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.

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[scots_wolf]

"To the town hall," Urquhart says. "You were out shopping earlier. Didn't you see it? Big stone building on the town square, with a clock tower and lots of festive lights."

[morethanprops]

"Oh yes, there, this does seem to be the thing. I don't remember how many women I promised to dance with their daughters."

[scots_wolf]

"Do you remember that dancing is supposed to be fun?" Urquhart says, with a dramatic sigh.

The maids working in the main public room of the inn giggle and grin at 'Hamish'. He bows to all of them, then opens the front door for his 'master'.

Outside, it is dark and snowy.

[morethanprops]

Moist pulls up the collar of his overcoat,

"Yes, yes, I do know that."

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart follows him outside, through the snowy streets and finally across the square. Instead of keeping to the lanes of footprints, Urquhart makes his way straight across the pristine white in the middle, fresh snow flecking his shoulders and the hem of his cloak.

[morethanprops]

With a sigh, Moist trudges after him, seeming to hide behind his bulk through he's not that much shorter.

Faces peek out at them and in front of the town hall, carriages pull up depositing elegantly dressed men and women.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart actually catches a woman who was slipping in the snow as she was getting out of her carriage, putting her back on her feet with a reassuring chuckle.

[morethanprops]

Moist goes inside and hands off his overcoat before looking around.

A group of older women and men descend on him and soon he's in the midst of dancing with a pout that sometimes is almost a smile.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart leans against a pillar near the bar serving the refreshments. He's sought out by maids interested in his person, and men who have heard rumours about that whisky from his home valley. He dispenses tiny dollops from his flask into eagerly proffered glasses, and can't promise to anybody that he'll be able to pinch his master's last remaining bottle without that being noticed.

At this rate, they will really run out before every interested person walks away with a bottle of which he'll think it's the only one.

[morethanprops]

Luckily the punch is generous on the liquor so most people are paying that much attention.

As the clocks start ringing midnight, Moist makes his way over to Urquhart looking rather put upon and his hair is slightly mussed,

"I want to sleep so we are going to leave now. I've said goodbye to everybody and my feet hurt."

[scots_wolf]

"But..." Urquhart says, rolling his eyes.

He lets go of the girl that had attached herself to him, and follows Moist outside.

[morethanprops]

"Oh, I'm sure you can find her later just move,"

He gets his overcoat and sighs at the revels behind them that are getting wilder. Then goes out into the cold, Urquhart might catch the glimpse of a satisfied smile before he turns towards the inn.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart follows him, dark and tall and broad in the snow. People are partying and toasting each other and cheering, but when they pass through a lonely alley, Urquhart pulls Moist into a dark corner, and closes his black cloak around them both, turning them almost invisible before kissing Moist.

No, this couldn't wait until the inn.

"I like your world," he says.

[morethanprops]

The kiss is a wonderful surprise and Moist kisses back before saying,

"Good. Tomorrow afternoon we can leave with a fine profit and few suspicions."

[scots_wolf]

"And having had lots of fun," Urquhart says, "while not killing a single person. I didn't even shoot a single bolt! But I think I'm getting the hang of this."

And he kisses Moist again, safely hidden by the shadows, as voices sing and cheer in the far background, and the snow keeps falling.