damn_juicebox: (Accomplished)
Rukia Kuchiki ([personal profile] damn_juicebox) wrote in [community profile] melodiesoflife2015-12-12 01:23 pm

The Cookie Claus

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN!
WHAT: A bunch of December open prompts, since Rukia is a busy lady. All the time. Forever. Also there's a holiday gift list for those she knows relatively well.
WHEN: Pick a day! She's in the Santa Village for the whole month, except December 4th & 6th (Aqures Ixen), December 5th (Esdham), and December 12th (Trano Golsaucia).
WHERE: Mostly the Santa Village, but if it's one of the exception dates, she could be somewhere else.


Making Cookies - Santa Village

In the beginning, Rukia's cookies are edible, and okay. Not aesthetically pleasing enough to be passed out in bakeries, to be sure, but they tasted all right. But she practiced diligently, baking every morning for four to six hours, to make sure there would be plenty to pass out to the visiting children when she donned the hat and spectacles of Mrs. Claus. Her baking improved significantly once some of her more experienced friends arrived to make suggestions and offer tips.

It was hard work, but she found that she loved it. There was something very gratifying in rolling out the dough and trying to get the maximum number of shapes cut out, and decorating each gingerbread man (or rabbit) in a unique and different style.

Every morning, and sometimes at night, she was hard at work in either her own kitchen or at the one nestled in the corner of Santa's Office, and the air was rich with the smells of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The smell alone would have been worth all of her hard work, as there was something very comforting about the aroma of freshly baked sweets.

Rukia tipped to the side to check the recipe once more, a measuring cup in her hands, before meting out the correct quantity of flour. She rubbed her cheek against her shoulder to quell an itch, as she sometimes forgot her flour-dusted hands shouldn't touch her face. A smear of batter on her forehead was evidence of that. She'd clean it up later, once she got this next batch of shortbread in the oven.



Mrs. Claus - Santa Village

To be honest, Rukia had no idea what a warm and cozy home was supposed to look like. The Kuchiki manor was elegant and expensively decorated, but she wouldn't exactly call it inviting. She also had doubts that Ichigo's family home was the paragon of warmth and comfort due to the giant poster of his late mother hanging on the wall.

But she did have references in the form of books, and Moogles who were more than happy to talk about the old legends. The Office had to be three things: clean, warm, and comfortable. Keeping it clean wasn't too hard, and she handled a broom and mop like a pro to wipe up melted snow and tracked dirt near the entryway. Keeping it warm wasn't difficult either, since the fireplace was always bright and crackling as she fed it from the woodpile.

But comfortable was where it got tricky. She brought unbaked batches of cookies in order to bake them at the Office, filling the air with the scent of spice and sugar. Wreathes of pine were hung up strategically to give off that nice pine aroma. There were sprigs of mistletoe hung up here and there as well. What was it for? She didn't know, but apparently it was traditional. That was all that mattered. With sprigs of holly to add color to the walls, wrapping paper left out on a desk to look as if Santa had been wrapping something before heading out, and candles burning in places just out of reach of tiny child hands, she thought she was doing a fine job of recreating the look and feel of a home that might have been owned by a kindly elderly wife and husband.

The stuffed rabbit on the hearth was a little out of place, though.

Rukia smiled as she passed out cookies to visitors. Some of them asked if the rabbit cookie cutter might have slipped into the Christmas collection by mistake. No, it was not a mistake. They were decorated with frosting scarves and Santa hats, therefore it was perfectly seasonal for a rabbit cookie as long as it was decked out in holiday gear.

She was also more than happy to offer chocobo rides on Yuki, who seemed surprisingly complacent with children. The more they ooh'd and aah'd over her white feathers, the more the vain chocobo primped and posed, eating up the flattery and attention.

Any Santa Clauses that showed up to work with Rukia would get a heaping helping of false domestic bliss, as she had no problem playing her role to the extreme. He would always be addressed as 'Santa dear,' get regular servings of milk and cookies, and she'd bring him his 'list' of names so he could check to see which children were good (hint: all of them). He might even get a kiss on the cheek for the sake of the kids, too, if she knew him well enough. It was all in good fun and generating the holiday spirit, so she saw no harm in getting into the role.



