A Fort Aegis Thanksmas

[bc56]

The Fox and the Wallflower
Jade looks thoughtful. "Sure, we can play a game." The other things sound like romance, and A: she's spoken for and B: Reuma is at least slightly drunk. "Are you sure antler ring toss isn't insensitive?" Jade feels weird about fox fur clothes, so toys and games made from antlers seems like it should be weird for a deer person.

[Earl of Purple]

Demonic Royalty

Well, now that's all sorted- for now, at least- they can get on with socialising and enjoying the Thanskmas period.

After Snowball Fight

"Kind-of neither. There was this powerplant generating energy from this bird thing, and it was an infectious idea. More you thought of bird, the more bird you became. I helped shut it down, but got very bird as a result. But there was a thing afterwards, which I used to fix myself except now I'm an angel. So I don't need to eat as much, and I can eat whatever, so most of my bills went out the window, and I was able to leave Skyside, so I don't really need to steal any more." Although sometimes, Mishnehel still does steal things. Not often, but it was part of her life for so long it's a habit that is proving tricky to break.

[Aurora Alchemi]

The Fox and the wallflower --> Reindeer games

"Oh no, I don't think it is at al-YEEP!"Reuma starts to speak up when there is a thump that seems to make the snow gathered in the area levitate for a moment. "Nawh Reuma, cannah ye' see that yer gonna scare the fox off? 'Taint everybody here a lyrri, don't ye know." For a moment Reuma's ears flatten in terror, a hand the size of a pitcher's mitt resting on her shoulder, but as soon as the voice speaks up, the little pronghorn leaps out of her seat and embraces the hulking figure. "Tuuli! _{ohgoshi'vemissedyousomuch!}" The giant reciprocates the hug of the pronghorn, giving a little bit of a moment to get a better look at them. Standing almost exactly the height of a doorway to the top of their head, with a massive rack of antlers that hang with little carved toys and ornaments, as well as a big leather crafting apron brimming with jingling pockets, is another satyrlyrri. Patting the top of the healer's head reassuringly, the plaid shirted moose flashes a gentle but infectious smile, flicking one of their long silver braids over their horn to get it out of the way of emerald and gold eyes. "Apologies fer th' intrusion. Mah name is Tuulikki Kołodziejski, feel free to call me Tulli iffn ye like. Reuma's a friend o' mine, case ye couldn't tell from from her jumpin' all over me."

The giant sets Reuma back in her chair, and offers a hand to Jade, it's surface somewhat calloused and covered with little scars, the hands of a crafter. "Ah hear ye might be considering a bit o' the merriment games. Naw Ah ain't normally one to brag, but Ahm up three nothing winning that ring toss, and Ah ain't even gotta wear the fake horns." Tuuli chortles softly, pulling one of the little sleigh bell ribbon rings that are being used for the game off an antler stub and offering it to Reuma. The cheerful giant winks to Jade and gently sneaks Reuma's drink away from the healer. Reuma, on the other hand, is distracted in other ways, grinning from ear to ear that her old friend has come along. "Jade! Oh gosh, Tuuli took care of me for a while when I was in a pinch. They are the best."

[Deathkeeper]

Courtyard

A young man in a thick coat arrives. Aran Larouge was hoping to get some normal party happening after his eventful weekend. The black-haired, orange-eyed human is mostly unremarkable but he's still going to attempt to wind his way through some of the crowd in a quest to acquire holiday snacks.

[bc56]

Reindeer Games
Jade looks surprised at the sudden emergence of a big mooselike person. Mostly though, she just feels even shorter than she usually does. "Oh hi. I'm Jade. I was just talking to Reuma about magic and science and such." Jade introduces herself. "Nice to meet you, Tuuli."

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

Reinholdt watches Pyrhra inch her seat over with bemusement, figuring incorrectly that she wanted his body heat once more. Well it's not entirely incorrect, but Rein's eyes go a little wide when she grabs ahold of him and steals a kiss from him. And just about when he's going to truly reciprocate and show off, she teasingly withdraws, taking away the opportunity and his breath. His dazed expression slowly cracks into the absolute widest of smiles as he savors the raw sensation that he just experienced, keeping it alive with the lingering flavor upon his lips. "It seems I owe a kiss later," Rein says as he swears to get vengeance return the favor, leaving them both with something to anticipate.

"So you don't just tend to the clients, you also collect magical ingredients, and cook. Sounds like you really do a lot, huh? She keeps you busy. One more step and you could just do the witching stuff yourself," Pyrhra should be looking for a promotion! Or starting her own business! Honestly the only issue Rein has is the inability to sleep in. Isn't that some sort of like... illegal employee cruelty or something? It's barely one step above slavery! Sleep was the best.

