(2021-07-04) Brunch at the Stormbreakers

Details

Author:	Athena
Summary:	Ben and Niris stop by the Stormbreaker's house for brunch to talk about new houses, changes in location, space goats, the past, the future, and nice shirts. 5k-ish words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Logging started on 07/04/2021

Oranna tucks her hair a little nervously behind her ears, which would be effective if it wasn't already there. She moves several bananas around on the table again, turning them slightly.

Bargrimm places the first course on the table with a smile.

Niris stops on the stoop to smooth her dress, and then turns to survey Ben, who straightens up dutifully. His hair is mussed as ever, but he looks tidy.

Niris knocks on the door.

[Bargrimm]: “Ye look grand, lass. This'll be a fine first spread, I promise.”

Oranna smiles a little, and turns to the door, rushing to open it.

Bargrimm leans to see the noise at the door.

Oranna opens the door with a bright smile and slightly too much force. "Hi! Ye made it!"

Niris beams at Oranna, and gives a little finger-wave past her to Bargrimm. "We did, of course! And we brought a gift." She nods at Ben.

Ben steps up with the crate he's carrying.

[Bargrimm]: “Welcome!”

[Ben]: "Pots n' pans, miss. Hullo, sir."

[Oranna]: “Oh, ye didna ha' ta bring anythin', but, ah…” She looks around at the pile of still unpacked boxes and gestures to the pile.

[Bargrimm]: “Come'n in! Find a seat, make yerselves at home!”

Ben grins at Oranna and goes to set the Hazan crate among the rest.

Bargrimm moves to take the crate from Ben.

[Niris]: “This is lovely.”

[Ben]: “Thanks, sir.”

[Bargrimm]: “Thanks mightily, lad!”

Ben nods respectfully and goes to rejoin his aunt.

[Bargrimm]: “G'on, make yerself comfy. I'm jus' finishin' th' las' roast.”

Oranna smiles warmly at Niris. "Aye, a bit, ah, grander than I was thinkin' o' a' first, but it suits us, I think. Th' downstairs has th' bedrooms."

[Niris]: “A roast? Oh, bless, you shouldn't have! I only offered poor Oranna coffee, and she may never recover.”

Oranna sits down at the table and readjusts the bananas.

Ben draws out a chair for his aunt.

[Niris]: “Bless, Ben, thank you. I'm not an invalid.”

Oranna laughs and shrugs a little self-consciously. "It's more ta eat afore we leave fer Arathi later."

[Ben]: “You goin' to Arathi? Oh, right, the Company business.”

Niris nods at him.

Oranna nods. "Somethin' ta do with th' Stromgarde folk?" She looks over at Niris with raised brows. "I admit I'm no' entirely sure wha' we're doin'."

[Niris]: “Nor I, but I gather Mr Sharpgear requested it of Elohad? Trouble with the Syndicate.”

[Ben]: “What's the Syndicate?”

[Oranna]: “Finnegan J Sharpgear's letter was verra flowery, but I think one too many proper nouns fer me ta follow entirely. Helpin' some people with some things, I s'ppose, but tha's fair th' norm fer Cobalt.”

[Niris]: “Like Defias, but in the north. Alteraci.” She nods at Oranna. “He does have … a rather eloquent style.” She says 'eloquent' dryly.

Ben knits his brows.

[Oranna]: “I've got a book comin' from th' library tha' has some information on it, Ben. After I'm done, I can recommend it fer ye. It's out o' th' Ironforge library, so easy ta get.” She smiles warmly at Ben.

[Ben]: “Oh. Thanks very much, miss, that's real nice of you.” Ben smiles at her. “And that's another nice top you got on.”

Niris eyes Ben. "Anyway. Yes, Ben tells me you had an enjoyable book club meeting last night?"

[Oranna]: “I wonder if we'll be able ta get ta it with th' Book Club! I ne'er really studied human history afore.” She looks down at her top and looks almost surprised by its existence. “Oh, thank ye, lad. Aye! It was grand! I had no idea tha' book clubs could ha' so many tiny little – oh! Wait!” Oranna goes over to a little shelf near the kitchen where a tiny figurine of a Wildhammer dwarf sits next to a cute bar of ore that could possibly have something that might resemble Dane carved into it. Oranna sets the little figurine on the table with a broad grin. "Look! Jo made 'em fer th' club. I got ta keep one, but I'll bring it back when we meet next."

