middaeg | ( closed ) faithful friends who are dear to us

Entry tags:

( closed ) faithful friends who are dear to us

Who: Karin Koenig & Jacob "Styx" Graves
When: Sometime mid-Deceuer.
Where: Casa de Styx.
What: Modranicht is still ahead, but we doin' Crimbus early.
Warnings: None so far, unless you are opposed to seeing a grown man cry. Will edit as necessary.

[Both being able to afford to give holiday gifts and having people to give them to are quite novel to Karin, but there's one in particular she's been planning for some time and has been eager to give. When the tailor she'd spoken to a few weeks earlier had reached out to inform her that the item was finished earlier, she'd quickly decided that waiting until Modranicht itself was impractical— it would be too hard to keep it a secret all that time, for one, and she'd like to see its recipient get some good use out of his gift sooner rather than later.

It's mid-afternoon when she arrives unannounced, opting to using the front door rather than going towards her favored perch on the roof. She manages to shift the packages in her arms just enough to reach out and ring the bell with a gloved hand, bundled up against the cold as much as her wings will allow. The most noticeable part of her load is a very large, brightly-wrapped rectangular box, though there's a white bakery box and two small but festive gift bags piled on top of it— just enough so that when the door opens, her face will largely be hidden behind the stack as she holds it steady.

... maybe she should have checked to make sure he was home first, but that would have taken some of the fun out of it, right? It wasn't as good if it wasn't a surprise.]

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[Styx is at home, thankfully, but it still takes a few minutes before the door is pulled open. Karin isn't the only one who's already been swept away by the holiday season - even more charming for the slight differences from the winter celebration he's familiar with - and the big guy had been sorting through various decorations he'd purchased recently when the bell sounds. it takes a little while to get around all these garlands without tripping!

the confusion is evident on his face when he answers the door to find...boxes? just standing there in front of him? with no apparent courier, because he is literally too stupid to find what's left of his friend's face in between all of the distracting bright colors. maybe this is like those little drones that had been going around last month...]

Oh, sorry, think you've got the wrong address.

[their little brothers had certainly struggled with navigation, so...maybe it was looking for one of the nearby houses? someone was definitely going to have a happy holiday, that was for sure.]

What?

[She can't even say she's surprised, really. It takes her a moment, but she manages to lean far enough to one side that most of her face appears from behind the boxes, led by the pom of her hat.]

No, it's me!

[She definitely has the right address, thanks!]

I'm not interrupting, am I?

Hey, Karin!

[as if she'd just appeared out of nowhere, rather than being the one to fucking hold all of these packages, Styx's face blossoms with happiness like a flower in the sun. he reaches to take the things from her instantly, large arms far better suited to hold so much.]

'm not doing nothing real important, no! What's up?

[His sudden burst of cheer strikes her as comical, just as it had that first time he had discovered her on his roof, and she can't help grinning at him in reply.]

I had a few things I wanted to bring over! You know, season of giving and all.

[At least it is back home, and she's gotten the impression that Modranicht is much the same. She stretches a little as he takes the packages from her, followed by a nod of thanks as she invites herself to step over the threshold to join him.]

I have something for Charon and Yasha in here, too.

[She pauses just long enough to look around and see that there are decorations strewn— pretty much everywhere, seems like?]

Looks like you've been keeping busy!

[he presses himself lightly against the doorjamb, minimizing his bulk as much as he can in order for Karin to pass by more easily. as she takes in the chaos of unorganized decorations he shifts, tugging the door shut again with the tip of his foot. thank god for long legs.

she's speaking, but Styx is looking down at the things in his arms with newfound mystification. it wasn't Modranicht yet, was it? not even close, he's pretty sure. but even if it was...nah. couldn't be. must just be stuff for the animals - Karin was super nice that way.]

Haha, uh, probably don't look that great right now...but 's not all gonna go up on this house, yeah? So I was kinda trying to decide which I wanted to keep for me.

[he wanders into the living room, source of all this mess, and very gingerly begins setting the packages down on the couch. there's...some room for them left here, at least.]

[She follows him without hesitation, tugging her gloves off one after the other and shoving them deep into her coat pockets as she goes. The mess definitely is more pronounced in here, but it's the fun kind of mess— the kind that's going to turn into something wonderful when it's all finished.]

