27th Gate - The Meaning of Christmas [dictated/action]

[peacockherald]

[ Well, it seems another year has passed in Paradisa with the rising of the Christmas Decorations. The thought makes Vanyel, for a moment, surprised and not a bit forlorn. A year. He remembered this from the last season. A full year has passed, being stuck in this world. A year away from his home. How much had changed at home? Were the safe? Had anyone realized he was missing yet? Was he presumed dead? Had the bell tolled for him?

They were sudden, dark questions for what he knew to be a supposedly excited and happy time of year, so he shook his head. He could do little on it, so thinking about it would do him no good, not in the long run, and he could already feel the dark thoughts worrying Yfandes. So he shoved them away and grabbed his coat to head outside into the gardens, journal as always tucked up with him.

He meandered through the gardens, and after a moment he pulled out the journal as his boots crunched.]

It suddenly dawned on me... I believe I have been here nearly a year now... It is... startling, to say the least. I had not thought a year could turn so fast, but it has. It will be my second time to celebrate this 'Christmas' holiday, my second time to see a winter pass through these lands. 

[There is a quiet pause, save for the crunching of his boots on the path.]

And I have to admit, I am not sorry for my being here, for the most part. Is that strange? Is it normal to not resent this place as much as you thought you might, after so long? 

[He leaves it at that for awhile, continuing to walk about the gardens, and finally begins to head inside, when he sees a most curious thing. It seems to be something humanoid, though on closer inspection it is made of wood and if he had to guess is dressed something like a soldier. Certainly it is a uniform of some sort, is it not?

He toyed with the little figure, brows puckered, and opened the journal once more.]

Would someone explain to me what these little doll men are? I've found one by the garden doors. Did someone lose one, though I think I've seen a passing few others around the Castle. 

[ooc: Open kissing post!! Both planned and unplanned, or no kisses at all, your choice ~ Come and get some Christmas sugar ~]

Comments

action!

[righttrack]

[Kurt is in the gardens, too. He's not a nature sort of person, at all, but he figures it'll be nice to go for a stroll before snow comes... It has to come soon, doesn't it? It's gotten so cold.

When he hears someone speaking, he wanders over. Once Van is finished dictating, Kurt approaches him.]

They're part of the decorations.

Re: action!

[peacockherald]

_{[He tried not to jump when he heard the other, and he really should have. He was growing soft, being here at the Castle. He turned to see Kurt and offered him a quiet smile, rather liking the young man he had met in the ninja village a few weeks ago.]}

Oh, Kurt, nice to see you again. And I thought as much, though I am not sure what, precisely, they are.

_{[He waved the bearded soldier gently, with its giant teeth and little uniform.]}

action!

[righttrack]

You, too. [He smiled, then gestured towards the nutcracker.] It's a nutcracker. You put a nut with a shell in the mouth, then pull up that bit in the back.

Re: action!

[peacockherald]

_{[He blinked and looked back down at the curious instrument.]}

Really? I had not thought that would be the purpose. It seems a bit done up for cracking nuts.

action!

[righttrack]

Heh, it certainly does go the extra mile to be decorative, doesn't it?

[lordoflhant]

Don't you...miss your home, after so long, though?

dictated;

[peacockherald]

Of course I do. I miss everyone there. I worry for them. I ask myself all the time if the defenses I set in place held, if my Aunt is all right, if my king is all right.

dictated;

[lordoflhant]

But you're not sorry you came here, even with all that stuff going on back home?

Re: dictated;

[peacockherald]

Well, it has had redeeming qualities. I have met many people here I have come to care about, and for that I cannot be sorry.

action forever

[lord_wizard]

[Felix is taking a stroll through the garden as well. He has little purpose beyond getting some air and getting a good look at the fall leaves before the season changes for good.

He rounds a corner to spot Vanyel, immediately noticing the doll in his hands. It's too good to pass up.]

Vanyel. What do you have there?

haha, i read 'stroll' as 'troll'

[peacockherald]

Ah, I believe one of the castle decorations, though I've never seen its kind before.

_{[He was turning the thing over in his hands curiously, fingers brushing over the fine paint and trim.]}

lol accurate

[lord_wizard]

Dolls of some kind, I gathered. Like marionettes, almost.

May I see? [He holds out a hand with a smile]

[peacockherald]

_{[Vanyel nodded and handed it over.]}

It has not shown up in your years here? Odd...

_{[He was curious, though, as to what Felix planned to do with it. Did he have some sort of divination magic?]}

dictated for now

[peeta_bread]

...It wasn't me, I swear. I got rid of all the gnomes.

SOOON

[peacockherald]

_{[He laughed.]}

No, I figured. Though, I found the gnome quite amusing, if a bit off.

[peeta_bread]

Where are you? Mind if I join you?

[peacockherald]

I am out in the gardens, and of course not Peeta. I have not seen my favorite student in a long while.

_{[In other words, yeah, he missed you, though part of not seeing you had to do with the fact he was asleep for a month, but that was beside the point.]}

action;

[workaphilic]

[There's a great, put-upon sigh from somewhere nearby.

Oh, wait, it's just this asshole. He's sitting crosslegged on a couch with his journal in his lap, and he doesn't deign to look up.]

They're meant to be there, they're decorations. Are you finished?

such a dick Sherlock

[peacockherald]

_{[Vanyel looks about and sees Sherlock, and a part of him wants to roll his eyes. Sherlock. As many times as he had met this man, his opinion had never changed. He was just annoying, full of himself, and smart, which made it worse. He was much like nobles, that way, or some of the more annoying and entitled villagers he had met.]}

No, because that is not an answer to my question now is it?

_[Hah.]

just how he rolls

[workaphilic]

You asked what they are, they're decorations. Don't see why you should need anything more specific than that.

and we love him for it

[peacockherald]

Because decorations is a generic and obvious answer. I would like a specific.

_{[He wagged the doll at the other man, rising out of his crouch and coming towards him.]}

[action]

[legacydeck]

[Clow isn't terribly surprised to see Vanyel in the gardens, though it's clear he's making a journal entry, and he's too polite to interrupt. He waits until the other man finishes, and then catches his eyes and smiles]

I don't resent this place overmuch, either.

Re: [action]

[peacockherald]

_{[Vanyel turned and smiled at his friend, at a man he was coming to care for, but would not let himself admit, yet, that he did. He tucked his journal away and came closer to him, his breath misting softly in front of him as he laughed gently.]}

Oh good, so I am not crazy then.

[legacydeck]

[There's a wry, amused smile in return]

Well, my reasons for that sentiment are far from ordinary.

[peacockherald]

I am beginning to think nothing with you is ordinary or ever done by halves with you, my friend.

_{[He chuckled, tucking a bit of hair behind his ear, wondering why he felt a flutter in his belly talking to the man now.]}