☩Light one candle to find us together☩

[magicalskeptic]

Unlike the opening of the Wayfaring Mare, there are few external decorations for this particular party.  The hostesses doubt, given the temperature and cooperation of the weather to participate with the colour scheme, anyone will want to spend much time outside.  Another difference is that the doors to the upstairs have been pulled shut and locked

Comments

[crophisownrose]

Sagramore is actually well enough to be back on his feet, his injuries little more than shallow, nearly-scarred furrows, and he's wearing the clothes Laura made him. He hasn't been drinking for a month, although he might to-night since it's a special occasion, but the fact is he looks healthy and well, and he probably annoyed the hell out of Morgana by making her help him trim his beard to exactly the right length and then fidgeting the whole time she was doing it.

Anyway, he is here, standing, sober, and ready to be as charming as necessary (and sort of hoping against hope that Mordred will show).

[magicalskeptic]

Morgana would prefer if a special occasion for Sagramore means he will spend the entire evening sober. As for making sure he looked acceptable for the evening, Morgana was less annoyed and more, insistent he stay still. There may or may not have been a light swat involved, like she would with Arthur when she was much younger, when he got too fidgety.

Still, when he arrives at the main house, Morgana greets him as she would any guest. Then again, she will not hug every guest but Sagramore is going to get one. "Good evening, sir. I must compliment whoever helped you be ready for the evening."

[crophisownrose]

"Then I'll accept that compliment for myself, my lady," with a low bow.

[magicalskeptic]

That gets an approximation of a badly executed dirty look. It lasts for all of about two seconds, and she laughs.

"You so easily call me when I fish for compliments. Do you often crush a lady's hopes for flattery?" She's terribly amused, and teasing.

[crophisownrose]

Sagramore laughs and kisses both her cheeks. "I have no need to waste my breath on false flattery, my lady, when there is no end to the true praises you deserve."

[magicalskeptic]

Oh, Sagramore, you and your rakish charm.

"You go from one extreme to the other, and set a standard for compliments I am afraid might intimidate anyone else from trying," including her escort, but she leaves that unsaid.

"For such praise, I will have to insist you accept a gift."

[crophisownrose]

"A gift?" That actually surprises him, seeing as he hadn't anticipated it.

[magicalskeptic]

She's going to try and steer him over to the gift table. There is a small box on the gift table with his name on it. It's a simple white box with a Pendragon red ribbon tied around it.

Morgana picks it up and holds it out to him. "This is yours."

[crophisownrose]

Sagramore makes a face. "I've nothing to give you."

[magicalskeptic]

This is the face of a woman who isn't looking for anything in return, though the gift might require some action on his part. It's how she's always dealt with Sagramore.

"You do not know what it is yet."

If he opens the box, he's going to find a simple set of keys.

[crophisownrose]

He holds them carefully in the palm of one hand, looking at her curiously. "What are they for?"

[magicalskeptic]

"Your health has steadily improved, as of late, and we had discussed the idea of you tending to matters around the estate." She leans into him and points to each key as she lists them off.

"That is for the main door. That one for the back and side doors and the silvery one is for the entrance into the lower ground floor from outside. This one," it's a smaller key, not the heavy keys for the external doors. "Is for our armory, though it is still poorly stocked. That will be the first thing we will need to deal with."

There are only two keys not on the ring -- the one for the upper floor, and the wine cellar, but that shall remain unmentioned.

So, there, Sagramore, your gift: helping take care of her home. She's trusting you with it. Don't mess it up.

[crophisownrose]

He slips the keys into his pocket, and kisses her--on the mouth, but it's still chaste, fraternal even. "Thank you for this."

[magicalskeptic]

The kiss surprises her, though it's entirely innocent. She's just unaccustomed to such a thing, so it flusters her.

"You are welcome," she says, to the floor.

[crophisownrose]

"It's a great honour, bajos."

[magicalskeptic]

She's still staring at the floor. She's a little embarrassed because she's such a prude, but she still reaches out to put a hand on his arm.

"I trust you with this duty."