melodiesoflife | Christmas Party & Cheer

Christmas Party & Cheer

WHO: OPEN
WHEN: FORWARD DATED: December 22nd
WHERE: Christmas Town
WHAT: Celebrating the snow, the holidays, good cheery, warm fires and friends.
WARNING: Mistletoe?

With Rukia's help they were able to find a large enough hall in Christmas Town to throw the party. Zelda had set it for this day since a group of brave heroes were going to set out on the 24th. She had made sure that everything was perfect and of course everyone was invited. There were at least six decorated trees with polished silver and gold ornaments hanging from their branches. Scarlet red ribbons decorated the trees and tables with large bows tying the streaming trails together.

There was one very large tree at the halls center and there were a few presents around the bottom for those who needed a place to put gifts. At it's top was a large pointed star.

Champagne and small finger snacks were set on the tables and a part of the room was cleared for those who wanted to dance. Zelda was even able to hire a few people to play Christmas songs throughout the night. There was a table dedicated to sweets with cookies, cakes, small pies and other wonderful treats spread out for people to try.

Among the decorations was mistletoe. This little plant hung above the doorways waiting for any pair who happens to be caught in their hold. Most of the mistletoe was thanks to Minako but Zelda might have put up one sprig at the entrance to the party; it's all in good fun and kisses on the hand or cheek are perfectly acceptable.

[ooc: feel free to make open posts and tag around! It's a party!]

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[In an act that should surprise no one at this point, Cloud shows up fashionably late, but in full Santa garb and a bag slung over his shoulder. He walks in, shaking the snow off of his outfit and greets everyone with a booming:]

HO HO HO! HAPPY STARLIGHT CELEBRATION EVERYONE!

[The young hero is a bit more social than usual at this party, but it also seems like his desire to help out is thrown into overdrive and he can be seen assisting whenever he's not gathering snacks and sweets for himself.

Eventually though he finds a chair to sit down in and begins pulling wrapped presents from the sack he's carrying. There's enough for everyone but he warns people not to open them until the Starlight Celebration proper.]

((ooc: Still working on a gift list from Cloud but everyone is getting a gift from him, even if it's just a cute trinket of friendship. If I don't come up with something specific then feel free to decide what it is yourself.))

....You seem to be enjoying yourself.

[Surprise! A lady Turk has magically appeared at his shoulder. Considering she's a bit new, she didn't have the funds to get all decked out, so she's still in her gunner outfit.]

What is all this? [And she's peeking into the bag he's got with him.]

[The smile that forms on Cloud's face behind that beard is undoubtedly the biggest and most genuine one Elena's ever seen on the blonde. It's a bit unnerving really. But he does indeed seem to be enjoying himself.]

I've been using the Santa Job we got to help set up this village. You should have gotten it too. Check with your moogle.

[He chuckles and pulls the bag away from her as she tries to peak inside.]

And this is a sack full of gifts for everyone.

[Unnerving is right. She's only see Cloud smile a few times prior to arriving here, all of which were muted, demure, and self-depreciating. This was something wholly different - and not all that bad. Once she could get used to it.]

I'll pass. I look better in blue than in red.

[When the bag is pulled away, Elena pouts. And then, realizing that she was, quickly corrected her expression to cool interest.]

Did you make all those yourself?

[Cloud catches that pout. You can't hide your feelings from Santa Cloud! Reaching into the bag he pulls out a wrapped gift.]

No. I'm afraid I'm not that skilled, but I made sure to get something for everyone, even if it's a small little thing.

[He offers her the box, all nicely wrapped and tied with a bow. Should she open it now or later she'll find a black-blue scarf with an approximation of the ShinRa logo on the end of it. While he has his doubts about the Company now, he doesn't consider Elena an enemy.

And why would Santa Cloud hold a grudge even if he did?]

[She's going to damn well try! Its so very hard to not become emotionally invested in the people living there - especially ones that she's had previous relationships with.]

That's okay, its the thought that - wait, what?

[Oh. Oh no. What was he doing? What was he giving her? She wasn't prepared! She hadn't done anything for the holiday and here he was giving her a box with pretty wrappings and a bow and she came empty handed.]

Cloud. I..ah.. [With very slow, careful movements, she takes the box from him and brings it in towards her belly. The way she holds it is a little awkward, like the box itself was so incredibly fragile.] Thank you. I'm sorry, I don't have anything to give you in return.

[He smiles and shakes his head.] Don't worry about it. I just hope the gift does you some good. As long as it's useful to you then that's enough. Ho ho ho!

