Nexus Advent :: DAY FIVE & DAY SIX

[advent_tree]

Again, the tree is sitting serenely in the Nexus, still decked quite beautifully and shimmering prettily with its lights and the glow of the multicolored orbs surrounding it. Today, the game it started on the fourth is continuing and the tree is waiting in anticipation. (Because trees do that, really.) This time, there are red and green cards

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[waterfell]

After the frustration of finally getting the gingerbread cookies to come out right (and that was with help), Ami really can't resist some fun of her own. She makes a detour by the mallFirst stop is the candy store. Ami is a girl with a mission and it only takes her a moment to find the candy necklaces. She buys one, thanks the clerk far too cheerfully, and all but skips out the door. A man's shirt in what she hopes will turn out to be the right size is just as easy

[berranyrmizzrym]

Pharaun raised an eyebrow. That coming from Ami was usually a bad thing. "Yes, Ami? What is it?"

[waterfell]

Now be fair, Pharaun! When has she ever- Oh, wait. Nevermind!

"I brought you a Christmas present!" Ami explains cheerfully. She holds up the actual shopping bag, the name emblazoned on it being a recognizable department store, in Japan of her world at least. It will turn out to be a man's shirt in Pharaun's size, with suspiciously pastel-colored buttons. She did at least make sure the 'buttons' are all the same color.

"Go ahead!" She nudges the bag towards him.

[berranyrmizzrym]

Pharaun regards the shirt cautiously as he pulls it from the bag, but bright buttons or not it seemed all right. "Ah... thank you, Ami..."

[waterfell]

Pastels are pale, Pharaun. See? Nice and tasteful. "Go try it on!" Smile, smile. "I want to see you in it!"

Come on, Pharaun, don't let her down. She has to get you in that shirt and to the Christmas tree, and she gets bonus points (in her own mind, anyway) if she does it without you having any idea what she's up to. Besides, there's no way you wouldn't enjoy fashion. Or showing off and being admired. And the buttons are totally stylish. Just don't get them wet. Or taste them, although they're remarkably sweet if you do.

[berranyrmizzrym]

Pharaun nodded and ducked behind a pillar to try it on. "All right..."

He emerged a few minutes later, carrying the shirt he'd been wearing before. "So, how do I look?"

[waterfell]

"Ah you look so handsome!" She tries not to laugh and, remarkably, succeeds. Not that she's entirely lying, but she's definitely playing this up and definitely amused by what he's actually wearing. Was this how the 'weavers' of the Emperor's New Clothes felt?

"Hey, hey, Pharaun, have you seen the Christmas tree yet?" She smiles and reaches out to hold onto his arm to head in that direction.

[berranyrmizzrym]

He raises an eyebrow. "No, I haven't. What brought this on?"

[waterfell]

"It's the Christmas season! Everyone wants to see the trees when they're decorated!" No hidden motive here, nope! Absolutely not!

[berranyrmizzrym]

Pharaun was definitely suspicious now. "Of course, Ami."

[waterfell]

There's a child-like part of her still buried somewhere that does enjoy all the Christmas bustle and hype, but Pharaun is oh so very right to be suspicious. Ami pouts playfully.

"You're too mean! Are you coming?" she asks.

[berranyrmizzrym]

He sighs and follows after her. "Of course I'm coming, Ami. It's just a little surprising to see you so enthusiastic about this."

[and finally to the tree, tree can interrupt any time from here on]

[waterfell]

"Is that so...?" That's said vaguely as Ami guides them towards the tree. Once they're in front of it, she springs her trap.

Ami pulls out the card she received originally, and sets it back on a branch of the tree. Then, she clasps her hands together in front of her, pointing upward, just as if she were at a shrine.

"I brought gingerbread cookies for the scavenger hunt," she announces to the tree. "And this is mine, too!" A huge grin and a gesture to Pharaun who is, indeed, 'a man with shirt buttons made from candy' at the moment. Just as planned.

Re: [and finally to the tree, tree can interrupt any time from here on]

[berranyrmizzrym]

Pharaun blinked. "... Who are you talking to, Ami?"

[waterfell]

Yes, she shall reveal her master plan now!

"It's the tree," Ami explains, and she doesn't bother worrying about sounding insane because well, this is the nexus. And Pharaun's used to magic, too. "It's been enchanted to give us scavenger hunt clues." She points towards the card she replaced, which can be read clearly still: On the fifth day of Christmas, the Nexus brought to me/A man with shirt buttons made from candy.

"The buttons on your shirt," she clarifies. "I replaced them with candies from a candy necklace I got at the mall. So you're the man with candy shirt buttons. Like these." She withdraws both tins of gingerbread men, and hands one to Pharaun.

"Give it that and maybe it'll give you the new clue, too, for being a good sport." It really should. Meanwhile, as she offers up her tin of gingerbread men, she sees the card with her name in silver lettering.

[berranyrmizzrym]

"I see. Hedging your bets a bit, aren't you?" he asked, sounding just slightly amused. "So do you still have the real buttons, or am I going to have to avoid getting caught in the rain with these?"