Scene #2448: To Give a Key

Owner	Pose
Inga Freyjasdottir	The cottage is finished. It really hadn't taken too long to build, but it had felt like a while, as things tend to do when you are excited about something. Inga is obviously excited about having this place they can retreat to, a place where she can get away from the chaos of the city with its masses of people and strange technology. This is like the place she lived before the Bees took her, but with a bit of improvements from the modern day. The bathroom, for instance. "I think I'll invite people over for a house warming...but not yet. Let us get settled in," she says to Harry while they walk the path that leads to the cottage. As of now, the garden has not been planted but the cottage itself is done, just waiting for them to open the door. As they walk into the clearing, Inga stops to take it all in, smiling widely, eyes shining. After a moment, she pulls out an old fashioned key, turning to Harry, a sparkle of amusement in her eye. "Your key," she says, grinning.
Harry Dresden	It isn't as if Harry hadn't been involved in all this, but this was still quite the thing for him to be standing outside another home. A house. Maybe a home. He sniffs a bit, hands in his duster as he looks around. Nature like this was a bit different, really. He'd been around in the cabins up north for a while, to be sure, but this was... Hers. 'Your Key'. The words rouse him from his reverie as he turns to look at Inga, who's... holding out that key. He sniffs and looks down at it, and then at her. "You sure? I mean, this is... important, you know. Handing someone a key. Someone told me that once, you know."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga keeps the key held up between thumb and finger, her smile softening. "Indeed, it is important. But we always said this would be ours, didn't we?" she says. Is he scared? Is this not what he wanted afterall? Is he afriad she'll think they're married? "I know it doesn't mean...that, to you. I really was just teasing you back then. I realize things are different in this time," she adds, a little nervously.
Harry Dresden	Harry Dresden may be a bunch of things, awful things, could be even worse things... but one thing he is not is awful to his partner. The Wizard's hand closes over the top of Inga's smaller one, wrapping her and the key up in his mitt as he grins. "Teasing or not, I think there was a hint of serious there. And I'm okay with serious. You know that." He smiles, kisses her cheek, and then takes the key. "I'll keep this safe and treasured."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga smiles warmly, laughing a little. "So long as you don't feel pressured," she replies quietly. It's hard to really voice her ideas on the subject. She knows people generally take a good while before they decide to get married in this age. It seems odd to her, but she doesn't really mind. It doesn't matter so much when you do not have to worry about children and political alliances... Inga shakes her head, then walks toward the door, smile of excitement returning. "Wait until you see the inside. I've decorated...and look, there's sage blooming on the roof," she says, moving to the door and pulling out her own key. She runs her hands along the wooden frame. She's already begun to carve some protective runes there, though she's left room for Harry to place his own if he wishes. She slips the key into the hole, turns it, and opens the door, signalling for Harry to enter.
Harry Dresden	Harry does not mind wandering inside the house, that's for sure. He runs his hands over the door frame, and then one along Inga's back as well. A reassuring touch, through her hair and gentle as he can make, really. "You know they put grass up on the roofs of some of those really big offices in Chicago, right? All the better to soak up the rain." Though, there's a trill of excitement in his voice. He'd seen the plans, been a part of the planning, but... well. The locals did all the work, after all.
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga unconsciously leans into his touch, giving him a warm look over her shoulder. She wants to see his face when he sees it all. "Oh, do they really?" she remarks. "The home where my mentor lived was like this...though much smaller. Only the one room, but it was usually only the two of us," she continues. "I imagine we'll entertain a good deal here, so...I'm glad we made it larger. With all the consulting we do, people will surely visit. And now the villagers can see me when they need to," she continues as she takes Harry by the hand, showing him into the main room, then leading on toward the bathroom. Naturally, the bathroom has a large porcelain tub. He knows she's always wanted a tub. It seems highly incongruous with the rest of the building, but it is lovely. The bathroom is much more modern than the rest of the house. The bedroom is fairly small, mostly because of the very large bed. Harry's so tall he needs a large mattress. There's shelves along the walls, a closet space and dresser with several drawers. Ought to be enough for now. A warm comforter and feather pillows in grey and blue decorate the bed, which has curtains that can be drawn to hold in heat. There's also a small fireplace. Inga turns to Harry, expectant. "Well, what do you think?"
