Goro, Grangers, and Sterlings (Blessing)

IZZY

[SETTING: Day 366. Morningstar Keep.]

Luci had wandered into the woods out past the Grangers' farmland, idly looking for fresh, wild herbs and berries. She'd considered going into town instead, but it was such a nice day out -- sunny, warm but not humid, a pleasant breeze filtering through the trees. She hadn't gone far and both castle and the Grangers' homestead were still visible as she idled through the trees, hands clasped together. She didn't quite know what to do with them, most of the time, now that she'd stopped carrying her staff.

LINA

Goro was headed to the Grangers' house to talk to Marion, but he stopped when he spotted Luci wandering in the woods. He stood and stared for a second, rubbing the back of his head.

"Hey Luce!" he called, starting in her direction.

IZZY

She looked back at him and blinked, and started to just wait for him, but then decided she should probably meet him partway.

LINA

Goro stopped when they were about ten feet apart from each other, and kept rubbing the back of his head. He squinted, looking like he wanted to say something.

IZZY

Luci waited for a moment, watching him. She wished that she still had her staff, just for something to do with her hands.

"... Yes?"

LINA

"Hey, how come you don't carry that staff everywhere anymore?"

IZZY

"Oh, I don't need it anymore. I was going to give it back to the Mother at the Sanctuary when I moved out, but she said it didn't belong to them." She shrugged a little. That still puzzled her.

LINA

"What do you mean, you don't need it anymore? Was it your focus, or something?"

IZZY

"No." She twisted her hands together a little. "It was a comfort item. I've outgrown it, I suppose."

LINA

"A comfort item," Goro repeated, pondering the concept. Like a Hansel, but in stick form. "What, you don't need comfort anymore?"

IZZY

"No. I just don't need that one anymore." It felt rather odd to put into words, but she tried. "Um. You know, I was given the staff to help Jonn, when we were children. Because he used to have quite uncontrollable moods, and I would use it to help him to calm down, or to keep him out of trouble." She paused, thinking. "I don't need it for that anymore. I'm not as afraid as I used to be."

LINA

"Huh." Goro thought over it some more. He guessed there was stuff he'd given up since he got better at not being afraid. Not objects, but things like sleeping with his shoes on. He shrugged. "Could still be a good walking stick, though."

IZZY

"Yes," Luci agreed.

LINA

"Ah. Well. So. Anyway. Whatcha doing?"

IZZY

"Foraging." She gestured behind her to the trees, still unsure why he'd called for her. "Would you like to join me?" she offered.

LINA

"Um. Sure. For a while, maybe. Hey, do you pick like, mushrooms, and shit?"

IZZY

"Sometimes." She turned, glancing back to make sure he followed at a reasonable distance to continue talking. "They can be difficult to find, and  it's been dry lately, so I wouldn't expect to find any. Leigh said that he planted some berry bushes he dug up in Shepherd Hills out here, though, and sometimes I can find some of the ingredients Hansel uses for his potions."

LINA

"Oh, yeah, I do that too." Goro trailed after her. "The mushrooms, I just mean, that shit's real poisonous sometimes, you know? Well, 'course you probably know. I was gonna tell you to make sure you use some magic to detect if the ones you get are good. But if you ain't looking for any today, then, eh. Whatever. Anyway. How's things with Selune, and shit?"

IZZY

"Um." Goro spoke too fast for her, sometimes. It took for a moment to reset from wanting to insist that of course she knew that some mushrooms were poisonous, and she knew which ones to avoid, and get back on track to say, "Um, things are fine."

LINA

"What do you mean when you say 'fine'? That could mean a lotta different things."

IZZY

"Well, I have magic," she said, not sure what else it could mean.

LINA

"Yeah, but are you, you know." Goro gestured vaguely. "You know. There's more to being a cleric than just doing magic, you know?"

IZZY

"Oh. I'm ... very happy, yes." She had that wish for her staff again, to twist it in her hands, and reach into her pocket to hold the bracelet Gavi had given her instead. It was weighty and cool. "Um. It feels ... right."

LINA

"Good," Goro said cheerfully, and he meant it. He was happy for her. "Good."

IZZY

"Mmhm," Luci said, because she assumed she was supposed to reply.

LINA

"Yeah. Hm. Oh, hey." Goro stopped walking and bent down. "Here's one of them, uh, you know, I don't know what any of this shit's called. But it's one of the plants Hansel uses." He tore the plant up by its roots and offered it to her.

IZZY

"Oh." She'd completely overlooked it, keeping an eye out for the bushes Leigh had mentioned. She accepted the little plant, pleased, and tucked it into her satchel. "Well spotted. The blackberry bushes are supposed to be somewhere by the stream," she added, indicating it.

LINA

"Blackberries. Psh. That's what Leigh brought over?"

IZZY

"Yes." She gave him a puzzled look.

LINA

"Psssh." He was probably blushing. Maybe she wouldn't notice. "Ah, well, uh, neat. Hansel likes 'em, I guess."

IZZY

"Yes," Luci confirmed. "Leigh said that was why he made sure to transplant them."

LINA

"Psssh." Yeah, he was definitely fucking red. He dragged his fingers through his hair a few times. "Y'know, uh. Him and me are getting married soon. I mean, I know you know. But I mean like, real soon."

IZZY

"Um." Luci was slightly uncomfortable about the way he was blushing, and then changing the topic to his and Hansel's marriage. It felt like she was missing something, and she never liked missing things, but also didn't feel particularly like she wanted to be nosy about their relationship. "Okay."

LINA

"How do you, uh. How do you feel about it?"

IZZY

She shot him another puzzled look. "I ... I don't understand the question."

LINA

Goro ran his hand through his hair again and tried to think how he could rephrase. "I mean, uh. Your dad. Getting married. Again. You got... anything to say about it? You alright with it? Don't care?"

IZZY

"Oh." Luci did not stop being puzzled. "Of course I'm all right with it. Am I supposed to have ... some other opinion?"

LINA

"Well, uh. You know. I heard this story once about this girl who hated her stepmom real bad, 'cause she missed her real mom, so she poisoned the stepmom. I think the stepmom had it coming, though. I don't know if it was a real story. I guess it's not really the same as you 'cause it ain't like I'm replacing your real dad. I mean--fuck."

IZZY

Luci stopped, frowning. "I'm not going to poison you, Goro."

LINA

"Well. I mean. Ain't like I'm worried about it, or anything, I just wanted to make sure you were okay with me marrying him. Being your stepdad."

IZZY

"Yes. Of course I am," she said again. Then she considered that this might be one of those times where people required additional assurance, especially considering that he had felt he needed to ask in the first place. "Um. You know, you make Hansel very happy. It's important to me that he's happy. And you keep him safe, which is also very important to me."

LINA

"Oh. Okay." Relief washed over him, and he tripped on an exposed root. Regained his footing quick, though. "Yeah. Yeah. I'd do anything for him. You and your brother too, you know."

IZZY

"Yes, I know." Perhaps there, too, she ought to say more. "Um. I'm very glad that you're part of my family. I know Jonn is, too."

LINA

"Yeah huh. You love me, and shit." Goro snickered.

IZZY

Still puzzled, she said, "Yes."

LINA

Goro's snickering faded away. He considered that he oughta say I love you too. God, though. He just walked in silence for a while, instead.

IZZY

He was a very strange man, but this was not new information to Luci. She lapsed into companionable silence as well, until she spotted the blackberry bushes, and altered her direction to head towards them, commenting, "Oh, here."

LINA

"I love you too, by the way," he blurted, skipping after to join her.

IZZY

"Er, okay." Normally one said that soon after it had been said to them. It wasn't proper to repeat it, but she wasn't really sure how else to respond. Should she thank him? She just didn't say anything else, instead.

LINA

"Just saying. So, uh, blackberries."

IZZY

"Um. Mmhm."

The bushes had taken to their new soil well, it seemed. It looked as though Leigh had picked quite a lot of them already, or, of course, they had been eaten by local birds and squirrels. There were enough to harvest a pleasant snack, however, so she set to it.

"Do you not like them?" she asked, because he'd reacted so oddly before.

LINA

"Oh, yeah, nah, um, they're fine." Goro started hunting for some to help her out. She seemed better at spotting them than he was, though.

IZZY

Luci made a sort of basket by bunching her robes, and quietly collected a couple of handfuls of blackberries, listening to the stream and birdsong.

LINA

Goro wasn't collecting nearly enough to actually be helpful, so he just popped them in his mouth instead.

IZZY

"You know," Luci said, "sometimes ticks live on blackberries."

LINA

"What the fuck?"

IZZY

She nodded.

LINA

"Why are you telling me that?"

IZZY

She looked up, blinking. "It came to mind."

LINA

"Okay," he said, puzzled.

IZZY

Luci went back to picking berries.

LINA

"You think a lot about ticks, or what?"

IZZY

"Well, mostly when someone is eating wild blackberries without checking for them."

LINA

"Oh my god." He spun around and spat out everything that was left in his mouth.

IZZY

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Luci said sympathetically. "They can't survive inside your body and they're not dangerous to eat."

LINA

Goro spat a couple more times, regardless. "When you said live on 'em I thought you meant, you know, survive by eating 'em. Not--live on them."

IZZY

"Ohhh."

LINA

"Psh." Goro turned back around, picked another berry, and examined it carefully, frowning. He popped it in his mouth and chewed. "You need any more help foraging?"

IZZY

"You weren't really helping," she pointed out, then thought that might sound unkind, and added, "I'll be okay, thank you."

LINA

"I kept you company," he tried.

IZZY

"You did," she said, pleased.

LINA

"Well, uh. Yeah. I gotta go talk to Marion. See ya." He waved.

IZZY

"Okay." She waved back.

LINA

Goro tromped back through the woods, watching where he put his feet more carefully this time. Once back on the farm, he approached the house and knocked on the front door.

IZZY

"Come in!" Marion called.

LINA

Goro called back. "You don't even know who I am! What if I was a murderer or a scam artist or some shit?"

IZZY

She audibly laughed. "I would have to have one of my sons defend me, I suppose. Come in, Goro, I could use a hand."

LINA

Goro cracked a smile and let himself in.

IZZY

Marion stood on a chair, holding a couple of nails between her teeth. She was in the process of hanging a shelf, but having a little trouble keeping it balanced. "Hold up that other end for me, would you, sweetheart?"

The Grangers were still settling into their new home, somewhat. The cottage they'd moved into was bigger than their old home -- Leigh had a proper room rather than sleeping in the open loft, and there was a spare room, as well -- but it had still required some fixing up. They'd largely refused any help, despite Hansel's hovering and fretting, wanting to move on their own terms. Making the cottage more livable had been balanced by setting up the land for their animals and crops, as well, and the usual day-to-day work, and as a result, it was still something of a mess inside.

LINA

"Oh." Goro skittered over to hold up the other end of the shelf. "Jeez. Where's Leigh at?"

IZZY

"Oh, he's in town," she said offhandedly. "Thank you, dear." She propped it up with her elbow and drove a nail in with a couple of solid whacks. "He's as bad as Hansel, you know. Keeps telling me off for standing on the chairs to reach things."

LINA

"Well. I mean. You careful?"

IZZY

"It's a chair," she said, clearly amused, and pounded in the second nail. "I'm not climbing up onto the roof."

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Plus, you know I'd fix you up if you did hurt yourself. No problem."

IZZY

"Of course." She leaned back to inspect her work, made a small satisfied sound, and used the back of the chair as a handhold to clamber down. She shot Goro a wink. "Don't tell Leigh that I only sent him shopping so I could get some things done."

LINA

"Hah." Goro snorted. He clasped his hands behind his head and took a look around the cottage. "Anything else I can help you with around here?"

IZZY

"Oh, no, I've got it covered." She busied herself with stacking up some light dishes, and brought them over to stock the shelf.

LINA

"Pff, you're just saying that. C'mon, let me help out." He looked around again, trying to spot something that needed doing on his own. He bent down to straighten a throw rug on the floor.

IZZY

"You're as bad as Hansel, too," she remarked fondly.

LINA

"My ma always put me to work." He peeked under the rug. "You got Leigh sweeping this floor, or what? Ain't doing a good job."

IZZY

"Well, there's a broom over in the corner, if you insist."

