[open] the lamp is burnin' low upon my table top, the snow is softly falling

[maintiensledroit]

Who: Benton Fraser, Diefenbaker, and you!

What: Woodworking, guitar playing, ice skating, and more

When: Through February

Where: In Milton, at the basin, in the woods, others tbd.

Content Warnings: mention of animal butchery, hunting, others tbd.

i.

[ Even in this icy weather, it's a good idea to preserve meat rather than simply stashing it, raw, in the snow, and so Fraser can be found in the first weeks of February in the woods, seeking out a likely-looking tree trunk, either fallen or still standing. Once found, he brings tools and begins hollowing the thing out, working steadily with Diefenbaker either lazing beside him in the snow or off in the woods, hunting for himself.

When the log is hollow, he hitches Dief in a jury-rigged harness attached to leather straps around the log and together they haul it back to the house where he's been staying with Heartman. Once back in town, Fraser can be found hammering nails and hooks inside the hollowed trunk, humming quietly to himself as he works. He'd be more than happy to answer any questions, should someone stop by to ask what he's up to. ]

ii.

[ Before he found the right trunk, while he was out in the woods, something else had happened in the early days of the month. Diefenbaker had gone stock-still and focused at his side, and when Fraser looked up, he'd seen the thing that had so caught the wolf's attention: a dog, enormous and mossy, watching them from among the trees.

No amount of calling and cajoling brings the best toward them, but when the dog had begun walking off Dief had followed without hesitation, leaving Fraser to come along or no as he would. They'd followed the strange animal on what began to feel almost like a path through the woods, strangely clear and easy to move along despite no signs of having been cleaned or kept up by man. It was hardly a surprise at all when the path led to a cabin he'd never seen before, sitting empty and cold but neat and sturdy for all that. He'd left Dief outside with the strange dog and gone to look for any signs of life.

There were none. The cabin was empty and mostly bare of supplies, but in the bedroom he found an impossible treasure: an old six-string acoustic guitar, tucked carefully away into its case. Even better, when he'd carefully lifted the thing out to inspect it, he'd found the case contained even more riches: extra packets of strings, a few picks, even a somewhat stiff capo.

Now, when he's finished work for the day, Fraser can be found on the porch steps of the house on Thompson's Drive with the guitar in his lap. On the first evening, he'll be there stringing it; on subsequent evenings someone might hear the rippling sounds of a fingerpicked accompaniment and a pleasant baritenor voice singing along. ]

ii.

[ But the Mountie isn't always in the woods. After an excursion to what remains of the outdoor gear store, he can also be found down on the frozen Basin, accompanied by the hissing sound of his hockey skates over the ice as he makes long loops or short sprints or simply skates backward in long, graceful swoops. Or perhaps someone nearby might hear the smack of a stick hitting a puck and the muffled thunk of said puck driving into a snowbank.

There's another stick and more pucks on the bank, just in case anyone would like to join him in his games. ]

Comments

[maintiensledroit]

[ He's nodding, in perfect agreement with everything she's saying, until the very last words fall into place with a click. ]

Oh. Oh!

[ His eyes open wide and round with surprise and chagrin. ]

Oh, you mean me. Oh, dear.

[meadqueen]

I don't know you well either, Constable, and I would like to think you're a good man, but I don't want to risk a young girl’s future on hope.

[maintiensledroit]

[ His mouth falls open. Closes. Opens again. Oh, dear. ]

No, of course.

If it would help to know my credentials, I was selected as chaperone to the daughter of a fairly important Canadian diplomat.

[ A moment, and then – ]

I realize now that, firstly, you have no reason to believe my word, and, secondly... unfortunately I was not as successful at chaperoning a seventeen year old girl through Chicago as I had hoped. There was the incident with the cab... and the bar... and the gunman...

[ And the way she kept running off on him. Fraser clears his throat, considers Randvi closely, and licks his lip before launching into a new topic entirely. ]

...Are you at all familiar with the chivalric code?

[meadqueen]

[Even if it doesn't necessarily make her trust him with Kate’s life, the description does endear him to her a little - Randvi has fond memories of running her own chaperones ragged as a teenage princess and this is a man she could easily imagine among them.]

I see. A gunman?

[This whole thing sounds fraught but not in the way she’d been expecting.]

I don't know about this code, either.

[maintiensledroit]

Well, when it came down to it, he was really much less trouble than when the woman had the gun –

[ He really isn't helping matters. ]

– but the point of this story is that the girl was unharmed. And, I believe, thoroughly enjoyed getting to see some of Chicago in the meantime.

As for the code, there's a great many elements not pertinent to this particular conversation, but the relevant part is that it strictly forbids dishonoring any lady. A more modern interpretation might add that it is crucial to avoid dishonoring anyone at all, but.

[ He can almost hear Ray's sigh. ]

What I mean to say is: I would never intentionally hurt Kate, and I would do everything in my power to keep from hurting her unintentionally, as well. I really do just want to help her with her foraging.

[meadqueen]

Ah. Of course.

