[ perhaps if it hadn't been the middle of the night, she would have been more willing to play along. but even catherine-san has off-hours, which is probably highlighted by the sudden yawn olivia gives. she's quick to stifle it behind a hand, though, the other still idly clutching her knife. ]
I... I think I might have — [ yaaaawn ] — some fruit bars leftover...
[ she drops her hand, seeming to squint at him in the dim lighting, but in actuality she's just... trying to think past the fuzziness of sleep that's startled to settle over her again, now that the threat of danger has passed. ]
...cherries.
[ she blinks a bit, and finally recognition seems to dawn on her again. ]
Do you want to come in...? [ that can't be comfortable, sitting like that. ]
[ She looks so tired..? Goodness. He probably shouldn't keep her up too late, then. He waves a hand, dismissing. ]
Sakata Clause-san has an ass of iron, just like his will. I can sit like this for days— not even moving. Not even to go pee. I'm .. — magical, and all of that.
[ Fruit bar sounds nice, though. He was kinda getting hungry. He's just looking at Olivia, expectantly— and the second she goes to get him a bar, if she does, his eyes will wander elsewhere. You know how that goes. ]
[ it wasn't as if she's had a particularly long day, either, just doing her usual fussing about, but she actually isn't much of a morning person... or a — middle-of-the-night person. that's all. hence why it takes her a moment longer to realize what he's waiting for. but her embarrassed flush and soft squeak of oh! before hastily turning away to retrieve it is far more reminiscent of her usual self.
she comes back with a plate of two bars, a bit cold from the ice box in the kitchen, and a glass of water. milk is quite expensive...
these she walks up to where he is, and up close now, she's able to make out his more familiar features thanks to the faint moonlight streaming in from behind him. subconsciously, she starts to run her fingers through her hair, hoping it didn't look too rumpled and slept in. ]
I hope Sakata Clause plans on getting some sleep tonight...
Aaaah, I will. [ breaking into people's windows isn't easy work (why didn't he just use the door ... ? ) Anyway, Gintoki puts the plate on his lap and begins to nibble at them .. before out right scarfing them down without any manners. Maybe he was hungrier than he seemed.
He licks a few crumbs off of his fingers and begins on the next one. ]
Christmas is a time of giving. [ He says this, like she doesn't even know. The way she reacted in response to wanting milk and cookies, well. He figured she probably didn't celebrate it. ]
[ the air about her suddenly shifts, now that she realizes what this is all about. no, they didn't celebrate it at all back in her world, but she'd gotten the gist of it during her stay here, especially with regards to those tasks the goblins employed them for. of course with no real context, it's only now that she realizes this sakata clause is meant to be that sandy claws that lea had spoken about few days ago... hence the breaking and entering.
but past his criminal behavior, olivia also knows he's meant to be giving gifts. time of giving, like gintoki just said. and while others might be thrilled at the prospect of receiving one, olivia can only feel dread.
because she hadn't gotten anything for gintoki in return.
as discreetly as she can manage (which means it wasn't that discreet at all), olivia takes a few steps back, eyes wide. ]
O-Oh? Wh..What a funny saying, [ she says hastily, forcing out a laugh. ]
[ Christmas had really only been introduced by the Amanto. Really, only about two decades had his country been exchanging gifts and spreading happiness. Nobody in Edo really knew the true meaning of Christmas other than it was a Big Deal now and it was meant to spread happiness.
By the time Olivia has spoken, Gintoki is brushing crumbs off of his fingers and onto his chest from the second fruit bar. He guzzles the water down in one gulp, too, in the silence before smacking his lips.
Gintoki watches her. Ah, poor thing— he understands why she is recoiling now. He offers a sincere smile, though, even if his eyes look lethargic. ]
Oli-saaaan, [ here we go with the drawling of his voice as he leans over to rummage through the bag. ]
You've been good this year. [ He pulls out, you guessed it, another article of clothing for her and holds it out. He even stands up for this! If Olivia wants to notice they're the colors of Gin's yukata, she can.
[ the first thing she notices is the coloring. how can she not, when by now she's more than memorized the shade and cut of that distinctive yukata of his. it makes her cheeks color, and her chest warm, but once more she realizes it must be nothing more than the silly wishes of a hapless girl. it means nothing, she's sure.
but, oh, how she wishes it did. ]
Mr. Fru— Sakata Clause, [ she hastens to correct herself. more than awake now to play along.
