Britwitch's Cottage

[Britwitch]

 

[Nordican]

The man in a blue surcoat once again walked through the lost forest. He was looking for the cottage he had found earlier and he felt interested and perhaps visiting the beautiful witch again and perhaps learning more about her or perhaps something else guided his steps. He tried to follow his path from before but he had been lost then and he felt lost now.

Then when he turned he saw the cottage resting there again and slowly moved up to the entrance and then knocked politely before moving the door open. Moving slowly his heavy steel boots announced his presence easily enough as he seeks out a witch, a couch and perhaps some tea.

 

[Britwitch]

Fingers working hair into a loose plait falter at the sound of a knock at the door.

"Hello..." comes the call from up the ladder which was the only way of getting to the attic room where I sleep. "Be down in a minute, make yourself at home!"

Hair is plaited and the laces holding the front of my dress together are tightened and tied before I descend the ladder.

"Well, hello again," I smile upon seeing a familiar face.

 

[Nordican]

He smiled back easily enough seeing the beautiful witch again. "It's a pleasure to be here again. This past week has been quite troubling and I found I might attempt to enjoy your company and perhaps your tea for a time."

He said with a small glint to his steely blue eyes as he stood in the entry way.

 

[Britwitch]

"A troubling week? That doesn't sound pleasant, do come in, make yourself comfortable and I'll make us some tea..."
A smile and a nod and I turn to the kitchen to do just that.
"Want to talk about it? Or forget all about it? Either is absolutely fine, and understandable..."
I ask gently over my shoulder while adding leaves to two mugs.

 

[Nordican]

"Hmmm. Perhaps a bit of both. A trip out of the region looms which should be most entertaining but it comes with it's own trials. And right after that I shall return to more studies and likely be unable to do much work on my projects here." He said almost sadly though with the warm smile settled quaintly on his face.

He settled down onto the couch and gave a roll of his head. Summer days are ending and Fall approaches." He said enjoying the comfortable feeling of the cushions.

 

[Britwitch]

"I know that feeling only too well. Travel can be as much a curse as it can be a blessing...will hope for your sake it's predominantly the latter!"
I smile, approaching with two mugs of hot tea. Offering one as I sit beside him.
"And you're right...summer is coming to an end, again, but autumn is beautiful here in the woods so I'm not complaining."
I sip my tea, settling back against the cushions a little more.

"So, you managed to find your way back alright?"
I ask with a grin over the rim of my mug.

 

[Nordican]

He nods and accepts the cup warmly and is pleased when she settles in next to him. It had been a trying couple of days the witch seemed like quite good company compared to some issues of late.

He smiled when she asked him if there was trouble. "Not much, I felt as if the main way to find what is hidden is to lose oneself in the forest. Then when it seemed again liked I'd never come out I found the path again."

"Autumn shall be beautiful here I'm sure but back home my lands will grow cold and the calls of the people, and duties more frequent." He sipped the tea enjoying the brisk warmth and settled into the cushions letting his eyes fall for a the moment.

"Do you ever get lonely out here in the woods?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

They tease her for being directionally challenged, especially since getting lost seems to be one of her specialties. Stumbling through the dense foliage, she wonders what came over her to hike down that dubious trail... A sense of attraction perhaps.

It is the cottage that finds her. The open clearing and the cottage that greets her is such a relief. And now that she's here... She hesitates at the door. Her hand poised to knock before it drops to twist the hem of her shirt. Twice. Finally a soft rap sounds on Miss Witch's door.

 

[Britwitch]

"Lonely? Not really..." I reply with a smile. "I tend to come here when I want some alone time, some peace and quiet. Visitors are always welcome though, don't misunderstand me."

I open my mouth to continue when a soft rap on the door stops me.

"Excuse me, please..."

I set my mug down and head to the door. Smiling as I open it to reveal another visitor.

"Well hello...this is a very pleasant surprise. Very pleasant indeed. Please...do come in..."

I step back to let her inside, smile widening in the process.

