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 Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 7:46 pm
Xero's blank expression said it all. He was stunned to hear of such a tradition, and the fact that he had set it all up without even thinking of it. Were there more of these hidden items that carried something similar? He cleared his throat as he too looked away. His cheeks had turned a vibrant red as blood rushed to them. She had said it was optional.... but would refusing be a curse?
"....I.... see..." He paused in between words as he still tried to make sense of it all. Xero cleared this throat as he spoke again, this time with less gaps. "...Humans come up with the strangest things."
His tail flicked around nervously behind him. It had never done that before, in fact he could not recall when he had felt so off. This was all a big mistake. It would be easier to simply move from under the abomination, however it seemed as though his legs refused to cooperate with his brain. They were firmly planted where he stood.
Most of this confusion was that he was not sure what a 'kiss' even meant. He had seen it before, remembered it had something to do with affection, he just was not entirely sure what to think about it. Did it mean they were life bonded? In his confusion he voiced his question out loud, and by no means on purpose.
"...What does a kiss mean?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 9:27 pm
"Yes," she answered without thinking, too full of relief for it to be over. Unfortunately for her, it wasn't, as his question sunk in. Her eyes widened somewhat, both of her hands playing with the fabric of her skirt. The awkwardness of this moment just wouldn't go away, would it?
"Several things. It doesn't have to always be something special. It's just how you show someone how you feel." Looking down, she made the motion of brushing at her skirt like she did when she was nervous. "Like I said, it's optional. Just a human tradition." Prisca turned around towards the table, picking up the mug with her now cold cappuccino. Carrying it over to the sink, she poured it down the drain. It wasn't something that needed to be done that very second. But it made her feel better to get out of that awkward situation.
Setting the mug down in the sink, the woman turned back around to face him. She put a smile on her face, making sure it wasn't too strained. Fortunately, she succeeded in putting a friendly curve to her lips. "I'm sorry for bringing it up," she apologized, walking back over to stand at his side under the mistletoe. "That's not a very appropriate topic of conversation."
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Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:52 am
Even after Prisca had moved Xero remained still. He recalled a scientist kissing Trinity's hand back when he was still in the test tube. She had told him it was a very formal greeting. Respectful by nature. At least, when it was done on the hand.
Once Prisca was pouring out her Cappuccino Xero moved as well to finally set the decoration on the table. It didn't take him so long and he actually was back under the mistletoe just a little ahead of Prisca.
"It is alright. I did not find the information inappropriate... Thank you for helping understand."
How odd he should stop once again under the mistletoe with her. It seemed a shame to just ignore the tradition, and as she said a kiss can mean how one felt. Gratitude was high on his list. She had spent time with him and put up with his foolish behavior. He also held no ill intent, or lustful for that matter. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.
Now it would have been more customary for the lady to offer her hand first, however in this case Xero felt he would have to make an exception and ask.
"...May I?" He asked as he held his hand to her palm upward. It was, as he figured, the universal sign asking for one's hand.
Amazingly he had picked up a lot of these habits from observing the very humans he despised.
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Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:55 pm
The woman smiled in gratitude, clasping her hands in front of her skirt in her usual, relaxed manner. It felt very reassuring that Xero hadn't found the information inappropriate. He did want to learn, yes. And she had full intentions of teaching him what he wanted to know. But the subject of kissing when one was talking to someone you don't know very well just didn't seem the right topic of conversation.
"It's my pleasure," she answered truthfully. He seemed to know so very little about the human world. Which did make perfect sense to her. Not like he had much of a reason to learn. Not after the things humans had done towards him. In her short time before finding the Reversed shop, she only had a very small taste of what that was like.
Prisca snapped out of her thoughts as his hand came toward her. Blinking, she banished the thoughts out of her mind, feeling quite confused by his simple gesture. There were a number of things he could mean by extending his hand. Nothing of the previous conversation lead her to suspect what it was he meant to do. Unless he was planning on taking her somewhere. Which she hoped wasn't the case. That would likely involve flying. She wasn't up for flight.
But as she continued to go over possibilities in her mind, she raised her hand to place in his. Another blush crept up to her face when her mind settled on a new thought of what this was about.
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Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:24 pm
Once her hand was in his he raised his own hand slightly and leaned forward. Very gently he planted a soft kiss on the back of her hand. He than carefully lowered their hands before letting go and returning his hand to his side. Surprisingly he was not blushing as bad as one might think. His cheeks were only slightly rosy.
"...I do wish to convey my gratitude...." She did say a kiss was a way to show someone how you felt. "..Not many would take the time." Much less he would let them take the time to even get close. However he hopped that his point was made clear.