Unlike his food, Rein takes to the drink quite quickly and with little hesitation. Of course, he's got a bigger body to work with and a higher tolerance from a lot of practice. Which only means he's going to need to get a refill once or twice. "One time at my lowest point... errr, one of my many lowest points, I was killed and my spirit was captured in a magic sword. To get better I had to visit a witch whose house was atop some chicken legs and it was constantly moving. I won't deny it was weird, but I have my share of experience with mystical entries." He'll leave out the part where Rein proceeded to have a romantic tryst with that witch's granddaughter, largely because that's entirely where the similarities to that and this date end. "So it sounds like you're in a small organization. We have a few of those around here. But now I just gotta see your room some time. Sounds incredibly well decorated," Rein's grin is a little teasing but mostly genuine.

"Ah, Skyside and Trog's. I'm not assigned to either but I've been to Trog's many times in the past. There's plenty weird about Trog's, but... I wouldn't say it's any more weird than everything else in the Nexus. It's about as weird as this place. Honestly, the appeal of the danger of Trog's has tapered off considerably since Random Encounters^TM don't happen there anymore. So there's a lot less fighting. The barmaid has unusual powers. A lot of people claim she can read minds and a person's history, but it never seems to work on me for whatever reason. Guess that's why we're friends." It helps that Rein tips generously. He shrugs a little, perhaps too used to the Nexus to make an accurate picture of the unusual nature of its fixtures.

[Two Mothers]

The cold resistance has gotta be something about Ilpholin's skin. It's not quite natural looking. Almost synthetic if Harley looks close enough to realize it.

"Ah. My mistake. I don't really rescue damsels," Ilpholin says unapologetically. Still Harley seems familiar anyways. She just can't place it. Ah well. Must not be that important then.

The phyrexian nymph smiles and looks down, squeezing the kid's hand for attention. "This is Nahlrae. Say hi to Manja, Nahlrae."

The kid looks up at his mother for a moment, then to the baby presented for introductions. "Her future has already arrived," he states quietly as if Manja was on death's door itself.

[Aurora Alchemi]

Reindeer Games

"Ah bet she dang near talked yer ear off. Reuma's a smart gal, but she can be overzealous, hehe." Tuuli pats the pronghorn again, and Reuma smiles over at Jade, then jingles the bell. "So... how does we play the ring toss, Tuuli?" Tuuli claps their hands, nodding softly. "It's real easy, all ye hafta do is grab yerself some antlers; Reuma, Ah'll fix yer horns up to work well enough and be fair. Then everyone starts with three bells. Ye see how the bells got a little ring loop? Ye just need to toss 'em over an antler stub. If you miss your toss, ye hafta go pick the bell ye threw back up. The goal is te' get to zero bells." The moose spins the bell around a finger. "What'cha think, Jade? You open to try a round?" Tuuli offers a set of bells, still smiling.

Warm Reprieve

The munching and blushing bunny nods. "Aww, thank you... But really, Ukry does way more work. I'm more like a fancy maid. I suppose it might be good practice for being a mom one day though." Pyrhra stuffs a full spoon of hot mashed potato in her mouth, giggling gently. Leaning in, she listens to Rein's story with interest, and where the story might meet incredulity, instead the girl nods. Clearly, being around witches is full of weirdness. "That sounds like the guy who got petrified cause he got in trouble with a siren! Madam Ukry uncursed him for free, because the rock he became when he was petrified could be removed a little for a potion ingredient. If I remember right, it makes a potion that can let you walk through a hail of arrows harmless."

Rather quickly, the pile of food on the plate dwindles down, and Pyrhra's pace slows to sips and nibbles. "Sure! It's only fair that if you let me come by your seaside haven, I let you see my little secret tower." The girl giggles, winking softly and taking a long sip of eggnog. Of course, doing so leaves a nice mustache from the large mug, which Pyrhra happily makes a teasing show of licking off. "So what's that now... two dates? I guess I might have to put a whole section in my calendar for you, naughty boy~ I can't say I mind though. The emerald eyed temptress pops a cherry cordial into her mouth and winks. "It's nice to be worth at least three dates in a handsome man's eyes."

The mention of the barmaid having strange powers and reading minds causes the bunnies eyes to narrow, and for a moment there is a cold look on her face, but it vanishes almost instantly. "Boy, that barmaid must haveta be careful how deep she looks huh? Some people have weird minds. I can't imagine being in a seedy bar with a power like that." Pyrhra shrugs softly. "At least it's good to know that it's probably just Mistress Ukry not wanting to give away too many witchy secrets by us going to the bar. Information is valuable. Speaking of valuable information...." Pyrhra was back to full tease mode, crunching on a carrot before continuing. "How about we play a little game of truth or dare? It's quiet enough in this corner, I could listen to your stories forever and I need a minute for my dinner to rest." Pyrhra props her boots up on another chair a little closer to the fire, settling into an after dinner position. "Unless you had a better idea to kill some time before a nice evening hot spring?"