 

[Nordican]

He nodded and gave a little smile hoping she was truthful in saying she didn't mind guests. Standing up politely as she moved from the couch he wondered who the visitor would be and sipped his tea to let it sooth his mind. From the reaction from Brit it was hard to tell if the visitor was known or simply another traveler coming by as he had one time.

 

[VampiricTouch]

The Witch's smile is reassuring. Perhaps even contagious as one of her own touch the edges of her lips. She scuffs her shoes clean of the dirt and leaves she'd collected through her trek before stepping past the threshold.

"Thank you..." she fumbles with words to explain her presence and falters. "I thought... Well since we pass each other so often... I should stop in for a visit."

It takes another step before Ms Witch's guest comes into view. "I hope you don't mind my joining you? " She offers him a hand to shake. "I go by VT hereabouts"

 

[Britwitch]

"Then you thought right...it's always lovely to have visitors, especially ones I've been hoping to get to know better..."

I push the door closed behind her and watch her introduce herself to my other guest.

"Can I get you anything, VT? The water has not long since boiled if you'd like a tea..."

 

[Nordican]

The man in the blue surcoat shook his head and smiled to the other visitor. "Of course not." He said bowing his head and shaking the hand extended out to him.

"A pleasure to meet you. I go by Nordican." he said with a warm smile as he held his mug of tea still warm against his fingers as he smiled back and forth between the two.

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Tea would be wonderful. I've been meaning to stop by to say hi, but time zones make it difficult. It's rare that I'm awake at this hour. I believe we are in opposing time zones. But today, temperatures went through the roof, despite being Californian. Made the day effectively useless for anything but wallowing in a maddening hazy stupor of sweat. Sleeping during the day means I'm likely going to be up all night now... at least it's cool now."

Her grip is strong as she shakes his hand and her eyes return to hold his blue ones, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you too, Nordic. I recall seeing you when I was spying on Deep Space. It was quite a pity when your fearless leader was called away."

 

[Britwitch]

I watch their interaction with a smile as I head to make VT a tea, letting the leaves steep for just long enough before bringing the mug to her.

"Hope it's ok. Let me know if I can get you some honey or sugar to sweeten. Sorry to hear you can't sleep but I must admit to being very glad to see you in these parts. Please do take a seat, make yourself comfortable...how's your tea Nordican? Do you need a refill while I'm up?"

 

[Nordican]

He gave a small grin and a slight sigh. "Yes it was quite unexpected but such things happen. I wish him all the best as he enters into his new service. I have hopes that when time permits we may have time to continue our exploits there given I've a good passion for space adventurers."

After taking a sip of the tea he looked back to VT. "Yes my own home in the southern region of California was quite uncharacteristically hot today. Thankfully I had the good fortune to be working in a very well cooled environment though immediately after I kept rather busy setting some affairs in order." The knight with no lands said and then settled back down in the couch.

"Which made finding Brit's cottage all the more pleasurable when I found time to look for a nice place to enjoy some nice company." He shook his head to Brit.

"I'll be fine for the moment." He said and gave her a small nod of thanks all the same.

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Yep. It finally got hot enough for the boys to haul the AC out of the garage. I had to do the honors of putting it together... and it was on for all of twenty minutes before it plus everything else the boys run downstairs blew the circuit breaker."

She blows across the top of the mug, breaking the steady flow of steam that rises before she sits to take a sip. "Oh..... this is good.... What do you brew in your kettle Ms Witch? I think I might have to add it to my tea collection."

She pats the seat beside her, a quiet indication for Ms Witch to join them. "So tell me. Since we're on a writing forum. What sorts of writing strike your fancy? Both of you?"

 

[Britwitch]

I smile at Nordican before I sit alongside VT with a happy sigh. It's been too long since I had guests, the little cottage feels warmer, and obviously fuller.

"This is just a simple black tea, a British blend from back home. One of my favourites. Will put some in a caddy for you when you leave." I nod, sipping my own tea.

"And writing...well, anything with a good storyline and characters that touch me in some way. Romance, thriller, horror...as long I get a feel for the storyline then I'm usually interested. Have to admit though, science fiction stuff tends to confuse me for the most part..." I smile. "A little too complicated for my little brain."

