MacLaaran Village

[zandra]

((slips a note to Kyle))

i wouldn't mind being a distraction for the bad guys *EG* especially if they plan to mess with O/our home

[Sir Kyle]

Welcome back, cutie.......   We can put ye t' work I'm sure.

[Sir Kyle]

Two more new members received their scrolls last night, Nadia and Lilith MacBeth.
I still have two more to hand out.

[Sir Kyle]

And Devona has Her scroll also now.

Last night Michael MacDougal showed up at the castle and spent a hour advising both lava and Me about His plans to date lava's sister, abby. He seemed sincere enough, claiming he would be very careful while courting her. Of course, I've had some concerns there.

Tris wasn't real pleased seeing Michael in the castle since he doesn't trust any of the MacDougals and especially unhappy with him courting abby.

[Sir Kyle]

February 19, 1322
(posted by Kyle as Michael MacDougal)

After talking to Kyle, and his sexy playmate, lava, on Sunday night, I stopped by lava's coffee shoppe  on Tuesday to chat with abby. I told her what had transpired between her sister, Kyle and me.

In spite of resisting my efforts to date her over the last year, I finally am getting a chance to replace Gavin McLeod has abby's male companion of choice. I know abby has a serious interest in me, although she jumped away like a scared rabbit when I simply dragged a finger over her palm. We decided that I'd pick her up on Thursday and attend the jousts with her.

[Sir Kyle]

Tim and I gave Aubrey Anna Her scroll on Saturday. She chose the green room on the 3rd floor. It's fixed up and loaded already. That leaves just Lord Talon without chambers assigned. I'm trying to catch him.

I also read Aubrey some MacLaaran history so She would get a little past knowledge. General Vuk-Nor was there listening and enjoyed the tale and the concept. He's asked if He can read his bio about Emaine Macha in one of Our Story Nights. I said sure, just let me know when he's ready.

I'm thinking I might have to reschedule the March Story Night what with the Jousts and the Grand Opening of the Iron Lance coming up.

We have a lot of new people, and I might have to tone down some of My stories since the new people aren't aware of the long standing concept, that bios and stories often have more violence and sex involved, stuff that We never actually role play in the room. I can easily just post a note that something sexual or violent is taking place in the story and they can read that in the library at their leisure. That does limit the shock effect of the tales, but I can try and select softer stuff to read for a while.

My next tale will be the old MacLaaran Mouse again, updated to include some of the new people.

[Aubrey Anna]

I was much surprised lastnite,surprised and very pleased to recieve my scroll and beautifull key from Sir Kyle and Sir Tim i had not thought it would come so swift.... i am now off to view my room,i will be travelling tae bring some of my own things tae MacLaaran,a have some lovely rich silks and velvets of red and greens which will look most amazing in the settings of ma rooms in this most stunning of castles...i will be much at home here a feel...esspecially when a have ma things round me.....

If you speak of changing the stories do not for want of my blushes,i must live an learn your ways...smiles

[zandra]

*slips a note under the new Lady's door*

i would be happy to assist You in learning O/our ways... especially trickery of the Guards. there are many Who are quite handsome.... sometimes i think the Captain hires good-looking ones on purpose to distract me

*giggles to herself*

[Aubrey Anna]

*as i read your note a cheeky smile crosses my sweet face....it stays there as i write your reply*

Zandra a would be most welcoming of y'er offer,a have still tae be acquainted with many of MacLaaran as i keep strange hours with ma travelling tae see ma father,and a have seen the guards ye speak of  many of them are a Tad on the handsome side,i look forward tae seeing ye and learning.....

*poking my head out the door of my rooms,i beckon to a nearby servant girl i ask her to make swift the task of taking this not to you,as i return to my room,I'm audibly chuckling*

[Devona]

((posting for the NPC Gerhild


Gerhild legs are both draped over the right side of her saddle. A long crimson cloak falls off her shoulders. Beside her rides her female servant and male escort, one of the guards her father demand she brings with her. Slowly they move down the streets of MacLaaran, scanning the shops windows. She pulls back on the reigns when they arrive in front of lava’s coffee shop.  The male escort dismounts and move to his Mistress. Places his hands about her waist and helps her down.  Nodding her head to him in thanks she waits for her female servant to move behind her and the trio moves into the shop.


