(Untitled)

[makesthings]

Since he's found a door to Milliways again, Sam's days have been full of the forge and Kait

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[wordofa_sayre]

Dream or not, Nick's still determined to explore as much as he can of this wonderful, impossible place while he has the chance.

His peregrinations having led him to the lake door, he opens it and steps outside, beaming in exuberant delight as he glances around.

The glow from the outbuilding draws him like a moth to its flame, and Nick promptly starts across the grass toward the forge, calling out,

"Hello? Is there anybody there?"

[makesthings]

Sameth is working on a tricky part of a knee joint so calls out,

"Yes, come in. I'll be with you in a moment."

[wordofa_sayre]

"Brilliant, thanks, I've been wanting to see in here--"

Nick jerks to a stop as he enters the room, and stares.

"Sam?"

[makesthings]

It takes a moment for Sam to register Nick's voice and then he burns his finger when he looks up,

"Nick! When did you get here?"

[wordofa_sayre]

"Took the words right out of my mouth--"

He dashes across the room toward Sameth, heedless of heat or coals or sparks.

"--what are you doing here? How did you find it? Did you get my letter?"

[makesthings]

The forge is fairly neat at the moment, but still a forge, "Slow down, don't step there,"

Sameth says as his work is set down and he comes around the anvil to Nick,

"I've been coming here for a while. I didn't have a door for a few months, but its back and I did. How are you?"

So much has happened since they last actually talked and letters don't get across all that's missing.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Brilliant," Nick exclaims. He looks absurdly pleased, his face lit with his exuberant smile.

"Kept it a secret, did you, old chap?"

[makesthings]

"Who would I tell? Ellie wouldn't believe me and Mother comes here so she already knows,"

Sameth's smiling too just not quite as much as Nick, this is good and odd all at once.

[wordofa_sayre]

"Could have told me," he points out. "But never mind, I bet you were keeping it as a surprise for when I got there, right?"

[makesthings]

"I only got your letter yesterday at home and I haven't had a door for three months. I guess. It really doesn't matter, we're both here,"

This back and forth is so nice, Sam feels kind of out of practice with it.

[wordofa_sayre]

Nick's eyes go wide with shock.

"Yesterday?!"

[makesthings]

"At home, yes. I mean I've been here for a while but the letter only arrived before I found my door again. It took me half an hour to just put it together and that was kind of late at night after a family meeting."

The construction of the letter was annoying work, but Sam's gotten better at it.

[wordofa_sayre]

"The postal service up in your Old Kingdom really leaves something to be desired, old chap," Nick tells him.

"Good thing I didn't wait for a reply before heading out."

[makesthings]

"Well, we don't really have one. That's because its so dangerous as I've told you before. I mean you saw what happened at the cricket match. Where are you now?"

Sam's sleeves are rolled up due to the heat and he looks at Nick as if he can somehow just prove to him how hard the Old Kingdom can be. The look he's giving Nick is one that he's seen his father use before in court that works there.

[wordofa_sayre]

"The match, right--"

He sobers very quickly.

"-- I do remember, and you--"

That's as far as he gets before he begins to cough; deep, tearing coughs that seem as though they're going to choke him before he can get another breath.

[makesthings]

"Nick?"

He's close enough that he can easily get an arm around Nick and get him sitting down. Then Sameth takes a breath and tries to figure out the best way to find out what's happening,

"Do you need water?"