INT - Windgrace Manor; Christmas
Dorian loves the holiday season, it's never gotten old to him yet. He loves getting gifts for people and loves seeing their faces when they receive them. Happy to celebrate them hundreds of times over, this year was no different, at least inside the house. Where there was no fog. Without the entire world to choose gifts from, Dorian first tried whittling, but found he was still too heavy handed for it. He soon turned to other alternatives, such as what goods were available on the island. Thankfully there was a craftsman and materials to get his twin something worth wrapping in paper. The small flattened square of a box, wrapped in gaily coloured paper had Di's name on it and he was buzzing about giving it over. Dressed for Christmas dinner because tradition dictated it be a big do, he was just knocking back a drink and so far resisting carrying his sister's present to her, though he unslyly looked to where it was in the pile below the tree a few times, betraying his thoughts.
Christmas was a time for imbibing and for the family which already healthily partook, this was no different. Dorian had a glass of scotch in one hand, having already moved on from wine. The song he was singing to himself was not a holiday one, though it was old,
" Sweet in goodly fellowship
Tastes red wine and rare O!
But to kiss a girl's ripe lip
Is a gift more fair O!"
Dinah was troubled, and whilst the staff had gone out of their way to decorate the place for christmas, it felt strange even affecting the notion of celebration when some of their number were still missing.
Dorian's gift was not beneath the tree. It was too large to fit, in truth, and whilst part of her loathed the notion of a functional gift she had no doubt that dorian would appreciate it. She came down from upstairs and veered through the kitchen, finding herself some mulled wine before she paused and smiled at the sound of her twin's singing. Stepping up alongside him, she pressed his kiss to his cheek.
"hello darling"
Dorian: || The staff was down to a skeleton crew of those who weren't off having time with their own families, but enough to keep Dorian out of the kitchen and the tables laden with anything that could be desired by way of consumables. He could feel the little hitch in Dinah's fullsome expression of cheer. And he immediately knew why. And though he felt it too, he only murred to her, quietly, "We will get them back, and soon." His beaming smile from getting that kiss upon his cheek simmered down and he'd slip an arm around her to give her a kiss in turn. He'd press his lips and all the bottom half of his stubbly face to her bare shoulder and after explain, "Though we know the best gift shall be the one we provide the entire island, I managed to find you a little something, dearest." Once more he flicked his eyes toward where the gift was, unsubtle as was his wont.
Dinah curled herself against him at his reassurances with a silent, solemn nod as she buried herself against his chest. She made certain not to spill her wine on him, smiling at his words and his scratchy kisses to her bared skin.
"Sooner or later, the island will be rid of wolfe, and that will be a splendid gift in itself. I should send his bones all over the isles. I might even gift wrap them" she agreed pleasantly. "Soon. Soon. they'll be home with us soon" she paused at his suggestion of her gift and she pressed another kiss to his cheek, making a feigned dubious noise in her throat.
"Oh, you have a gift for me~? that's not like you at all, darling" she teased, but she nodded. "Dorian darling. I have one for you too. but it's a little big for down here. I couldn't carry it. Less of a gift and more of a...craft project"
Dorian almost forgot he was holding a beverage when he had his sister so near, when she ever used him as a safe and comfortable harbor. He'd keep an arm around her while she, powerful being that she was, sought refuge with him. Magical holiday moments passed that smelled like boht their beverages, colognes, and selves. He laughed a heartfelt chuckle when she jabbed him about finding her a gift, and pressed another kiss to her shoulder before turning his head to stare at her with his blond noggin canted to one side. His blue eyes sparkled with wonder at what could be a project too big for his sister to carry. After another lingering moment of stolen time so close to her, he'd go to retrieve her gift, and wiggle the box at her for her to take. "Soon," he replied, "-we can send his bones to the Sun if you want... but for today, here."
The box was clearly wrapped by Dorian himself as it was obviously a thick layer of green paper to contend with, tied with a red ribbon around the box..
(Inside was a jeweler's box holding a bracelet made of diamonds and pearls, richly crafted. The pearls are local, the diamonds refitted from an antiquated brooch that had been regalia from an extinct chivalric order.)
Dinah chuckled softly and took the box, holding it on her palm whilst her mind unwrapped the ribbon so she didn't have to move away from him to set her drink down. She giggled as the ribbon fell away only to have the paper to contend with and she admitted defeat, setting aside her wine to pick at the paper with her claws until she got the jewelry box open.