 

[Nordican]

Nordican listened in to Brit's foray as he settled in on the couch next to the two women. "Sci fi will likely by my primary choice. But I enjoy a variety of fantasy. Even a few modern ones have been very interesting. I have two werewolf ones I am enjoying a lot." He said with a sly grin before reaching the halfway point of his mug.

"I find it's very enjoyable letting your wild side come up a bit into a story, particularly a good one. Of course some times it can be difficult finding the balance between solid story material and some of the more pleasurable forays." The landless knight said with a sly smile to the two women.

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Thank you" She offers a thankful nod at Ms Witch's hospitality.

"I've tried Science Fiction before. It seems I can only keep it up for a short period of time before I get so caught and wound up on technicalities that I can't handle it. The whole 'How does this logically happen', ends up tripping me up I think." She admits with a smile.

"Story and sex become an interesting balance to keep. Most times it's hard to have both consistently. That might just be me though. I'm terrible with history. So unless I'm making up history on my own, I avoid historical settings. Though I am quite... intrigued by it. I just don't know nearly enough to pull the language and setting nuances off." She shrugs before continuing, "Straight up present day stories are also harder. It's too close to home. Especially if both sides are writing believable characters. I really would rather not think about my boss that way. So that leaves me in the situation of creating a futuristic story, or perhaps fantasy, the occasional werewolf and such. I'm a pretty big fan of post apocalyptic settings...."

 

[Britwitch]

"That exactly my issue with sci-fi. Too fixated on the science to let me get to the fiction." I explain with a grin. "I love a good historical setting, and those fantasy world type storylines with a little magic here and there...think it comes from coming from a country with waaaay too much history for such a small island."

I lean back a little and pause, trying to get my words right in my head.

"The sex to storyline ratio is always tough, no matter what genre. For me it has to fit, has to make sense. Whether it's sweet innocent couplings or...rougher situations...if the actions don't fit the characters, I can't write it. At least, not well."

 

[VampiricTouch]

She nods. "Sex needs to come naturally. As naturally as such writing can allow for it. Of course most times it means, you don't get any action until page 3 or something like that."

She takes another sip from her mug to wet her lips."Time operates differently when in writing. I think most characters I've got fall into sex far faster than what would likely occur in reality. But because it takes days, months even to write out a single day, or two days that as an author I start to push for a deeper connection between the two characters."

"I've taken to just getting the sex part of SRP in a completely different place than in a story. That way I don't have to think about how the characters got there. I don't have to worry about what their relationship is beyond what I've already dictated. It's cleaner that way and faster paced." She chuckles "Funny how that distinction happens..."

 

[Nordican]

He nodded when he heard 'too close to home'. "Well so far I've never really had any attractive superiors. Definitely some attractive co-workers but I can see where things could get a bit hectic and convoluted."

He smiled to Brit and recalled the last time he had visited the not so small island with the great history. It had been the first time he'd actually gotten to visit the land and not just pass through.

"That's definitely why for Deep Space I just kept to a pilot." Mimes grabbing a flightstick and pressing buttons on a control panel. "'I fly over there and fire off missiles and blast the space pirates.'" He said in a slightly different less gruff voice that sounded looser, sillier.

"Keeping things simple is a code of mine that I generally try to make sure to apply. Too sciency and it can become a drag. Just like the other balance it has to be right." He said and then gave a yawn as he rolled his head.

"I'm afraid my trials this week have left me somewhat depleted of late. If I persist I may find that during the day I will be quite useless so I feel I must bit you two fine ladies goodnight or good morning depending on where the sun is currently." He said and gave a smile to both.

"Brit may I trouble you for a guest room again? I promise to repay you most kindly." He said with a warm smile as he stood up.

 

[Britwitch]

"Payment is completely unnecessary and you're welcome to stay..." I smile at Nordican and gesture towards a door at the rear of the cottage. A modest guest room lies beyond. "I hope you sleep well..." Rises to hug him before rejoining VT on the couch.

"And it's true...sex in SRP happens a lot quicker than in reality, mainly because...as you said...the time frame for the writing and for the action itself is so very different."