[Niris]: “Oh, my Light. Is that one of them? Ben was telling me!” She leans in to examine it, delighted. “Bless, Jo is so clever.”

Ben had leaned back to follow Oranna's journey to the shelf, and is still squinting at the ore, looking faintly puzzled.

[Oranna]: “Aye, there's a wee button somewhere tha' sets off little sparks from th' gun, but I'm afraid o' breakin' it, so I havena pressed it, but it was so delightful.” She claps a little with joy from just the memory.

Ben sits up again and grins. "It was real good."

Niris smiles at both of them, and then turns her smile on Bargrimm.

[Bargrimm]: “Righ' then!”

Oranna picks up the little figurine, with bright orange hair, and goes back to place it on the shelf, this time closer to a rock that looks suspiciously like Bargrimm with his goggles on.

Bargrimm sets the last steaming platter on the tabletop and grins. "Keane only interfered marginally, so's we should be all set."

Ben has observed this journey too, and squints now at the rock. He glances back at Bargrimm, and then at the rock, and then at Bargrimm. But then he's distracted by food.

[Niris]: “How is Keane?”

[Bargrimm]: “Shedding.”

Niris laughs.

[Bargrimm]: “Tha' undercoat's goin' t' give us a new rug.”

[Niris]: “You could knit a second wolf from the first.”

[Bargrimm]: “Fair close, aye.”

[Ben]: “That smells real goo — you got a wolf?”

Oranna nods. "He an' Befound both. If ye come next an' we've got a white tapestry on th' wall, it's no' a tapestry. Jus' fur blown about stuck on the stone."

Niris laughs at Oranna.

[Bargrimm]: “Aye, sure enough. Keane's been wi' me nigh on two years now. Good lad.”

[Ben]: “Wow.” Ben gives his aunt a can-I-get-a-wolf face.

Niris gives him an Absolutely Not face.

Bargrimm watches the exchange and files away a short lecture on How Much Work A Wolf Is for later, just in case.

[Niris]: “Bargrimm, like Oranna, is a scout and hunter. Keane is a valuable companion to him. Just like Oranna's Befound.”

Oranna picks off a banana from the bunch and peels it, eating it rather delicately. "There migh' be two o' 'em soon. I'm considerin' tamin' a wolf lass, but it's a lot o' work fer a new animal."

Bargrimm nods at Oranna.

[Niris]: “Oh! That would be something. A pair of wolves for a pair of rangers.” Niris beams.

Ben does not ask for a wolf pup if they get any. He's interested in the food again.

[Oranna]: “But, part o' bein' a hunter means puttin' in th' work ta study how animals work, an' I could use th' experience. An' Befound's been gettin' rather content sometimes jus' bein' a verra…verra large house cat.”

Niris grins. “I suspect she's not the only one contented with a hearth.” She glances at Bargrimm.

Bargrimm winks slyly at Niris.

[Oranna]: “Oh, tha' does remind me – Ben, did I hear righ' yesterday a' th' club tha' yer a blacksmith?”

Ben sits up a little. "Yes'm. That's right."

[Bargrimm]: “Grand trade, tha'. Always a need t' be found.”

Ben nods solemnly.

Oranna smiles brightly, and gestures to a small pile in the corner with a clearly well-used, and rather high end mining pick. "I do some mining time ta time, an' I'd be happy ta send ye some ore an' rocks tha' ye migh' need."

Bargrimm shoots Oranna an are-you-making-plans? glance.

[Ben]: “Oh, yeah? That'd be — that's real kind of you, miss. Thank you.”

[Bargrimm]: “We migh' be openin' a shop o' sorts, too. Mebbe could have some opportunity dependin' on how th' plannin' stages go.”

Oranna grins at Bargrimm, following her tram of thought. "Aye, an' there's always space fer some blacksmithin' work here in th' city."

Ben's eyes shine. "Damn. I mean — uh. That'd be amazin'."

[Niris]: “Ben's a good worker.”

