|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:09 pm
The trip to the mall (in New York!) with Reine had been a productive one. They had both returned back with shopping bags full of gifts for their friends, and Eva was feeling pretty good about all this. Except...
There had been the dilemma that while she called these people her friends, she really didn't know any of them that well. Sure, she knew their names, and she liked them...but how much did she really know? About their hobbies? Likes? Dislikes? In hindsight, she really should have asked everyone for such information before she went out and bought gifts! Now she was just a teeny bit paranoid that she had purchased the wrong things for the wrong people.
...They weren't allowed out to return or exchange gifts, were they?
No, probably not. Eva stepped out of her room with a heavy sigh, running her hand through her hair. Oh well. Maybe she could get to know these people better now to prepare for next Christmas.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:28 pm
Unfortunately for Gale, he was not, to say the least, the most ideal shopper when it came to getting presents for Christmas.
He was sixteen years old, after all - a sixteen year old guy who clearly had never had any experience in shopping for anyone other than his immediate family. Even then, however, it had been hard; Gale was not exactly the succinct type, and usually his gifts were....awkward.
Like the wrench set he had given Leslie the year they had turned eleven.
Needless to say she hadn't exactly liked it.
The presents Gale had gotten for everyone else were now stashed in his room, ready to be delivered to their recipients - but he hoped they were not as pathetic as he thought they were. After all, it had taken him much longer than expected - and not only that, he had gone to an American mall when he could have gone to Harrods in London.
Though he hadn't wanted to go there for several reasons.
Gale made his way down the hallway back to his dorm after breakfast, one arm resting behind his head, the other hand pressed against his mouth as he attempted to stifle a yawn. He hadn't slept very well the night before, and had planned on going back to his room for a nap.
He didn't see Eva step out of her room until he ran into her - literally.
"Ow."
Rubbing his nose, Gale found himself standing beside the dark haired girl.
"Oh," he said, and gave her a small smile. "Good morning, Eva."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:34 pm
"Woah!" Eva laughed, and then reached out just in case she needed to steady the boy, "Gale, good morning! Looks like we keep running into each other, huh?" She grinned, clearly referring to their collision the first time they met. She really needed to be a little more aware of her surroundings, clearly!
The girl's gaze was drawn up towards the Christmas decorations lining the hallways, and then she looked back to Gale. "Excited for Christmas?" This was going to be her first Christmas away from home, and it hurt that she couldn't spend it with her parents, but what could she do? Moping around wasn't going to solve anything, so Eva had decided long ago that she would do her best to enjoy her first Christmas here at Deus Ex.
Besides, she was already pretty fond of some of the trainees that she had met here. Spending the holidays with them would be pretty fun, she thought!
Glancing over her shoulder at her room--where the presents currently sat, unwrapped--Eva sighed. "I'll be honest Gale--I seriously wish I just asked you what you wanted for Christmas instead of trying to figure out what to get you while I was at the mall." The girl grinned sheepishly, scratching her cheek, "Hopefully you like it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:10 pm
"I think maybe I just need to learn where I'm going," said Gale dryly, eyes flicking towards Eva's hand that had shot out to prevent him from toppling over. He shook his head, amused in spite of himself.
Following the other's gaze, Gale glanced over at the somewhat meager looking strands of green fir that lined the hallways, dozens of red, silver, and gold ornaments dangling. There was mistletoe everywhere (Gale had a sneaking suspicion that it was a certain doctor's doing), and fake snow was thrown haphazardly on the floors of the buildings.
Gale was pretty certain it was all the doing of one certain hunter who's name started with a J.
His expression flickered a little at Eva's question, the smile on Gale's face fading.
"Er...well," he said. "Not...er, entirely. I mean..." He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "It's not going to be any different from any other holiday I've had so far. I've been spending Christmas alone for years. This isn't really an exception."
"I seriously wish I just asked you what you wanted for Christmas instead of trying to figure out what to get you while I was at the mall."
Startled, Gale's eyes widened just the smallest bit. He'd gotten Eva a present, mostly because he had wanted to thank her for not treating him like a little kid, but...he had not, in any sense of the word, expected her to get him a gift as well, especially when she did not know he had gotten her one as well.