Relaxing at Home - Santa Village

When Rukia got home, she was exhausted, but in a good way. She felt strangely satisfied. Peaceful, even. She knew she should get dinner started, and she would soon enough. But first things first: collapsing face-first onto the couch with a happy, contented sigh. There had been a lot on her mind before she came here, and to be honest, there was a lot still there that she needed to sort through and figure out on her own. But throwing herself into this work created a sense of comfort, as if everything would turn out just fine, whether the problem was large or personal.

She pulled the hat off of her head by the pompom and let it drop on the table, one arm curled under her cheek. It felt good, working this hard for something so simple. She liked seeing people's faces light up when they walked into the office, or when they enjoyed her cookies. But it still felt a little like she was running away from a feeling she'd never really known before, and wasn't sure if she should keep running, or embrace it for what it was.

Perhaps she just needed a little more time to figure things out.

After enjoying the silence for a few minutes, Rukia forced herself to get up. She rubbed the back of her sore shoulder and made herself put one stocking-clad foot in front of the other until she reached the kitchen. All she had to do was chop up some vegetables, toss them in a pot, and let it simmer while she went upstairs to take a hot shower. Then she'd eat by the fire, possibly fall asleep in front of that fire, and watch the snow drift outside of the window.

This was where she needed to be. ...Right?



Christmas Shopping - Aqures Ixen, Esdham, Trano Golsaucia, or Santa Village

When Rukia went shopping, it was one of the rare occasions that she didn't march around in the red and white dress of her job. She bundled up nonetheless in a warm coat and thick boots, gloves snugged onto her fingers, a scarf wound around her neck, and earmuffs securely placed. The cold weather was crisp and invigorating. She'd always loved winter, but she figured those who liked the chilly season usually had a birthday during those months. Born in January, Rukia was no exception. Perhaps that was why her zanpakutou manifested as an ice type as well.

In one hand, she carried a list of names, some of them crossed off. In her other hand she carried a bag that was starting to get a little too heavy with gifts. She might not know much about the origins of the holiday, but she did like having an excuse to shove presents at her friends to express her gratitude. Up until the past couple of years, friends were few in the Soul Society. She'd often been lonely, and had kept those awkward feelings to herself. Who could she possibly have talked to?

Now, there was no shortage of kind-hearted people who had reached out to her, cared about her, and let her into their lives. They meant so much to her. If she could show at least a sliver of that warmth in return, be it with candy or weapons, then she absolutely would. For as long as she remained on this planet, she wanted to keep kindled that feeling of companionship and love for as long as she could. Someday it would all end, and they'd return to their homes, and it was possible they'd never see each other again. It was important, therefore, that she not take a single minute for granted if she could share it with someone dear.

"Two moustache wax kits, please," she said, passing the gil to the shopkeep before receiving the gifts in return.

Maybe it was an odd way to show affection, but at least she had an outlet of some sort.