LINA

Goro went and grabbed it and got to work. "Amari, she won't even let me wear shoes in the house. I mean, at her old house. She doesn't live there anymore. And it ain't practical to have everyone take their shoes off in a castle. Guess it might not be practical at a farm house, either, maybe."

IZZY

"No, not really." She took a step back an eyed her dishes, then stepped back in to readjust them a little. "I'm afraid having messy floors is a fact of life on a farm, unless you want to come out and sweep for us every evening." She said it teasingly, then clarified, "I'm joking. Don't do that."

LINA

"Uh, you sure? I mean, I can."

IZZY

"Oh, sweetheart, no. No. We're okay. Hansel already frets over us enough."

LINA

Goro scoffed. He finished sweeping the dirt into a pile, and then swept it into the dustpan. "Well, probably 'cause he feels guilty, you know, for all those years he weren't around to help."

IZZY

She sighed. "Yes, I imagine he does."

LINA

"That motherfucker feels guilty for everything."

IZZY

Marion laughed, seeming a little startled. "He does. You know, I try to not ... enable it. I've told him that he doesn't have anything to make up for, but if I let him help anyway, I'm worried he won't believe me." She paused, looking at her work rather than at Goro. "I don't know if it's the right thing to do or not, but I suppose we can all only do our best for each other."

LINA

"I don't think he's got anything to make up for, either. I think he had a good reason to leave." He said it a little defensively, not sure if Marion would be mad. And he didn't want her to be mad at him, but he felt like he had to stick up for Hansel, no matter what.

IZZY

"He did," she said.

LINA

Goro felt a little flustered by her agreement. He kept sweeping invisible dirt into the dustpan, and cleared his throat. "But uh, he really likes feeling... useful, I guess. I mean, my ma, she's real smart, she's real good with people, right? And she gives Hansel jobs. He'll offer to help her with whatever she's doing and she's all, oh yes, please, thank you, and when you're done with that, can you also do blah-blah-blah. And I was like, Ma, why the hell you doing that? He's not your goddamn work horse, or whatever. And she smiled and she said, oh, he has a giver's spirit, Goro. It makes him so happy when he gets to help people with things. Don't you see how happy it makes him? And I said, psh, okay, whatever."

IZZY

"Mm." Marion considered this. "You know, Amari's very wise, but I don't know if I agree with her." She turned to stack up some more dishes. "I expect maybe it's different for her, though. I don't want my home to be a place where Hansel has to give. Heaven's sake, he was reroofing the barn back in Shepherd Hills only a couple days after ..." She trailed off. She was sure Goro remembered when they all came out for a visit after that nasty business up in Sienna Springs, when Hansel had been taken over by Gruumsh. "Well. He'll work himself to the bone, that's all. I think the best thing I can do for him is to not allow it."

LINA

"Hm. Nah, nah." Goro shook his head and pointed at her. "You know what you gotta do then, is tell him you need a hug. He'll drop fuckin' everything to give a hug."

IZZY

She laughed, a little sadly. "Well ... I'll tell him that you need one. How about that?"

LINA

"Yeah. I mean, that's what..." He turned a little sheepish. "Amari's done that before, yeah. She doesn't work him to the bone, just so you know. She gives him a couple things to do and when he asks if there's anything else, well, at least one time, when I was in the room, she said, 'Not for me, but it looks like Goro could use a hug.' Psh."

IZZY

"Oh, I don't think that she would," Marion assured him. "She's a good woman. I'm sure she's good for him."

LINA

"She's amazing," Goro agreed. He replaced the broom and dustpan where he'd found them, and frowned. "Do you not like Hansel's hugs, or something?"

IZZY

"Oh, no, no, not ..." She hesitated. "Well, I don't want him to feel obligated, that's all. You know, when Hansel was young, he didn't know his own strength, and Leigh was so delicate. And Hansel adored him, but I was -- so afraid he'd hurt Leigh by accident." She'd been almost equally afraid of losing Leigh, and of what might happen to Hansel in town if word got out that he'd harmed a full-blooded human child. "He tried so hard to be careful, but he still broke things. He was always so full of energy. So -- well, I had to ask him to not hug Leigh, and ... I know it made him very self-conscious about it. I don't want him to feel like he owes me something that ... I denied him."

LINA

Goro was still for a moment, just blinking. Trying hard to keep a straight face as he thought about that.

He didn't want to make Marion feel bad, or anything. Sounded like she already felt bad. But that was... really fucking sad. Goro's heart ached, and he felt a little queasy. He wanted to go home and jump on Hansel and squeeze him as hard as he could.

"Oh," he said. Fuck, had to change the subject. "Hey, so, uh. Rain? You think? Today? Tomorrow?"

IZZY

Marion didn't say anything at first, going through the motions of tidying without actually doing it. Then, quietly, she said, "That would be good for the crops."

LINA

"I wonder how much trouble it'd be to... water 'em magically." Goro realized that was gonna be a real fucking boring topic if Marion actually took his lead. "Hey, um, uh. Anything else I can help with?"

IZZY

She glanced at him with a small, sad smile, gently saying, "We really don't need anything, but it's good of you to ask. It's nice to just have some company now and then."

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah, anytime." Goro fiddled with his sleeve. "There's, uh. There's actually something I... came to ask you about."

IZZY

She looked at him again, curious and a little apprehensive. "Oh, really?"

LINA

He nodded. Then stood there, clammed up, kind of hoping he'd spontaneously die and not have to explain after all.

IZZY

She waited a beat, then asked, "Would tea help?"

LINA

He grunted noncommittally, not really able to open his mouth.

IZZY

There was a kettle already warming over the stove. She bustled around, grabbing a pair of mismatched mugs -- one of them chipped -- and some loose leaf tea and honey, setting it all out on the dining table. Hansel had absolutely insisted on building it for them, measured to fit the space well, and rather than their small four-person table back in Shepherd Hills, it would fit eight or maybe even ten people if they really packed in elbow-to-elbow. About enough for the whole family, Hansel had said firmly, even though they had an entire dining hall in the castle.

At any rate, once the tea was set to steeping, she put a hand on Goro's elbow to direct him over to the table, as well.

LINA

Goro flinched a little when she touched him, which he felt bad about. He really didn't mind. Just those damn old habits.

He took a chair and ran his hand over the sanded tabletop. Hansel had built this table, he knew. It made Goro's heart swell with pride. That was the man he was marrying. So good.

He stared into space, lost in thought.

IZZY

Marion sat down crosswise from him and nudged one mug closer. It wasn't really hot tea weather, but the water was only just warm enough, anyway. "It's lavender and lemon," she commented.

LINA

"What is? Oh." The tea. Motherfucker. He hastily grabbed the mug and pulled it all the way to himself. He looked down at the contents for a second, eyeing his reflection in the surface of the liquid. He took a sip.

"So, um," he said. "Me and Hansel."

IZZY

"Mmhm," she murmured encouragingly.

LINA

"I love him... so much." He wouldn't look Marion in the eye, just kept staring at his tea. "He changed my life, kinda. No. Not kinda. He did."

IZZY

Marion gave another mmhm over her mug, not really sure where this was going. It would sound like Goro was about to tell her that he and Hansel were getting married, but that was already happening. Surely they weren't breaking up? Maybe he wanted advice, but she didn't think that she was the best person for that.

LINA

He started shuffling his feet against the floor. "And, um. I know you love him, too. And I guess you want what's best for him."

IZZY

"Yes ...?" Marion said, still quite confused. She didn't want to rush him, though.

LINA

Goro cleared his throat. "You know we're--we're getting married."

IZZY

"Oh, yes," Marion said. Maybe he thought she didn't know, after all. "Yes, I know that, sweetheart. You don't have to be nervous."

LINA

"Oh, I'm not--I'm not nervous." He ran a hand through his hair. Fuckin' liar. "I just, well, alright. You know, I always heard, when I'd hear about people getting married, I'd hear them say, oh, he asked for her parents' blessing, or whatever, or, oh no, the parents didn't give their blessing, and shit. And I realized I never did that. Uh."

IZZY

She blinked at him for a second, then straightened. "Oh! Oh."

LINA

Goro kept playing with his hair, winding it around his fingers and tugging it lightly. "So I just, uh, you know. It's hard to put into words what Hansel means to me. I mean, I'm trying--been writing my wedding vows, and all. But I just want you to know I mean it. For the rest of my life, I'm gonna be there for him. And I don't think I got a lot to offer, but I'm gonna throw my fuckin' all into it, whatever I can do. My ma likes to tell me, you never do things by halves, Goro. And she actually kinda meant it like, hey, maybe chill sometimes, but let me tell you, Marion, I ain't gonna love your son by half, that's for sure. I'm gonna be the best fucking husband I can be. I dunno how, yet, but I'll figure it out."

He finally got the guts to glance up at her.

IZZY

Marion had put a hand over her mouth, and her eyes were a little shiny. She blinked rapidly a couple of times, then cleared her throat quietly; she wasn't sure if he wanted to say more, and didn't want to interrupt him since it'd clearly taken him a moment to get there, but spoke up tentatively. "Do you ... Can I hug you? Would that be okay?"

LINA

"Oh. Uh. Yeah. 'Course." He scooted his chair back from the table to accommodate it.

IZZY

She pushed her chair back and leaned over to pull him into a tight hug, squeezing her eyes closed just as tight. Marion hated crying. Too little of it had been happy tears in her life. She quelled them and patted Goro's back a couple times.

"I know you're good for him," she said softly. "You know, he ... he needs so badly for someone to just be there for him. He never needed much -- never -- never had the chance to need much. But --." She laughed a little. "Almost every time I see one of you, the other one's not far behind, and that's -- that's the most important thing, I think. You're going to be a great husband, sweetheart. You're going to be fantastic."

LINA

Goro made a variety of scoffs and ahs and pffs. He squeezed her back tight, hoping it wasn't too much.

"Yeah," he said after a moment. "Yeah, he's always telling me that. 'You don't gotta do anything, just like being here with you.' Can't tell you how many times I've heard that. Starting to sink in, I think." For good measure, he added one more, "Psh."

IZZY

She gave another small laugh. She considered pulling away, because normally hugs ended, but she'd seen Goro and Hansel cling to each other, and stop clinging and just ... be. So she kept hold of him, like Hansel would -- carefully, to see if it was okay. It had been on his birthday, but she didn't know if that was a special case.

"You know, I ... It's very sweet of you to think of me," she said a little weakly, "but if anyone deserves to give their blessing, it isn't me. Maybe you should ask Mishka. Or Jonn. They've done more for him than I have."

Hansel had told her about a woman named Elitash. He hadn't said it in so many words -- she wasn't sure if he even realized it -- but it was clear Elitash had helped him, too. It was a shame Goro couldn't speak to her.

LINA

"Ah, well, yeah. Jonn--you know, he had a problem with Mishka, so he tried to trap him in centuries of torment and shit. So I should probably get the jump on that, yeah. Make sure he's alright with it." Marion kept on hugging him. That was great. Felt like approval, kind of. More so than just her words.

IZZY

"Oh, well." She'd heard some about that. They didn't seem to want to talk about it much. "That might be a good idea, then, yes."

LINA

"Mishka, I, uh... ah. Bah. I don't wanna... put him on the spot like that, you know? Be weird for him, probably. That's his husband I'm marrying. Hell, Marion, I barely get how this shit works with how most people do it--one spouse each, and shit. Mishka told me the wood elves just kinda marry whoever the fuck they want. And I'm half wood elf, so. But let me tell you, it ain't genetic, knowing how marriage works."

IZZY

"Maybe you could ... talk to some wood elves?" she suggested. "Someone else who has more than one spouse." That kind of thing was unheard of in Shepherd Hills. "I wonder if the Lady would know."

LINA

"Uhhh. I don't think I wanna bug her."

IZZY

"Mm. Mm." She paused for a moment, thinking. "Do you suppose you'll ever want to marry someone else, yourself?" Then, hastily, "I'm sorry, maybe that's invasive."

LINA

"Huh. Um." Goro frowned, thinking about it. "I mean, I don't mind the question. Dunno, though. Feel like... it was enough of a fucking miracle me and Hansel found each other, you know? Can't really picture it happening again. But, I guess Hansel probably didn't expect to get a second husband, either. Which is dumb. He's great. He could have like, twenty husbands, probably."

