On a Cold Winter's Night

Log Info

• Title: On a Cold Winter's Night

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Telamon returns home from a Shining Chalice meeting and the bitter cold night to see Raven's fallen asleep on the couch while chicken noodle soup simmers away in the kitchen. She wakes up and they share a meal together, with even Pothy getting a bowl. Eventually, Ravenstongue and Telamon retire for the evening after discussing their relationship. Pothy, being an opportunist, takes advantage of the moment and finishes their abandoned meals.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes 
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

No Eluna in the sky nor stars tonight, but there are plenty of little snow flurries that fall down onto the windows of the Lupecyll-Atlon home. Not a hint of the outside cold leaks into the house, which is rather fortunate for Ravenstongue as she sits on the couch in her long wool nightgown and knee high socks featuring a little feather design, black feathers alternating with white feathers on a background of gray.

She had been waiting for Tel to come home from another Chalice meeting, but... Well, she's fallen asleep in the process. The blanket wrapped around her was just too cozy.

Meanwhile, Pothy is having the time of his life with a bowl of nuts on the table that was refilled just before Ravenstongue dozed off for her nap. She hasn't been asleep long because the bowl is still quite full, and Pothy will sit there and eat nuts until the bowl's empty.

The door clicks, opening to admit Telamon -- his expression dour, face lined a little from fatigue. Shutting it behind him, he steps out of his wet boots, leaving them to dry as he hangs up his cloak. It's a simple pattern, and one emblematic of leaving troubles and worries at the door.

He pads into the living room, biting back a yawn, and gives Pothy an amused look, before walking over to kneel next to Raven. Reaching out to brush back her hair, looking at her as she sleeps with a gentle smile. Kissing her cheek softly.

Just like the prince's kiss wakes up the sleeping princess, Ravenstongue stirs awake with his kiss. Her violet eyes flutter open and she groans a little as she reaches out and stretches, followed by a yawn. "Mnnn... I didn't mean to fall asleep," she says. "At least I hadn't gotten into dreaming yet."

She pulls Telamon onto the couch with her and gives him a hug, snuggling into him for a moment before she gives him a kiss. "How was your meeting?" she asks as she draws back, smiling at him.

Telamon seems to sink into that embrace, relishing it, before letting out a little oof as he's drawn onto the couch with her. "Tiresome," he growls. "Some of them... well, they'll study the stars but they make their own decisions. Which... is good, in the end. But others, good gods, they'd consult an astrologer over what to have for breakfast!"

He settles in with her, arms around her in turn. "I spent an inordinate amount of time explaining dream exploration, only to have one young fop insist that it was only useful for having -good- dreams."

"Even in our line of work, there are idiots and fools," Ravenstongue says, patting Telamon's platinum-blond hair down on his head. "You know that. Those are the type of people who tend to come back in boxes from adventures if they're paired up with people who can't compensate for their foolishness. It's a shame for their families and friends, of course... As well as for anyone else who gets killed because of them... But it is how it is."

"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," Pothy says, mimicking Ravenstongue's voice. He returns to eating nuts now that he's gotten his witty comment in.

"Precisely, Pothy," Ravenstongue says with a grin. "As for the young fop... Well, you are young too, although not a fop in my opinion. I should know... I'm marrying you."

Her face delights in that last phrase. It's a joy that lights up in her eyes. "I still can't believe I can say that for real now, by the way."

He still looks aggrieved. "Yes, but... I don't think this idiot was an adventurer. Just a bored rich scion with a scrap of talent whose idea of 'roughing it' probably involves not having three pillows." Telamon's expression is grumpy, and it looks -hilarious- on him.

"That's the good part, though, I suppose. I doubt he'll go traipsing through the wilderness with anyone and get them and himself killed." At the mention of marriage, his face softens, melting into a smile once more. "I know. I... keep thinking I'll wake up or something. But... nope. Still here. And happy to be here."

"Well, we both know my feelings about nobles as of late," Ravenstongue says, giving him a little playful pout--still just as adorable as her real ones. "And I also know your view of them as of late, too. I'd wager that's part of why you feel frustrated, right? Here we are doing the real work and men like my father get to go cavorting around and puppeteer other people's lives and offer their unnecessary input because they assume it's always wanted. No one's ever told them no, after all."

She shakes her head and slides her hand down to his face. It's the hand with the ring he gave her, the gold band wrapped around her ring finger as she holds his face in her delicate fingers. "But forget about all of that. You're home here with me. I think the soup's ready by now in the kitchen--Pothy hasn't tried to get at it either while it's cooking, so it's completely unspoiled."