If you need a hand with any of it later on, I'd love to help.

[He'd do the same for her, she's certain, but for now, she'll address what she'd initially come here for. That mystified look hadn't escaped her in the least. She slips out of her coat for the time being, or at least what passes for one with the room left for her wings, and carefully lays it across the back of the couch for now. She's been over here enough that she feels pretty comfortable just making herself at home, though it had taken several visits to do so despite his insistence.]

So... I know it's not Modranicht yet, and even back home it would probably be a few weeks until Christmas, but I couldn't wait to give you your gift. Don't worry, I don't expect you to get me anything, I know everyone has different holidays, but— I've never really been able to give the people who were close to me gifts before now, or had much in the way of friends to give them to. So maybe I got a little over-excited, but I don't want to wait until the holiday.

[It seems impossible to do so, quite frankly.]

You mind? Kinda wanna add some stuff to a few of them, but it'd go faster with somebody else helping out...

[somebody whose hands weren't the size of cinderblocks, certainly. some of the additions he wants to make were going to take some semblance of dexterity; having Karin around for it would be a fucking blessing and a half.

watching his friend simply thrust herself into his home makes Styx smile, the expression lingering a little longer than strictly. it makes him happy to know that she can be as comfortable here as she is in her own home, that there's another place in this city she can feel safe. although...she continues to talk, and his eyebrows draw closer and closer together in something closely resembling distress.]

One of these...is for me?

[he looks down at the packages he'd just placed on the couch, that distressed air growing heavier around him. most of them were so big...]

You - Karin, you don't gotta do that. I don't even want nothing.

[She nods in response to his first question, offering only a smile for confirmation— of course she'll help. She doesn't know if he ever would have asked her to do so on his own, but she'll gladly invite herself. It looks like he has a lot on his plate, and more hands will make it all go faster, not to mention these things are always more fun with other people.

Her smile fades a bit as that familiar air of distress begins to settle over him, and she shakes her head before quickly reaching out to take one of his hands in her own, laying the other against his forearm.]

Hey— none of that. It's okay if you don't want anything, but I want to give you something. That's what gifts are for, right?

[He's done so much for her, she can't help but want to give something back, but she takes care not to say that aloud just yet. She knows how he can get— he doesn't want anyone to feel like they owe him something, but this isn't that at all.]

If it helps any, the white box is for both of us. Apple strudel?

I...but you said you got other friends too, right?

[so it wasn't like she had to find something for him or else face another year of being unable to gift. he knows that it's the act of giving that gratifies the most, regardless of the recipient, but...his gaze can't help but drift back to that big box, even as he squeezes Karin's hand.]

...apple's good, though. Uh, 's it still warm?

[his stomach wins out again, big surprise. Styx can't help but hope that maybe by the time they'd have a generous slice each his friend will reconsider letting him have whatever was waiting inside that massive package, though. a great dessert surely was a grand gift in and of itself, wasn't it?]

I do.

[It takes her a moment to parse exactly why he asks; she doesn't quote see how having other friends should change the fact that she wants to give him something, and the gentle squeeze of her hand serves as an excellent reminder of why she does.]

And I have gifts for them, too, but you're really important to me.

[Special in a way that they aren't, because she's not going around town kissing all of her friends on rooftops. She lets out a small sigh of relief before nodding, her smile pulling wide again as she carefully reclaims her hand just so she can grab the bakery box and pop it open to show off its contents. With it comes the distinct smell of warm apple and pastry— always a winner.]

Got it on the way over here so it would be. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[mmm. the delicious smell of baked goods really does wonders for distracting Styx from some of his unease; he forgets to argue with her over importance not equating gifting status entirely, instead reaching out to ruffle Karin's hair affectionately.]

Gotta eat it now, then! Be bad if we just let it get cold after that.

[turning to face the couch again, he very swiftly clears off some more space to roughly fit the both of them. his friend receives a little tug on her arm, indicating she should sit, before the big guy plops himself down. it's easier to do things like that - sitting first - in his own home, although only just barely.]

[She ducks just a little as he ruffles her hair and feathers, letting out an affectionate laugh in reply.]

You're right, wouldn't want it to go to waste!