The male opens the door for Gerhild, and she enters the shop. Turning her head to the side, closing her lifting her shoulders a bit she takes in the scents that linger on the air. Her deep brown eyes open and she turns her head to the counter and makes her way over, looking at all the treats.

[Sir Kyle]

(posted by Kyle as Michael MacDougal NPC)

Michael MacDougal finally gets the date He desires so badly.....in spite o' her mother's constant badgering, abby agrees t' join Michael fer dinner at the renovated Iron Lance.

The meal goes well and Michael gets a heated kiss on the path, a short distance from her Easy Village cottage. he knows she'd rather He nae accompany her right t' the door, where her mum,kate, will be waitin'.

Michael is prayin' that abby will agree t' a second date..... possibly in a more private place.....  the smile on His face as He rides home speaks volumes.

[Serenitee]

A dreary day it was turning out to be at the cottage, making Seren feel even more lonesome with Prae busy at the Herald.  Sighing softly, she shrugged her shoulders and made her way over to the window seat...curling up in the pillows...tucking her legs neatly beneath her.

It was raining again.  Leaning her head back against the framing, turning slightly to gaze out the window...shivering slightly at the chill in the air brought on by the dampness outside. Leaning over and toward the floor, grasping the drawer beneath the window seat then lifting out a throw.  Her eyes darting to something that seemed to fall from the folded fabric.  Reaching a bit further to pick up the item, seemingly a parchment of sorts.  Nestling back into the warmth of the pillows and pulling the throw over her.  Unfurling the parchment as she begins to read....her eyes widening as she immediately recognizes the handwriting.

Lifting her brow as she reads her father's words or demands would be more accurate she thought...her voice softly lilting into the stillness of the cottage...

"Proof of resources......letter from the council....."

Jumping up from her seat, her look incredulous...

"Requisition of carriage??".....she then started toward the fire, grumbling softly...talking to herself.


"How dare my father set down such demands!  As if I'm a piece of property to be given to the highest bidder!  Then to put my dearest Praegorn through such!  Ohhhhhh, this does not abide well with me!  I decided who I wanted to marry and how dare he set the "rules" for my happiness!"

The letter was dated before they had gotten married, but the thought of things still seemed to bother her. Thinking back, she had noticed Prae being weary but had only thought it to be business with the Herald so she didn't question but he hadn't mentioned her father's provisions either. She rolled the parchment back up neatly...shaking her head at her father's boldness, feeling badly that he had leaned so heavily upon Prae. 

Kneeling down and tucking the parchment back into the drawer beneath the window seat then standing and smoothing her skirts, an idea coming to her quickly. She had no idea how much Prae had done to secure their happiness together.

Bustling about the cottage to find the picnic basket.  It had been ages since she had used it! Filling it with it with linen clothes full of bits of bread, meat, cheese and fruit. Adding two lovely fluted glasses and a tray of Prae's favorite sweets.  Turning to look out the window, hoping the rain has let up...a frown touching her lips seeing that it hadn't, but determined just the same to follow through with her plan.

Nearly running into their bedroom, becoming more excited as she rummages through his closet...grinning as she finds the very shirt she's looking for. Holding the fabric to her cheek, closing her eyes and inhaling his
scent...sighing soft and warm as she quickly tosses off her own clothing and dons Prae's shirt.  The hem grazed her mid-thigh while the lacing at the neck was loosely tied, giving the fabric ease to slip from her shoulder.  The sleeves were long, covering to her fingertips.  Lifting her fingers to her hair, tugging the pins to release the curls...letting them fall freely over her shoulders.  Her fingertips sifting through the soft silken mass leaving it disheveled.

Determined to defy the rain, she looks through her own closet for her heaviest cloak.  Tugging on the cloak, securing the fastenings together, slipping her feet into a pair of Prae's worn boots, lifting the hood upon her head taking up the basket then heading out the cottage door...chuckling as the rain starts hitting her face...reminding her how she's always loved the rain.

Nearly skipping through the village, laughing and trodding through every puddle she can, the boots now soaked through, the rain having penetrated the cloak to the shirt below....her spirits getting lost in the glorious feel of the warm rain upon her cheeks.

