A Spot of Hogswatch Trouble, Pt. 2

[scots_wolf]

[[from here]]

The next morning, Urquhart awakes to fine bed-linen and the unique shade of cool bright light that promises a sunny, snowy day outside.

He lifts his head, pulling his long blond hair free from the pillow where it had remained as it was, tangled from last night, while he'd been sleeping.

Comments

[morethanprops]

Moist is still asleep and rather tangled in the sheets, witches keep chasing him through his dreams.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart, propped up on his elbow, reaches out to touch Moist's face.

He likes the rough edges that he sometimes shows, sticking out from under the smooth polished exterior of the professional charmer. The broad pouty lower lip. The angular wrists, and the strength of his hands. The hint of stubble on his jaw, the tousled hair, the drifts of down on his arms, chest, belly.

His fingers slowly, gently follow where his eyes are trailing.

[morethanprops]

He twitches at the touch and mutters something in Uberwaldian, trying to find his way out.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart strokes his chest. "Hello Alfred," he murmurs. "It's me. Wake up!"

[morethanprops]

Moist finally wakes up and his accent is stronger as he says,

"Mm, morning."

[scots_wolf]

"Morning, you," Urquhart says, leaning over him to kiss him. "We have whisky to sell and a ball to go to, but first, I think, a bath and some breakfast."

[morethanprops]

"Oh yes, ladies to charm and men to bargain with. I've heard the ham from this area is quite good."

[scots_wolf]

"Ham sandwiches for breakfast?" Urquhart suggested.

[morethanprops]

"With fresh eggs and good coffee along with some nice gossip. I'm going to take a bath, you order and charm those maids again."

[scots_wolf]

"I need a bath as well," Urquhart says. "I still have tiny, tiny bits of Alfred on me in some places."

[morethanprops]

"Then clearly we'll have to have a bath together before we face the world."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart kisses him again, then gets up and walks over to the windows, opening the curtains a crack.

Snowy morning light spills in.

"I'll draw us a bath," he says, walking over to the bathroom, which sports a claw-footed bathtub of epic proportions. He is all broad and strong and naked, hairy all over, and shimmering softly golden in the ray of light.

[morethanprops]

Moist comes up behind him and leans on his back before he runs the bath,

"I love a fresh snowfall. It always seems hopeful."

[morethanprops]

Later in the day, Moist enters the main room of the inn with a few bags and a dusting of snow on his wool overcoat.

The patrons watch him since he seems have an almost smile on his face, but the pout that hides it makes it hard to know for sure.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart is in the kitchen, baking stollen with the cooks clustering round and a kitchen boy taking notes.

The maid that had been serving breakfast earlier approaches him with a winsome smile. "Good afternoon, sir! Would you like some late lunch?"

[morethanprops]

He gives her a nervous smile,

"Yes, yes, bring it by the fire. Is my man around here?"

[scots_wolf]

"Oh, Hamish?" she says. "Wine? Cider? Ale? Hamish is in the kitchen, doing things with the cooks."

[morethanprops]

Once he's found a seat as close to the fire as possible, he sits down,

"Wine, your finest mind and tell him to not spend all his time back there."

[scots_wolf]

She serves him a very good, crisp white wine, bending over his table as she does so; then, she saucily flounces off towards the kitchen to fetch 'Hamish'.

"He's very busy," she says when she returns after a short moment.

[morethanprops]

Moist makes a sound that could almost be a grump and starts on his wine,

"Then just bring my lunch. He always talks too much."

[scots_wolf]

She hurries to comply, and returns with a tray bearing a soup, a salad, and fresh bread with a lavish butter dish.

[morethanprops]

"Good, good,"

He looks down and starts eating, warily looking over all the patrons. Apparently shopping is quite tiring.

[scots_wolf]

He gets a lot of glances; apparently, his remark about looking for a wife has made the rounds already.

[morethanprops]

An older woman comes up to him and gives him a long look, she's wearing the hat of her office and Moist visibly blanches,

"Don't you cause any trouble here for a girls, young man."

"Yes, ma'am, I won't do that."

She nods and walks away and now the covert stares just grow.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart is leaning in the kitchen door, smirking. His sleeves are rolled up, his arms are dusted with flour, and he has two chatting maids leaning in his side and over his shoulder.

But when the witch passes, he bows his head, and the maids curtsey very politely.