Winter kindnesses, A to Z

[Gull]

Accompaniment (Theo)
Gull spends an afternoon picking out the chords for some of Theo's repertoire. That evening, he calls upon the Woods Champion to lead a few numbers while he accompanies on the merlin. Theo takes full advantage of the spotlight and delivers a rousing performance that has everyone stamping along.

Business (Valeriya and Zilyana)
Gull makes a note of the usual times of day that business is slow at the East Annwm Trading Company’s table. One morning during the usual lull, he starts a snowball fight with a few sparring fighters in the field. Soon, a dozen Holdfasters have joined in the fray and it doesn’t take long for them to end up soaked and shivering. When the group tramps inside to warm up, Val and Zil find themselves with plenty of customers clamoring for hot drinks.

Cider (Ceridwynn)
Gull makes hot cider every evening. He doles it out to anyone who asks but he always makes sure there’s still a mug’s worth left in the pot when he heads to bed. Knife chides him for it but Gull doesn’t mind. It’s worth it for the nights that Ceridwynn comes home from visiting Ariadne, chilled after hours of hiking through the snow-covered woods, and finds still-warm cider waiting for them.

Dwarven culture (Bikbun)
Gull doesn’t know the traditions of Potato Day but he knows it’s very important to the dwarves. When the day arrives, he takes the biggest potato he can find from the kitchen, carves a heart into it, and sets it at Bikbun’s forge. He sticks around the inn to see the smith’s smile when he finds the little gift. When Bikbun asks if it was him, Gull feigns ignorance and attributes the deed to “the Potato Fairy.”

Ears (Merric)
Though there’s clearly much that weighs on him, Merric isn’t the type to open up about what’s on his mind unprompted. That’s why Gull makes sure to check in every few days. Mostly, Merric says that he’s fine, thank you, and Gull doesn’t pry. But once in a while, Merric will confide in him about the pressure of stewardship, the threat of Rincewind, the looming conflict with Nero. Gull has no answers so his simply listens, always happy to lend an ear to his friend.