[Randvi studies this man for a moment. He seems as if he truly believes all of this. It really does take all kinds.]

I would really prefer that you take a third person with you, but I understand that we are a bit thin on the ground at the moment. I am often hunting in the forest these days to supply those who eat at the hall. Perhaps on occasion we will encounter one another.

[maintiensledroit]

Understood.

[ He stands very nearly at attention as she speaks to him; head up, shoulders straight, though his hands are clasped behind his back. His nod is regimentally crisp.

Well, perhaps Lieutenant Little will want to come out foraging. He can hardly think of a more appropriate chaperone... aside from himself. Considering that's not an option. ]

Yes, I hope we will. I'm often out there, myself, checking my traps.

[meadqueen]

Good.

[Randvi’s authority in Ravensthorpe often feels like it's held together by a fraying thread, so it's gratifying to see this man immediately take her warning to heart.]

I hope you understand that this isn't a question of your character. These girls don't have family to look out for them here.

[maintiensledroit]

[ Fraser's smile is small but warm. Far from taking her comments personally, he can see the sense in them, even agrees with them. ]

Perhaps not, but they certainly benefit in having you here to look out for them. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and candor, very much.

[meadqueen]

Thank you.

[Randvi returns the smile. She can only imagine the havoc she might have wreaked in a place like this at Kate’s age. The only thing keeping her in check at home had been her father's explosive temper.]

If I may ask you to keep this from Kate? I'm afraid she’d be embarrassed.

[maintiensledroit]

Of course. I won't breathe a word to her.

[ Although he might just mention it to Lieutenant Little, who, after all, would be the most appropriate chaperone. He's taken Kate very much under his wing, and Fraser has every intention of letting him know what's transpired here, while offering a reprimand to himself for his thoughtlessness. ]

Is there anything else I can help you with, while you're here, Randvi? Are you settling in all right? Do you have enough food?

[meadqueen]

Thank you.

It's an adjustment, but I imagine that's true for everyone. For now I'm still living at the hall - a central hall to care for travellers is how things are done at home - so the others supplement what I catch while I relearn the skills involved in hunting.

[maintiensledroit]

Relearn?

[ He only knows a very little of Randvi's background, but she's a sensible woman, and she seems perfectly capable of taking care of herself. ]

Haven't been out hunting in a while?

[meadqueen]

Yes. I used to roam the mountains behind my village as a girl and I hunted my own food then, but since the war I've had other responsibilities.

[maintiensledroit]

[ He can't help smiling at that, as he gestures to the chairs around the table. She may have come here to speak to him on one matter, but he's happy to extend the chat. It's nice to have the company. ]

It sounds like you were a very independent girl.

[meadqueen]

[Randvi is happy to take a seat and have a more companionable conversation. From what Kate has said about him, perhaps he has some similar experiences.]

I'm the youngest daughter, so for a long time I had little to do aside from roam on my own and cause grey hairs to appear on my father's head.

[maintiensledroit]

[ Fraser pulls out her chair for her, politely, then takes a seat of his own once she's settled. ]

I recently met a girl in Chicago a little like that.

[ He can't quite hide his mild amusement, or the warmth at the thought. Christina was a challenge, but she was a bright, active, lively girl and he'd liked her. ]

The girl I was chaperoning. She led me on quite a chase through the city. She was determined to experience everything she could.

[meadqueen]

It sounds like she did!

[Don't worry, Randvi has not forgotten the gunmen.]

I might have been similar in another time. I once convinced my friends to help me slay a white bear so we could gift the pelt to my nephew.

[maintiensledroit]

[ Fraser lifts his eyebrows at her. That sounds pretty dangerous for a young girl, Randvi! ]

That must have been quite a feat. How did you do it?

[meadqueen]

The other girls baited it into a narrow pathway between stones and I jumped onto it from above.

[She laughs quietly.] Sometimes I'm amazed that I survived into adulthood.

[maintiensledroit]

[ He chuckles, too. ]

It sounds as though you've been fierce your whole life.

[ No wonder she'd come out here to confront him. After taking down a polar bear, is it possible to be scared of anything else? ]

I never did anything like that. Mostly I helped to hunt caribou and moose for the village.

[meadqueen]

My father used to say I have a wildling’s spirit.

[He’d indulged her often but that was still one of the kinder descriptions.]

Do not sell yourself short! Moose can be fierce opponents.

[maintiensledroit]

Yes, they certainly can.

[ He thinks there are moose around here, although he hasn't seen one, and that concerns him, too, enough that his gaze turns faintly unfocused and his brow creases. ]

Especially here, if they're anything like the other wildlife I've come across.

[meadqueen]

Like the wolves. I have only seen wolves attack like this if they were ill or starving.

[maintiensledroit]

[ He nods at her words, solemn. ] Yes.

And even if they were sick, or starving... none of it seems quite right.

[ For example, there are too many of them. Where are the caribou? He keeps wondering, and so far he's found no answers. It's as though this whole land is under some kind of invisible infection. ]

It's a relief that whatever might be affecting them isn't affecting Diefenbaker.