Mini Event! the spider and the mistletoe

[nopattythepider]

Across the Keep runs a rather large spider, scampering from building to building, room to room and carrying with him a decent sized branch of mistletoe. One might catch him skittering up a wall to build a web above a doorway, or stringing mistletoe up from various points on the ceiling.

He doesn't linger in any particular place for too long, save

Comments

[helluvachin]

No more strange evil darkness meant no more reason to stay hidden in the stables. As much as he enjoyed spending time with Abeni he really wanted to move around. Sitting in one spot for that long without doing anything was really starting to make him antsy. Before he made a beeline for his forge though, he was going to head to the kitchens for something to eat.

[rosesandlimes]

Having been more than a little stir crazy through the persistent darkness, Iriel was just as anxious to give the Keep a good once-over. She was just passing by the kitchens when she caught sight of Zachariah, and jogged toward him a bit to catch up.

"Hey! Mouse!"

[helluvachin]

Zachariah gave an audible groan at his callsign. Still, he was happy to hear Iriel and know that she was safe. As capable as she was he was still worried about her. They had never faced anything like that strange darkness before.

He turned around and grinned at her. "Hey there Peaches."

Call him his embarrassing and he'll call her hers.

[rosesandlimes]

The difference was that hers wasn't embarrassing. She came to a stop and punched him lightly, affectionately, in the shoulder.

"Where are you off to?" she asked.

[helluvachin]

There were still a few others that he had in his pocket. He chuckled and rubbed his shoulder though punch didn't hurt at all.

"Looking for food. Something that's not bread or jerky." In fact he's got a real craving for pasta right now. It was a shame that Fiel wasn't here or this wouldn't be a problem.

[rosesandlimes]

It was then that she noticed the mistletoe over Zachariah's head. She'd seen it around the place, but not while anyone else was around to take advantage of the opportunities. Riah wasn't the first person she'd hope to run into, but considering all things, the idea of kissing him certainly wasn't something she was opposed to.

She gave him a wide grin and in the spirit of the holiday, pointed to the sprig overhead.

"Thing we should do something about that first?"

[helluvachin]

Zachariah looked up at the plant and then back at Iriel and then at the plant again.

"Uh, should we take it down." Guess who missed Joe's post about the little sprigs.

[rosesandlimes]

"Come on, you're more fun than that, aren't you?" she asked. "It may not be our holiday tradition but loosen up. Live a little more, hm?"

And that was when Iriel pushed him by the shoulders against the nearest wall and leaned up on tip-toes to press her lips to his. And hey, if he didn't push her away she'd make it worth his while. After all, when was the last time Zachariah got any action?

[helluvachin]

"Wha-"

He didn't even get a word out before he was against the wall with Iriel's lips to his. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head and if he wasn't currently locking lips with one of his best friends he jaw would have dropped. Though he didn't push her away, mostly because his brain had shut off entirely.

[rosesandlimes]

Oh good. She could feel him tense, sense his shock, but he wasn't pushing her away.

Awesome.

Now she just needed to keep with the kissing and hope his brain booted up and had him kissing her back. It was like a delayed Christmas present! Not that they really had Christmas, but still! It was the principle or something.

[helluvachin]

After a second his brain finally did boot up. This was...well it was amazing. It had been years since anyone had ever kissed him like this. Yet, at the same time, this didn't feel right either. They were friends, best friends, and he knew Iriel was a little promiscuous but she never showed any of that interest in him. The last thing he wanted to do was lose that friendship and make things awkward between them.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, Zachariah slowly pushed her away. He stared wide-eyed at her like he couldn't believe what just happened before looking down at the floor to catch his breath.

"Wha...what was that?"

[rosesandlimes]

She laughed. She couldn't help it. The look on his face was so shocked and bewildered, and slightly panicked. Iriel let him push her away, though there was a wide smile on her face as she cocked one hip to the side. While patting his shoulder with one hand, she pointed up to the mistletoe with the other.

"Didn't you hear? It's a tradition. You get caught under that leafy stuff and it's a holiday thing to kiss," she explained with a twinkle in her eye. "Happy holidays, Riah."

[helluvachin]

Zachariah starred at her again. All that turmoil and conflict and confusion because of a stupid plant? So all of this meant nothing then? Of fucking course, and now Zachariah felt like the biggest damn idiot in the keep.

He turned his head up to glare at the plant. "Yeah, happy holidays Iriel."

Plants suck.

[rosesandlimes]

Hey now. That's not the look she wanted on his face. Iriel huffed and leaned in once more.

She planted another kiss on his lips, slid her tongue lightly between his and drew away with a nip at his lower lip.

"Don't pout. That one was from me just because," she added with a wink. "This is a hell of a place so we might as well grab a little happiness where we can find it yeah?"

[helluvachin]

And then all those strange feelings and emotions came back in full force. Did she just slip him some tongue? That was...wow.

Zachariah's face was entirely red. One could almost see the smoke pouring out of his ears.

"O-o-okay y-yeah," he finally managed to stammer out.

This was all so much easier when he could blame the plant.

[rosesandlimes]

His reactions were adorable. The blush. The stammer. Oh Riah. She reached up and patted his cheek with a grin.

"As you were, soldier," she said with a wink, and wandered away in the direction she had been going, all as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened between them.