IZZY

"I don't think he'd know what to do with twenty husbands," Marion said, amused. "I think he just wants the two of you." She patted his back again and pulled away, because her back was getting stiff -- she stretched a little. "You know, I always hoped one of my boys would find someone to have children with, and I could be around to help babysit and spoil them rotten, but Hansel's kids are all grown and I don't believe Leigh is to find anyone."

Hint, hint.

LINA

"Oh." Goro's eyes widened a little and darted around the room. "Well, uh, jeez. You know, I... well, Hansel knows I... he knows I want kids." He bit his thumbnail.

IZZY

"Oh, that's good," she said, pleased. "He took to Leigh so easily, when he was young -- I was always sure he'd be a good father. And I've seen you with Theo."

LINA

"Yeah," he said softly. "I, uh. I told him I like babies, too. He gets so nervous around Tikva, though." He snorted.

IZZY

Marion winced a little, and tried to cover it with a smile.

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Oh, no, it's nothing."

She tried to wave it off and took a sip of tea. It was important to her that she be completely honest about her mistakes in raising Hansel, about everything she'd done ... wrong, or just not well enough. She would explain things, but she never wanted to try to justify them.

But she felt like there were only so many times in a conversation that she could explain, It's my fault. I made him afraid of touching people, afraid of hurting anyone, because I was afraid he would do it, and I was afraid they would hurt him. She wanted Goro to just be happy. She didn't want to keep bringing up sad things and having to talk about the weather.

LINA

Eh. Goro figured he knew what that was about. He wondered if Hansel had been allowed to hold Leigh, or anything, when Leigh was a baby.

"I told him--" He paused, worried it'd sound like he was criticizing Marion. She'd been so fucking young when she had her sons. And she'd said Leigh was frail. "I told him most babies are tougher than they look. Long as you support their head, you don't really gotta worry."

IZZY

"Mm." She swirled her tea, looking down at it. "I know he wasn't there when Luci was very young. Maybe once he has his own, he'll realize he's ..."

She choked up a bit, there, unexpectedly, and cleared her throat. Hansel was very careful and gentle. Yehuda had been ... so careful, so gentle. He'd never gotten to hold his son with those strong, warm hands, and cradle him so tenderly. He hadn't been able to show Hansel that it was okay. That he was okay.

"I'm sorry," Marion said. She cleared her throat again and pushed herself up. "You'll -- you'll have to excuse me for a moment, sweetheart." She crossed behind Goro, heading for her bedroom door, and patted his shoulder as she went.

LINA

"Well--um--" Goro twisted around in his seat, watching her go. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

IZZY

"Oh, no, it's -- it's not fault, dear," she assured him. "I'll just be a minute. You finish your tea. There are some cookies in the pantry, if you'd like some."

She gave him a pained smile and closed her door behind her, went over to the bed, and sat down to put her face in her hands.

LINA

Goro chewed on his lip and slid his mug around on the table. He wondered if he oughta go try and talk to her. Seemed like she wanted her privacy for the moment, though.

He waited. Got up to get the cookies after a minute, not 'cause he was hungry, but in case she wanted any when she came back out.

IZZY

After a couple of minutes, Marion came back out, dry-eyed and composed again. She spotted the cookies and smiled a bit -- there were chocolate chip. Apparently Goro particularly liked chocolate, so she tended to keep something around for him in case he came by. She retook her seat, and, unsure how exactly to bounce back from all that, just asked, "Would you like some more tea?"

LINA

"Um. Sure." Goro wanted to say something. Didn't sit right, Marion acting like everything was all normal now. He tried to think what Amari would say.

Probably, she'd just go along with it. That was the thing with Amari, she just flowed along. Not pushing people, like he did. (Except Goro. God, damn, had she pushed Goro a lot over the years.)

He knew he got too pushy, sometimes, and it bothered people. He fidgeted in his seat.

IZZY

She got back up and busied herself with collecting the warm kettle and pouring him a fresh mug. "I imagine Leigh will be home soon," she commented, trying to make some sort of conversation through the awkwardness.

LINA

"You know, I think you're a great lady," Goro blurted.

IZZY

Marion was completely caught off guard and didn't know what to say. She stopped with the kettle in her hands and just blinked at him.

LINA

"You were just, you know, just a kid, practically, when you had him. Right?"

IZZY

"I ... I was, yes." There had been girls her age starting families, then. Her parents had wanted her to settle down, and she hadn't wanted to. She hadn't even wanted a baby, not yet, had wanted to be just herself for a while longer and figure out what they would mean.

LINA

"And... wasn't like there was anyone else in town raising a half-orc baby, right? Wasn't even any other orcs you could talk to, anymore. No one to help you." Goro made a pained grimace. "I know you were scared for him, and real alone. And you just had to try and figure it out. I bet you did the best you could. I bet you worked real hard, every day."

IZZY

"I did." She said it reluctantly. "Goro, you -- you don't need to make excuses for me. All we can ever do is our best. Sometimes your best just ... isn't enough. I know that I didn't do enough for Hansel. I don't need to be reassured."

LINA

"I ain't making excuses," he said. "I know he had a shitty time growing up. I'm just saying, you know..." He moved his hand around, searching for the words. "Sometimes it helps just to have someone say, hey, it wasn't fucking right, that there wasn't anyone there for you. Wasn't right. I'm sorry."

IZZY

She was quiet for a moment, then reached out to squeeze his shoulder, firmly and briefly. "Then I appreciate you saying it. Thank you, sweetheart."

LINA

"Yeah. Well, it's true." He grabbed a cookie and stuffed it into his mouth, just for something to do.

IZZY

Marion gave him a fond look. She didn't think he'd say it if he didn't think it were true. People didn't normally put so much visible effort into lying about a thing. So she didn't challenge him on it, or anything like that -- just sipped her cooling tea and let herself, for a moment, appreciate the recognition.

As the moment passed, she heard barking outside that heralded Leigh and Sonja's return. The little shepherd always announced her own arrival, and anyone else's, too, but before Marion could set her mug down to open the door for Leigh, he was opening it himself. Sonja launched herself in side, claws clattering on the wood floor, slid across the rug, and dove onto the couch, where she flopped down and wagged her tail, panting.

Leigh had a knapsack swollen with groceries and supplies from town, and he paused at the table to kiss Marion's head, saying, "Hey, Mom," in greeting. He added a pleasantly surprised, "Hey, Goro," and hesitated just a touch before doing the same to him, then busily going over to the kitchen counter to unload.

As he went, though, he narrowed his eyes and grimly commented, "You hung the shelf."

"Goro helped," Marion told him, amused.

He grumbled a little.

LINA

When he recovered from the surprise of the head kiss, Goro hopped up to help Leigh put away the groceries.

"I did, yeah," Goro said, not exactly sure what the point of contention was, but feeling he should back Marion up all the same. Then, for something else to say, "That dog's getting big."

IZZY

Leigh looked like he almost said something about Goro helping with the groceries, then didn't bother, just easily reaching past and around him to keep working. He smiled over at Sonja for a moment. "Yep. She ain't teethin' anymore. Lost her puppy teeth."

LINA

"Oh. Huh." Goro paused what he was doing to squint at the dog for a moment, then went back to work. "What's she for, anyway? Why'd you get a dog?"

IZZY

Leigh laughed a little, and kept grinning as he said, "I mean, she's a dog. She ain't gotta be for anything. She can just be a pet."

LINA

"Oh. Yeah. Guess so." Goro looked thoughtful. "I never had one. A pet, I mean. Is a lot of work?"

IZZY

"Nah, not really. Just gotta feed her and all." He unloaded the last of the stuff and swung the empty knapsack back onto his back for now. "I mean, dogs usually need a lotta attention and exercise, and stuff to do, but she gets plenty. It's not work."

LINA

"Is she a good guard dog?" Goro glanced at her over his shoulder again, doubtful.

IZZY

"Ehh, she tries," he said, smiling at her.

Sonja gave a little wuff and wagged her tail harder, thumping it against the cushions.

LINA

"Maybe you could train her to be one," Goro said. It occurred to him that meant she might attack him if he came by, though. "Maybe not."

IZZY

"Probably could. She's a smart girl." Leigh finished up and wandered over to the couch to flop down himself next to her, scruffing her fur and cooing to her about what a good, clever, sweet girl she was. Then, a little embarrassed, he looked back up -- Sonja sprawled happily across his lap -- and said, "You just come by for a visit or is somethin' goin' on?"

LINA

"Um." Goro glanced nervously at Marion. "Just... just... visiting."

IZZY

Marion took a sip of her tea. "He came by to ask for my blessing to marry Hansel."

"Aww." Leigh grinned at Goro. "That's real sweet." It could've sounded sarcastic, but was clearly genuine. He did get fake serious, though, to ask, "You give it to him?"

Just as gravely, Marion said, "I'm still deciding."

LINA

"Um." He tried to look super busy with the groceries, but there wasn't really anything left to do. He rearranged the sugar and flour canisters on the counter. "Yeesh. Yeesh. It's what people are supposed to do, right?"

IZZY

"I guess," Leigh said, thoughtful. "Don't know that anyone really does it, though. Bet Hansel's gonna think it was real romantic, though. Big softie."

LINA

"Uh. I wasn't gonna tell him." Don't know that anyone really does it? Motherfucker.

IZZY

Marion raised an eyebrow at that.

"Huh. Why do it, then?" Leigh asked.

LINA

"'Cause... 'cause I thought you were supposed to." Well, that made it sound like he was just doing it out of obligation, and didn't really care what Marion thought. "I mean, it's important to me that Hansel's family members are, you know, okay with it." Maybe that could be a segue into him asking Leigh. He was running out of things to fiddle with on the counter, so he unhooked his bracelet and started playing with it, rolling the beads between his fingers.

IZZY

"You s'pose he's asked, like, Amari and Theo and Larkin?" Leigh asked. "I bet he didn't think about it. Y'all're already family anyway." He was still scritching Sonja's neck and ears, and leaned over to kiss the soft fluffy fur on the top of her head.

LINA

"I don't know. I don't think he'd... need to, 'cause..." Goro frowned. He was gonna say that obviously Amari approved, and Larkin might not be thrilled about it but it wasn't gonna make a difference because nothing was gonna stop Goro marrying Hansel. But then, he guessed, the same might be true of Hansel, if any of his family members disapproved. "I dunno."

IZZY

"No one needs to, but it's a nice thought," Marion put in.

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah." Goro fidgeted with the bracelet more intently, acting like he was trying to rip it in half. "What do you think, Leigh?"

IZZY

Oblivious, Leigh said, "Yeah, I think it's sweet. I figure you should tell'im, though. Embarrass him."

LINA

"Ah, no, I meant, uh. What do you think of us getting married?"

IZZY

"Ohh." He looked a little embarrassed himself at not getting it, ducking his head a bit. "I mean, y'all make each other real happy. I think it's great. Ain't sure it's my place to say," he added, sheepish. "I barely knew him before y'all were together."

LINA

"Guess so. I mean, I'm not asking for permission, or nothing," Goro clarified. "Just wanted to make sure I do right by your family." He started chewing his lip. "If you didn't like it, I'd wanna..."

Goddamn, he was bullshitting now. The truth was, if any of Hansel's family members didn't like him, he'd probably crawl into his bedroom and refuse to come out on their wedding day. Motherfucker.

IZZY

Leigh waited a second for him to finish that thought, then filled in, "I do like it. Y'know -- when we were kids, Hansel was always real ... quiet. Even when he first came home. But he talks to you a lot. Mishka, too." He kissed Sonja's head again, and left his face planted in her fur. "Dunno. Makes me happy."

LINA

Goro felt good about that, but he wasn't sure what to say. So he didn't say anything. He returned to the table and grabbed another cookie, eating it sheepishly.

He eyed Marion. "You're not really still deciding," he said, mouth half full.

IZZY

"Of course not," she assured him, reaching over to pat his hand. "I couldn't be happier for Hansel, you know, having both you and Mishka in his life. He was ... in a bad way, when he came home. And you both came for him."

LINA

Goro grabbed another cookie and stuffed it into his mouth. He tilted the plate toward her. "Mm?"

