Welcome to Gaia! ::

Even in the middle of winter, yoga knew no season. But Beth wished she'd invested in something warmer than yoga pants, a sports bra, and a windbreaker when she had purchased the "Active Wear" portion of her wardrobe. Then again, she hadn't exactly anticipated having to run from her dorm to the gym outside in the snow. Still, she was thankful for the exercise. Once she got into the climate controlled and heated Hera dorm, that is. She was in the common area, huddling by the fire for a few minutes when she saw Lex, tall and willowy, striding around with the simultaneously focused and desperate air of someone who was looking for something but had no idea where to start.

So Beth slung her mat over her shoulder and walked over, saying, "Just like a Hermes Chosen to sneak into the wrong dorm." Her tone was too soft to be accusative, too bright to be sincere. Just in case, though, she smiled widely, to show she was joking.

Beth was surprised by the sudden show of affection. While she was pretty touchy-feely and enjoyed hugs, she hadn't thought of herself and Lex as being close enough to cross that line herself. It was only a momentary pause before she allowed herself to melt into the warm embrace, her own arms wrapping around them, sling on the mat allowing her full range of motion. "That dress is certainly not made to be ignored; it's far too lovely!" She gasped approvingly at the vivid red. She followed their indication and looked at the mat. "I was just coming back from yoga practice, so it's as good as any. In fact, I would say it's a very lucky one, since too early or too late and we would have missed each other! So maybe it was meant to be." She waved them to follow her and led them to her room.

Though she had since removed any trace of her frenzied purge of her closet, her shoes still littered the ground by the door, dangerous spikes and land mines of soles. Her bed was still a sea of stuffed animals, evenly split between movie monsters and animals of the conventional variety, the untucked sheets adding to the tempestuous chaos. The purple scarves over the lamps had been replaced with red and white ones, glitter snow flakes pasted on many surfaces and even hanging from the ceiling. Beth dropped the mat toward the wall, kicked off her shoes, and wrapped herself in a burgundy afghan before settling on the edge of the bed. There was a swivel chair behind the desk that was currently supporting her laptop. In the corner was a pair of vaguely mismatched but comfy-looking chairs. "Maybe I should make myself easier to find. Brian spent some time looking for me too. Have I really been that anti social?"

Beth lounged on the bed, uncharacteristically relaxed and casual. "I go every few days or so. It's my way of staying in shape. It's also wonderful for all this 'We might have a mission at any time' kind of anxiety."

She watched them take off their coat interestedly, sighing in approval at their fashion choices. "Yeah, people tend to get scarce around the holidays, even out there in the real world." She waved her hand in a vague direction to indicate "out there." She was a bit hurt, as she didn't think she made herself so busy as to be invisible. But that had nothing to do with the current circumstance, so she forced it from her mind.

At their approval of her arts and crafts gamble, Beth grinned, holiday joy bringing color to her cheeks. Or maybe that was the wind she had trudged through in order to get back to her dorm. "Thanks. It's definitely been something to do with restless energy. Between going to town to pick up online orders and wrapping things and trying to get into the holiday spirit, I've stocked up on random bits of paper and glitter and tape. It took me all of like, a month--after Alps, as a matter of fact--for me to decide the dorm room needed something...more."

Any impulse to respond to their comments out of politeness fled at the mention of gifts.

Beth blinked, pushing herself up with a hand and letting the afghan pool around her waist. "A present? For me?" She gave Lex a look between touched and excited. Though she had hoped that others would include her in the festivities, she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about her chances. She had seen something about a secret santa thing going around, but hadn't investigated it enough to put her name in the hat.

She took the wrapped package, looked at Lex, and then started peeling off the tape as carefully as possible. Any bow went directly on her head. Any ribbon was carefully unlooped and preserved. And she unwrapped the adorable, cuddly little...mouse?!

Beth's lips twitched up and her eyes brightened, but her face became overcast with an ambiguous aspect. The tag identified her as Mallymkun, from the Disney film of Alice in Wonderland. She was cute and easy to squeeze, which Beth did, happily. "At least this mouse got to keep her clothes!" She grinned and leaned over to pull Lex into a hug. "Thank you, Lex!"

Beth's eyes softened at their gratitude. She gently took their hand and squeezed it. "It was nothing! Any of us would have done it! I just...got there faster, somehow. Everything was very big. And I couldn't have my new friend eaten!"

She hesitated, then pulled away, saying, "I actually have something for you too! I meant to wrap it, but. You just surprised me!" She tucked Mally next to her pillow, then rolled over to the other side of her queen sized bed, where a large pile of various items, tissue paper, and rolls of wrapping paper lay on the floor in vivid chaos. From the depths, she pulled a wooden case, small brass key turned in the front. "Well, I guess it's lucky that part of it is its own present box? There's a little scuffing here and there, it's vintage which just means it's used." Shyly, she settled back on the edge of the bed and held out the box to Lex. "I hope they match your clothes!"

Beth blushed under their compliments. Things had seemed so immediate and simple as a mouse. She was adorable, she got attention. Things were large and threatening, she ran. Friends were in trouble, she used her teeth and claws to save them. Maybe the distinct difference lay in speech.

She smiled slightly at their feelings on vintage pieces. It was not her own, vaguely waste not/want not philosophy rooted in authenticity of intention. Given their choice of Halloween costume, she had hoped they would appreciate the jewelry box.

Beth watched with bated breath to see their reaction to their gifts. She was gratified by the delicate tremble to their hands, their own speechless wonder at the trinkets she had curated. It was the best reaction she could have hoped for. A bit surprised that they elected to put on two pieces, she replied, "Of course!" and settled behind them to help lift and then secure them without catching in hair, skin, or cloth.

Beth grinned, stupid happy that they were happy. "Ummmmm, I think the online entry said they were magnesite?" Her smile dimmed a bit as she wondered if she should have thought of that. "I just thought you'd like the colors." Absently, she wrung her hands behind Lex's back. "And I know that even though we have sigils that convey actual magical blessings, or, at least I thought that even so you'd appreciate having something like a rosary--but for Hermes, of course, not an actual rosary and I think you mentioned a shrine in your dorm room? But I haven't seen your dorm so, I wasn't sure how your altar's set up, so maybe I should have asked and--"

She was nervous rambling, not quite paying attention to Lex's subtle or not-so-subtle movements.