Fifty-First Spool of Thread - [Voice/Action]

[so_shik]

[Well today Shiki's sitting inside All Passions behind the til, her own special little elf sitting side-by-side with Mr. Mew. She's currently working on something with her hands, though it's not quite in view of the camera yet. However, anyone who's looking will notice that the little elf is shifting through what looks like an elf-sized wardrobe full of outfits. Said-elf might also be trying to dress Mr. Mew. That's not going too well. The shop itself has been decked out with little lights shaped like stars and Christmas music is playing in the background. Shiki continues to work as she addresses the village.]

So this is, what, my third Christmas here? I'm starting to run out of ideas for presents for you guys, but maybe I'll try my hand at baking. [She giggles a bit.] Just kidding, I'm totally prepared. I've been totally good this year. [Hear that, Elf? Shiki's been good. In fact, she stops working to tilt her journal toward a pile of fancy wrapped boxes, presents for her close friends and housemates.]

Pretty, right? Just remember, if you need a last-minute gift for that special someone, or, well, anyone really, stop by All Passions! I've got just the thing for you.

...but can you guys try to stop by before it gets too dark? I wanted to close up early today, maybe go ice skating or make a snowman if anybody wants to join me.

[And she's adding the finishing touches to her project before holding it in her hands. A crown. A mistletoe crown, in fact, to go along with her new holiday dress, the newest of her winter line.] What do you think? Too much? I kind of like it. I'm really getting so much better at designing things myself. [In fact, she's just going to put the crown on her head.

It's probably best not to ask her where she got the mistletoe from.]

Anyway, merry Christmas everybody. PS, if any of you received...um...any kind of questionable gift outside of your house? Blame the elf. [Shiki may or may not have gone around to strangers' homes and decorated the outside of their doors with ribbons, bows and lights, along with leaving behind a box of cookies that might be slightly burnt. Shiki's not the best baker.]

[ooc: If your character has close CR with Shiki, assume she made you a present. Like hand-made.]

Comments

[ action ]

[herotypical]

...Giles mentioned them. They came up in the readings. They must be out there, but they never came to Sunnydale. Well -- awkward variations thereof might've given it a try. But nothing official.

Why? Do we have one? In town? Should I be concerned?

[ note how much she doesn't really want to actually expound upon the leather dress. ]

[ action ]

[so_shik]

[Someday, Summers. Someday.]

So I've heard. She's pretty harmless from what I've heard. I haven't met her yet, but her friend came into the shop today looking for something for her...you don't happen to keep a spare supply of souls at Good Spirits, do you?

[ action ]

[herotypical]

[ her concern is writ large upon her face. ]

N-no. Dammit. She's not really gonna go around wolfing down souls like so many Cheetos, is she? Because I will step in...

[ action ]

[so_shik]

From what her friend told me? No. No Slayers need to get involved. But I'm just telling you in case someone comes by the bar and mentions it.

[ action ]

[herotypical]

...Makes me wonder what the gal will be feeding on, of course...

[ action ]

[so_shik]

As far as I know? Nothing. Ilyana said she doesn't eat souls here.

[ action ]

[herotypical]

...Sounds like an awfully convenient hunger-strike to me, y'know.

[ and with that, buffy steps onto the ice. ]

[ action ]

[so_shik]

I'm just kind of giving you a heads-up. [She's following almost immediately as soon as her laces are tied.] You haven't had any problems recently with the things that go bump-in-the-night, right?

[herotypical]

...Not since the last of my kind-o-vamp was sent home. The nightlife's gotten quiet again.

[so_shik]

But that's good right? Like a vacation. [She's off on the ice, gliding in a figure eight around Buffy while she ponders this over.] Maybe they won't come back.

[herotypical]

I guess so...

[ she sounds a little unconvinced, at first -- still thinking about spike. ] I mean -- yeah! You're right. Hopefully. That's the dream, right?

[ with a small smile, she picks up her own striding pace. wide, powerful strokes on the ice. ]

[so_shik]

[She skates backwards in a slow, straight line, mostly watching Buffy briefly.]

Try to sound more enthused when you're trying to agree. It'll make me ask less questions.

[herotypical]

Spike. [ she meets the question before it's even asked. ] It's not that I miss him, per se. It's just that I...

Miss him.

[so_shik]

He's been here a couple of times, right? Maybe third time's a charm.

[herotypical]

Three. That was his third. [ a lazy, wide-arcing turn. like a warm-up to some other technique. ]

Funny, the way it goes. I miss him when he's gone. I can't stand him while he's here.

[so_shik]

Too bad I can't think of a saying for the fourth time. [She works on skating her name in the ice, humming to herself.] What's wrong with him anyway? I never really thought he was that bad.

[herotypical]

Be glad you never met him in is pre-soul days. There's baggage there, Shiki. That's as best as I can do to explain it.

[so_shik]

...like Angel baggage?

[herotypical]

Worse, really. Angel and I can't be together. But Spike and I -- it's more a case of shouldn't.

[so_shik]

Who says?

[herotypical]

I say. I'm...not good for him. He's --

We're not good for each other. Simple as that.

[so_shik]

All right, all right. I get it. [She'll focus on where she's going then and not on asking weird questions.] But at least now there's Jack.

[herotypical]

Ah, the peace of mind that comes with dating a guy who's never tried to kill you. Well, not earnestly anyway.

[ does she feel bad holding out on shiki? indeed. but it's hard to casually tell someone that she only slept with spike because she hated herself. she had looked to the vampire for punishment, and punishment he had doled out. come the end...

well. ]

There's a good life lesson for you. Don't date murderers.

[so_shik]

[Skating, skating...and then...]

I never told you that Neku tried to murder me once?

[herotypical]

[ hell.

she came to a slow, gradual stop. ]

No -- I...

No.