Kiss Me, I'm a Herald [ Open Kissing Action! + voice; ]

[peacockherald]

[ As much as the magic behind the mistletoe bothered him ( he found it akin to mind magic and that... bothered him more than he could ever say, like he was being controlled, and that just brought on bad memories), neither could he hide from it. Hiding from it, he thought, simply meant that the Castle won in a more important way than if he participate (under duress, as he suspected most did). And he simply couldn't have that. Sometimes it was the small battles that meant the most, yes? 

He would be around the Castle, sometimes in the kitchen making more of those pumpkin cookies (maybe a bit out of season now, but they were the only kind he could freshly make, and he liked making them), wandering about the library, and often enough going between Castle and stable to tend to Yfandes and any other animals in need. He could even be found in the salle practicing his sword craft before the great mirror Duke had helped him install, taking in the scent of still fresh wood that permeated the place, still not used enough to smell of sweat and soap like the salle at the Collegium. He might even wander into town to buy a few things with Yfandes, her mane threaded with silver ribbon and bells to nod to the season.

And, sometime during the day, taking a break out in the stables after seeing to Yfandes and probably spoiling her a bit over much - ] 

I hope that all of those whose first Christmas it is here are not finding the mistletoe to unnerving. It's a bit of a shock the first time around.

[ ooc: Open to all in action or voice! ]

Comments

(Action)

[tylendel]

(The smell of cookies is enough to draw Tylendel anywhere. It doesn't take him long to find Vanyel, but once he does, he stealthily wraps his arms around him from behind and grabs a cookie.)

I have some confessions to make, Van. (His guilty conscience is too much to bear - even if the situation had been out of his hands. Still, he doesn't believe in keeping anything from his lover.)

Re: (Action)

[peacockherald]

_{[ Laughter bubbled up out of him, warm and delighted, leaning back slightly into the younger man. ]}

Oh do you? And what might those be? Have you been wicked?

(Action)

[tylendel]

I do. (Tylendel slides his hands down Vanyel's sides, snuggling close.) Unintentionally wicked, but wicked nonetheless. The Mistletoe has trapped me several times.

Re: (Action)

[peacockherald]

I would hardly think those would need confessing, Tylendel. I have been through Christmas here before, I know what it does. I can hardly blame you, and I will not. I have kissed others too.

_{[ He turned in the other's grasp, reaching up to stroke his blonde locks with a sweet smile, kissing the top of them. ]}

Do not worry.

(Action)

[tylendel]

(The pain in his chest lessens a little, but he pulls Vanyel into a deep, loving kiss regardless.)

I apologized for...all of them. (He turns red.) It really is a curse.

Has anyone...hurt you? (Leaning in closer, he examines Vanyel's lips critically.)

Re: (Action)

[peacockherald]

Hurt me? No.

_{[ Meg had irritated him, but not hurt him. Of course it was only the middle of the season for this sort of thing, wasn't it? He released Tylendel as the timer went off, grabbing a mitt to bring fresh cookies out of the oven, their smell enveloping the entire kitchen. The cookies aside, he turned and considered Tylendel critically. ]}

Has someone hurt you?

(Action)

[tylendel]

(The words won't come the way he wants for them to. No one has hurt him, per se, but each kiss feels like a little betrayal. They make his heart ache and he can't get Vanyel out of his head.)

Van, it hurts.

Re: (Action)

[peacockherald]

What does?

_{[ He reached out, cupping his cheek worriedly. He wanted nothing to happen to his beloved, and he would do anything he could to ease his worries and his pains. ]}

Tylendel, tell me.

(Action)

[tylendel]

Being with anyone. It's like someone is twisting my heart. (He leans into the touch, breathing in Vanyel's familiar scent.) I would rather be stabbed.

Re: (Action)

[peacockherald]

Ah, do not say that, love. Being stabbed is quite painful - I would wish the sensation on no one.

_{[ He shook his head, letting him lean and quite enjoying this affectionate time they had together. ]}

I know it is odd and strange, but nothing that happens during this prank will make me angry at you, Tylendel. It is not as if either of us can control ourselves, after all.

[ Action ] Kitchen! because those cookies c:

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke had been thinking of just going outside. But he smelled those cookies, and he remembered liking those cookies (and who cares about seasonal food. Food is food!) so this is a detour.

Now where are the done cookies being kept? ]

Re: [ Action ] Kitchen! because those cookies c:

[peacockherald]

_{[ He looked up, that sense "you are not alone" poking at him and making him turn. He grinned when he spied Duke, surprised to have lured the silver haired man into the kitchen twice with the same bait. Well, bait was the wrong word, but he couldn't think of anything else to call it at the moment. ]}

Looking for a treat, Duke?

[ Action ]

[radiantwingedone]

.... Maybe.

