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 Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:22 pm
((Cesc--> Ethiriel and Zurine))
Cesc inclined his head, his ears swiveling forward, his curls rustling with the movement. He could feel the cool silver on his finger before he saw it, the pressure of it forming over his skin. He watched Ethiriel, his eyes tracing the slight furrow in her brow, the gently parting of her lips-- and he knew her feeling, the feeling of focus and power and the manipulation, the creation, of something new. He wondered then if he could ever command such wonder as she did now, when she unveiled her creativity to him, her hands parting as though revealing a magic trick.
Zurine peered and so did Rhedefre, his eyes rounded, his smile as he saw the ring slow and incredulous.
"Ethiriel!" he gasped, looking up at her with a mixture of pleasure and pride. "You're so talented!"
His eyes went back down to the ring, and he turned his hand, looking at the pattern of it, the graceful swirl, the texture of the silver. It was masterful, he thought, pure and simple. "This is too much--thank you, so much."
He enveloped her in a hug then, pulling her close and squeezing her gently, then pulling away and kissing her on the forehead. "You're not supposed to give better presents than you get! Someone needs to teach you about this birthday thing, Ethiriel..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:27 pm
((Ethiriel --> Cesc and Zurine))
While she held her breath, it was immediately released in a sigh at Cesc's positive response. She had begun to laugh in relief as both Zurine and the stag attempted to get a better look, and couldn't help but beam at the ring's results. She'd never really thought of herself as talented at, well, anything, and hearing the words from Cesc's own mouth fed into her esteem.
Turning to face Zurine with a smile, Ethiriel was scooped up into a gentle hug. Immediately the Frei lost herself, surrounded by Cesc's scent and warmth -- she closed her eyes and allowed herself this moment, snaking her arms around the Sigel's back to give a gentle squeeze of her own.
"It was not my intention to show you up, Rhede. I am so, so happy that you like it, though," she said with a relaxed smile, her calmed nerves very obvious in her voice. However, Cesc pulled away and Ethiriel reluctantly allowed the movement, but the kiss to her forehead brought color to her cheeks.
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:35 pm
( Zurine --> Ethiriel and Cesc )
"W-while we're... giving gifts," Zuri said, smiling warmly and slipping one of her own bracelets off her wrists. It was a thin, cold bangle, patterned with frosty engraved patterns on the outside rim, and a tiny snowflake charm hung from it on a jump ring. "Here. I have to admit I didn't know it was your birthday -- b-but I'd like to give you a gift anyway. And they're a matched set, so that way we could match a little, right?" Her smile faltered a little, just slightly, unsure of herself as she offered the bracelet, daintily pinched between fingertip and thumb. "And I'll remember your birthday from now on, right?" Her expression was shy and hopeful, as if she needed to be forgiven for failing to know Eth's birthday.
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:45 pm
((Ethiriel --> Cesc and Zurine))
Zuri's voice was enough to bring Ethiriel out of her momentary trance and she looked over, obviously pleased. Her brows raised as the owl slipped off her bracelet and handed it over.
With Ethiriel's new sight, she hadn't quite registered what silver looked like -- it nearly glowed, while everything else in her vision was muted and dull.
She stared in awe for a moment before glancing back at Zurine, meeting her eyes. Ethiriel's smile could only grow as she graciously accepted the bangle and put it on, herself. Holding her arm out, the silver Frei examined her newest accessory. "Thank you so much, Zurine, it is lovely. They are like friendship bracelets!" Ethiriel said, her voice full of excitement. "The presents are not what matters, but I thank you both so much. It means a lot..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:50 pm
((Cesc--> Zurine & Ethiriel))
Rhedefre looked over at Zurine, and he felt a strange sense of pride and happiness at her generosity toward her friend. How different this was than poor Cruz's birthday, with so much confusion and miscommunication everywhere. It was nice to be older, nice to have friends, nice to be able to give gifts and to receive them.
He'd once heard an adage that the way you feel on New Year's Eve, and what you do that night, sets the tone for the rest of the year. Rhedefre hoped, deep in his heart, that this would be his new year: one of happiness and comfort, with good friends and family close.
With a cheerful laugh, he opened his arms wide and swept both girls into a hug, squeezing their shoulders. "Happy birthday, Eth!" he called, his voice thick with amusement. "It's gonna be hard to top this party next year, but I'm pretty sure that we can do it!"
