The dragon obligingly went down under the enthusiastic greeting from her friend, chortling happily as her best friend momentarily became a warm, furry blanket before they rolled to their feet, tails wagging as they bounced around each other and then tumbled back into the house with the antler in tow.
"Your house is my house," Tal agreed in greeting, his own grin chasing away the more usual scowl that was so at home on his features. He made it in and began the traditional Dance of Disrobing: toeing out of his snow boots and wriggling out of his heavy coat one arm at a time while keeping hold of the cookie box until they reached the kitchen together. The companions were off on their LongNight zoomies, sounding like a herd of small elephants and Tal winced as a particularly loud thud probably heralded his dragon bouncing off a corner.
Only once the glasses were down and filled did he set the box in the middle of the table and lift the lid off it. Piles of mahogany-brown spice cookies gleamed in the insulated container within, only half an hour old. Sugar crystals sparkled from their tops, promising interesting texture as well as flavor and Tal grabbed one and bit into it with relish, proving that they were edible. He washed the bite down with an appreciative swallow of the fine booze, letting the liquid linger on his tongue before he spoke up. "Happy birthday, Jester," he toasted, raising his glass to clink with Sah's. "Looks like we made it another year, somehow. We were doin' fine until fuckin' Deepfrost..." He shook his head ruefully and took another drink.
"Your house is my house," Tal agreed in greeting, his own grin chasing away the more usual scowl that was so at home on his features. He made it in and began the traditional Dance of Disrobing: toeing out of his snow boots and wriggling out of his heavy coat one arm at a time while keeping hold of the cookie box until they reached the kitchen together. The companions were off on their LongNight zoomies, sounding like a herd of small elephants and Tal winced as a particularly loud thud probably heralded his dragon bouncing off a corner.
Only once the glasses were down and filled did he set the box in the middle of the table and lift the lid off it. Piles of mahogany-brown spice cookies gleamed in the insulated container within, only half an hour old. Sugar crystals sparkled from their tops, promising interesting texture as well as flavor and Tal grabbed one and bit into it with relish, proving that they were edible. He washed the bite down with an appreciative swallow of the fine booze, letting the liquid linger on his tongue before he spoke up. "Happy birthday, Jester," he toasted, raising his glass to clink with Sah's. "Looks like we made it another year, somehow. We were doin' fine until fuckin' Deepfrost..." He shook his head ruefully and took another drink.
