Midwinter After-Dinner

Log Info

• Title: Midwinter Dinner

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Dolan, Patch, Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Ravenstongue and Telamon are cleaning up after dinner when Patch arrives to spread a little holiday revelry. Dolan appears, too, and all four chat about the winter and a newly revealed weakness of Kol Demontry's. The evening goes on over tea and cookies.

Lúpecyll-Atlon home, evening.

It's after dinner on a cold and dark evening, but the Lúpecyll-Atlon home is as warm and active as always. Cor'lana is in the kitchen washing up dishes, although she hardly has to do much since Pothy always licks them clean. In fact, the bird is on her shoulder as he adjusts the sprig of greenery that's tucked behind her pointed ear. "It was going to fall out again," Pothy complains. "For a great and powerful sorceress, you sure don't think your fashion choices through, don't you?"

Cor'lana pouts a little. "I thought it would be cute, Pothy," she says. "I'm just impressed you haven't tried to eat it." She finishes up with the dishes and takes her apron off, patting down the velvet deep-blue dress that she acquired at the market earlier that day.

"Of course not. I don't eat anything that the garden pixies conjure. Not after the last time." Pothy's voice takes a haunted tone.

"It really is for the best. I appreciate that they're trying to make themselves helpful -- especially during the winter months -- but it's still inconvenient when some bit of fey magic goes wildly awry." Telamon is handling cleanup in the dining area proper, the table wiped down while he sweeps up any stray debris. Once that's sorted, he straightens up, handing the broom off to the unseen servant who whisks it away.

Tel, for his part, is wearing a pale gray tunic and white linen trousers, with soft slippers on his feet. Idly, he flexes his fingers. "If you thought it was bad for you, Pothy, it was really disturbing when it happened to Lana." He shakes his head. "I must say, that experience, combined with the things I saw when I was helping Aryia reclaim her sister, have pretty much put me off ever learning or developing that spell."

Braving the cold and dark, Patch finds herself upon the Lúpecyll-Atlon's steps. She's dressed in another fancy coat of red, but this one being of some treated leather. It seems to keep the weather at bay, but a maroon cloak is still worn regardless. A few raps of a half-balled fist announcing her to those inside. "Don't let them be busy."

Pothy grumbles. "The only reason I'd ever want two Lanas is because two of them means one could pet me and one could feed me snacks at the same time." Then he looks at Telamon. "But then again, that's kind of what you two do already for me anyway."

The sound of Patch's knocking rings out, and Cor'lana blinks. "Oh, dear. Let me go get that," she says, and she walks out of the kitchen, going to the front door and opening it--

And her face lights up. "Sister!"

Telamon snorts. "So why mess with perfection? Besides, you forget, both of us can pet you while the unseen servant feeds you snacks. Granted, it's not quite as charming as Lana or I -- or the pixies, for that matter -- but it does the job."

Tel was about to walk into his study to retrieve a book, when the knock sounds at the door. "I wonder who'd be coming by in this weather at night?" When Lana opens the door and greets Patch, Tel leans out to smile. "Good evening! It's good to see you again, Patch!"

Patch isn't looking at the doorway when Cor'lana opens it. Her eyes not seeming to focus anywhere, her glance meandering. She only turns to look at the woman as Cor'lana greets her, smiling. "Sister." her tone muted, but she steps quickly to greet the other woman, giving her a firm hug.

"I hope I'm not intruding." Patch says, grinning as she releases the half-elf. "I thought to check on those I know at least once during the festivities." a breath seeming to relax her as Telamon's words draw her glance.

"It's good to see you too, Telamon." Patch's reply coming with a lick of her lips, and a broader grin. "Having fun? Mind company?" the last question seemingly aimed at them both, her hopeful glance shot back towards her sister.

"We just finished up our dinner," Cor'lana says with a smile as she returns the firm hug. "Hardly busy here. I have a large tray of cookies that my cousin dropped off earlier that you're more than welcome to help yourself to. Come on in."

"Yes, please come share snacks with us!" Pothy exclaims, taking flight from Cor'lana's shoulder to the coffee table, where, indeed, a large tray of cookies are on display. It's a large variety, and the cookies are the size of the average person's palm... Meaning this is probably Pothy's ideal Yule gift.

Cor'lana leads her sister inside. "Let me get you a cup of tea, too," she says. "Lavender-mint fine?" When is it not the lavender-mint?

Telamon nods, stepping back out of the study as well. "As Lana said, get in here." His expression is crinkled with a broad smile, as he closes the door. "You know you're always welcome here, Patch. Lana considers you family, and this is a place for it -- especially at this time of the year."

