Title: Verbal Sparring
Prompt: Wrapping Paper (18/25)
Character(s): Saetan, Gabrielle, ensemble Dark Court
Word Count: 199
On time! Victory!
It was customary for the coven to use illusion spells to make their presents appear as though they were wrapped. Doing so let the girls show off. Invariably, Khary made a comment about how one of the girls had terrible taste, and the Realm's largest pissing contest followed.
Rubbing his temples and wondering if it was too early for a brandy, Saetan watched the coven squabble. Khary was yelling at Karla and Morghann – if it could be called yelling. It really wasn't yelling, if he were to assess the situation fairly, but who wanted to be fair? – and Jaenelle was antagonizing Lucivar, goading him into an explosive discussion with Aaron. Kalush appeared to be smoothing things over with Sceron and Chaosti, but the latter still looked like he was considering beating the former.
Gabrielle dropped onto the chair beside him, wedging herself between his hip and the chair's arm, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Isn't it nice to have family?" she asked lightly.
He balked at answering. "It's nice to have people in the Hall again."
"You should celebrate Winsol with me and Chaosti and Grandmammy Teele one day," Gabrielle said.
Saetan choked. Quietly. Discreetly.
She still noticed.