(Oh, that’s good to hear ^^)
Dove nodded excitedly, turning her attention to watch Eevie make the twists. With her smaller and clumsier fingers, it was difficult to get the hang of it, but she managed to get it to where the twisted hair wouldn’t unravel. However, they ended up looking rather awkward and crooked in the process.
David closed his eyes as he was kissed, then opened them again to see where Eevie was pointing. “Sounds good, little lamb,” he shifted his gaze back to his husband. “I bet he’ll look absolutely dashing by the time you’re done.” His smile grew, sending the silent message that Killian was already dashing, even without the braids.
His expression softened when he heard the question. As their fingers entwined he gave his husband a kiss of his own, pressing his lips to his cheek. He pulled away, murmuring, “Ah, I suppose like any other day. Heard a maid found a rat infestation in the cellars. And I was hoping to teach Dove to control her transformations later…” his eyes flickered with more focus. “But what about you, my dear?”
Killian leaned into the kiss abd gently tugged David closer, a glimmer of pure amusement in his eyes at hearing the compliments. He arched an eyebrow "rats, really? We'll have to check that out, wouldn't want them reaching the kitchen." He chewed his lip in thought before tilting his head. "We can always go out to the pastures where there's more open space instead of staying cooped up in here. It'll give a good chance to take out the horses as well." Killian suggested, glancing back at their daughters as he felt more tugging at his scalp.
He sighed heavily and shrugged, "mostly very long, very boring meetings with the council. This is the only real break I've gotten all day." He flinch slightly as he felt a sharp yank followed by an apology from Eevie. He smiled softly and gently leaned his head against David's shoulder, closing his eyes momentarily. "You can braid my hair too, love, before these two do God knows what to it."
“No, we would not,” David agreed. He took a deep breath and let his shoulders relax, though he squeezed Killian’s hand a little with eagerness. “Ahh, yes, that sounds nice. Let’s do that.” The idea of going outside was already appealing to him, he was very much an outdoorsman. Most of his duties had required him to stay inside for most of the day, and so he was itching to go out into the fresh air.
Then he grimaced in sympathy. “You know, the council should really have days where they shake it up a bit, you know? Make things more exciting. But I hope you’re enjoying your break- oh, careful, girls.” He chuckled, enjoying the feeling of Killian’s head on his shoulder, but having to reposition himself so he could better see the back of his head. “Oooh, I know, why don’t we make it one big braid, with the smaller braids and twists woven into it?” His fingers began absentmindedly combing through Killian’s snowy locks.
Killian let out a deep pur as David ran his hands through his hair, having always loved his husband's touch. "I'm sure we will. The summer festival is approaching soon. This is most likely last minute things we have to do in preparation for the festival."
Eevie let out a squeal of excitement and bounced around "I can't wait for the festival, it's going to be so much fun, especially after the winter we had!"
Killian nodded slightly, his smile widening, "it will, ah and I heard our neighboring kingdom will be attending the summer ball. Queen Nejah will be bringing her son this year, Prince Amir, along with his sister, princess Circe. It'd be good for he both of you to get to know them." He said, gently nudging Eevie. "You and the princess have been writing to each other this past winter, it must be exciting to be able to see her again." He mused with a smile. He was never one to assume something as important other oeie's relationships but Everytime the Princess if Noirish was mentioned, he often noticed his eldest daughter blushing like mad. He winked and gently nodded to Dove so as to not disturb now the three people working on his hair. "And this will be your first ball since the wedding, right songbird?" He smiled softly as he thought back to their wedding day, always a beautiful memory in his mind of both their beautiful girls and his beautiful husband.
David carefully separated the hair into three somewhat equal sections, placing the ones on either side over Killian’s shoulder so they wouldn’t mix together again while the girls finished their braids. He smiled as Eevie squealed. “Ahhh, I see. Yes, that will definitely be exciting,” he echoed. “Especially with the lovely Princess Circe at the ball.” He gave his eldest a teasing glance before turning to Dove and gently brushing his hand up and down her arm.