[bc56]

Reindeer Games
"I'm always up for a challenge," Jade answers. She reaches for one of the fake antler headbands. "So, are we considering built-in antlers an advantage or a handicap?" she jokes. She takes the bells in her free hand.

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

"Now, now, don't sell yourself short." Rein makes no apology for the pun, but also doesn't carry the smug look of someone who even realizes they made a pun to begin with. "I think you would look cute in an oversized witch hat, ears poking through as you stand on some boxes to stir a cauldron twice your size." It's quite an image Rein's considering. "But I get it. So is that a dream of yours? To be a mom some day?" Rein asks, head tilted with genuine curiosity as he tries to get a good read on not just whether Pyrhra wants to have children, but how badly and how many.

Sounds like a nifty potion. But any thoughts Rein has on it evaporate as he considers whether or not to clean Pyrhra's mustache with his own tongue. The bunny gets to it first, no doubt having seen the way Rein was staring at her lips. He chews on his lower lip in an effort to rein in his own passions, wishing they were some place even more private than this corner. "Oh now I'm the naughty one, am I? I still find it incredulous that you don't have a line of suitors waiting to woo you. You sure you aren't playing me and have a secret husband back home or something?" Rein asks teasingly, when the reverse could be just as likely. Sometimes you just gotta trust the good fortune.

Reinholdt ends up shaking his head. "Trog's isn't the seedy bar around here. That would be Black Dragon's Den. It's the place you go for all the... less than legitimate dealings. Sometimes they're so sketchy they have to pop underground for awhile and stay off the map. Still, I like it there." Rein looks almost apologetic for it, but quickly drowns that guilt with another swig of eggnog. He tries not to sweat too hard when Pyrhra suggests Truth or Dare. Goddesses below, that's just asking for a disaster. But it's also impossible to duck. It's a rule that anytime someone suggests Truth or Dare that Truth or Dare happens and anyone suggesting otherwise instantly becomes a shunned social coward. If he had a quick out maybe... but he doesn't. So Rein shifts his chair some to better face Pyrhra. "Well I hope you don't listen to my stories forever because only half of them are exciting. Alright, I don't have a better idea, so I'm in. Truth or Dare?" The challenger always has to take the first turn.

[Aurora Alchemi]

Reindeer Games

Reuma takes her own set of bells, as well as getting a little bit of a fake horn extension from Tuuli. Tuuli considers Jade's question. "Well, iffn' twer just me, Ah'd say it's sure fire an advantage, seein' as Ahm three deep on wins. But reuma here's got two left feet." "HEY!" Reuma jumps up and stamps a foot in mock anger, and spins her bells into place around a wrist. "You'll be singing a tune when you have nine bells hanging with your ornaments! Let's get them, Jade." Reuma takes a few paces out into open space, while Tuuli heads a little bit off in a slightly different direction. The pair wait for Jade to take a place out away from anything or anyone to trip over. "Alright, everyone ready?" Tuuli's voice carries, and it's clear they have been keeping it quiet while in close company. "3... 2... 1... GO!"

Warm Reprieve

Pyrhra considers the question, tapping her chin, then winks. "Well now dontsha think that's a silly question to ask a rabbit? Of course I'd like to have kids... a nice loving family to cook meals for, folks to bring friends home too. It'd be nice to have the chance to choose that, you know?" Pyrhra takes another long drink of the nog, frowning slightly. "Although, I'm not entirely sure about marriage... Itsh just a big commitment, ya know? Like saying you want the same desert the rest of your life. Sure, it might be your favorite desert, but the only one? Maybe that's my dirty laundry shpeaking though." The bunny taps the table with a peppermint stick.

Smiling at Rein's teasing question, Pyrhra shrugs her shoulders and plays it cool, even though the compliment brings a fresh blush to her face. "See, I told ya' I was damaged goods. Now you'll just have to wonder about that secret husband, heehe. Maybe I'm just out here to change up my desert~" Pyrhra gives a taunting wink. "It sounds like youi know where to find more jusht like me though, what with a bar like that, Hehehe." Pyrhra empties the mug after the faked laugh, trying to hide a streak of jealousy that crosses her face, seemingly at the thought of Rein hanging out with seedy barmaids and the like.

The look definitely has passed by the time that Rein agrees to the competition. Clapping her hands together in gentle excitement, Pyrhra gives an answer. "I shtart strong. Give me a dare... Butttt..." The bunny offers the empty tankard to Rein. "Tell me and then go fill our mugsh. I wanna stew on it a little." Pyrhra says the line with a voice that would send a shiver up a veteran's back, and while the ask seems to be a disadvantage for the meek girl, the way she leans her cheek on a hand to wait for Rein to fill the glasses couldn't have been any more like a predator's confidence if she was a dragoness sizing up a squire. "Of course, you could always back out if you are afraid of being beaten hic by a widdle bnuuy wabbit."