[Bargrimm]: “An' wha' about ye, Niris? Have ye been able t' keep yer garden up underground-like?”

Oranna looks over at Niris with clear interest. "Ye keep a garden? I've been tryin' ta figure out how ta get some things ta grow here, tha' dinna require light. As ye can see, we're no' one o' th' outer houses – no window ta th' exterior o' th' mountain. I was thinkin' mushrooms…moss, maybe?”

[Niris]: “Oh, bless, no, I haven't figured out a proper garden here. I was talking with a gnome in Tinkertown who said she might be able to do something with lights? To mimic sunlight? But at the moment just some pots of mushrooms, and a barrel of potatoes. We'll see how the latter take. I go back to the Abbey almost daily, though, to work the gardens and stillroom there, so I'm not deprived. The tram makes it an easy trip.”

Oranna nods. "I ha' a book comin' – " She looks over at Bargrimm for confirmation. "I think, tha' should ha' some techniques fer it. I've ne'er grown mushrooms afore."

Bargrimm agrees with her.

Niris smiles affectionately at Oranna. "A book for everything."

[Oranna]: “Oh! Tha's righ' – yer alchemy. Niris, are ye still takin' on th' occasional apprentice fer tha'? I've got a friend who's been lookin' fer some help for it, from ye specifically, actually.”

[Niris]: “Oh, yes! I've had … a few applicants recently, I've lost some track. Who is your friend?”

[Oranna]: “A Brannegan Stillwall, dwarven priest.”

[Niris]: “Oh yes, Ben mentioned him as well. I do recall I had a letter.”

Ben nods firmly.

[Oranna]: “He's a lovely lad, really, kind as anythin', and full o' tha' sort o' priestly peace bit, but he's a bit…ah….”She seems to consider her words for a moment. “Jus' be careful with butterflies an' cliffs with him.”

Niris laughs. “I see.”

[Bargrimm]: “Bit o' an absent-minder, is he?”

[Oranna]: Oh, aye. Once when we were lookin' a' th' dam o'er in Loch Modan, he was starin' so much a' it tha' he jus'…wandered inta th' lake.

Ben grins.

[Oranna]: “Didna e'en notice fer a full minute he was in th' water.”

[Niris]: “Hah. Well, I'll have to be careful with him around the burners and such, I suppose.”

[Bargrimm]: “Worst case, ye learn which things are an' aren't flammable, at least.” Bargrimm lets out a hearty chuckle.

Niris laughs again.

Oranna nods and picks up a Very Nice Red Apple and uses a knife to slice it into pieces. "Aye, he's verra focused as a healer though. Ne'er let a scratch stay on Befound. But, I think it's why he could use a teacher ta help with gettin' th' alchemy down."

[Niris]: “Of course. I'll write back to him today. Ben, you'll remind me?”

[Ben]: “Yes'm.”

Oranna chuckles fondly at the image of Bran needing a full minute to realize he is on fire while he looks at something interesting happening in a tube.

[Bargrimm]: “So, Ben, how're ye findin' Ironforge? Bit o' a change from th' Westfall fields?”

[Oranna]: “Oh, yer from Westfall?”

Ben straightens up again. "Yes'm, I am. And I like Ironforge very much, sir. It's … real different. Lots of different folks to meet, lots to do. Not like the farm. Farm, you're either workin' like a mule or you're wishin' for something to do. Unless you can find or make more work. I ain't like Stormwind quite so much, if I'm honest. Too much politics from back home. And this place has the Forge.”

[Bargrimm]: “Oh, aye. Tha' Forge make an impression fer certain.”

Oranna nods. "Farmin' is verra different from Ironforge, aye. Both a lot more ta do if ye want, an' aye, less ta do ta jus' keep things goin'. An' much, much fewer goats." She chuckles in Former Farming Solidarity.

Ben grins at Oranna. "Well, there's plenty of goats here now."

[Niris]: “Ben. Draenei.”

Ben clears his throat. "Yes'm."

Oranna looks with interest at Ben, and then at Niris in understanding. "Oh, no, I meant real goats. Th' draenei really canna be goats. Don't ha' th' righ' eyes fer it."

Ben grins at Oranna.

[Niris]: “Anyway. Barrel, how have you been?”