The girl was quiet, eyes fixed on the twist she was making. Upon feeling her father’s hand, she looked up at him and blinked as if she hadn’t heard what had been said.
“Dovey,” David tilted his head. “The summer festival is coming soon. Are you excited?”
Her eyes grew wide, and she nodded vigorously. “Oh! Yes, yes! Summer festival sounds very fun.” A smile grew on her face, then she turned her attention back to the twist. David let out a small sigh and and patted her shoulder before dropping his hand.
Once the smaller braids and twists were finished, David separated them with the sections of hair that weren’t braided, then began weaving them into neat plaits.
Eevie flushed a deep red but couldn't deny what her parents said. Of course she was excited to see the princess, and of course see the prince but she wasn't as close with him as she was with Circe. "It'll be very nice to see both of them again." She said, giving her dad's a pointed look before finishing off her last few braids.
"Eevie, you can teach Dovey how to dance as well. You have been going to Madame Simone's dance lessons, right?" Before even his daughter could respond, Killian knew her answer. Eevie had never been one for tutors or boring classes. He heard her little hooves shuffle in place with discomfort as she walked to his front and plopped down in his lap, arms crossed defiantly over her chest. "Papa, I'm old enough that I don't need a dance teacher. I can learn by myself. Plus I don't like Madame Simone, she's mean." Killian gently stroked his daughter's hair "oh really? And how are you going to dance with the princess?" He asked, earning him a very typical teenage response of 'daaaaad!' Killiab laughed and raised his hands in defense "am I wrong to assume you won't dance with her?"
Eevie shook her head and buried her face in his chest. "She won't care if I dance funny." She replied, peeking over Killian's shoulder to watch him braids the hair. "Dad, are you a good dancer?"
David laughed as well seeing Eevie bury her face. “Well, I had to be. My mother is a natural hostess, and organized parties and balls quite often when I was young. I might be a bit rusty at it now, though.” He paused in his braiding, having remembered something. “Oh yes, I believe I stepped on your Papa’s toe once during the wedding, but otherwise I think I swept him off his feet.” He smirked, peeking over Killian’s shoulder before leaning back and continuing to braid. “How about I teach you, then?”
Dove crossed her arms over her chest. “Do I have to? I don’t like the slow dancing, it’s boring. What did you call it? ‘Walting?’”
"oh he definately did both," Killian chuckled lightly, glancing over his shoulder and stealing a quick kiss on the lips when he leaned in. "But that'd be great. Maybe you'd like it better if your father taught you instead of Madame Simone." He mused, glancing over at Eevie and finding her with a giant smile on her face. Yes!" She cheered, bouncing out Killian's lap and Swooping Dove up into her arms, "we can do it together Dovey. it'll be fun! Even the slow ones." She reassured, spinning her sister around and giggling in delight. "Maybe dad can teach us some more fun dances, too!"
David startled at the kiss, causing him to let go of the strands of hair he was holding. “Lian!” He whined and laughed at the same time. “You messed me up, now I have to redo it. Just keep your head still, will you?” Shaking his own head, he heard his girls giggling together. “It’s called waltzing, Dovey. And yes, I definitely know some fun, fast dances I would love to show you.” Quickly finishing the braid this time, he took back the hair tie and twisted it around the end of the braid.
Dove smiled wide, laughing and spreading her arms wide. “Okay, okay! That does sound fun, haha.”
"what? Am I not allowed to kiss my husband?" He pouted but that soon turned to laughter as he faced forwards and kept his head still until David finished the braid.
Eevie laughed and spun around with her sister, now excited about learning to dance. She eventually slowed and set Dove down. "We can try to dance now, it'll be good practice for later." She suggested, straightening her back and puting her arms out in front her as if on a partner's waist and shoulder.
Killian shifted in his place to better watch, a proud, serene smile falling to his lips as he watched his daughters dance, or at least try to dance.
“Not while I’m doing something that requires a lot of concentration,” he replied, raising his brow. Then he laughed with him. “Just kidding.”