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

"Ah well, I didn't want to be too racist by presuming, you know?" Reinholdt says, smiling sheepishly and rubbing the back of his head. "But you're right. It sounds quite lovely. I hope to be so lucky myself some day." His smile falters a bit when Pyrhra brings up marriage. Not out of disappointment, but rather out of experience. "It's certainly a lot of risk tying yourself so thoroughly to one person. It's got to be... hmmm... wiser and healthier I think to be more open in relationships." He glances away from the rabbit. "I dunno. There are times when I think maybe it's better to not get involved with anyone at all. But that's such a boring, lonely existence." There are factors beyond broken hearts to consider. Lives for instance.

Bah. Rein doesn't want to think about the corpses of lovers past and quickly downs the last of his drink and looks back to Pyrhra unwilling to let the date become somber and dark. "Well if you're just here for a taste, I hope you find me palatable enough to come back for seconds," Rein decides. "But no, the bar's for other activities. And honestly, I prefer more depth to my relationships anyways. A real emotional connection is far more important than whatever a few drinks and some flash of leg is. Have I even picked up anyone at a bar?" Rein asks mostly to himself as he considers his past before concluding that it hasn't really been often at all. "Just once I think and it was more the other way around. A traveling artist wanted me to model for her." It got heated. Reinholdt really should probably stop talking about it altogether, but he naturally talks himself into trouble as easily as he talks himself out of it, especially when there's booze in his belly. So most of the time.

There's a moment where Reinholdt almost freezes up as the bunny successfully intimidates him. "H-hey, I can handle anything," he proclaims prematurely to protect his pride. He grabs ahold of her mug and his. "You won't see me backing out. Alright, I dare you to..." Rein trails off having not actually prepared his dare. He looks around, but doesn't see too much that gives him inspiration. Fortunately two ideas come to him and that second is definitely getting stored for later. "Dance in front of the fireplace with no music for five minutes." Dare delivered, he gives her one last challenging look before heading off to go get refills.

[Aurora Alchemi]

Warm Reprieve

Pyrhra had clearly thought of a few choice questions for Rein during his admission, but decided to save them for their game. After all, what's the fun in playing a game to lose? " A real emotional connection? That sounds like a tough thing to get sometimes... How do you know when you've got it? hic" The emerald eyes search Rein with curiosity, almost begging the question if this was a real emotional question. However, that question remains unasked.

"Ohoho~ Jusht have to ask your little bunny to dance? Alright.... I'll... indulge you." The reply to Rein's demand is low and smooth, almost silky in it's delivery, and the dulcet tones leave one thing clear.... By the time the cat had issued the dare, the bunny already knew how to twist it into a win for herself. Of course, it was Rein's own fault; he had specified where and how long, but had missed specifying what kind of dance. When Rein returned, the slightly tipsy bunny took the chance to draw a finger down his arm before pulling away the drink, taking a sip, then hopping to the floor from her perch.

As Pyrhra approached the fire, it was clear that while the drink was getting to her speech, she was still in complete control of her body. Well... except for the excited wiggle of her tail as she swayed toward the fire. Turning with an almost too high flourish of her dress, Pyrhra starts a dance that doesn't need any music, but also takes complete advantage of her figure; a slow, hypnotic belly dance. It's somewhere halfway between what you might imagine a snake flourishing in a threat display, and what a flight of fairies might do around a campfire to draw in the innocent. It shows an almost unnatural dexterity, at times flowing so well Pyrhra might as well not have had bones at all. And as it finally reaches it's end, it becomes clear that the target it intends to draw in isn't nearly so innocent this time. Finishing with a slow bend, halfway between a yoga pose and a bow, the limber bunny beckons with an outstretched hand, calling her partner in crime over as a finale. "Your turn, brave boy~ Truth... or Dare?"

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

"Hmm... sometimes you think you have it but you don't and sometimes you don't think you have it but you do? I'm not a love doctor, I don't know. But I think it's pretty obvious when there's sparks between a bunny and a treasure hunter. From there you just gotta gamble that the circuit completes and light is made, right?" Reinholdt shrugs a little, unable to really explain it further he thinks. At least not without a degree in philosophy and psychology, both of which sound like headaches in and of themselves.

Reinholdt winks at Pyrhra as she accepts the dare, keeping a calm and confident exterior, but a sinking feeling in his stomach suggests that maybe he's made a mistake. Yet another part of him thinks that this is exactly the kind of mistake he wants to be making. He ends hurrying back a little more quickly than is strictly necessary, almost spilling his drink on his own sweater, which would be a real tragedy. Setting both mugs down he gets back into his seat, turning it to watch the show.

