Pumpkin Mangling
31 Days of Spooktober
Day 3/31
Prompt: (from the other list) 4. “Maybe pumpkin carving isn’t your thing...”
Dorian had learned how to deal with strong willed women since he was a child.
He had bee raised with the most stubborn, strong and determined woman he could ever think of, and if someone could survive Aelin, the person could survive anyone.
He knew when they needed space and when they needed company. When they needed help and when they simply needed support. He had made sure that he was always a friend she could count on, and slowly he learned how to deal with situations the required him to proceed carefully.
He knew how to deal with woman. He really did.
And yet.
And yet, even knowing he shouldn’t, Dorian was in the brink of literal tears from holding his laughter in. He knew that, one single chuckle from him, and the seven inch knife on Manon’s hand would be buried on his thigh. Like his best friend, Manon was extremely independent and short tempered. More times than not, she wanted to to everything by herself not because she didn’t want help, but because she refused to ask.
Dorian knew that much of it had to do with her upbringing. Her grandmother was the worst human being he could ever think of, and the fact that Manon had been raised by that monster always made his heart ache. Her grandmother was cold, cruel and unforgiving. She had taught Manon to be the exact same but, although she could be those things, there was a softer side of Manon that she rarely let anyone— even herself— see.
“Baby—“ Dorian started cautiously, but the laughter could be noticed in his voice.
Manon didn’t took her eyes from what was in front of her, hand gripping the knife tighter. “Don’t.”
She had almost growled it, which only made the situation much funnier to Dorian. “Manon, I really—“
“I’ll fucking impale you, Havilliard.”
“I just think that maybe pumpkin carving isn’t your thing.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Manon declared, turning to Dorian. Her golden eyes were aflame, cheeks dirty with pumpkin filling. She was holding the knife as if she was about to take a run and stab Dorian. “I swear to the Gods, Dorian, if you laugh—“
Honestly, Dorian didn’t know what exactly made him snap. He didn’t know if it was the pumpkin all over her face, the cheeks red from anger. He didn’t know if it was the threatening voice, the hand shaking as she held the knife. Or maybe the simple fact that his girlfriend has never carved a pumpkin and she was absolute shit on it.
Dorian had to grab the counter as he doubled over in a fit of laughter. Manon hated being bad at something, and she had only decided to do this when Aelin taunted her about not being able to do something that even toddlers could.
Manon simply replied by saying that it wasn’t that she didn’t know how to do, she just never wanted to do.
Turns out that was a lie.
“Stop!” Manon shouted, letting go of the knife and stomping up to him. Without her usual heeled boots, Manon was comically short near Dorian. The sight of her crossing her arms in front of him, eyes narrowing just made him cackle more. “Dorian, I fucking meant it.”
Dorian took some deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. “You’re shit at carving pumpkins.”
“I’ll carve out your heart, you bloody prick.”
“You’re so fucking bad. It looks like someone stabbed it repeatedly.” He put a hand over his mouth as he looked at the mangled pumpkin on the table. It had been cut so many times that it was falling apart.
“The first one was worst.” Manon grunted. By her widening eyes, she immediately regretted what she had said.
Dorian guffawed, throwing his head back as literal tears fell down his cheeks. “This is not your first attempt?”
“I hate you. I fucking hate you and I hate Galathynius for making me even try this shit. It’s fucking useless!”
“Nah.” Dorian tried to say seriously. “It will certainly scare off the spirits. Actually, with this appearance, it will scare off anything.”
Manon shook her head, looking at the destruction she had caused. A small smile bloomed on her lips, and she let out a single laugh. “I hate you both. I mean it. I couldn’t have asked for a worst boyfriend and an even worse best friend.”
Dorian took a step forward, hugging Manon. As per usual, she was rigid as a block of cement for the first seconds before letting herself to relax. Manon wasn’t used on physical touch as a form of love demonstration. Dorian was the one who usually hugged her, kissed her and most of the small touches started from him. It never really bothered him, not really. Manon’s love demonstrations were completely different, but not lesser.
She was absurdly smart. She knew so much about science that it was mind blowing whenever she talked to Dorian about it. That was her love demonstrations. Manon was so reserved, so prompt to shove people away that whenever she talked about something she loved, whenever she let Dorian see the excited, passionate part of her, it was her way of saying that she trusted him. That she loved him just as much even though she wasn’t too keen on physically showing it all the time.
Manon would never be a helpless romantic, but Dorian wouldn’t even wish for anyone else’s love other than hers.
He kissed the top of her head, resting his chin on it. “If it is any consolation, I was shit at it when I was younger. Aelin teased me endlessly. Hers were always pretty and perfect, always the artist, but mine were even worse than yours.”
“You were five.” Manon mumbled.
“So? I learned because I had time. I’ll admit, your pumpkin is hideous—“ He was interrupted when she pinched him hard on his side. “But,” he said forcefully. “But you never had it during your childhood, you can’t expect to sit down and do it perfectly on your first day.”
“You said Aelin’s were.”
“Aelin is not human. Besides, she is an artist. The girl has been sculpting since she could walk. Pumpkins are a joke to her.” Dorian reminded Manon.
“I’ll throw this pumpkin on her face next time I see her.” Manon said only half-jokingly. Dorian had never been happier when his best friend and girlfriend became so close, became best friends themselves.
Until he realized what Manon and Aelin being best friends meant.
They were insane.
They had constant prank wars, were always bickering even though it was obvious that they loved each other like sisters. They were the two scariest people Dorian had ever seen, and them being best friends was terrifyingly entertaining.
“Give it to Whitethorn. I don’t think there is anyone whose existence annoys Aelin more. She would combust in anger if he threw a speck of pumpkin on her.”
Manon drew back, eyes wide as she stared up at Dorian. A huge smile appeared on her lips, and she let out a strange laugh. “Dorian Havilliard, you are a genius.”
Dorian narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “I was joking. Leave Aelin and Rowan’s situation alone. Those two have been hating each other for years now.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Manon defended herself, but her voice didn’t match her words.
“Blackbeak, I mean it.”
She just laughed evilly, leaving Dorian’s arms to sit back at her stool. “Just sit and relax baby. Actually…”
Dorian waited for her to finish, raising her eyebrows when she didn’t. “Actually what?”
Manon hesitated, taking a deep breath and sighing. “Could you help me? With the carving?”
A part of Dorian wanted to smile and be smug about it, but he knew that if he did that, Manon would never feel comfortable in asking him for help again. It was an unusual thing, and it filled Dorian’s chest with warmth to know that Manon trusted him enough to be vulnerable around him— even if just a little.
So Dorian smiled softly and assented, walking to her. “Of course I can, baby.”
He sat by her side, taking another pumpkin and helping her carve it. They spent the whole evening doing so, laughing when one messed up. Dorian’s cheeks hurt from smiling when Manon celebrated finally carving one correctly.
Things were good.
And when Dorian looked at Manon’s gorgeous face again, he realized that things were actually great.
.
.
.
.
A/N: This is so small but it’s also my first time writing Manorian so it’s uncharted grounds for me, have patience and let me know if you liked it! Also, if you’re not getting tagged but you’re on the tag list, let me know please!
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