He moved to sit next to Killian, lacing their fingers together again and deciding to study their daughters, and see what they already knew about dancing. He was already smiling with amusement before long.
Dove’s giggling faded as she was sent down on the floor. She watched Eevie with wide eyes, then copied her pose. Immediately she began spinning again, seeming determined to make herself dizzy. The giggles started up again, and after a few moments she succeeded, because the spinning young girl was soon replaced by a white bird flapping its wings and awkwardly landing on the floor.
"ah so I'm allowed to distract you?" He grinned and nuzzled David's cheek, gently squeezing their linked hands together. "An interesting tidbit of information for later." He murmured, pressing a kiss to the corner of his husband's lips before leaning back and watching their daughters.
Eevie stifly stepped in a square, trying her best not to slip on the smooth marble floor with her hooves. She glanced over at Dove, smiling encouragingly at her little sister as she started to copy Eevie. That is, until the young girl changed into a bird. Eevie chuckled lightly and gently scooped up her sister, setting the bird on her head between her horns. "You're so good at dancing that you change into a bird, Dovey."
“No, wait-“ He started to regret saying anything. Killian had a habit of doing that to him, and he couldn’t decide if it was annoying or not. In any case, he wasn’t complaining about more kisses and cuddles.
Dove cooed in reply, her wings twitching as she was picked up and set on her sister’s head. Still rather disoriented, she buried her head in her feathers for a moment. Once she had relaxed, she raised her head again, her gaze snapping in different directions until it landed on her father. She then lifted her wings, and dashed from Eevie to David. He laughed as she landed on his shoulder.
“You’re very good at dancing, birdy,” He chuckled, lifting his finger and letting her nibble at it with her small, pinkish beak. “Are you sure you need help changing back?”
The bird warbled with insistence, now perching on his fingers. He brought her in front of him and sighed. “It would help if we went outside,” he told her. “Let’s watch your sister first until she’s done, yeah?”
Dove cooed softly, then flew back to perch on Eevie’s head, opting to flap her wings and bob her head so she could dance too. David laughed again, though he worried she would be stuck in that form for hours, as was the case in other incidents before this. Usually she would change back after five to ten minutes or so.
Killian arched an eyebrow at David, a feral grin spreading on his lips, knowing he had flustered his dear husband yet again.
He watched as Dove flew over. He nodded in agreement to David and gently stroked her feathers when she moved to perch on her father's finger. "We may not even need the extra classes for you two." He said with a laugh watching as Dove flew back to her sister and started 'dancing' with her. He gently leaned his head against David's shoulder, trying his best to stifle a yawn as he watched his daughters dance and play together, the long day before catching up to him now. "We'll bring her outside soon so she can shift back." He reassured softly. "Maybe out to the gardens." He suggested
David responded to his husband’s grin with a furrowed brow and a small pout. You win. This time.
He let go of Killian’s hand so he could wrap his arm around his waist. Another sigh escaped him as he turned his attention back to the girls. Or rather, the girl and the dove.
“Those meetings must have tired you, love,” he murmured, noticed the stifled yawn. “You don’t have to go out with us if you need to rest, I’m sure we wouldn’t mind.” Then he found himself stifling his own yawn. “The gardens sound good. I just hope she’ll be able to do it willfully, instead of by accident.”
A deep chuckle bubbled up from Killian as he behind his husband's face. "You poor creature, what am I going to do with you, my love?" He murmured, pressing quick kiss to the crease between David's brow and then a longer one to his pout.
He gently placed his hand over top of his husband's hand, lacing their fingers together and guiding it up to his chest so that it was over his heartbeat.
"They have the audacity to start at the ungodly hours of the morning." He teasingly complained. While he did love and appreciate his court, he wouldn't have minded starting later in morning, that way he was half falling asleep half the time. "Thankfully tomorrow's meetings don't start until midday. I'll be able to sleep like the dead tonight. unfortunately I think my last meeting ends near midnight. He his another yawn against David's neck and shook his head "I'll be alright for another hour I think." He murmured, brows creasing in worry as he looked up at Eevie and Dove. "She still hasn't gotten the hang of it, huh?" He bit his lip in thought. For now it wasn't so bad that dive couldn't transform back on her own accord, she was safe in the castle. But Killian hated to think if she were in danger and something like this happened. He inhaled deeply and pressed a kiss to David's shoulder. "She'll be alright, dear. She's still young, she has time to learn." He reassured.
