Post by Kypriotha on Dec 21, 2018 14:51:26 GMT 10
Title: 'Twas the morning before Midwinter
Rating: G
For: Rosie
Prompt: PD fic, esp featuring the Breakfast Club
Summary: 'Twas the morning before Midwinter and all through the Dove, not a creature was stirring, except for one cove
Notes: Happy holidays and my apologies for the poor rhyming in the summary! Hope you enjoy this little ficlet. I'd intended to have more of the breakfast club in it, but the first part ran away with me a bit, so this is what it turned into.
***
The Dove was always quiet in the morning, after all the customers and staff had left and the residents were sleeping off the merriment of the night before. It seemed even quieter to Beka on this particular Midwinter morning, the unexpected snow of the night before dampening any noise from the street. The eerie silence made her walk even softer than usual, keeping in mind the image of a mouse slowly creeping round a house, as she snuck in through the side door and into the main hall.
Her efforts seemed for naught, however, as she had the sensation she was being watched as she carefully strung up boughs of holly she had collected at the end of her shift the night before. So she wasn’t surprised when lean white hands caught the end of a particularly big branch that slipped as she tried to hang it above the hearth.
“Rosto.” It was half a whisper, half an exasperated sigh. His cat-like movements, always so stealthy, had clearly enabled him to sneak up behind her. “You normally sleep for hours longer yet. I thought I had more time to…”
“To scurry away like a mouse into the night before anyone could see you and think you have some Midwinter cheer in you after all?” Rosto asked her cheerfully, hoisting bough up higher and deftly securing it with one of the ties she’d brought. “Not this year, little mouse! You may have eluded my parties last year for work and family, but I happen to know you have a free night tonight and so there is no excuse for you to miss this one, especially as it’s the first party of the season. And I’ve found a new baker who makes apple fritters as good as Mistress Noll did.”
Beka glared at him. It was unfair, and just like Rosto, to find something to try and tempt her with. He was always trying something new, although at least he hadn’t tried an out-right bribe again after their first meeting. He might be a rascal, but he wasn’t stupid. On some things, at least. Still, it would be good to see Ersken and Kora and Aniki and her other friends at the Dove. She’d been so busy, legitimately busy, despite what Mr High-and-mighty-Rogue might think, that she hadn’t seen them much of late.
Rosto could tell when her resolve slipped. He had a cursed uncanny ability to read her like that. He grinned again and tied the last bough in place. “There! All done! And looking lovely too. You have a good eye for such things, even if you don’t show it most of the time. Some of Lady T’s advice must have sunk in despite everything else.
Beka glared at him again. It wasn’t the slight to her she was worried about; more the disrespectful way he spoke of Lady Teodorie. Beka might not be Lady Teodorie’s favourite person, but no one was allowed to disrespect my Lady in front of her after everything she and Lord Gershom had done for her family.
Rosto bowed, a mocking smile on his lips. “My apologies, my lady.” He had an annoying habit of always seeming to know what she was thinking. The smile turned genuine as he straightened up and laid a hand on her arm. “Thank-you for the holly. It was sweet of you to bring some cheer to our humble abode. And it’s just right for the party, which I will, of course, see you at. Now, if you don’t mind, I need a few more hours sleep.”
He bent and kissed her lightly on the cheek, before moving off to the stairs without a backward glance, thankfully before he could see the faint blush that stained her cheeks.
Rating: G
For: Rosie
Prompt: PD fic, esp featuring the Breakfast Club
Summary: 'Twas the morning before Midwinter and all through the Dove, not a creature was stirring, except for one cove
Notes: Happy holidays and my apologies for the poor rhyming in the summary! Hope you enjoy this little ficlet. I'd intended to have more of the breakfast club in it, but the first part ran away with me a bit, so this is what it turned into.
***
The Dove was always quiet in the morning, after all the customers and staff had left and the residents were sleeping off the merriment of the night before. It seemed even quieter to Beka on this particular Midwinter morning, the unexpected snow of the night before dampening any noise from the street. The eerie silence made her walk even softer than usual, keeping in mind the image of a mouse slowly creeping round a house, as she snuck in through the side door and into the main hall.
Her efforts seemed for naught, however, as she had the sensation she was being watched as she carefully strung up boughs of holly she had collected at the end of her shift the night before. So she wasn’t surprised when lean white hands caught the end of a particularly big branch that slipped as she tried to hang it above the hearth.
“Rosto.” It was half a whisper, half an exasperated sigh. His cat-like movements, always so stealthy, had clearly enabled him to sneak up behind her. “You normally sleep for hours longer yet. I thought I had more time to…”
“To scurry away like a mouse into the night before anyone could see you and think you have some Midwinter cheer in you after all?” Rosto asked her cheerfully, hoisting bough up higher and deftly securing it with one of the ties she’d brought. “Not this year, little mouse! You may have eluded my parties last year for work and family, but I happen to know you have a free night tonight and so there is no excuse for you to miss this one, especially as it’s the first party of the season. And I’ve found a new baker who makes apple fritters as good as Mistress Noll did.”
Beka glared at him. It was unfair, and just like Rosto, to find something to try and tempt her with. He was always trying something new, although at least he hadn’t tried an out-right bribe again after their first meeting. He might be a rascal, but he wasn’t stupid. On some things, at least. Still, it would be good to see Ersken and Kora and Aniki and her other friends at the Dove. She’d been so busy, legitimately busy, despite what Mr High-and-mighty-Rogue might think, that she hadn’t seen them much of late.
Rosto could tell when her resolve slipped. He had a cursed uncanny ability to read her like that. He grinned again and tied the last bough in place. “There! All done! And looking lovely too. You have a good eye for such things, even if you don’t show it most of the time. Some of Lady T’s advice must have sunk in despite everything else.
Beka glared at him again. It wasn’t the slight to her she was worried about; more the disrespectful way he spoke of Lady Teodorie. Beka might not be Lady Teodorie’s favourite person, but no one was allowed to disrespect my Lady in front of her after everything she and Lord Gershom had done for her family.
Rosto bowed, a mocking smile on his lips. “My apologies, my lady.” He had an annoying habit of always seeming to know what she was thinking. The smile turned genuine as he straightened up and laid a hand on her arm. “Thank-you for the holly. It was sweet of you to bring some cheer to our humble abode. And it’s just right for the party, which I will, of course, see you at. Now, if you don’t mind, I need a few more hours sleep.”
He bent and kissed her lightly on the cheek, before moving off to the stairs without a backward glance, thankfully before he could see the faint blush that stained her cheeks.