IZZY

She held a hand up. "I made them for you and Leigh."

LINA

"D'you not like 'em?" Said around a mouthful of cookie.

IZZY

"I do, but you boys like them more," she said, a little amused. Leigh went psshh from the couch.

LINA

You boys. Acting like he was on a level with her own flesh and blood son. The person she loved most in the world, probably.

Goro finished chewing the cookie and went back to fiddling with his bracelet. "Thanks for being so nice to me. Not a lot of people ever have."

IZZY

"Well, that wasn't right," she said calmly, and sipped her tea. "I'm sorry to hear it."

LINA

Goro shrugged. He looked around the room, wondering if there was something else he could help with. Marion would probably tell him no. Felt weird just sitting there, though.

IZZY

"Hey," Leigh piped up. "When y'all get hitched, are you gonna have best men or whatever? Hansel ain't asked me." He sounded thoughtful, not hurt. "I wonder if he'd pick Raef or somethin'."

LINA

"Oh." Goro frowned, considering. "I'm not sure. I ain't thought about it yet." Too busy wondering if he even wanted a wedding, and then how many people he'd wanna invite. "Not sure Hansel thought about it, either. He's not really much about the wedding, just wants to be married." He frowned deeper. "Wait. I think he's said before he loves weddings. I don't fuckin' know."

IZZY

"I hope he doesn't pull another stunt like he did when he and Mishka renewed their vows," Marion remarked.

LINA

"Oh. Nah, nah." Goro snorted. "He did that 'cause he knew it was gonna make Mishka happy, having shit get all dramatic. He knows I don't like surprises. I mean, not big ones."

IZZY

Marion made a pleased sound. "I'm not fond of surprises either."

LINA

Goro gave her a relieved look. "Glad I'm not the only one. People always act like I'm just no fun." He winced a little. "Well, maybe I'm not, but."

IZZY

"No one worth knowing thinks that, I'm sure," Marion said.

LINA

"Roddy," Goro offered.

IZZY

"He's an exuberant boy," Marion said fondly. "Energetic. I guess that's not surprising. But he likes you anyway, doesn't he?"

LINA

"Ehhh." Goro made a wishy-washy gesture.

IZZY

She lifted her eyebrows a little, amused, looking like she was this close to saying, Uh-huh.

LINA

Goro scowled and looked away.

IZZY

Marion sipped her tea, content. On the couch, Leigh kept scritching and playing with Sonja.

"Hey, how come you don't like dogs?" he asked.

LINA

"Huh?" Goro looked over and squinted at him and Sonja. He thought for a second. "Do I not?"

IZZY

"Don't seem like you do," he said. "You never wanna pet her or nothin'. You called her an it and asked what she's for. I mean -- I know you never got to have a pet," he added, guilty at only just now realizing. "Maybe it ain't just dogs."

LINA

"Oh. I dunno." Goro shifted around self-consciously. "I guess... I don't know. I got bit a few times. The dogs I knew growing up weren't friendly."

IZZY

"Aw." Leigh frowned. "Guess that makes sense. I remember -- Mom, who were those kids that had that dog? When I was real little?"

"Mm." Marion thought for a moment. "The Grovers?"

"Yeah, that was them." Back to Goro, he said, "These shithead kids -- sorry, Mom -- older boys, they had this dog they'd fuckin' -- uh, sorry --."

"Leigh, it's fine, honey," Marion told him, hiding her smile behind her mug.

"Anyway, they were older than Hansel, and they had this dog they'd sic on him sometimes, act like they couldn't control it, was just doin' what it wanted 'steada what they wanted it to do." He scowled fiercely. "Wasn't a bad dog. Grover boys were just assholes. Anyway, I remember Hansel bein' skittish 'bout dogs sometimes. Right?"

He looked to Marion, and she nodded, her lips a firm flat line at the memory.

"We always had mousers around our place, though," Leigh added. "An' he always liked them. 'Specially Lily. 'Bout cried his eyes out when that coyote hurt her." Thoughtfully, he said, "Good thing the Lady was so close by, then."

LINA

Goro drew back when Leigh said the part about the kids siccing their dog on Hansel. That was too fucking awful. He barely even heard the rest of what Leigh said.

He looked down at his lap, fidgeting harder with the bracelet. He knew he oughta stick it in his mouth, since he was biting the inside of his cheek real hard. But he just kept playing with it. "Cats are alright. Little assholes, though."

He felt like crying. Wasn't fucking fair. He wondered if those boys were dead now.

IZZY

"Yeah, cats are good," Leigh said, staring off into one corner and petting Sonja, not realizing Goro was upset. "Y'all oughta get a cat."

Marion reached out to gently touch Goro's arm, grimacing slightly.

LINA

"Mishka has one," Goro said drably. Kept playing with the bracelet.

IZZY

"Oh, huh. Well. Oughta get your own." Leigh finally looked back at Goro, and frowned a little. "Uh. Cats, y'know, they like to bond t'just one or two people, usually. So I bet Mishka's cat mostly just likes him. If you got a cat it'd be your buddy, like Lily was with Hansel. That's, uh. Good. I dunno, I just think you oughta have a pet, 'cause they're real good," he finished, embarrassed.

LINA

"Yeah? Mm. Didn't know that about cats." He brought the bracelet to his mouth and gave it a test nibble, then immediately got too embarrassed, and stopped. "Guess having the chickens is nice. Not really pets, I guess. But they like me, for some reason. 'Least, Raef says they do."

IZZY

"The goats like you, too," Leigh offered. "More'n they like Hansel."

LINA

"Pfff. A low bar to beat." Goro started to smile, but then he felt bad, teasing Hansel when he wasn't here. Normally it'd be alright, but--that thing about the dog. It still hurt.

IZZY

Leigh grinned. "Yeah, that's true."

"Animals normally like him," Marion said, smiling a bit, too. "I don't know what it is about the goats. They're nippy animals. I think they just know they can get away with it, with him."

"Big softy," Leigh agreed. "Critters like that always know who they're dealin' with."

LINA

Goro broke into a grin at big softy. He wiggled in his chair, feeling like he couldn't hold all his affection. "Yeah. Yeah, maybe." He scratched his head and looked around the room yet again. "Um, you sure there's nothing else I can help with, while I'm here?"

IZZY

"Mom barely lets me do shit around here," Leigh commented.

"You barely let me do anything," she said back, dryly. "So nothing gets done. Funny, that."

He snickered at her, then offered, "You could help me chop some firewood, if you think you're up to it." It was a little teasing.

LINA

"Um. Uh." He faltered. "I don't know if, uh... eh, don't know if I got the strength to do that. 'Parently it takes a lot."

IZZY

"Hear me out, though," Leigh said. "If Hansel saw you doin' it, he'd be real impressed."

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Yeah. Yeah."

IZZY

Leigh pushed himself up to come over to the table, Sonja hopping down to click after him eagerly. He held his palm out so Goro could see the calluses built up on it. "When Jonn stayed with us for a bit, he wanted to help out, so I had him choppin' wood. Tore his hands all up 'cause he ain't got calluses. You can just heal yourself, though."

"Or Hansel could do it," Marion put in innocently.

LINA

Goro scoffed. "'Kay but, what if I can't do it, and Hansel sees me making a damn fool outta myself?"

IZZY

"Pssh." Leigh waved it off. "Don't worry 'bout it. I'll show you the right way. It takes more stamina than strength. Jonn could do it, and he's little."

LINA

"Alright," Goro said tentatively, then again, a little more assured. "Alright. Let's do it. Can you show me now?"

IZZY

"Sure thing." Leigh offered Goro a hand up. "You good if Sonja comes along? She just wants to run around."

LINA

Goro took Leigh's hand kind of shyly and stood. "Uh, yeah, 'course. I mean, it's your house. Long as she doesn't jump on me and shit, I guess."

IZZY

"Nah, she won't. She's a polite girl." To Sonja, he cooed, "Ain't that right, sweetheart?" and she panted up at him happily, eyes bright.

Leigh took Goro outside, around back to the woodpile. There was a thick, sturdy stump for a chopping block, and the axe was lodged into it. Leigh ambled over to the stack of unchopped wood -- with Sonja bolting around the grounds, making big, loose circles around him -- and over his shoulder, directed Goro, "Brace your foot on that stump. Hansel was out here last and he don't fuck around with drivin' the axe in when he's done."

LINA

Goro braced his foot on the stump and grabbed the axe handle. He threw all his weight into trying to wedge it out, and it did shift a tiny bit, but goddamn. "Goddamn," he panted.

IZZY

Leigh came back over with a couple logs, fondly commenting, "Fuckin' Hansel. Here, lemme."

He braced his foot, too, and gave it a good yank. It budged a little more, and he huffed.

"Fuckin' Hansel. You ever hear that story 'bout the sword in the stone, and how only the real king could pull it out? S'like that sometimes, swear to Silvanus." He shifted to the side a little, and shifted his grip. "Here. Let's both go at once."

LINA

Goro snickered. "Wonder if he does it on purpose, just to fuck with you." He stood next to Leigh and grabbed the handle.

IZZY

With both of them pulling, the axe did eventually come loose, but it took a bit of straining and when it finally did pull free, it sent both Leigh and Goro tumbling back, tripping over each other and ending up on their asses in the dirt. Leigh was careful to hold the sharp axe up high so no one fell on it or anything.

He was laughing, but asked, "Shit. You all right? That, uh, happens sometimes. Shoulda warned you."

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." Goro snorted, brushing dirt off his hands. "That motherfucker. I swear he did it on purpose."

IZZY

"Oh, he sure fuckin' does," Leigh agreed. "Sometimes, anyhow." He pushed himself up with the axe and offered Goro a hand up again. "You a righty or a lefty?"

LINA

Goro took his hand and climbed to his feet. "Righty. Why?"

IZZY

"'Kay, so." Leigh slid the axe in his hands so that the head was clutched up tight against his right hand, and his left was down closer to the end. "You wanna hold it like this. Keep your right hand nice and loose, 'cause it's gonna slide, see?"

Slowly and purposefully, he went through the motion.

"You wanna hold it with your left, and you guide it with your right. Hansel can do it both ways," he confided, "which is fuckin' bullshit. But you and me do it this way. Goes in a real big circular motion, like this --" he went through the motion again -- "and you let the weight of the axe head do most of the work, see? Just drops right down."

LINA

Goro watched carefully and nodded. "Okay. Yeah. I think I get it." He grabbed a piece of wood off the pile and placed it on the chopping block, then took the axe from Leigh. He positioned his hands the way Leigh had shown him, staggered his feet (like Hansel had shown him to do when he was fishing), and swung the axe in a big circular motion.

It hit the wood a little off center and knocked it to the ground. "Aw," Goro said.

IZZY

"That's a'right." Leigh held a hand up for him to stop, and repositioned the wood for him. "First try. Try goin' slow once or twice, get your aim figured out. Like hammerin' in a nail."

LINA

"Got it," Goro said. He repositioned his grip on the handle, steadied his feet again, and made a couple slow test swings. Then he tried again for real. The axe went flying out of his hand completely, missing the wood so wide it didn't even wobble.

"Ah, shit, fuck, hang on." Goro scrambled over to pick it up. He walked back into position, rolled his shoulders, and glared at the wood. "Alright. Watch me get it this time."

He took another swing. This time was a little too hard, and the axe came all the way around, dropped out of his hands again, and hit his foot.

"Motherfucker," Goro yelped, hopping away on one foot. "Ow. Ow. God."

IZZY

Leigh opened his mouth to say something the first time, but closed it when Goro went straight back to trying again. Then, when the axe whacked into Goro's foot, he exclaimed, "Ah, shit!"

He chased Goro down easily, hooking his shoulder under Goro's and putting an arm around him to help hold him, starting, "Here, here, lemme --," then catching himself and just saying, "Fuck, just heal yourself. You outta magic? You need me to get you inside?"

LINA

Goro leaned heavily against Leigh and hissed through his teeth. "'M fine. Not that bad. Still got all my toes." He suspected the force of the axe head might've broken a couple of them, though. Motherfucker. "Can heal myself, yeah. Don't gotta go in."

IZZY

"Here, siddown." Frowning nervously, Leigh lowered them down slowly, keeping hold of Goro.