"You, er..." he said slowly, shifting from one foot to the other. "...you got me a gift?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:38 pm
"Oh."
Eva's eyes widened, and that happy grin of hers was wiped right off her face. Alone? Why had he...what about his family? However, she didn't voice any of these questions aloud--even Eva knew better to do that. Instead, she threw an arm around his shoulder and smiled, her voice cheerful. "Well, for better or for worse, you get to deal with us this Christmas! Hope you're ready for that!"
Mental note: make this the most memorable and exciting Christmas for Gale.
She didn't seem to notice the surprise that accompanied his question. "Of course I did! As I said, I'm not sure if you'll actually like it, but..." She had tried! She had to be given credit for that! It was so hard buying gifts for people who you hardly knew!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:45 pm
"Er," said Gale hastily, now feeling very awkward at the sudden look of alarm on Eva's face. "Don't worry about it - it's not like it's all that bad, really. It just means I had to improvise a little when it came to presents, is all."
Moving away from his parents' house and into his uncle's had meant that Gale had given up any right to actually having a decent holiday. It was not like Bill was ever home, and Gale had spent the several years prior trying to convince his parents that he was not insane. So spending his holidays away was not an unusual thing, at least not for him.
Except apparently to Eva it was, since she had slung her arm around his shoulder and was smiling brightly at him.
"...is that right," said Gale, a faint red dusting his cheeks as he managed a slight smile. "Well, I suppose spending Christmas with a couple of yanks like yourselves is better than spending it alone."
He meant it all in good natured teasing, of course, though his face grew a small shade redder the more Eva talked.
She got me a present.
...why.
Gale could not, for the life of him, figure out why. He was not the most sociable person, as it was, and not really easy to be around (he was quite aware of this fact).
"...why?" he asked her, brows drawing together in confusion. "I mean...I mean, I got you one, but - "
Jinhai cackled with amusement in his head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:32 am
She laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh believe me, it'll be a memorable Christmas! You're going to the gala, right?" She already had her dress, but what she was looking forward to was not dancing or socializing (though the latter would prove to be fun, she was sure). It was the fact that, so long as her plan wasn't shot down, she intended on running around with some mistletoe to hold over random trainees' heads.
...For no particular reason other than her own amusement, heehee.
This time, she did notice the strange expression on his face. And he looked kind of...red? Was he sick? She blinked at the question, and then shrugged her shoulders with a grin. "Why not? I like you, and we're friends, right?" For a moment, it was Eva's turn to be surprised when he let her know that he had gotten her something as well. She had kind of forgotten that Christmas also meant receiving gifts as well as giving. Oops!
"Anyways! You feelin' okay? You look a little warm..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:29 pm
Gale's expression turned to one of mild exasperation.
"I...was rather thinking I wouldn't go, actually," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, after Julie's text..." Gale rolled his eyes. "I don't particularly have any desire for a date, for the pure and simple reason that there is no one here my age that's even remotely interested in me - well, actually, there's just no one here my age, period. It's rather disappointing, I suppose, since it would be nice to have someone to relate to..."
He trailed off, realizing just how much he'd said, and shook his head, trying to dispel some of the sudden redness to his cheeks. For some reason, his face felt hotter than usual, a warmth spreading across his skin.
"Ye-es," said Gale, after a moment's hesitation. "I...I suppose we are friends..."
Twisting his hands together awkwardly, Gale turned his a little away, stubbornly refusing to meet Eva's eyes.
"Er, yes," he said. "I'm feeling perfectly well."
He gave her a small, half smile, and added "Though now I rather wish I had thought to ask you what you wanted for Christmas as well since I am, er...not quite the best when it comes to shopping for girls."
A slight pause.
"Or anyone, for that matter."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:16 pm
"Aw, Gale! You can't!" The girl had immediately begun to pout when he told her that he was considering skipping out on the gala. It sounded as if it was going to be a lot of fun! "I mean...you don't really need a date, do you? Even puppy--er, sorry, I mean Otto--is going!" There was a beat, and then Eva's expression grew a little sheepish.