[Bargrimm]: “Everythin's been righ' splendid. Th' leg's settled well, an' me Sunbeam's th' best partner anyone could ask fer.”

[Niris]: “Sunbeam! Oh, that's lovely. She is, isn't she?” She smiles at Oranna.

Oranna turns a very bright pink, and eats an apple slice with a happy smile, even as she looks down at the table, cronching quietly.

[Ben]: “She gave a real good tour of the city, too.”

[Bargrimm]: “Knows it righ' well, she does. Most o' th' righ' people she knows, too.”

[Niris]: “Oh, she knows all the best people.”

Oranna looks up at Ben, turning a little red. "Oh, ah, I jus'…I hoped it was all righ', a' th' least." She takes a drink of water. "I was surprised how many folk seem ta remember me."

[Ben]: “You're pretty memorable, miss,” he says gallantly.

[Oranna]: “I was only here fer th' year, an' there were so many people here afore, though, in th' Second War. Nearly e'ery dwarf all…here.” She clears her throat and drinks more water.

Niris looks like she would pat Oranna's hand if they were sitting closer together.

Oranna is still Very Red, but continues to eat apple slices like that will definitely distract people from looking at her. "Ah, but, we ha' a lot more humans here now, which is nice."

[Ben]: “All kinds of people.” He nods solemnly.

[Oranna]: “Aye, lots o'…new people.” She looks over at Niris, and then very quickly away Lot's o' folk.

Niris arches a brow.

[Oranna]: “But it's nice! Ta be closer ta th' Company folk. Been good ta ha' people here.”

Bargrimm finishes his bite of roast. "Have either o' ye met any new folks since movin' t' th' city? Jus' about, I mean, no' jus' from Cobalt?"

[Niris]: “Oh, I keep so busy between the Company and the Abbey that I haven't, really. Ben seems to get around a fair bit.”

[Oranna]: “I dinna know tha' there's many folk here who havena joined Cobalt, ta be honest. It seems e'ery time I venture inta HQ, there's three new people, an' then on my way out I meet another two.”

Ben's ears turn pink for some reason. He clears his throat. "I go to the tavern, some. And I been meetin' some goa — uh, draenei."

[Niris]: “What about you two? Friends, neighbors?”

[Bargrimm]: Well, Elohad lives jus' across th' plaza, I guess ye probably know.

Oranna looks up at the ceiling. Fascinating.

Niris nods. "But he isn't new, of course. Well, relatively, I suppose, for the two of you." She gives Oranna another Look.

[Oranna]: “No, no, Elo is no' new…ta us, in any way. We're no' new. There's nothin' new, there.”

[Ben]: “Reckon Aunt Nir knows pretty well where Mr Ference lives.”

Niris turns pink this time.

[Bargrimm]: “An' I spend a –” pauses to clock THAT exchange — “fair bit o' time in Tinker Town. Lots o' experimental processes there.”

Oranna clears her throat and reaches for some water, avoiding looking at either Ben or Niris.

Ben looks around the group, a little baffled. "Oh, do they — huh."

[Niris]: “Well, it's not a secret,” she says primly, still quite pink.

Bargrimm takes thirty seconds to evaluate the scene, and then grins widely.

[Oranna]: “I dinna say anythin'.” She has Pleading Eyebrows turned on to Maximum. “If anyone did ha' somethin' tha' they didna want me ta tell, tha' is, which may or may no' be th' case.”

Niris relents and laughs, still pink. "No, Oranna, it's fine."

Niris turns to Bargrimm and admits, bashfully, "Elohad and I are — seeing one another. A bit."

Ben looks at his aunt with the kind of disbelief that suggests it is not just A Bit.

[Bargrimm]: “Well. Tha' calls for congratulations.”

Oranna seems to almost sag with relief. Whew. One secret down, way too many more to go.

Niris beams, but still shyly. She beams at her hands folded in her lap. "I mean, it's just —"

Ben snorts, cutting Niris off. His turn to give an Eye. “Ain't just nothing. She's hardly home.”

Niris goes from pink to red.

Oranna looks over at Niris with a little "ohhhhhh" expression, and turns a little pink in solidarity.

[Niris]: “Well, but we're here to celebrate you two.”