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 1:59 pm
((Aina, Mordekai, Seabiscuit → Lounge, with Claire and Cadi))
"Ah, no worries!" Mordekai laughed, not at all bothered. Aina put her hand over the top of her head after Claire moved hers to Cadi's shoulder, content; a small smile bloomed on her features as she giggled quietly. "Nice meetin' you, Cadi," the blond nodded; he glanced down at the pomegranate, eagerly waiting for her to introduce herself. Unfortunately, the Frei’s shyness was relentless, and she stared up Mordekai for a moment with her mouth pressed against the blankets, wiggling a little.
Mordekai chuckled. ”Aina’s a little shy,” he explained, though Aina shook her head in disagreement with a quiet giggle of her own. She clutched onto the blankets as Mordekai lifted her up into his arms, so her sight could be a little more level with Cadi’s.
”Hi Miss Cadi,” Aina relented, waving a little-- nodding, she hugged her blankets. ”Mhm! It’s really cozy.” The pomegranate smiled wide, and with both Seabiscuit and Aina in tow, Mordekai quietly scooted over for Claire and her niece. ”Okay!” she blushed at the kiss, freckled cheeks blushing warmly.
”Here are some blankies,” Aina had several on her, but she unraveled all the blankets from around her shoulder, save one, and rested them gently on top of Claire’s lap-- she pat the blankets snugly on top of Claire’s shoulders, then gave her a little kiss on the cheek of her own. Seabiscuit arched his head up from Mordekai’s lap, feet pattering against the man’s legs as more company approached the couch. Once Claire was settled, Mordekai smiled wide and held Seabiscuit close, rocking the great dane somewhat in encouragement for Cadi.
”We got plenty of space! Don’t we, Seab?” he smooched the great dane on the top of his head, and Seabiscuit licked his cheek right back - Mordekai tilted his head to the side, laughing, careful not to get slobber near his mouth.
Aina nodded, too, holding out her last blanket to Cadi - ”We gots a blankie for you, too!” she smiled. She leaned close to Claire to hear the blonde’s whsper, and Aina nodded diligently. ”Mhm…! We gotta help you get all warm!”
”They got hot cocoa an’ tea over there, too,” Mordekai nodded toward the hot cocoa bar with a grin, ”If y’all wanna get some after gettin’ all blankied up.”
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Friendly Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 11:38 pm
(( Claire & Cadi -> Mordekai, Aina, & Seabiscuit, in the lounge ))
Cadi's self-consciousness still lingered at the back of her mind as she went to sit down, but Mordekai's friendly banter alighted an tenuous smile on her face. Claire beamed while the blankets were being tucked around and piled on her by the pomegranate Frei, cheeks glowing even more with the gentle kiss Aina planted on them. She placed a hand to the spot as Cadi finally sat down, taking the proffered blanket from Aina.
"Thanks, kiddo," she replied to the tiny Frei, and wrapped the offered blanket around her shoulders, settling into the couch. Her smile widened. "Nice and toasty, thanks much." She passed the phone back to Claire after glancing it over and chuckling at her nerd of an uncle, and when their fingers brushed, her smile departed just a touch. "You're still pretty cold, Claire. Want something hot? Think Mordekai's on to something there."
"Yeah I guess that's true." Claire lifted the hand from her cheek and stared at her fingers, laughing as she pocketed the phone. "Going for Round Two then?"
"Maybe. Interested?" Cadi stood up again, tugging the blanket firmly around her shoulders. Claire made to stand but Cadi waved her off. "I got it, I got it. You stay put, war vet, and I'll be back." She pointed at Aina and Mordekai in turn. "And you two, think on what y'all want, I'll be back for the next trip in a moment." And with that, she set off to the refreshments.
Claire hummed and readjusted her blankets before reaching over and pulling Aina to her. "Thanks for keeping me warm, honey, let me return the favor." She nuzzled her face into Aina's hair happily, surfacing to grin at Mordekai and Seabiscuit. "Is it just you three tonight or was Duncan able to make it out too?" She did not see the familiar sight of Mr. Clarke around but she had hoped to pass on Ivy's New Years wishes.
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:27 am
((Nel -> Lounge))
After giving everyone on the other team a hearty congratulations and brushing most of the snow off of her, Nell had started to head inside, but only made it a few steps before realizing that she was missing something. Somewhere in the chaos of the battle one of her gloves had fallen off....somewhere. With a good natured sigh she trudged back to the battlefield and began to toe through the snow to find it.
It took a bit longer than expected, but she returned to the cabin a short while after everyone else, shedding off her soaked outer layers by the door so she wouldn't track in too much snow. It only took a quick look around the room for her to decide where to go, and she made a beeline for the lounge and the fireplace, rubbing her hands together to regain some feeling in them before looking for a place to sit and warm up.