Holiday Gift List

Ace - A brand new journal stamped with a chocobo on the front cover, and a set of new pencils.
Allenby Beardsley - Brass knuckles, crafted for smaller hands.
Anise Tatlin - A Fat Chocobo brand apron and a homemade cheesecake drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Barkeep - Aftershave and moustache wax.
Billy Lee Black - Incendiary bullets. She knows he loves those.
Chiaki Nanami - Bottles of nail polish in assorted colors and a bag of ripe tomatoes since she thought Chiaki must really love those.
Cloud Strife - Fancy greens for chocobos and a warm flannel undershirt for when he has to work in the cold at the ranch.
D - A heavy black cloak trimmed with black fur, better suited for colder weather than the one she last saw him wear.
Flynn Scifo - Leather riding gloves and a bag of cookies she thought he could share with his best friend.
Graham Specter - Polish for his wrench, and a pair of earmuffs to keep his ears warm.
Ichigo Kurosaki - Some winter bedding, and fingerless gloves.
Jack Harkness - A comfortable green sweater.
James Kidd - A bottle of good whiskey.
Kija - A new cookbook entitled 'Recipes for Beginners Ha Ha Ha' and a set of common cooking utensils.
Levy McGarden - Six bottles of colored ink and a new quill.
Manami Sangaku - A hand-drawn picture of himself as a rabbit in Rukia's classic style, framed, and a box of oranges.
Minato Arisato - A variety of hot chocolate mixes in different flavors, and a warm wool scarf in blue and white stripes.
Ramza Beoulve - A leather-bound bestiary she picked up in Mysidia and a finely crafted dagger.
Raven - A bundle of Fire Arrows, a charm that adds a resistance to Ice attacks, and a patterned quilt of blue and purple diamonds.
Ravio - Bunny slippers. She might have bought a pair for herself too because SLIPPERS COME IN BUNNIES?!?!
Ray Stantz - A collection of potions that cure wounds and heal status ailments for him to study.
Reno - A wedding ring. An onyx spiral-shaped pendant on a silver chain.
Robin - Books on Mysidian traditions and herbology.
Selen - Finely crafted boots of dark grey leather.
Sephiroth - A boot knife of black steel, just in case.
Sparks Nevada - A pot of quick-drying ink, a block of sealing wax, and a stamp with the letters 'SN' on it. Enjoy your paperwork.
Valvalis - Elegant hairpins and sticks with small jeweled chains.
Ventus - New silver sewing shears, sharpened and in a velvet-lined box.
Yachiru Kusajishi - A basket heaped with candy and homemade cookies.
Yuffie Kisaragi - A musicbox that plays a pretty song, with a hidden compartment in the back to store jewelry.
Yuna - Tall dancing boots that lace up the sides.
Yuri Lowell - Silver filigree bracers and a moustache wax kit. She thinks she's funny. Repede also gets a steak.
Zelda - A book of Mysidian poetry and a set of velvet hair ribbons.
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah right)

making cookies - open

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2015-12-16 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yuri was honestly not all that amused with her gifts, but it was of good will so he accepted them nonetheless. Obviously, she would get some messing around from him if they ran into each other.

Oh the luck, he caught her making cookies and he's going to waltz over and see what the girl was doing that was creating a mess. At first he wasn't going to do anything, but he was starting to worry when there was so many things out and about along with the batter on her forehead. ]


Yo, Shorty.

[ He mused, putting a hand on top of her head. He was dropping by to see what was going on and possibly maybe assist with the things in the village at his own leisure. He was certain to drag his companions along with him as well.

Repede greeted Rukia with a fairly soft bark from the side. Looks like he's been following Yuri everywhere since. Acrisius was out doing errands for Yuri, while Yuri himself was really just messing around. ]


What're you making so seriously?
Edited 2015-12-16 06:35 (UTC)
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah whatever)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2015-12-19 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
The one and only.

[ He replied with a chuckle as she looked a bit surprised. He lets go of her head as soon as he was done giving it a brief pat. He grinned as he stepped back to give her some space and to look around at her current residence and what she had done with it. ]

Something like that. I suppose it couldn't hurt to do some small things.

[ He shrugged at her words, as if he didn't really seemed too interested. Repede gave her a snort for the comment, but he knew he was here to do some work. After all, he didn't hate children. Adults, though, that was another story. He shifts the pipe in his mouth and wanders off from the two of them. He was probably going to find the children and see what he could do to entertain them momentarily. ]

He's a little rough with adults, but he seems to have a knack for children.

[ He replied before adding to her comments. ]

Looks pretty good. Sounds like you practiced a lot. You've been taking this cooking and baking thing pretty seriously recently haven't you?

[ He replied with a raised brow. He did eye the cookies and he admitted she did a pretty good job with how they look. Of course, he doesn't wait for her permission before taking one and biting into it. ]

Not bad. Zelda huh? I heard that name somewhere before.

[ He met her like once, but hey, details. ]
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ looking back)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2015-12-22 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Imagine if there were more than one Yuri? ]

I already have. I see you don't mind that I brought him either. Looks like he might be warming up to you some.

