Special gifts for special days

Writers: Cymiri, Jelena
Date Posted: 24th June 2013

Characters: Sinla, Daimhin, Genna
Description: Daihmin pays Sinla a visit for her birthingday and things nearly get out of hand.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 26 of Turn 6

Genna

He was worried that it was late.

Not as late, of course, as the other times they'd met. But this
time...this time he wasn't an on-duty guard doing his work, but an
off-duty [til the next hour, at least] young man without a wife to
drag along on his socialising to make it all look more prim and
proper.

All the same, his intentions were perfectly honest. He was even in
uniform and all. He just could never quite shake the feeling that the
gossip mongers he so loved working over could start gossip he *didn't*

want. But then, he was paranoid and years in the guard weren't exactly
*fixing* that.

But birthingdays were important, and you didn't miss them. It was that simple.

So he stuck to trying to radiate honest integrety when he knocked on a
certain door.

Sinla looked up curiously at the knock. It was quite late for anymore
visitors, her little adventure with Chupsin had taken up most of her
evening and when they had parted ways, Sinla had been of half a mind
to turn to bed. But however much the evening had cheered her up, there
was still a lot to mull over and she had decided on one more drink
before she turned in. Lucky she had, or she might not have heard the
knocking. Sinla made her way to the door and opened it just a crack, a
smile spreading on her face quickly when she saw just who was at her
door. "Daihmin!" she stepped back quickly to usher him in. "What
brings you here in the dead of night?

"Not quite dead! We've got a little life in the old thing yet!"

He quipped chirpily, and with a smile. It wavered slightly when he
sensed she wasn't exactly the elated birthingday girl he'd expected,
so his next words were softer.

"Had to make it while it was still your birthingday, after all.
Otherwise I'd feel a little silly on this task."

For a moment, Sinla's jaw actually dropped. "Wha - how -" she paused
for a moment to compose herself. "How did you know it's my birthingday
today?" It was obvious she greatly appreciated him coming over in the
way she beamed at him as she sat down on her couch, gesturing him to
do the same. Her own husband had forgotten, but here Daihmin was.
Just.. wow.

"Chupsin."

He confessed with a grin that was meant to be bashful and wasn't
really as he sank to the seat.

"Your little brother admires his big sister a touch more then he'll
admit. You have been mentioned, among naughty boys with wine bottles.
And I have a...mind for details."

That made being nosy sound practically righteous.

"And I naturally presumed no lady's special day would be complete
without me being wonderful at her!"

He dropped the bluff for his next words

"I also wanted to give you this."

With which he offered her, rather more bashful then he'd have liked to
be, a slim package.

Ah, her brother, how good he was to her of late, even without knowing
so himself! "Well this lady's day wouldn't have been for sure," she
smiled at him, before her eyes grew even wider with excitement at the
offered present.

"Oh Daihmin, you didn't have to get my anything!" she protested very
lady-like, though her fingers felt at the package curiously. "But
thank you so much."

She unwrapped it quickly with nimble fingers to reveal a hairpin. Not
the jeweled kind her husband made her on occasion, but a practical
one like those she used to pin her hair up before adding ornaments.
However simple it may be, it was a gift she felt she treasured more
already than any pricey ornament her husband would make her once he
finally got home. This one came from the heart, didn't it? She looked
up at Daihmin with a smile. "Thank you, it's wonderful."

"This I think I did, Miss Prowls-At-Night."

He bent forward, sliding the gift from her fingers, trying not to be
obvious about the fact he was dreadfully aware of the skin contact
that accompanied it.

With an adept spin, he slid the bottom half of the little hair toy
away from the top, exposing a delicately slim but sharp blade. He said
nothing, just slid it back together to resemble the innocuous little
gadget it was.

"Slightly dangerous, just like you."

He hadn't *really* meant to say that.

Sinla's smile turned just a little wicked as the secret behind the pin
was revealed and she looked up at him with eager eyes. This would
certainly come in handy, should she come across anymore night time
drunks in the future. After putting it carefully down on the table she
grabbed his hands, her eyes alight with joy. "Thank you, Daihmin, this
might be the best present I've ever had!" And she wasn't lying either,
at the moment she really did feel it was. Something to defend herself
with, no one had ever thought to give her something like that.

He smiled, doubting the sincerity of the words but pleased by the
reaction, and the smile.

"Well, at least it got a happier face out of you then I was met with."

His hands tightened on hers automatically.

"You are welcome, mi'lady. So long as you don't use it on any of *our*
men, of course."

"Of course not," Sinla smiled, feeling the warm glow of his hand on
hers. How did he always know just what to say? Or what to do even,
that present was spot on after her run in with those drunkards. She
had had enough drinks not to resist against the plans she had been
forging herself anymore and slowly she leaned forward, towards his
warmth, and lifted her head towards his lips.

"Sinla..."

The tone held caution, warning, sense. Apparently, his mind was paying
full attention. A pity his body had reacted more instinctively,
leaning towards her even as every warning sense screamed against it.

At least he didn't let their lips brush.

"Daihmin," Sinla started, but she was roughly interrupted by an opening door.

"Mo-" Genna froze in the doorway of her bedchamber, eyes wide as she
took in the scene before her. It took her more than just a few seconds
to register just what she was seeing and by then Sinla had pulled
back, trying to look inconspicuous. "Genna, dear, why are you up so
late?" she even managed to sound as strict as ever.

Daihmin was disgusted with himself.

Disgusted that the canny streak that always served him well so easily
lept to the front, preventing him leaping back in startled horror,
keeping in place the calm attitude of a man who had nothing to hide.
That even provided a soft "I think its gone" as though all that had so
nearly happened was the apprehension of a naughty bug or errant
strand.

But mainly, he was just disgusted with himself for what he'd almost done.

"Thank you," Sinla smiled politely but with proper distance in her tone as she turned to her daughter, brushing at her cheek once more for good measure. "Now, what's the problem, dear?"

Genna was still staring, but now some kind of hesitation had come over her. It wasn't as if her mother was capable of anything improper, was it? "I.. I just wanted to get some water," Genna shrugged, moving through the room, trying not to pay too much attention to Daihmin's presence as she poured herself a glass. What was he doing here, though?

"But yes, I should get going, least the misfits I scold for being late decide to notice me being so for once."

A grin that was forced to start with softened slightly as it lit on Sinla.

"May the year ahead bring you joy, m'lady."

He gave the younger girl a nod as well.

"Thank you, Daihmin," Sinla said, trying to keep the affection out of her voice but failing at least a little. "Thank you for stopping by, it was very kind of you."

Last updated on the June 27th 2013

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Special gifts for special days