017 - [Voice/Action] Backdated to December 25. :|

[lostinmyway]

[It's late morning when Grune happily addresses any and all listening through the journals. She's had a busy start to her day rescuing one of her friends from freezing to death, but now things are back on track and she's ready to do this Christmas thing!]Happy Christmas, everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful day

Comments

[Action] Wah! I got a present!

[redjacketthief]

[Grune happens to catch Lupin while he's out on a walk, enjoying a smoke and a cup of coffee after annoying a certain guy with hair like Farah Fawcett. Unfortunately, the gift-giving aspect of Christmas has completely slipped his mind. Normally he just kicks back to have a glass of wine or champagne with his friends--which he will do later in the evening.]

Ah! Grune-chan! Merry Christmas!

[Action] Yup! Lupin's interacted with Grune twice, and thus she thinks they're wonderful friends. XD

[lostinmyway]

Merry Christmas, Arsene! I have a present for you!

[And she starts digging through her bag. Rustle rustle go a lot of papers!]

[Action] Aww! She's so sweet!

[redjacketthief]

[He's not going to bother correcting him--he recognizes a lost cause. Instead, he watches her and dumbly points a finger at himself.]

For me?

[It dawns on him that--oh, right! People normally give eachother presents on Christmas! They don't go and steal entire jewelry stores on a whim!]

I got something for you too, Grune-chan. Hang on a second...

[He frantically digs through his pockets for something to give her return for her gesture.]

[Action] That's Grune for you. <3

[lostinmyway]

[Lupin is lucky Grune is so trusting, because he's being pretty transparent right now. However, she believes him unquestioningly.]

Oh, my, that's very kind of you!

[A few more moments, and she pulls out...a piece of paper.] Here you are!

[When he takes it, Lupin will find a drawing, done in paint, pencil crayon, and crayon (because when Grune wants a particular shade, she doesn't care what form it comes in). It's a not particularly skilled but still recognizable drawing of the two of them dancing at the Christmas ball. It's clear she put a lot of care into it.]

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[The gesture alone is what gets Lupin, not the quality of it. It could have been a few scribbles and his reaction would have been the same. He deftly palms a small pen he'd taken to carrying around and presents it to her with a magician's flourish as he accepts the paper.

He drops to a single knee, smiling, and kisses her lightly on the hand. The pen is then placed in that same hand.]

It's beautiful, Grune my dear. I'll cherish it forever.

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune isn't particularly affected by Lupin's theatrics, unfortunately for his pride. She does beam down at him, but it's entirely because he liked her present, rather than because she was swept off her feet.

When she pulls her hand free, she catches sight of the pen and her smile only grows.]

Oh, is this for me?

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

It is.

[He stands, still smiling.] It was picked out just with you in mind, Grune-chan. A pen should be very useful for someone who likes to draw, like yourself.

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[She holds it close.]

Thank you very much! That's very kind of you.

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

No--Thank you! We only just met, and already you're giving me a gift. It's very kind and sweet of you.

[He was so used to relatively quiet holiday celebrations--when he actually celebrated and wasn't involved in some job that was special for the season--that the gesture would not be forgotten anytime soon.]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[She smiles.] I'm glad you like it.

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

And I'm glad you like yours too. [He smiles too, and sticks his hands in his pockets. He'd been wandering for a little while, and the cold is starting to get to him a little. He's only human, after all.]

It looks like a lot of people celebrate Christmas around here. Is it common all over? And, aren't you cold in that outfit, Grune-Chan?

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[She looks down at her open coat over her Christmas outfit.]

Why would I be cold?

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[His eyes rake over her figure, her open coat and her dress, and can't help but stare at her in wonder.]

Wait--you mean you're not cold?

[His experiences with women had them get chilled relatively quickly. The fact always provided ample excuse to take them out for coffee...and funtimes later as they 'snuggled up' under the pretense of keeping eachother warm.]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[He gets a puzzled look in return.]

Oh, no. Are you?

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

No. No, I'm not that cold...

[His smile is sheepish as he stares at her curiosly. A part of him wants to ask her how she's able to do that, ask her what she does for a living, what her world is like...but he has a feeling that they will be answered with only a sweet smile and a confused look.

She was a mystery that he desperately wanted to crack--he should have figured she was different from the moment she didn't smack him at the ball. No, from the moment he laid eyes on her staring at the decorations, admiring the strange hue of her hair from a distance...

He could satiate his curiosity later. It wasn't like he was short on time.]

Merry Christmas, Grune. And thank you.

[His gratitude is for more than the artwork, but he understands that Grune herself probably wouldn't understand all of his reasons.]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is entirely oblivious to his curiosity. All she does is smile at his words and say:] You're welcome! Merry Christmas!