[The Job was a bit insidious in the way it filled him with joy at the act of giving gifts. At least he could feel it wasn't addictive, at least no more than any other act of kindness. Seeing that she's getting flustered he hefts the sack back onto his shoulder.]

I should do my rounds. I have more gifts to give out. Have a Merry Starlight Celebration! Ho ho ho!

Ho-ly shit.

[Reno can't help but stare at Cloud, looking so... jolly. Eventually, he had to grin, though. He'd been a little uncertain about another big party, but seeing Cloud smile like that for the first time in... well, ever? Totally worth it.]

Damn, kid, what're you carryin'?

Gifts for everyone of course.

[Cloud gives a little laugh as he shoulders the bag, making his paunch jiggle a bit. The rapid weight gain seems a little alarming but it doesn't seem to be slowing Cloud down any. The question is more how easily he'll be able to get rid of it when the holiday season is over.]

Just because we're mostly all grownups here doesn't mean that Santa Cloud can't pay a visit.

Damn.

[He had to say it again. And that tummy on Cloud! Reno shook his head. It was amusing, to be sure, but he couldn't help but feel at least a little worried to see such a sudden physical change. Santa Cloud.]

So you have somethin' for me?

[That belly certainly is something Cloud will have to put some effort into working off. He'd like to see what happens when he brings this job to its full power but he doesn't think he wants to be like this all the time. Still, it's the right time for a bit of cheer.]

Of course!

[Fishing around in his bag he pulls out a small wrapped package and hands it over to the Turk. Inside will be a red scarf with a black approximation of the ShinRa logo on it.]

It's not much, but I hope you like it. HO HO HO!

[Reno blinked. And he grinned. And he laughed. His head fell back, full on guffaw, because Santa Cloud had read his mind.]

It's perfect!

[He threw it around his shoulders immediately to free his hand, then reached into his own plain paper bag for Cloud's gift. He hadn't bothered to wrap it -- he wasn't quite sure how. But likewise, it was a warm scarf, black with Fenrir in gray on the end.]

It's great, Cloud. Thanks.

[Cloud takes the scarf and gives Reno just as happy a smile back. He recognizes the sigil, and while he doesn't quite associate with it yet he still appreciates the intent behind the gift. That's what really matters, right?]

Thaks a lot Reno...And thanks for supporting me here. I know it can't be easy. I know I'm not the Cloud you remember.

[But he doesn't know. Nor does he remember that kiss. But his words are no less honest.]

Pff, don't worry about it, kid.

[Reno jovially mussed Cloud's hair through the boy's hat, rubbing the bright red fabric vigorously.]

You're fine the way you are -- an' I always got your back. You know that, right?

[It might not match Cloud's memories, and they wouldn't be wrong -- it wasn't the case in the past. But things had changed. This wasn't Gaia.]

[Cloud swats at the mussling hand. Fortunately he's forgotten the last time Reno was so close but he still hates having his hair messed with. He knows how tempting it is to touch but he can't help how it acts!

Still, he's all smiles as he does so. He's happy to have such good people around him right now. But that's not going to forgive Reno any attacks on his coif.

And memories of a Cloud from a vision of the future were not ones he wanted to dwell on. If he could help it he didn't want to turn into that lonely man.]

Haha, yeah. I appreciate it. Say...um...speaking of which. Did you ever know a Turk with blonde hair and used a gun? Not Elena...her older sister apparently.

Her sister?

[Reno's eyebrows rose with some surprise.]

Yeah, actually, I did. A long time ago. Why?

[While nothing that Cloud has been doing up to this point, even parading around in a ridiculous costume, has embarrassed him the blonde now manages to seem so.]

I mistook Elena for her when she arrived here. A bit back I was on a mission where my whole team was nearly killed by some AVALANCHE extremists. If it wasn't for her I might have died too. I guess I was just wondering if anyone else knew her too.

Re: Cloud | Open

shinra_dog - 2016-02-17 23:47 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cloud | Open

neverfirstclass - 2016-02-20 20:17 (UTC) - Expand

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shinra_dog - 2016-03-01 06:08 (UTC) - Expand

We can wrap this hereish

neverfirstclass - 2016-03-03 00:35 (UTC) - Expand

[Cloud is a prime example of why picking up that Santa job was a bad idea - as a result it takes Sephiroth not a double- but a triple-take to actually identify the young man.

Exactly how long -he wonders- will it take Cloud to shift that rounded belly(?) and not to mention the beard, once all of this is over?

