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Christmas was both a difficult and easy time of year to Cerissé. When your shopping list was usually about 2 people in size for serious consideration and then a handful of 'in passing' gifts - usually some array of sweets or something practical - that went out to a good portion of the Orchestra. So while she'd already taken care of both her mother and father weeks ago, this venture off to the outlet malls was a bit more.....all encompassing. Plus most people were hitting up 'normal' malls so it was slightly less crowded.

Probably because it was so cold out.

But it wasn't anything her coat, scarf, and gloves couldn't handle. It was all the cars driving around the parking lot like crazy people that made her nervous. "Nobody in this lot knows how to drive," she commented stiffly. It was a usual comment. Getting Cerissé into a car at all was a momentous task. She'd made it fairly clear she didn't trust them as far as she could throw them and driving even slightly bad immediately threw her into nausea, so some were easily enough able to dismiss the comment.

"So, remind me who else we're shopping for? I have my list, but I don't want to miss anybody important." Was it appropriate to buy gifts for the higher ups in the Negaverse? Was that proper protocol?

"Clearly if you have to wonder about it, buy something and wait and see if he gets you something. If not, return it after the season. Otherwise, a box of cards and some generic 'for everybody' gifts on hand at all times," it was Cerissé's go-to plan most of the time. An assorted box of holiday cards with cute sayings in it that could be personalized in a heartbeat. Someone gave an unexpected gift? 'Oh, I have something for you in my purse, give me a minute', sneak off, fill it out, give it to them with something obscenely sweet and you were covered.

"Should I also get something for the CEO? Is that proper procedure?" she inquired, shooting another dirty look at a car that had driven too close to them. She was heavily considering calling a police officer with their plate, but was easily enough distracted away from her vehicle vendetta.

Plus, maybe she'd pick up something for Jade while they were there. If something struck her as an item suitable to the young woman. What sort of things did Jade like, anyways? Cerissé had vague ideas, but she'd have to plan a little harder than that. Plus, maybe she'd consider picking up something for Caleb. Hmmm....

Cerissé didn't push it when Jade set the entire situation to 'complicated'. It made sense in the only way she needed it to - and Cerissé liked Jade enough to not try to push at her feelings any more than she had. Instead, she took a few steps ahead to open the door for her friend.

"Me? Some people in the Symphony and...probably a friend," though she didn't suspect this particular shop would be the sort she would find something he would like at it. After all, that was part of Caleb's charm - he was about as picky as she was.

Being inside a nice warm store away from people who were driving badly was a surefire way to pick up her mood. It likely would have been better if the place wasn't packed with people that Cerissé was most certainly hoping had showered that morning at the very least. Christmas - it made people a little crazy. At least she was polite enough to not comment on that out loud, however.

"Where do we want to start?"

Hmm, what kind of friend indeed.

"A friend who borders the line between professional acquaintance and 'spend time with after work'. A man after my own heart in some ways," Cerissé added the last part as though that would clarify anything. She'd deny it if asked if there were romantic feelings, however. Caleb was a nice boy and definitely nice to look at (oh, she'd never say that out loud), but he had fine taste and made for better company than most did.

Following after Jade's very-easy-to-follow lead was a very minor task, but Jade was that way in many things. "I think those sound like a good idea. It is the season of ridiculous sales on scented things, isn't it?" 3/$15s and all those nice things. Which meant that store was going to be packed.

"I may want to visit a few specialty stores for more specific people in mind, however. But I'll keep an eye open for those while we walk."

"Well, he's married, so I doubt it will be much more than what it is," Cerissé explained. It would be very uncouth of her to invade on that as long as Caleb's wife and he were as in love as they seemingly were. And she'd be completely out of line if she said that disappointed her a little bit.

Cerissé paused at one of the mall-maps that were set up at every junction - just so everybody could make sure they knew what they were looking for was. At least for specific ventures. "Looks like 'The Body Shop' is the closest to us, so we can begin our search for smelly things there, mm?" she inclined her head at Jade briefly before she began to navigate her way through the far-too-crowded hallways of people towards her ever so hopeful goal.

If Cerissé had been a less serious woman, the frankness with which Jade made her statement would have garnered a laugh. As it was, Cerissé was an often far-too-serious woman instead. "I'll leave that up to him, rather than perhaps crack open a can of worms that I had no business touching....but a good thought to keep in mind," except that as soon as she said it, the consideration was gone. 'Married' still ranked as the first deterrent there, and she'd never admit that she was disappointed that was the case.

She stood, tracing her finger over the map and glancing about to orient herself a little. Hmm,hmmm, hmmmm.

"Okay, this way then," she said, beginning to navigate between the groups of people. She so wasn't ready to smoosh herself into a group of people, however. Shopping. Sigh

Somehow, 'Whatever you say' meant that they both were agreeing to not be quite eye-to-eye on that situation, and Cerissé was alright with that. It wasn't like it was a hot button issue. It was simply that her inner Tantalite was delighted to have a handsome corrupt all of her own.

Cerissé and Tantalite certainly did have their little quirks that leaned whichever way they wanted to on their own. Sometimes it made it feel like this other her was an actual other her. How long did that take to get settled in others, she wondered sometimes.

But they'd come to have fun shopping, after all and she could worry about silly things like boys and the 'other' job a little later after. Maybe while they were out she'd get a better idea of what to get Jade anyways...