OPEN : The longest day has an end

[deosil]

WHO: CHISE and VARIOUS + Open starters in-coming
WHERE: De Chima mostly
WHEN: late December
WHAT: Preparing for Yule and other shenanigans
WARNINGS: tbd

OPEN, DE CHIMA

[ Sap stuck to her fingers as boughs of fresh evergreen were tied into crude approximations of decorations. Half a box of bandaids gone as she weaves holly through wreaths of ivy. Red ribbons for the fir and white silk for the wreaths of holly.

Of the course of a weekend, Chise had ended up with enough with dress every post and lintel in the block. Her first order of business, and where her housemates were most likely to find her, was almost strategically placing holly plants and a smattering cinnamon scented pine boughs around the house. A lot of the mistletoe seemed to have gone nextdoor. Whatever Eli needed it for, Chise hoped it would be getting some mileage. Or words to that effect.

"One for you," She chirped to Exeggutor from the garden as she wrapped a red, belled ribbon tied off with a sprig of mistletoe. "Very handsome."

There was a single-minded deliberateness to it all. Less like someone caught up in the holiday spirit and more like someone placing sandbags along the weak spots of a flood.

Outside on a low table she set up on the lawn, she laid out the excess of pines and holly. Beside this stockpile was a simple, handwritten sign: FREE TO A GOOD HOME ]

Comments

FOR THRAWN

[deosil]

Morning broke through the thin, papery rolling blinds in her room. Pale light warm through thin sheets she tried to curl deep into herself. Knees pressed to her chest through flannel pajamas she felt her skin pulse with dizzying hot flashes in an otherwise cool room.

Jolting up she sat sweated soaked and shivering on the edge of her bed. The last couple of weeks had been hell for someone like her. Even when this whole nanite business had sorted itself out, Chise's self-imposed house arrest had taken its toll.

All those powers waning and waxing with her very being caught in the undertow. Her body just simply couldn't take it. The threat of collapse as sure as a waterwheel caught in flood. Just because it had stopped doesn't mean she didn't still feel the aftershock.

Now that she was evening out, she needed a distraction. Remembering something she hazard to suggest, she pulled out her device and called out of work after making a quick online purchase.

Two tickets for the Met were slipped under Thrawn's door that morning before Chise dressed and went downstairs to make coffee. Stirring in more milk than the brew as she flitted about the kitchen and living room. Pacing, really.

[art_of_war]

Since he doesn't need as much sleep as humans do, he is often awake when it seems like no one else is. So it's a bit of a surprise to find tickets slipped under the door. The name 'The Met' didn't mean anything to him, but curious (and given the method of delivery, it must be) decided that Chise must know something that he did not.

Thus Chise does not have long to wait before Thrawn followed downstairs.

"This specifies it is a museum in New York?"

[deosil]

Chise barely touched her coffee when Thrawn strode in. Her pale face flushed with that almost caught look she tended to wear whenever addressed directly. Partly out of diffidence, but mostly the way Thrawn seemed to enter every room like he was about to give orders.

It still took a conscious effort not to want to straighten her posture whenever they spoke. At least direct eye contact was getting easier with practice.

"The largest art museum in the country," Eyes to the floor, eyes back to Thrawn. "....Merry Christmas?"

[art_of_war]

The idea of giving gifts on Christmas was still a bit odd to Thrawn. He would have given her a sunhat and gardening gloves regardless of a holiday since she liked it and would find it useful. He suspected Eli might have something to do with what Chise had learned of him.

"I do not know if there is a customary response to this 'Merry Christmas'".

It's said a little offhanded as he examines the ticket again. Was he expected to say something? Well if he was too bad. This was a weird enough planet as it was.

[deosil]

Red hair fanned out from the ear she had it tucked when Chise canted her head at the response. Words spoken which such an innocent, open faced curiosity was something only Thrawn could achieve with gravitas. It still left her dumbfounded whenever it happened.

"I think you're supposed to just say it back." Chise explained; not in way that seemed to be expressing a desire for gratitude. Her clarification said with a pinched look that implied she was in want of one as well.

Christmas wasn't new to her, but its more traditional approach - especially where it concerned Yule - were still new.

"They're open again the day after," She hedged. "On the 26th. Closed for the holidays."

[art_of_war]

Well, hopefully, that would mean there would be fewer people. He had found it to be something of a shock to attract as much attention as he did on this planet. He was using that to his advantage, but at times it grew tiresome.

Thrawn glanced up at Chise again.

"This world is enough like the one you come from you knew of this 'Met' museum. You would therefore be able to navigate it with little issue. Will you please accompany me?"

Yes, that was manipulative as hell. Yes, Thrawn is fully aware that was a low blow. No, he does not care. Besides, he did think having a guide would make it a much easier experience.

[deosil]

Face flushed until her ears rang with the rush of blood, Chise ducked her head low enough her chin pressed to her breastbone.

"I'm not from-" Chise started to protest, only for her entire argument to whither under the weight of perspective. There were various social nuances unique to worlds like her own and Chise has mastered the art of avoidance that, yes, she did have something of an edge.