"oh dori. it's so lovely~" she set it against her wrist, fastening it there and holding uip her hand to admire it. "you always have such a beautiful taste in jewels. wherever did you even find this?" she said softly, turning her hand this way and that to catch the sparkles in the light.
Dorian explained with an enormous grin lighting up his visage from ear to ear and chin to crown, "Do you remember when I was knighted at that little ceremony in Scotland? Blasted bloody windy it was. Well I am pretty sure I am that last living member of that order. What else was I to do with that brooch? Last I wore it I was lucky not to have gotten questions. The thing looked so much like a fleur de lis." And that would have been entirely too French to remain practical. So, as he went on, "There is a jeweler just on the Victoriana side of the gap, who does find custom work. He was very happy for the project, and happened to have come by these pearls which he said were local to Callisto. I think there's nothing magical to them though, apart from how they'll look on you." He punctuated with a brow waggle and again tried to read her gladness in her face, which he so loved to gaze upon.
Dinah continued to admire the bracelet and she nodded as he spoke, smiling faintly. "Mm. they had the damned bagpipes going so loudly I could barely hear myself think for days after, and it was so wretched cold" she agreed. She smiled, standing up on her tiptoes to press another little kiss to his lips this time
"Thank you dorian. it's beautiful. And it means more because you wore it once" she reached her fingers to brush across the diamonds, and then reaching her fingers for his, leading him for the stairs.
"yours is...honestly a little bit too functional for what i'd normally get you. but all of this.. it has made me want to make certain that everyone is far more safe" she paused and looked towards him. "...though I must confess, I stole from you to make it. I hope you shan't be cross"
Dorian admired the jewelry on her, as it seemed to sparkle with especial life when near his sister's skin. And gleam, and lend its gleam to her. It was a very different constellation from her unglamoured skin, but in his mind, and maybe only his hearkened to that. Though many things did to his mind. Like her leading him up the stairs. His grin ticked up in mischief as he held her hand and followed, sure as her shadow would. He was even more curious and confused about what it could possibly be given her hints and with puzzlement ruling his features, even over the mischief, he'd murmur, "I can't imagine I would be cross over something functional. If you want to change your mind, it isn't too late, dearest, you can just take me to bed instead."
Dinah puffed a laugh and shook her head at his words, grinning over her shoulder as she resumed pulling him along up the stairs.
"scoundrel." she chided him playfully "It has been an absolute trial keeping it hidden from you, let me tell you that. though at least whenever you do come to my room you are somewhat distracted" she teased, pushing open her bedroom door.
"I wanted to make sure that you were going to be protected when we inevitably end up coming to blows. The cultists and whatnot, we have no idea how many there are, or even if they are all human. but whatever the case, you are my light, and I want you safe" she moved the curtain away from the wall where the chest had been concealed. "...it IS awfully shiny though. close your eyes, darling"
Dorian was pulled along readily and happily and he'd make sure she knew he was happy by pressing her fingers a time or two with his own. He didn't push his luck about a certain sort of happy ending, as they were going to her room anyway. She was right that when he came to her sanctum it was always to bother her for specific reasons. Often specifically carnal ones. And though there weren't parents or anyone to watch over him, he still made such visits discreetly, many times going back to his own bed to sleep before dawn. Even if hers was more comfortable, he had his own bed to lounge around in. He'd come to a stop where she bid and close his eyes, even putting a hand over them for extra dramatic emphasis. He still was clueless as to what was going to be in the box, and was guessing, "Is it a halberd? I bet its a halberd with a great uuuuuge blaaaaade." He did his terrible Scottish brogue, whose like would have made Delilah's ears bleed. If it was that sort of weapon he could lop Wolf's pack's heads off with it, he was thinking. If any would be foolish enough to stand before him while he was wielding it.
Dinah tried to stifle the sounds of metal shifting as she pulled the chestplate from it's hiding place, though she laughed at his awful accent. "...well, at least a halberd will give me an idea of what to get you for our birthday." she took his free hand and guided it out to the metal with a playfull smile on her face.
"Though no, not this time. not a weapon, my love.Next time, perhaps" she agreed, drawing his hand away "Now, I hope you remember how to do this, I feel I would make a terrible squire" she conceded, shifting the metal so it was fitted against his chest over his suit.