LINA

Goro snickered, even as he grimaced from the pain. "Y'got that nervous Hansel energy."

IZZY

"Well, wouldn't be great if my brother-in-law chopped his goddamn foot off on my watch," Leigh grumbled good-naturedly.

LINA

"Haha. You think he'd give you a real hard time over it?" Goro unlaced his boot and tugged it off, yipping as his toes bumped against the inside on the way out. Dang, that was more blood than he was expecting. Better make sure he didn't actually chop anything off.

IZZY

"I mean, prob'ly," Leigh said sheepishly. He winced. "You ... sure you can heal that? Looks nasty."

LINA

"Uh. Long as everything's still attached." Goro carefully rolled his sock down and off his foot. "Oof. Yikes."

Everything was, in fact, still attached. Blunt trauma only, but more than enough to break the skin. And yeah, if he had to guess, a couple of the bones were broken. He reached into his robe for the Foxtail and used a couple charges to fix himself up, grunting and oofing from the sharp pain of bones mending.

"Good as new," he pronounced, tucking his wand away. He used the dry part of the sock to mop up the blood. The thing was spent, anyway.

IZZY

Leigh watched him with interest. "Huh. You got a wand thingy for doin' that?"

LINA

"Yeah. Ombre gave it to me, the first time we met," Goro said fondly. "Just has some power charged in it, so I don't gotta use as much of my own magic."

IZZY

"Neat. I know the Lady's gotta staff, but I dunno if it works like that. Got its own magic, and all." He moved to help Goro back up. "Maybe I oughta get something like that, for if the goats get hurt, or somethin'."

LINA

Goro wrestled his boot back on and accepted Leigh's help up. "Hey, yeah. I dunno how it'd work for you. I already knew how to do the spells my wand can cast, so I didn't have to learn nothing new, but you could probably figure it out. Ain't a hard spell. You should go talk to Lyra, see if she can fix you up with something. Tell her you're Goro's brother-in-law. She likes me, she might give you a deal."

IZZY

"Uh. Who's that?"

LINA

"She owns that shop that walks around on the chicken legs."

IZZY

"Ohh. Oh, man, I saw that thing out around town, but I thought it was some kinda, y'know, monster, or somethin'," Leigh said, embarrassed.

LINA

"Nah, it's a shop. Don't worry about it, Lyra's real laid back. You'll like her. Oh, just so it doesn't catch you off guard or anything, she's a cat." As he spoke, Goro grabbed the axe off the ground and got into position again. He swung, and hit the wood on target this time, but the blade just bounced off.

IZZY

"A cat?" Leigh sounded lost. "Like ... What?"

LINA

"A tabaxi." Goro took another swing, knocking the wood off the block this time. "A cat person. You know?" He wasn't sure if Leigh did, just checking.

IZZY

"I ... I sure don't know. I heard a story, once," he offered, "about this lady who could turn into a cat, and she played pranks on people, and stuff. Uh, think she was just a druid, though. Like Hansel can do now. Ain't the same thing."

LINA

"Yeah, no, not like that. More like, uh." Goro frowned thoughtfully as he set the wood back in place. "Oh. You know how Roddy's a turtle? Lyra's a cat. There we go."

He took another swing, and gave a little cry of victory when the axe head lodged in the wood. Then--he knew how to do this next part from watching Hansel--he carefully used the axe to lift the wood up, and he tapped it against the chopping block a few times, driving the blade deeper.

IZZY

"Ohhh." Leigh nodded, understanding. "Hadn't ever seen a turtle person before Roddy, either."

He joined in Goro's victory cry, clapping. Sonja, who had calmed down, sprung to her feet and danced around in place, barking along with the excitement and wagging her tail furiously. When Goro drove the axe in deeper, Leigh knocked a hand into his shoulder.

"Lookit you, fuckin' old pro, huh? You been messin' with me this whole time?" he teased.

LINA

"Hah." Goro snorted and grinned, embarrassed. "Nah. Fuckin' good one."

He tapped the wood a couple more times until it split into two chunks. Satisfying, but goddamn. "I think I hate chopping wood."

IZZY

"S'good to get your frustrations out on," Leigh said. "Sucks shit the rest'a the time, though, yup."

LINA

"Not if it just makes you more frustrated." Goro handed the axe back to him.

IZZY

"Means you chop more wood," Leigh pointed out, taking the axe. "You wanna take them trophies back down t'the castle?"

LINA

"God, no. Hansel'll laugh me outta the place. 'Look, here's the two chunks of wood I spent twenty minutes trying to chop and almost broke my toes off in the process.'"

IZZY

"You ain't gotta tell him all that," Leigh said, grinning.

LINA

"If I was any good at it, I'd be bringing home more'n two pieces, wouldn't I? Psh." Was sweet of Leigh, though. Calling it a trophy. Goro gave him a friendly knock on the shoulder.

IZZY

"Hey, now. Maybe all you needed was exactly two pieces, huh?" He bumped his shoulder into Goro's, still grinning. "Psshh, y'know he'd be over the fuckin' moon. I seen the way that big fuckin' teddy bears act 'round you." He poked at Goro and teased, "Ten silver says he gets all huggy and coos about you bein' all big an' strong an' butch."

LINA

Goro hid his face behind his arms. "God. Leigh. That's fuckin' humiliating. You oughta hear yourself right now. You're killing me."

IZZY

"Pffft." He didn't let up. "Ain't humiliatin' to have somebody love you."

LINA

"It is."

IZZY

"Man, must be fuckin' sorry t'be you, then, huh," he kept right on teasing. "Got all sortsa family an' friends."

LINA

"Yeah." Goro kept hiding. "'S terrible. I'm embarrassed every day. God."

IZZY

Leigh ruffled Goro's hair. "Aw, poor li'l Goro Voronin, got people that love him an' shit. Hey, you takin' Hansel's name, or is he takin' yours, or what, anyhow?"

LINA

Goro gave an anguished cry. That Leigh would ask that, of all things. "Iuno," he said miserably.

IZZY

"Oh." He switched to rest a hand on Goro's shoulder instead. "Uh. Sorry. Sore spot?"

LINA

"Kinda." Might not be the right way to put it. Was just Goro being fuckin' weird about it, after all.

IZZY

"Uhh." Leigh was out of his depth, here. "Oh."

LINA

"Nah, s'just... bah." Goro finally dropped his arms. He kicked at the dirt. "Just wanna make sure I'm doing it all right."

IZZY

"Doin' what right?" Leigh asked, baffled.

LINA

"Getting married."

IZZY

He still looked bemused, but took a second to think about it before responding. "Well ... y'know, I dunno that there is a right way t'do it. I mean, my parents got married for, y'know, real shitty reasons, but they were still married same as, like, Hansel and Mishka are. Prob'ly the right way to do it is just the way that makes sense for y'all?" he guessed.

LINA

Goro kicked the ground a few more times, silent. Finally he said, "It's gotta mean more than just that, don't it?"

IZZY

"I dunno. I reckon if Hansel can have two husbands, y'all can just about do whatever y'want, though, right?" Leigh patted Goro's shoulder, hesitated a second, then pulled him into a hug.

LINA

Goro hugged him back, staring into the distance over his shoulder.

"People don't understand," he said, almost talking more to himself now. "No one gets it. I never thought this would happen to me. I dunno, everyone makes it sound too easy, like--like just do it however you want, and it'll be fine, but it's not that easy. Not to me."

Shit, Leigh probably didn't wanna hear all this. Goro awkwardly patted his back and pulled away. "Um, sorry for..." He waved his hand around. "Dumping all that."

IZZY

"Nah, that's all right." Leigh rubbed the back of his neck with a hand, looking uncomfortable, but ventured, "I, uh, I get that, I figure. I mean, if you never even thought about doin' a thing before, you wanna know what the rules are, first. If someone asked you to build'em a house, you'd wanna know how other folks' houses're built. Prob'ly don't help t'just get told, nah, y'know, just build it however you want, I guess." He frowned a little, guilty about having done that, too.

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah." Goro jabbed a finger at Leigh excitedly. "Yeah! Just like that." He let out a breath suddenly, relieved. "That's good."

He kicked the ground again, sheepish. "Normally I don't give a shit about rules, but."

IZZY

"But y'don't want your house to fall down," Leigh supplied.

LINA

"Yes. Damn. You're real good at this. Metaphors, and shit."

IZZY

Leigh grinned and looked down, embarrassed.

LINA

Goro squinted in the direction of the castle and scuffed his feet against the ground some more. "Not like Hansel's the person to ask. Motherfucker built that fuckin' loft when he was five, or some shit. Bet he just knows how houses work and knows how marriage works, and can't put it into words."

IZZY

Leigh snorted a little bit, affectionately. "Yeah, prob'ly, huh. I mean, I ain't the person to ask, either. Can't build any houses."

LINA

"Oh yeah. You go on any dates lately?"

IZZY

"Naw." He looked a little embarrassed, glancing towards the cottage like he was checking to see if his mom was listening in.

LINA

"You want me to set you up with someone? You like guys, girls, or don't matter?"

IZZY

"Nah, nah." He only looked more embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck again vigorously. "I'm, y'know, real busy with th' farm, an' all."

LINA

"Pff. Pff." Goro leaned forward to shove Leigh's shoulder. "You're a fuckin' catch, Leigh. Now, one time I said that too vigorously and Hansel didn't like it. But it's true. You put yourself out there at all, bet there's gonna be young people in town falling all over you. So much the better, if you're dedicated to the farm. You're all hardworking, and shit. That's great."

IZZY

Leigh went pffff back at him, letting Goro knock him back and kicking at the dirt a little. He did the neck rubbing thing again, looking down and blushing furiously. "I dunno."

LINA

Goro covered his mouth and snickered into it. "Lookit you, all shy and crap. That's fuckin' adorable. You want me to take you out drinking some time, meet some people? I'm telling you, all you gotta do's be yourself." He realized, maybe a little too late, that he might be making things worse. "Don't gotta if you don't want to, though."

IZZY

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, wincing a little, and kicked at the dirt a little more. "I ... I dunno. I dunno if I want to, and, y'know, I don't know that bein' myself is all that great of an idea. I mean, it's real nice of you t'say, but I don't figure, uh, y'know. Twenty-eight-year-old man still livin' with his momma, and on his older brother's land at that, now, I mean, ain't really accomplished much to show anybody else."

LINA

Goro frowned. He felt sad at first, and then he felt angry, toying with the idea that Leigh might be right. The fucking nerve of people, thinking Leigh wasn't good enough just because he lived with his mom, when he was--well, maybe Goro should just explain it out loud. "You're a kind, sweet, hardworking guy, and you're also a fuckin' dish, and on top of that, don't chicks love it when boys take good care of their mommas? Fuckin' nuts. You're wrong."

IZZY

"I dunno what girls like," Leigh mumbled, hunching his shoulders a little like that could hide the blush. "Never been on a date, so."

LINA

"Let me set you up on one," Goro tried again. Trying to keep his voice gentle, but the enthusiasm still leaked out.

IZZY

He went pfff again. "I dunno. Who with?"

LINA

Goro shrugged. "I'll find you someone nice in town."

IZZY

He chewed on it for a moment. "I dunno," he said reluctantly. "I ain't gonna know what to do. Y'know -- y'know, when Hansel came home, he said he'd expected I'd prob'ly have a wife and a kid or two by then. He was, uh, real nervous about makin' me feel bad about it -- was real drunk that night," he admitted, "uh, y'know how he gets all, sorta, emotional, and all. Uh. Anyway, though, he was talkin' about how it's all normal to not wanna date anybody, and how some folks are just like that and I shouldn't get all, uh, self-conscious 'bout it or anything."

Sonja had trotted over and sat down next to Leigh, and he dropped down to a crouch to ruffle her fur and hide half his face against her neck, still deeply embarrassed and needing a second to recover from saying words.

LINA

Goro snapped his fingers and pointed at them. "And you got a dog. Girls love guys with dogs." He paused for a beat, realizing he hadn't even responded to what Leigh actually said. "Well. That's true, what he said. Maybe not true of you, though? Kinda seems like maybe you'd like to, and just don't know how."

