kitchen_maid | Christmas Party! Millitimed Vaguely to "Sometime Around Christmas"

Christmas Party! Millitimed Vaguely to "Sometime Around Christmas"

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.

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"A little," says Gil. "Did you know each other before you got here?"

"Not in the least. I was never in the kitchens very often, you see. Are you a friend of Amy's, then?"

"Mostly of Anne's, but I've met Amy a handful of times," he says. "When I was Bound I lived across the hall, so we ran into each fairly frequently. And I know her brother."

Perry's face falls.

"Her brother. I hear he may be after me with a sword, soon."

He looks around, before continuing.

"I kissed her under the mistletoe, you see."

Gil, with a perfectly straight face, says, "Yes, I think he might be. After all, I almost got on his bad side just by knocking on the door to this room. Have you got a good place to hide?"

Perry looks rather worried.

"No, and I think he rather knows the place better than me, anyway."

He sighs.

"Suppose I'll just have to submit to being roundly scolded. And perhaps fatally wounded. You never know."

"Well, the medical care here is quite good. Well ahead of my time, at any rate, and some of the doctors are magical. So perhaps he'll let you live. Seeing as it's Christmas and all."

"Do you think so?"

He looks absurdly hopeful.

"Perhaps," says Gil. "But I would advise you speak to Caspian before you pay any more attentions to his sister, serious or otherwise. Much less painful in the long run. To say nothing of less likely to involve your being slain in a duel."

Perry's teasing grin fades, and he looks intently at Gilbert for a long moment.

"Thank you," he says, finally. "I believe I will."

A pause.

"Perhaps I should have thought the mistletoe through a bit further."

"Well," says Gilbert, "I guess the real question is, how did Amy take it?"

Perry grins.

"Well, I didn't get slapped, fled from, or scolded, so I imagine it went over decently well."

"A promising start," says Gil.

Better than he did, really, the first time he kissed Anne.

"I do hope so," Perry says, oddly sincerely. "She isn't like any girl I've ever met before, and I'd hate to think I've managed to drive her away already."

"Then I would think pretty carefully," says Gil. "When you meet the one who isn't like anyone else you've ever met before, she's worth however much time it takes."

His eyes are focused on a figure in green on the other side of the room.

"Hello," Perry says, following his gaze, "that's rather serious talk for a young man like you."

His eyes move back to Gilbert, thoughtfully.

"I suppose that's Anne?"

"That's Anne," he says, not looking away from her.

It should not be possible to put that much meaning into two words.

But it is.

Perry looks at him with new interest.

"You," he says finally, "are very certain. I rather envy that."

"It's easy to be certain when you're right," says Gil, looking back at him finally. "And I may not be right about much, but this I am."

"It's far less easy when you forever have people telling you what you should and shoudn't do," Perry says, ruefully.

"It gets to the point when you aren't really sure what your own opinion is, anymore."

"Is anyone here telling you what you should and shouldn't do?" asks Gil. "Maybe you should stay for a while. Think. Clear your head."

"Oh, I plan to," Perry says, easily, taking a cookie from one of the plates.

"I rather needed a holiday, of sorts. Besides, the door seems to have vanished, so it isn't as though I have much choice in the matter."

"Bar will do that," says Gil. "I hope it's easier for you than it was for me."

He gives Perry a small smile. "If you'll excuse me, there are people I should say hello to."

He starts to turn to go, and then turns back. "Do be careful. I'd hate to have to help her brother kill you if you hurt her. Merry Christmas."

"I'll keep that in mind," Perry says, cheerfully.

"Thank you for the advice. Merry Christmas."

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Christmas Party! Millitimed Vaguely to "Sometime Around Christmas"

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