Dorian upon hearing metal was tempted to look, good thing he had his hand over his eyes. He closed them firmly again until she was pulling it away and he looked down to see what she held against him. Armour! Gleaming golden and ready to strap on again though it had been some years. He blinked slowly, smiling from the bottom of his heart as he'd close one hand over hers where she held the plate. "Oh my love, it is magnificent. I remember how to don it, though I may need to bother Lance or Drystan if I can't teach you to help me with the straps I can't reach. I love this. I can wear this for our ritual too... After seeing how that dog caught Drystan off guard, after nearly having to wrestle Lilah.... I think it is a most useful gift, even if Maximilian's wolves go on two legs... my love, thank you." He'd move so that he was holding the plate and she was free from it if she so pleased, looking down at the chestplate and feeling.... potentially useful. It was an amazing gift for that reason too. He'd be able to
Dorian: serve the family in it once more and not feel like the useless one. His gladness burbled up through his aura, just as it showed in his beaming face.
Dinah smiled and she shrugged a shoulder, gesturing her fingers to the chest. "You had an entire suit of the stuff in storage. So I worked at it. It's warded, protection from magic woven into it. I guessed that the armour itself would protect from damage" she trailed her fingers across the metal itself. "The gold is representative of the sun. In alchemy, the sun is light and power. Life force" she smiled again and stepped in close to kiss him. "So, perfect for you. I wasn't certain how it would come out. It's the first time I have ever...tweaked something so large" she admitted, picking up another piece from the chest "but everything from this certain suit has been worked on. Perhaps I shall have to amend the gloves so you can punch the insubstantial" she smiled shyly.
Dorian was not likely to stop grinning this evening, imagining himself all suited up. "Oh Dinah, it is even.... this is more than I could have asked for, beyond all wishes. This means..." He couldn't say what it meant, so he pushed his fulsome gladness at feeling useful, of being outdone by how thoughtful it was all at her nonverbally. He did not get teary about it, but it was the stage before such emotion might play out. Having relinquished it to her maybe saved him from such a fate.
He shrugged off his suit jacket, putting it upon the pouf in front of her vanity so the fit could be better seen and holding it up to himself, inquired, "I don't suppose I have outgrown it, have I? I think it feels perfect from there. Ho there..." The armour was so shiny and fine, and improved he'd spent whole minutes admiring it rather than her. "...is that possible? Because I would rather enjoy punching certain intangible things." He knew if anyone could make such a thing possible it was her.
Dinah reached to pick up his suit jacket as he set it down but instead of putting it away or hanging it up, she pulled it over her shoulders instead, tugging the sleeves around herself. She peered those golden eyes at him over the top of the suit-jacket bundle and she shook her head "you shouldn't have outgrown it. we haven't really changed enough for that, i'd wager" she curled herself onto the pouf where the jacket had been sat previously, pulling her legs up underneath herself as she absorbed his emotions with a sensation of warmth in reply.
"if it isn't possible yet, we make it possible. There are all sorts of spells one can do to reach the intangible. I will find a means to gild it into your gauntlets, darling. and then if anything thinks it can evade us by trickery, why think of how surprising it'd be when your strength comes at it regardless?" she beamed up towards him at how pleased he was, "I am so glad you like it"
Dorian bent to settle the armour back into place in the chest where she'd been hiding it, gazing at it admiringly as he did. He'd run his fingers over the metal of a few more of the pieces, listening to her and imagining being able to interact with the things that thought themselves beyond the material plane that way. This made his grin grow larger to absurd proportions before it broke into a dark chuckle. Shaking his blond head he'd turn to her and pounce at her to throw both his arms around her, hopefully not upsetting her perching. When he had her wrapped in his arms he'd murmur to her ear in a low grumble, "Through you, divine one, all things are possible, aren't they? Thank you. Thank you."
Dinah smiled as she watched him, her gaze fixed on his face as she focused on his delight. She giggled at the spread of his grin and she threw her arms around his shoulders as he reached to embrace her.
"through me? no darling. this is your armour. I just gilded it. It won't work for just anybody as well as you. If i were to put it on, i'd just be a particularly shiny, clunking target. But for you.." she trailed off, burying her face against his shirt before drawing back and giving him a playfully warning finger point.
"No punching niles in it. OR napellus. you're strong enough, let alone when your skin is covered in hard spiky parts."