Looking toward the Herald as it comes into sight...grinning as she makes her way over...bursting through the door of the Herald with a giggle...damply curled tendrils framing her face, longer locks trailing over her
shoulders, clinging to her moistened skin.  Chuckling to herself at the surprised look upon Prae's face, glad to see there is no one else around...turning and locking the front door before padding her way across the room to him.  Her cloak sliding from her shoulders to literally puddle at her feet....the water soaked boots sadly sagging around her ankles, mud splatters midway up her shins as she grins...his shirt, now wet as well....clinging to her every curve...softly darkened shadows hinting at secrets to be discovered....her voice soft and warm.

"I brought ye lunch M'love"...touching her tongue to her lips as she lifts the basket to the table top, leaning over to start unpacking the goodies...the damp hem of his shirt riding up her thighs, the nearly transparent fabric hugging the rounded curve of her backside. Looking back over her shoulder to him.

"Ye are hungry, are ye nay?"...~softly chuckling~

[Eiluna]

((Oooh.. I've been looking for more issues of the Herald... and am looking forward to seeing them!  (though... seems it may be delayed even more with Seren's distraction?  ) ))
 

[Serenitee]

~she opened the door to the cottage and stepped inside.  The walk home from the village had been uneventful.  Sighing softly as made her way into the still quiet of their home, her fingertips lightly dancing along the back of a chair in the scullery. Prae would still be at the Herald....giving her time to tidy herself up a bit from her hectic day then get an evening meal prepared~

~it felt as if they were but two ships passing in the night at times....softly humming as she made way into the bedroom...closing her eyes and imagining, remembering....a soft smile touching the corners of her lips as she gently spun the ring on her finger then lifted her fingers to the locket around her neck~

"Tis been nearly a year"...~her fingertips lightly tracing the delicate pattern on the locket her mother had left for her, before sliding a fingernail into the crevice to pop it open. Tilting her chin upward, her voice barely audible~

~letting the locket rest back to her chest, her fingertips now working the pins from her hair.  Shaking her head slightly, sending silken curls falling about her shoulders. Turning toward the mirror, examining her reflection...her brows furrowing as sometimes, she really wasn't sure she knew who was reflected back. She felt a bit lost recently, unsure, sometimes....alone.  It was all quite silly she told herself~

~shaking her head a bit more to clear the silly "woman" thoughts from her head. Threading her fingers through her hair to smooth it a bit before capturing it at the nap of her neck with a velvet ribbon...an unruly curl or two escaping to frame her face~

~realizing she's dawdling but time is still passing, she sheds her overskirt. Neatly folding it and putting it away.  Wrapping her arms around to her back, twisting and struggling to reach the ties of her corset....laughing and rolling her eyes as she finally manages to tug them loose....a sharp breath infiltrating her lungs, bringing a relaxed smile to her lips as she can now breath more freely. Clad now in her chemise and most delicate of undergarment, she rests herself to sit on the edge of the bed...slipping her feet out of the slippers then leaning forward to massage her aching toes...it had been a long day on her feet at the shoppe~

~not really caring to dress again but feeling she should cover at least bit more, she turns and leans across the bed, slightly rolling to her side as she reaches her fingertips to Prae's shirt...he had left it there that morning in turn for a different one. She sighed nicely as she dragged the shirt to her cheek, letting the fabric brush her skin as she took in the scent of him.  She loved wearing his shirts...the laces at the neckline, the hem that skimmed just above her knees....the flowing sleeves that covered to the tips of her fingers.  Laying the shirt aside then slipping her chemise over her head and off....taking up his shirt again....tugging the fabric over her head then letting it drift enticingly over her skin....sending delightful shivers and goosebumps along her arms and other sensitive areas~

~tugging the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth while pondering what to prepare for Prae.  Her cooking skills weren't the best but she could manage a lovely Shepherd's Pie...though it may have worn on Prae's appetite since it seemed to be something she fixed quite regularly.....a soft chuckle escaping her lips~

~taking a long breath, her chest rising and falling quickly, she boosted herself off the side of the bed and started toward the scullery to rummage through the cupboards....thinking that on the morrow, she must make a stop at the village market.  Bare cupboards would just not do~

