[open -- nest]

[new_inglewoodblues]

The nest Ragnelle has been building in the woods needed a few more blankets now that the temperature has dropped a few more degrees, so this morning she was in the mansion raiding cupboards. Now she's outside in the lee of Nightingale's summer house with a basket of comforters, cutting them into pieces with a little knife so they'll be easier to incorporate, like leaves in a squirrels' nest. The time indoors has warmed her up, and her hands move quickly with the knife.

Comments

[summerdude]

He makes a mental note to look up if capons are anything like foie gras. "Okay, sure," he says. "Fair point. You got me there."

[new_inglewoodblues]

"Come, carry for me."

[summerdude]

He salutes her, and then bends to help gather all of the little pieces into one massive armload.

[new_inglewoodblues]

She looks very pleased with this demonstration of strength, and leads the way up the slope to the woods, and to the tree she's chosen. Halfway up, close to the trunk, there is a round nest like a squirrel's made of blankets and dry clean dead leaves and fallen boughs bent into a framework to hold them. It's the perfect size for one adult forest-thing, but the inside could definitely be cozier -- hence all the blanket pieces to be incorporated.

[summerdude]

Magnus cranes his head up to observe Ragnelle's nest. It's impressive, and extremely cool. "How can I help?" he asks, politely. He wouldn't dream of approaching it uninvited, but he's willing to pitch in however.

[new_inglewoodblues]

"Climb up with me, and I'll go within, and thou canst hand me pieces through the door."

[summerdude]

Magnus hitches his grip on the blanket scraps, shifting it more to one arm. "Lead the way!"

[new_inglewoodblues]

She scrambles up the tree -- it would be easy for someone to look at her thick body and assume she'd be slow or incapable, but she moves efficiently, like a wildcat, pulling herself up the limbs closer to the trunk until she reaches her nest.

[summerdude]

Magnus, meanwhile, relies heavily on his einherji strength and reflexes to make his way up behind her, springing from limb to limb and catching himself with his free hand, careful not to drop the blankets. When he reaches the nest, too, he wedges himself on a nearby branch, drawing one leg up so he can rest the scraps on it. "Ready when you are," he says, once everything is well-balanced.

[new_inglewoodblues]

There's a spot in the front where the blankets can be rearranged to create an entrance, and she climbs through and then holds her hands out for Magnus to give her the pieces.

[summerdude]

Magnus passes them over by the handful. "This is a neat little setup you've got here, Ragnelle," he says, watching as she works. "Very cool. I didn't think about making a nest when I moved outside."

[new_inglewoodblues]

"'Twill keep me warm and dry when there's snow without," she calls from inside, as she pads out the nest. Down feathers are beginning to float around them like the aforementioned snow.

[summerdude]

"Smart," he calls back, angling his mouth and blowing a feather that's landed on his cheek away. "You want me to come by and melt the snow around your nest for you if it gets really thick?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

"I will be well. Before this place I had but leaves and managed well. But thou canst visit me still."

[summerdude]

"Then I definitely will," Magnus says. He passes her more blanket and bats away another feather. He likes Ragnelle; she reminds him of the hulder, who are the only redeeming quality of all of Alfheim. "Do you hibernate in the winter?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

"Ah, now thou hast a word I know not. What is hibernate?"

[summerdude]

"Like a turtle or a bear or a bee," Magnus says. "It's like -- being dormant in winter, basically?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

"O, ay! Like a tree, too. I sleep and wait it out till it comes warm again."

[summerdude]

"Do you want me to bring you snacks when I visit, then, or will you be asleep?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

"I will always wake for food." She pokes her head out the door. "Besides, I have not had a real sleep these last few years."

[summerdude]

"Oh, because you haven't been in Inglewood?"

[new_inglewoodblues]

"Ay," looking pleased at the way he's been paying attention. "They will not let me sleep the winter in that keep."

[summerdude]

"Horribly inconsiderate," Magnus says, grinning at her. At least it sounds more like a society thing than a wasting-away-outside-of-her-forest thing.

[new_inglewoodblues]

"Thou wouldst not countenance it!" Ragnelle disappears inside again, weaving the last pieces of comforter into her nest. "My thanks. This is well."

[summerdude]

"Always happy to help, Ragnelle," Magnus says, contentedly. He adds liking to be of service to his mental list of things to consider when he's trying to figure out a better path.