And if he watched it any more closely, Rein's eyes might just pop out of his skull. Only when it ends does he remember to blink and his eyes burn a little from how dry they've gotten. Pyrhra was a sensual, swaying, seductress; undulating in ways that would counter charm all but the most powerful of fey. Rein doesn't recall getting out of his seat to take the bunnies proffered hand, but would do so again without hesitation, even if moving after that dance was a strenuous art form for him. "Ah, I, uh, wouldn't want to show up such a grand display so quickly, so Truth for me I think."

[Aurora Alchemi]

Warm Reprieve

Holding Rein's hand, Pyrhra leads him back to the table, gently reaching up to grab her drink, but not taking a seat again, at least not just yet. Sipping for a moment, she makes a show of thinking, at the same time gently pushing Rein toward his own chair. "Truth huh? Well, I wouldn't want to reveal my treasure hunter's secrets out to the whole party, so I guess... hic that I'll just have to sit on your knee for a bit." And sit on his knee she did; in a surprising amount of acrobatics, considering that the rabbit has one hand full of eggnog, and the other full of Rein's hand, Pyrhra manages to tug herself up to the very end of Rein's knee.

For a moment, Pyrhra looks away, whispering seemingly to the fire, which reflects and glitters in her bright green eyes. "Say we do... make the circuit complete... How upset would you be if I still had bits I hadta hide from you... at leasht for a while?" The emeralds search the flickers in the firelight, then she shakes her head. "N-Never mind, I take it back! What was the besht thing you ever found on a treashure hunt?" The bunny looks up to Rein's face, a flash of tipsy half anger... not at Rein, but maybe at herself? It was almost cute, in a very... 'It's not like I like you or anything' kind of way.

Sipping once more at the eggnog, she places the mug on the table next to his. Truth for me this time... I don't know if I can turn another dare back on you again, heheh.." This time the laugh is a little more nervous, as if admitting that maybe she really hadn't planned beyond the initial shock factor. A crack in the tipsy bunny's armor, perhaps?

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

There's a brief bout of confusion as Pyrhra doesn't take her seat nor ask to be lifted back, but Rein's not really the type to concern himself about things too much. It all becomes clear once he's seated anyways and while he holds the bunny's hand with his own, his free hand takes to supporting her back, wrapped around to her waist so that she doesn't fall off. Yes, that is the reason and there is certainly no other reason. It does mean less drinking for him, but he'll find some way to manage. He has a lot on his mind already after all.

Reinholdt doesn't even let her get away with trying to withdraw her question as he leans in to whisper into Pyrhra's ear. He's almost certainly just looking for an excuse to do that as often as possible because her ears are adorable and he wants to do all sorts of unsavory things to them. "We all have our secrets. I won't pry for yours." That's certainly a tall claim from someone as curious and meddling as he's been known to be. Still, his pink eyes flick down and he gives a gentle smile before continuing on with the challenge, leaning away from her ears a bit so he can speak in more animated tones.

"Gosh, I don't even know. There's been so many memorable ones. The spaceship core's the most recent. There's the lightsaber chainsaw featuring zombie Waldo. The most powerful was definitely the Watch of Time at the top of puzzle tower. But I still think my favorite would have to be the Brightheart." Reinholdt finally settles on. His hands can't expressively gesticulate at the moment so his voice has to carry the weight of the excitement for him. "I was hired by a sentient book to go get that one and had to infiltrate a paladin's fortress to steal it, pretend to be a fire breathing dragon, and then use a time traveling phone booth to keep my employer from reneging on the payment. It was an orb of pure positive energy. Like, you couldn't even directly touch it or it would kill you with cancer level stuff. Pretty interesting and honestly... I kinda just liked the name." Not enough treasures have cool names.

Now it's time to turn the tables once more! "Truth. Ok, well..." Rein just promised not to dig into her secrets too badly, so he'd better live up to it here, huh? Right, nothing too deep then. "What was your dream as a kid? Like dream job or whatever." Maybe it wasn't a job. Maybe it was just flying to the moon and meeting the aliens on it.

Knowing what's coming next, Rein has to let the bunny's hand go for a second because he needs a drink of his own. Going sober for six whole minutes has just been too long. "I like mixing things up. Hit me with a dare."

[Aurora Alchemi]

Warm Reprieve

Pyrhra doesn't seem to respond to the whisper in her ear, although the shimmer of her eyes moving shows she clearly heard. Instead, she settles into sipping at her mug, nursing it while Rein holds her gentle and accolades her with stories. And yet... The whole time he speaks, those little gems slowly move, first to his hand, then to his arm, wrapped so warmly, then finally onto his face, searching... searching... but looking for what? Pyrhra's face held no answers; the blush might well be from their growing tipsiness, and it remained blank otherwise. She did nod along to his stories, however, staying engaged.

