This really isn't a shining example of RP by any means (I think it was a weird time of day for both of us), but once the snowballs started flying, it got quite funny. 

 

It's Ceriday, Khael 15 22:08:30 1004. The full moon isn't up. The tide is low and rising.

The sky is grey-black, moonless and starless. Human eyes can distinguish the snow from everything else, and not much more: every shape that isn't snow-covered is a black shadow. The air is damp and cold. There is little wind.

 

OH MY DEAR SWEET DAEUS RAWSONE IS IN A DRESS. Ahem. No, really. The ranger is fighting with skirts as she walks up from the south. The dress is covered in a cloak, but appears to be comparatively plain. And also green. Rochanna appears to be the only animal with her at the moment.

 

Of course, Rochanna will soon leave her side to go after Agril, right? That's what always happens when Agril appears because Agril always has apples! Right?! Anyways, the priest is a little dirty as he emerges from the Temple Plaza.

 

Of course! Although the horse DID get a lecture about apples and Daeusites, so it's somewhat sneakily that she heads over toward Agril. Rawsone, meanwhile, waves but doesn't meet his eye. She's in a DRESS, after all.

 

Rochanna gets her apple and Agril gets sprayed with apple bits. So what else is new? Anyways, he nods his head towards Rawsone and says, "It is good to see you, Rawsone, though I must say I am surprised to see you in a dress at this time of year." He smiles, but doesn't look directly at her out of politeness. "How are you?"

Rawsone opens her mouth as if she's going to try to explain, then gives up and closes it after a moment. "Fine," she says, just a touch defensively. "You? Rochanna, don't bug him." Rochanna is just nudging him nicely! In case more apples appear!

Agril says, carefully, "I meant no offense, Rawsone," he says, firmly, petting Rochanna! He walks her back over to Rawsone, though.

"Not taking any," Rawsone says, though it's a bit gruff. Now that she's had her apple, Rochanna happily walks back over to the ranger, swishing her tail. Maybe the ranger has more apples!

 

Agril smiles, of course, and then says, "So what has you out and about on a cold day like this?" He doesn't seem to mind the cold, himself, one bit

 

"Just going to meet Zak," Rawsone replies. And probably surprise him with the fact that she's WEARING A DRESS. Ahem. "Think he's up at the 'Hall."

 

"Oh! Well, certainly. Don't let me keep you if you're on your way somewhere," says Agril warmly to her, "I am sure Zak will love it, Rawsone."

 

"Nah, it's okay. Have to come through here if he's up there and he goes somewhere," Rawsone replies with a shake of her head. "How's Trouble? He finish all his medicine?" Rochanna tries to lean against Rawsone, but obviously it doesn't work all that well.

 

"He did," says Agril, "but not without extracting some serious vengeance in the process." He rubs his hands. "I am quite thankful that I am a cleric.'

 

Rawsone sighs. "Sorry. Probably should've done it myself. Can't trust a cat. Speaking of which, you had any more kittens?" Not, uh, personally, one would assume.

 

"...not -yet-. Or that I'm aware of,' says Agril, relievedly, "Trouble does roam a lot and there's a fair number of cats out there, but I doubt we'll be hearing from any more angry people about my cat and there's yowling at each other until spring." He shudders.

 

"Cats do mate in winter sometimes," Rawsone says, but she shrugs and nervously pulls part of her dress around her leg. It's quite clear she's not completely comfortable in it. Or, well, at all comfortable. "Hoping none of 'em get near our place because of the snow for a while."

 

"You don't think Rana'll have -another- batch, do you?" Agril looks horrified. Soon, the whole city will be swarmed with Ranaspawn!

 

"Expect she'll keep having 'em until she dies," Rawsone says with a shrug. "'S the way of things. Cats make more cats." And Liberators make more....er. "Can't see her living -too- much longer, though. Not with the life she's had."

 

"Well, with the care you give her and your own talents, I'd be surprised if she -didn't- live much longer. Now, whether or not she'll be able to safely have more kittens, that's a good question." Agril nods his head up and down. "I knew a friend who had a cat once. Cat lived to be sixteen years of age. Can you believe that? -Sixteen-!" Sixteen years of RANA. FEAR.

 

For just a moment, judging by the panicked look on Rawsone's face, she forgets she's wearing a dress. "Yeah, but...didn't get the cat off the street when it was already several years old, did he? And it's not easy stopping her having kittens if she wants 'em."

 

"I don't know," says Agril, "but I can imagine that you still might have several years of life left in her. Of course, it's hard to say with any certainy. I just know farmer as well who've had cats live a very long time, assuming they don't get picked off by a predator."

 

Rawsone shrugs. "Well, we'll see how much time the gods give us with her." The ranger carefully doesn't say which gods, even if it's obviously Garm or Illotha. Or both. "Anyhow, how's Greta?"

