vii ⚜ video + action

[banishment]

ＣＬＯＳＥＤ ＴＯ ＴＹ ＬＥＥ

[ unbelievable. of course weiss would sign him up for this, and of course he'd get stuck having to get a gift for his girlfriend's could've been love interest of all people. zuko very much didn't want to do this, but he promised weiss he would play along and at least try to be festive. the latter likely wasn't happening, but he could at the very least (begrudgingly) participate in the secret santa she went out of her way to organize, even if that meant getting a gift for neptune vasilias.

which was where a certain pink loving circus freak contortionist came in. ]

I need a favor.

ＯＰＥＮ ＴＯ ＡＮＹＯＮＥ

Zuko wasn't going to have much of a direct hand in selecting Neptune's gift, but he was in the selection of others. Which was why he could be found window shipping with Weiss's Charizard in tow, walking through the Genessian mall as if doing so with a dragon-like Pokémon at your side was the norm. And when he paused to look at something in a window display, Char would peer over Zuko's head to see what he was looking at, huffing out a puff of hot air through his nose and fogging up the glass.

"Too close, back up," he told him, elbowing the beast until he stepped back with an unhappy rumble. "You're going to leave nose prints on the glass."

Comments

action

[deadly_belladonna]

She's on her way home from the library, still in work clothes hoping to do her own window shopping for gifts for friends. She took notice to someone familiar who was doing their own window shopping around with- was that a dragon?

Heading over, she tipped her head curiously and held up a hand with a small wave.

"Zuko; looking for gifts as well?"

Action

[banishment]

He jumped, worried that Weiss might be with her, but seemed to settle down once he realized Blake's roommate wasn't shopping with her.

"Uh, yeah. Weiss rope you into celebrating this Christmas thing with her, too?"

[deadly_belladonna]

Woops, she didn't mean to startle him. Straightening up, she tipped her head curiously. "Uh, sort of? I didn't sign up for the Santa thing but- we figured learning some carols might help bring some of the 'cheer'." She shrugged, still not really understanding much of these odd customs herself.

"I was hoping to find Sun something for Christmas."

[banishment]

"Like a ladder?"

Only Zuko would go for something not related to the type of Faunus Sun was, and attempt to make a (really bad) joke about the mutual habit he and Sun have of making grand entrances through windows instead of doors.

[deadly_belladonna]

"Perhaps, though he seems to enjoy climbing and- a challenge." She arched her shoulders but kept her tone rather light.

"If you both keep using our windows we might as well just hang a welcome mat there." Another small tease but- it was unique and she did like having Sun surprise her from time to time.

"And...this?" She asked curiously, motioning towards Charizard.

action;

[mintchip]

[ Despite having obtained much warmer clothing since the last time they spoke, Emerald still wasn't particularly fond of the cold weather. After she realized Mercury had joined in the Secret Santa thing, she decided to as well (mostly hoping that she would get a better present than he did and therefore get bragging rights-- it was free stuff anyway).

Which is probably why Emerald is moving at a quickened pace, far less leisurely than she normally strolled, right into the store entrance Zuko's at and leaning back against the glass as she holds up mittened hands to her face, breathing on them to warm the fabric a little more. When she leans back, she points at Zuko through the glass, her words muffled by the fact that they're separated by it. Her gesture is muffled too with those mittens, which she looks at for a brief moment before lowering her lids partially and deciding to just roll with it. One pointed mitten. ]

Don't I know you?

action;

[banishment]

What?

[ he can't quite make out what she's saying, but he wasn't about to go into a store he wasn't certain he was going to buy anything in with a dragon in tow. ]

action;

[mintchip]

[ She rolls her eyes because seriously, just bring the stupid thing in here. He wouldn't be walking around with it if it wasn't well-trained enough to be in public, not with his position as a deputy guardian so whatever it is, she's not afraid of it. Emerald opens the door. ]

It's freezing out there, how are you just window shopping with your oversized.. pet?

action;

[banishment]

[ ...right, he probably looks a bit under-dressed in just sweat pants, a t-shirt, and a jinbaori. genessia's pretty cold right now, but nothing he can't handle -- and not nearly as cold as it got in the poles. after doing time at the north and south, all other versions of cold don't seem to compare. especially after swimming in arctic waters. ]

Char's not a pet. He's a dragon, and I don't get cold easily. Neither does he.