[Bargrimm]: “Oh, there's room fer more'n jus’ us.”

[Oranna]: “Ach, well, tha's…ye an' Elo are part o' th' whole o' it. We'd ha' ne'er met if no' fer th' both o' ye.” She looks over with clear warmth at Bargrimm.

Niris also looks warmly at Bargrimm. "I'm honestly so happy for you two, though, I can't say." She looks a little un-Niris-ly teary.

[Oranna]: “Elo seems righ' happy with it, ah, if anyone were ta ha' knowledge o' tha' from him, which may or may no' be th' case.”

[Bargrimm]: “An' likewise fer ye, lass. It's good t' see ye movin' on yer own happiness as well, these years gone.” Bargrimm's eyes are shining just a hint as well.

Niris goes pink again, and tries not to smile. She is unsuccessful. And also still a little teary. She nods at Bargrimm. Nod nod nod.

Ben looks faintly baffled by this part of the conversation.

Oranna smiles at Niris, and looks over at Bargrimm, who is likely the only one there with a handkerchief.

Bargrimm clears his throat twice and then turns to Ben. "No' t' leave ye out o' it too, there, lad. Wha' o' yerself? Any special lads or lasses on th' horizon?" Bargrimm slips a hankie toward the parties needing it.

[Ben]: “Uh.” He clears his throat. “No one special, sir, no.”

[Bargrimm]: “Well, ye probably know th' city basics by now, I reckon? Stay out o' th' Forlorn, tha' sort o' thing?”

Oranna flinches at the mention of the Forlorn, and looks away.

[Ben]: “Oh, no sir, I keep outta there. Ain't got business there.”

Oranna seems to be trying to decide between another apple and some grapes on the table, and ends up picking the grapes, putting them on her plate before picking at them, eating them one by one almost like popcorn.

[Bargrimm]: “Well, we'll be th' firs' t' help celebrate whene'er ye decide t' let th' rest o' th' Company in on the secret, aye?” Bargrimm looks like he's already planning a party. Probably with fireworks.

[Niris]: “Ben is too young for anyone 'special,'” she says, and never mind the fact that she was engaged at twenty.

Ben nods solemnly at his aunt.

Niris beams at Bargrimm.

Oranna looks over with interest at Niris. "Oh, is tha' a human thing? I thought…twenty was adult? But ye dinna get married tha' young, usually?"

Niris glances at Bargrimm and then away. "Well, some do, I suppose. Women sometimes marry younger than men do. But Ben's just off the farm, he has plenty to learn."

Ben nods solemnly and looks Guileless and Unworldly.

[Niris]: “I was … twenty, with my first engagement. But he was twenty … eight or nine?” She glances at Bargrimm before looking back to Oranna.

[Oranna]: “Ye were engaged afore?”

[Bargrimm]: “Aye, tha's about righ'. Most o' us weren't much fer keepin' strict count in those days, I reckon.”

Niris looks at her lap. "Well, I don't like to talk about it. But I'm … trying, more? As you — said, the time we spoke in Arathi. Elo's been … helping." She is teary again, more gravely this time.

Bargrimm moves to stand behind Niris, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder.

[Oranna]: “Oh…” She closes her eyes and sighs, and nods, seeming to do some quick math in her head. “This would ha' been…ah…when ye first met…” She looks over at Bargrimm.

Bargrimm nods at Oranna.

Niris turns her face toward Bargrimm's hand, her eyes closed. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself, then opens her eyes and smiles up at him and pats his hand.

[Oranna]: “I'm sorry. I…was he one o' those lost when…” She gestures a hand in the air a little. “Th' edges still sharp, ta th' story?”

[Niris]: “I really am better, Barrel. I promise. Having you back, honestly, helped a little. Just because you remember too.” She turns back to Oranna and nods.

Bargrimm gives Niris' shoulder a light squeeze and takes his seat again.

[Niris]: “I don't — if you don't mind, I still would rather not talk about it very much.” She wipes fingers across her cheek, the handkerchief forgotten. “But Barrel knows.”

Ben fidgets, watching his aunt with concern.

Bargrimm nods, quiet and slow.