While Lana is seating Patch, Tel pauses to check the back door, look out the window, and then make sure the teakettle is on and hot. Cups are pulled down and brought to the table, and Tel says cheerily. "So: joyous Yule to you, Patch."

Another knock comes on the door, a few minutes after the door closes behind Patch.

Patch doesn't hesitate once invited in, a smile splayed across her features. "Any tea is appreciated. I wouldn't turn it down." her path carrying her behind Cor'lana to let her entertain, and admire the cookies. Now, sans one. It's plucked indiscriminately from the group. "I have to get over to your cousin's some time. I've been with Slix, but..." she drones off with a wave of her hand as she turns to find one of the more secluded seat.

"It's appreciated. I can't rest at the dorms. It's busy, and with the Yule Yearning?" Patch says with another grin, the door catching her attention with a suspicious and skeptical look. "I swear. I wasn't followed. This time." It's enough to warrant her attention away from her cookie-prize.

"It's a nice place," Cor'lana replies. "My cousin's very good at what she does. It's also a reminder that at least some of my family are good and ordinary people..."

Cor'lana blinks twice as the door knocks again. "Who can it be now?" she asks. "Pothy, hold down the fort, will you?"

It's a little comical to see Cor'lana creep over to the door, hand held up like she's halfway expecting Zalgiman or Kol Demontry on the other side, but... It happens anyway. She opens the front door.

Telamon's eyes glitter at the knock, and he looks to Patch. "Tell you what, though, if this is another of those thrice-bedamned 'adventurer's insurance' salesmen, he's getting a bath and I don't care how cold it is." His tone is light, but it's clear that if the newcomer has a problem, Tel will be happy to adjust his attitude the hard way.

He flicks a glance to the study, and there's a whisper in the air, the unseen servitor slipping off and returning with his haversack, which he takes.

There is no one at the front door, per se, but there is a basket of jams, preserves, cheeses, and a loaf of a rustic bread sitting on the stoop, in the chill, along with a note stuck into one side of it, and a cloaked figure walking away.

Patch bobs her head to Telamon's sage advice. "This is why we have signs that restrict solicitors. I don't have to deal with it." she speaks of her dorm, again grinning as Telamon pokes his fun. "I do hope you have insurance. The proper kind, but I know what you mean."

"Who's there?" Patch calls after Cor'lana, the sound of a door opening, and then a pause. It's awkward enough for her to perk up in her seat and look after her sister. "It might be a parcel. I'd sent one. But, I had thought that might be here by now."

Cor'lana pulls in the basket, and she reads the note that's attached to it. Her face splits into a wide grin, and she calls after the cloaked figure that's walking away. "Dolan! Brydion!" she shouts. "We're having tea and cookies, and you're invited!"

"Dolan!?" Pothy's tail is wagging again from his perch on the table. "Please tell him he's welcome! I want to share cookies with him!"

"Well, this whole basket's full of goodies," Cor'lana replies. "And Patch, I thought that might have been your package. Pothy is very enamored with his new scarf. It's hanging off of his book nest in the study right now. The slippers are wonderful, too. Thank you so much."

Telamon nods to Patch. "I'll be wearing those for a while. My old ones are starting to get a little ragged, and if I ask Jovani to handle mending them, I just know he's going to give me a look like this." He screws his face up into an exaggerated expression of disapproval. "For a man who deals in fine clothing you'd think he'd understand comfort being key..."

At Cor'lana's call, Telamon immediately moves to the door. "C'mon in, Dolan, this is a night where friends and family are always welcome! Especially with the weather being what it is."

The figure outside pauses, turns around, and returns to the door, but doesn't come inside just yet. When Dolan re-approaches the door, he wears, insteads of the usual golden gem, an eyepatch over his right eye, and an uncertain frown. "My eye's at the artificer's," he tells Lana quietly and in low tones not meant to carry. "Is that going to bother Tel?"

"The comfort is what I have to focus on." Patch says to Telamon, nibbling her cookie with just a few mousey nips. "Dirk's boots took me the better part of Quintoos." she dares admit. "I'm just glad they will be used. I'm a bit short on coin and I made most my gifts." shrugging. "It's nicer this way."

At the murmured words of Cor'lana and Dolan, Patch looks back that way once more. "Can I help with anything?" she calls out after the others.

Cor'lana shakes her head. "No, it'll be fine, Dolan," she tells him gently. "It doesn't matter to him or to me how you look, and this house is warded. We all just care that you're here and out of the cold for a bit to eat and something to drink."

She smiles widely, turning to indicate that Dolan should follow him. "Besides, Pothy is dying to share some cookies with you. Come in!" she urges a bit louder, walking back in with the basket and setting it down in the kitchen.

