awashlogs | [ december catch-all ]

[ There's a ribbon caught in the breeze. Or rather, it's more like a long scrap of cloth? Shiho might spot the strip of colorful fabric being buffeted across the ground, followed closely by thumping footsteps as Jion stumbles after it. ]

Aaah ... gotcha!

[ He finally manages to catch up to it and grab it before it gets blown away again, and Jion huffs as he stuffs it in his jacket pocket. Which is overflowing with more fabric strips. And it's only then that he notices Shiho and gives her a cheerful grin. ]

Oh hey! I didn't see you there, or I guess I could've just asked you to grab that for me.

[ It's not even like he's a really heavy sleeper -- Jion's used to waking up on quick notice and immediately getting ready for action. But he must have been really tired? Was it the cold? The exertion of chopping down and decorating a tree? The pressure of feeling a creepy giant spider staring at him the whole time? Either way, Jion ends up sleeping a little too deeply one night, curled up in his blanket.

-- only to be awoken by the feeling of his head whacking against the cold ground. ]

What the hell ... [ He ... can't move?! His head whonks against a snow-covered rock, and Jion squirms blearily, blowing snow out of his face. And realizes he's tied in ribbons. And being dragged down the street by elves. For one moment, he entertains the thought that this must be a dream. And then he gets dragged over a patch of snow, and nope, that sure felt real.

From down the street, Maya can probably hear sounds of commotion as Jion squirms and kicks and flails against his restrains, managing to headbutt one elf and sending it rolling into a bush. He may or may not be mumbling panicked, disbelieving 'oh my god's between huffing breaths. ]

[ Just because he can wake up in an instant doesn't mean he does it all the time. Jion's still prone to wandering downstairs half-asleep from time to time, especially when it's so cold, and he thinks nothing of it when he makes his way to the kitchen one morning, rubbing his eyes with a blanket wrapped over his shoulders --

-- only to trip over something lying right at the base of the staircase.

He goes down like a ton of bricks, whacking his face into a chair on the way to the floor, and he has a nosebleed when he scrambles to sit up. At least that chased away the remnants of sleep real quick, and he turns to stare at what he tripped over.

Or rather, who he tripped over??? ] Uh. Lux?

Come on, come on ...

[ If Izuku's passing by lake, he'll probably spot Jion kneeling at its edge, staring intensely into the ice as he mutters under his breath. And even as he rubs a hand at his temple, no doubt trying to fight off a ferocious headache, he still maintains that hard stare --

-- until he finally gives up with a loud sigh, flopping back into the snow around him and inadvertently right into Izuku's path. He was so focused on the lake for a moment that he totally didn't notice anyone approaching. ]

Oh, whoops. Sorry, didn't mean to get in your way there. [ At least he sits back up quickly enough, dusting the snow out of his hair and jacket as he looks a little embarrassed. ]

[ Ah. What a wonderful night. A good night to stretch her legs, breathe in that nice, chilly air, and--

... Come sprinting down the way, brandishing a pair of bright pink pistols. ]

Hey! Santa's little hell... ions!! Drop him!

[ The elves don't look all that impressed, but that's before Maya starts shooting. Sorry for the noise, Jion. ]

Oh, good afternoon, sir!

[ Guren might recognize that chipper greeting, though it's a little drowned out by the sound of branches dragging on the ground. Because Jion sure is hauling around a whole (little) tree as he trots over to say hi, the axe still embedded in the trunk so he doesn't have to carry it. ]

It's pretty cold today, huh? [ His breath puffs out around him, but Jion still looks in good spirits. The tree he's dragging around makes it pretty easy to guess why he's in such a good mood. ]

[Oh, now there's a face he's been hoping to see again! Ever since Izuku had run into him with his color drained, he'd wondered how the other was doing.]

That's okay! [Though Izuku had tripped and toppled into the snow, he laughs now, while shaking himself off.] It's Haru-san, right? I meant to check in on you, but I didn't get your hex code before. You look a lot better now! [With your color returned and everything.]

Oh god, thanks.

[ He raises his head, obviously relieved that someone's come to his rescue. ]

Just don't shoot me in the head!

