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 Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:35 pm
Chel did not leave home in winter without at least two jackets, a scarf, a beanie and fingerless gloves. That was the bare minimum; sometimes if it snowed she would put out the big guns (Chris' jacket) and if she was ever sent on artic missions she'd pull out her secret weapon (the rest of Chris' winter gear).
So walking towards the portal she looked more like Shun than she did Chel; hidden and cloaked under fifty layers. At least there were no daggers.
"You'd think they'd show up," Chel muttered, cramming her hands under her armpits. She'd invited the others, but by this point most had texted either they had actually been sidetracked (extra duties around the holidays always stacked up thanks to the increase influence of JOY next to FEAR, Abbi and Gretchen were stuck in the infirmary) or they had decided they just weren't coming (Chris wasn't up for Jack today without Abbi to balance it out, Dawson wasn't coming without the buffer of Chris ... At least Finn was frank enough to say no, didn't want to).
Eventually it boiled down to, "Guess we're on a romantic a** shoppin' date then, Beanstalk." Chel shrugged and walked herself through the portal anyways. She wasn't going to waste her day off because her friends were flakes. She'd go by herself if she had to.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:04 pm
In contrast, Jack had a jacket, scarf, and beanie combo that was popular around this time of year. The island's version was mild and hardly worth breaking out anything more (at least if something from Christmas didn't go make it snow again), especially if they were going to be inside for this. He couldn't help but snort a little at how bundled up Chel was and pocketed his hands.
"Wonderful," he sighed as they went through the portal.
To be honest, he sort of wished there had been a third, at the very least for Chel's sake. Jack wasn't particularly good company for something like shopping: he had a laser focus for what he wanted, and with the last week to purchase bunch now out in full, it was definitely not his element. And with the lines they'd have to be contending with...
"I doubt we'll get everything we want in one go," he noted grimly.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:41 pm
Chel raised an eyebrow. "Why s'at?" she asked, looking at the hellish mall scene that greeted them. They'd arrived in a backroom hallway, a few turns around the bend and they were in the center of the mess, looking as though they'd just exited the restroom.
Even inside was too cold and she pulled her beanie down more for it.
"You think I can't carry it? I got guns." She attempted to lift her arms but the gesture was a bit awkward with so many coats.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:47 pm
"Cannons," Jack agreed. "I meant the lines, though. It's not as bad as, say, two days before, but still." Any Saturday at the mall was going to be packed; a week before Christmas, it was certainly filled with visitors.
Before he forgot: "Did you make a list of what you're going to get?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:49 pm
Chel squinted at Jack. "When ... have I ever .... made a list ...?"
She poked him a few times playfully in the side. "Yer a clone ain't you. Give the real one back!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:54 pm
Then it hit him.
"Chinabreath, Grixlie, whatever it was. I meant a mental list," he replied with a small scowl to try and save face. A retaliating poke was attempted, but her layers of coats saved her from any real impact. "Or are you just going to window shop and hope for the best?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:29 pm
Chel at least took the time to take off her gloves and smile at her ring for a moment before shoving the gloves into her enormous pockets.
"Oh c'mon I wasn't serious 'bout the clone thing," she said, not even registering the pokes. She was quiet for a moment before moving forward and looking ahead, towards the crowd and other people. "I can't even write lists down how am I s'posed t'do it in my head?" Back to him, "Why, what's on yers Hawthorn?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:44 pm
The silence defined just how serious Jack was, however.
"Nothing really," he admitted eventually. "I don't know what s**t people like that they don't already have, and I don't want to be the cheap b*****d that just says gift cards or booze. Which is why," he linked their arms and pocketed his hand, "I was hoping for some advice."
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:45 pm
Chel crossed her arms as best she could. "Uh no," she told him pointedly. "I'm not buyin' your s**t for you. This ain't a joint account yet."
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:47 pm
"Advice, not IOU," Jack groused. "Jesus." Like his pride would ever allow him to suggest sharing money like that, even if the ring had been a little costly.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:50 pm
Conversely, Chel's pride would never allow her to deny his request for help. Had he really needed the money she would have provided it no questions asked.
"Well," she told him, somewhat soaking up his newfound humility, "First thing's first s'that can't nobody tell you what to get for people. S'kinda the point of a gift, y'know? Show people you was thinkin' of 'em and all that fuzzy stuff."
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:04 pm
"I know that," he nitpicked, sourfaced about needing to ask for help at all, much less having to hear the obvious. A family of three cut across their path in a near collision, two adults chasing a rambunctious child decked out in Star Wars gear. He glared at their backs.
"Just tell me what you're getting them so I have an idea," he grumbled.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:09 pm
"Shoulda brought your files, y'know-" She pulled her arm out from their link to mimic him pushing his glasses up and thumbing through his files. "Yes my nerd senses say here Abbi likes pink things- a pink gift! It's BRILLIANT!"
She looked at him for approval of her impression.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:42 pm
"Shut the ******** up," was his kneejerk reaction, but it sounded more bitter than he intended. "Forget I said anything." Jack pinned his arms to his sides and looked ahead with a frown, ignoring Owain's quiet musing about whether that was his general dislike for the holiday, his sensitive ego, or if the black crystal was still an insidious influence.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 8:49 pm
"Oh and here it says get Chel a knife in the back- Jack how could you write that?" She faked a gasp and knocked into his side, hoping to send his staunch form a little chaos.
She kept her arms swinging by her sides, never one for denying. Her voice did soften as they walked towards one of the many Japanese memorabilia stores. "Abbi's easy at least. She likes nerdy things and pretty things- you can pretty much walk into those stores and get anything and she'll be down." Or, knowing Jack's cold demeanor, she would pretend to like it.
One kid came out of the store with a plastic lightsaber which he promptly (and accidentally) hit Chel with. A frantic, apologetic mother came out after and Chel waved it away. Something like that was not nearly enough to move the laidback Chel. Once the lady had left, Chel turned to Jack and said, "Lotta Star Wars today yeah? Must be a new TV show or something."
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