Winter Wonderland (I Wonder Why I Put UP With It)

[Darastrix]

"ColdcoldcoldCOLD...."

Zack liked winter. He really did. It was the season of Efilive, which was tied with Sinfest as the bard's favourite holiday. Zira's birthday was smack in the middle of winter, and he always liked dragging the younger man to have a little fun on that day. Plus, with his and Zira's new relationship, all of his favourite holidays (and ordinary days) felt a little more special. He even liked snow. It was pretty, and it was fun. In fact, he'd just finished a snowball fight with the temple orphans.

What he did NOT like, however, was the fact that to HAVE snow, it had to be really damn COLD. He could stand the cold if he was out playing in it or had some other distraction, but when it came to just running from one place to another, it was a huge pain in the ass. He might not have been from Naurorod, but he had enough of his father in him to prefer spending his winters in front of a roaring fire.

"Wonder if Az' would like to visit Fira for Efilive," he muttered to himself, then swore are he nearly slid on a patch of ice.

[Kender Bard]

"Careful!" a cheerful female voice laughed and caught him by the arm. A pale woman with hair so blonde it bordered on white stood next to him, tall and pretty. She was dressed warmly in white woolen garments and her face was partially veiled behind an equally white scarf. It was a wonder she didn't disappear into the snowy landscape. "Isn't this a lovely season?"

A man stood slightly apart from her, bundled up in a strange array of warm winter clothing. He seemed to be primarily in black, red, and green hues. "If you enjoy sucking on phallic shaped frozen water."

The woman turned and hit him on the shoulder. It seemed from her eyes that she'd enjoy to do more than that. "Please disregard my brother, he's a bit crazy."

"Please disregard my sister, she's a bit uptight," the man happily replied.

[Darastrix]

Zack chuckled good-naturedly and bowed. "I thank you for the rescue, Lovely," he said with a charming smile. "But I think I'd enjoy the season a bit more if it was at least a little warmer. Love the snow, hate the cold." He shrugged. "What can you do?"

[Kender Bard]

"Set the snow on fire," the man suggested.

The woman shook her head and then smiled. "Ah so I'm lovely am I? Thank you. You're quite the handsome man yourself." She giggled slightly. "Where are you off to?"

[Darastrix]

"Then it'd melt," Zack replied to the man with a laugh. To the lady, he said, "I'm on my way home, actually. Spent the afternoon freezing myself to the bone throwing snowballs with the kids and now I'm ready to settle myself in front of a nice hot fire, if I don't break my neck on the ice first. Where are you good folks off to on this frosty afternoon?"

On his way home he may have been, but Zack wasn't one to pass up an opportunity to chat with someone. Especially a pretty young woman, even if her brother was present.

[Kender Bard]

"Ah to the temple," the woman replied looking at Zack compassionately. "You are so very sweet! You must be the man who is playing with the orphans. Such a great heart you must have. You know, those children must regard you as one of the kindest figures in their poor little lives. If only someone could repay you somehow." She smiled and leaned forward, kissing him on the forehead abruptly. "Well, that will have to do!"

"Put snow in the fireplace," the man suggested idly.

[Darastrix]

Zack blinked in surprise, then smiled widely as he attempted to reciprocate with a kiss to the back of her hand. "It's my pleasure, Lovely; I love those kids. But I dare say that will keep me warm until I make it home."

[Kender Bard]

"Good," she laughed and brushed his cheek with her fingertips gently. "Come brother!"

He gave her a lewd look and she peered back at him, grabbing him by the wrist and hauling him away.

Over his shoulder, the man shouted at Zack, "Make a snow-volcano!"

[Darastrix]

Zack laughed and called back, "I'll do that with the kids tomorrow. One of the priests is bound to be a Fire!" Still chuckling, the bard made his way back to the (nice, WARM) palace, wondering if Twi would be up for a few drinks in front of the fire.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight was lounging about, feeling languid from the warmth of the castle's fires. He wasn't particular to heat or cold, just so long as he was comfortable. Spotting Zack he stretched and sat up a bit more. "How are you doing, Zack?"

[Darastrix]

"Chilled to the bone," Zack replied, tugging off his wet gloves to blow on his hands. "And I think my feet have turned to blocks of ice."

Stepping in front of the fireplace, he fanned out his wings and held his hands as close to the blaze as he dared for a moment before turning around to let the fire warm his back. "I can't wait for spring. What do we have on hand to help thaw a man from the inside out, Twi?" Zack asked his friend, running a hand back through his damp hair.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight blinked and peered a little closer. "You okay? It looks like you have a mark..." He stood up and walked closer, thinking Zack had gashed his forehead on accident but then he blinked and rubbed his eyes. "You didn't always have a sign there right?" Twilight asked, pointing.

[Darastrix]

Zack blinked and crossed his eyes, as though that would help him see what Twilight was pointing at. "I don't have a sign there," he said slowly, wondering if Twilight wasn't already a bit buzzed. "My signs are here," he tapped the Wind sign on his left cheek, "and here," he finished, showing his right palm.

After a moment's puzzlement, he snapped his fingers. "It must be lip rouge. I met a woman and her brother on my way back. She thought it was sweet that I spend time with the orphan kids and gave me a kiss in thanks." Zack grinned a bit in memory. "Lovely woman, too. Actually, her height and colour reminded me a bit of Lady Fell."

[Kender Bard]

"No, it's clearly a Wind sign," Twilight said and took Zack's right hand. "Feel it." He pressed the sign on that palm to the sign on his Forehead so he could feel the faint stirring of energy of signs brought together.

[Darastrix]

Zack's amused expression faded as he felt the familiar whisper of power. There was no way that could be faked. He blinked rapidly and pulled his hand away to stare at the sign he knew was there.

"But that's not...I don't have...." Zack trailed off and touched his palm to his forehead again. The sensation was still there, still unmistakable. The woman. Her brother. His eyes widened. "That's right where she kissed me. But...national leaders are three-signers, not common court bards." He looked at Twilight in bewilderment.