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 11:56 am
(( Gabe w/ Vivi in the Lounge Area ))
At Cadi's retreat, Gabe fixed his eyes to the fireplace and gave a short gesture of his hand in passing -- a lazy wave. In truth, he was hoping conversation would stall then and he could go back to sitting in relative silence but the woman took a seat opposite of him and smiled at him. He glanced at her briefly, then back to the fire, before she held her phone out and called for his attention. On the screen was a candid photo of his arrival and Ethiriel's immediate snowball assault. Gabe wasn't smiling but he didn't look nearly annoyed as he did in the picture.
He stared at it tiredly all the same. What a way to make a first impression with this group.
Gabe nodded to Vivi's first question as he leaned back against his seat to spot Ethiriel again in the growing crowd; she was congregating with two other raevans who were all smiles while they all exchanged gifts. "Yeah, I'm her ride tonight," he debated for a moment whether he should explain it was because Henry was too busy to do it himself but decided against it.
"It's an improvement," he answered hesitantly. Gabe cleared his throat and adjusted a bit uncomfortably where he sat. "You know her pretty well?" He motioned loosely in Ethiriel's general direction with his thumb. Gabe vaguely recalled the antler-sporting raevan coming by Henry's house at least a few times but he certainly hadn't seen Vivi before.
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:30 pm
(( Kyou - hot cocoa bar // Laz - Cesc, Ethiriel and Zurine ))
Once Lazarus got back into the cabin, dusted off all the snow from himself and is comfortable and warm again, he immediately went looking for Kyou. As he remembered pelting him by accident earlier. Unlike him, Kyou was not suitably dressed for a snowball fight. He just wanted to be sure the man was alright.
As he approached Kyou's room in the far side of the cabin, the closed door clicked open and out hobbled the man in question in brand new pants.
"Oh hey." Kyou greeted Lazarus, as cheerful as ever. He know the Valsaros just wanted to check up on him, which is very sweet. "I managed to dust the snow off my sweater thankfully, however the pants were not as lucky." He laughed heartily as he began to make his way back towards the heart of the party.
"Ah I'm sorry about that." Lazarus vaguely remember he was the one that hit Kyou's pants.
"Don't worry about it. I should have known better than to sit out there to watch a snowball fight." Kyou laughed heartily at the fresh memory. "Maybe you should talk to Ethiriel a little bit though? You hit her pretty hard."
"Ah.." Lazarus blushed, Kyou saw that after all. "Okay then, you'll be alright on your own?" He was going to check on Ethiriel after this anyway.
Kyou nods and watches as Lazarus walked back into the lounge area. Then heads over to the hot cocoa bar. Perhaps another cup of hot cocoa to enjoy the countdown? Sounds absolutely delicious.
The Valsaros approached the group with Ethiriel, Zurine and Cesc tentatively. "Hope I'm not intruding?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 25, 2015 9:12 pm
((Vivi--> lounge, Cesc--> with Eth, Zuri and Laz, starting toward the cocoa bar))
"Mm, I know her a little--not so well as Rhedefre," Vivi turned her head toward the trio (and the approaching Lazarus), her smile becoming fond. She tossed her hair as she looked back over at Gabe, her dark eyes studying him. She wasn't sure what to make of this tired-eyed man. He seemed antisocial and unlikely to be charmed, a carefully-constructed wall around him. Had he had unhappy memories with the Lab? Or had he merely slept badly? Or was he just an ornery old goat?
Vivi hoped, whatever his story, that he was a good man toward Ethiriel. She had certainly had enough from the last one, whatever his name had been...
"Do you know Rhedefre at all--or Cesc, perhaps, you have heard his name. He is quite good friend with Ethiriel; they've gone together to the opera and to musicals at intervals," said Vivi with a smile. "I have seen her quite content with him, but never so happy as I have seen her tonight."
She looked up, spying Nell entering. "Ah, mademoiselle, come and warm yourself here!" She patted a space on the nearby couch.
Cesc looked up as he spied Lazarus, his expression open and friendly. He waved him forward with a grin. "Nonsense, Lazarus! Good to see you as ever. You were great out there! Sorry we couldn't get a win against these girls."