With that said he moved away from the mistletoe in case there should be any other unknown affects of the strange decoration, and returned to the almost empty box on the table. It wouldn't strike him until much latter that he had just had his first kiss. Technically.
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:22 pm
"Uh..." was all the normally confident woman could manage to get out. For the first time in a long time, she was speechless. It wasn't so much the act itself that was making her go more scarlet than before the kiss was laid on her hand. No. When men tried that stunt on her before, it had no affect. Nothing besides irritating her. The only difference this time was the person it was coming from. From her previous encounters with Xero, she least expected him to go through with the tradition hanging over his head.
Prisca's hand remained in the air where it was left for a few moments before she realized it was."It's....Really no bother, Xero," she managed an answer, placing a smile back on her face. Both hands went back to being clasped in front of her skirt. "You're a pleasure to be around. I don't mind."
Not sure of what else to say beyond that, she followed him back into the living room. Most of her decorations were up. It did make the place look more festive, even if it wasn't fully done up like she usually would if she wasn't always alone. A tree would have been nice. There was no time for that. Even if there was, the stores weren't open on Christmas Day. She'd never be able to buy decorations to put on it.
The woman reached a hand into the box, grabbing the first thing she touched. It was a little holly pin with only two leafs and three berries. She didn't remember putting this in here. The pin on the back was small. It wouldn't leave much of a dent in anyone's clothes. Still, she wasn't sure about putting it on her dress. Not while she wore one of her expensive ones.
Looking over to Xero, a thought entered her mind. Reaching out with her free hand, she grasped one side of his vest to pin the little decoration to him.
"This is only holly. Nothing to worry about like mistletoe."
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Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:43 pm
Though Xero showed no outward indication, he found Prisca's reaction to the mistletoe tradition rather amusing. The amusement served as a distraction until Prisca moved to pin the holly on his vest. He watched the holy closely. Hopefully not another strange tradition...
Thankfully she clarified this and to his satisfaction it had nothing to do with kisses.
"I see..." He looked from the holly back to Prisca. "Is there one I should pin on you as well?"
Xero was unsure if that would be another hidden Christmas tradition, pinning hollies to each other to complete the decoration ritual.
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:09 pm
Prisca couldn't help allowing a little laugh to escape her purple lips. "Might be," she admitted, smoothing the fabric below the pin, eyes intend on her small task. She really didn't know anymore what was in that box on the couch. There could indeed be another pin in there. Wasn't like she had looked before sticking her hand in. "But this isn't a holiday tradition. I just wanted to." Satisfied with how it looked on Xero, the woman stepped back, admiring her work for a few seconds. She didn't know why she had felt the desire to. Just seemed appropriate.
"There isn't much else to it I could show you," she continued, looking back up into his eyes and placing her hands in front of her. "I can't give much of an experience." Nor has she taught anyone else the things she was taught back when she lived with the scientist. She wasn't sure what to start with. Or what else to say. There was so much more left to it than what she had already shown him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:48 pm
The day went on rather quickly after the mistletoe 'incident'. The traditions that followed were no where near as embarrassing, in fact they were quite pleasant, especially the music. For the most part it was relaxing. Xero had to ask questions after nearly every song about the meaning behind it and the origins, Prisca did her best to answer all of them. After each answer he would nod and listen to the next song thoughtfully.
After the songs, the notable ones, were listened to Prisca moved to the kitchen so Xero could watch her bake some 'traditional' Christmas sweets. First a chocolate cake, than some Christmas tree and gingerbread cookies. She also, by request, showed him how peanut-butter cookies were made.
After watching for a short while she was able to coax him into trying for himself. His didn't come out nearly as perfect in looks, but nothing was too much of a disaster to be tossed. For their final piece they made from scratch a gingerbread house. Xero was more confident by that point to be more of a help in the process. He even, with great success, made small mewtwo shaped cookies for the front of the house. Each one with as best detail as he could manage for a cookie.
The baking took a great deal of the day and by the time they were finished placing the last gumdrop on the house the sun was already beginning to set behind the gray sky. The snow had lightened up toward the end of the day, but still showed no sign of stopping. (( lol ))
There wasn't time nor ingredients to prepare a traditional meal, but Xero was alright with just the explanation. Perhaps some other time he would get to experience it. Instead of a fancy meal, tomato soup was prepared with some grilled cheese. At Xero's request. He had never heard of soup before and was curious about a 'liquid' meal. Afterward they were able to enjoy some of the baked sweets.
Xero stayed for another two hours after dessert talking a bit about different stones he had found on the beach and how they may have been used in jewelry making. It was an obvious distraction on any topic relating to his past.
When it was time to go Xero thanked Prisca for the day and, after helping clean what little mess they had made, teleported away.
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