~lighting a fire in the stove then setting water to heat while she skinned potatoes.....softly humming to herself....a distant look to her eyes, turning slightly sad then distant once again.....a soft breath parting her lips as she seems to get lost in her own thoughts~

[Serenitee]

~humming softly to herself as she bustles about the scullery, once in a while talking to herself as she smooths a piece of parchment to the countertop~

3 Tbs. butter, softened
1/4 heaping cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1/2 tsp. hartshorn 
1 Tbs. rosewater
1/4 tsp. each salt, cloves and mace
pinch saffron
1 1/4 cup flour


Butter...~twisting at the waist, reaching for the small cooler's door, peering over the top, happy to see a bit of butter left~

Sugar...~stretching across the countertop to a cabinet nearly out of her reach...spying the sugar~..Mmm hmmm!

3 egg yolks...~leaning back turning a bit to look on the counter, nodding seeing at least 3 eggs in the basket~

Hartshorn...~pondering for a moment then tapping her fingertip to her lip, putting a bit of hop into her step as she moves across the scullery, dips low and pulls open a cabinet door, pulling out a small box of baking essentials Maddie had given her as a wedding gift.  Kneeling on the floor and rummaging through the box~....Aye!  Hartshorn...~a grin crossing her lips as she lifts the entire box and herself, going back to the counter~

~moving her fingertip down along the ingredients list...humming and tapping, noting the final ingredients and their whereabouts...thinking it's been quite the workout to just produce the ingredients~

Now here we go...~chuckling as she sets about to decipher the cake recipe...not being the best culinary wise~

~stopping for a moment to stoke the fire so the stones will be hot enough for baking.  Lifting to her toes then, reaching for a large bowl on a higher shelf in the scullery...giggling at how ungraceful she must look at the moment....a worn apron tied about her, her hair wildly tossed back and held with a ribbon, her chemise constantly slipping off her shoulders and worst of all, she had stolen a pair of Prae's britches to just wander about the cottage in.  What a sight indeed, she was...unable to not laugh at herself~

~setting about to mix up the birthday goodies for Prae, smiling happily, measuring the butter then adding the sugar.  Perplexed at first with the eggs but squinting in memory of early baking lessons with her mother and how to separate the yolks and white.  Adding this and that...then lastly the flour.  Adding all the flour at once then stirring....suddenly coughing and waving a hand as clouds of flour waft through the air...laughing and shaking her head....remembering a bit too late to stir slowly.  Flour now covering the countertop and dotting her cheeks and brow~

~humming a little birthday tune while rolling out the dough and cutting the rectangles, trying to keep them equally shaped as they are to be layered upon each other with a mixture of fruit and sweet cream between them.  Laying them to a pan then slipping them into the stone oven to bake while she mixes together her own combination of ripe berries and stiffened , sweet cream~

~wandering to the window in the livingroom, watching the wind whip multicolored leaves briskly past while waiting for the layers to bake...closing her eyes and inhaling the spiced aroma filtering through the cottage...thinking how lovely the scent.  Waiting a few more moments then going back to the over to remove the pastry...letting them cool as she prepares the plate that will serve the treat~

~the layers cooled and plate set....she starts to layer the cake ending with a baked pastry.  Rolling a thin piece of parchment into a cone shape as Maddie has once shown her, leaving just the slightest opening at the tip...she spoons in a portion of plain sweetened cream...holding the bag just so...she slowly pipes across the top of the cake~

Happy Bithday Prae!

~grinning to herself as it's readable..and that's all she could really hope for...reading it to herself~

Happy Bithday Prae....Wait...bithday???  Oh good heavens!....~gasping and rolling her eyes...sweeping her fingertip across the top of the cake, hoping to clean the slate so to speak....laughing as she hears Prae's boots walking upon the porch....quickly writing again...this time correctly.  H-a-p-p-y  B-i-R-t-h-d-a-y P-r-a-e....setting the makeshift pastry bag aside and quickly turning as the cottage door opens, hiding the surprise behind her as she lifts a fingertip to tuck a curl behind her ear..leftover cream on her fingertip now smeared at her temple...smiling warm and bright~

Welcome home M'love,  I hope ye had a lovely day at the Herald!....~grinning mischievously as starts humming the birthday tune~