SMV: Nov-Dec Quest 1

When she looked at the news forecast, Elation shivered at the drop in temperature.   She casted a look out the window and whined at the fogged up glass.   "Can I not?"  She muttered to herself, sipping her coffee with a slight pout. "I better get ready for work. Hmm.. It's not like it's completely winter out so maybe I don't have to buy an entirely new wardrobe?"

But it didn't mean she had a good selection of winter clothes either.  It's one of those times where she missed her mother, Hebi, and Kao.  Those three had a sense of fashion.  She, on the other hand, not so much.   Still, it's not like she's a diaster!  After all, she managed so far to wear competent pieces. (With help from Algieba and Bella, as she had zero idea how to accessories properly or dress for any kind of party besides formal ones. )

Snorting to herself,  Elation thought wryly that maybe she was completely hopeless.

"Ah..well.."  She glanced at the calendar, almost an image projected on the wall of her room, but was really a lot like the surface touch of an ipad. Moving over to it, she flipped the other page, her brows rose a bit in thought.  Thanksgiving, int the States, was this month and next month was Christmas.    How to do this?

On the one hand, she had a heck of a lot to be thankful for but on the other she could just do Christmas instead since it was more widely known.  Either way it went, she really wanted to share with her friends.

Then again, she took note of the date- November 20th was Kath's birthday.  Maybe  get the girls together and talk about what to do for her?  That actually sounded like a good idea.   They had enough time, they could plan something.

Elation glanced at her clock, "I better get going."  

She figured the black tight pants, under a white double knit tunic with the unbalanced hem with a thick black belt just below her bustline, would be a great combination.  She looked around for her favorite shoes- a pair of black ankle boots- that were hidden behind her sandals.   It's just good fortune that she had some black stockings to go under neath it all.  Looking up, she spotted her red  slouched knitted cap and snatched it from the top shelf.

She pursed her lips a bit in thought and smiled to herself as she imagined getting  Alexis a kitty-eared hat for Christmas.  The thought brought along some other gift ideas for that time of year but she thought to wait.

At least until next week to start.

Finally dressed,  she kept her hair in a low ponytail  with her customary yellow ribbon tied to her hair, if a bit at waist level, and grabbed her charcol black peacoat and white and red scarf, before heading out the door.

---

It's kind of terrible, at least she thought so when she started her shift, that when  Kiruto asked her to come hold a ladder for him while he gets the Christmas decorations,  that she thought he had a cute butt.    She reasons to herself that there's no helping it because she's looking up at him on the ladder, waiting to help and it's just.. there.

"Kesteral?"  

She blinked and coughed, "Oh, uh, yes?"  

"Here, take these boxes and unpack them. Later, we need to discuss how to set up the display area in the front."  He handed her the boxes down one by one, "I may need you for a few late night shifts."

"Sure thing."  Elation took the boxes down and breathed out.  It'd be worse if he saw her oogling him.  She pushed that out of her mind for now and set to work unpacking the tinsle and wreaths that looked almost older than she did.  In fact, she was surprised a lot of this wasn't out on the floor.  

"This looks, really old."  She muttered to herself, looking the ornament over.  Made of porcelain, it was mostly white with a humanized cherub looking back thoughtfully. "Must be from the 70s, right?"

"Hm?" Kiruto was busy looking around and making notes on where to put things, "That?  No, it's probably from the 50s- the 1950s that is.  Not particularly rare though."

"Oh."  Still, she thought it was nice. Sighing, she went back to work and attended any customers that happened to walk in.

With her shift almost to an end, she glanced over at her boss, wondering - perhaps for the third time that week- why he couldn't come with her to the masqurade last month.  It would've been nice to see him cut loose and have fun sometimes.  

Maybe he wasn't a party person?

Now that she thought about it, he didn't seem too keen on it when she asked him and he turned her down.

"Hey, Kestral? Can you check on the new shipment from Paris? They should be displayed in the corner over there, so if you would-?"

"Oh, sure, I'll get the boxes now and put them up in the morning."  She told him moving to get the heavy boxes.  "Ugh, why doesn't being a senshi give you superstrength?"  She walked over to the corner where they were destined to be stacked up for the Christmas crowd.    Only a few more boxes and she'll be able to walk out for the night.

After the last box was set, she looked over at her boss and hesistated in asking  if he wanted to go grab a quick bite or something.    No, that wouldn't be a good idea anyway.

