[Open] something about lovely weather and sleigh rides together

[makingfriends]

Who: Ventus + you!
When: December 4-24
Where: Christmas Village, Aqures Ixen, places in between.
What: Spreading cheer and doing Christmas things following his letter and otherwise being a generous cinnamon roll. Whether volunteering or visiting, feel free to start your own threads!
Why: BECAUSE IT'S CHRISTMAAAS
Warnings: overzealous use of capslock on the mun's part but otherwise dude it's Christmas


4-6th - Christmas Village - Preparations

[Ven figured it would be a lot of work, but it turns out to be even more than that. He doesn't know much (anything) about the fine points of running any kind of business, but that's where Rae and his friends come in. As empty as the village is when he arrives on the cold morning of the fourth, it doesn't take long at all to procure a small building for their purposes, and from there both Hero and moogle have their work cut out for them.

The first few days are spent setting up as well as making the empty room more cozy for the volunteers; before long, the fireplace is lit and warming the place, and a few armchairs have been donated for those who want to work on their wares in-shop.

The decorations are still pretty lacking, though, and there are a lot more raw materials on hand than actual products. They do get a sign up out front, however, painted in Rae's girly handwriting:]

Holiday Hearts and Crafts
Decor, fashion, and custom orders kupo!

6-8th - Aqures, Balicea, Esdham - Advertising

[Once the basics are done and left to the other volunteers to manage, Ven and Rae head back to the home continent. They take his Chocobo from town to town, making deals with shop owners, buying more materials, attracting more volunteers (not least of all because Ven is generous with his new Christmas Spirit skill), posting flyers, and otherwise getting the word out about their craft shop. Any help is appreciated!]


9-24th - Christmas Village - Keepin' busy

[It's a slow start, but the business soon attracts a steady stream of customers; by the fifteenth, they have a long list of orders and a longer waiting list. Fortunately, Rae and those who assisted in advertising did manage to recruit a number of crafters from both continents in addition to those Ven initially spoke to, so there's a blend of humans, Bangaa, primal moogles, and others about at any given time (as well as Aqures moogles darting in with letters and materials and back out with packages). Orders have centered mostly around jewelry and warm clothing, but there's always a bit of everything in demand.]

Comments

MOAR SURPRISE

[damn_juicebox]

[The shop seems quiet. With the noise of the carolers and tourists walking past, Rukia's entrance probably isn't noticed, particularly if Ventus is concentrating hard on his work. But he'll notice her soon enough, because suddenly!]

Try this one.

[Suddenly a cookie choked with dried cranberries and chunks of white chocolate is crammed into his mouth. Rukia stands back with her hands on her Mrs. Clause hips, staring at him expectantly. It's actually not bad. Maybe it's a little on the crunchy side, but she expanded a little on the basic chocolate chip recipe when she realized the beauty of substitute ingredients.]

[While she waits for his opinion, her gaze drifts down to the project he's working on.]

Oh? What's this going to be?

[He can answer her as soon as his mouth isn't full of surprise cookie.]

good thing he's not allergic

[makingfriends]

[WHAT--

Ven reels back slightly in his chair, surprised more by the sudden presence than the food. But it's a good taste, and recognizably edible, so he doesn't spit it out as he turns to look up at her, following her gaze as he chews and swallows.]

A pillow, eventually. [He just started, so it looks more like two floppy squares stitched partway together. He flips it inside out with his free hand to show where the recipient's initials have been embroidered on one side.

He looks down at the uneaten half of the cookie, making a positive sound.]

It's good! Different. Is that fruit?

Allergic to Christmas?!?!

[damn_juicebox]

Cranberries, they're called. A tart fruit typically gathered during the colder seasons.

[She seems proud of his reaction, glad to see that her baking has been well received. That means she can safely distribute more of these cookies to the children that eventually come to visit.]

[But she's more interested in his work, bending over the fabric as he flips it over to let her see how it's progressing.]

Very impressive. It looks like something a professional would craft, I cannot see any flaws in the stitching.

[Rukia smiles.]

Was it a commission?

NEVERRR

[makingfriends]

[Are you saying he's her guinea pig?

He smiles at the compliment, looking pleased.]

Thanks! And yeah, the order came in this morning.

[So he's made some pretty good progress. He swivels around towards Rukia proper, munching on the rest of the cookie.]

I haven't actually worked like this before, so I hope I can keep up.

[damn_juicebox]

It's unusual for me as well. Craftsmanship isn't something I expected to undertake on a regular basis.

[She hadn't even cooked her own meals before coming here, and now she was churning out trays and trays of cookies just to create a welcoming aroma for those who visit Santa's office. Not that she's had many visitors just yet. Maybe once they get some Santa Clauses to show up. She honestly doubts that Raven's going to appear for the role, no matter what Yuri believes. The man just hates the cold too much.]