IZZY

He mumbled another, "Dunno," through Sonja's fur. "I mean, knew I wasn't interested in anybody back in Shepherd Hills, 'cause, anybody roundabout my age was somebody who would've been real shitty to Hansel when we were younger, or else they were still shitty to me an' Mom. I don't know if I wanna go on a date just to sorta go on one." He blushed harder again, adding, "Y'know, I mean ... like, the thing you and Hansel got, or him and Mishka got, that's ... y'know. I wanna really be in love with somebody. Dunno if I wanna date around just for the sake of it."

LINA

Goro cleared his throat and nodded, rubbing his hand over his mouth like he was being thoughtful, or something. Really, he just didn't wanna give away how hard he was trying not to giggle. He didn't want Leigh to think he was making fun. It was just so fucking sweet.

"Gotta put yourself out there, though, for that to happen. I ain't never fucking dated anyone in my life, I guess, but I like meeting new people. Like talking to people. Not that Hansel was much for talking when I first met him."

IZZY

"Guess so." He still looked pretty doubtful, but he was thinking it over. "How ... how did you an' Hansel get to know each other, then, anyhow?"

LINA

"Work. What, he never told you that?" Goro tossed an unimpressed look in the direction of the castle.

IZZY

"I mean, yeah, but y'don't get to be all in love with someone just by workin' with'em." He paused. "... Right?"

LINA

"Um." Goro ran a hand through his hair. Great, his turn to be all awkward, and shit. "I don't fuckin' know. I only done it once. Falling in love with someone, I mean. I'm not... I mean... you know, we spent time together a lot and we got to know each other, and... he--he kissed me and--" He felt his face turn red. "You probably don't wanna hear that."

IZZY

"Uh." Leigh hid his own red face in Sonja's fur again. "Uh. So ... so he, uh. Started it? I guess? Maybe I oughta ask him for advice," he mumbled. "He's gonna be all fuckin' awkward 'n weird 'bout it, though."

LINA

Goro snorted. "I mean, I think the way he works is... he sees someone he thinks is handsome or pretty or whatever, and then... well. He gets 'em. Probably wouldn't be too useful."

IZZY

Leigh gave a pfff. He shifted to cross his legs on the ground, Sonja happily scrabbling into his lap, where she did not really fit, to wiggle around energetically. He patted the ground next to him, asking Goro to sit too.

LINA

Goro sat, getting not quite as close as Leigh indicated, on account of the dog. She still made him a little nervous.

IZZY

Sonja flopped down with her chin on Leigh's knee, still except for her furiously wagging tail, and fixed Goro with puppy dog eyes.

"Hansel's all confident an' shit like that," Leigh commented, scratching her ears. "I dunno where he got all that from. Bein' a pirate an' all, I guess. I remember him havin' a crush on a girl in town once, when we were kids, but, y'know, even if she'd've liked him and give him a chance, her folks woulda lost their goddamn minds. Guess he just went all the way the other way once he got out." He looked thoughtful at that. He'd just left Shepherd Hills, now, too.

LINA

"It's a good thing." Goro started tearing at pieces of grass. His face was still warm. "Don't know if, if uh... it woulda happened between us if he hadn't been."

IZZY

"Guess so." Leigh mulled it over, then flushed again. "I mean, I know, like ... Y'know, I was gonna say, it's different, 'cause Hansel knows what he wants, so ... y'know, I figure when he saw you and went for you, he knew what he was doin'. But, uh, y'know, he, uh, he gets real talkative when he's drunk, and he ain't got any kinda sense about what comes outta his mouth, so -- so I know he prob'ly knows what he wants 'cause, uh, y'know, he's, uh. Tried a lot. Along the way." He gave another pfffft at his own embarrassment, ducking his head. "I don't wanna do all that," he said softly. "I dunno."

LINA

"You don't wanna... fail first, to figure it out, you mean?"

IZZY

"Nah." He hesitated, trying to put it to words. "Nah, not that. Y'know -- y'know, there's some farmers, like -- back home, 'cross town, there was this family named the Weavers. Weavers raised sheep, mostly, and alpacas sometimes too. Wool, y'know?" He shifted. "They were a real old family. Had a lotta money. And what they did was they'd just bought a whole lotta livestock, and they'd get get t'sell all this wool, right? But -- but they didn't take real good care of their animals, anymore, didn't keep'em real healthy, so the wool wasn't good. Wasn't quality wool, was just a helluva lot of it, y'know?"

He paused, collecting his thoughts.

"We always made sure our goats were real happy and healthy. Never had the biggest flock, but we make real good dairy 'cause, y'know, we care. I'd rather, um. Care. Not just sorta play numbers 'til I figure things out. If that makes any kinda sense." He scoffed and ducked his head again, hastily saying, "I don't know what I'm talkin' about, don't mind me."

LINA

Goro listened quietly, and thought for a while. He kept picking at pieces of grass.

"Yeah," he said finally. "Yeah, it makes sense." He frowned. "I don't... I don't think I know how to help you." Which really fucking disappointed him. He'd really wanted to help.

IZZY

Leigh looked up from Sonja, kind of puzzled. "Oh, uh. I ... I don't know that I need any help. I mean, it's real nice of you t'want to, but." He shrugged, and grinned a little. "I dunno. In all the stories, if somethin's s'posed to happen, it happens, anyway, right?"

LINA

"I never believed in that," Goro said, maybe too quickly. If Leigh was all idealistic and shit, Goro didn't wanna be the one to kick him down. "I mean, uh, maybe. Maybe. You never know. Stuff... does happen."

IZZY

"Happened for you an' Hansel," Leigh said.

LINA

"Yeah, 'cause we made it happen. Weren't just sitting back on a farm." Goro said it as gently as he could. "'Least you go into town and stuff, though. You ever talk to people, or just do your business and get on home?"

IZZY

"Uhh." He looked sheepish. "I mean, I ... I dunno how to talk to folks."

LINA

"You go up to 'em, and you say hi, and you stick out your hand, and--" Goro decided to demonstrate, scooting around so he was facing Leigh more head-on. He stuck out his hand. "I'm Goro."

IZZY

Leigh blinked at him, dumbfounded.

LINA

"Shake my hand," Goro whispered. "Tell me your name."

IZZY

Slowly, and looking deeply confused, Leigh shook Goro's hand. "I'm Leigh? I don't get it," he added in a whisper.

LINA

"We're pretending. Trying it out. Pretend you don't know me and I'm some guy in town." Goro cleared his throat. "Leigh, huh? You in Glimmerton for a while, or just passing through?"

IZZY

He still didn't look too sure about this, but went along with it. "N-Nah, I uh, I live up by the castle. On that -- that farmland out t'the east."

LINA

Goro made a face somewhere between scared and disgusted. "The castle? Where all those hooligans live?" It was based on actual conversations he'd had with folks in town, so Leigh oughta be prepared.

IZZY

"Er." Leigh looked like he wanted to die. "Uh. I wanna stop pretendin' now, 'cause, someone said that kinda thing t'me, talkin' shit about Hansel, and, y'know."

LINA

"And what'd you say?"

IZZY

"Ehh. I ... told'im that was my brother an' he oughta fuck off."

LINA

Goro grinned. "Neat."

IZZY

"Don't figure him and the other folks in the market thought so," Leigh mumbled. He toyed with Sonja's soft floppy ears. "S'just like back home, is all. I ain't gonna act like me an' Hansel ain't kin, but if people don't like him here, either ..." He trailed off.

LINA

"It's not just the same. They're not as racist, or anything. Just that Hansel beat up some people in bars so he got everyone all spooked. Anyway, my strategy is, I lean into it. When people ask me, ugh, the fuckin' castle? I smile and say, yep. I'm one of those hooligans. And then I act real friendly and keep talking anyway. People are real curious, you know. They'll start asking me questions and get to hear my side of the story and shit."

IZZY

Leigh frowned a little at the first part of that. "How come he beat up people in bars?"

LINA

"Eh, well, one time, it was this guy who punched me. The others, I don't really know. Probably they were being assholes, or something." Goro waved it off.

IZZY

"What guy punched you?" Leigh asked, appalled.

LINA

"Oh. Kash, that guy from the town guard. 'Cause Larkin and I were trying to take down this lady who was trying to scam us by pretending to be my mother. It was a long time ago, don't worry about it. First impressions stick, though, is all I'm saying."

IZZY

"Silvanus," he mumbled. "See -- sounds all complicated an' shit. Bein' around people."

LINA

"Oh, god, yeah. Most complicated shit there is. Can't get any easier if you don't practice it, though."

IZZY

Leigh grumbled weakly, planting his face in Sonja's fur.

LINA

Goro prodded at his newly-mended toes through the top of his boot, checking for any residual soreness. "Y'know, I can't think of a goddamn thing in my life that's ever come easy to me. Not wood chopping, not dealing with people, nothing. Everything I'm good at, I had to work real hard to learn. That's kinda fucking annoying, ain't it?" He scowled at his foot. "Other people seem to be naturally good at shit. Lucky motherfuckers. Goddamn."

He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his hands. "Anyway. All that's to say. Trying to figure people out might be one of the hardest things, I think. But also the most worthwhile. I really like talking to people, though. Dunno if you're the same. Dog ain't gonna judge you, I guess."

IZZY

"Yeah," Leigh agreed, thinking. "I dunno. Prob'ly oughta ... try harder. Was just that I knew wasn't anybody in Shepherd Hills much worth knowin', 'cept the Lady, and she didn't wanna be known. Just ... feels like I'm gettin' a late start, I guess. It's embarrassin'."

LINA

"Eh. Well." Goro shrugged. "Can't say I don't get it. I thought it was embarrassing for me, too, not getting... involved with anyone 'til I was thirty-two. But truth be told, Leigh? And I ain't just saying this. Truth be told, I don't think anyone cares how late you start."

IZZY

He gave Goro a hopeful look. "You really think so?"

LINA

"If they do care, they probably suck, right?"

IZZY

"That's prob'ly what Mom'd say," he admitted. "But, y'know."

LINA

"Yeah, I know. Just the kinda shit moms say. Sometimes they're fuckin' right, though, right? All wise, and shit. Lived longer than we have."

IZZY

"I mean, yeah," he said, kind of sheepish.

LINA

"Speaking of starting shit late. I didn't even get a mom until I was a grown fuckin' adult. Psh." Goro tore up a handful of grass and tossed it into the breeze. "Anyhow. I say you do it. Put yourself out there more. Talk to people. Find the ones worth talking to. And if you don't wanna do it alone, I'll help you."

IZZY

Leigh kept scruffing Sonja's fur, head ducked in embarrassment. "Yeah, I for sure could use the help. I appreciate that."

LINA

"'Course. Hey, when are we gonna go get you that tattoo? You decide what you want yet?"

IZZY

"Oh, uh. Yeah, I figured a goat skull. Just hadn't wanted to say nothin'. I dunno. You busy?"

LINA

"Hadn't wanted to say nothing!" Goro cried, leaning over to shove Leigh's shoulder. "Fuckin'. You can say anything to me any time, Leigh. Jeez. I'm your brother-in-law, and shit. Almost."

IZZY

Leigh grinned and ducked his head a bit, again. "Almost. Pssh. Good as are."

LINA

"That's what I'm thinking. And you didn't wanna say nothing. Pfff. But yeah, I ain't busy. What, you wanna go now?"

IZZY

He shrugged. "I ain't got anything left I gotta do 'round the farm today. If I wait I might chicken out."

LINA

Goro climbed to his feet and held a hand out for Leigh. He eyed the dog. "Dunno if it's a good idea to bring her."

IZZY

Leigh gave him a puzzled look and gently nudged Sonja off his lap to stand. "They don't like dogs in Skyport?"

LINA

"Nah, it's not that, more like..." Goro winced a little. "She seems real friendly, yeah?"

IZZY

"Yeah, 'course."

LINA

"Being friendly in Skyport gets you fucked over, more often'n not. I worry she'd get too excited with all the new sights and sounds and shit--or smells, whatever it is dogs like. Run off, get herself somewhere unsafe."

IZZY

"Oh ..." Leigh looked down at Sonja sadly, and she looked back with bright eyes and a wagging tail. "I mean, I got a leash for her, but ..."