[ He replied patting Repede's head. The dog was pretty okay being around Rukia now, but only if she didn't touch him too much since he would swerve himself out of the way otherwise. ]

You're doing a pretty good job at it, though. These aren't half bad either.

[ He replied after finishing off the cookie. No he probably wasn't but he's been hearing things here and there. If anything, Flynn might have clued him in on it briefly. So he has an idea in some way or form. ]

Something like that. Flynn probably squeaked about it one way or another.
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah whatever)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2015-12-26 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ nope sorry he won't let you do that Rukia :< ]

The children will love him without a doubt. He seems to like them a lot more than some adults.

[ He replies as he throws a look at the Repede as he snorts and trots away from Yuri and towards the living room area. Yuri would be rather curious on who that is and if she had them on a short leash! Of course, he'd be asking rather inappropriate questions and such. That is the Yuri life, apparently.

It looked like Rukia was working pretty hard on it and while she thanked him and said he could eat as many as he wanted, Yuri pulled his sleeves up and looks around. ]


Sounds about right. Don't mind if I do and no need to thank me. It sounds like you worked hard. I'm pretty sure you're gonna need more than that.

[ He muses as he looks at the ingredients. Looks like he's set on giving her a hand with that at least as well. ]

Yeah I hear lots of fun stuff is going on. We're in for some ride.

[ He replies nodding his head at her words. ]

I think we'll stick around here. It's probably easier to get around anyway. Plus, it's not like I have anything better to do. I wouldn't want to be bored out of my mind at the inn.
Edited 2015-12-26 04:33 (UTC)
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah right)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2015-12-29 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Rukia no xDD omg that's not cool. ]

[ Yuri would have had a field day making fun of Renji . There was no doubt about that. The male was known for merciless teasing. Yuri would be all over her business wanting to know if she hinted at the other guild member of his! ]

Maybe. Can't say I'll be around all day or all the time. I got things I want to do and check out here but it can't be a bad experience right?

[ He smugly replies as he starts to pour things here and there into a clean mixing boy. Somehow he made things look way too easy as he did them. ]

Any kind of information is pretty vital. I'd say we'd try for it before the calamity stuff gets terrible. I'm not a fan of saving this world, but I can't have mine be affected too.
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah right)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2016-01-03 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ It was probably in her best interest to not bring that up since Yuri would obviously make it so much worse. She made a good choice to keep that topic away from him. ]

Is that so? I suppose that's not a bad thought to have.

[ He replied with a smile still on his face. The egg and the flour, along with the other ingredients were meticulously being put together in the mixing bowl. Followed bye the flavoring and other things. After that, Yuri proceeded to mix the contents together as he spoke to Rukia. ]

So I heard on the way up. Who knows? I'll stick around for the time being, though.
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ well now)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2016-01-09 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yuri would definitely tell her a bunch of lies if she asked about where Raven was. Honestly, he's never really aware of where the old man was. He only knew that the other was here and there. He usually popped up at odd times. ]

Not yet. I went straight here to drop off things. I'll probably give it a once over once I get settled.

[ Yuri continued to finish with the dough and then sets it down. He then proceeds to check if it looked right. After a moment he grabs a pan and pulls out some things to put the cookies on. The more modernized technology certainly gave him an easy way out on how to bake things. ]

Sounds about right since I'm not the type to follow rules or order. I'd rather do them myself if you know what I mean. Probably best if we explore on our own anyway.
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ yeah right)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2016-01-16 09:47 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah and that place can get pretty annoying.

[ He replied sighing at the thought. Aqures Ixen was a place filled with a lot of people and people who considered themselves "Heroes of Light." Again, he had nothing against them but the thought only left a bad taste in his mouth due to his own neutrality towards everything. ]

True enough. Maybe we'll get some information that might be useful or something like that.

[ He certainly did and eventually all of that was put in the oven to bake. ]
dammit_flynn: starryheavens (→ content maybe)

[personal profile] dammit_flynn 2016-01-22 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Once he's done that he's walking in her direction again. ]

Sure thing. It'd be a good idea to know the layout for future reference.

[ Well, it's not like he'll do that. She wasn't someone he'd annoy by doing that. ]