Instead, she smiled, grabbed her coat, scaf and hat, told him she'd see him tomorrow and not to worry about the dolls for tomorrow before bidding him good day and leaving.

"Geeze, when did it get colder?"  She muttered and looked up at the sky. "Hope it doesn't start snowing..."

----

Elation shivered as a particularly nippy wind blew by.  She needed to double up on the winter clothes for this place.  Her charcoal black coat wasn't covering it as she pulled it closer.  The gloves weren't thick enough for her taste, either.  While she walked,  she remembered a little note she made on onher calendar about Kath's birthday being that month as well.  She smiled, thinking they should get together and do something for her.  But what would the purple eyed beauty like?   Books?  No...something special, she's sure.  Such in deep thought, she didn't realize that  someone was  coming up behind her, until it was too late.

"Hey, Elation!"  Well, at least she was too face deep into Bella's chest this time.  Then again, she hadn't minded those other times either. " What'cha up to?"

"Nothing much." Elation told her and looked up at her.  "I was just thinking about someone is all."

Bellatrix's smile made Elation want to back up and hide. "What, do you have a crush on someone?"

"Well- yes- I mean no! Gah.. nevermind."  She pouted a little. "Maybe."

"Oh, is that so?  Our Elation is growing up so well! She's already crushing on someone!"  Elation wanted to roll her eyes as Bella proceeded to fake-cry in the midst of laughing.

"Done yet?"  She smiled a bit.

"Hm, yes. So, what're you going to do now?"

"I don't know, I was thinking of doing some early Christmas shopping. There's a cosplaying store that sells some really cute plushies."  She told her, "There's this red-haired girl that works there-spiral curls and-"

"You mean Kamiko?"  Bella smiled a little, "Al and I ran into her.  She's a pretty sweet kid."

"I can imagine."  Elation looked thoughtful, "So, wanna go for a drink afterwards or are you busy?"

"Hmm.. I was going to go check out the hotspots and see what's happening.  I heard there's a new contest this month-or..was it next month?"

Elation noted, "They know how to keep it lively, that's for sure.  I think I'll check it out later. Besides, this means I can get your gift completely anonymously."

"Just so you know." Bellatrix leaned over, "I like Red and black."

"I couldn't tell, really. I thought it was baby blue and pink."

"You know I can rock them too."

"Yes, oh goddess of beauty. You certainly can."

"Beginning to see the light then?"  Bella slipped an arm around Elation's shoulders, "I knew you would."

"Bells, how could I ever fall for anyone but you?" Elation's shoulders shook with the effort to keep her laughter in check."My prince in high heels and flowing red hair! Please, sweep me away in your arms for our happily ever after!  And beer!"

"Yes, let us never forget the beer!"

"You two seem to be having a lot of fun without me." Algieba's amused voice called to them. " I feel so left out. "

Elation glanced at Bella before Algieba was nearly hugged to death by the both of them.

"Don't worry, Al."  Elation said, hanging off one side, "We can be a threesome!  You can be the other queen."

"Agreed." Bella grinned, "Like the Three musketeers."

"Aren't there supposed to be four?" Elation glanced up at Bella.

"Ah..we're literal?"

"Ok, how about we go to the bar?" Elation suggested, "I can go to the store later.  Besides, I want to challenge you all to Karaoke again. You may have won last time but this time- I shall be supreme!"

Algieba chuckled, "Sounds like a plan. I do hope you've gotten better at holding your drink."

She puffed up, "Of course I have. I've been hanging out with the iron case liver and Impossible Tolerance Queen.  I should have a decent resistance now."

"So you say." Bella teased, "Alright then- lets go for it!"

----

Though, admittedly, Elation had lost the Karaoke challenage, but that wasn't the point.  She at least told them about their friend's birthday and the idea of doing something special.  In retrospect, she wondered if  Kath would actually survive this, but then again it was just Al and Bella.  What harm could come of it?  None, of course.  She thought with all of them and Maeve -even Teruko, if she wanted to join, they would have a great time.

The only thing she had to figure out, was what to get a girl who has basically everything she could want?

Elation didn't know and when she went to bed that night, still moderately drunk, she figured that the shop would give her some ideas.   Idly, as sleep began to tug at her,  she wondered why she was thinking more about Kath than Kiruto lately.  

Maybe she didn't actually like him the way she liked her?

A sleepy drunken giggle escaped her lips as she rolled over in her bed, "Nah..."

Couldn't be.  She thought of Kath like..like...

Loud snores filled Elation's room as the woman had quite literally dropped off into sleep.