re_alignment_logs | What's December Without Christmas Eve? [Tree Decorating: OPEN]

What's December Without Christmas Eve? [Tree Decorating: OPEN]

WHO: Anyone and Everyone!
WHERE: Around various parts of Haven
WHEN: From now until what counts as 'New Years' for Cybertron (New Years Day for us?)
WHAT: Tree Decorating!
WARNINGS: Infinite cute and maybe tree eating

Well, Kay and Elita had done it. It took awhile, and surprisingly, all in one night, but they'd been able to grab branches from the large crystal trees that the pink robot had grown, and placed them all around Haven. Where, specifically? Outside the temples! Really, surprised no one noticed it. But to those who walk out of the them, they'll now notice a tree on either their right or left, empty, glittering, and with a note.

What could this mean? What's this? There's trees everywhere! What's this? And depending on what your alignment is/where you live, you'll get a different tree.

(ooc: I'll be putting comments up for each quadrant's tree. Comment under whichever one you'd like to react to/decorate/chat with people under. It's a huge mingle thread! Also, don't forget to put your tag in the log!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It's fine. I'm not angry."

He settles a hand against her back, as close to returning the gesture as he can get. His wings flick, as he briefly scans the area. No, there's no one around. They're safe.

"She's... all right," he says, carefully. "Alive. Being repaired... I think she could use the cheering up."

He nods, smiling faintly. "I did. Where did it come from?"

That relaxes her a bit. If there was one thing she didn't want, it was to upset him in any way. He was one of her adoptive parents, after all. Those didn't come easily. Not here.

"Good. I'll keep thinking of things to do then!"

And then, she brightens up.

"Elita and I brought them!"

And likewise, if he upset her -- again -- he wouldn't know what to do. The thought of it is... unpleasant. Very much so. But she's smiling, so it can't have gone badly.

Right?

"I'll help you, if you want," he says. "If you need to carry heavy things, for example..."

His head tilts. He reaches out to touch the tree again, carefully. "Elita? Who is Elita?"

Oh wow, yeah, she could really use help carrying some things in for Vandal to do. Granted she didn't need THAT much help--it wasn't like she was lifting boats or anything--but she was just a tiny girl.

"Really? Thanks, Kagerou!! I knew I could count on you."

And she watches that hand touch the tree, her smile ever constant. "Oh! Miss Elita is a friend of mine! She was the one who planted the first crystal tree to start a forest."

He just wanted to be of use. It was hard to find a purpose here -- where even the human beings had far more experience in living than he did. Even the smallest thing felt good to do.

So a smile flickers on his face when she thanks him. "I'm keeping my promises now," he tells her. "All of them."

His fingers trail over the crystal -- carefully so. "She's been here long enough to grow plants?"

If only Kay knew that. Because to her, there wasn't a moment in time he wasn't in use. She had a guardian now, and it...it was nice. Something that was tangible, and a pillar of support.

"I noticed...I'm really proud of you, you know?"

And her gaze turns towards that hand.

"Yep! I think she's been here longer than I have...and maybe longer than you!"

Abruptly, his head snaps around, staring at her, his optic gone wide. It's like she's physically struck him, rather than complimented him. He can't... quite process that. No one has ever said anything like that to him before.

"Proud... of me?"

It comes out sounding wistful, almost.

But he bends his head back to the tree, like he's embarrassed. "It wouldn't surprise me... I've been here longer than I was ever conscious, back home."

That catches her off guard, and she backs up slightly, as if afraid she hurt him or something. Was it...a bad thing? She couldn't tell...

"Y-Yeah...I mean...if that's okay. To be proud of you."

Slowly, her hand runs along that leg armor again.

"That's..."

He steps back. But it's only so that he can kneel down. The better to look her in the face. His expression is far from angry.

"... No one has ever said that to me before."

No, the expression on his face is grateful.

"Thank you."

And that...that just makes everything worth it. Her eyes close as she almost hops, happily putting her hands behind her back and burying her mouth into that scarf.

"After everything you've done for me? How couldn't I be proud?

You're like my guardian."

"Your... guardian...?"

More words no one has ever spoken to him. More gratitude he doesn't know how best to express. He lowers a hand, curling it around her back.

He wants to embrace her -- like other robots have done for him. But this is the best he can do.

"I'll stay that way. As long as you'll have me."

She leans back into that hold, and while Kagerou can't seem to find the right expression to show his gratitude, she understands. Somehow, she just knows.

"I'll have you for as long as I can."

Her hand runs along a seam in his finger, looking up.

"Are you going to decorate the tree?"

"Because... that's what family does. Isn't it?"

He's trying. He's trying so hard to figure these things out. Kay is one of the few who seem to understand it. And he can't thank her enough.

His hand stays still, afraid of catching her hand in the finger joint.

"With what?"

"That's right! We're family forever and ever. And NOTHING'S changing that!"

Her head tilts towards the tree, as if thinking of any possible ideas.

"Well, usually we hang ornaments--little glittery balls on hooks. But I don't think we have those here. So just anything you can think of would do!"

"Mm. Because we promised."

It's so strange. How did he come to care so much for this human being? The girl back home couldn't have been much different than Kay... Except... Kay cared. She tried. She saw him as more than merely an appliance with a voice.

She was proud of him.

"What about shiny rocks? Glass? I... have some of those."

Just don't ask why.

She's not sure how she became a little fledgling to the larger bird. But...no matter which way you put it, he was like a father to her, and it was something she really needed in her life, especially after...everything. And robot or not, Kagerou filled that position.

"You do? Great! We can just hang em up on here, and then it'll look really pretty!"

She won't.

He nods to her, stepping back. While leaving her alone here doesn't feel like a good option, his... stash... of appropriately shiny materials is back at his home. He'll have to go and fetch them.

"Will you be all right? If I pick them up?"

Hopefully, yes.

When he steps back, she nods, putting her hands behind her back.

"I'll wait for you! Just hurry, okay?"

His turn to nod. Then he takes off.

Fortunately for Kay, it won't be long before he returns. He's doing his best to be quick for her. To come back before anything happens to her.

Maybe he's being paranoid.

But when he returns, it's with an armload of shiny objects.

She's quite impressed with his speed, and hops up and down when he returns. Then again, he could have taken forever and she'd be just as pumped to see him return.

"...Oh wow, where have you been keeping all THAT?"

"At home."

He says it like it should be obvious, kneeling to place the pile in front of her. Seriously, it's like a magpie's hoard.

...

"You hide that stuff really well."

But no matter! She's off digging through it for anything that might be a good ornament. "Let's see what we got here, shall we?"

His facial expression flickers. The hint of a smile she probably knows so well by now.

"You haven't been looking very closely."

He... might even be teasing her a little.

She smiles back, giving that little teasing look in return.

"Is that a challenge?"

There must be more back there then. And she's gonna find it.

"Do you want it to be one?"

He hadn't meant it that way. But if that's what she wants to do, he won't stop her. She's probably happier that way, too.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject