I got a nail in my head and I know that I'm gone

[higherthaneverybody]

WHO: Rhys Rhydderch, Kurloz Makara, Dolores Maryam
TONE: All over the place
RATING: R
WHEN: Various times during the holidays
WHERE: Rhys's goat farm in northern Wales
WHAT: Summer visits
STATUS: Ongoing


Rhys's farm in northern Wales is multiple acres of rolling green pastures, cut through by stone fences, bounded on one side by forest, cliffs on the other two. It's incredibly isolated, only accessible through floo, or a winding, rocky little road. Normally Rhys spends the summers alone here, with his herd of goats and his other, more private work, but this summer he's invited not one but two people to stay.

His son, for as long as he'd like, though he doubts Kurloz's mother will allow very long. His lover, for more limited stays, but whenever she'd like, or as time permits. The great stone house by the pastures has several guest rooms set up (though of course Dolores is welcome to stay in the potion's professor's room), a large, airy kitchen, a living area with a generous hearth and big, rather old (yet still soft) couches, as well as several small side rooms. Rhys does the majority of his art and potions work out in one of the barns, but there are a few bits and pieces around the farmhouse, too.

Comments

[higherthaneverybody]

"Not currently, though Dolores may be coming sometime this week. But for now it's just you and I. Shall I give you the tour?"

[innocent_insanity]

Grinning wide, the boy nodded, practically thrumming with energy and excitement.

[higherthaneverybody]

The room Kurloz had entered into was an open area, with exposed ceiling beams, but a cozy feel, with lots of light pouring in through the windows. "This is the sitting room, and," Rhys explained as they walked through the house, into the dining room, "where we eat."

The kitchen was oddly homey, with bows of vegetation slung over the beams, and smelled rather deliciously of something meaty in the oven. Past the kitchen were several rooms, including a bathroom with a large tub, storage, and a small guest room. Then up the stairs, to the airy room on the second floor that Kurloz would be staying in.

"You can put your things here," Rhys told him. "I'm just across the hall."

There was a little stack on a desk in the corner - paper, quills, colored inks of all sorts, and the potions professor added, "I've put some things in the studio for you, as well, if you'd like to use them. There's more space down there, it's out just off the barn. I can show you there, as well, when we go to meet the goats."

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz looked around his room with a smile, liking the space very much and signing his thanks to Rhys. He set down his bag on the bed and poked at the coloured inks on his desk with a grin before glancing back at Rhys at the mention of goats, eyes lighting up immediately.

[higherthaneverybody]

Rhys smiled at the expression on his son's face, and led him back downstairs, and out the front door, so that the farmhouse Kurloz had floo'd into. The barn was across a field, and there was a small stone outbuilding, too, probably where the artist's studio was.

And, of course, a herd of goats. There's fifteen to twenty of them out in one of the pastures now, including several kids a few months old, who were born in the early spring. These young ones leap about and play, mostly ignored by the more stolid, older goats.

[innocent_insanity]

If possible, Kurloz's grin grew wider and he jogged up to the goats, finding one of the frolicking kids to introduce himself to, extending his hand for it to sniff at before it gave a lick and a high pitched bleat then running off.

[higherthaneverybody]

The older man just watched this interaction, a faint smile on his face. Of course his boy would like the goats - he only hoped one day that Kurloz would be able to hear them, the way Rhys did. The herd itself was obviously used to human presence, and a few of the older does were meandering over to examine this new young man, chewing thoughtfully.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz was soon introducing himself to the herd joyously, petting a few of the friendlier does. He hadn't yet heard goats speaking to him in an understandable language, but he figured he was just too dumb yet to learn goatish.

[higherthaneverybody]

Rhys made his way over to the boy, standing a few feet away, and smiling in absolute and utter satisfaction. Already, no matter what else happened during the visit, he knew this would be worth it. "Would you like to know their names?"

[innocent_insanity]

The boy lifted his head and grinned, nodding happily and then laughed as one of the goats shoved him over, bleating and licking his cheek.

[higherthaneverybody]

"That one is Blodeuwedd, she doesn't live up to her name at all," he said, with a gently scolding tone to the goat, who ignored him. "And that's Mathonwy, Eufydd, Gofannon, Nisien, Cigfa, Modron, the little one there is Bedwyr ... and none of the kids have names yet, they haven't earned them."

He didn't expect Kurloz to recognize, as he was raised Irish, but all the goats are named for various characters, large and small, from Welsh myth and legend.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz didn't recognise the names but he took the time to learn them, leaning down to whisper them into the goats ears as he gave each of them pats.

[higherthaneverybody]

Rhys leaned against the wooden fence, simply watching. He felt an overwhelming sense of rightness at seeing the boy here, observing how he interacted with the goats. It was the same sense that he'd gotten at crucial moments of his life, when he'd made decisions that had the potential to drastically alter his path. But this, this was the strongest he'd ever felt it - a deep, abiding knowledge that things were exactly the way they were meant to be.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz glanced up partway through introductions to the herd, just giving Rhys a content smile before yelping as he was bowled over from behind by an eager kid. He chortled as the little critter practically clambered over him with loud, high-pitched bleats, gathering it up in his lap so it could curl up comfortably and allow the boy to sit up.

[higherthaneverybody]

Rhys smiled back, and it was probably the most natural expression Kurloz had seen from the man. Then he walked out into the pasture a ways. Several of the goats followed, and he sat on the grass, speaking quietly with them as though there were an actually conversation going on, a rather serious one, pausing at times for their answers.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz watched curiously, the kid still curled up in his lap and preventing him from moving easily. Rather than looking judgmental or weirded out by Rhys' behavior, the boy remained interested and curious towards his father's conversations with the goats.

[higherthaneverybody]

After some time, Rhys turned to look at his son. "They like you. Cigfa says you have potential."

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz blinked and glanced at the goat in question, smiling at her and signing his thanks. He had no idea what he supposedly had potential for, but it was nice to know!

[higherthaneverybody]

"Would you like to see the studio now?"

[innocent_insanity]

If possible, Kurloz's smile brightened and he nodded eagerly, gently pushing the kid out of his lap and standing to dust himself off.

[higherthaneverybody]

Rhys waited for him, then led him to the building just off the barn with the set of double doors. He opened them, letting the sunlight wash into the room.

The entire thing was painted. All the walls, the ceiling, even the concrete floor, covered in color. Fantastical alien starscapes above their heads, seas in impossible colors below their feet, and scenes of nature, cities, fires, and bizarre figures all around them. Canvases were stacked up against the walls, both blank and covered, and there was space set up in one corner where Rhys had obviously been working, a picture of a woman in green. There was also another easel set up nearby, just waiting to be filled, obviously for Kurloz. And next to the easel, the wall had been painted over with white - another blank 'canvas' for the boy to work on.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz gasped quietly as they entered the building, eyes wide and staring with awe at the paintings. He drew away from Rhys and walked up to one of the walls, examining them silently and slowly walking from piece to piece, completely enraptured by them.

[higherthaneverybody]

They were done in the strong, rough lines that were Rhys's signature, more brilliant than reality offered, seascapes of deepest blue and black, amazingly deep night skies set against fields of yellow, people exploding into rainbow colors, solid walls of monsters.

[innocent_insanity]

When Kurloz was finally done, he turned back to Rhys with a beaming smile full of pride and awe alike, his voice whispering in the man's mind:

This is amazing.

[higherthaneverybody]

"I'm glad you like it," Rhys said, laying his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I want you to add to it."