twenty one ► where is my mind?

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd is busy. He's got a little red rider wagon full of supplies, tiny gifts, and holiday treats; these are for his friends that have decided to live in the castle rather than shack up with everyone else on the edge of town. He's hoping to catch a couple of them unawares.

He's not exactly sure what's causing people to kiss this year, but he thinks that if he glares disapprovingly at any Celsiyule decorations, he'll be spared like before.]

[ooc: Since I wasn't on the kissmas planning post due to work and being busy, here's a thing. Open to everyone, yo!]

Comments

/placeholdeeeeeeer

[selfless]

[hm hm hm ♪ Just as Lloyd was heading to the castle, Colette was leaving it. She had stopped by briefly to check on a few people, but now that her mission was done it was time to go home and relax!

But of course, that plan flies out the window the moment she sees Lloyd. She'll just be waaaaaaaving at you dude, and coming over to say hi]

Hi, Lloyd.

/gently holds place

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd spots her and waves energetically with his free hand.] Hey, Colette! [He drops the cart and steps forward to meet her.]

Visiting some friends?

*^*

[selfless]

Mm hm! I just wanted to check up on everyone. There are a couple people that I couldn't find today, but I'll just come back tomorrow.

[oooh, she peeks around Lloyd and notices that red wagon that he's dragging] Are you on your way to deliver something?

[gentleidealist]

That's nice of you. [He grins a bit and scritches his cheek.] I'm delivering some Celsiyule presents early, just in case I get knocked out like last time.

[That makes him think of the conversation with Zelos, too, and... he turns a little red. His eyes remain on hers, like he wants to say something. It's on the verge of staring, to be honest, but he can't help it.]

[selfless]

That's a really good idea.

[and then.... awkward... silence...? She stops talking when she sees that Lloyd is about to say something, and is then surprised when he doesn't say anything at all. After a second or two passes she makes an unsure noise and asks...]

Ah... Lloyd? Are you okay?

THE SHRIEKING BEGINS

[gentleidealist]

Uh--

[ShitfuckGODBLESSAMERICA]

Y-- yeah! I'm fine! Totally fine. [He glances down at the wagon, then back up at Colette. He really is okay, just... he has no idea how to do this. He has no. Idea.]

If you're not busy, do you want to... go for a walk?

/BRB CLUTCHING MY FACE....

[selfless]

Okay... [she's glad to hear that he's fine, of course.. but Lloyd is a terrible liar, and Colette can tell that something is up. Then, at his offer for a walk-- her first worry is maybe that something bad has happened and he wants to talk to her about it? Or maybe he's just stressed out about something?

Either way, she nods!]

Of course! Where would you like to walk?

/TEARS AT FACE

[gentleidealist]

How about the garden? I don't feel like going out too far. It's kinda cold.

[He smiles a bit and reaches out to take her hand. He could take on the world, as long as her hand was in his.]

[selfless]

That sounds wonderful. [It is a little cold, but the fact that Lloyd seems to be calming down is putting Colette at ease and she doesn't really mind the chill. She's a tiny bit surprised by the hand offer, but of course she takes it.

This is nice, and she just can't help the easy smile that spreads across her face]

Have you been having fun getting ready for Celsiyule?

[ruin_mania]

[Raine's door is pretty obvious because it has a Celsiyule wreath, Flanoir-style, rather than a Christmas wreath (not that too many people would notice the difference, but the false Celsius's Tear is a dead giveaway.]

[gentleidealist]

[Oh. Yep, that's definitely Raine trying to get into the holiday spirit. Lloyd grins a bit and knocks on the door. Maybe he can check up on her-- unless she's out?

It's worth a shot.]

[ruin_mania]

[Her door's closed, but when he knocks she'll call for him to come in. Not that it would be difficult to find her if she was out - just follow the hall to the library.]

Yes, come on in. I'll be done with this paper in a moment.

[gentleidealist]

[He chuckles. Oh, Professor.]

It's me. [Leaving the wagon in the hall, he steps inside. He carries a smallish box wrapped in orange, topped with a white and gold ribbon.

If she gets the urge to peek, however-- it's a carved keepsake box. Inside it is a tiny replica of the schoolhouse in Iselia, carved from driftwood, and imbued with details from sea glass and abalone. Possibly gathered from the beach at Lastlook. Hopefully less haunted. Probably.