Oranna looks over at Bargrimm, her brows going even sadder, but nods a little. "Oh, aye. I know tha' well. I hope…I hope it gets easier. Elo's fair easy with it, but I know…I know how hard it is ta lay yerself open like tha'."

[Niris]: “It's all right to talk about. I'm just … not good at it, yet. Better, but not good.”

[Oranna]: “Well, ah.” She clears her throat. “I ha' some emergency fireworks, if ye need ta go set one off outside.” She smiles a little at Niris, and tries to wink but only blinks both eyes oddly.

Niris laughs a little wildly. "Oh, that's lovely of you, dear heart. But honestly, I'd much rather talk about the two of you."

[Bargrimm]: “Oh, ye mean future plans an' th' like?”

[Niris]: “Yes, that's right. Your … shop, and future plans, and such.”

[Bargrimm]: “I'll turn tha' task over t' th' Clan Matron, then.” Bargrimm beams across the table at Oranna.

Niris sits up, smooths her skirts, and smiles brilliantly at Oranna. "Matron Stormbreaker. Is that a proper form of address?"

[Oranna]: “We are plannin' a trip up ta Aerie Peak some time soon. See Bargrimm's ol' stompin' grounds an' th' like.” She blushes a little at the term Clan Matron, but eats more grapes as if that'll cover it. “Oh, no, ach, jus' Oranna, please. I wouldna know wha' ta do with bein' called tha'.” She laughs a little self-consciously.

[Ben]: “Aerie Peak sounds amazin'. Also your tattoos, sir, if I may say.”

Oranna flushes a little red at the mention of the tattoos and looks up at the Fascinating Ceiling in the Stormbreaker Household. Wow, what a ceiling.

Niris's lips curl in a little, knowing smile at Oranna's blush.

Bargrimm grins at Bennarin. "Ye know, there's been a handful o' humans been given Wildhammer inking over th' centuries. Migh' see if I can find ye some o' their stories, if ye have an interest."

[Ben]: “Oh, hell yes.”

[Oranna]: “Who was it tha' did yer…yer tattoos, again, love? Hal…somethin'? Halnir?”

[Bargrimm]: “Tha's th' lad, aye.”

Ben nods with interest.

Oranna nods a little. "Migh' be nice ta see if he's still workin'. An' how much trouble it'd be ta get some done." She looks down at her forearms, still very pink.

[Niris]: “Goodness, they were all done by one man? But you're half-tattoo, I should think!”

[Bargrimm]: “We're dwarves. We're industrious.”

Niris laughs at Bargrimm.

[Bargrimm]: “An' I dinnae get them all at once, ye ken.”

Ben grins at Oranna again. "Reckon you'd look proper nice with some tattoos too, miss."

[Oranna]: “Oh, ah…well. It's…jus' a thought. It'd be nice ta do somethin' ta join up a bit with my Roc – with Bargrimm, as he's joinin' a Bronzebeard clan, so tha' we're also both a wee bit Wildhammer.” She blushes brighter.

Bargrimm goes straight to heart-eyes.

Niris smiles at Oranna. "Just lovely."

[Ben]: “You get 'em for, like, occasions, or deeds, or what? Or just tradition?”

[Bargrimm]: “Bit o' all tha', young Ben. Some get fer clan, some fer actions, some jus' fer remindin'.” Bargrimm scratches his left shoulder absently.

Ben nods solemnly.

[Oranna]: “Oh, didna Elo get a tattoo when we were a' sea? Did it turn out all righ'? I dinna think I e'er saw th' finished product, jus' th' bandage. It looked righ' big, like it was th' whole o' his back.”

[Niris]: “He did. The Cobalt emblem, on his back. It's magni — really fine.”

Bargrimm grins wickedly at Niris.

Niris looks at her hands in her lap again, smiling. "I got one too, after he took me to Ashenvale. Just a little one."

[Ben]: “What?”

Oranna smiles a little, nodding. "Tha's lovely. It's a lovely design o' a….— oh, ye did! Is it in a place we can see? Or…ah, best left ta…other folk ta see." She coughs and eats a grape.

[Bargrimm]: “Did ye now? How'd it take?”