Indeed, Telamon seems utterly unfazed by Dolan's appearance, beckoning him in as well. "All is well, Patch," he calls back, before smiling genuinely at Dolan. "It's good to see you again. And yes, Pothy is definitely in a 'I wanna share snacks' mood, so take advantage of it while you can."

He places a hand on Dolan's shoulder briefly, before stepping aside so that Lana can lead him in out of the cold. "How is Andie doing?"

"Brightest of days, and thank you both." Dolan relaxes enough to step inside, stepping over the parcel at the door, and offers the both of them a cheeky grin. The hand on his shoulder seems to prompt that. "I wasn't sure if you were in a place to take visitors or-" He pauses, and shares that grin with Patch as well. "Brightest of days, Patch. I was just leaving a Midwinter gift, but you're too kind to invite me in. How are the three of you?"

"All may be well, but help is still help." Patch says of Telamon's answer, standing from her seat once Dolan and hosts return.

Patch adjusts her coat and cloak, offering Dolan a nod and proper greeting. "Inquisitor Dolan. It's good to see you. I'm doing well. Mostly hiding." she jokes.

Pothy is looked at, a hand coaxing the small bird towards Dolan. "Hey! lookie there, Pothy! You got your wish of a Dolan." eager to see what wiggle, word, or happy note will spring forth from that familiar. "It's the season for friends. Of course you're welcome. Not that I have a say." these words back to Dolan as she focuses back on her treat, plopping a bit haphazardly into her seat. Cookie time. Finally. A true bite taken, a warm smile bleeding onto her features as she savors it.

"We're all doing splendidly here. Plenty of room in our house for visitors," Cor'lana says with a smile as she emerges from the kitchen with the teapot and teacups, pouring two cups for Dolan and Patch. "And plenty of cookies, too." She gestures to the tray of assorted palm-sized cookies as evidence.

Pothy, of course, dances in place and cheers as Dolan enters the house. "Yay! Dolan!! Come here, there's some really yummy sugar cookies I think you might like!" he calls out. "Lana's cousin made all of these cookies!"

Cups of tea, cookies, and good company. What more could anyone ask for on a cold winter's night? Telamon makes sure the door is shut and locked... though he checks to make sure no one else is wandering up the path. That done, he reclaims a seat for himself, picking up his own cup and regarding Dolan and Patch. Despite the polished demeanor he shows, there's nothing but friendship and happy welcome in his gaze.

"In any case, thank you Dolan -- and thank you, Patch. It's been a long year, and I think we're all hoping for a better one."

"Andie's at the Temple until midnight," Dolan answers Telamon's question belatedly, accepting his cup of tea and making his way in. "Pothy, I can't really see you on that side," he reminds the bird with a grin as he finds a seat - notably where nobody is on his right side. "How about you bring one of those over here." Something uncertain in him is unwinding, and he's relaxing. "I got something good, too. If we can make use of it, we'll have a better year."

"Andie's at the Temple until midnight," Dolan answers Telamon's question belatedly, accepting his cup of tea and making his way in. "Pothy, I can't really see you on that side," he reminds the bird with a grin as he finds a seat - notably where nobody is on his right side. "How about you bring one of those over here." Something uncertain in him is unwinding, and he's relaxing. "Thanks, Patch. I got something good, too. If we can make use of it, we'll have a better year."

"Did you? I am excited to hear about it. I managed to scrape up a few toys to make things easier, but we'll see." Patch muses, chewing another large bite of treat. Dolan's thanks causing a bit of a flush once its registered. "You're a friend. No need to thank me for such small tokens." but it does leave her with a grin and glance to Cor'lana as she take up that tea. "I'm just glad to have quiet evenings like this."

Pothy picks up a sugar cookie and flies over to Dolan on his left. "Special delivery~!" he manages despite the cookie in his mouth. "Here you go!" His tail is wagging a mile a minute.

Cor'lana takes a seat next to Telamon and smiles brightly, the teapot on its tray set aside on the table with the cookie tray as its cousin. Her face perks with interest as she seems to catch onto what Dolan's referring to. "Evenings like these are why I sign up for life-endangering things," Cor'lana says. "Now, something good? Do tell." She takes up her own teacup and sips from it.

Telamon tries not to laugh at Pothy taking on the role of host. It's cute, after all. "There's never enough good news in the world. So I guess we're both all ears." His lips quirk again. "Well, halfway all ears, anyways." Eyes twinkle over the rim of his cup as he sips quietly. "There have been some developments here, but... not bad, not good, just important. I'm glad Yule is here to lighten our hearts."

Dolan's grin only widens, and he reaches to take the cookie from Pothy. "Why thank you, Pothy." He takes a small nibble at first, then a more appreciative bite. "These are excellent. Now, the Knight has blessed me with some insight, that, I might be able to use against the vampire." He takes a sip of tea to go with the cookie, and contemplates both. "I don't know everything yet, and I need to do a little more."