LINA

Goro nibbled absent-mindedly on his thumbnail. "Maybe it'd be alright, then."

IZZY

"I dunno. Neither of us ever been to Skyport." He ruffled her ears. "Animals are real good at pickin' up in folks' feelin's. I don't want her t'get all spooked just 'cause I am." He looked back up at Goro, grinning again. "You oughta pet her, 'fore we go, though. She's real soft," he wheedled, kind of teasing.

LINA

"Psh. Fine. Fine." Goro reached out tentatively, halting when Sonja bumped her head up suddenly against Leigh's hand. She didn't seem aggressive, though. She actually looked like she was smiling. When Goro patted her between the ears, her tail kept thumping, and she stopped panting long enough to sniff Goro's wrist. Then she went back to smiling.

Goro took Leigh to the same guy who'd done his own crow tattoo. When it was finished, the artist let Leigh sit in the chair for a bit while Goro carefully healed up the skin, going slow so he wouldn't dislodge the ink.

"Alright," he said when he was done, straightening up and giving Leigh a pat on the shoulder. "You're all set."

IZZY

Leigh fidgeted -- real carefully, just bouncing a foot or fiddling with his hands -- just about the entire time the toothy half-orc worked, watching the mirror intently and excitedly. Once it was all done, he gave it one last look with a big grin before pulling his shirt back on.

"Thanks a lot," he said, looking between the two of them. Maybe this was a good time to try that thing about putting himself out there. Wasn't like this half-orc was gonna be racist against half-orcs, so he seemed safe.

LINA

Goro was already in the doorway, assuming they were gonna just get on their way. But when he looked over his shoulder to make sure Leigh was behind him, he stopped and smiled. Leigh had a look like he was gonna try chatting the artist up. The artist, for his part, looked unhurried, and was busying himself putting his inks and equipment back in order.

Go, go, go, Goro thought, cheering Leigh on in his head. Attaboy.

He glanced out on the street, people-watching while he waited. After a couple minutes, he spotted someone familiar across the way. "Hey Jonn," he called.

IZZY

Jonn looked up at the sound of his name. He'd been watching a couple baby birds -- actual baby ones, a couple street kids he was showing the ropes -- try to find good marks for pickpocketing. They didn't know he was watching. He wasn't really supposed to be doing it for any reason, he just wanted to keep any eye out for them, jump in if they got in over their heads. They were doing pretty well, though, and Finch kept telling him that at a certain point, he had to push the babies outta the nest, anyway. They were just real little, these ones -- they were Theo sized.

Still. They were doing okay enough for him to tear his eyes away from'em for a moment, he told himself. He raised a hand at Goro across the street, perking up. He took in the scene and realized where Goro was standing, and wondered if Goro was gonna get another tattoo, but he didn't wanna be nosy or make Goro have to deal with him if he didn't want to, so he didn't cross over -- just waved back and waited to see if this was one of those times where someone wanted to talk to him or was just acknowledging him, in passing. Goro was probably busy.

LINA

Jonn brightened up some, but he didn't call back or make any move to cross the street. Maybe he was in the middle of a job, or some shit. Goro signed to him. Busy? Need help?

IZZY

Jonn blinked and cocked his head. He signed back, Not busy.

LINA

Weirdo. Just fuckin' standing there, not coming over. Goro realized it probably looked the same for him--wasn't like Jonn could know Goro was waiting for someone.

Goro leaned his head back inside the shop to check on Leigh. Him and the tattoo artist were talking. Oh, shit, that was great. Goro grinned like an idiot and hastily pulled back out so he wouldn't embarrass Leigh any worse than the guy probably already was.

"C'mere a second," Goro called to Jonn.

IZZY

Jonn trotted over obediently, tucking his hands behind his back because he felt like he was standing too close, but the street was kinda busy and he didn't want to be too far away, either.

"Hey," he offered, even though they'd already waved and everything.

LINA

"Why you being weird?" Goro asked. Pointless question. It was Jonn.

IZZY

"Iuno. Am I bein' weird?" He blinked. "Sorry."

LINA

"Ah, nah, whatever." Goro waved it off. "Whatcha up to?"

IZZY

"Watchin' baby birds." He nodded down the street. "They don't need help, though. They're getting really good," he said, all proud. "I'm just hanging out in case they get in trouble."

LINA

"Oh." Goro glanced vaguely in that direction. "That's neat. Hey, I wanted to tell you, this thing you got me." Goro held his wrist up and tugged at the bracelet. "Fuckin' love this thing. It's great. I chew it all the goddamn time. Hansel likes it, too, since I ain't biting on myself and shit."

IZZY

Jonn grinned widely, then tried to tamp it down a little bit and bounced on his toes happily instead, knotting his hands together behind his back. It took him a second to get words out, he was so pleased. "Great! That's great. I'm really glad. Really."

Sometimes when Jonn got real excited, he forgot most of the words he knew, and just ended up saying the same ones over and over, but more emphatically. This was one of those times.

LINA

Huh, that was kinda cute. Reminded Goro of how Ombre got all bouncy when she was real excited about something.

Goro lowered his arm but kept tugging at the bracelet. "I wanted to talk to you about... about the wedding. Not sure here's a good place, though. I hate this neighborhood."

IZZY

"Oh. Uh, okay." Jonn glanced around, taken aback by the mention of the wedding. "We can go somewhere else?"

LINA

"Maybe. I'm waiting for Leigh to finish up in there." Goro tilted his head at the door. "Don't wanna leave him in Skyport on his own, you know?"

IZZY

Jonn stared. "Mask. Nah, he'll get fucking eaten alive."

LINA

After they'd seen Leigh safely on his way, Goro turned to Jonn. "You got any ideas for a place we can talk? There's always the Coin."

IZZY

"Nah, fuck that place," Jonn said, without any actual venom.

LINA

"Then?"

IZZY

"We could go to Asya's," he suggested. "It's not far. And it's, like, private." He frowned a little, worried, picking at his nails behind his back. "Do we need private?"

LINA

"I always need private," Goro said, like it was obvious. "Lead the way, then."

IZZY

"'Kay."

Jonn shot one more look at the kids -- they were okay -- then led Goro off. He normally just hopped up buildings, but Goro was ... kinda older, and he'd been a cleric for a long time now, doing church stuff or whatever, so he curved around to a more accessible pathway up onto the thieves' highway, then hopped along the roofs (checking back over his shoulder a few times) closer to the port.

Asya had a little loft with a nice view. It made Jonn think of the room, sometimes, where Helena Baron had kept her favorite things, and the fluffy clouds painted on the ceiling. Asya got to see real clouds, now, though, so he didn't linger on it. Most of the roof was open, and she had a couple of chairs out there, and the door to the one room inside was cracked. He figured she'd probably heard his boots hitting the wood, but he tapped on the door anyway, and peeked in.

She was sitting in a cozy chair to read, and raised a hand when she saw him.

"Hey. Goro's with me. Is it okay if we hang out on the porch for a little while?"

She made a low mm sound and raised her thumb, then signed love you and gave him time to sign it back before looking back to her book. He closed the door with a click and wandered over to drop down at the edge, letting his legs dangle and facing out towards the bay. He looked back to Goro expectantly.

LINA

Goro wandered over to join him, casting a glance at the closed door before lowering himself down to sit next to Jonn. "Nice view. You live here?"

IZZY

"Nah, I live with Finch, still." Jonn picked at his fingernails. "I crash with Asya sometimes."

LINA

"Think she'd mind if you wanted to move in?" Anytime Goro saw an opening to get Jonn away from Finch, he was gonna fucking pounce.

IZZY

"Probably not," he said thoughtfully. "There's not a lot of space, though. Uh, what'd you wanna talk about?"

LINA

Goro didn't answer right away, just stared at Jonn for a second. Then he looked out over the water. "Um. Well, you know, me and your dad are getting married soon."

IZZY

"Uh-huh." He kicked his heels against the wall.

LINA

"Hey, did you know Mishka much, before him and Hansel got hitched?"

IZZY

He shook his head. "I never met him before, uh. Y'know. Hansel came home, and stuff."

LINA

"Huh." Goro rubbed his elbow, wondering if that would've made a difference. If maybe Jonn wouldn't've been so quick to hate the guy if he'd known him a little before shit got bad.

Granted, it had gotten real bad.

"Just wondering what you think of it. Your dad, marrying people. Giving you stepdads you never asked for."

IZZY

He kept swinging his legs, leaning forward to brace his hands on the edge of the roof. "I dunno. Mishka's not my dad. Stepdad, whatever. He's just Hansel's husband. That's fine." He shrugged a little. Wasn't like Hansel had asked him. Wasn't like he needed to. Hansel could marry whoever he wanted.

LINA

"Alright, but... how d'you feel about it? Eh, well, I guess I know how you feel about Mishka. What about me, marrying him?" Goro gripped the edge of the roof, not sure he was gonna like what he heard.

IZZY

He shrugged again. "S'fine. He loves you and shit. I mean --." Jonn stopped and cocked his head, thinking. "I mean, Dad doesn't make, like ... good decisions, all the time. But he's gonna make'em anyway. I don't really have any, y'know, control over it."

LINA

Goro looked away, wincing. "D'you think it's a bad decision, for him to marry me?"

IZZY

"I dunno." He kept kicking the wall. "I don't make good decisions either."

LINA

Goro didn't say anything for a while. He was starting to feel real fucking concerned, but he wasn't sure how to dig his way out of this.

"You're not..." He looked back to Jonn finally, frowning. "You're not really telling me what you think. You do that a lot. It's like you only take other people's opinions, and don't got your own."

Empty.

IZZY

Jonn shrugged. He chewed on his lip.

LINA

Goro leaned forward, staring him hard in the eye.

IZZY

Jonn looked back, then leaned away and lifted his shoulders defensively. "What?"

LINA

"What's goin' on in there?"

IZZY

"I dunno," he said reflexively, and edged away from Goro a little. "Stop lookin' at me like that."

LINA

Goro complied, looking out over the water again. "Usually when people won't tell you what they think, it's 'cause they're worried you're not gonna like it."

IZZY

Jonn kept watching Goro for a moment, wary, 'cause Goro was being fuckin' weird. He straightened, but edged away a little more. "Usually people don't wanna know what I think," he mumbled, shoulders still hunched.

LINA

Jonn wanted some more space. Getting uneasy. Goro climbed to his feet, acting like he was just restless. He paced the edge of the roof a little, not coming back as close as he'd been. "Well, I do. You think I'm lying to you?"

IZZY

"No." Maybe? Goro was a good liar. He could be. It didn't really make any sense, though. Jonn didn't know why Goro would be trying to, like, trick him or anything.

He fidgeted. "I don't ... I don't think Dad marrying you is a bad decision," he managed. "Luci's happy about it." Luci made good decisions.

LINA

Goro didn't know what exactly he'd been expecting, just that it wasn't that. He supposed it might be the best he would get.

"Alright," he said. He kicked a stray pebble and watched it go sailing off into the air.

IZZY

Jonn winced at him, and watched and waited for him to do or say something else. He felt like he was ... in trouble, or something. He'd done something wrong. He didn't really know what, though.

LINA

If you ever change your mind and feel like selling me out to an eldritch abomination, just let me know first, yeah? We can talk it out.

Goro scoffed quietly at the thought. He crossed his arms and gave Jonn a hard look.

IZZY

"What?" Jonn asked, exasperated, leaning away again.

LINA

"I wanna do right by Hansel's family," Goro said. "That includes you."

IZZY

"Okay?" That didn't help.

LINA

"If you got a problem with me, I wanna know about it."

IZZY

"I don't have any problem with you," Jonn said, completely baffled.

LINA

"You sure?"

IZZY

Jonn squinted at him. "Yeah? What?"

LINA

Goro frowned. He thought maybe he oughta start over from square one. "Listen. First time Hansel got married, you didn't even know the guy. Suffice to say, you wound up with some objections to their marriage. That ended badly for a lotta people, yeah?"

IZZY

"I mean ... yeah." Jonn kept squinting. He didn't see how that followed. Then he got a sudden flare of anger and sat up straighter. "If you hurt him like that I'll have some fucking objections to you, too."

