Burg: The Start of a Much Needed Vacation

[gorgonfondness]

“I don't wanna go!”

“Please calm down, it's only for a week or two.”

“I don't wanna visit Ramus! He's doing fine without me.”

“He's just being stubborn,” the woman said when she turned to Mia and Draco, Alhena watching curiously. “It's only for a couple of weeks, and you know how your son has missed you,” she continued, again facing her employer.

The village chief of Burg crossed his arms.

“You can't make me,” he replied. “Why should I go to Meribia to see my lazy son while these two irresponsible whippersnappers and their mutt watch the house?”

“They're not irresponsible whippersna-”

But before the former nanny could finish her sentence, another couple came to the home of the village chief.

“Goodness, we didn't know you were here, Mia,” the woman says.

“Thalia? What's all this then?” the chief asked.

“We could ask the same question,” the man, presumably Thalia's husband, said.

Between the village chief, the nanny, and Mia, the entire story of going to see Ramus in Meribia while the young Guildmaster and the potions shopkeeper watch the house, and their wolf, was told.

“You don't think visiting Ramus would be a good idea?” the man asked.

“Don't see what good it would do,” the chief replied. “Have you any bright ideas, Noah?”

Noah shrugged and said, “I'm not saying you have to go see Ramus, but it's been a while since you've been to the mainland. Maybe it's time for a trip. Besides, Thalia and I have heard bits and pieces of what these two have been through. They could use some time here, away from the city.”

The chief still looked wary, but then Thalia said, “And we can help them out from time to time. Just when they need it, of course.”

The old man heaves a sigh before saying, “Looks like you all've twisted my arm. All right. I'll go. Everything's been packed anyway.” The last part comes with an almost scolding look at the nanny before she gets the bags she's packed for the both of them and they set off, handing Mia the key to the house.

“If you need anything, just let us know,” Noah says, giving a nod to the young couple.

Thalia gives Mia a little hug before adding, “Feel free to come by for dinner whenever you like. Just let me know what your favorite soup is first.”

With that, they leave and the three are left alone in the door frame of the chief's house.

Comments

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"I thought everyone here nearly worshipped you?" Draco finally said after everybody else had gone.

[gorgonfondness]

"He just doesn't want to go see Ramus. He was supposed to stay and become the new village chief instead of going to Meribia and becoming a shopowner."

She walks in and puts the groceries she brought from Milliways in the kitchen.

The house itself is very nice, one of the few two story houses in Burg.

"I was told the entire upstairs is now the guest room since Ramus moved out. Shall we go see?"

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"Another son who's a failure to his father, I see," Brief bitter irony in his voice.

He glanced around, "Sure, I guess."

[gorgonfondness]

"Not a failure. The village chief is really quite proud of Ramus, glad that he's able to stand on his own two feet. Just still a little bitter about Ramus leaving Burg behind."

She goes over to give him a little hug and then holds his hand as she leads him up the stairs.

Pretty much everything of Ramus's has been moved to Meribia, so what's left is some bedroom furniture, an empty red chest, and a nice bed.

"Almost like a place of our own," she murmurs.

The sort of life she never thought she could have.

A normal one.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco glanced around, "Modest, but it'll do." The opulence of the Manor brought up bad memories now.

He slowly walked around to get a full view of it.

[gorgonfondness]

"I like it this way. Besides, we have everything we need."

She gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"So, what do you want for dinner?"

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco gave a tentative smile back at that.

"Hmm... any chance we have filet mignon and soft-shelled crabs?" He asked with interest.

Even after war, still a git at times.

[gorgonfondness]

She tilts her head a little.

"I know I told you I can cook, but I didn't ask Miss Bar for anything that elaborate. I did get a cookbook from her, though. We can look through that."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"Figured it was worth asking."

He then went over to sit on the bed. That was a mistake. It was comfy, and just asking to be stretched out on for resting. So he stretched out there to lounge.

[gorgonfondness]

It was almost peaceful to see him like that, so she leans over and gently strokes his forehead, giving him another kiss.