Dorian would move back, so that he could look right into her golden eyes, all that adoration leveled firmly at his twin's gaze, at the same moment she moved back to point. He didn't even bother with faking looking wounded over her caveats He only nodded his golden head and made himself repeat after her, "No punching Niles nor Napellus, on my word. Unless either of them comes for me first. Not that I need armour for either one of your pets." He reckoned he could take them out barehanded, had he the chance. Or with a blade in one hand anyway. But he even added on, "Not with a gauntlet or without, right? I imagine you'd like that better. It would be a poor way to repay such a handsome gift to sully it with the wrong blood. I'd not dishonour my new armour that way." He held out his pinky finger to promise on it, hoping it'd make his solemnity clear. He'd never pinky promised before and gone back on it.
Dinah smiled at his vow and she grinned, though her grin became a brief laugh as he referred to them as her 'pets'. She gave him the briefest of chiding looks at the nickname, but she smiled and reached to take his hand that was extended, pinkie out, and kissed across his knuckles.
"you don't. I don't even know if there's anything in the world that could tolerate one of your punches. you're the strongest man i've ever known" she agreed, crooking her own finger around his to take the promise and she nodded, tugging him to snuggle against his side.
Dorian was beaten to the punch, because he was going to tug using that pinky connection to snuggle her, so he could only laugh when he got his wish regardless. Free now to kiss her cheek as they were so near, he'd avail himself of that part of her face to press a smooch there. His own monstrous strength was just a part of him, to him. And not as impressive as either of his siblings to his mind. But he was lacking the need to compare himself to them just now, blissfully enjoying what of Christmas they'd stolen back from Wolf's contrivances. He blushed across his cheeks while staring at her, because of what she said, sure, but also because he was quite so near to her and his blood was up. Who could blame him, too, given all the talk about fighting. Given he was mere feet from her bed. "Dinah, I have a very serious question for you," he intoned, as he put an arm around her shoulders over his coat.
Dinah smiled and tilted her cheek in the direction of his laughter, amusement on her face. He was ungodly strong, and yet regardless he let her pull and maul at him all the time as if he couldn't just throw her halfway across the isle if he fancied, as if he weighed nothing at all with her manhandling him. She reached her fingers out from underneath his coat to brush at his blushing cheeks, then upwards to curl into his hair, and then back down to rest her fingertips against his cheeks again, thumb brushing against his stubble. His words had a faintly concerned smile touch her face and she nodded softly
"anything, darling" she said quietly, wriggling closer beneath his arm to against his chest, her free hand reaching to his shoulder from there
Dorian was playing it so cool for a few seconds, about as long as anyone could expect Dorian to. He was always exceedingly gentle with his sister, alternatingly worshipful and utterly free. Almost always gentle anyway. Her fingertips on his warm face was such a fine sensation. He almost forgot that he'd set up his little ruse. But then he'd whisper to her, "How much do you like this gown you're wearing?" And from there he'd nuzzle her cheek, bite his lip and seek to lock eyes with her once more. There could be no doubt as to why he was asking with his blue eyes darkened as they were in ravening hunger for more of her.
Dinah tipped her head forward with a laugh as he asked his question and the hand that wasn't at his cheek swatted at him with another chuckle. "you beast, I thought you meant something Truly serious." she whined, pushing her lip in an affected pout, looking down at her dress as if contemplating it.
"I do quite like this one. but it's not an original, it could be replaced. but darling, there's barely anything here that you'd need to tear, it's halfway open already" she said thoughtfully "Most of the way in fact. I think you just like breaking things, you destructive scoundrel"
Dorian didn't dodge being swatted so that she could express her agita fully, given he'd done his dirty little trick. But just a moment later, he lifted her up and sprang to his feet, gamely, as though she weighed nothing more than his own person and began carrying her bedward. He was laughing all the while. He did appreciate that the gown was already very accommodating, so most likely he'd peel it off of her, now that she made her preference known. "Well since it is such a fine Christmas gown whose look I like quite so much, I suppose it shall live to see another day in one lovely piece. Though I do rather enjoy tearing anything from you that hides your perfection...." He was more than willing to be termed a destructive scoundrel, even though tonight he'd go so far as finding something to drape the dress over before getting to work with the more enjoyable things that came after. After they'd availed themselves of a tumble or two, they could get back to worrying about how to get their vengeance over all who conspired against them. But first: naked holiday cheer.