#seeeecccreeetsssss

[sparkledeerfr]

The Potter

“Gren?” He heard Adeline say after he had closed shop for the day. Of course he always left the front door unlocked just in case someone needed something (generally Hox), and theft was not a worry.  Adeline knew this, but she still knocked and waited for him to say “Come in” because she was her, and she would never intrude unless there was an emergency- in which case she would generally be yelling and kicking in the door.

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Adeline walked carefully through his darkened shop, lit now only by the candle by him at his workshop at the back. She noticed that nearly every shelf was full to bursting with pottery of all types and beside him was even more, spilling onto tables and gathering at his feet.

This was exactly why she had come in - the man just did not stop, and it was beginning to worry her. She had asked Mochi about Grenfell, as he was the only person who seemed to know anything about the potter (aside from Pickles, who would lie for the fun of it), and he had explained that Gren had been trapped alone for a very long time and would ‘likely display some new and exciting neuroses’.

That was the meanest and least understanding thing she’d ever heard out of Mochi, but the weaver and the potter did not seem to much care for one another. Gren was the only person who made Mochi narrow his eyes in anger and suspicion- quite the feat when the clan contained Vice and Pickles.

Adeline walked up to where he was sitting and put a hand on the back of his chair. He was working on a large flower pot. “Um, Gren how many pots have you made?” His head shot up and he looked at her as though he didn’t understand the question. “Today I mean. How many pots have you made just today?”

Grenfell paused and looked around him, then to the collection at his feet. “I'm not certain. Fifty maybe?” He was wondering where she was going with this. What did it matter to her? He wasn't hurting anyone. In fact that's what he was trying to avoid.

“So is there anything else you like to do for fun? You know, to take a break?” She asked. Gren continued to think- she didn't sound suspicious or accusatory, more-

Worried. That was it. She was worried about him. He clamped his teeth together to avoid laughing but it really was ridiculous. “No,” he replied, and he could feel his eyes growing wider. He’d developed some unfortunate tics over the years, and keeping on top of them to make others more comfortable he wasn’t quite capable of. Not yet, anyway.

“Well how about you help us repair some of the houses and statues?” Adeline asked, leaning against his work table and scratching the side of her head. “I know its stone but you could probably patch it better than anyone.” Gren appreciated that she left out the ‘aside from Mochi’ that he knew she was thinking.

Ah, if only she knew the whole truth.

“I don't enjoy being in the city,” Gren said, turning back to his pot.

“Okay well is there maybe something aside from clay that you like working with? Maybe a way you could branch out and try something new?”

Gren paused again, clenching a hand involuntarily, looking back up to her and seeing those concerned blue eyes looking into his own pink ones. They had been born on exact opposite sides of the continent, they were exact opposite people, and yet here they were- one current and one former ruler of the city.

No she would hate being called a ruler, that would imply she was above anyone else. Yet another way they were opposites. This girl knew absolutely nothing but she was still willing to try, just as he was willing to learn to be a better person, if only just to avoid ending up where he did before.

Perhaps they could help one another after all.

“Yes I suppose branching out would be good. Is there anything you suggest?”

“Hm,” Adeline said, leaning back and looking at the ceiling. “Well there's ways you could expand the things you sell, but is there anything you've been wanting to try? If you're worried about the cost I could pay for materials.”

You precious, precious moron, Gren thought, then paused, wondering if that thought was mean or not. He supposed it was neither here nor there. Adeline merely took it as him mulling over ideas, especially as he took the time to appraise her. “You break your weapon fairly often don't you?”

She snorted and smiled at him. “Iiiii’mmmmm not the most careful fighter.”

“And you buy cheap weapons for the same reason you won't wear nice clothing- the money could be spent elsewhere in your mind.”

“Yeeaaaahhhh I mean it's not that important to me. I don’t need to be dressed up to do what I do,” she said with a shrug. “But I thought we were talking about you?”

“We are, in a way,” Grenfell said, turning and looking back to his half-finished pot. It was still slick with water, but now he was bored by it. He didn’t like being bored. “I’ll make you a present, and you can tell me if it's any good.”

“You don’t need to make me any-”

“I want to,” Grenfell cut her off, glancing out the side of his eyes as she stiffened and realized she had lost this particular argument. Confidence- that was what she needed, and doubtless she didn’t receive any from that knife of a man Daud. Well he could help her with that. The trouble would be doing so without completely revealing himself. “I can’t promise it will be anything excellent, anyway.”

“You always make good things,” she says, reaching out to pat his shoulder reassuringly and then realizing she didn’t know him well enough to comfortably do so. She was too used to most everyone else in the city, who practically lived in her personal space. As she pauses and goes to reach her hand back Gren grabs it and lowers it to his shoulder.

“You don’t offend me, dear leader,” he says looking back to her with a wicked grin. “In the future, all you have to do is ask, for me or for others.”

“Good point,” she replies, patting his shoulder and feeling slightly uncomfortable about it. The man was strange, but she did appreciate his directness. “I look forward to seeing what you make. Have a good night, Gren.”

She left and Grenfell stared at the candle a moment, watching it drip wax down to the brass base it was held in. He sighed deeply and knew he would be taking a risk involving himself once again but Adeline was right, he needed to do something else or he would drive himself to the brink. And what better service than to your leader and your city?

He found the box of metal he’d been saving in storage and got to work.