"Hopefully better than garlic." Patch muses, shaking her head as she pops that last bit of cookie into her mouth and chewing before washing it down with tea. "That worked, but I'd not attempt that again." a grin flashed as she nestles back into her seat with the hot drink. "I'll admit to coming up with little since the foray into that mess with the Augur of Dreams." an annoyance sitting in her tone, but it's fleeting. "Work has me planning away at the Bardic College, and for once? I've tried to take break and relax." a sheepish smile given. "We all need it."

"The garlic worked, though," Cor'lana adds with a grin. "That was impressive. Vaire clearly was smiling on you at that moment, sister--everyone loves the unexpected twist in the story, after all, and She sought to supply."

She looks at Dolan. "You spoke to your god?" she asks, in surprise, but... maybe not as much surprise as one should probably have. "What did He have to say? About the vampire, that is."

"Clearly, the solution is to feed Kol a garlic cookie," Pothy says. It's jest, of course, but he just seems happy that Dolan's happy.

"Don't throw the idea away just yet," Telamon advises. "I ran across some writings by vampire hunters, and the idea of 'overkill' just doesn't apply when you're fighting bloodsuckers." He taps his chin. "You know, you can steam garlic to make garlic oil. Wonder if that would work as a repellent or a distraction."

His eyes slide back to Dolan with interest. "Sometimes the trick is to try and listen even when we might not understand what they're telling us at first. I know I'm guilty of not always getting the point at first."

The mention of the garlic draws a laugh from Dolan, but one that quickly fades. "It might. We should find out what they're vulnerable to. He did speak to me, in the Dream Realm. How that happened is a bit complicated, but," he takes a sip of tea, sets the cup down, and uses his now freed hand to stroke Pothy. "He showed me how the vampire was defeated the last time he was here. Running water seems to work, and Kol - well, he's kind of stupid," he goes on, sheepishly for the non-mincing of words. "Fast, and strong, but the man who did it was standing in the fountain, and tempted the vampire with his own blood. The vampire went after it and they dragged him into the fountain. He was so after the blood that he didn't pay attention to his own safety."

Patch sips at her tea, listening to Dolan with a sip of her drink. She peers into the cup, an ear twitching in thought as she speaks. "I'm heartened to hear this, but that complicates things. It would have to be a trap, and not an obvious one." her tone cautious, but the grin from behind her cup a clear indicator she's onboard for whatever mischief and plotting is to be had. "If I can help, please let me know."

"I will remember that, Tel. If you are dawdling, I'll just be blunt." Patch assures, amused with the conversation as some hope is dangled.

"That sounds like it was Sir Seldan," Cor'lana says, seeming to recall it now. "He and I did discuss that--albeit in the context of me trying to, err, bait Zalgiman into a demise of sorts." She rolls her eyes. "Sadly, I think he's not going to fall for the same trick twice. If that was him at the 'tent of the miracle man' from a little while back, which I do think it was, he had an awful lot of disdain in his voice."

She looks at Telamon. "Maybe I need to invest in some nicer padding," she says. "Or pick up that trick that Slixvah uses to disguise herself for long periods of time. I might be able to bait him out with Mother's appearance--"

And then she clears her throat. "On the subject of Kol, however, it seems pretty clear what has to be done. It sounds like, Dolan, that you're going to have to play bait yourself when it comes to Kol."

Telamon furrows his brow. "Does it have to be Dolan, though? I'm not exactly enthused at the idea of using a friend to bait this son of a bitch, no matter how obsessive he is. He'd also have to be dumber than a bag of hammers to chase his obsession into another fountain."

He sits back, steepling his fingers. "I've always wondered what qualifies as 'running water', anyways. The Tornmawr? The sewer mains? Flushing Kol down with the rest of the crap does have a certain appeal to me."

Pothy glares at Telamon for a moment. "Tel-a-moooooon," he whines. "You can't talk about sewers! Not in front of my SNACKS!"

Cor'lana rolls her eyes and grins at her assembled group of friends, husband, and familiar. "I guess that means we're being forced to change subjects," she says. "How about... What our favorite childhood foods were?"

That makes the white raven's eyes go shiny and bright. "Yes! Yes please!" he says. "Tell me allllll about it!"

The evening goes on over tea and cookies.

OOC

Garlic Cookies:

<OOC> Dolan says, "Ewh."

<OOC> Patch says, "I wonder if eating garlic enough to change your sweat would act like Protection from Evil? Protection from Vampire! Also, musky."

<OOC> Dolan says, "I would not want to eat enough garlic to try it."