[She allows herself to be tugged easily, giving him a fond smile as she sits down beside him— closer than is strictly necessary, he might notice, as she makes herself comfortable and scoots over so that they're hip-to-hip. She'd thought ahead and had two forks tucked into the box before she'd left the bakery, and she reaches for both before holding them out to offer him one.]

I had a feeling this would go over well, at least.

[Look. They both like to eat. Dessert is always a safe bet.]

[it's still so funny to feel feathers peeking out in between the more familiar sensation of hair...but, as he always does whenever his soft mind picks up on it, Styx really loves it. something about it is perfectly unique to Karin.]

Hell yeah, man! Sweet shit's always a winner.

[and so was the gentle pressure of his friend's body against his, one which he rewards by comically wiggling his massive body just a little so that it bumps up against hers. the drummer probably could have slung an arm around her too or something like that...but the dessert is honestly taking up most of his focus right now. happily taking a fork from Karin, he leans in to carefully begin breaking it up for them - as evenly as he could, to prevent being given the bigger half.]

[She grins as he wiggles against her while settling in, crossing one leg over the other at the knee as she proceeds to balance the box in one hand while taking her own fork in the other. It's almost comical, how careful he's being about dividing the box's contents, but Karin unceremoniously takes a forkful from the side closest to her without waiting for him to finish and gives him an amused but pointed look as she pops it into her mouth.]

Just dig in!

[There's plenty for both of them! Besides, they can always get more.]

It won't be warm forever, you know!

[more is not a concept that Styx understands, really. he's more, and more has always been bad in some way. thankfully Karin's impatient thievery distracts from him such philosophical contemplations.]

H-hey! I was almost done!

[honest! he doesn't move that slowly, jeez...the big guy can't help pouting, just a little, before the expression dissolves into easy laughter and he starts scooping up a first bite for himself. if it's already ruined there's really no point in holding back...and it really does smell heavenly.]

[Oh, that's— actually really cute on him. She laughs again once his moment of protest has passed, the rich sound of his own laughter warming her to her toes, like it always does.

She closes her eyes for a moment after her second bite, her smile softening into something more nostalgic, her teasing air ebbing away.]

Mmm... it really does taste like home.

[There are a lot of fond memories entwined with this particular flavor. It's a personal favorite, that's for sure.]

What do you think?

[cute and rare, the urge to pout very rarely coinciding with a time in which he felt uninhibited enough to actually do so. Styx doesn't realize it, of course, not is he aware of the effects it has on his friend. just as with the rest of his actions, they move like invisible ripples out from him.

what he does note is Karin's particular appreciation for the flavor. he's seen her choose apple-heavy things before, but never thought about it beyond noting that she seemed fond of it. but here...it made more sense, now. there was something nostalgic in that warm taste. he's grateful to have been granted this knowledge, even more so than for the pastry itself.]

's killer, of course! Where'd you get it from?

[Honestly, it's hard to go wrong with baked apple anything. Karin has found it to always be a winner beyond her own personal fondness for it, but it does conjure up pleasant memories of afternoons spent helping her grandmother prepare for the holidays— one of the few times her family ever allowed themselves any indulgences, when they were lucky enough to be able to do so.]

From a bakery I stumbled across while doing some odd jobs. It's called Edelmann's, I think? It's a little out of the way, but a lot of what they offer reminds me of things I would have found back home and during my travels. European style things, mostly.

[She's quite fond of this place at this point, as much as anyone could be, but it's nice to have that little bit of persistent homesickness eased.]

They have a cake that's almost exactly like biernenstich! We'll have to try that one next time.

[Food adventures!]

[nodding along, Styx seems to understand everything that his friend is saying right up until he solemnly pronounces:]

Bless you.

[German...is obviously not a country that got a lot of time to shine in an inner-city elementary school curriculum. but the big guy's supportive all the same, even if Karin had to pause for a big sneeze at the critical moment. he doesn't mind not actually knowing the name of what is apparently Edelmann's specialty - if they're going together he'll be able to see what it looks like, right? he can just order based on that later.

and boy, he'll be ordering a lot if this really is Karin's favorite.]