I think it's a fine pillow. Anyone would be pleased to receive such a gift.

[makingfriends]

Heh, I hope so. [This customer was pretty specific on what she wanted, so it's unlikely Ven will be off the mark.]

So how're your Mrs. Claus duties going? Besides baking, that is.

[damn_juicebox]

It's interesting.

[That's an honest reply. She folds her arms, head tilted as if speculating on the odd nature of her job.]

It's not easy creating an environment I'm not accustomed to experiencing. But I enjoy it nonetheless.

[Rukia smiles.]

It's helped to get my mind off of other things, and it's pleasant, getting to know the other inhabitants of this world. If anything, it's served to strengthen my resolve. I would not want to grow too comfortable in this world.

[makingfriends]

[He too tilts his head, curiously.]

'Too comfortable?' What, you mean like letting your guard down?

[damn_juicebox]

In a sense.

[How should she put it? She laces her fingers together, leaning her forearms into the counter.]

I was called here to fight for these people. If I begin to think of it as home, I may grow lax in my duties. And it will make leaving all the more difficult.

[She smiles a little, a hint of weariness reflected in her dark eyes.]

But it's growing easier to forget, the longer I remain. It's really quite foolish of me.

[makingfriends]

[Ven considers that a moment, looking down at his work with a distant gaze.]

Is it?

[He looks up at her again.]

I mean, it could work the other way. If you think of it as home, you want to protect it even more. You'll always have the responsibility, but... [His smile wavers -- it stays, but it's considerably dimmed.] There's no guarantee you'll always have home, you know? It's sad, but... it happens.

Or... maybe it is foolish, but... as long as we do what we have to, then I don't think our reasons matter very much. If it makes us stronger, we can feel whatever we want to feel.

[The fact that his own home was destroyed -- maybe that's why he's taken to this world so easily, even eagerly, and mostly forgiven their inability to leave. If his world was still intact, would he be so content here? Probably not.]

[damn_juicebox]

My desire to protect this place would remain unchanged.

[She can see the change of his emotions, and she regrets letting that little bit of herself slip. It's something she's been wrestling with, and things are changing for her. She should keep it to herself, she sees now.]

[Rukia exhales with a quiet smile.]

Forgive me. I hadn't meant to say anything that might stir up unpleasant thoughts for you.

[Memories? A situation he has yet to return to? She doesn't know, but she can at least recognize how delicate the situation is.]

[makingfriends]

[He blinks, not having realized how obvious his thoughts may have been in his words. Shaking his head, Ven looks apologetic himself.]

No, it's okay.

[It's just one more thing he can't keep running from. But he doesn't have to think on it right this second, either, so his cheer picks up again.]

Anyway -- so, um, what all does a Mrs. Claus do, anyway? [He picks up his fabric again, continuing to work as they talk.] I've seen some of the Santas around, talking to kids and greeting people. I know they'll give out presents later, too, but...

[A thoughtful frown.]

...so Mrs. Claus manages the home and stuff?

[That explains the baking and environment that Rukia was talking about, anyway, and his idea of the Mr-and-Mrs dynamic is simple and traditional enough to assume as much.]

[damn_juicebox]

As far as the village is concerned, most of the duties are the same. As far as I can tell, Mrs. Claus distributes snacks, and Santa Claus distributes presents.

[The earthly tradition isn't one she's familiar with herself, so she has only this world's stories to go by. Truth be told, Mrs. Claus isn't really mentioned much.]

I expect she supports Santa and takes care of the domestic duties as well. At least, that's what I've striven to do.

[Rukia folds her arms with a little shrug.]

I'll probably have to pretend to be comfortably in love with any of the Santas who show up at the office.

[But she doesn't say it as if it's a big deal, because to her, it isn't. It's just acting, and it makes the kids happy.]

[makingfriends]

[He shoots her a sidelong look, and then gives a dorky little laugh.]

Kinda like playing house, huh? Just for real. Sort of.

["pretending for real," how does that even work, Ventus]

You make it sound like it'd be pretty easy, though.

[Would it? He has no idea. The line between the two types of love is still pretty fuzzy to him.]

[damn_juicebox]

[Homeless orphan children don't play house, they play cardboard box. Rukia grins, glad that the mood hasn't grown too heavy, and even indulges in a chuckle.]

I suppose you're right. There are similarities indeed.

[Rukia relaxes with a fist on her hip, looking around his workspace in curiosity. Easy?]

...It's not difficult, in any case. A little light cleaning, preparing food...these are basic necessities for any living person, after all.

[makingfriends]

[He shakes his head, his smile still pleasant.]

The being-in-love part, I mean. Although... I guess it wouldn't be too much different from just pretending to be friends, maybe.