If he really cared, he'd turn in his homework from two years ago.]

[ruin_mania]

Why, thank you, Lloyd.

[She meets him over near the door and takes the box, not looking just yet but she will once the time comes to open presents.] Something you'd made yourself, I imagine?

[Of course it is. But that reminds her--she reaches over to one of the bookshelves to hand him a plain brown-wrapped package. SPOILERS IT'S A BOOK but it's an illustrated one about steam power engines, from simple ones to complex. Something he might be interested in that could be very useful on future expeditions, should he be interested in attending them. At least she's trying?]

[gentleidealist]

[He scritches his nose, grinning.]

Maybe. I never know what to buy for people. It's hard to shop when people can wish for anything they want.

[OH GASP. He didn't know he was getting a present! His eyebrows go up, and he reaches out to take it with no small amount of anticipation.]

Wow, you got me something too? Thanks, Professor!

[It feels like a book, but he's not going to know for sure until present-opening-time. He hopes it's not a math book. That would be awful.]

I can't wait to see what it is.

[ruin_mania]

That's true - but it doesn't make a present any less valuable, you know. The thought and effort put into picking out something is always worthwhile.

[And of course she'll smile in return, because of course she'd picked out a present for all her friends (spoilers, they're all different books). Besides, he wouldn't get a math book unless he'd been on the naughty list.]

Well, don't open it early or Celsius will make it snow every day. [She laughs a little.] I suppose we could ask Sheena to ask her if that's actually true, but either way it's an interesting belief, don't you think?

[gentleidealist]

Oh... I didn't think of it that way. You're right.

[He's always on the naughty list. Ever since he enrolled. That's just the way it is. He's happy she hasn't brought up the homework that was due before he started his second journey, though. He has NO IDEA where it went. Or what it was about.]

I bet it started because someone didn't want their kids peeking at their presents. [He scratches the back of his head.] At least, that's what Dad told me when I tried. [And then he got smacked. Hard.]

[ninjainviolet]

[And on her way out of the castle with her own supply of "something"? One Sheena Fujibayashi, who almost bumps into him as she crosses the threshold.]

Oh! Hey, Lloyd!

[gentleidealist]

Hahah, hey there!

[He grins at her, having forgiven the whole deadly sins thing a while ago. They live together, after all.]

What are you up to?

[ninjainviolet]

[Kinda hard not to forgive each other--she just takes a lot of convincing at times.]

Oh, nothing much. Just getting a few things from the castle.

[She has a couple of books, there, among the rest of her things.]

What are you doing?

[gentleidealist]

Ah, gotcha. [He brightens.] I'm delivering some presents early! The Professor still lives in the castle, so I want to make sure she doesn't feel left out. And I have some other friends around here, too.

[ninjainviolet]

[Sheena's up to something along the same lines, so she understands. Looking at everything he's got, she smiles even more.]

Need some help?

[gentleidealist]

Nah, I got it. Thanks, though. [He grins back.]

Hey, is there anything I should pick up before I head back? You know, milk or butter or whatever. I dunno who's cooking tonight.

[He doesn't notice the presence of a nutcracker, stalking them behind a pillar like a lion stalking its prey. RUN WHILE YOU CAN]

[ninjainviolet]

Well, if you're sure.

[She stops and thinks for a second. Whose turn is it? She can't remember, either.] Why not just get both? This way, we have it just in case. [Because midnight snacks of cookies just aren't the same without milk.

She also doesn't notice the doll (silly nutcracker; maybe some cookies and milk will keep it back) as she falls into step with Lloyd, and thinks about how much he's changed her life.]

[gentleidealist]

Sounds like a plan. [Lloyd seems oblivious to any nutcrackers. He notices how close Sheena is, though, and smiles at her. It's a cute and friendly gesture, not meant to be flirtatious in any way. But as the castle magic trickles in, he doesn't realize he's reaching for her shoulders.

Wait, this isn't how--

He presses his lips to hers, soft and warm despite the cold air leaking in front outside, while his gloved hands cup the sides of her face. He might have dreamt this once upon a time. Sheena has always been amazingly beautiful, strong, and admirable. He's blessed to have so many strong women in his life, even if they can get a bit violent.

His eyes flutter closed, as if there's nothing wrong with kissing someone so suddenly.]