Pothy's eyes widen as he looks back up at the two half-elves. There was soup to be stolen and he didn't know?

Telamon cuddles her close as she strokes his face. "I mean, look, they're not all bad there at the Chalice. There's a nice enough fellow there, Artyom, who congratulated me on the marriage announcement. Very polite and congenial. Thankfully, the good ones, the serious ones, usually encourage the dilettantes to sharpen up or find some social club to bother."

He glances over at the kitchen and the simmering pot. "Hot soup is a blessing on a night like this. Pothy," he pauses, eyes flicking to the raven. "Don't even -think- about it. You want a share, fine, but 'Lana worked on that soup."

Pothy makes an exasperated noise and he whistles at Raven in a tone that sounds like he's begging. Ravenstongue responds with a little snicker. "You'll get your share, Pothy, don't you worry," she says as she lets go of Telamon--albeit with a bit of reluctance that he can sense in how slow she is to draw away from him--and walks over to the kitchen.

She returns with three large mugs of soup. The broth appears to be chicken-based, with large egg noodles and diced vegetables that have simmered in the golden broth for hours. "I based this off a recipe in Grandfather's cookbook," Ravenstongue says happily. "No Quelynos ingredients, so you should be fine. He wrote in his notes that he often made it for my ancestors when they were sad or upset about something, and with how much you've hated the cold lately, I thought it was a good one to try."

Telamon ooohs. "Slow-simmered chicken soup?" He takes one of the mugs, drawing in a deep breath. "Gods. I can't even -begin- to start with how much I appreciate this, 'Lana. It's good year-around, but definitely on cold, blustery winter nights or when you're feeling ill." He takes a sip of it, carefully.

He savors the broth, before glancing at the door and the tightly-shut windows. "I always prefer spring and summer. That was when my parents first discovered I had talent. I, well..." He pauses, and grins. "You've seen fireflies before? They were following me around. I looked like I was in a cloud of sparks at one point."

Ravenstongue puts down the final mug on the table for Pothy to enjoy, which he does. The raven begins to lap up the soup, his tail feathers bobbing up and down happily as he consumes it.

"Makes sense you prefer spring and summer," Raven replies after she sips some soup and looks very pleased with herself. It is pretty good, after all, which is cause for rejoicing on its own, let alone the fact her handsome fiance is enjoying it. She offers him a little grin as she says, "After all, you remind me of a summer sunset."

"Smooth," Pothy says, mimicking a man's voice halfway between laps of broth.

"You must have been quite the sight with a cloud of little lights following you around, though," Ravenstongue says, now that her attempt at poetic flirting has been said aloud. "I bet they thought you were a druid of some sort at first."

Telamon takes another deep pull from the mug, and grins at Raven. "I expected a starry night, but I'll take a sunset." He looks contemplative, before nodding. "My uncle Telgari is a druid. They called him in first, but he was pretty firm that it wasn't a natural effect." He sighs a little. "Then the priests got called in, and, well, you know that story. Still, it ended well."

He looks into his mug for a moment, before glancing back up. "I sent a copy of the Tribune to father and mother. I'm sure the response is coming, and it'll probably be a fairly pithy 'about damned time'." He grins. "Can't argue that. No excuses for procrastination; I definitely should've done it sooner."

"You wanted to take the time," Ravenstongue says with a smile after she licks her lips clean of broth. "For that, I'm thankful--although I'm certainly not opposed to being engaged."

She looks back down to the ring on her left hand and smiles widely, flushing a little. "I never anticipated being... Wanted like this. Ever. Let alone by someone as wonderful as you. And I'm not a vain person or someone who hinges my worth on jewelry, but this ring is really lovely, Tel. I feel... so lucky. Really so lucky."

Ravenstongue takes another sip of her soup and cuddles into Tel, setting her mug down onto the table. "They didn't need anyone to tell them you were special, Tel, because you are to me no matter what your magic is or where it comes from."

Telamon just shakes his head in bemused disbelief. "Nobody ever pursued you? Are people blind? Are they mad? Stupid?" When Raven nestles in next to him, his arms go around her practically on reflex. "I can't think of anyone I'd rather be with. Life, and love, and the vast world to explore -- but only if I'm with you." He rests his cheek against hers, holding her close.

"I don't worry about my magic any more," he admits. "Not after the dream, and the Watcher. Now it's just about study and practice and smacking evil around as needed." He looks wry. "I -did- get an interesting business proposition the other day. The town watch is training up recruits, and they mentioned needing them to get used to magic, so they don't run screaming the first time someone casts a cantrip."