Once the boisterous monologue finishes, the trance snaps, and Pyrhra smiles and giggles once more. "Hehe, you like names huh? I wonder how you like mine~ A-although... I never really understood why I wash named after a sacred fire, I've alwaysh been timid." Indeed, she did seem to be receding now, half snuggled against the arm, and now that her hand was free from his, gently gripping at the corner of his sweater. However, in the flicker and flash of the firelight, the copper red of her fur shines and sparkles as the deeper ruby tones of her wavy hair brush over it, and give a fair hint as to why that name might have happened.

Finally, it's time for her to answer. For such a simple, easy question, it seems to cause turmoil on her face for a bit, but the bunny starts with a quiet tone. "I wanted to make magic items..." Then the bunny blinks, getting a stare that seems four thousand miles, or maybe four thousand years away, color draining from their face. Quickly, the flush returns, and the bunny contradicts themselves. I-i mean I wanted to be a writer! J-just being able to write stories of people like y-you, while living at home with my family." There is a small gulp, and as if to distract, the bunny gently scoots closer on Rein's leg, leaning harder on the arm he holds around her.""What a stupid queshtion. hic A dare, huh?"

Pyrhra pauses for a moment, searching Rein's face once more. "Fine then, an easy one, s-shince you gave me shutch an easy truth! The bunny slowly pulls her long white glove off, revealing the soft skin of her hand, and the well manicured fingers. "I dare you to take my hand, a-and worship it like you would a goddess! Then after that, yoush can give me my own dare!" The bunny is clearly trying to get back in the dominant seat of the game after that truth; but will Rein let her?

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

Reinholdt looks down at Pyrhra with a raised eyebrow of disbelief. "Yeah, I'm not going to lie, you don't seem timid in the least to me. Or maybe I just draw out the best in you hmm?" His arm seems to curl around her more as she settles into a warm cuddling of his body. "Anyways, I like your name. It's very unique. Matches your fur. It's one of the better names out there, that's fur sure." Rein tries not to grin too hard.

A grin that fades into the slightest of frowns and head tilts as Pyrhra appears anguished about something. Making magic items in particular. She feeds him a line about wanting to be a writer afterwards, but he suspects the truth leans more towards the former. Sure she probably did want to be a writer too. When you're a kid, sometimes you have lots of dreams. But making magic items had to have been that one real raw desire that... fell apart for some reason. Perhaps she was told she couldn't so decided to want to be a writer instead. Rein's species has difficulty with magic so maybe Pyrhra has a similar problem, though why she would feel the need to cover that up Rein can only guess. Maybe she needs to make sure the info doesn't get back to Ukry?

"Those are two very different things," Rein says quietly before moving on and not pressing. "Well, maybe you can yet write surrounded by family. I wouldn't write about me though! Someone already stole all my escapades and turned them into some sort of pulp fiction series. Stupid fox..." Some day he'll force the fox to pay him royalties.

Until then, Rein raises his eyebrow. Oh she was going to go easy on him was she? His mouth curls up into a smirk. "Your divine highness..." Rein says, his voice dropping low as he gingerly takes her hand into his and leans forward to start with a light kiss upon the back of her hand. And another. His thumb slowly trails down to her knuckles, then tracing the length of her fingers. His breathy whispers rolls hot along her skin. "Immaculate as always, skin as fair as porcelain and soft as a feather." He separates the fingers gently and just barely grazes his lips on their tips. "If I have ever seen such beauty before I know not where, nor would I care to know. The majestic sun can only broil in jealousy of such sublime fingers." Carefully he turns her hand over and draws it up to his face so that he may lean into it, nuzzling the whole as it cups his face. His eyes turn from the hand to Pyrhra's, intent on catching her gaze and holding it trapped. "I can only pray that I might be permitted to feel such seraphic wonder every day from here on."

Reinholdt almost seems done, but he has one last move to make while her hand is held to his face and he has the full attention of her gem-like eyes. "I dare you to have my baby."

[Aurora Alchemi]

Warm Reprieve

Rein sets the trap masterfully, and already wobbling and off guard.... Pyrhra falls straight into it. Pleased with the performance of her dare, the little bunny's composure continues to increase and grow more confident as the cat ministrates to her fingers, but it only serves to draw the bunny in closer and closer to the predator preparing to receive her. He bids her stare through his actions, and stare the girl does, emerald eyes wide, meeting and holding his own. It is then that his low voice comes let fly an arrow of words that seems to physically pierce the little girl.

