Chapter Text
Holly awoke with a groan, an incoherent mumble, and a deep sigh. She hadn’t slept particularly well. Firstly, she was in a bed that was simply far too large for her, as well as being far too fancy. I mean, c’mon, who on earth had a four poster bed with drapes in this day and age? Plus, she never was entirely comfortable sleeping away from home, despite her place being far less grandiose than the abode she spent the night in. Throwing the covers off and dragging herself over to the curtains, she threw them open, and was greeted with the lovely, pleasant sight of nothing but white. Scrunching her eyes tightly closed, she spun away from the window, and whined. Why, oh why, was it so bloody bright out there? A knock on the door interrupted her moping. Slowly, she mustered up the willpower to trudge over and open it just a peek, along with her eyes. There stood Artemis, as presentable as ever. He glanced at her up and down, then put on that smirk, as annoying as ever. She wanted to smack it off his face, as she so often did.
“Mmmm…what?” she managed to spit out from between her dry lips and still only half awake mind.
“Oh my, Commodore, no good morning?” he said, mock hurt in his voice. He wasn’t particularly convincing.
“Arty, it’s probably like 6 in the morning and I’ve just woken up. Whatdya want?”
“Actually, we’re eight hours, thirty-four minutes and… sixteen seconds into the day, I’ll have you know. And I came here, out of the kindness of my heart, to give you the oh so wondrous news that it has snowed over the night.”
“I know. That’s the reason I’m here. You wouldn't let me go out in that ‘dreadful blizzard that has encompassed the house, lest you be swept away by its vortex-like power’. Or something like that. So, thank you, Arty, but I’m going back to sleep now. Unless there’s anything else?”
“I’m going to ignore just how much you butchered my voice in that pitiful mockery of my speech, but yes, that is what I said, so you deserve at least some credit. Regardless, I came to rouse you as I wished to ask if you would willingly go for a walk with me out in the snow? It will melt soon enough, and since the violent storm has now faded, a pristine opportunity to enjoy the snow has arisen.”
“Huh? I practically had to drag you out of the house yesterday to come out in the snow, and now you’re all like ‘ooh I love snow ooh~’.”
“Once again, I will ignore your mockery, as I am not so childish as to fall for such weak tactics of trying to rouse my anger. Furthermore, my actions yesterday were entirely driven by my own mind, and were not swayed by your actions.”
“You literally said it was ‘the last thing I wish to do’.”
He deflated a little at this, dropping the pompous act he’d had since he arrived. “Sometimes, Holly, your good memory is both a curse and a blessing.”
“I’ve heard that before. Tell ya what - gimme half an hour, and I’ll be ready, okay?” With that, she went to shut the door, but Artemis stuck a foot in at the last moment.
“Oh, one last thing, Holly - next time you sleep over, please bring your own clothes. As dashing as you look in nothing more than one of my shirts, I’d appreciate you not creasing it in dozens of places. Ironing them is simply more of a hassle than it’s worth, you see.”
Guffawing, she pulled open the door again to see Artemis smirking, albeit with a light blush on his face.
“I wasn’t even gonna stay - it was your idea - and dashing?? - you filthy - ohd’arvitgetoutalreadyihateyou - aughh!”
With a huff, she shut the door again, hiding her flushed face from poor Artemis, who hadn’t quite reeled back in time and was now clutching his nose in pain. Still, he chuckled as he walked away, the clicks of his shoes growing ever quieter. Feeling equally annoyed, embarrassed, and probably something else that she wouldn’t admit, Holly began to get ready for her walk. That she definitely wasn’t looking forward to, she’ll have you know!