"I think Thalia might have been on the right track. Soup sounds good."

Perhaps he can even learn how to make it himself.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco kissed back for a moment, and his eyes slid closed. Feeling peaceful

"I guess it's good for a start." He replied.

But then he had a flash of Voldemort's face peering back at him, and he gave a cry as his eyes opened again. His eyes stared around, for a minute being confused about his surroundings.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia jumped back when he cried out.

"It will be all right," she says quietly.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco's eyes blinked, and he then came back to himself.

"No it won't. Not for a long time," he sourly replied, trying to relax again.

He then tried to staring up at the ceiling to focus on meditative techniques.

[gorgonfondness]

"Not immediately all right, no, but I'm here to help you."

She wants to reach out for him, but isn't sure if she should.

"I always have been."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Still staring upward, but his closer hand reached out to touch hers.

Already seeming distant in his mind, he replied quietly, "I know."

His breathing started to slow as he calmed.

"You're my hope."

[gorgonfondness]

Even like this, he still manages to make her blush.

She gently takes his hand again and gives him a little tug.

"And you're mine. I- I hope in you so much sometimes, more than I ever thought I would hope in anyone."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

He started to murmur something but Mia's tug was enough to startle him out of his emerging trance.

"Hmm? Oh." He didn't really have anything to say to that. Other than...

"Not sure if you should really," he quietly admitted.

[gorgonfondness]

"Maybe not," she admits back. "I've seen example enough of why I shouldn't. But still, you have this way of coming through for me when I need you to."

She kneels at the bedside, nuzzling her head a little against his hand.

And just stays that way for a little while before getting up and softly saying, "I'll go start dinner. You can stay up here until it's ready if you want."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco just nodded slowly, his eyes idly gazing toward the ceiling again.

"All right," he quietly replied. "Tired." Months of insomnia, and night terrors had that effect. Been running on minor sleep deprivation for a while, and it made his mind tend to un-focus frequently. Like now.

[gorgonfondness]

A kiss on his cheek and she goes downstairs, back to the kitchen.

And even though she knows how to do it by hand, there are times like this where she's thankful that she knows fire magic. And ice magic too, a spell set up to preserve the food. She starts a fire in the oven and gets to work making some soup.

There are soft sounds from the kitchen that Draco can probably hear. Chopping food and finding pots mixed with Mia's soft humming.

Soon the inviting smell of boiling chicken, vegetables, and herbs wafts upstairs.

Almost like what a home should feel like.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

It was comforting, and he found himself drifting off into light sleep even as his nose twitched a little. But then his sleep would frequently be interrupted by flashbacks of torture and death. Draco whimpered and curled up into himself, trying to get away from it.

Alhena was about to come in, but was distracted with the cooking smells from the kitchen. She ran downstairs, hoping for dropped food and treats.

Draco woke up again, and fumbled in his pocket for a hidden vial of Sleeping Potion. Only way he's gotten any sleep these past months. He took a few sips, hid it away again, and then curled up to nap some more.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia smiled down at her company.

"Do you think Papa will like this?"

The tail swishing seemed to confirm so.

Mia gave Alhena some of her own food and then, once she decided the soup was done, set a couple of bowls on the table.

She goes upstairs to get Draco.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco was dozing finally, relaxed, and his breathing was slow and even.

He then shifted, and something fell from his clothes. There was a light clink of glass against the floor, but the vial didn't break. It did roll a foot away from the bed. It wasn't the same as the one he had sipped from, but it was clear by the level that this one had been in use as well. About half of the sleeping potion was gone.

Alhena immediately went over to sniff at it curiously.

Quizzical whine at the weird smell of it.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia leaned over and picked the vial up.

By the goddess, what was he doing?

She gently shakes his shoulder to wake him up.

"Draco, wake up. Dinner's ready."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

A muffled murmur, and then Draco's eyes slowly opened.

"Hmmm?" He sleepily replied.