"Oh..." comes the response, like the dying breath of a bird clipped out of the air by a rock. Pyrhra freezes, from her head, all the way to her feet, even her tail stopping, for one... two... twenty heartbeats. Then, slowly, numbly, she falls forward on Rein's knee, arms wrapping gently around his neck, drawing her into his embrace fully. The response is a breathless whisper, barely eking out from the bunny's lips as draws in to his own lips. "_{Y-yeah, o-ok...}"

Finally, the gems blink out, trapped behind eye shadow and closed lids, as the soft, sweet taste of the bunny's lips lock with Rein's. How long did she stay like that? The dregs of what claimed to be Pyrhra lost track. Seconds, days, minutes, ages.... Who knew? Who cared? Finally, the moment broke, and the little bunny seemed to remain shattered in the ashes of her confidence. "_{I-i think i should like to see t-that hot spring n-now, i-if that's o-ok with you...}" The voice is small and meek, ripped raw and weak with emotion.

[Shadowcaller]

[Thank Amassing Aegis]

"The potential for the Dragons' blessing is hereditary, passed on from parent to child. The strongest bloodlines are those of the Great Houses of the Scarlet Empire," Calm Reed clarifies. It's been a while since she met anyone this curious about it. "So we do, in a very real way, carry the blood of the Dragons. Our Exaltation grants us power over the elements, as well as superhuman skills and aptitudes. We can go beyond mortal limits in anything we put our mind to. I'm a martial artist, but also an occultist, investigator and scholar, as a monk must be."

[Thank Amassing Aegis]

"'Must be'?" Ambrosia snaps up Calm Reeds final words and formulates them into a question. "Since I too, if it wasn't already obvious, carry something of a dragon with me." She gestures at her own horns. "But while I too have had expectations placed on me they have never been that specific. Just what exactly are you meant to investigate? Simply general crime?"

[A Very Beary Thankmas to All]

A bear comes rushing through the snow wearing a pair of antler horns.

It comes through the gate and only stops as it reaches the middle of the courtyard to look around.

Man, this place looked awesome!

[Deathkeeper]

A Very Beary Thanksmas

Aran is also distracted by looking around at all the festivities and bumps into the bear.
”Oh, sorry Thanksmas Bear. Wasn’t looking.”
He grins looking at the bear’s costume.
”Heh. You know, I was a bear once.” You’d think someone who was a talking bear for at least a minute wouldn’t talk to a bear like this as if they were a lost pet. But Skyside doesn’t have a lot of talking animals.

[bc56]

Reindeer Games
"Two-on-one's not really fair, is it?" Jade jokes as she slings a bell underhanded at Tuuli's antlers. "Of course, life isn't usually fair." She readies herself for an inevitable counterattack.

[Reinholdt]

[Warm Reprieve]

Reinholdt knew he was swinging hard while Pyrhra was off balance, so her stunned state was to be expected. It was what came after that was uncertain. Rein put his odds of getting slapped hard at about fifty percent and a polite deferral at maybe twenty percent. Still good odds and you don't become a treasure hunter without learning how to gamble with your health and life. Oh wait, he was gambling with more than that wasn't he? If Pyrhra ever became really[ offended, she had a witch's coven to back her up and curse Rein with a thousand joint aches, blindness, or Magtok-pattern baldness. Maybe Rein should play the I'm just kidding card now while he can still pretend it's tr-

Those thoughts dissipate into entirely different thoughts as Pyrhra agrees and seals the deal with a deeply satisfying kiss. Her mouth draws Rein into a world belonging only to him, her, and each other as he closes his eyes and focuses entirely on the passion passing through those soft lips. Only when the need to breathe truly demanded his attention does the feeling end and Rein's eyes open once more to see the beautiful bunny before him, broken and yearning.

"Yeah... Yeah." In one smooth motion, Rein stands, scooping Pyrhra into both arms in the process. He carries her in this bridal position as he exits the dining area with all the speed of a man with a mission. He manages to drop a hefty bag of gold into the kobold's hands as he passes by to cover having a plus one and extend their time considerably as they duck behind the private hot springs curtain.

[Aurora Alchemi]

Reindeer Games

"Oh, Ah don't know about that~" The moose winks as they stand still, the bell spinning and jingling a little as it falls into place on an antler. A freebee, perhaps? Reuma tenses and starts to dash to the side right as she realizes what Tuuli has planned. Taking several steps forward, Tuuli flicks two bells at each of the ladies, the bells arching magnificently with just a hair of spin on them... Except that they are nearly perfectly aimed for where the two are heading. Did Tuuli even look at where they were throwing? "Oh noo!" Reuma gives a wail as bell rings home, and returns by throwing two, each of which land several feet behind Tuuli in the snow. "Blast it all!" Tuuli begins circling toward the fox, chortling as they plow through the snow in a brilliant white puff.

[Morty]

[Thank Amassing Aegis]

Calm Reed shakes her head.