"Well, I never put myself out there--you happened to be the first and only to have ever made me feel anything like this," Ravenstongue says, just enjoying her closeness to him. She closes her eyes and sighs happily.

Pothy finishes his mug of soup and moves on to Raven's. This is a normal occurrence in the house; often Raven does not finish her meals and Pothy tasks himself with cleaning up after Raven (and Tel, if he leaves anything behind). At least it makes doing dishes easy.

"So you're going to toss spells at them, scare some fresh recruits, and get paid for it?" she asks, opening an eye and grinning at him. "Why do I feel like you would have far too much fun with that?"

He strokes her hair gently, as she leans into him and makes that happy, pleased sigh. Kissing the top of her head, before looking at Pothy ruefully, and then he nods genially to his abandoned mug. Some things are just more important -- like cuddling.

"They were insistent on nonlethal spells," Telamon replies. "Which I would've agreed to anyways -- we're trying to train them, not injure them horribly. Fortunately, I know a few -- the glitter spell you and I have used so effectively. I also have an interesting spell that creates a mesmerizing field of light, and of course my waterspout spell. I figure those will work well to encourage recruits to duck and cover."

"Oh, your stardust and my fairy dust," Ravenstongue says with a smirk. "We do work well together, don't we? We set them up to be knocked down by the big and scary people like Skielstregar--not that he is scary, just that he can be when he wants to be."

Both of her eyes are open again as she nods, snuggling even closer into Telamon as she hooks a leg onto his lap and over one of his legs. "I imagine they'll be effective teaching tools--especially the waterspout spell in this time of the year," she says, smiling impishly.

There's definitely not much space between them, that's for sure. Telamon isn't complaining it the slightest, though. "I don't know if I want to use that waterspout spell in winter, though," he frets. "I'll have to discuss it with the training sergeant. They won't be happy if half the trainees are out with chills." He brushes noses with her. "Still, there are plenty of other options. I'm rather looking forward to this -- it'll be good practice."

"How was it someone put it to me? I am dangerous, you are dangerous, Skiel is dangerous. We can all be dangerous in different ways. The important thing is what use we put it to."

She giggles a little as they brush noses, her arms wrapping around the back of his neck to prop herself up as she now swings the rest of her lower body so that she's sitting on his lap. It's an awfully forward move that, unlike the last time she was like this, is accompanied with a smile rather than tears. "Right. We can be dangerous in different ways," she says with a grin.

Pothy looks up at the two and he looks immensely nervous. The blue-eyed bird looks around the room before he vanishes into Telamon's former bedroom, now a study. He doesn't want to be anywhere near this.

"I, umm..." Her confidence in flirting falters a little as she looks away, flushing. "Jeez, I don't know how my mom did this. This is nervewracking."

Telamon blinks. Very slowly. Looking a little startled at this. His arms are still around her, though, and he looks into her eyes. "Well," he says with a slightly nervous chuckle. "-Usually- it starts something like this, 'Lana." He kisses her, full on the mouth. This is no peck on the cheek, no brief contact, as it goes on. Slow, warm, carefully stoking a very special fire between the two of them. His hands move up and down her back, stroking her gently, toying with her hair as he draws the contact out.

When it does break off after several minutes, having paused only a few times for air, he whispers, "Are you sure?" There's no judgment in his voice, just a desire to make sure she's ready.

Ravenstongue draws back after that intense and drawn-out moment, her pale face absolutely crimson. Her violet eyes are filled with a swirl of emotions, but the chief one is something very new for them both as she lightly pants.

"I'm ready," she affirms. "I've been wanting to for a couple of days, but... I didn't even know how to bring it up or how to start."

She giggles a little, mirth tempering the desire in her eyes a tad. "Let's... Umm, let's move to the bedroom," she suggests.

She pulls herself off him and takes his hand. "So... Shall we?"

He almost doesn't want to let go, but... there is what comes next. And he can't deny it to her, let alone himself. So he smoothly comes to his feet, surprised at the slight wobble in his knees. Clearly from sitting down too long. Yes, that's it.

"We shall," he replies with a smile. And without another word, the two retire to the bedroom.

Hours later...

Pothy pokes his head out of the study, having opened the door through corvid ingenuity. "Is it safe yet?" he asks in his true voice.

He looks around. Full sweep of the living room. Not a soul in sight.

His eyes fixate on the neglected soup mugs.

/Score./

Telamon's not the only one getting lucky tonight.