build a home in the sand -- open

[notmyhome]

Gaheris has found a conveniently abandoned thatch house out in one of the pseudo-countryside areas in which he can set up an alcove with his drawing materials. He brings most of his things from his apartment--that is, the table and the mattress--and arranges them halfway decently, then orders his pencils and paints and papers into various shelves.

Comments

[never_king]

Even with all there is to see in the Nexus, someone thatching a roof is still enough to attract attention. Bran and Will have walked far this afternoon, and are on their way back home, comfortably tired from their explorations, full of stories to tell Melou and Rhianna. They both pause a moment to watch Gaheris at work and Bran nudges Will. "See, Will? He knows how to do it properly."

He doesn't mean that to be so loud, but the afternoon is quiet.

[w0tcha]

Bran's not sure how to respond to that, so Will does. "Not a very common name, is it? And where are you from then?"

[notmyhome]

"Scotland."

[w0tcha]

Will is amused. "Not Orkney?"

[notmyhome]

"Why Orkney?" Very, very cool tone of voice there.

[w0tcha]

"Because," Will says mildly, "That would be one amazing coincidence. Shove over, Bran, I can't reach to throw."

[notmyhome]

Gaheris gives them something akin to the evil eye, and takes up his sketchbook again.

[never_king]

The Evil Eye is usually Bran's department. He's not sure how he feels about being superseded as well as over-heard, so he's quiet for a bit, concentrating on getting the roof done.

Throwing old reeds down (and at Will occasionally) does have a cheering effect and when Bran and Will finally jump down from the roof, Bran's in a much better mood. "Done! Now we get new reeds?"

"Sorry," Will says belatedly. "Were you done sketching?"

[notmyhome]

He flips the sketchbook over to show them; it's a very good drawing, done lightly and shadowy with the charcoal, Bran's arm lifted to throw old thatch at Will, both of them surprisingly fluid considering that it's a single image. "Reeds and moss. So you're up to finishing it, are you?"

[w0tcha]

Bran leans in to get a closer look at the sketch. "It's good," he says grudgingly -- he actually really likes it. "As good as the Drew kid's. Maybe better -- I don't think he does people, Will?"

"Barney," Will says. "Mostly landscapes. And we don't mind helping -- it's a lot of work for one person." He's weighing the handful of reeds he's picked up speculatively, wondering if he can dump it down Bran's neck before the other boy notices.

[notmyhome]

Gaheris rips it out and hands it to him, exposing the drawing under it--which happens to be of Mordred.

"Well, if you're really feeling so charitable, I'll show you how to get started. Just let me put this away."

[never_king]

"Oh! Thank you -- I wasn't expecting, I mean, you didn't have to --" Bran's not sure how to accept the painting, taking it clumsily. Then he sees the portrait of Mordred.

That sketch is the only thing saving Bran from a shirt full of hay. Will's not as surprised as Bran, slowly lowering his hand. "Well. Didn't think there were that many Melou's." He inclines his head towards the sketchbook. "Looks like we've a friend in common then."

[notmyhome]

"Have we got?" He glances down at it, and closes the book. "Well, he's a dead friend, so I s'pose that doesn't mean much."

[never_king]

"He's not -- ow!"

That is seriously not how you break news of this magnitude, Bran.

"The Nexus is an odd place," Will says carefully instead. "You meet people you never thought you'd see."

[notmyhome]

"I noticed that," darkly.

[w0tcha]

"Some more recently than you might have thought possible," Will adds.

Bran is giving him a 'is this seriously any more subtle' look.