Harry Dresden	Harry looks around a bit, takes it all in, pokes his head around, shakes on the corner of the bed a few moments to check for stability, shakes some windows, pokes his head up and into the chimney for a moment or two.... "Well." He grumps and crosses his shoulders. "It's not the most defensible place, but I'm sure having several servants, a witch, a wizard, and magi running around should work in a pinch as well. Won't just be us here." He looks back to Inga with a wry smile. "And now you can sit down while washing up. A-plus all around."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga watches with amusement and pleasure as he pokes around and checks everything out, raising a meaningful eyebrow as he checks the bed for stability. Both eyebrows go up as he mentions defensibility. "Tch, we'll have so many wards on this place! Plus, I shall be sure to keep in the good graces of the local spirits. I did make sure there was a proper sacrifice built into the foundation," she says with a nod. "And yes, we'll have many visitors. Quite a few people can sleep comfortably in the main room. I wanted to be sure we had a space for privacy though," she says, motioning to the bedroom idly before taking his hand and leading him back out into the main room. "Mmm, I do love a good soak in the bath. Not a luxury I often had. Now...I think we should light the hearth. You'll have to forgive me a bit of ceremony," she says with a smile, moving to the hearthfire. It is already stocked with wood, ready to be lit. Inga extends a hand toward it, then looks to Harry. "Shall we?" she asks with a grin. Fuego time!
Harry Dresden	Harry smiles as he's lead back out into the main room. "Well, I suppose if needs be we'll need to house people here for... well. Observations sake from time to time. Protection and what not. And... Local spirits are useful. Did you have to bargain with any of the local minor fae or..." He snorts and sighs. Always the fae with Harry. Though, the hearthfire gets him to smile. Sure, she's looking to him to light it, but he instead sits down on one of the warm rugs, looks to Inga and smiles. "Practice time. You're in your own home, you're in close, and you don't need much. Control." He waves an arm. "Let's see what you've been learning."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga sits on the nearby bench, shaking her head. "No no, I shall do no bargaining. A gift for a gift. I make sacrifice and they provide protection. I will make porridge with butter to attract tomte," she replies. "Well, I thought perhaps we could light it together," she says, smiling sheepishly. "But if you wish to see how I am doing with the technique..." she shrugs a little, taking a deep breath. Anima surges inside of her, a warm, sweet golden glow. "Kenaz," she says, using the rune name for 'torch' more or less. Just the right amount of fire is produced, lighting up the kindling, which should make sure the logs catch as well.
Harry Dresden	But once she does get her start of the fire going, Harry slides up along side of his partner, and settles in. He lifts his hand, and snaps his fingers. "Flicum bicus." A snap and a flare of fire crackles across the other side of the kindling, letting the warm of the fire spread out and into the fuel logs. He's quiet tonight, something thoughtful in being in another lady's house... that's also his house, now. A smile. And then an arm around Inga. "Good. Obligations are butts and I do not like them. Not with Fae." He sniffs. "A few hearth spirits should help too. I'm not one to find those myself, but."
Inga Freyjasdottir	The wisewoman grins as he joins her. Yes, a bit of ceremony. Mages, afterall. It's not really a cold evening, but the fire is still nice. Inga scoots over to sit on on his leg, draping her arm around his shoulders. She doesn't try to fill the quiet moment with talk, content to watch the fire while waiting for him to speak again. "In a place like this, a good relationship with the landvettir is vital," she says with a nod. "I will show you how to make sacrifices properly--need not be animals always. I'd run out of goats," she laughs. "Are you doing alright, Harry? I know that business with the vampires...was challenging for you," she says, rubbing his shoulder gently in the beginings of a massage.
Harry Dresden	Harry just sighs at the question but he doesn't stop the massage. "Mmmmhg. Just... you know how it is back home. There's... there's people dying out there because of me and I'm all holed up in Chicago and it's just really frustrating that I can't do more." He grumbles a bit and leans his head and shoulders forward to give Inga room to work. "I could get the Union involved... but i'm sure that will cause more problems than it would solve."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga keeps working on his shoulders, quite practiced now at relieving tension there. "Why do you say that it is your fault? Furthermore, why would union help make it worse? I suppose it is a delicate situation but they've helped you before," she continues. "Do you think that there will be any more trouble from the vampires in Yuuki's world?"