[ ??? Is she not going to take it? Look, he spent good money on this. Gintoki's smile vanishes, but instead his lips just press together, appearing curious— not upset. Maybe she didn't know what this does? (She didn't really have a good concept of wearing a lot of clothes anyway.) Gintoki steps forward, opening up the scarf and draping it around Olivia. His fingers curve over the slope of her neck as he tries to tuck the scarf in enough to bundle her a bit. It's awkward. ]
Uh. You know, I can't help it— It's just— [ he fumbles around, trying to tie it around her neck. It's an awful and sloppy job, but it's around her neck now and it isn't going anywhere. He holds his arms out to the side of him once he's done and takes a step back. ]
When people are nice, they get things. [ He would have provided presents like this to the rest of the Yorozuya back home— in the costume and everything. He did that every year. ]
[ when his smile vanishes, olivia feels like she'd just been punched in the gut. he doesn't look upset, but he doesn't look quite as happy either, and she did that. she very nearly takes it all back when he's suddenly closing the distance between them, draping the soft cloth around her neck and shoulders and — despite how thick it is, she knows the warmth she's feeling doesn't have anything to do with the cloth around her neck.
she finds herself choking up when he speaks, head ducking beneath the folds of her scarf to nearly hide her face. it's high up enough to muffle the sudden sniffle she gives, but her eyes are still exposed, so he can probably see how quickly they water up. ]
M-Mr. Fruit, I'm so sorry, I— [ she sounds miserable. ] I didn't get you anything...!
[ who's being the nice one here? certainly not her!! ]
[ Gintoki's voice jumps a pitch, fret covering his entire face and demeanor as he puts his hands up defensively. OH GOD, WHAT DID HE DO—? 'WHAT DID I DOOOOOO?'
The shakiness in his voice was real. ] O..Oi! W..What is this? Why is this? That's fine, that's fine! You don't gotta! That's .. — that's how the story goes! Sakata Clause-san just gives and doesn't get! Oi, it's how it goes!
Nononono— here, uh.. [ he's going through his bag again ..!? ]
It's to wipe your ass — eyes! To wipe your eyes, Oli-san! [ WAVING THE TOILET PAPER AT HER, PLEASE JUST DON'T CRY. ]
Wait one moment, just one moment! L..Listen! H—Hey! [ he puts his other hand on her shoulder, closing the space between them again. Oh god? What do you do in a situation like this? ]
[ the touch to her shoulder has her gasping sharply, back suddenly as rigid as a rod. her flush deepens, but only slightly, and it seems that it had been enough to knock her out of whatever weird hysteria she'd been in.
sniffling quietly, she looks from him to the toilet paper roll in his other hand. her hands drop down to curl over the folds of her new scarf, her face still attempting to hide behind it. ]
[ her nose is still red, her cheeks are still damp, and her eyes are still watery, but she at least seems thoroughly distracted right now. tentatively, she reaches out a hand to touch it... which, given how close they're already standing, isn't that far of a journey but whatever.
her eyes widen a little at the softness that meets her fingertips. ]
It's like cloth, but — but thinner?
[ what is this magical thing... curiously, she tugs on the loose end, and just.
It's tee-pee; oi, don't do that. [ Gintoki pulls the toilet paper back once a good portion of it has landed gently on the floor and he huffs slightly before reaching over and tearing her off two squares, handing it over. ]
Two squares. All you need. N..Now, you're not crying, right? Hey, I made it better, right?
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I... I think I might have — [ yaaaawn ] — some fruit bars leftover...
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What kinda fruit bars .. —?
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...cherries.
[ she blinks a bit, and finally recognition seems to dawn on her again. ]
Do you want to come in...? [ that can't be comfortable, sitting like that. ]
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Sakata Clause-san has an ass of iron, just like his will. I can sit like this for days— not even moving. Not even to go pee. I'm .. — magical, and all of that.
[ Fruit bar sounds nice, though. He was kinda getting hungry. He's just looking at Olivia, expectantly— and the second she goes to get him a bar, if she does, his eyes will wander elsewhere. You know how that goes. ]
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she comes back with a plate of two bars, a bit cold from the ice box in the kitchen, and a glass of water. milk is quite expensive...
these she walks up to where he is, and up close now, she's able to make out his more familiar features thanks to the faint moonlight streaming in from behind him. subconsciously, she starts to run her fingers through her hair, hoping it didn't look too rumpled and slept in. ]
I hope Sakata Clause plans on getting some sleep tonight...
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Anyway, Gintoki puts the plate on his lap and begins to nibble at them .. before out right scarfing them down without any manners. Maybe he was hungrier than he seemed.
He licks a few crumbs off of his fingers and begins on the next one. ]
Christmas is a time of giving. [ He says this, like she doesn't even know. The way she reacted in response to wanting milk and cookies, well. He figured she probably didn't celebrate it. ]
So they say.
