(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric comes in from his door, shaking snow from the thick furs and tumble of hair. He hums as he makes his way to the fire to warm himself.

The song he's humming is a Christmas hymn but it's no blame if no-one recognises it. He seems both cheered and thoughtful. And seems lighter than he was before.

Comments

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Sahaal sees someone he doesn't know come in, and well, that gets his sense of curiosity going. Besides, it's quite lonely sitting by yourself in one of the back booths.

He picks up his drink and goes to join the humming man by the fire.

"Hello. Do you mind if sit here?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Please?" Sinric's smile is bright and warm. "You're most welcome. Would you like some tea? I was just about to order some."

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Well, he wasn't expecting that much of a warm welcome. It's a nice change from suspicious soldiers and resistance fighters.

"Oh. Yes, thank you, I'd love some."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric kneels gracefully to address one of the rats, ordering them a pot of tea and a plate of honey cakes.

He stands, just as gracefully. "I am Sinric. I don't believe we've met?"

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

"No, we haven't. I'm Sahaal, nice to meet you."

He holds out a pale, calloused hand to shake.

[thewidewideworld]

"A pleasure, Sahaal." His own hand is delicate but has a musician's calluses. He shakes off his furs, the tunic beneath is fine wool, heavily embroidered. "May I ask where you're from, Sahaal?"

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Sahaal hesitates. Questions about home are always the hardest to answer, given the home universes of others.

"You may. I hail from Earth, known to me as Terra, in the 42nd Millennium."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal is reading in a chair by the fireplace, and looks up when Sinric approaches, right into his eyes.

"Merry Christmas?" he says, tentatively.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs and bends to press a kiss to Hannibal's brow. "So it would seem. I tarried too long here so time had not passed there. But I'm glad I didn't miss it."

He smiles and brushes a speck of snow that's fallen from his furs onto Hannibal's shoulder.

[cook_the_rude]

"Let me order you some mulled wine," Hannibal says. "Where is 'there', exactly?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Please?" He sits, kicking off his slippers and curls onto the couch. "Monte Cassino. Where Benedict of Nursia overturned the altar of Apollo and founded a great and beautiful monastery."

[cook_the_rude]

Hannibal murmurs something to the next passing rat, who nods and hurries off.

"Yes, it still exists in my time; I have been there," he says. "It was destroyed, famously, in a war not so long ago, but has been rebuilt. Those monks are tenacious."

[thewidewideworld]

"Truly? To endure so long." He breathes in deeply, taking heart in that. "Even from the days of Apolo's worship. Which is what lead me there, with my former teacher Alcuin of York."

[quick_clean_pure]

Graverobber's keeping warm by the fire when Sinric walks up humming, and Graverobber glances towards him when the tune hits his ear. "You seem like you're having a good day," he says, noting the cheery appearance.

[thewidewideworld]

"I am indeed." He shakes off his heavy furs, dusting snow off them. "I lingered here so long it's still Christmas in my own world. And I was fortunate enough to travel with my old teacher to a mountain abbey south of Rome. It's very beautiful there." He smiles warmly. "And unexpectedly, I met with an old friend there."

[quick_clean_pure]

"Sounds like a hell of a good time," he says, sipping a mug of whiskey & cider. "Who was the friend you met up with?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric pauses to order a pot of tea from a passing rat and settles on the couch opposite Graverobber. "A priest who was once a prince. Niketas, my master's forth son. We are much of an age but never spoke till a month before I left with my beloved Constantine on his last journey> He... he has his father's wit and will. And his aspect, but for his eyes."

[quick_clean_pure]

Graverobber tilts his head and sips his drink while Sinric talks and orders his drink. "Nice," he says, though he's not sure he knows what aspect means in this case. "Were you able to visit with him for a while?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I'm still there. And I hope to stay some months, if the hand of fate will allow. We have travelled there to help translate so ancient texts found in the catacombs of the abbey. The site dates back before the Romans and was once a temple of Apollo, the sun god."

[archmagetrust]

"Hail, Sinric!" Khadgar seems cheerful as well. "May I join you?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric smiles warmly, shaking snow from his furs. "Greetings, Khadgar. Please do, I'd be glad of your company. I was about to order some tea, would you like some?"

[archmagetrust]

"Certainly! My thanks." Khadgar beams as he takes a seat and begins digging through his bag.

"I believe I found a tome that should help with your coin summoning."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric's smile brightens. "How wonderful! Thank you for looking into it for me."

A rat returns a moment later with a silver tea service and a plate of honey cakes. Sinric kneels at the low table between them and pours, his movements graceful and practised. Accustomed to service.

[archmagetrust]

Khadgar finds the tome and pulls it out with a pleased 'aha'. It's bound in brown leather with faded gilded letters reading Magic of the Guardians: A Compendium of Spells, the ribbon left marking an early page.

"Here," he says, sliding it onto the table. "It's a little advanced but basically you simply need to use a Tyrean pattern to create a negative energy array using the coin as a focus, and then create an anchor thread that resonates with the frequency so you can summon it."

He takes his tea cup. "Thank you."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric laughs warmly. "I didn't understand a word of that. Which is wonderful. It means I have much to learn." He puts the tea down and makes sure his hands are clean before picking up the book. The bar's translation helps a lot and he starts to read with fascination.