[ That's probably a weirdly specific request that maybe doesn't need to be said out loud? But he's also distracted trying to squirm away from a pair of elves who're trying to use him as a shield, so. ]

Oh geez, that! [ Jion gives a low laugh, looking kind of embarrassed. ] Um, I'm totally fine now! But I really owe you one for then. I gotta admit I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but I feel like I made a lot of trouble for you then, and you helped me out in a big way. So I really appreciate it.

[ He'd been clambering to his feet while talking, and he hurriedly extends a hand to help Izuku up. ]

Here -- guess I'm still kinda making trouble for you, huh?

[Shiho has one hand outstretched because of course she had already been reaching for it. But that doesn't stop her from pulling it right back.

You saw nothing!]

Hey. What are you doing with those anyway? A scarf? A nest?

My aim is seriously not that bad!!

[ Geez! One more elf, shot aside, and then Maya's reached them and is resorting to the ancient classic of...

elf-punting.

She's sorry if she accidentally kicks you, Jion. ]

Hey.

[Guren pretty much always looks tired, but there's something different about it lately. A heavy weight that's actually visible over his shoulders, a darkness beneath his eyes that won't go away with sleep alone. He's stressed, there's something on his mind, and it's harder to hide it in a situation like this. His friends aren't here to reassure him, they're not here for him to see and remember that his decision was right.

He doesn't even know if they're really okay.

But he's trying to ignore all of that, focused on Jion and then sliding his gaze to the tree he's been dragging.]

You sound happy about that. [The cold? Or just the season.] You're doing a quest?

[ Guren looks tired, as he usually does. Jion tries not to notice, but notice he does, and it bothers him. Of course someone like Guren would have a lot of work to do, but still, it can't be healthy to be run this ragged, right? ]

Um, not ... [ He's about to say 'not really,' when he connects some mental dots and immediately corrects himself. ] -- yeah! I mean, yes, the quest with the tree-decorating. It sounded pretty fun and safe, so I thought it might be a good idea to give it a shot! But, um, I do need another person, so.

[ Truth be told, the question was second in priority to just the experience of doing the whole tree process. But maybe this would be a good excuse to drag Guren into taking a bit of a break? Jion tries not to sound too eager as he goes on: ]

Could I ask for your help? I mean, if you're not already occupied, sir! I'd really appreciate it.

[ Please say yes, please say yes. ]

Sorry, no offense! It's just that this is really hectic and --

[ He's somehow spared from Maya's kicks, but an elf does jump on his chest in the process of avoiding Maya's shoes, and it knocks the air out of him. Jion's a little breathless and exasperated as he tries to squirm out of the way. ]

-- oh come on!

[ This is so embarrassing, and he's frustrated enough to headbutt a different elf right within Maya's kicking range. ]

[ He saw that! He totally saw it!!! But he won't say anything about it. For now. ]

Oh, I was gonna use them to decorate a tree! [ He pulls that scrap of fabric back out, toying with it in his hands. ] I have a tree mostly ready, but I got kinda stuck wondering how I was gonna decorate it. But then I remembered I have all these fabric bits -- I've been practicing sewing and trying to adjust clothes, so I have a bunch of little bits. I think it'd look nice if I tied ribbons on the tree, you know?

[ A small nod before he looks to Shiho with a smile. ]

Wanna do it with me? I mean, if you weren't busy with anything else?

[The eagerness shines through at least a little, and Guren isn't sure how to react to it. He's so positive, so nice, and as loyal as any of his men in the Moon Demon Company— or how they were, before he—

He lifts a gloved hand to rub at his eyes a bit, sighing. He had stared for so long, it might have seemed like he was going to reject the offer, but he doesn't.]

Alright, alright, sure. Where are you putting it?

[ He's never been all that good at subtlety, so Jion looks a little fretful as the silence stretches on ... then brightens up the instant Guren says yes. ]

Um, right this way, sir! My place isn't far from here, and I thought I'd put it just inside, where there's an empty spot.

[ His house is, indeed, right within sight, just a short walk away. Jion adjusts his grip on the tree and starts leading the way. ]

And, um, thank you very much for your help! I got kinda excited when I saw we're getting such a nice and relaxing quest so I didn't even think about who I was going to do it with. But I really hope it means this place is going to go easy on us for a while. Maybe we'll even get presents as a reward for this?

