Room 203, Monday, Early Afternoon

[kitchen_maid]

Mondays, in the schedule Amy has drawn up for herself, are for dusting, sweeping, and having a general tidy of her room. But as days of the week don't have a whole lot of meaning here, and as those chores never seem to take very long, she won't feel the least built guilty about leaving it till Tuesday, should something more interesting present itself.

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[kitchen_maid]

"Good," she says.

A moment, and then she adds, "Perry, may I ask you a question?"

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

"Of course," he says, turning away to look out over the snowy ground with a smile.

"What's on your mind?"

[kitchen_maid]

"Well," she says, "it's probably more a point of information, than an actual question. I just wondered if you were planning to kiss me again any time soon. I'd sort of like to avoid being startled next time, if you are."

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

It's a moment before he answers, picking up a twig and twisting it around in his hands.

"Well," he says, finally, "I admit I was thinking about it, just now, but I can certainly refrain, if you'd rather."

[kitchen_maid]

"Hmmmm," says Amy, considering this.

"No, I think just now is a lovely time, really."

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

"Really?"

He turns to look at her with a smile.

"Well, good. Because I would very much like to kiss you again, and I didn't have mistletoe as an excuse."

So saying, he leans over, and kisses her lightly.

[kitchen_maid]

And as Amy is not startled this time, she kisses him back, bringing one hand up to touch his cheek.

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

It's a very nice kiss, all told, and Perry is sitting rather closer by the time it's finished.

"There," he says, looking a little dazed.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?"

[kitchen_maid]

Amy would go so far as to say it was a lovely kiss.

"You," she says, smiling at him, "would seem to have a gift for understatement, Perry."

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

"Well, I do try, you know," he says with a grin, and sits a little closer.

What? It's cold outside.

"I'm awfully glad you don't mind."

[kitchen_maid]

"I might have minded if you hadn't," says Amy, resting her head on his shoulder.

Quite cold outside.

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

"Well, it's a good thing that I did, then," he agrees, putting an arm around her waist.

"I supposed I could have tried the dragon route, but that would have taken rather a longer time."

[kitchen_maid]

That smile wrinkles up her nose.

"I don't think the dragon route would suit you, really. And I'm quite certain it wouldn't have suited me. So this is much better."

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

"There aren't any dragons in Ambergeldar, anyway," he says, cheerfully. "None that I know of. Besides, I thought the mistletoe was a nice touch."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy nods. "It shows ingenuity," she says. "And importing dragons gets terribly expensive."

Not to mention the damage it can wreak on one's wardrobe.

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

"Not to mention dangerous," Perry muses. "What with the breathing fire and the tendency towards wanting to eat everything in sight, and all."

[kitchen_maid]

"Quite," she agrees. "But we're far too clever to need dragons. That's for silly princes, and simpering princesses."

A very bright smile.

"I like you, Perry. I like you rather a lot."

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

"That is very good to know," he says, smiling at her. It's just the same smile--nothing terribly special. Just an ordinary, nice smile that crinkles his eyes.

"I like you, too. More than anyone I've ever met."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy likes ordinary things. And Amy quite likes Perry's smile.

"Do you really?"

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

"Oh, yes," he says, earnestly. "Well, why wouldn't I? You're funny, and clever, and nice, and very good company. And you really have the most fantastic smile."

[kitchen_maid]

"Well, it's easy to be good company around you," she says. "I'm always in such a good mood. You're one of the nicest people I know, Perry. And you can dance. Even when there's no music."

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

"They won't let you be king if you can't dance," he says, nodding.

"How fortunate that we like each other so much, isn't it?"

It is. So he kisses her again.

[kitchen_maid]

"Very fortunate," she agrees, against his mouth, and kisses him again.

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

He smiles, and because it's awfully nice to kiss her, he does it again, before sitting back.

But not too far. After all, it's cold, and his arm is still around her waist.