[February 5th] [Perry Mason] Candles and the Snow, 5

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Candles and the Snow, scene 5
Day/Theme: February 5th - Snowflakes are kisses from Heaven
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Mignon Germaine, Jack Garson (original character)
Rating: G

Time Period: The past, a few months to a year after Hamilton and Mignon met.

Mignon was married in canon, but nothing about the husband is known. (Nor is his fate, for that matter.) This is the first time I tried writing for the man who would fill that role.


By Lucky_Ladybug

Hamilton and Jack had always enjoyed the great outdoors. Mignon refused to accompany them when they went hunting, but she went with them on some of their other outings. The first time she ever encountered snow was on one of those occasions.

She stepped out of the car when they arrived at the mountain lodge, curious as she wandered through the white coating the ground. More was descending from the sky. She glanced up when the wet fell on her face.

Hamilton soon reached her. “Well?” he asked. He was curious as well, but for a different reason.

She held out her hand, catching a stray flake. “I’m not sure what I think of it,” she said. “It’s very cold, but it has a certain beauty. Blanketing the world in white feels refreshing. Purifying, even.” She tilted her head slightly to the side, as Hamilton was prone to do. “It’s strange, how it snows up here while there are palm trees in the valley below.”

Hamilton chuckled. “There’s something for everyone around here.”

“And for us it’s skiing,” Jack declared. He appeared with his skis slung over his shoulder. “I hope you’re ready for this, Mignon. There’s not another experience like it!”

Mignon quirked an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t think so,” she said, keeping a poker face. “I can’t think of anything that could compare with strapping on two pieces of wood and flying down a mountain.”

“Just wait until you’re on the slope,” Jack declared. “I promise you’ll love it!”

“I hope you don’t often make promises you can’t keep,” Mignon remarked.

“Ouch,” said Jack.

Hamilton had his doubts that Mignon would enjoy the sport. He himself rarely skied, but since Jack loved it he somehow found himself on at least a couple of skiing trips per year.

Mignon went with the instructor and his beginning class. Jack, an experienced skier, affixed his skis and prepared for one of the more complex slopes. “Which one are you going after?” he queried of Hamilton. “Are you going to be daring today and come with me?”

Hamilton watched him in amusement. “I’m going to one of the intermediate slopes,” he said. He did not have the experience for the expert slopes, which Jack knew.

“You wouldn’t have a better teacher for the big ones,” Jack said coyly.

“Thanks,” Hamilton said, “but I’ll pass. I want to get to the bottom under my own power and not just because of the law of gravity.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing!” Jack said with a wave of his pole.

“I think I do!” Hamilton called back. “A broken neck!”

They set out on their separate paths. As Hamilton slalomed to the bottom his thoughts turned to Mignon. How was she faring? She had been reluctant to come along at first. She had finally consented because, she said, she supposed she should give it a fair chance. But she outright refused to attempt any kind of dangerous stunt such as what Jack often did on his runs.

Jack was waiting at the bottom when Hamilton arrived. That was not much of a surprise. He zipped down slopes fast enough to rival Speedy Gonzales.

“That’s Mignon’s group over there,” he said, pointing up ahead to a smaller slope.

“And that’s Mignon,” Hamilton noted, seeing the black coat. He headed over, with Jack close behind.

The beginning class was just arriving at the bottom. Seeing the boys, Mignon left the group and went to them, moving somewhat awkwardly on the skis. Her hair was windblown; several long strands had come out of the tight bun and were playing around her face. The still-falling snow was becoming more at home in her dark tresses by the moment.

“Well?” Hamilton asked. “How did you make out?”

“More importantly, how did you like it?” Jack chimed in.

Mignon lifted a hand to brush some of the hair away. “I didn’t fall,” she said. “Being a dancer means I have excellent balance.

“And I don’t hate the sport, but it isn’t one I would willingly choose to repeat very often.”

Jack threw his hands in the air with an exaggerated moan. Hamilton was a bit amused.

“Then why don’t we go back to the lodge for some hot chocolate?” he offered.

Mignon smiled very faintly. “Yes, let’s,” she said. She smirked. “After I’ve traveled down the slope a couple more times to prove that I’ve given it more than a fair chance.”

Jack started and looked to her. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”

Mignon merely gave him a Look.

Her opinion did not change following the promised rounds. She was more than happy to return to the lodge with Hamilton for the suggested drink.

“I guess you won’t be too interested in coming with us on the next trip,” Hamilton said as they walked.

Mignon adjusted her hair, pushing the loose wisps out of sight under the bun. “I’ll come,” she said. “I might wait at the lodge for the most part, but I’ll be here.” She slipped her hands in her pockets. “After all, I could come to like the snow itself. And I enjoy spending time with you and Jack.”

“Except when we’re hunting,” Hamilton said.

“Yes, except then.” Mignon craned her neck back, gazing into the sky. Countless flakes were tumbling from its depths, swirling and fluttering to the ground—and to her and Hamilton. It was a calming, peaceful setting.

“It’s almost a gift from Heaven,” she mused. “I prefer the warmth I’m used to, but this is nice.”

“It is,” Hamilton agreed.