I don't know if it's still what I'd call "relaxing" when it talks about spiders.

[He glances over his shoulder at that, for some reason, and then follows along after Jion. It seems like he has the tree under control, so Guren will just be in charge of stepping in front and getting the door, when he needs to.]

Anyway, aren't you a little old for presents? [It's a joke, a call back to Jion being so flustered over his age back with the pumpkins, and he smirks back at him.] But, you probably will. We get rewards for everything, anyway.

[ Oh. Thanks for the assist, Jion! That elf is achieving maximum clearance, and Maya is beaming as she lowers her leg. The elf on his chest is next. ]

Rude little guys, aren't they?

[ Predictably, Jion goes a little red at that, making a flustered noise before he can find the right words to answer. ]

I -- the present thing, I meant it mostly as a joke! And, like, don't adults give presents too? I don't think anyone ever gets too old for something nice to happen during the holidays. Or something.

[ He'd ducked his head while giving that embarrassed ramble, and he almost trips over a lumpy floorboard before finding his footing. It takes him a moment of careful maneuvering to get the tree through the door, then set up in place, but it finally does get there, and Jion dusts his hands off with a satisfied huff. ]

... and um, isn't the spider thing just this place's version of Santa? I didn't see any spiders while I was getting the tree, so I bet it's just, like, a story they tell! Like how they tell kids Santa is watching them, so they'll be good!

[ Jion says it chipperly, utterly unaware of the massive shape that's peeks out past the table and chair behind him. Where did it come from? Who knows! Goodness, its eight eyes certainly are shiny, though. ]

[Guren makes direct eye contact with that spider for a good few seconds. He hates this stupid town, sometimes.]

Uh huh.

[You know what, it's fine. Jion doesn't have to know as long as it's not a threat, and Guren can deal with it if it is. He glances back to the tree, eyeing it up and down. So... they'd better decorate.]

Anyway, I wouldn't know. I never had time for things like that, before the catastrophe. [Even if he was still technically a kid then. But, like the rest, he seems to brush this topic aside too easily, moving onto the next step.]

Do you have stuff to decorate this with yet?

Tell me about it! Aren't elves just supposed to help Santa and stuff?

[ He could go on, but the elf standing on his chest takes the chance to whap him on the forehead with a sharpened candy cane, and Jion gives a half-hearted 'ow.' He cranes his head to look to Maya. ]

Um, please be careful though? That thing looks sharp.

[ Jion, of course, remains utterly oblivious to the spider's intense stare -- and he's a little distracted by what Guren is saying anyway. ]

The ca ... [ He starts to ask, then changes his mind. 'The catastrophe' sounds like something pretty bad, so maybe it'd be best to leave it be unless Guren offers the information first. ] Um, that's okay! I think holiday traditions and stories are kinda different everywhere, anyway?

[ He fetches a box of bits and bobs -- strips of fabric, wood chips carved into rough stars, a bunch of cleaned-up pinecones -- and puts it on a chair between them. ]

So what's most important is making this holiday season a good one for you! Living in the moment! [ He says it enthusiastically, but looks embarrassed immediately afterwards. ] Sorry, I guess that's really cheesy? But um, I do think it might be fun, if you're not used to this kind of stuff! Did you just not do Christmas at all?

[Ah. Guren reaches into the box to pull out a pinecone and sort of squint at it, like he barely understands any of this, but Jion's enthusiasm is... nice. It reminds him of a number of good men, and that in itself is complicated.]

Not really... [He trails off a little, shoving the pinecone too sloppily onto the tree. Is this good, does this look like Christmas?]

I don't remember how much I told you about my home. [Having a demon messes with his memories, honestly, not that he's told anyone that.] But my entire childhood was just preparing me to become the next head of the clan. Magic, combat training, things like that.

I've had worse stab wounds.

[ MAYA. She holsters one of her guns, though, giving the elf a scrutinizing glare. ]

... Come on, buddy. We can still settle this peacefully.

[ december catch-all ]

( quest 38 ; SHIHO )

( quest 37 ; MAYA )

( quest 37 ; LUX )

( lake, quest 39 ; IZUKU )

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( quest 38 ; GUREN )

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