021 [Action] Backdated to Christmas Afternoon :|

[cakeblocked]

[Luke's in quite a good mood lately. Probably because of all the Christmas cheer going around. He's found that he rather likes the holiday, as it's a chance to give stuff to people without an explanation

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[mykimlasca]

[ and on her neck, clear to see is the locket, and Natalia's eyes are misty, but her smile is bright. there isn't any of that haunted sadness from their first meeting. ]

Luke, thank you. It's a lovely present! Thank you so much..

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[cakeblocked]

[Luke's finally finished, and he was lounging in his room for a few minutes when that message came. When he hears her voice, Luke gets off of the bed and leans over to look at the journal... only to smile. And blush a little. Looks like she found it.]

I... Y-Yeah. I'm... glad you like it.

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[mykimlasca]

I'm sorry I haven't anything to give you in return..but I'll make it up to you!

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[cakeblocked]

You don't have to do that, Natalia! It's Christmas! This is about giving to people, not getting stuff! That's... what I kept hearing, anyway.

I'm just glad you're wearing it! That's good enough for me.

[Action]

[fonon_professor]

[Gelda actually wasn't home when the gift was delivered. However, once she finds it a few hours later and reads the note, she immediately heads out again. This time, to try and find Luke. She'll head towards the apartment, but if she happens to run into him in the streets, all the better!]

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

[Luke was just heading back, empty bag slung over his shoulder and looking just slightly worn out. Walking everywhere in this weather can really take it out on you.

It's just as he's about to get to the bridge near his apartment that he notices Gelda there, and he smiles and gives a wave.]

Professor!

[Action]

[fonon_professor]

Luke. [Gelda will return the wave with equal enthusiasm as she approaches him.]

I received your gift. Thank you very much.

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

O-Oh... You really liked them? [He glances away, a light blush on his face.] I wasn't sure what else you liked...

[Action]

[albioreiii]

[And what to his wondering eyes should appear, but a redheaded replica in a state of good cheer!]

[Ginji's outside his apartment building with a tub of steaming water and a shovel, trying to further clear the walkway and the area around it of ice and snow. He looks up when he spots him.]

Hello, Luke. Ah...be careful, though. It's still a little slippery through here.

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

You don't have to tell me twice.

[Yes, he did nearly fall a few times on his way here. Now that he's here, he's just sliiightly disappointed. He wanted this to be a surprise!]

What're you doing, anyway?

[Action]

[albioreiii]

Just thought I'd make sure. [Ginji actually has fallen once or twice, so he's trying to play it safe. Besides, that's quite a load Luke's got.]

I'm shoveling. The hot water's for melting ice. [(He's still a rookie against the snow.) Ginji nods towards a half-buried metallic box squatting in a corner by the building.] And to help unfreeze the gears.

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

Oh...

[He gives the box a glance before looking back at Ginji. Sorry, bro, but he's not really interested in talk about fontech. But that does remind him!]

Hey, have you heard about the holiday around here? [He bends down now, to put the bag down and start digging through it.] Christmas?

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[Luke maybe come right in time at the cherry tree to see the Lucky Mallet swing back, forth, back forth, and the tiny poncle grow larger and large under it. She seems to have her own bag of gifts to deliver, and she puts her fingers to her lips, perhaps to call an animal to help carry the load, but lowers her hand once she spies Luke there.

She also very bundled up, and seems to have a slight sniffle. That just goes to show how a blizzard can effect even one who's used to icy blasts like that.]

Luke! [Waving him over.] I didn't see you show up!

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

[Luke blinks and just watches the mallet, then Miyabi growing underneath it... and once she notices him, he lets out a sigh. Jeez, everyone's been catching him in the act so far...]

You weren't really supposed to. [He eases the bag off of his shoulder and sets it down on the snowy ground.] I thought I was good at being sneaky...

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

Ah, I...wasn't? But how am I supposed to thank you?

[Man, she does not get this holiday. And after a few years now, too! Miyabi still barely knows anything more about the holiday and its traditions over than the lights, food, and giving people presents. Anything more and she's basically blind to it. Still, hiding a present from someone just seems silly. Wouldn't you want to see them smile when they get it?]

[Action]

[cakeblocked]

Well... you do it after you get the gift, I guess!

[Still, he shakes his head with a smile. It's okay... It was just a slight hiccup in his plans. He still kneels down and digs through his bag, then unwraps the bagging around the gift that kept it safe, and pulls it out to give to her.]

Here. This is for you.

[albioreii]

Luke?

[Noelle is out and about herself, heading for some lunch at one of the restaurants, when she spots Luke on his way to hand out gifts. Neither she nor Ginji were the greatest cooks, after all. They'd spent a lot of their time relying on travel rations - dried fruit and jerky on the like when flying, and at home they could get food from others.]

[cakeblocked]

[If he knew that... well. Luke wouldn't be able to do much about it. He's not much of a cook himself, and thus he usually eats out at Seventh Heaven, too. But anyway.

Once he sees Noelle, he grins and heads over, shifting the bag over his shoulder. With Noelle and Ginji, he doesn't mind too much, seeing how he hasn't included personal notes. That, and it's kind of nice to see how they look when they get their gifts.]

Noelle! Hey, wait a second, I've got something for you!

[As he handed out gifts, it's been a bit of a lighter load, but... it's still kind of heavy after carrying it for so long, so he lets out a huff of breath before he shifts the bag again.]