(Bruh I literally said his love language is physical touch and yet Killian is more touchy than he is-)
(aw XD is that a good thing or bad thing? I can dial it back a bit if it's too much.)
(It’s fine, it’s a good thing, I just think it’s funny djkdejk)
His expression relaxed with the kisses, and he closed his eyes, feeling their fingers entwine and rest over his husband’s chest. Then he opened them with a chuckle.
“Sounds like you’re a poor creature yourself,” he smirked. He leaned down and kissed Killian’s forehead. “You can always call for me if you need me, you know. I’ll have Opal watch over the girls while I’m with you.” Opal being Eevie’s lady-in-waiting.
The smirk faded, David’s lips forming a thin line. “I know that. Besides, I didn’t get the hang of it until I was ten. It’s just… better sooner rather than later.”
Killian hummed in appreciation and leaned into his the kiss, closing his his heavy eyes for a moment. "I know, thank you my dear, but I don't want the girls to worry. Besides, Dovey doesn't seem to change back with you there. Don't worry about me, I'll be alright, just tired." He murmured, opening his eyes and gently squeezing their interlaced hands. "There still is time, David. She'll learn soon." He laughed lightly and nodded to a their girls, flicking his gaze to them. "Soon enough we'll see her shifting back and forth like there's no tomorrow, keeping all.of us very occupied."
He shook his head. “It’s difficult not to worry about you sometimes, Lian. It’s difficult not to worry about anything.”
A smile managed to come through at hearing Killian’s laugh. “Oh yes, I have no doubt she’ll be quite a handful by then.” He watched his daughters, the smile staying in place. He recalled his parents telling him how rambunctious he was when he finally learned how to shift on his own, perhaps even more so than his other siblings. Dove may be more quiet and reserved than David, but somehow he didn’t think it would make that much of a difference.
Meanwhile, Dove had gotten tired of dancing and had buried her head in her feathers again, soothed by her sister’s movements.
"exactly why you shouldn't worry about me, because you already worry about so much my love. I'm fine, dear, really. Just tired, that's all. I swear I would tell you if there was something wrong ." He pressed a kiss to his husband's head. "I think someone's done with dancing today." He nodded towards dove on Eevie's head. He smiled softly and slowly stood, pressing a kiss to David's hand before he strolled over to the two princesses. He gently scooped dove off of Eevie's head "lets get you two to bed." Eevie pouted and tugged at he Papa's arm. "Papa I can stay up a little longer right? It's still early. I'm old enough to stay up past bedtime anyways."
“… alright.” David nodded, squeezing his husband’s hand before he let go and stood with him. He went up and tucked a strand of hair behind Eevie’s ear. “You want to be well rested if we’re going to do dance lessons tomorrow, lamb. Maybe tonight isn’t the best time to stay up.”
Dove raised her head, and cooed inquisitively. Her father reached over and stroked her feathers. “Hey Dovey. You still need to change back?”
The bird bobbed her head, reaching over and nibbling his fingers.
Eevie leaned into her father's hand and sighed softly. "Fine, I guess you're right." She mumbled, Perkin up again as she got another idea. "What about tomorrow?" He asked, glancing between her parents. "I don't have classes after tomrrow so I can stay up tomorrow night." she reasoned with a knowing grin. Killian sighed softly as he looked down at his daughter and tried his best not to cave to her reason and pleading eyes. He might have been a former general and was used to being stern for the sake of his soldiers but when it came to his daughters and husband, he became one soft marshmallow. He sighed deeply "alright. But this better not become a habit, lamb." He gave her a pointed look before breaking out into a small. He gently set Dove on David's shoulder and lightly pressed a kiss to to there little feathered head.