Sephiroth seems to have withdrawn within himself a great deal since returning from his fresh air break outside after a certain, unexpected moment - but he feels the need to at least-]

Seasons Greetings, Cloud.

[It won't take as long as it naturally should, but at the same time it won't be something easy. There's going to be a lot of sword training and early morning jogs in Cloud's near future.

However, the smile on Cloud's face as he spots his senior is not merely that of someone caught up in the seasonal cheer. No, he did indeed something of what was going on. After all, how could he not take an interest in it.]

Hello Sephiroth. How have you been enjoying the party? I hope that you've been able to find some holiday cheer after all?

[Who knows, perhaps a certain once-upon-a-time Hero might be persuaded to help with that. After all, he's Colonel now so there isn't much of any reason preventing him from using the Esdham training facilities to get others into (or in this case, back into) shape if Sephiroth felt so inclined. It's even been mentioned to him on a few occasions, even outside of his role in the military, that he should turn his hand to helping to train others.

Each time politely refused. Not his strength, nor did he have much in the way of patience.

He's just going to pretend that Cloud's all-knowing grin isn't quite as wide as it is. And mostly ignore the question; having no real reason to tell Santa!Cloud how he might be feeling now.]

It's certainly more of an event than last year.

[It's certainly something for Cloud to consider, but it's not something he's going to worry about too much this moment. For now there's a party to enjoy. His gut can be dealt with once the New Year rolls around.

The obvious ignoring of his commented is noted, but that doesn't mean Cloud stops grinning. He's glad his contribution has been able to help Sephiroth in some way.]

It really is. And it's good that we're able to do something like this. It will help convince people that we really do want to help them. The next year is probably going to be rough so it's important we find and share happiness while we can.

[Even if his kiss had been much too forward for Terra, the look in her eyes when he'd produced the small glass flower ornament might well have burned itself onto Sephiroth's soul. It's not something he'll ever be able to forget.]

We can only but try.

[Isn't that what he was trying to do, be less doom-n-gloom all the time and lighten up? It had been at least some of the reason why he'd taken the time off and come to Santa Village with Terra, at all.]

I find that role more suited to your current Job, than mine, though.

Right now maybe. This is just the bright side of hope. But we don't just need it in happy times. We both know that.

[He looks around, beaming at the crowd of gathered Heroes. Everyone is happy and enjoying themselves and enjoying an evening of warm cheer in the otherwise cold dark winter night.

Cloud's face darkens, his voice going down a bit so only Sephiroth can hear him.]

I don't think either of us are looking forward to getting back to fighting. But we both know it will happen. This isn't the same as back home, but people are going to look to you for guidance. All of us really, but...well...no matter what world you're in you still stand out.

[It always seems to happen, moreso recently, that Sephiroth's presence in a conversation automatically seems to suck all potential cheeriness away. It's a result of the fact that he just can't switch off. What makes matters worse, he knows it and has started to hate himself for it.

Coupled with how stupid he felt over the kiss with Terra, it's not a good combination. Yet, Sephiroth steps a little closer to Cloud when he tones his voice down into being more private, watching the bearded face carefully.]

Fighting is all I've ever known, Cloud.

[He doesn't think that the other man needs reminding, but he's not got an opinion at all with regards to that fact. It's as natural as breathing to him. Yet, the second part of the comment earns a greater pause. Sephiroth purses his lips and sets his jaw a little sterner; the idea of others looking to him for a role model isn't a comfortable one.]

I know. It's standing out for the right reasons...that I'm most concerned with.

[He blinks a few times, keeping eye contact before looking down and then away across the floor at his feet.]

[Cloud gives Sephiroth a somber nod. He understands Sephiroth's concerns. The two stand at the edge of destiny and the pull of gravity feels like it threatens more and more every day. Each day that passes could be a day closer to changing to crystal and shifting to their future for all they know.

And that wasn't even accounting for all the things that Crystallis itself might throw at them.]

As long as you remain worried about that, then you're at least on the right path.

[He hefts his bag of gifts and shifts it to his shoulder. There are still more gifts to give out.]

And you can always learn new things. Or are you already such an old soldier you need to take a desk job?

[Giving Sephiroth a wink he wanders back into the crowd.]

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Christmas Party & Cheer

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We can wrap this hereish

[Up to you if you want Cloud to have seen or miss the mistletoe moment]

Re: [Up to you if you want Cloud to have seen or miss the mistletoe moment]

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