That's real cool, though! 's kinda hard to find stuff that's like other stuff from...[he's said 'stuff' so many times Styx physically has to stop himself for a moment before the word just slips out again for no reason.] uh, you know. From home.

[Bless her?]

But I didn't—

[Oh. Oh! She grins in response; she definitely understands how that can sound to an ear unfamiliar with the language.]

It's a cake made with honey and cream and almonds! The name is a play on 'bee sting.'

[That's simple enough, she thinks, and she helps herself to another large forkful of strudel. She's making her way through her half fairly quickly, in fact, anxious to get on with the reason she'd come over here in the first place, but not in such a hurry that she won't enjoy it.]

Have you found any food that reminds you of home yet? I know you said that was one of the things you missed most.

[She was listening!]

[bee sting? but that jumble of noises didn't sound anything like bee sting...

it takes Styx a solid five seconds to realize this was probably in another language (without connecting which) and then another fifteen as he tries in vain to remember the entirety of a word he just fucking heard. it's very difficult to compare the sounds of 'bee sting' to another noun when you've only accurately got about half of it still lodged in your head.

at length he simply gives up and shovels some more strudel into his mouth. apples were something he could understand.]

Sounds killer! Honey's one of my favorite flavors for sweet stuff.

[not so much for the taste itself (although he certainly loved it) but because that was his auntie's favorite type of desserts. eating one always made him nostalgic in the most comforting sort of way.

it also made him slow in eating his own portion at present, not helped at all by the massive delay that all that intense thinking had caused. Karin's mildly nervous energy bounces off him as if it's hit a force field, doing nothing to speed up his leisurely chews.]

Mm, kinda? 's not anything I used to have growing up, but lots've people seem really into curry here...found a place or two that're good as the ones I used to hit up all the time back home.

[and in some cases, thanks to magic plants, even spicier. mm...spicy.]

We should go!

[The suggestion comes almost immediately; she'd had plenty of curry during her travels in Japan, but she hasn't sampled much of what Aefenglom has to offer just yet. Her interest in culinary adventures is never waning.]

Not right now, of course—

[She pauses just long enough for another bite of strudel, and even goes on to continue talking before she's completely done chewing. Needless to say, she's become quite comfortable around him in recent months.]

But you'll have to show me sometime! I haven't had curry since I was in Japan, and that was— mmm, it would be nice to have more pleasant memories to associate with it.

[She doesn't seem terribly distressed about the memories she does associate with it, at least. It wasn't like there was anything particularly traumatic about her last curry experience, but it was... well. Strange, to say the least.]

Yeah, for sure! They got a bunch of different kinds.

[she certainly has relaxed a great deal, huh! but that ease also means that sometimes Karin isn't as aware of herself as she should be...such as right now, when there's some flaky pastry stuck to the corner of her mouth thanks to the sticky filling. Styx notices, of course, watching her as intently as he is, and without a single thought he reaches out to thumb it away even as she continues to speak.]

You go somewhere shitty when you visited? That sucks, dude...heard the food's supposed to be killer over there.

[the snacks he'd gotten from Vincent had certainly given him that impression, at the very least. the guy was always so stingy with sharing, but especially treats like those...it made the times he got a taste all the more precious to the drummer.]

[She does at least have the presence of mind to look momentarily sheepish as he reaches out to catch the bit of pastry she'd overlooked, but rather than blush or duck away, her smile pulls to one side as she offers him a nod of thanks. Awfully kind of him, really!]

I wouldn't go that far! The food was excellent, but there was— a festival full of some pretty strange characters. It wasn't bad, but certainly a bizarre experience.

[She's still not entirely sure how she feels about some of what happened in that park, tbh.]

But I can't think of anything better than going to one of the places you've found and given your seal of approval. That's for another day, though— I want to see you open that box.

[no shame here, Karin! your friend is just smiling amiably right back and popping the pastry bit into his own mouth. mmm...appley.

some of that good-natured energy dissipates when his companion addresses the elephant in the room...or rather, the massive box. Styx's eyes slide over to it carefully, like it might jump up and attack if he looks too quickly, before his gaze settles back onto Karin. this was honestly kind of scary? he can't think of any way to prevent himself from having to open it up.]

Um...do I really gotta? [another nervous glance over before his stare returns.] 's way too big, Karin.

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