dragon_twin | (no subject)

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(no subject)

When Melou brings Angela back into the castle it's around about when dinner would normally be served. However, it's a festival day, so the household has already eaten, in order to be able to head outside for the evening's games.

He pulls her into his room, obviously excited, and starts rummaging through a trunk.

"Get you your mask in just a minute."

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Such is the nature of apple ducking. The boy finally brings up an apple, but is taunted by other boys for his poor overall performance. Another one soon takes his place and Melou puts himself in line to be next.

"You want a turn after me?"

She grins. "Sure. I'll give it a try." She's got a big mouth, maybe that will give her an advantage.

"Just remember." He leans in and whispers to her. "Keep your eyes open and breathe out slowly through your nose."

Angela grins. "Okay. I'll remember that."

While his face is close enough, she gives him a quick kiss.

He grins at that and then waits patiently for his turn. Well, patiently while drumming his fingers against his leg.

Finally, after the boy in front finishes, with a respectable five apple haul, Melou motions for Angela to stand to his side.

"Up to you to take the apples I get for counting."

She comes close to him and nods. "Okay."

She can do that, at least.

He gives her a grin, clasps his hands behind his back and takes a deep breath before plunging his head into the water. And it's cold

He's down for a few moments and when he comes up for air the first time, he has nothing to show for it. Back down he goes almost immediately and seems to find a better method, as he ends up with six when his time's up.

Angela's watching closely and catching the apples as he drops them to her, using part of her cloak to carry them.

She beams at him when his time's up. "I think you did good!"

"Yeah? Not bad." He agrees, shaking his head to get the water out of his hair. "Hand those over. Your turn now."

"Um, okay," she says, a little uncertainly, and knots her hair in the back after giving him the apples. It'll probably still get wet.

Angela takes a deep breath and ducks, keeping her eyes open and exhaling slowly through her nose. She manages to get only two apples before her time's up, pinning them with her cheek against the side of the barrel and turning her head to catch them. Her hair is wet, but she's grinning, even as she shivers a little.

There are a few jeers, but it's fairly good natured. Even Melou's grinning and tugs at her hair. Girls get the easy treatment.

"It'll do for a first try." He adds her two to his pile and nods over to the fire. "Let's go dry off."

Angela laughs off the jeers as, yes, they are good natured, blushing as he tugs her hair. "Yes," she says, "drying off would be good." She's just a little cold, and twisting her hair to get the water out of it.

He grabs an apple for each of them and also another ale as they pass those barrels on their way closer to the giant fire.

He finds a good spot not too close, because it's throwing off a lot of heat, and settles down on the ground motioning for her to join him.

Ooh, warm and toasty. She drops down beside him and runs her fingers through her hair to allow it to dry more easily. It won't take long in this heat, and besides, she wants him to be able to run his fingers through it later.

It's lovely and warm, right here, and Angela takes a bite of her apple, leaning against him.

They just sit there for a while, drinking and basking in the glow of the fire and listening to those around them.

A tall woman walks behind them and rests a hand on Melou's head for just a few seconds before continuing on her way. He smiles after her.

It's a really nice interlude, and everyone seems cheerful and happy--including the person sitting next to her, who is the only one she's really concerned about.

She watches his mother walk past. She's still pretty as ever, and looking slightly happier than the last time Angela was here. She leans her head on Melou's shoulder after she's passed, wondering if his mother remembers her at all.

She's a little too nervous to ask.

And Melou says nothing about it.

As happens with gatherings such as this, the younger crowd separates off by themselves. He nods to a group a fair bit off from the fire, but still visible.

"Ready to run?"

She grins. "Okay, I think so." This dress really isn't conducive to running, but Angela thinks she can manage pretty well.

After all, she's tall. Melou's taller, though.

He helps her up and starts toward the darker area, where there is already a rather wild chase happening, with the prerequisite hollers and payful shrieks. Or several chases, actually.

"Rules are pretty simple. We chase you. We catch you, we get a kiss." Angela may notice the other girls are rather good at avoiding being caught.

Angela blushes a little. "Oh, dear," she says, laughing a little nervously.

She's going to have to employ a lot of trickiness not to get caught. Though she won't mind if Melou catches her, she will if anyone else does, so best not to get caught.

"And," he grins, "mask on."

Honestly, Melou's banking on her height being a deterrant. That and all the boys know she's his. The mask won't help, though.

Double oh, dear, Angela thinks, and slips the mask on, tying it tight.

Hike up those skirts and *run*. She grins at Melou. "Okay. Is there anywhere I shouldn't run?"

"I'd stay away from the fire. Easy to stumble, not being used to the mask and all." He sets his own on firmly.

"And try not to go too far away, either. Could get lost. As long as you can see other people, you should be all right."

She nods. "Okay." She takes a good look at him in the mask. "I get a head start, right?"

She hopes, anyway. Plus, she can't imagine it would be fun to just tackle a girl right at the start.

The chase is the thing.

Indeed it is.

"Just a little one." He grins. "Starting now."