Closed Holiday Cheer

[Corrine Lagos]

Corrine raced around the kitchen doing her best to prepare a small meal for her and Cullen to share while also prepping for the larger event they'd be hosting the next day when their families arrived to celebrate the holidays. The glow from their Christmas tree crossed her peripheral vision several times as she raced around, sending prayers to anyone she could think of to not burn a thing. Although school had prepared the young woman for a lot, it had not equipped her with many cooking skills. She'd garnered the few she had from books and practice and a thoughtful boyfriend willing enough to give her meals a try. Corrine had perfected a few simple ones but she was beginning to think that perhaps she'd bitten off a bit more than she could choose in attempting to make meals traditional of both their cultures.

With a small break before the whirlwind would need to begin again, Corrine picked up her glass of goblin made wine and took a sip, closing her eyes and swaying slightly to the holiday music she had playing. Cullen would be home at any moment and she was excited to see him. She'd finally had a moment to wrap his presents and they rested beneath the tree. She couldn't wait to see him open them in a few days.

 

[Cullen Yeong]

Cullen Yeong was not as stoic as one might think he is based on his appearance. He was rather emotion based despite usually following his head in most instances. But when it came to Corrine, it had always been his heart that led him to her. Right now as he prepared his papers at work to have the next few days off he was glad he was getting to go home to his girlfriend. He felt she put too much pressure on herself especially right now with both their families coming. His family would be an army to cook for compared to just the two of them. He was hoping she'd let him in the kitchen to help. After all he knew his Korean traditional foods the best and loved to taste test things whenever she cooked.

He entered the nearest floo network fireplace and went home. He came out glad he had gotten over the dizziness the network used to make him feel long ago to the front room in their house with a fireplace tall enough to be used for the floo network. He set down his briefcase still glad he had a job he got to used the graduation present his father had given him at the end of term last year. He spotted Corrine dashing through the house for a moment before heading nothing and hoped she had decided to slow down so she didn't break her neck. He hung up his coat and made his way through their apartment, it wasn't huge but it did well enough for them. He did hope one day to afford a house to fit their needs later in life. He stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and watched as she swayed to her music eyes closed. He quickly decided to dash off himself as quietly as he could before she spotted him. He wanted to always be prepared and out of his secret hiding spot he pulled a ring box out and slipped it into his pocket. He wasn't sure if here in the kitchen would feel like the right moment but it was something he had been thinking about for awhile. And announcing it to their parents the next day would be fantastic, but he was still waiting for any subtle clues Corrine might give hinting that she was ready for them to start the marriage process. Plus his nerves about asking always put him on hold for asking, though he had already carried the ring around for about half a year, since right after they graduated.

"Corrine, is this the first break you have taken all day?" Cullen said his Korean accent still strongly influencing his words but he had during the past four/five years gotten a hang of his third language well enough he had stopped making many mistakes.

 

[Corrine Lagos]

Corrine's eyes opened wide, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she realized Cullen was home and had spotted her dancing alone. She put the glass she was holding down before shaking her head. She knew Cullen knew she was stressed about the big dinner they were going to be having, but she wanted him to think she had it all under control. Corrine wanted his sisters and his mother to know that she could take care of her household and Cullen well. Everything needed to be perfect, including her. "I've been taking breaks. You worry too much" she stated, perhaps only a little defensively. She stepped forward to give her boyfriend a hug and a kiss to welcome him home. Corrine was taller than the average woman but still just a bit shorter than Cullen, which she loved.

"How was work?" she asked. They'd both started new jobs after completing school. They were both entry level positions but that made sense for their ages. Corrine looked beyond his shoulder at the apartment. One day it would be larger, but for now she was content. She liked the coziness of it, liked knowing that Cullen was never too far away when they were both home. She hoped to convince her parents of the benefits of the coziness. Her family home in Greece was spacious and open. Two of the pots on the stove behind her began to glow red, the charm to let her know it needed to be stirred, but she was oblivious as she listened to her partner.

 

[Cullen Yeong]

Cullen wasn't too certain if he believed the shake of his girlfriend's head. But he smiled anyways and hugged her back happy he was home. He looked around happy to see everything look so wonderful, he wondered if she a lot with magic or if she did it by hand which seemed more like her. He hoped he could convince her to sit down and cuddle on the couch that evening for a little while, but he knew she wanted things to look nice the next day. He'd probably try to help but knowing him he'd drop everything on the floor. Maybe he could set up their large table and place all the dishes and things on it if she hadn't already done that. To help speed along the process of getting ready he wanted to do that for her. "Work was work, I'm looking forward as my sixth month approaches to maybe qualify for a promotion to that position Greg will be leaving when he leaves the group next month," Cullen said moving over and stirring the pots on the stove for Corrine. He stopped any attempt she might make to do it herself by holding her goblet out and urging her to continue taking her break and drink. The dinner smelled wonderful, he thoughts their cultures tastes complimented each other nicely which was good as Corrine was preparing both for tomorrow. He knew his sisters would love the kimchi, rice and meat dish she was making.