her stillness is odd and he shifts closer, "What's wrong? There was a flash flood, I had to keep the cattle safe."

[katyafeline]

Katya looks over at him, an eyebrow arched in surprise and query.

"Da? This is so unusual?"

[not_his_pa]

"Not the takin' care of the cattle part just a bad flood. What about you? What's goin' on?"

The rat comes back with the food and he pours out the tea and passes her a mug.

[katyafeline]

"Nothing, silly boy, nothing - feeling my age, perhaps." She shrugs, a flicker of a movement which shifts and flows into retrieving the food and drink, underlined with an appreciative hum.

[runningred]

Jay brings him over a blanket and mug of brandy spiked tea. "Hey William. You okay? You look done in."

[not_his_pa]

He blinks and nods before making his way to a couch,

"'bout two days in the saddle dealin' with a flash flood. Only lost seven cattle."

[runningred]

"Shit. That's not good." He helps William to sit, keeping a worried eye on him. "You and your family okay?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, didn't let Mark stay out as long as me, didn't want him gettin' sick. I'll be fine just tired,"

When he sits down, he sinks into the couch and manages a weak smile for Jay.

[runningred]

"Well, you're here now." He pushes the mug into William's hand as he wraps the blanket around William's shoulders. "Drink that then get some dry clothes and some sleep. You need it. You look dead on your feet."

[not_his_pa]

"I will. How are your bikes goin'?"

He starts on the drink and rests against Jay, he doesn't want to have to think too much.

[runningred]

Jay sits down opposite him, keeping an eye on him just in case. "Yeah, really well. I've been building a couple for friends - for Eric and Gavroche. Eric's is done but I still have work to do on Gav's. I'm playing with different types of tires."

[not_his_pa]

"I know Gavroche but not Eric. What's he like and his bike? How many types of tires are there?"

The bikes are interesting though he still doesn't understand all of how they work.

[street_sparrow]

"You'll catch cold", Gavroche says with mild concern, and proffers a cup of something hot and strong. "Get this in you."

[not_his_pa]

"Not yet, still pretty dry but thanks,"

The cup's warm and he sets it on the mantle to pull his gloves off and properly cradle it.

[street_sparrow]

"Wet enough to be dripping", he observes with a grin. "What's going on out there?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, flash flood, had to get the cattle safe,"

His jacket's not dripping as much, so he slowly shrugs out of it and hangs it by the fire.

[street_sparrow]

That gets a sympathetic wince. "Can't be easy, if they panic. You managed it?"

[not_his_pa]

"Mark and I did, yeah. We were headed home when the Bar surprised me, nice surprise. Its warm and dry here."

[street_sparrow]

"Mark?" That gets a surprised and pleased look. "He's doing well enough for cattle-wrangling?"

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, he's been gettin' better over the years. I mean he'll never be all the way, but he is. And the two of us have been managin' things pretty well, rather not have to hire another hand if we don't have to."