"Kinda because Reine and I are making him go, but..." Buuuuut that wasn't the point. Without warning, she put her hands on his shoulders and grinned, "It'll be a good time to socialize, I think. Get the know each other, and the new hatchlings since we'll all be working with each other from here on out."
At least, that was part of the reason Eva intended on going. She knew a couple of the trainees now--both new and old--but there were still plenty that she wasn't acquainted with. Recognized, yes, but didn't know beyond their face and (maybe) their name.
At the mention of the gift, she laughed, shaking her head furiously. "No, Gale! I'm happy you thought of me at all, so thank you for that. I love the gift." A pause, and she laughed again, "Whatever it is. Don't worry about it, okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:54 pm
Eva's expression of surprise and eagerness took Gale aback. Startled, he flushed an even deeper red, looking studiously away from her as he tried not to be happy about the fact that she wanted him to go.
...why AM I happy about that? This is stupid.
His expression turned mildly exasperated as he looked back at her. "Oh, joyful," he said dryly. "Just the person I wanted to see, Otto. He's such a ray of sunshine after all."
And then suddenly her hands were on his shoulders and Gale almost staggered automatically, blinking blankly up at her. He felt suddenly idiotic, and he couldn't quite place why that was.
Or maybe he could, and he just didn't want to admit it.
"Reine...oh," he said, in a very slightly tense tone of voice. "The one who...ah, well, never mind."
With a sigh, Gale shook his head. "I'm, er...not the best at socializing."
A pause.
"Not that you could tell, or anything." He shrugged. "People don't really treat me as an adult, so I find little point in attending when I'm just going to be patronized, after all."
If it were even possible at all, Gale's cheeks were even more scarlet, his face burning.
What is this?
Confusion made him mildly sulky, and he looked away again, hoping his hair hid his expression from view.
"It's just something silly. You probably will laugh at it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:52 am
If she noticed his face growing redder (which she did), she didn't comment on it. Instead, she let out a surprised laugh at the boy's comment about Otto. "You've met, I presume?" Grinning, Eva sighed as she ran a gloved hand through her hair. "Puppy's not all that bad, really! I guess he does tend to snap at fingers, though." Including Eva's, not that she seemed to mind. The girl seemed to have a surprising amount of tolerance, and she clearly became easily attached to people.
...She might have also enjoyed the fact that she could annoy Otto. Just a little.
"You only get better with socializing by practicing," She told him firmly, hands on her hips as she leaned in and stared at him intently, "And Gale, if some people don't treat you as an adult, then you have to show them that you're not just some kid, right?" Hell, even at twenty, Eva still had trouble appearing like a responsible adult sometimes. Unless she was doing something serious--like a mission--she acted a little too carefree for her age.
Noting that Gale's face was becoming an even more obvious shade of red now, the girl frowned. "I'm sure it's wonderful," She answered him, though she seemed somewhat distracted now. Without warning, she lifted her hand and pressed the back of her hand against his cheek.
"Geez, Gale! You're really warming up! Are you sure you're okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:52 am
"Oh, we've more than just met," said Gale, rolling his eyes as he slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. Thankfully, some of the redness from earlier was starting to dissipate, fading across his cheeks until they were back to their regular pale color (one of the unfortunate results of having such a light skin tone was that it was more than a little obvious when he flushed).
"The first time I ever saw him, he walked up and kicked me in the ribs," Gale said dryly, in an exasperated sort of voice. "I still managed to flatten his arse, though. And we were partners for the...second Sahara mission."
A slight tenseness had cropped up as he mentioned it, Gale's face beginning to close off, lips pressing together tightly. He hadn't meant to talk about that incident anytime soon - or even at all, ever again, though he knew it would probably come up gain, considering Aria's return. He still hadn't seen the Mist Hunter, however, which made him wonder where she had gone to.
It wasn't a mirage. She was in the helicopter with me.
