Welcome to Gaia! ::

Paper Lantern thought the door to Golden Wood's home seemed huge and looming. He stood on her front step, already intimidated by the door and thinking maybe it was better that he go home.

He rubbed his hooves together anxiously. The stallion had done his best to look the most presentable possible. His mane was freshly cut but still slightly shaggy, his tail had been neatened up a bit and he had had his coat trimmed and then rubbed with some sort of oil that made his fur very soft and had a warm smell to it. With help from his mother, he'd picked out a new scarf, something called an infinity that looped about his neck and shoulders and felt a little strangling. But the color, he was told, made his eyes pop. He assumed it was a good thing as the shop mare and his mother had both seemed very pleased. Paper inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath. He hadn't felt this nervous in a long time.

Lifting one of his hooves, he rapped lightly on Miss Golden Wood's door. It would be his luck if she wasn't even home and this was all for nothing but.... He bit his bottom lip anxiously and waited.

Paper was, for a moment, contemplating that her opening the door was actually worse than her not being home.

"H..Hi Miss Golden Wood." he managed to get out. "I hope I'm not interrupting it's just..." Come on Paper, you can do it. "I..know you're still rather new to Phonyland and I haven't seen you out lately. I wondered if I might..show you around? It's the Christmas season and..they're starting to put out the most lovely decorations and other things. I thought you might..enjoy it?" He gave her a nervous smile.

"Oh well that's okay then..." he'd already started replying to the rejection he was sure he was going to get when he stopped. His big, golden eyes got eve bigger as he realized she'd actually said yes. "Wha..wha...really?" In his mind he was failing about, trying to think of what to say. "I'm..really glad.." And he was too. Even in his nervousness, his heat skipped a beat and he felt warm. "I'll wait here till you're ready then..Golden." He tried saying her name as she asked and still felt shy addressing her so informally.

Paper had to shake his head a little to get his brain back into the present but it was hard not to be distracted. She was beautiful and it still made him stop and stare no matter how many times he saw her.

Earth to Paper, she's waiting for you to lead.

Blinking his huge gold eyes a couple times, he blushed a little and nodded. "This way." he began walking towards town.

He'd picked one of the busiest days for the holiday to invite Golden out, he wanted her to see the heart of the town at it's height of loveliness. Phony darted in and out of shops, carrying brightly wrapped packages around. Festive lights and decorations seemed to be shining and twinkling extra brightly. A small ensemble of classical musicians were set up, playing Christmas carols.

"U..uhm..so this is..Christmas.." Brilliant. He pointed at the flowers that were over flowing from every planter. "This year they planted ivory poinsettia all over, they enjoy it all looking cohesive. Everyone has been calling it the White Christmas." I am so terrible at this, Paper wailed in his mind.

"Oh yes. The red poinsettia is very classic, but there are also pink versions as well, one bright and one more subtle." Thats right, she wouldn't know about the other colors, maybe they'd find some in another shop.

"It's sort of magical I think." he said, also looking rather dreamily at the scene before them. "All the lights and music.." he smiled. "Do you like it..?" he watched her out of the side of his eye. "There's more to see..do you..like any sort of things? Tea? Clothes?" He gestured to the shops. "We could go look inside, maybe you'll find some places you'll love." Paper caught himself getting too excited as she seemed pleased by all of the festivity and blushed. "I mean..if you want too.."

"Then, we should look in as many as you want!"

Without thinking, Paper reached down and took Golden's hoof and gently pulled her towards the tea shop. "I know Jasmine pretty well, we grew up together and she makes the best teas! She usually has some brewed to sample too! And there are so many cups and beautiful teapots on display.." His eyes took on that familiar dreamy look as they reached the shop's entrance. The hoof he used to hold hers released and pushed open the door and he stood to the side so she could enter first.

He trailed behind her in the shop as she browsed, becoming distracted every now and again by an elegant new tea service or one of the limited edition china tea cups. He never needed such things but they were so pretty and they gave him ideas for his work.

"Have you tasted anything you like?" he inquired, returning to her side after a time.

"This one," he beckoned her over to the shelf near by. "It's pear flower and honey white tea" He handed her the box and with his hoof behind her back, he pointed frantically at the rose tea while looking intently at the mare behind the counter. She picked up on his message instantly and nodded. "You may like it as well, it's very mild but with a note of sweetness at the very end of it." He gently lifted the box from her hooves and smiled but when his eyes met hers, he blushed a little and looked away shyly. "I'm actually almost out so this is lucky, I can restock. Excuse me a second while I get this rung up and then we will continue if your ready."

He reappeared a few minuets later, a bright bag in his hoof. "Shall we?" He opened the door for her and stepped after her back into the brisk air. "This time you should pick the shop. Guide me to whatever your fancy takes us."

"Of course!"

And so, that is how they spent the afternoon, going from shop to shop. Paper would take Golden to one, and then let her choose the next. He introduced her to all the shop keepers he knew and others they ran into on the way. It was everything he could do to not buy her every little thing that she expressed delight or interest in, just to keep that smile on her face and the bright excitement in her eyes.

The air began to cool and the sky began to darken. And as much as he really didn't want too, he suggested that the two of them head back to her home before it got too late.