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 6:19 am
((Xiu -> Arrival -> Lounge || Nel )) The party seemed well underway by the time Xiu arrived. Removing his scarf and hanging it onto a hook by the door, the Sigel made a quiet entrance to the party. Truth be told, Xiu was feeling a little sheepish for arriving this late but there was an unexpected visitation by Hazeline’s relatives earlier on and the Sigel could not take his leave without appearing curt. Scanning the room, Xiu spotted several faces he recognized but they seemed to be preoccupied. Besides, he was not quite willing to crack the “fashionably late” joke just yet. So someplace quiet would have to do. Blue eyes then noticed the lone figure of a woman by the fireplace. Xiu did not recognize her but she seemed companionable enough. Perhaps a guardian to one of the younger raevans or even (as Yves had been), a guardian to be. Floating over, Xiu gave Nel a polite wave. “Good evening, miss. My name is Xiu and you are?” enquired the Sigel in a friendly manner. He had learned that sometimes it was necessary to be the one to start a conversation with strangers as they tended to be guarded when meeting a Raevan.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 10:45 am
((Ethiriel Cesc, Zuri and Laz))
As she and Zurine were scooped up into Cesc’s arms, Ethiriel let out a loud laugh that devolved into giggling as she was pulled closer. As the stag called out birthday wishes, a blush crept across the tea Frei’s face and she moved her hair out of her face in attempt to hide behind her hand – oh, she hoped no one had heard it! Today was for the Lab, not herself. Giving Cesc a gentle nudge with her shoulder, the Raevan smiled warmly as she looked up to meet his eyes.
”Oh, Rhede, thank you! There is no need for the party to be about me!” she said, wrapping her arm around his side to give a small hug of her own.
Once Laz had spoken, Ethiriel broke her gaze on Cesc to smile at the incubus. ”Not at all, Sir Lazarus! It is such a pleasure to have your company!” she greeted, pulling away from Cesc to offer him a small token, a gentle kiss on the cheek. ”The game outside was quite fun!” she said, glancing back to Cesc. Ethiriel laughed heartily, giving the stag’s arm a quick rub and pat. ”What can I say? Perhaps I am more talented than I would have ever imagined.”
To tell the truth, Ethiriel didn’t have high hopes for helping her team any – she was still new to sight, depth perception being a strange thing for her. She was stronger than she had expected as well.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 5:00 am
(( Laz - Cesc, Eth & Zurine ))
Lazarus smiled brightly as he was greeted, waving back. "Ah I wasn't great at all. Most of my throws were pretty bad." He admitted to Cesc with an embarrassed smile, remembering the terrible throws he had. "Well, maybe because I'm made of fire, so the snow isn't quite as agreeable to me as say... Zurine." The Valsaros laughed as he motioned towards the ice Raevan.
His expression was fast changed into one of mild surprise and blush when Ethiriel kissed him on the cheeks. "It was indeed, quite fun." He chuckled. "I hit you in the face though, are you alright?" The Frei seemed alright, but he just wanted to be sure. "I'm sorry about that. Although, you were a pretty good hit as well." Remembering the hits he took from Ethiriel, Lazarus laughed.
However, something seemed off here. His brows furrowed as he looked at Ethiriel, and she looked back; squarely back. "Eth... your eyes?" Come to think of it, she was hitting all the marks during the snowball fight. Can she see now?
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2015 11:27 am
(( Gabe w/ Vivi + Nell at the lounge -> SOCIALLY AWKWARD RETREAT to the food table ))
He nodded absently at Vivi's small explanation while reaching up to feel the back of his neck; his hair still felt damp and cold but it wasn't dripping anymore thanks to that girl's napkin intervention. Gabe's eyes and attention returned to Vivi briefly when she asked him a question before his gaze veered off again towards the tea raevan and her growing group of comrades.
"The pink one?" he asked, more to himself than to Vivi as he continued almost immediately, "Yeah. He's been over a few times but we never talked." At the mention of operas and musicals, Gabe's brows rose despite his eyes staying heavy-lidded. That sounded vaguely familiar, like something he might have been told in passing, but truth be told he never heard much of what Ethiriel did with any of her friends -- not that this was bothersome. Her mention of Eth's contentment made him look again, closer this time.
Though he had lived with Ethiriel for nearly two years now, he couldn't for the life of him think of a time where she did look happier or more at ease. Gabe offered a low murmur of agreement as he prepared to say more, but Vivi called out to another woman to beckon her towards the fire and he clammed up immediately.
He tucked his phone back into his pocket and cleared his throat, standing up as Nell approached. Gabe stepped to the side enough to silently offer his seat to Nell -- just from how the French woman called out to her he assumed they were more familiar anyway. He excused himself from Vivi, Nell, and anyone else who was likely to make their way to the fire after being pummeled by snow. "I'm gonna get a drink," if he could find anything here that wasn't alcoholic or chocolate, anyway.
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