Niris looks reproachfully at Ben. "Just a little one." She looks from Oranna to Bargrimm. "It's — not in an excellent place for showing. It's on my hip. But it's very pretty, in my opinion. Of course, that would have to be my opinion, I picked it out."

Oranna smiles happily, and nods. "I'm sure it's lovely. Is it th' company emblem as well, or…somethin' else?"

[Niris]: “It's a stag? We saw black stags, in Ashenvale, and they're so untouched by the world that they're fearless, you can go right up and pet them. So I got a black stag, in a little wreath of wild herbs.”

[Oranna]: “Oh, tha's jus' beautiful. I ne'er made it up ta Ashenvale when we were near, after…” She looks over at Bargrimm, her eyes lingering on his shoulders before looking away. “I'd like ta go back someday. It sounds like it's perfect fer ye, Niris.”

[Niris]: “It's really just … extraordinary. I hope you'll go. Perhaps on a honeymoon? Do dwarves honeymoon? Everything there is like a dream, it's so green and violet and peaceful.”

[Bargrimm]: “Aye, tha's a grand choice. An' we should definitely pry at those woodlands eventually. Pair o' scouts like us, tho — reckon there's fair few places we won't want t' travel eventually.” Bargrimm smiles at Oranna.

Oranna giggles a little, putting a hand up to her face. "Ah, well, tha's…heh."

Niris smiles warmly again.

[Oranna]: “Although, speakin' o' scoutin'…ha' ye been up ta Arathi recently, Bargrimm?”

[Bargrimm]: “Did some troll-huntin' a wee while back, aye. Was mostly lookin' fer mithril tho. But bein' WIldhammer raised, ye don't pass up a chance t' thin th' troll population when ye can.”

Niris nods solemnly.

Ben grins.

Oranna nods and pops another grape into her mouth. "They're a little bit…aggressive there, aye. I passed by a cave there months ago when we were there, and ended up jus' runnin'. Did ye e'er talk ta th' folk there a' th' camp?”

[Bargrimm]: “Passed a few pleasantries an' did a bit o' supply-runnin', but no' so's they'd likely recall me, I reckon. Lots o' folks passin' thru t' the front-lines there.”

Niris nods again gravely. "There's an ongoing skirmish with Horde forces there. Not to mention the Syndicate."

[Oranna]: “Aye. They seemed ta ha' their hands full when we were there afore, and I wasna…well, I didna want ta do much o' wha' they were askin' help fer, mostly killin' folk around. But, with Finnegan J Sharpgear's letter…it seems like they really do need our help with clearin' out some o' the…folk tha' ha' been makin' a lot more trouble an' pain.” She gets up and wanders over to one of her bags, pulling out a letter with unerring homing, although from a glance it's not clear how her bags are organized.

Niris peers over her shoulder at Oranna.

Oranna puts the letter from Finn on the table. It's been folded several times already, and has a tiny tooth mark in the corner where something has either nibbled it or held it in their mouth.

[Niris]: “Mm-hm.”

Ben leans over to look at the letter with interest. “Wow. He talks like a book character, don't he?”

Oranna moves it a little closer to Ben for easy reading. "Finnegan J Sharpgear seems ta know a lot o' th' folk there, an' aye…tha'….tha' really is how he talks."

Ben whistles through his teeth.

[Oranna]: “Although he's a rather nice fellow. Jus'…a wee bit strange. He saved me from th' Forsaken up there in Arathi when I was, ah…” She doesn't look at either Bargrimm or Niris. “Distracted from some thoughts. I've ne'er seen anyone move so quick afore. Then he took me ta see some ruins nearby an' a friendly giant. An' then flipped backwards off a rock an' disappeared.

Ben blinks. "He sounds like a book character."

[Oranna]: “Oh, aye, I was half sure I dreamt it. But…seems tha' he's made some sort o' deal with th' folk there on Cobalt's behalf. Which….makes sense, given tha' he's been investin' in th' Company.”

Niris nods primly.

[Ben]: “Oh, yeah? He a friend of Mr Ference?”

[Niris]: “I don't know whether I'd say friend, precisely. But then again I don't think Elohad knows that, either.”

[Oranna]: “An' he apparently watches us from time ta time. No' when we're, ah, in private matters, he said, jus'…checks in, apparently. I'm no' sure tha's….friendly, but he said he was our biggest fan.”