"I am a monk and a Dragon-Blooded, but they are not the same. Dragon-Blooded can pursue any vocation they wish. Monks fulfil a specific role and many... most, in fact... are mortal. Our task is to enforce the tenets of our faith and social order. This requires us to be able to root out heresy and sift out truth from lies." She glances over at Ambrosia's horns. "I did notice, but... there is a staggering variety of people in the Nexus. It is hard to make assumptions. And we Dragon-Blooded do not grow horns."

[Not Fayyaad]

Michalson's first reflex is to try to suppress whatever Braon is doing. But it's unfamiliar magic. Who knows how it would react to the Rites? Besides, he really shouldn't be using them to make a point. Least of all in a place of celebration. Instead he just pokes at the slug with his finger.

"Turn a drink into a slug? Aye, got to admit it's a new one. What part of yourself went into it?"

[Ironsmith]

[Not Fayyaad]

"What did she put in me? What did she put in me?!" The slug begins, growing an orbular head and bubbling out a mouth so it can make this declaration. "She... I... huh." It blinks a pair of newly-formed eyestalks and looks over at her creator. "What did you put in me?"

"Nothing much, just some mommy issues." Braon shrugs. "Now hush. Grown-ups are talking."

The slug falls silent and curls up on Michalson's shoulder, staring at him unblinkingly with its beady little eyes. It might be cute if it weren't so gross.

[bc56]

Reindeer Games
Jade, currently, is not moving at all, making her an easy target... Or so it would seem, because as the bell is thrown towards her, she jumps up into the air and swats at it with her hand, knocking it off course. "Is that your best shot?" she doesn't throw yet. Better to defend and wait for an opening.

[Meowmai]

[Angelic Arrival]

The sound of wingbeats can be heard, and they come bearing a newcomer to the festive party. Atsede lands before the fort, her four white wings folding against her back as she strode forwards. The 15 year old had dark skin, short blue hair, and piercing blue eyes, and a smug grin decorated her face. Her outfit was quite casual- some boots, a pair of distressed jeans, and a shirt hidden by the warm black hoodie she was wearing to keep warm.

As she made her way into the courtyard, she withdrew from her bag a spraycan of paint, giving it a good old shake as her eyes began searching for a good wall to vandalise and-

Oh. Nevermind.

Seeing the big ol' dragon upon the throne she suddenly decided that maybe this wasn't the best place to graffiti for fun. She would have to find somewhere else. Somewhere that... yknow, wasn't swarming with people and a great big dragon. Somewhere a bit safer. Hastily shoving the spraycan back into her back with a nervous and guilty look, Atsede began looking for something else to do. She had snuck out and flown all the way here to have a good time, so while she had gotten cold feet with her initial plans there had to be something around here she could have fun doing.

[Aurora Alchemi]

Reindeer Games

"Oh noo.. I'm gonna get creamed!" Reuma gives a dejected cry, then dashes over to grab her lost bells, taking a long slide through the snow so that she didn't have to slow down. Bells in hand, hazel eyes flicked over to watch for an opening.

Tuuli on the other hand, watches the bell get smacked out of the air, and it seems to light a fire in their emerald eyes. The great moose dashes in and scoops the bell off the ground, moving at a speed that something as large as they were seemingly shouldn't be able to. "Not even close, lil' ma'am." With a wide leg sweep, the moose pushes a snow plow's worth of powder in a wave towards Jade, only to crash through a moment later in a barreling dash that comes with three bells, all tossed at different angles as they passed.

[Felandria]

Spoiler

Show

[Avalanche]

Guess the easy to miss Reginald got missed by the slime girl or maybe she thought he will eat the defenseless lizard? Nah Thanksmas is all about sharing and presents and snow. SO MUCH snow. Indeed so much that Reginald would not be able to pull out the little lizard in the first place. The snow is now at men heigth what it wasn't just a moment ago, but the preasure it does on the little stuff animal is enougth to trap him.
Lucky for Reginald the slime girl comes over and helps pushing snow away. So now the half green, half blue stuffed animal lizard hangs down reginalds mouth and when poked just drops coins on the ground. It is noticable that the lizard is freezing. A scarf still lays in the hole he was and the coins he drops seem to have the stuff anyimals face.
"W...Ww..wa....r.......m.........t" he just says between two pokes.

Reginald will turn around and gently place Mr. C inside the sleigh, which just so happens to have built in seat warmers and a tiny blanket inside that he will put onto Mr. C.

He looks up at the slimegirl and chitters happily.

[bc56]

Reindeer Games
"Good! I'd hate for this to be too easy!" The spray of snow distracts Jade for a moment, but there's no way Tuuli can accurately sling three bells with two hands while charging like a moose, right?
Either way, Jade doesn't intend to just stand there. She uses the cloud of snow to her advantage to slip sideways away from Tuuli and get her back up against a dead tree. She reaches up and tugs on the large branch just above her head.