regency au } { of birthdays and house elves

[impetere]

Stiles: [and as he is pulling himself into a sitting position and rubbing his head, he looks at what he tripped on and laughs softly. And he's going to just sit there and reach over to see what books he got]

Cora: [some are in line with the mythology books he got her early on, and some are history and fantastical creatures - not accurate, mind you, and the note she wrote in the cover explains as much but she thought he would enjoy it all the same]

Stiles: [aaaand he's probably just going to end up leaning against the wall, getting engrossed in one of them and forgetting he's sitting in the hallway]

Cora: [and she will come check on him when he misses a meal as a result] Stiles?

Stiles: [looks up] Oh, hello Lady Cora. I was just reading one of your gifts to me. Thank you so much!

Cora: [and that makes her smile] I'm glad you liked them, though I'm not sure your stomach feels the same.

Stiles: My stomach... [he looks up at her really seeing her all dressed] What time is it?

Cora: Nearly noon.

Stiles: Oh. Well, yes, I guess I must have been too distracted to notice I missed breakfast. I guess I will have to eat extra at lunch. [and he will go to stand and his leg is asleep so he holds the wall]

Cora: [and she will move closer to try and help steady him if she can]

Stiles: Thank you. [smiles at her] I should probably get these in my room so no one else trips over them.

Cora: Would you like me to wait for you?

Stiles: That would be nice, thank you. [and he bends over to start gathering his gifts] Thank you again, these are wonderful.

Cora: I'm glad you liked them. I wasn't sure.

Stiles: Like you, books are a very easy gift to give me. There is no such thing as too many.

Cora: Good. So long as the subject matter is engaging.

Stiles: Oh yes.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: We will have to talk about them once I have finished each one, since I'm sure you've read them yourself.

Cora: Of course. I wouldn't feel comfortable giving the recommendations otherwise.

Stiles: We will be in for many discussions then.

Cora: Yes, we will.

Stiles: [and he has the last of them in his arms, and he will go to push his door open with his foot] Care to come in while I put these away?

Cora: [brief moment of uncertainty before she nods and steps inside. Hopefully they're not being improper doing this but depending on where they are she doubts anyone will care.]

Stiles: [and they are only going as far as the parlor before the bedroom, and he will put the books on his desk and start looking at the titles] So do you have plans for the rest of the day?

Cora: I was going to check with you, given that it is your birthday.

Stiles: The only thing I was planning was to go into the market and perhaps treat myself to a treat and something new.

Cora: Then I may join you, if you'd like.

Stiles: I will never complain about spending time with you.

Cora: [and that makes her smile] Very well. We shall go after we eat.

Stiles: [and he will leave one book on his desk to keep reading, and carefully put the others away]

Cora: [and she will wait for him to finish and down for food they will go]

Stiles: [and they will go to have lunch, seeing who would be there as well]

Laura: [teasing] Nice of you to join us.

Stiles: My apologies, m'lady. I was distracted.

Laura: Mmm-hmmm. Happy birthday, Stiles.

Stiles: I was. There was a large pile of books outside my door left perhaps by a house elf, and it attacked my ankles as I tried to leave my room for breakfast.

Derek: [snickers]

Laura: [smirks] Hopefully they did not injure you too greatly.

Stiles: No, I have recovered at this point. Though I did read through breakfast

Laura: They left engaging books then, I take it.

Stiles: Almost as if they knew me too well, m'lady.

Laura: Then it was clearly a worthwhile gift.

Stiles: I am very grateful and blessed.

Laura: Good. [and she will go back to her lunch for a moment] Do you have any plans for today?

Stiles: Lady Cora and I were going to explore the markets.

Laura: Enjoy then. I also have it on good authority the cook is preparing something for you for later.

Stiles: [smiles] I will make sure I do not miss it then.

Laura: Good.

Stiles: How are you doing today, m'lady?

Laura: I am doing well. It is a beautiful day.

Stiles: That it is.

Laura: Enjoy your trip to the market.

Stiles: Do you need me to pick up anything for you while we are there?

Laura: [she shakes her head] It is your birthday. You don't have to run errands for me.

Stiles: [he goes to open his mouth to say that he is going to be there and it wouldn't be a bother but he just shuts it and nods] Alright.

Laura: [it's okay she didn't have any anyway.]

Derek: My present to you is to cancel your sword fighting lesson for the day.

Stiles: That is another great present. My body appreciates it.

Cora: [she laughs] He is doing better though.

Derek: No, he is. We are building some muscle on him slowly and surely, and soon you will be able to fight blindfolded.

Stiles: That sounds deadly.

Derek: Only for you. [smiles]

Cora: Derek.

Derek: All my knights have done it. When in battle, if your helmet blocks your vision, you need to know how to use your ears to keep yourself alive. We do only use wooden sticks.

Laura: I would hope so. Do you know how hard it would be to convince your sister to find another husband after we worked so hard to get her to agree to marry this one?

Stiles: Plus I am pretty sure my uncle will come for your head.

Derek: [laughs]

Laura: That too. I don't think he'll buy "tragic sword fighting accident."

Stiles: I can handle wooden swords. As long as someone will pull the splinters out of me later.

Laura: [smirks] I'm sure you'll be able to find something to help with that.

Stiles: [and so they finish lunch and off to the market]

Cora: [and they will take a carriage because its easier to manage with Cora's dresses]

Stiles: [and he will hold her arm as she descends, and then gently taking it in his] So where shall we start?

Cora: It is your birthday. What are you looking for?

Stiles: I can go to the tailor first and you can help me pick out fabric for my shirts.