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but past his criminal behavior, olivia also knows he's meant to be giving gifts. time of giving, like gintoki just said. and while others might be thrilled at the prospect of receiving one, olivia can only feel dread.
because she hadn't gotten anything for gintoki in return.
as discreetly as she can manage (which means it wasn't that discreet at all), olivia takes a few steps back, eyes wide. ]
O-Oh? Wh..What a funny saying, [ she says hastily, forcing out a laugh. ]
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By the time Olivia has spoken, Gintoki is brushing crumbs off of his fingers and onto his chest from the second fruit bar. He guzzles the water down in one gulp, too, in the silence before smacking his lips.
Gintoki watches her. Ah, poor thing— he understands why she is recoiling now. He offers a sincere smile, though, even if his eyes look lethargic. ]
Oli-saaaan, [ here we go with the drawling of his voice as he leans over to rummage through the bag. ]
You've been good this year.
[ He pulls out, you guessed it, another article of clothing for her and holds it out. He even stands up for this! If Olivia wants to notice they're the colors of Gin's yukata, she can.
Because that was intentional of him. ]
1/2
2/2
but, oh, how she wishes it did. ]
Mr. Fru— Sakata Clause, [ she hastens to correct herself. more than awake now to play along.
her lips purse, head shaking slightly. ]
You shouldn't have...
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Gintoki steps forward, opening up the scarf and draping it around Olivia. His fingers curve over the slope of her neck as he tries to tuck the scarf in enough to bundle her a bit. It's awkward. ]
Uh.
You know, I can't help it— It's just— [ he fumbles around, trying to tie it around her neck. It's an awful and sloppy job, but it's around her neck now and it isn't going anywhere. He holds his arms out to the side of him once he's done and takes a step back. ]
When people are nice, they get things.
[ He would have provided presents like this to the rest of the Yorozuya back home— in the costume and everything. He did that every year. ]
It's your fault for being nice.
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she finds herself choking up when he speaks, head ducking beneath the folds of her scarf to nearly hide her face. it's high up enough to muffle the sudden sniffle she gives, but her eyes are still exposed, so he can probably see how quickly they water up. ]
M-Mr. Fruit, I'm so sorry, I— [ she sounds miserable. ] I didn't get you anything...!
[ who's being the nice one here? certainly not her!! ]
1.2
WE HAVE TEARS!! ]
2.2
'WHAT DID I DOOOOOO?'
The shakiness in his voice was real. ]
O..Oi! W..What is this? Why is this? That's fine, that's fine! You don't gotta! That's .. — that's how the story goes! Sakata Clause-san just gives and doesn't get! Oi, it's how it goes!
Nononono— here, uh..
[ he's going through his bag again ..!? ]
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H-He gives and doesn't get...?
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Ohmygosh, that's so sad—!!
[ her own hands fly up then, cradling her face as she erupts into more sobs. ]
1.2
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[ why hasn't Graham woken up yet? The real question. ]
T..Take this! Don't cry!
[ he's holding out
a roll of toilet paper. ]
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but she at least pauses enough to look back up at what he's holding out for her...
if only it were that easy, huh? ]
D-Don't give me more things, this is already unfair!!
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[ WAVING THE TOILET PAPER AT HER, PLEASE JUST DON'T CRY. ]
Wait one moment, just one moment! L..Listen! H—Hey!
[ he puts his other hand on her shoulder, closing the space between them again. Oh god? What do you do in a situation like this? ]
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sniffling quietly, she looks from him to the toilet paper roll in his other hand. her hands drop down to curl over the folds of her new scarf, her face still attempting to hide behind it. ]
It's... really for your eyes?
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Uh. That's right. For your eyes.. so you don't get tears everywhere.
[ He holds it out to her— please don't do that again. ]
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her eyes widen a little at the softness that meets her fingertips. ]
It's like cloth, but — but thinner?
[ what is this magical thing... curiously, she tugs on the loose end, and just.
keeps tugging...
you know. ]
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[ Gintoki pulls the toilet paper back once a good portion of it has landed gently on the floor and he huffs slightly before reaching over and tearing her off two squares, handing it over. ]
Two squares. All you need.
N..Now, you're not crying, right? Hey, I made it better, right?
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but she dabs at her eyes and cheeks like she's told. she still sniffles a little, but the waterworks themselves seem to have stopped completely. ]
Yes... sorry about that. [ she takes in a breath, steeling herself. ] Thank you for my scarf. I love it.
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gd cat pressed send too early!!