Harry Dresden	"Because the war is a formal, sanctioned thing under Mab's Unseelie Accords and bringing in an outside for like the Union... well, when I'm already on double secret wizard probation AND Mab's chewtoy seems... uh." Harry grumbles. "Dumb as hell. I mean, that sounds like my usual MO, I know, but." He snorts and leans into the rubbing some more. "And I don't think so, not for now. THey... unlike the Red Court, they seemed to be more under control of the mortals, rather than the other way around."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga looks thoughtful. "Well...yes, I suppose. It...is not a situation that is going to go away," she replies with a degree of surity. If she's had visions about the possibily future, she doesn't want to speak of them in any detail. Inga's fingers move from shoulders to neck, the warmth of the fire at her back. "Well, it isn't as though you work alone, even without official Union support," she informs him with a smile. "I am perhaps not the ideal for wading into battle with vampires, but I hope that I am useful."
Harry Dresden	Harry mmmmhs at the rubbing... And then goes fairly quiet for a while at 'Inga fighting vampires'. Useful. A lot of thoughts right there, right in that spot in time. Harry's face slackens a bit as he... Well, he's not about to cry in front of Inga. A soft sigh of breath though. "You are... way more useful than I am. That's for damn sure." He sighs slowly and slides a hand up to squeeze at one of Inga's. "Don't you ever forget it."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga frowns gently, brow furrowing. "Harry...why do you say that?" she asks. She has her suspicions of course..."It is not true, anyway," she adds pointedly, pausing her massage to just run her hand through his hair.
Harry Dresden	"I can't get you very dead or hurt. I... Mmmmh." He sighs and leans into the rubbing at his hair. "It's just something I'm gonna be hung up, I guess. S-sorry." He sighs and murmurs. "Forgive me for being moody and pessimistic, I guess."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga blinks, then pulls him into a tight hug. "I'm...rather 'hung up' on that as well. I'm...sorry Harry. Sorry that you had to...see me die. Gods, what strange words those are! They still sound ridiculous to me! But I am so grateful that my visions proved useful in that moment," she replies, squeezing him. "Does it...make you feel...lesser? Because I must inform you that is not the case. Be moody as you like, but talk to me. I cannot read minds," she says gently, leaning her head on his shoulder, pressing a lightly kiss to his neck.
Harry Dresden	Susan. He probably doesn't have to say the words. "Mmmmh. Hardly. It's... you..." Harry smiles and leans back a bit, letting Inga feel the weight of him, ever so slightly. "It means I don't have to worry so much and I shouldn't but I will because I'm me and that's how I am."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga nuzzles against his perpetually stubbly cheek. "Harry, I am torn. I do not want you to worry, but then I think perhaps I do not want you to be as desensitized to me dying as Wuyin," she says with a small laugh. "You want to protect me," she says. Such a man. It is what they do. Especially Harry. Especially considering what happened with Susan. If there's every a time he can let that go, it isn't yet.
Harry Dresden	Harry grumbles. "You... you're you. And you're chosen. And... well." "There's still that thought that... that tickles in my brain, that one time you're not going to get up. I know... I shouldn't worry, but."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga nods, understanding. She lets out a nervous laugh. "Honestly Harry, I still feel that way as well. Even having experienced it, it doesn't feel real. I still fear," she admits. "I will try not to worry you...but if it comes to protecting you...I'd do the same every time."
Harry Dresden	Harry smiles softly, and turns to flop over on the rug, looking up at Inga. "I'm okay with that." He snorts and holds up his arms to the viking, whispering. "Tred of talking. Tired."
Inga Freyjasdottir	Inga watches him flop, reminded suddenly of Mister when he decides he needs petting RIGHT NOW and damned if you were trying to walk there. Inga leans over into his arms and flops beside him, reaching over to rub his belly like she would the cat. "Sleep well, love."