♛ two

[emboldens]

[ Settling in should have been reassuring, or at least as much as it could be considering the circumstances, but now Igraine has more questions than answers. And not about the castle or this world. She's met a version of her son and, not long after, someone that was his world's version of Morgan. Before deciding to go for a walk, she had attempted to write a letter to each but could not find the right words. What she had to say, she finally decided, needed to be spoken in person.

Goodness, her mind is reeling.

So! In order to sort through her thoughts (though Merlin is probably not far behind), she's decided to roam the castle. Even if there were people here, most were strangers to her. She will greet them fondly nonetheless. Once she's had time to reflect, she finds herself in the lobby admiring more of the decorations.

After wandering for an hour or so, she retreats to the kitchen for some cocoa making and opens her journal. ]

Though I am unaccustomed to such decorations, I find them no less beautiful. However..

Should anyone find themselves burdened by the cold, I hope you will not mind me extending an invitation of hot chocolate in the kitchen. I warn you, it is only my second attempt making it. But I would not offer it were it undrinkable. [ A part of her secretly hopes that Arthur and Morgana will join her, but she isn't so sure. Their meeting, she's certain, was not only jarring for her. ]

[ooc; Also counts as a last minute, unplanned kissmas post. Pay no mind to Ceiling!Merlin.]

Comments

[persequor]

[ A short time later, a head pokes around the doorway. ]

I heard of chocolate.

[emboldens]

[ Upon seeing Arya's face, her own instantly lights up. Before the child even plants both feet in the kitchen, Igraine is already procuring a second mug from the cabinet and filling it with a generous amount of cocoa. ]

You hear correctly! Good afternoon, Arya.

Now, I've an important question for you: with or without marshmallows?

[persequor]

I haven't had them yet I don't think.

[emboldens]

Should you find you dislike them, I shall make a second cup.

[ After topping it off with the marshmallows, she shifts the cup to offer Arya the handle to take. ]

[persequor]

Thank you, my lady. Sorry. Igraine. [ TASTING... ] They're sweet!

[emboldens]

You needn't apologize, Arya.

[ She looks pleased, taking a sip from her own cup. ]

That they are. I believe they compliment it well.

[inafadingcrown]

[It was less the offer of chocolate that lured Galadriel out than the sound of a woman who seems to be in need of company.

She makes her way into the kitchen and offers a little nod to the strange woman sitting there.]

I trust I do not disturb you.

[emboldens]

[ With her hand gently cupping a mug she had nearly forgotten, she is quick to offer an apologetic smile to Galadriel once she snaps out of her temporary stupor. Even so, her eyes retain the sadness she has tried so hard to hide. ]

No, not at all.

Have you come for the cocoa?

[inafadingcrown]

More for the company. [She offers a soft smile in return.] But I will not scorn the cocoa, either.

[emboldens]

Then, in turn, I shall not scorn the company.

[ Brushing her own mug aside, she starts to put together the beginnings of a new batch. If more did not show up to consume it, she would take an extra cup for herself and Merlin later.

Aside from being quite beautiful, the delicate point of Galadriel's ears have also caught Igraine's attention. ]

Do you enjoy marshmallows? I must admit, my arrival here was my first introduction to them.

[inafadingcrown]

[A little laugh] I was introduced to them not long ago myself. I enjoy them in small amounts, yes. [Lots like the amount small children tend to use, thanks Henry are far too sweet for her.]

You have just arrived, then?

[emboldens]

[ That laugh, followed by the explanation, has her laughing as well. Then her smile lingers. ]

Would I be correct in assuming when you were first introduced, it was in large amounts?

Yes, I have. It has only been a few days.

[willrememberthat]

[Clem didn't hear the offer over the journal, but she ends up in the kitchen anyway.

So many people here looked like princesses! She can't help but approach her.]

Hello.

[emboldens]

[ Oh, castle, she dislikes you more and more every time she lays eyes upon the face of a child. No child should be displaced, not when they could be without their guardians.

But now is not a time for sadness. What a sweet girl, how can she not smile? She rises from her seat, to start preparing the cup of cocoa. That is why Clem is here, right? Whoops. ]

Hello! It pleases me that my invitation was not in vain.

[willrememberthat]

Invitation? I was just walking around.

What are you doing?

[emboldens]

Trying my hand at preparing cocoa.

Which was what my invitation was for. Would you like a cup? [ As it's already on the counter, she slides an empty white mug with a cute purple floral design on it into view. ]

[willrememberthat]

I love cocoa! [Anything vaguely chocolate like is a win. Clem hops over to the counter to look up at the stuff.]

You've never made it before?

[reigne]

[It takes him a long, long time to come to terms with this. He's not naive enough to think that she hadn't, at least to some to degree, hoped to speak to him.

He just doesn't know that he wants to see her. But he can tell their last encounter hurt her as much, perhaps in some ways, more than it hurt him. And he...Owes her the effort it takes to make amends, and she deserves to hear his desire to keep away from her, from his own mouth.

He leaves the journal behind, to venture to the kitchen. It may not be a house, and he may not need to knock, but...He does so open the door before entering, to ensure he'll get her attention before he enters.

The less either of them are startled or on uneven footing, the better]

Greetings, my lady.

[Not mother]

[emboldens]

[ While she had hoped he might accept her invitation, perhaps she didn't truly think he would do so after their first meeting. So, one can only imagine her surprise when she looks up after hearing the door and spots him standing in the doorway.

Her smile fades and, when it reappears, the sadness she feels is apparent. Arthur had been quite clear during their previous exchange and though it stung, she was willing to give him his space for a time.

The greeting was expected so, after rising from her seat, she bows her head. She is trying to hide her hurt, but it is proving most difficult. ]

Hello, Arthur.

[ Though she is certain his trip here wasn't meant for it, she touches her fingers to an empty mug she has set out for anyone else who wanted to join her. ]

May I offer you some cocoa?

[reigne]

[He glances away, just past her ear, when her sadness becomes readily apparent. He doesn't properly understand it, that she feels it over his reaction to her. He's not her son, and there's...No actual intent to be insulting.

Simply that he wishes...

Well, whatever he wished for, it certainly wasn't this]

I would love to have some, yes.

[He'll take steps to enter the room properly, and to actually sit at the table, in the seat directly beside hers. He tries not to feel awkward doing it, tries not to make it seem forced. He does after all, wish to make ammends.

The problem he supposes, is that at the moment, that is all he really wants]

[emboldens]

[ It's when he looks away that she realizes she should make the most of this meeting. They will never get anywhere if she does little more than sit around and dwell on the saddest aspects of the circumstances. When he accepts the seat next to hers, the smile he is given is a thankful one.

After preparing the cocoa and pouring it into the mug she had gestured to earlier, she carefully sets in in front of him. She would have given it to him to hold, but she wants it to cool down some. There is a small glass bowl nearby that contains a bunch of little marshmallows bits, and there's a spoon that he can used to get them if he wants them.

Igraine reclaims her seat and looks over at him. ]

Thank you for joining me for the cocoa.

dictated

[doublethefun]

I have heard tell that marshmallows go rather well with hot chocolate.

dictated forever? \o

[emboldens]

I could not imagine it without them. In small amounts, they add an extra sweetness to it.

o/ eeyup

[doublethefun]

[a quiet chuckle] It doth seem I am rather late to this realization.

The marshmallows I have seen seem rather large to be placed in a beverage, however.

[emboldens]

[ She sounds amused, at least for a moment. ]

I will certainly not hold that fact against you.

If you are willing, I will prepare a cup for you with the smaller marshmallows.