Christmas Party! Millitimed Vaguely to "Sometime Around Christmas"

[kitchen_maid]

Anne and Amy have been very very busy over the last week or so, transforming their usually simple white room into the perfect place for a Christmas party.

There are garlands of holly and balsam strung around the room, leading away from the wreath between the windows (and there's a grumpy looking crow, perched in the middle of the wreath, trying to figure out how to get the red ribbon from around his neck). A Christmas tree, candles ablaze, stands in one corner, with presents tucked under its branches.

Welcome, dear friend, to Anne and Amy's Christmas party.

Comments

[kitchen_maid]

Amy looks oddly serious.

"Are you?"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He appears to consider this.

"Does that seem likely to you?"

[kitchen_maid]

Amy considers. Because the honest answer to that question is "moreso than you might think," especially given her past. On the other hand, he may have a perfectly good reason for it, if it were true at all.

"Would you tell me if you were?" she asks, finally.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

Perry stares thoughtfully at a burning candle.

"Yes," he says, finally. "I think I would. Although I imagine there might be a few reasons why I wouldn't want to, if I were. It'd be terribly awkward, for one, wouldn't it?"

His gaze turns to her, oddly serious.

"Would you still like me if I were a nobleman?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I suppose it would be terribly awkward," she says, after a long pause.

"And what a silly question. I should like you every bit as much if you turned out to be a -- a coalheaver!"

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

He grins.

"Well, that is a comforting thought. I shall keep it in mind in case one of my jobs turns out to be heaving coal."

[kitchen_maid]

"Have you never had to heave coal before, then?" she asks.

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

Cheerfully, "not yet! Although I suppose I shouldn't count my chickens--I may end up a coal-heaver after all."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy giggles. "Or a chicken counter. You could be responsible for counting the royal chickens in order to make sure His Majesty will have enough eggs."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"Or the royal floor-mopper. I could go in front of Princess Persephone and her mother to make sure there isn't a speck of dust that might possibly get on their shoes."

[kitchen_maid]

"No, I don't think so," says Amy, considering. "That would no doubt be a full time job, and not leave you free for any of the other 'all work' you've to do."

[man-of-all-work.livejournal.com]

"True," he agrees, "and that would be a bit of a waste of time. Besides, that's what carpets are for."