[ Duke doesn't quite have a "someone caught me with my hand in the cookie jar" look, but his hand does go back to his side rather than continuing to search the counter nearest. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[peacockherald]

_{[ He laughed and took a napkin, placing two fresh, warm cookies upon it and pressing it into Duke's hand. ]}

You are welcome to have as many as you like, though do try and leave a few.

[ Action ]

[radiantwingedone]

I am not that hungry.

[ But he still takes those cookies, and picks one to start eating right there. They're good cookies, okay. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[peacockherald]

There is always room for something warm and sweet, I find.

_{[ He grinned, seeing him eat, working on putting another batch onto the cookie sheet. ]}

[ Action ]

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke pauses after finishing one cookie, turning toward Vanyel. ]

... Do you think any tea would be good with these?

Re: [ Action ]

[peacockherald]

Oh, I think one or two might go. Maybe something a bit more bitter?

_{[ He shrugged his shoulders. ]}

Or really any one you like. Let me see which ones are in the cupboards.

[ Action ]

[radiantwingedone]

Probably not something terribly sweet. ... Or maybe something sweet, to make the spice stand out more.

[ He doesn't usually think about stuff like that.

But he's getting cups and maybe a plate. Where had Vanyel been when he handed Duke cookies? Because Duke is going to collect more now. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[peacockherald]

_{[ He doesn't stop him, pulling down a little tin of tea that had a description of its flavor he thought might suite the cookies. He placed it on the table in the kitchen for Duke when he was ready and went back to adding more dough to the pan. ]}

Maybe I should make you a whole batch as your Christmas present, Duke.

Re: [ Action ]

[radiantwingedone]

Start a pattern - giving cookies to all.

[ He wouldn't mind. Food is always a good thing.

Kettle. He needs to find that now. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[peacockherald]

Heh, you know, that is not a bad idea. I could maybe branch out some, do something a bit more towards his "christmas" holiday as it were. Any requests?

[radiantwingedone]

... Last year I made caramel-apple cookies. I am sure they would turn out better with someone who can see helping.

[peacockherald]

Oh? Well, I would honored to, Duke. Just let me know when you want to make them.

[radiantwingedone]

Ah?

[ He's a little confused for a moment, but then again he had offered. Why would Vanyel be honored to- ]

Perhaps some time after these are eaten?

[peacockherald]

Which could take awhile - or not at all.

_{[ He was teasing Duke and his love of the cookies, though it was fine with him if Duke took as many as he liked. It would do better for them to be enjoyed than left to grow stale anyways. ]}

[radiantwingedone]

[ He didn't take a bite of cookie right now, honestly. So he doesn't have a variation of the 'caught doing something I shouldn't be' around a cookie, honestly.

Give him a moment to finish this bite. ]

... I haven't eaten much today, that is all.

[peacockherald]

I really should give you a kind of lecture about eating something better for you than a cookie.

_{[ It was true, he should, but Duke looked (maybe) happy eating them, so he couldn't quite bring himself to. ]}

[radiantwingedone]

... Its made with a vegetable.

[ Duke, that doesn't make them better for you than what you usually eat. ]

... I'll eat an apple next.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He laughed, moving to place more dough onto a pan to bake up. ]}

All right, I'll accept that.

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke listens to Vanyel move, and for a moment he's very tempted to try the dough as well.

But he said he would go and get an apple next, so that is where he goes. ]

... Anything I could help with?

[peacockherald]

How about when I finish this you can clean out the bowl?

_{[ Whether that be eating the rest of the dough or actually cleaning it out, well, that was up to Duke. ]}

[radiantwingedone]

Sounds good.

[ .... He might eat a bit, just to see, then actually start cleaning. Either way, he rolls up sleeves while working on that apple and waiting near the sink. ]

sorry you being forced to talk, Duke, lol

[peacockherald]

_{[ Vanyel finished and brought over the large pot he had been using for the cookies, the sides still smeared here and there with dough. ]}

Here we are. If you don't mind?

_{[ He went to get one of his cookies, not having had one properly yet. ]}

he didn't want to. Silence is acceptable, right?

[radiantwingedone]

[ Duke shrugs a little, taking the pot. ]

Would not have offered if did.

[ And while Vanyel goes to try a cookie, Duke tries the dough. Unsurprisingly, its easiest for him to get some dough out with his fingers. ]

... Odd texture.

Re: he didn't want to. Silence is acceptable, right?

[peacockherald]

The dough, you mean? I suppose so. It always surprises me that something so easily manipulated and frankly wet turns into a warm, delicious thing to eat. The same with bread.

[radiantwingedone]

The wet to dry is understandable, but the texture differences are more interesting. [ Or at the least, at the moment they are.

Vanyel, have you not tried the dough yet? Duke turns and tilts the bowl toward the herald. ]

[peacockherald]

Ah, I am fine Duke. I think I had more than my fair share when I made them!