Ben looks around, bewildered. "Uh, hm. But he ain't a creep?"

Oranna says this like she also is not sure how that is a thing, but what can she do, she's just a dwarf with a gun and traps and anyway don't look too closely at the window where there may or may not be traps for tiny gnomes.

[Bargrimm]: “Very odd duck.”

[Ben]: “Odd duck. Okay.”

[Oranna]: “I think he thinks o' us as a verra specific interest he has…which, probably would make more sense if ye e'er meet him.” She chuckles a little and shrugs again.

Niris nods firmly, and also like she doesn't want anyone calling Finnegan Sharpgear a creep when he could be listening at any given moment. Theoretically.

[Ben]: “Okay.”

Oranna nods at Niris, in solidarity of uncertainty. "But, it's a long ride ta Arathi…an' if we're goin' ta make it there in time, we should probably get ready fer it." She sighs and eats three more grapes quickly, folding up the letter again.

[Niris]: “Oh, hell, look at the time, you're right.

[Bargrimm]: “Well, all t'gether seems like a fair straightforward job, so I migh' make sure we have as much ammunition as needed.”

Oranna smiles at Niris and Ben. "It was righ' lovely ta ha' ye. Thank ye, fer comin'. It's nice ta ha' th' homey friends comin' o'er. Makes it feel more like a home."

[Ben]: “Y'all want a hand tidyin' up or anything?”

[Bargrimm]: “Nay, lad, we're well in hand.”

Oranna smiles warmly at Ben, and looks over at Bargrimm, who is apparently in charge of all things Food and Kitchen.

[Niris]: “It was so nice of you to have us. I hope we'll do it regularly, now that we're in the same city.”

[Ben]: “Yeah, if you ever do need a hand with anything, lemme know, okay?”

Bargrimm gets up with his squeaky left boot and nods.

[Oranna]: “Aye. An' I'll be sending some ore along soon, lad. Come by any time if ye'd like a place ta work. We've got a decent set up comin' along.”

[Bargrimm]: “I'll call on ye once we get th' shop set up if no' before, lad.” Bargrimm agrees with Oranna.

Ben grins. "That'd be excellent. Thanks very much."

Oranna grins at Bargrimm, and nods.

[Bargrimm]: “An' yer garden-talk gives me a few ideas too, Niris. I'll let ye know if anythin' comes o' it.”

Niris clasps her hands in front of her so she doesn't accidentally hug anyone. "Thank you, Barrel. We'll see you two later, hm?"

[Bargrimm]: “Absolutely!”

Niris waves.

Ben nods politely to everyone.

Oranna waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!
[The Hazans Leave]

Oranna rushes in for a big hug. "Tha' went well, didn't it?"

Bargrimm smiles softly at Oranna, taking both her hands after the hug. "Magnificently, love. Yer glorious — radiant, even, aye?"

[Bargrimm]: “I'm always full proud t' be alongside ye every moment.”

Oranna laughs a little, turning very pink. "Tha's probably jus' the sweat from tryin' so hard ta no' say anythin' about Elo an' Niris."

[Bargrimm]: “Oh, dinnae worry, love. I've seen Niris in tha' state once before, so I'd ha' spotted tha' a mile off anyway.”

[Oranna]: “Yer always so good ta me, love.” She reaches up a hand and brushes a hand along his hair. “Thank ye fer no' pressin' on it. I know ye've probably been wonderin' a' wha' I've been tryin' no' ta speak o'.” She chuckles a little and stares up at his face.

[Bargrimm]: “Aye, Sunbeam — but I know ye, an' I trust ye, an' anythin' ye dinnae speak 'bout is always fer good cause.”

Oranna lets her eyes linger on his for a bit, before blinking repeatedly. "Oh, I should get changed, fer th' ride up north. An' wake up Befound, afore she jus' decides ta become one with th' bed itself."

Oranna stands up on her toes and presses a quick kiss to Bargrimm's cheek before walking to her room to change.

[Bargrimm]: “Righ' then! I'll check supplies an' see if I have anythin' fer extra rounds.” Bargrimm blows Oranna a kiss.