Lost in his thoughts, Gale almost didn't realize Eva was just a tad too close until she was a tad too close. Blinking, he automatically leaned back, a faint scowl of stubbornness on his face.
"I've tried," he said. "Believe me, I've tried. Doesn't stop people from assuming I shouldn't be here. I turned sixteen last week (er, I think, I don't really keep track of the days around here), and yet because I'm short I'm still disregarded."
Shrugging, he added "It's not like I expect anything different, after all. I do my own thing, they do the - "
Gale broke off abruptly, the touch of something soft against his cheek as Eva lifted her hand. Her fingers felt oddly cool against his warm skin, which had grown a rather interesting shade of scarlet once more.
...this isn't fair.
<< What's not fair? >>
This. All of...this.
<< The fact that you clearly have a crush on a ghoul four years older than you? >>
...............yes, that.
<< It's not a bad thing, you know. It shows you aren't some weirdly mature and solo kid. But, Gale....I don't...think..... >>
....I know.
Lifting his hand, Gale's fingers closed around Eva's, and gently but firmly he pulled them away from his red face, letting go of them easily after he did so.
"I'm fine," he said, shaking his head, his voice strangely calm. His eyes rose to meet the older girl's, the faintest hint of what might have been an attempt at a reassuring smile touching his lips.
"Really."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:50 am
"...Puppy kicked you in the ribs?"
Eva was suddenly frowning. It was a pretty big frown, in fact--she obviously wasn't pleased to hear the meeting between two of her friends had been less than pleasant. She supposed that not anyone could get along, though, and Otto was a little grumpier than most to be sure. "I, er...he's really not a bad guy deep down?" She supplied with a weak grin. Otto was just a little rough around the edges! Maybe he didn't...mean...to um...kick Gale?
...Okay, she was really starting to push it. Fortunately, a good time to change the topic presented itself when Gale assured her that he was alright. After giving him a worried, scruntinizing look, Eva smiled and gave a little nod of her head. "If you're sure! And as for those people who look down on you..." Hmmmm. What to say?
"Ignore them," She told him firmly, lips pulling into a grimace, "Young or not, you're skilled--they have to respect you for that, at least." That was a long pause before she grinned, clasping her hands in front of her and staring at the boy eagerly.
"So. Coming to the Gala?" Eva was clearly hoping that he had changed his mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:24 am
"Er," said Gale, catching the sudden shift in Eva's expression. "...well, yes. He seemed to be in a rather tetchy mood when he stumbled across me. Fortunately, however, Otto got a nice taste of his own medicine when I kicked his arse, so..." Gale shrugged, what might have been a smile tugging at his lips. "He got a little taste of what's like to be a hunter."
Her comment made him snort, shaking his head with half exasperation, half amusement as he glanced towards her again. "I think maybe you're just a saint when it comes to that kid," he said dryly. "Heaven knows I don't really like to deal with him, so props to you for being able to do just that."
He gave Eva a small, half smile, sighing internally.
This really sucks.
<< Yep. >>
Eva's sentiments made Gale's own expression soften. "...thank you," he replied quietly, pushing his fringe of hair away from his face again. "...I appreciate that."
Then he snorted with laughter, this time a real smile crossing his face.
"I'll think about it," he said, with as much dignity as he could, though he was clearly fighting back a grin. "Maybe."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:31 am
If Gale was mature for his age, then Eva could be considered kind of immature for her age (or just extremely light-hearted when she wasn't on duty). Eva may have been pouting a little at the answer--she supposed that the fact that he said he was considering it was better than nothing...but it still wasn't the answer that she had wanted!
Though the laugh and the smile? That had been worth it. Gale always seemed so serious, so it was nice to see him actually relax for a change! Reaching out, she grinned and clasped his shoulder. "Do think about it! I think it would be fun to have you around!" She genuinely liked the company of all the trainees she had met thus far, and having all the trainees there meant more people to trail after with mistletoe more people to socialize with.
"If you decide to go the to gala, I'll see you there, then! You'll find me in the bright purple dress." While she didn't used to like that particular shade of purple, her bright scarf and Chara's coloration had grown on her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