[Or... maybe so, because he'll make friends in a heartbeat. Anything else probably wouldn't be so easy, huh...]

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia chokes.]

[It's not so much that love got mentioned, it's the fact that he compared it to being friends too. Because he's absolutely right. At some point, the line between the two gets heavily blurred, and she still isn't sure which side she's on right now regarding a particular someone.]

Th...that's true.

[She recovers as best she can, but looks away with a little frown as her face turns red.]

A-anyway, the largest difference while playing the role is to kiss a lot of cheeks and call someone 'dear' instead of by their name. That's all that's needed to look like Mrs. Claus.

[makingfriends]

[Ven looks concerned -- and puzzled -- by that reaction, but Rukia moves on quickly enough that he lets it slide.]

Oh. Well, that doesn't sound too bad. [He's not saying he could do it, necessarily, but it isn't a terrible prospect from a teenage point of view. His teenage point of view, anyway.

Still, he'll change the subject again.]

How d'you like all the snow? It's kinda mild compared to what I'm used to, but it's nice. Makes the village look more magical, you know?

[...Yes, a constant snowfall and having at least half a foot of the stuff at all times is "mild" in his eyes. #mountainlife]

[damn_juicebox]

No, not at all.

[Unless the Santa hasn't bathed, or is severely drunk, she supposes, but she hasn't run into that problem. The conversation turns to an even safer topic, so she can stuff her feelings down into the back of her mind.]

Hm? I'm comfortable with snow.

[Rukia smiles.]

The zanpakutou I wield is an ice-type. So to be frank, I probably perform more adequately in colder temperatures. But I'm surprised this is mild for you. How much snow are you used to having?

[makingfriends]

Oh! So it's your specialty element, huh?

[That much he can understand between worlds. At the question, Ven has to think; as short as he is, a lot of things seem bigger than they actually are, so he has to make a few mental comparisons to hazard a guess.]

Mm... we'd get around two feet out on the plateaus. More on the summit. The castle was always magicked against the weather, though, so we didn't have to worry about ice around there.

[Unlike here, where he's already had to scrape the windows and salt the sidewalk a few times. Not that he minds the labor.]

I always heard mountains had harsher winters, but I never really had anything to compare it to.

[damn_juicebox]

Something like that, yes. Many zanpakutous can be classified as types. Not all of them have a particular element attached, but mine is an ice-type. I'll show her to you sometime.

[She'd be proud to flash her blade for Ventus, who is sure to appreciate the beauty of her personal katana. With that out of the way, she listens with curiosity. Ventus grew up in the mountains...? She's heard that people who live in higher elevations tend to be sturdier physically, and more robust due to the harsher climate. Interesting.]

...You grew up in a castle? Are you nobility?

[makingfriends]

[He can hardly be called a weapon fanatic or anything like that, but he can and does indeed appreciate the make of weaponry, especially the personal kind, and looks plenty pleased at the idea of getting to see hers.

But then he shakes his head at the question.]

No. My master's-- my master was the last keeper. [That brief stutter is a verbal auto-correct. A stinging reminder that no, it's past tense now.] Me and my friends lived there, too, as apprentices.

[Despite the sore pang just now, his default smile is back as he adds,] The land's passed down through the line of Masters, so there's no royal family or anything like that.

[Nor is it a kingdom proper, like Aqures Ixen or the other places he's seen. Just an isolated castle in an isolated world.]

[damn_juicebox]

It sounds about on par with the duties of nobility, from what little you've told me.

[And she IS curious about it, but she also knows there are things he's not really entitled to say.]

Is it one of those confidential matters, or am I allowed to ask about what it was like?

[makingfriends]

[He shakes his head again, but his smile grows a bit. Partly, he's glad to share what he can, but he's also glad that she's aware of his limits.]

Nah, I can talk about that much. It was just the four of us; we never really had visitors, but... that was kind of necessary.

[He was never in want of company, though. His circle was small, but it was more than enough.

He keeps on sewing as he talks.]

I started training almost as soon as I got there. That was how we spent most of our time -- just about every day. [He doesn't sound displeased about that at all.] We were taught how to fight and use magic, but we learned a lot about other places, too. But I never left the grounds until... kind of recently. [Recent for him, anyway.] The land and castle were pretty old; me and my friends always knew it'd fall to us one day to look after it, once we all became Masters.

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia nods a little. She can kind of infer that his master passed away. Whether or not that's correct, she doesn't really know, but that's certainly how it sounds. That might explain why he's having a little difficulty talking about this, but she remains quiet and patient as she listens to his story.]

Small wonder you showed no hesitation in agreeing to spar with me, then.

[She smiles, and watches him work.]

Is that where you plan to return, once our duties here are complete?