LINA

"Yeah, way ahead of you on that one, pal. If I fuck this one up, I'll probably pitch myself off a cliff. That's not the point. Point is, I agree with you on Hansel making a lotta bad decisions. And he just kinda does what he wants, right? Doesn't always stop to think how it's gonna affect people." Goro shook his head. "So I'm asking on his behalf. Making sure his existing family's okay with him adding me to it."

IZZY

Jonn settled back down, still kinda scowling. He didn't get how that followed, either, and it was frustrating him. He needed Luci or Hansel or Asya or someone to explain it to him. He just fidgeted in place for a moment, then pushed himself up to start pacing along the edge of the roof.

Luci said that when he got frustrated, he needed to stop, and calm down, because he wasn't thinking clearly when he was frustrated. He figured that was probably true, 'cause when he tried to think about shit, he'd usually just get ... more frustrated. And that made things worse. And then he made things worse, like he always did. He chewed on his lip, then made himself stop and stuffed his hands into his pockets to squeeze the clay Goro had gotten for him.

That was ... better. That was a little better. He took a breath.

"Can you. Uh, say that again?" he asked. "So I can ... think. 'Cause I don't, uh, I don't really know what I'm supposed to say."

LINA

Goro blinked a few times. He tried to remember what exactly he'd said. "Uh. Well. I know Hansel's not gonna go around asking people how they feel about him getting married. So I'm doing it for him. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it."

IZZY

"Okay." Jonn squeezed the clay back into a blob, and mashed it between his fingers again. "Okay. I mean, I'm okay with that. Yeah. You make him all happy. I mean, I like that? I like when he's happy." He paused, looking at Goro doubtfully to see if that answered Goro's question.

LINA

"'Kay." Goro hugged one arm to his chest. He looked out over the water again, eyes unfocused. "Yeah. Me too. I wanna... I wanna make him happy for as long as I can."

IZZY

Jonn watched Goro for a moment. He looked like how Hansel had always looked, when Hansel talked about Mishka, before Jonn met him. All dreamy and soft. It was ... good. (It was how Gwydion had looked at him.)

He shifted and glanced away, then back. "The thing you said, though, about -- Hansel adding people to the family. I mean, I'm not ..." He tried to figure out how to say it. "I don't have a problem with you," he said slowly, "I just mean, y'know, just -- just 'cause you marry Hansel doesn't make you my stepdad. Mishka's not. I never even ... fucking met him. So it doesn't ... matter." He chewed on his lip some more, feeling like he wasn't making sense, or he was saying the wrong thing. "If you guys get married, I mean. It doesn't make anything different."

LINA

It took a moment before Goro refocused. He glanced at Jonn, first out of the corner of his eye, then head on. He stared, kind of not realizing he was doing it until he noticed Jonn starting to look upset.

He looked away again quickly. "Ah. Alright. Well." He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned around, scuffing his feet on the roof as he went. "Hey, it was good talking with you. Everything fine with Finch?"

IZZY

Jonn eyed him, wary and confused. "Yeah."

LINA

"You remember you ever have trouble with him, you can come to me, right?"

IZZY

"'Kay."

LINA

"Does Asya know that? Does she know I'll help?"

IZZY

"I don't think I ever mentioned it." He gave Goro a puzzled look. "Are we, like ... done talking about the other thing? That's over?"

LINA

"Uh huh." Goro looked at the ground and bit the inside of his lip.

IZZY

"Okay," he said slowly, but felt like it wasn't okay.

LINA

Goro was just trying not to think too hard on the things Jonn had said, like just 'cause you marry Hansel doesn't make you my stepdad and it doesn't matter and it doesn't make anything different.

Really, this wasn't so bad. Really. There were a lot worse things Jonn could've said.

"Tell Asya," Goro said. "Tell her I'll help if Finch is an issue." Frankly, he trusted her more to know when that would be the case.

IZZY

"Okay," Jonn said again. "I will." He wasn't sure why that was important. He thought maybe Goro was saying that just to be saying something, so he wouldn't be saying something else. He was still pretty sure he'd say something wrong, and he hadn't meant to, but it'd come out that way. Maybe he'd just said it the wrong way.

He rocked back and forth on his toes for a second.

"Y'know," he said, trying. "Uh. When you helped me with Maaki, and you said I was your kid, or whatever, I mean, that was ... nice." He hadn't really acted right when it'd happened, 'cause he'd been upset. Not thinking. Like Luci said. Luci was so smart. "I don't have, like ... a problem with that, either."

LINA

"Alright," Goro said, tugging on his bracelet. He thought about jumping off the side of the building. He might break a leg, but he'd live.

IZZY

Jonn kept chewing on his lip. "I mean, you said we were family then. Like. Already. Right?" That last word came out with a lot of caution, because he thought maybe he'd misheard? Or misunderstood? Maybe Goro had just ... said it, and not meant it. Maybe he'd been lying then. Or -- Jonn was just wrong, about something, somewhere, at some point. He was probably wrong now.

LINA

"Yeah. I thought so."

IZZY

"Okay. So." Jonn fidgeted some more. He really hated doing this. He hated having to dance around stuff and figure stuff out every step of the way. "So, I don't know what's wrong," he blurted. "You're not happy, and I dunno what I did wrong, and I can't figure it out? So ... if I was talking to Luci, or Dad, I'd just ... say that. That I'm confused. And they'd explain it to me. So ... can you, like, do that?"

He was picking at the skin around his fingernails, he realized, but this was one of those times where squeezing the clay wasn't gonna cut it, so he kept doing it.

LINA

Goro sighed. He rubbed his eyes, then the rest of his face. Fuckin' Jonn, all earnest and shit. He was trying so damn hard, and Goro couldn't say no to that.

"You didn't do nothing wrong," Goro muttered. "I'm not happy 'cause... I mean, ain't your fuckin' fault. I'm just a miserable fucking guy." He swallowed, staring at the ground. There was more to say, he knew. More Jonn would want to know. Just wasn't sure how to put it into words yet.

IZZY

"Okay," Jonn said doubtfully, still picking. "It seemed like you were happy, though. And then I said something. And now you're not?"

LINA

"Yeah," Goro agreed. "Yeah. Not a big deal." He kicked at the ground. "It's, uh. Listen, this is--this is my problem, okay? You don't gotta fix it, or anything. Like I said, didn't do nothing wrong. I just... eh, you know." No, obviously Jonn did not know. "I keep saying to people--I want--I want me and Hansel getting married to mean something. I... I want it to matter."

He looked out at the bay. "Otherwise it's like why am I here, you know? What's the point. What's the point of me."

Shit, if Jonn managed to actually follow that, Goro'd give him a medal.

IZZY

Jonn squinted at him. "It ... matters to Hansel."

LINA

"Not if he just marries anyone he fuckin' feels like."

IZZY

"What?"

LINA

"I asked him once why he wanted married Mishka and he said just wanted to. Just felt like it. What's to stop him from marrying, like, fifty fucking people, huh?"

IZZY

"I dunno." Jonn squinted at him. "He probably hasn't got, like, the time?"

LINA

"Well then, lucky me, I squeezed in line before the rest of 'em."

IZZY

"I ... I guess?" Jonn still wasn't understanding the problem. He started chewing on his fingernails.

LINA

Goro sighed again. "It's nothing, Jonn. Nothing. Like I said, this is my own problem. You don't gotta worry about it. Alright?"

IZZY

"That's not what Dad'd say," he pointed out, around his thumbnail. "If we're family."

LINA

Goro felt sick, and sad. He didn't know why at first, until Jonn said That's not what Dad'd say.

He imagined the way Hansel's face would fall if he heard how Goro was talking right now. Heard Goro acting like Hansel just married any random fucks he found on the street, not giving a shit.

He felt like apologizing, but Hansel wasn't even there to know. And Jonn just seemed confused.

"Yeah, well. I think I'm beyond help, anyway. So there's still no use worrying."

IZZY

Jonn kept chewing and eased a step closer to Goro, watching him, and watching his hands.

LINA

Goro watched him back, fiddling with his bracelet.

IZZY

"If you were Luci or Hansel," Jonn said, "I'd hug you, but I get it if you don't want me to."

LINA

Goro thought about it. He thought about all the weeks he'd spent patting his pockets. Sewing them shut, and then patting them anyway. He thought about the way he'd seen Jonn cling to Hansel, how Hansel crushed Jonn in his arms the same way he did for Goro.

He held one arm out.

IZZY

Jonn stepped forward carefully. He tucked one hand behind his back again, and sort of automatically lifted up on his toes, even though Goro wasn't as tall as Hansel, and wrapped his other arm around Goro's shoulder and neck. He tried to squeeze really hard, like Hansel would, but he was small. He was always too small.

LINA

Goro put both his arms around Jonn and squeezed him back.

IZZY

After a moment, Jonn tentatively unfolded his other arm so he could try squeezing Goro harder. This seemed okay.

LINA

Goro let the hug go on for a good while, until he started to feel some undeniable wiggliness under his skin. Then he patted Jonn on the back a couple times and pulled away. "You gonna tell Asya what I said?"

IZZY

Jonn stepped back and tucked his hands behind his back again. That was nice, though. He felt better. Hopefully Goro felt better, too. It was hard for Jonn to tell for sure.

He nodded obediently. "Uh-huh."

LINA

"Good." Goro nodded back. He wasn't sure what more to say now. God, talking to Jonn was weird. He glared out at the bay. "Fuckin' Finch."

IZZY

"He's doing better," Jonn protested quietly.

LINA

"What's that supposed to mean? He's not treating you like garbage anymore?"

IZZY

"He stopped drinking. And he listens to me when I tell him he needs to sleep and eat and bathe and stuff."

LINA

"And what's he do in return for you taking care of him like he's a little baby?"

IZZY

Jonn looked confused.

LINA

"Are you his dad? No. So why the fuck you taking care of him like he's your kid, when he treats you like shit?"

IZZY

"He doesn't treat me like shit." Jonn fidgeted in place, uncomfortable. "I like ... helping people, and taking care of people, and stuff. He needs helps. People need help sometimes," he mumbled.

LINA

"Don't I know it. I need help all the goddamn time, and Hansel's always there for me, right? How would you feel about it if I insulted him all the time and looked at him like he made me wanna vomit? That'd be okay?" Goro could feel himself getting worked up now, raising his voice a little. He made himself take a step back and relax his shoulders.

IZZY

"Finch doesn't do that," Jonn objected.

LINA

Goro narrowed his eyes, suspicious. He supposed it was possible the two of them had a more tender relationship in private. He still remembered Jonn be scared Finch was gonna yell at him, though, over Maaki being a dick. Goro just didn't trust it.

"Uh huh," he said. Not sarcastically, just inviting more information, kinda.

IZZY

"He's doing better," Jonn insisted.

LINA

"That mean he's treating you better?"

IZZY

"Yeah, I guess." He frowned a little. He didn't really know what Goro meant, but Goro'd said that thing about how Finch ... looked at him, and talked to him. And Finch wasn't doing that stuff anymore. Jonn guessed that made him feel ... better? "He just felt really bad. He was really stressed out. But me and Larkin are helping him more now, so he feels better."

LINA

Goro understood how that worked, sure. He'd treated Amari like shit for years, 'til he finally felt... safe enough not to, he guessed. Amari was different from most people, though. She had an unnatural kind of patience, and an intuition for what people were really like that bordered on divinatory. You couldn't expect just anyone to take care of disasters like him and Finch.

Still. If Finch was treating Jonn better, that was something. "Okay," Goro said. "Okay. Just making sure."

IZZY

He rolled his weight from his toes to his heels and back again. "Thanks," he said hesitantly, 'cause he wasn't sure if he was supposed to. "For making sure."

LINA

"Yeah. 'Course." Goro crossed his arms, and took a few steps away. "You... need anything before I go? All good?"

IZZY

"I'm a grown adult," Jonn pointed out. "You don't gotta look after me. I mean ..." He hesitated. "It's nice. I'm okay, though."

LINA

Goro scoffed and turned to go. "You know who else is a grown adult? Finch." Goro waved with two fingers. "See you, kid."

IZZY

Jonn waved back. "Bye."

[END]

Goro, Grangers, and Sterlings (Blessing). Day 366. Goro goes around visiting Marion and Leigh, and Luci and Jonn, asking them for their blessings to marry Hansel.