"Yes," She said. Caught up in how much she began to gravitate towards him. "I'd love to."

[vanto]

Eli is enjoying the snow, probably because Csilla is a fond memory for him. There is a pang of helplessness when he thinks too much about it — the maps for the Unknown Regions he charts for the Ascendancy, Ar'alani's stern face when he hands over his reports.

Unfolding mathematical calculations and charts — different from Thrawn's meticulous analysis of art. Eli, in his moments, likes to think them as having two different spheres that complement each other. That being apart back in their galaxy is not the best idea.

(He buries that, it's not secret but it is best left alone).

Eli opens the door of 007 with a key he borrowed, a huge black plastic bag being hauled by one hand. Not heavy, just bulky.

[deosil]

Chise heard the door open over the rustle of another troublesome bough of thick, green ivy and pine that refused to bend easily. The sprigs exploded open on her with the too strained ribbon with a spray of needles and sap.

Hissing as she flexed her slightly reddened, small hands. Chise got up and made for the second floor landing. Ready to greet whoever was coming home and maybe get a bit of help.

"Welcome h-" Chise came to a stop, sliding on her socks at the base of the stairs. "Eli?"

[vanto]

After having some sleep Eli looks much better than the last time he was a hungover, stressed out mess. Between Hux and Thrawn, he's fairly comfortable being obedient and this keeps him from thinking too much about Woden. For the best, though only a temporary solution.

Eli lifts his free hand, "Hey, Chise. Sorry, I borrowed a key from the Admiral earlier. You okay wait—" His eyes shift to her hands, "— what are you covered in?

[deosil]

Not wanting to comment that Eli had more confidence in his step and color to his face with the risk of putting him on the spot. Instead canting her head in a greeting as he came in through the threshold.

"Sap," She replied. Holding out her hands and wriggling her fingers. "Not too long ago I learned about putting up ivy boughs for Yule."

Then, with the hint of a smile. "And I suppose I have you to thank for all the mistletoe?"

[vanto]

To Eli's credit he doesn't blush, he just grins. "Ah, yeah, I was trying to convince the Admiral of some mistletoe tradition but it didn't go as planned." Though obviously, however it went it had ended very well in Eli's opinion.

"You need some help cleaning up or?" He nods towards her hands, "I owe you for the snowballs on Christmas eve."

[deosil]

All thoughts of the sap on her hands went out the window like the baby with the bath start.

Chise blinks and then tips her head back in palpable shock. "You wanted to kiss Thrawn?" What the hell even happened?

"All the mistletoe I was worried you wanted to ward off something during Yule..."

1/2

[vanto]

Oh, awkward.

Okay, Eli wasn't sure he had wanted to kiss Thrawn. Not really. He just wanted to touch and stay close — in the end, he got that. Except now his face feels really warm and —

2/2

[vanto]

"Ah, no. I was trying to get him to do something Christmas-like with me." Eli pauses. "We didn't." Sorry, he feels weird saying 'we didn't kiss' though it is the truth. "And we won't." Kiss, and Eli is fine with that.

His mouth was trouble in all possible aspects it could be. It is complicated.

"Do we have to ward against something?"

[deosil]

"Mistletoe is for being kissed and warding off evil spirits I can't fathom what else you were trying to accomplish here."

She really couldn't. Thrawn seemed to posses an endless if academic curiosity about the world and its cultural nuances. Likewise, Eli held a similarly powerful devotion to the man.

Adults are weird.

1/2

[vanto]

Eli sort of knows what he was trying to accomplish but it had less to do with kissing and more to do with being close physically to Thrawn. The plan had been a little flawed but —

2/2

[vanto]

"I don't really need to come out and say it. You've seen us." Eli isn't annoyed, Chise isn't going to hurt Thrawn with what she knows of them. And frankly, Eli isn't too worried, everyone at Pour Decisions already thought Thrawn was his boyfriend.

Besides —he looks down at the plastic bag he's hauling in and then at Chise, covered in sap— yeah, he might as well go with it. Less complicated.

[deosil]

"Maybe more times than I should have." Chise points out, slightly canting her head to make certain the comment was taken as it was meant. Without judgement and just on the edge of teasing.

Stepping forward, hands wiped free of most of the sap across the beige smock she wore over her cardigan, Chise extends a hand. Knuckles brushing along Eli's as she reaches to help take the bag.

"Here," She said. "Tell me about your day and I'll tell you about mine - maybe I can get you to help me hang mistletoe where I'm too short to reach."

[vanto]

Eli has the decency to look embarrassed about this. "I think we will try to keep our things to the bedroom or maybe at my place." No, it wasn't like Chise had caught them in a sexual act of intimacy, but for someone like Eli - any little sign of intimacy with Thrawn was incredibly private and to be guarded against the rest of the world.

"Yes, sure, but —" Eli doesn't let go of the bag, "I don't want to make you carry my clothing upstairs or anything. Why don't I put this in Thrawn's room and then I can help you out with the mistletoe or your plants? I'd like to be useful to you for a change."

Considering he accidentally kept ruining bits and pieces of her home.