#earthrunes

Yule was wonderful! Socks. Gifts. Mistle toe!

Some lover put tiny bells in Vince's mane.

Shalmiar was forced to wear Vashti's idea of a Christmas sweater!

And the childlings reigned supreme for a week, with Poppy's "carrot gumbo' having vanished Christmas eve after she put it on the roof

And mortals get the rare treat of seeing dougal and nocker displays that seem to catch their hearts, each one swearing they saw different 'electronic lights'....

the music blaring from them in tunes that fit the season, in a varied style

Stupid kid with the seizure

But end it does. And folks wake to a day that the servants enjoy...

Boxing Day!

Get your own darn tea. Do your own laundry. After a hard Christmas/Yule work making sure parties thrive, the servants get a no work day.

Most, knowing this custom by the Steward's order are pre warned, and have new sheets or clothes pre ready.

Some may be confused

Lord Hume walks around baffled looking for someone to feed him. He's.. never cooked before "The.. the kitchens are empty?"

"Oui, they are full!" Sayeth the possum enjoying a bowl of carrot gumbo.

"AH, whose doing the cooking?" He asks Emma, "I mean, where'd you get the ..." A look "Orange and yellow gumbo?"

"From the box of cold?"

He opens the fridge. There IS food there. He reaches for a bowl with saran wrap, he's not sure what's in it "It's cold"

Confusion in his face "I mean..how do I..." He eyes the Stove, and looks confused, then looks at the microwave, a bit LESS confused but not sure

"Beep?"

Emma's soup is steaming.

He looks at the Microwave "i'm a Dougal. I can do this" He nods to himself

A merry look and her whiskers twitch in amused anticipation.

He takes that bowl out and sets it in the microwave, then, thinking about it, pulls off the saran wrap... and pushes some buttons

She snakes her tail over to pull open the utensil drawer.

The microwave starts up "I did it!" He smiles as it makes Mmmmm spin sounds and motion

The food shifts a bit, starting to steam "It's starting to steam" he smiles

Then it starts to bubble "it's starting bot bubble" His smile is up for a second, then his eyes grow concerned and he looks at Emma "is it supposed to do that?"

"Oooo.."

"Toil and trouble>"

"I think.. I think given how heat conduccts. .I should stop that" he looks about ... 'Clear? Does that thin the soup or. .oh it also says stop!" he mashes it

DING hum

done

And so he looks in "Smells good" And he grabs the bowl of chili

"OW" and draws his fingers back "Ah.. heat conducts" he blushes

"On occaision."

He moves to the sink and pours cold water over it "I'm still not sure what's going on. WHere are the staff? Are they okay?" he ask, then looks even more concerned "is Selene okay? She's a piskie maid? her hair shifts colors depending a bit on who she is around? she's .. she's nice"

"Oh - nice?" Gentle encouragement.

"She treats me like I'm better than I am" he admits "I kind of want to Be better than I am when she does. It's..weird" The boy, wilder or not he is still a boy, says with a blush, now getting some big ole foofy mittens so he can carry the bowl to the table

"Strange times, cherie."

"of course, she steals stuff... she's got one of my T shirts. I guess she can't help it" he shrugs "Piskie" A blow on the chili, it seems cooler now, he turns to the drawer she opened and gets a spoon, and tries some

"It's good" A look around "But.. ah, I like Crackers"

"Really? I like cheese."

"Ah, I best look for some" he digs around in the fridge, finds.. something, but not crackers "oh, right. Pantry.." he opens a door and nearly gets hit with a broom "Not the pantry" to a different door, he gets "Ah ha, Saltines. Hey, i'm a cook now"

A tiny round of applause.

"Thanks" he smiles "I'll have to tell Selene" ANd he brings her something as well.. sliced cheese "here, found some cheese" He looks so earnestly helpful. Dougals do like to solve problems

A soft chuff. "Why, aren't you literally made of maple syrup?"

"I..would't know" he says "But.. thank you?" He blushes a bit as he gives her the cheese. He turns back to his chilli and tries it, "Maybe left it in there too long, but mostly good" He uses the crackers like scoops now and then, other times the spoon

"Well, boiled chili is a culinary innovation."

"I guess" he nods at her "I'm.. Not good at cooking" as if this is something folks might not guess

Wide-eyed. "Nooo. Oui?"