 

"Much better now that Trouble is healthy again. She was worried about her little mouser," or, as she calls him, the Devil Cat. "She's forgotten all about The Apple Incidenct."

"Good," Rawsone sighs, even though she's not really scared of Greta. "Just better hope she and Mayhew never get together. Mayhew tapped me with a stick the other day. Actually thought Zak was going to deck her for it." Knowing Mayhem, she probably did a *little* more than tap Rawsone (but not a lot more).

"...that would be a terrifying combination," agrees Agril with a worried look on his face. "I hope they already haven't. We'd never know until it was too late."

"Think we'd hear the meeting from far off. Not sure they'd see eye to eye much." Pause. "If they did, we'd be in real trouble. They'd...you'd go past Daeus' temple and get put to work by Greta because she'd tell Mayhew if you didn't."

"...yes," says Agril with a troubled look on his face. "Let us cease speaking of this pairing before it reaches Greta's ears and she makes our lives ones filled with fear."

"All right." Rawsone fiddles with the dress again, and looks to the north--just in case Zak happens to appear. Which he doesn't, so she looks back to Agril.

"..anyways!" Agril clears his throat. "Where were we? Ah, yes. Trouble is very good now! Ha ha ha." Nervous laughter.

"That's good. Just...just let me know if anything like that happens again," Rawsone says, picking at the dress again. "How's...how's Cecily? Haven't seen her much."

"Well, to the best of my knowledge," says Agril, warmly. "She is doing very well. I have not touched base with her for some time myself, in all honesty, but the last I knew? Very, very good. She's growing fast."

"Good, good, I'm glad she's...good," Rawsone replies, clearly thankful for the subject change. "She gets lonely, there's lots of children at the Battlehall to play with." As Rawsone found out. "They're...well, they're Averite children, though."

 

"That they are. I doubt it'd be a problem. It can't hurt to broaden her horizons when the time is right," Agril says, beaming.

 

"Just be sure someone's watching them." Pause. "Someone responsible. See their parents hitting each other all day in the courtyard, don't understand their parents've learned how not to hurt people when they do it." Sighing again, Rawsone shakes her head. "Really don't know how I'm going to do it."

 

"Of course," says Agril, firmly, "Wouldn't want anyone to actually get -hurt-. I'll make sure that someone is watching if it takes place." A pause, "someone who isn't Greta. Or Mayhew."

 

"Or Lilly," Rawsone tells him. "Maybe Baira, if you told her what was going on. Anyway, just figure there's more children here than there. Shouldn't grow up on her own without other children." Or else she'll turn into...oh, wait.

 

"Lilly might be a good idea," suggests Agril, thoughtfully. "Well, it's not like she's not playing with other children, but having her meet -more- is always a good thing." He nods.

 

Rawsone shakes her head. "No, Lilly...Lilly'll just think it's funny," Rawsone says with a shake of her head. "Really not old enough. Baira's...at least been married. And had things happen. Anyway, know you'll make the right decision."

"Hm, are you sure? I thought it might be a good experience for her if she's planning on getting married soon herself," Agril rubs his chin, then says, "Baira, definitely. I can see that. And thank you."

 

"Don't think Kevin's asked her yet," Rawsone replies, shaking her head. "Not entirely sure, though. Don't...well, they talk a lot about things, and..." and she doesn't pay all that much attention. Just like a man!

 

"Well, you know her far better than me so I will take your word for it," says Agril with a smile. A warm smile. He runs a hand over the top of his head and then bends down to begin collecting some snow in his hands.

 

Rochanna immediately thinks the snow is edible, so she bends down herself to take a few bites before shaking out her mane. Edible, but not worth eating. "Me who needs the practice, I suppose. Mayhew's already told me so." Pause. "What're you doing?"

 

"Why, making a snowball," says Agril, cheerily. He's not going to throw one at Rawsone, is he? Probably not.

 

"...Oh?" Rawsone hesitates, watching him. "...Why?" No sense of humor.

 

"I'm going to hit someone with it," says Agril, thoughtfully, with a nod.

 

"...Why?" Rawsone has seen snowball fights before. She just doesn't 'get' them. Which is entirely too bad, because it meant that she missed the infamous Einzhen Gets Hit With A Snowball incident.

 

"Because it'll be funny if I can target someone like, say, Isabelle. It'd make her really mad," says Agril, happily.

 

Rawsone glances around, providing a perfect target if he so wishes. "...Don't see her, though," she points out. So naieve.

 

Agril is tempted. So tempted. But he's not -mean- enouh to do that when Rawsone is in a dress and looking all nice for Zak. Instead, he nails a fellow, unsuspecting priest, who comically flails.