[ or so zuko assumed. looking back charizard, the pokémon shrugged, but didn't seem too bothered by the chill himself. ]

action;

[mintchip]

[ Whatever Zuko, you and your pet dragon can wander around freezing for all she cares. She's just trying to act friendly. ]

No offense to Char intended. How are you two keeping warm looking like you're ready for a trip to the beach? You could do an infomercial for whatever your secret is.

Action

[lookprofessor]

Luke isn't very good at shopping but it's that time of year and he has to get a present for the Secret Santa--so here he is...

Staring in awe at the Charizard. What even is that?
"
"Hi, Zuko!"

He smiles at the Charizard because animals are great. "And hi to you too!"

Action

[banishment]

"He's a dragon, if you're wondering." Zuko flings an arm out to stop Charizard from getting too close to the boy. "Well, a Pokémon, but a dragon-like one."

Re: Action

[lookprofessor]

"He is a very nice color. You almost match!"

Luke smiles up at the Charizard, clearly not intimidated. "Hi there--I'm Luke. Are you having fun shopping too?"

[ooc: Luke talks to animals in canon... he understands them as well as soaks to them. I imagine he could chat with a Charizard but I'll let you make the final call =D]

Action

[banishment]

( ooc | happy to roll with that! i don't see how that wouldn't be possible. )

Zuko looks back and forth between himself and the Pokémon. They do almost match, especially when Zuko's donning Fire Nation colors.

As for Charizard, he nods and makes a low rumbling sound. A sound that, if Zuko understood Pokémon languages, would equate to yes, but just sounds like rumbling to him.

Action

[lookprofessor]

Luke smiles. "You're very friendly, Charizard."

Do people pet charizards? Luke really wants to pet charizard.

"Are you shopping too, Zuko? Sometimes it's easy--I'm making tea blends for lots of people, like the sorts I have at home--but sometimes it's not as easy."

Case in point, the Secret Santa.

[dreamingartist]

[Jeb's window shopping in the same places, looking for gifts for Tori and Minako and Orihime and everyone else he knows...every now and then, he sees something that reminds him of his father or Michiru, though, and feels a little sad. He misses them, even if Christmas here will be good it still isn't the same without his loved ones back home. And he's sure Tori feels the same about her sisters.

He's so lost in thought that he doesn't realize he's accidentally bumped into someone...]

[banishment]

Whoa--!

[ good thing zuko's fast, and is able to steady both himself and jeb before they both fall to the floor. sometimes, his moments of klutziness put his bender's grace to shame, but now was not one of those times. ]

sorry this is late!

[dreamingartist]

Ah-! I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going! Are you all right?

no problem! i'm happy to backtag :)

[banishment]

Just fine.

[ though he makes something of an umph noise as charizard fails to stop and slams into his back. he glances over his shoulder at the pokémon. charizard takes a few steps back. ]

You?

:D Thanks!

[dreamingartist]

I'm okay! I should have watched where I was going, I just got a little lost in thought... [He smiles over at Charizard] Oh, is that your Pokemon from the Charm quest? [he pats the ball containing Sneako...he'd let him out but it's cold and grass doesn't do well in cold. And lol, firetype right there.]

Video; LATE LATE LATE

[onlythepinkest]

[Receiving his call, she answered right away. To nobody's surprise, she was in a normally physically impossible posture.]

Sure, whatcha need?

Re: Video; LATE LATE LATE

[banishment]

It's about that Secret Santa thing. I need help picking out something.

[ so that his extreme dislike of the guy weiss has admitted to liking doesn't cloud his buyer's judgement. ]

Video

[onlythepinkest]

Who's it for?

Re: Video

[banishment]

Neptune.

[ which doesn't exactly explain who the guy is, but it's clear from the way he says it that zuko doesn't like him. ]

Video

[onlythepinkest]

[Ty Lee's first mistake was assume she'd know who he had when she barely knew anyone here.]

Okay, but who are they?