Good Solstice, milliways_bar

[jack_inthegreen]

In the gray pre-dawn light, the man in green has been busy.

There are rows of trestle tables set up by the lake--far from the new grave as well as anything else that might be disturbed by such things--and on the central table he sets up the horn of plenty he carved the day before. Now he lays a hand on the wood and quietly asks the elements around it to fill the horn and assemble themselves, so that there will be plenty to eat and it will all be nourishing and tasty. When he has done this the horn begins to fill and soon food is spilling out: fruit and bottles of wine and loaves of bread and slabs of cold cooked meats and wheels of cheese and whatever else a patron might think to ask for.

At the end of the rows of tables there is a wooden platform, with a small raised stage for musicians and plenty of room for dancers. Jack has found no one to play pipes but no matter, there are still musicians aplenty should anyone wish to dance. And he hopes they will, for what's a celebration without dancing?

Beyond the tables there is a small course set up for races, just a starting- and finish-lines marked off. There is a large rope for tug-of-war, various props like sacks for sack races and spoons for an egg-and-spoon race, and a pitch for bowls and another for playing horsehoes. He thought about playing tossing the caber but decided that might be pushing things a bit, even here.

Farthest from the bar proper is the bonfire, currently unlit. He pauses there and asks the fire within the wood to do no harm to anyone, that there will be no stray sparks or wayward ash to burn.

There is a great deal of magic at Milliways for him to draw upon and soon the party preparations meet with his satisfaction. He blesses the area before he goes back inside for some more rest before the party begins: that no one will be hurt in play or eat themselves sick, that not even a dancer's ankle be turned.

When he is done the morning fog is just beginning to burn off. It's going to be a beautiful day.

Comments

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock tilts his head expressionlessly at Puck.

"If he could follow you here that seems unlikely to help. Will iron affect him?"

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck smiles.

"You're a marvelous comfort," he says. He pauses. "It does, to a point. You could use it against him, though I cannot."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock dives underwater and surfaces on the other side of the fae.

"Iron then. To what point?"

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck would shrug, but floating on one's back is not conducive to this gesture.

"My kind is not fond of it. Iron burns."

He's not sure, however, exactly how effective it will be on Oberon.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock shakes water out of his eyes, frowning thoughtfully.

"A pity it affects you also... but no matter, I can use that."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Very softly: "Pray tell, how?"

[oneman_onevote]

"Pure iron is easy enough to acquire - It should provide some assistance should he attempt violence at least."

His tone is bland and professional - a little incongruous while treading water.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck closes his eyes again, and appears to be counting to ten.

"I do wish for your safety," he admits finally.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock watches him clinically.

"As do I for yours," he says, as though it should be obvious. "Preparations are necessarily to ensure that."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck treads water for a moment, looking at him. He promptly disappears below the surface of the water, then comes up with a splash.

"You are absolutely incorrigible."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock blinks at him once.

"Yes?"

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck nods. "One of the most vexing mortals I have ever met."

He smirks. "How fortunate for you that your other qualities more than make up for it."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock shoots him an oddly serious look for a moment, before smiling slightly and lying back in the water.

"Such as?" He sounds genuinely puzzled.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck is beside him now, still treading. He looks down into Havelock's face and grins.

"I could think of one or two things."

He leans down and kisses him. Somewhere in this is a defiance of physics and the natural laws of buoyancy, but the water doesn't seem to mind.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock leans his head back slightly as Puck kisses him. He is smiling very slightly, but does not move away.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck hooks an arm around Havelock's waist and pulls him halfway out of the water. Again, it's very curious how he seems to be standing in water so deep-- almost in the same way he floats on air. He breaks off to let Havelock breathe, smiling impishly at him.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock seems momentarily more interested in how they are standing in the water - but when he looks back up, his eyes are alive.

"Vexing?" he smiles.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

He smiles back. "Quite." And leans forward to nuzzle Havelock's neck.

[oneman_onevote]

The assassin lightly trails his fingertips up Puck's spine, resting his hands gently on the fae's shoulders.

"I apologise." He does not sound sorry.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

The arm around Havelock's waist tightens its grip, bringing him in a little closer.

"As well you should," Puck murmurs into his ear, not sounding as if he actually thinks so.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock laughs quietly. Odd, from him.

"I hope you can accept my apologies."

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

The laughter gets a smile from Puck as his free hand runs lazily from Havelock's neck to his chest.

"Forgiveness has never been in my nature," he says. "Perhaps if you could prove yourself properly penitent ..."

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock continues to smile faintly.

"Forgiveness is a wonderful thing..." he says quietly, before kissing Puck lightly again.

[puckishly.livejournal.com]

Puck smiles again, kissing him lightly back on one corner of his mouth.

"Only to the deserving, my Havelock."

[oneman_onevote]

His head tilts slightly.

Curious, perhaps slightly amused, "Yours?"