(no subject)

[3nanashi]

The trailer looks much the same as ever: small, clean, ruthlessly tidy.

Well, except for the tinsel on the cabinets. (Cathy's doing. It's shedding a bit on the counter.) And the holly and colorful squiggles drawn on the whiteboard on the back of the kitchen door. (Also Cathy's doing.) And the tiny tree taking up half the kitchen table, wedged into a corner and slightly precariously laden with ornaments. (Trowa helped with that one. But because Cathy handed him the box of ornaments and told him to.) There are small presents shoved under the drooping branches.

Trowa is making coffee, at the moment.

Comments

[madeyoudodge]

"We're ho-ome," Cathy calls, cheerfully. She flutters in, gives him a quick half-hug, perches on the counter, and grabs a sticky bun.

This takes maybe, oh, forty five seconds tops.

"Welcome to our home!" She tells Cass, happily, holding another sticky bun towards her, but using it momentarily to wave at the small space as if it were a terribly grand mansion.

[3nanashi]

Trowa nods to her.

Hi, Cass.

The coffee machine gurgles. This is probably not a greeting, since it's nonsentient.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cass nods to Trowa, beams at Cathy as she reaches out to take a delicious sticky bun, and turns her attention to the coffee maker.

It is quite fortunate that the machine is nonsentient because most people would find the sort of hungry attention she's directing at it more than a little disconcerting.

[madeyoudodge]

"Trowa makes good coffee," Cathy informs her, licking excess icing off her fingers (DAINTILY AND LADY-LIKE, OKAY) before deconstructin the bun. "And we have peppermint flavoring!"

It's from the dollar store. But it still tastes like peppermints!

[3nanashi]

"It takes a few minutes."

If Cass wants to spend the entirety of the brewing time staring at the coffee machine, though, Trowa's not going to stop her.

He leans against the counter, arms comfortably folded, and doesn't comment on the concept of peppermint coffee.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Apparently Cass does want to spend the entire time staring at the coffee machine. The sticky bun rests forgotten (and woefully uneaten) in her hand as she leans forward intently.

Every so often her nose twitches as she inhales the aroma of the brewing beverage. It smells just like she remembers.

[madeyoudodge]

...um!

Cathy tilts her head at her. "Caaass? Can you read me?" Cathy doesn't know the cultural reference except through osmosis. "Have you never had coffee before?"

[3nanashi]

Apparently Cass is a coffee fan.

Or something.

It may be a good thing that this is not a huge coffeemaker, and only makes a few cups' worth at a time.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Despite her fascination with the process that produces the magical drink, Cass turns when Cathy starts speaking. She cocks her head at the question, then nods sharply. One finger is held up to illustrate the number of coffee encounters she has had.

[madeyoudodge]

It's 10 AM when they duck out of the Museum of Natural History, which was pretty crowded. This city doesn't sleep, ever: especially not on holidays (people spend money on holidays!). Cathy mostly explored the dinosaur exhibits with Cass, and they lost Trowa for awhile in the documents room.

Cathy's leading them, in the haphazard way of someone with the barest idea of where she's going (Trowa probably knows, but he's not saying; then again, she hasn't asked), and with a left turn they find themselves square in the middle of a brightly colored crafts fair.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

The crowds had been noisy. Noisy in the Cass sense of moving and living and being. It was very distracting. But there were dinosaur bones! Those had been interesting.

Even if Cathy had had to pull Cass back from her attempts to climb on the things. Apparently that wasn't allowed.

And now there were crafts! Maybe there were some good blades or things. That could prove useful.

[3nanashi]

Anything's possible! Especially to judge by the wild variety of booths in sight.

The general deal here is that Catherine gets to play tour guide, and Trowa gets to point out where things (like home) actually are when such is necessary. And, apparently, they both get to rein Cass in from conspicuously bouncing onto dinosaur skeletons.

Accordingly, he follows his sister.

[madeyoudodge]

"They've been open the past week," Cathy says, twirling around to face them with open arms, skirt swishing. "Trowa and I bought most of our presents here! D'you want to look at anything specific?"

Otherwise Cathy is going straight for the colorful bangles and scarves.

Or maybe the throwing knives, in a cart two aisles over and thirteen down with a bright blue roof, she's been trying to convince herself she doesn't have the cash for.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cass, still riding her coffee-and-sugar high, grins and nods. She extends two fingers into a sort of blade and makes a few cutting motions through the air.

She's not entirely sure they'll be understood.

[3nanashi]

"They have knives."

Either Trowa understands, or Cass is predictable.

Or both!

[madeyoudodge]

"Lots, a few aisles over," Cathy chirps at Cass, waving her hand. "Follow me."

They head over a few aisles to where a lot more metalwork is displayed--pots and pans, a few chunky jewelry shops, and in this section--knives.

Most of them are pretty harmless (lots of kitchen stuff). But Cathy's trailblazing for a shop with a bright blue roof.

"Here we are!"

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cass follows easily, slipping through the crowds almost as if she isn't there. It's something she's good at.

When they reach the shop in question she grins even wider.

Ooooooh! Shinies!

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

After the museum (which Cass had found somewhat interesting despite the best efforts of Trowa and Cathy to stop her from climbing on things), the trio find themselves back at the trailer with the decor that oozes Cathy.

Someone realized that giving Cass more caffeine was probably a bad idea, so she's currently cradling a mug of microwaved instant hot cocoa between her hands and looking around.

From the curious expression on her face, people might be forgiven for thinking this is her first Christmas. She looks like she has no idea what to do.

[madeyoudodge]

Or maybe it's just that hot cocoa is a Christmas Drink!

(Eggnog is perhaps more traditional, but Cathy doesn't make a habit of keeping alcohol in the trailer. Hard to haul out for the customs officials every time. And some colonies are dry.)

Cathy tugs on Cass's sleeve, gently, towards the table. "Hey, magpie, want to open presents?" The casserole is in the oven, and the presents under the tree, so.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cass head gets cocked at Cathy curiously. Presents? Why are there presents?

(Not that Cass objects to such things. Presents are good, after all!)

[3nanashi]

"It's tradition."




"Do you celebrate Christmas?" Cass personally, or her world in general: either one.

Trowa is perhaps more familiar than Cathy with missing the point of holidays, anyway.

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

She cocks her head, eyes widening ever so slightly.

Does she look like she's had a lot of time for that? She's got important things to do! Like... hit people.

[madeyoudodge]

"It's tradition for Christmas," Cathy clarifies cheerfully. She already knew Cass didn't know the meaning of Christmas (family, tinsel, presents, hot cocoa) which is why she invited her in the first place.

Thus: easier to ignore any ):-face-making reactions.

[3nanashi]

"In many cultures." This is agreement.

Holidays, for Trowa, are mostly things that have meaning to other people. He sits back and observes this habit. This used to be even more true than it is now.

It's also one reason why Catherine gets to bustle about and steer everyone towards the tree and PRESENTS!!!, and Trowa will play laconic cultural interpreter if needed.

(He's letting himself be steered, though.)

[seewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cass leans forward and sips her cocoa. She's completely willing to learn what she's supposed to do! Cathy won't do anything bad...

Right?