 

Luckily for Tarien, the priest turns around and finds Agril and Rawsone standing there. Since clearly a fellow Daeusite didn't hit him... "I'll get you for that, Gilead!" He's laughing, though, as he hastily sculpts a snowball and sends it flying toward Rawsone.

 

Agril watches with a horrified look on his face for a moment and then bursts out laughing.

 

SPLUT! The snowball hits the surprised priestess square in the face. She yelps, and does the very first thing that comes to mind. "It was him!" she wails, pointing at Agril. Apparently it's convincing, because the other priest laughs. "Sorry about that, then!" he calls as he dives for more snow. Rawsone is trying (unsuccessfully) to brush the snow off in such a way as to not let it melt and run down her dress.

"...ahahahahaha," goes Agril, "I'm s-sorry!" He's doubled over, now, and an easy target for the first couple snowballs slung his way! He waves his arms comically and falls down on his rear, but eventually regains his composure to fling back at the random priest! Poor, poor priest.

 

The other priest is more than happy to escalate, as are a couple of passing Korites. And, because they're Korites, and therefore gleefully shouting, "KOR!" a whole lot, the Korites in the courtyard soon come out to join in. One of Reos' clergy comes out with an invention that lets him scoop snow up and fling it much easier than it would be by hand (he almost immediately gets tackled by one of the Korites). In the middle of all of it? Is Rawsone. Rochanna's quick to get to the relative safety of the stables, but the priestess is, ahem, frozen to the spot. And occasionally hit because someone can't aim, or it's funny, or someone thinks she's playing.

 

Agril, eventually, does move to guard Rawsone because he's nice like that. He gets in front of her to take the blow, even proclaiming that he's defending her from the depredations of these evil others! While throwing snowballs.

 

Well. That's pretty much all the reason one of the more exuberant Korites need. "FOR KOR!" he yells, running through the snow in what attempts to be an attempt to bowl Agril over. Who knows what he's planning to do once he gets to Rawsone.

 

It's a good thing Agril's a pretty tough guy when push comes to shove. Sure, he's not huge or particularly muscled, but he's stronger than he looks and thus he grabs a hold of the Korite and goes to wrestle him into the ground! And make him yield. YIELD. VICTORIOUS!

 

....At which time Agril promptly gets dog-piled by Korites. And while they're busy? Another one runs past them all and picks up Rawsone, throwing her over his shoulder. "KOOOOORRR!" he bellows, as Rawsone screams. The Korites are just playing, of course, but *she's* completely lost. "TAKE THAT, DAEUS!" Because apparently Rawsone is considered to be on the side of the Daeusites. Or at least not one of Kor's!

 

"...hey! Put her down!" Agril is dogpiled, though. "She's Zak's wife! Leave her be!" He's a bit concerend that the Korites are a bit carried away, but he has more pressing concerns right now. Like the knees and elbows in his face.

 

It's all right. We all remember Rawsone was recently kidnapped, right? Too bad for the Korite that he didn't know about it. Even if the Korites are carried away, it's nothing compared to the way Rawsone reacts. There's a few well-placed, meaty *thuds* along with some continued hysterical screaming, and Rawsone is not only free but the Korite who was carrying her is unconscious (and if he's not, he's WISHING he was given where she hit him).

Agril does what all men in that situation do: He winces in sympathy for the poor bastard who took the groin shot from Rawsone. He promptly pushes off his attackers, though, and gets to his feet. "I tried warning you," he says, panting, "I really did."

 

Rawsone's attack brings the snowball fight to a tentative halt. The other Korites wince, and stare...and then, after a moment, there's some scattered applause and calls of "KOR!" A woman in a dress just knocked out one of their warriors, after all--they're impressed! Rawsone, on the other hand, is backing up, one fist raised and the other reaching for her bow, albeit hesitantly.

 

Sympathetic glances are continually directed his way and Agril casually makes his way towards Rawsone. "I did not mean for it to spin out of control like that. My apologies. Are you all right?"

 

The Temple Circle appears to have just been in the grip of a massive snowball fight between Korites and...well, all you really need are Korites. However, someone ran with scissors and put an eye...er, someone's unconscious on the ground. Some Altheans are carefully coming out to tend to him. Rawsone, meanwhile, stops going for the bow. "What WAS that?!?" She's a little hysterical.

 

"...that was a a snowball fight," says Agril, carefully, to Rawsone. "Sadly, the Korites changed the rules of the game on us.'

 

"WHY!?" Given that the snowball fight is starting up again, it's probably a good idea for Agril to steer Rawsone toward the temple and perhaps a hot cup of tea, Zak or no.

 

Soooo doing exactly that. "For fun," explains Agril, "Look at them. They're all laughing and smiling," he points out. "See?"

 

"He grabbed me!" Rawsone is calming down a little, but not a whole lot. Still, she allows herself to be led into the temple. And probably to Greta. Poor ranger.