Post by Idleness on Dec 30, 2015 16:31:59 GMT 10
Title: Dashed Hopes
Rating: G
For: Kypriotha
Prompt: 2. The first snow of winter
Summary: With the first snow of the second winter at New Hope, Kel’s hopes for reassignment are dashed.
Notes and Warnings: Enjoy!
“Curse it!”
Neal turned around just in time to catch Kel mutter a stream of vile oaths she could only have learned from soldiers. Tobe, who was sitting at one of the long mess hall tables, looked impressed.
“Unless you’re going out, can you please close the door?” Neal demanded.
“Neal, it’s snowing.”
“So don’t let it inside!” he snapped. There was enough dim lamp light to illuminate a small blizzard.
Kel sighed heavily and watched the snow in a dejected attitude. Then she sulkily kicked at the rock that was kept nearby to pin the door on windy days.
“As if it makes any difference. This whole miserable place is just a pile of drafty sticks!” she whinged, shrugging on her coat. She stomped outside and slammed the door shut.
“Miserable drafty pile of sticks, indeed. And that’s why you don’t give glorified logging camps silly aspirational names,” Neal muttered.
Merric overheard his remark and guffawed.
“I knew she's been in a mood, but that was something else,” Merric drawled, lifting his mug of mulled cider.
“I better go and find out what that’s about,” Neal sighed. The long seat bench scraped on the rough wooden floor as he pushed himself up from the table.
“Me too,” said Tobe.
Merric, sensibly, stayed put.
They donned their coats and hurried out to catch up with Kel, who was trudging grimly over toward headquarters.
“Someone remind me why we didn’t build that covered walkway through here after last winter,” she demanded when they caught up.
“Because it was decided that the lumber would be better dried and used as firewood,” Neal reminded her.
“Whose stupid idea was that?”
“Yours, milady,” Tobe said cheerfully.
Kel harrumphed.
“Fanche didn’t think it was stupid,” Neal reminded her, frowning at Tobe. “And you know Fanche has no time for stupid.”
“So instead everyone will just walk this slush inside all winter?” she grouched, gesturing at the snow that was settling into the mud.
They reached the door to headquarters and Kel stormed through and stomped up the stairs to her room. Neal decided not to point out how much slush she just walked in, as she didn’t bother to take off her coat or wipe her boots on the mat placed specifically for that purpose.
“She’s got her loincloth all up in a bunch ‘bout something,” Tobe commented.
Neal glared at the boy and bit back the sarcastic remark about understatement that was on the tip of his tongue. He sighed and rubbed his face.
“She’s cross because she wants to leave, and if it’s snowing here, that means the mountain roads will be…”
“Then we definitely get to spend another Midwinter with Fanche and Saefas and Loey and Gydo and the others!” shouted Tobe.
“Yes, that,” said Neal drily. “Suffice to say, new orders are definitely not coming this side of winter. Now, let’s get that fire built up and I’ll make some calming tea.”
Rating: G
For: Kypriotha
Prompt: 2. The first snow of winter
Summary: With the first snow of the second winter at New Hope, Kel’s hopes for reassignment are dashed.
Notes and Warnings: Enjoy!
“Curse it!”
Neal turned around just in time to catch Kel mutter a stream of vile oaths she could only have learned from soldiers. Tobe, who was sitting at one of the long mess hall tables, looked impressed.
“Unless you’re going out, can you please close the door?” Neal demanded.
“Neal, it’s snowing.”
“So don’t let it inside!” he snapped. There was enough dim lamp light to illuminate a small blizzard.
Kel sighed heavily and watched the snow in a dejected attitude. Then she sulkily kicked at the rock that was kept nearby to pin the door on windy days.
“As if it makes any difference. This whole miserable place is just a pile of drafty sticks!” she whinged, shrugging on her coat. She stomped outside and slammed the door shut.
“Miserable drafty pile of sticks, indeed. And that’s why you don’t give glorified logging camps silly aspirational names,” Neal muttered.
Merric overheard his remark and guffawed.
“I knew she's been in a mood, but that was something else,” Merric drawled, lifting his mug of mulled cider.
“I better go and find out what that’s about,” Neal sighed. The long seat bench scraped on the rough wooden floor as he pushed himself up from the table.
“Me too,” said Tobe.
Merric, sensibly, stayed put.
They donned their coats and hurried out to catch up with Kel, who was trudging grimly over toward headquarters.
“Someone remind me why we didn’t build that covered walkway through here after last winter,” she demanded when they caught up.
“Because it was decided that the lumber would be better dried and used as firewood,” Neal reminded her.
“Whose stupid idea was that?”
“Yours, milady,” Tobe said cheerfully.
Kel harrumphed.
“Fanche didn’t think it was stupid,” Neal reminded her, frowning at Tobe. “And you know Fanche has no time for stupid.”
“So instead everyone will just walk this slush inside all winter?” she grouched, gesturing at the snow that was settling into the mud.
They reached the door to headquarters and Kel stormed through and stomped up the stairs to her room. Neal decided not to point out how much slush she just walked in, as she didn’t bother to take off her coat or wipe her boots on the mat placed specifically for that purpose.
“She’s got her loincloth all up in a bunch ‘bout something,” Tobe commented.
Neal glared at the boy and bit back the sarcastic remark about understatement that was on the tip of his tongue. He sighed and rubbed his face.
“She’s cross because she wants to leave, and if it’s snowing here, that means the mountain roads will be…”
“Then we definitely get to spend another Midwinter with Fanche and Saefas and Loey and Gydo and the others!” shouted Tobe.
“Yes, that,” said Neal drily. “Suffice to say, new orders are definitely not coming this side of winter. Now, let’s get that fire built up and I’ll make some calming tea.”
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!