Julian x Muriel Oneshots

Winter Ball

(This has been a draft since the winter charms came out so sorry for taking so long)

The palace halls were flooded with people in their finest winter clothes. Decorative snowflakes hung from the ceiling and chandeliers. Music and the smells of fresh baked goods drifted through the air. Portia swung open the door to the kitchen, carrying a tray of pastries in each hand. Another servant stepped out followed shortly by Julian, both carrying pastry trays. Once they'd laid out the plates Portia and Julian left to go find the others.

Asra and Nadia had found a relatively quiet corner to stay. When Nadia saw the approaching redheads she raised her hand in a slight wave. Asra just smiled at them.

"Good evening you two, how are you enjoying yourselves?" Nadia's voice was smooth as always.

"It's been wonderful, milady!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Portia," Nadia leaned down and stole a kiss.

"You definitely outdid yourself, Nadia." Julian starred up at the ceiling, decorated with twinkling lights, had he not known better he would've said the roof had been removed.

They stayed chatting for a bit, all the while Julian's gaze scanned the room, looking for someone who wasn't there.

"Didn't Muriel say he'd be here? Don't tell me I missed him already."

"No, he's here," Asra took a sip of his tea. "He just went to find someplace quiet. If you're planning on looking for him he went that way," Asra pointed to one of the open doorways.

Julian nodded and made his way towards the door. "Thank you Asra," he called over his shoulder, and with one last wave he left.

On his search he spotted a table covered in baked good and hot drinks. He grabbed some pastries, wrapping them in a napkin, and two mugs of hot chocolate.

When he found him Muriel was leaning on the balcony railing looking up at the falling snow. Julian paused in the doorway for a moment, just looking at Muriel, he seemed so peaceful.

"Got room for one more?"

Muriel tensed up a bit before he recognized the voice and relaxed again.

"Sure."

Julian walked to the balcony, standing beside Muriel.

"Here, I got you a drink," He handed over one of the mugs. "Don't know how hot it is anymore." He unfolded the napkin and held it up to Muriel, silently offering him a pastry.

Muriel took one and began to eat between sips of his hot chocolate.

The two stood and stared at the sky as snow began to drift down, adding to the already thick layer of it.

Julian put down his now empty mug and looked up at Muriel who was finishing off the pastry. He thought of something and a smile grew on his face.

"Follow me, I just got an idea," he grabbed Muriel's hand and walked to the stairs down to the garden.

Muriel followed close behind, a part of his mind worrying about what his 'idea' was, is is Julian after all. You never could tell how things would end.

They got to the bottom of the staircase, a heavy blanket of snow covering the ground. Without a word Julian rushed out and began rolling snow together. Muriel caught on quick enough and started a second ball of snow.

When he was about halfway through he felt something cold hit the back of his head. He turned to see Julian already making a second snowball. As quickly as he could Muriel grabbed a handful of snow and tossed it at Julian, who couldn't quite dodge fast enough.

Laughter filled the air as the snowball fight continued and it only stopped when both of them were covered in patches of snow. In the middle stood the half finished snowman, who had also been hit its fair share of times.

Shaking some snow out of his hair Muriel returned to building the snowman, Julian following shortly after. It wasn't to long until the snowman was complete.

The two stood back to admire their work for a moment, Muriel eventually taking a seat on the stairs, Julian sitting beside him.