Open Post: Hooked On A Feeling

[rememberettersberg]

What hobbies have you got? Susan had asked him, and he had to admit to not being sure. At school and for some time after, he played rugby. More recently, he only watched it on the television Peter had set up in the tech cave. Here at the mansion, he has books and research and the beginnings of mentoring, but it occurs to Nightingale that he has been building himself a facsimile of work and very little else. He's survived that way for half a century and been perfectly all right (though others may disagree with that assessment) but here, in this hinterland between realities, he is feeling a growing itch for... whimsy, perhaps.

At this moment, propping up the bar with a pint of bitter and a crochet hook, no one would dare accuse him of being whimsical. Nightingale is scowling fiercely at the hook, the yarn, his pint, and the book sitting open beside it. Company would be more than welcome.

Comments

[rememberettersberg]

"It's my impression that he's attempting to come to terms with his past," Nightingale says. "He gave me no specifics of his past actions, but I believe he's reached a point where he's no longer able to hide from himself or others." He drums his fingers on the table, thoughtful. "It might not be an easy path, but I think he's up to the task. I'm fairly confident that you don't have cause to worry about him unduly." A brief smile. "Which is easier said than done, of course."

[sagramore]

"Always," with a smile. Attempting to come to terms with his past fits with the performance at the talent show too -- he feels some little sparking sense of pride and tenderness. The idea that his rejection could have precipitated all this is both overwhelming and frustrating (it shouldn't have taken him for Asmodean to regret what he's done, though Sagramore does understand choosing not to examine the past and considering it a matter that can't be reconsidered until some beloved person probes at the tender parts of it). Christ, he misses Asmodean so much.

"Thank you. I'm grateful to you for speaking with him. I hope you won't mind doing it again from time to time."

[rememberettersberg]

"It's no bother at all. He's an interesting fellow. You simply gave me an excuse to seek him out earlier than I would otherwise have known to." Once again, Nightingale finds himself at a loss to understand the sheer depth of emotional attachment between individuals that has grown within this place, but he does empathise. He gestures to the accoutrements Sagamore has gathered. "What are you making?"

[sagramore]

He smiles slightly at that. "He is interesting. He must have been astonishing in the attack, with his full power." Then he glances down at the books he's set on the bar. "Oh, nothing yet, this is research."

[rememberettersberg]

"Ah. Plenty of work to be done for midwinter?" He cranes his neck to look at the titles.

[sagramore]

One of them is The Essential Guide to Dinner Parties, but he still has the book on leatherworking, which he's been struggling through. He has a great deal of patience with people, but not with things, and reading about a tactile skill without doing it is basically pointless, so he'd tried put some of it into practical application with absolutely no success. "I'm trying to make a gift for Laertes."

[rememberettersberg]

Leatherworking. Nightingale makes a mental note to add that to the list of things he'd like to try. "What sort of gift did you have in mind?"

[sagramore]

He hesitates, only because Laertes is Nightingale's student, and he doesn't want to embarrass him. He settles for, "Something he could wear, like a belt. Something fairly simple, but that hasn't helped me much."

[rememberettersberg]

"It's not a craft I have any experience with." He smiles. "It's wonderful that so many of us are attempting to learn new skills rather than letting the mansion provide everything. I'm sure he'll appreciate whatever you come up with."

[sagramore]

A warm laugh. "I hope so. --He's certainly delighted by the new skills he's learning from you. I'm glad you took him on as a student."