Cora: [she nods] I believe it's over here.

Stiles: So what colors should I look at getting? [walking towards the tailor]

Cora: [she tips her head as she considers for a moment] You do well in jewel tones.

Stiles: I tend to agree.

Cora: Do we have any specific events coming up?

Stiles: Beyond a wedding and honeymoon? [grins]

Cora: [a look] I was thinking formal events that aren't in our honor.

Stiles: Okay, we probably have at least one tourney to travel to and one that will be local.

Cora: Will you be wearing your family colors or dressing to match me?

Stiles: Well, I was thinking perhaps finding a way to merge them.

Cora: [tips her head to the side] How are you thinking?

Stiles: I'm not sure yet. Perhaps putting your blue into my family crest as a border?

Cora: Will it match well with yours?

Stiles: I'm sure it will.

Cora: Then I think that will be nice.

Stiles: After all, it will be our symbol.

Cora: It will. Though the triskele will always be part of mine.

Stiles: We will figure it out. Because it will also be a part of our children's one day.

Cora: [oh children. there are those pre-being a married woman jitters again, though she tries not to show it]

Stiles: But that's a long way off. [he knows it worries her] More than enough time to redesign a family crest.

Cora: [she glances over with a small smile and nods] Plenty of time.

Stiles: [and they reach the tailor, and in they go to pick out fabrics and then Stiles takes off his shirt to be measured]

Cora: [and she will wait in the proper place, keeping her attention more on the fabrics than her soon-to-be husband's physique.]

Stiles: [and when they are done and he is clothed again] Time to walk the stalls.

Cora: [she turns and nods with a small smile as she waits to take his arm again] Are you looking for something in particular?

Stiles: This time, no. Just to see what catches my eye.

Cora: Interesting.

Stiles: [and as they stroll, they will come buy a stand with candied nuts and he will get them a small bag to nibble on as they walk]

Cora: [snacks are always good. and she will get cute things for her nieces because she can]

Stiles: [and he will find a few new inks for his desk, and then he will find this piece of jewelry and hold it up to her] Do you like this?

Cora: [turns to face him and nods] It is beautiful.

Stiles: Lift up your hair. [he nods to the merchant, and will go to gently put it around Cora's neck]

Cora: [oh ... oh he is .... it's rude to refuse the gift so she simply swallows and nods, doing so, so he can put it on her]

Stiles: [and then he will stand back and admire her with it on] Yes, that really does look beautiful on you.

Cora: [her head ducks a bit] It is your birthday, Stiles. You don't have to buy gifts for me.

Stiles: But I like buying gifts for you.

Cora: [her hand comes up to rest against it before nodding] And I appreciate that. But you are going to spoil me.

Stiles: Do you mind me doing such?

Cora: I ... I am simply not used to it, I suppose.

Stiles: Well, you will just have to get used to it. Because I do intend on spoiling you every day that I can.

Cora: [she ducks her head again, her cheeks coloring slightly] You don't need to.

Stiles: I know I don't need to. I want to.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath and nods] Then I will try to adjust.

Stiles: And you are welcome to spoil me in return. [grins]

Cora: [she laughs] I will try.

Stiles: [and he will pay the merchant, and then lean in] May I kiss the lady?

Cora: [she glances up with a smile and nods]

Stiles: [and since they were in public, he will just give her a chaste kiss against her lips before going to take her arm again]

Cora: [and she will go with him, keeping close and leaning into his shoulder]

Stiles: [and then Stiles will buy a few more things for himself that he needs, and then there is the book dealer who knows them both very well]

Cora: [yay books. Cora's favorite thing]

Stiles: [and they can pick up a few together to read later, and he will have them delivered to the manor]

Cora: [yep, sounds perfect, and back to the manor they will go for some snuggle time?]

Stiles: [yup, with his new pile of books]

Cora: [and she will totally just snuggle up against his side and let him read to her]

Stiles: [which he will, and the book is in German to keep practicing the language]

Cora: [and she will occasionally correct his pronunciation]

Stiles: [and he will be gracious on that]

Cora: [she'd hope. she's just trying to help]

Stiles: [and of course there are a few love poems in this text that he reads to her]

Cora: [which will make her smile and blush because blushing is her default]

Stiles: [and he will of course try and tempt her into a kiss]

Cora: [which she will give him because they are alone and no one is watching]

Stiles: [and he is a good boy still because they aren't married yet, so he uses his hands only to keep her balanced next to him]

Cora: [which she appreciates because while she had been responsive to the one time his hands had wandered more, she's a good girl and doesn't want to go there yet]

Stiles: [and eventually they will be summoned to dinner]

Cora: [where there will be Stiles' favorite meal, as well as cake for dessert]

Stiles: [luckiest man ever]

Cora: [yep. they love you Stiles]

Stiles: [and he loves them all too.]

Cora: [and after dinner they will probably be left to themselves again]

Stiles: [yup. back to reading and snuggling until it's bedtime]

Cora: [and she will pull herself away unless he's in her quarters]

Stiles: [groans, not wanting to let her go] Stay.

Cora: It is late. I need to return to my room.

Stiles: [pouts] But it's my birthday.

Cora: If I don't leave now, I will fall asleep here and then what will people think? [not that she thinks her family will particularly care, but appearances, Stiles!!!]

Stiles: [sighs, but he will let her go] I understand.

Cora: [small smile as she shifts to her feet] Goodnight, Stiles.

Stiles: [goes to stand as well] Goodnight, my love.

Cora: [and with that she will give him a small smile and turn to head back to her room]