A/N: Whew, a lot of stuff going on here! I'm trying to give each person/pair their own "storyline" to contend with, but that makes for lots of skipping around and possibly longish chapters. Oh well, more holiday fluff.
Also, Jade/Rose, in this case pale but really in any quadrant, needs more love. I don't know what's up with the Dirkjohn though.
Thanks to all who have reviewed, followed, etc.! Please tell me what you think ^_^
"Jane. Hey, Jane. Jaaaane." John tapped a beat on the doorframe, standing before the threshold of his sister's room. She was on her bed bent over a textbook and probably not in the mood to be bothered. He continued tapping anyway. "Jane!"
Finally he managed to catch the dark-haired girl's attention, as she glanced up from her book to stare at him over the rims of her red glasses. "What is it, John?"
"Um, are you at good stopping point?"
"Well, you've already distracted me." she said, but then smiled slightly. "But I've been meaning to take a break. What is it?"
John entered her room, which was tidy as usual, but had a bit of holiday flair per keeping with the season- her window had an electrical candle set up, which made her window glow cheerfully at nighttime, and all of her calendars were flipped to Decemeber, accompanied by multiple photos of various wintery scenes. After all, Jane really/ loved holidays, and all the wonderful baking and, in winter's case, cute sweaters they brought with them.
He flopped own on her bed, and Jane, shaking her head slightly, moved her biology textbook over so he would have more room. "So?" she prompted.
"Well, it's about the Secret Santa thing..." John began. He stopped when he saw Jane staring at him. "What?"
"We started that...what, two days ago? Three? Isn't it a bit soon to be focusing on it? And don't you have exams?"
"That's exactly why I'm focusing on it now." John replied. "It's the weekend and I don't have exams tomorrow, so I decided that rather than wallow in my impending doom I could instead, you know, get some ideas for my Secret Santa. I didn't even say anything about buying anything, geez."
"Okay, okay." Jane closed her book; she never wanted to read anything about cell membranes again and gladly welcomed John's distraction. "So why are you coming to me? Who did you get, by the way... I don't remember."
John sat up a bit now that Jane was less engrossed in her textbook. "Aradia's older sister- Damara, right? I'm coming to you because I really don't know her that well. Huh, that's probably gonna be the case for a lot of people, because of the age difference...we didn't plan this out as well as we thought we did, did we..."
"That's the point of a Secret Santa, John. You have to get creative." Jane told him. "But I understand where you're coming from. Don't worry, I'll help you."
"Cool. What should I do? Doesn't she like, only speak Japanese or something?"
"Believe me, she speaks English very well. But yes, like the rest of the Megidos, she is fluent in Japanese as well. Actually, she loves anime and manga and all of that..." Jane pushed her glasses up her nose. "Although I'm not entirely sure what kind. I don't know if I want to know."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jane looked like she was halfway between extreme discomfort and bursting out laughing. "Well, I know on good conscience that some of her favorite activities are rather...perverse."
The words hung between the two siblings before John spoke up again. "I saw her shove her hand down Rufioh's pants before."
"Ah yes, she was probably joking. Really, she's copped a feel on at least half the grade by now. It's practically initiation for new students."
"What am I supposed to do then?" John said, the thoughts flying through his head definitely not of the innocent kind. "Wrap myself up naked and have you put a bow on my head?"
"Don't do that John, Dave would be upset."
"Wha-"
"In all honesty," Jane said, picking up her book again. "I'm not really the best person to ask when it comes to what Damara would or would not prefer. I would stick with the manga idea though, that's probably what would make her happiest. Unless you can get pictures of Meenah showering."
John blinked several times and Jane laughed slightly.
"Joking John, I'm joking. They hate each other. Not that it matters. If I were you, I would call Dirk and ask him. He knows about all of that stuff."
"Okay. You know what, I think I'll do that." John hopped off of Jane's bed, heading for his own room. "I'm too young to be caught buying porn anyway, maybe he can find a way to get it for me for free."
"There's the spirit," Jane called, once again buried in her textbook.
"Rose, Rosie, wake up." Roxy stood by the edge of Rose's bed, talking in a quiet, gentle tone. The bedcovers did not stir, not even when Roxy poked them. The blonde heaved a great sigh, and then, with a quiet, "sorry Rose", ripped them back.
Beneath the bedcovers, Rose twitched and let out a slight moan. Fully dressed, she blocked out the sun with her hands and muttered curses while kicking feebly at Roxy.
"Why would you do that," she groaned, lifting a hand to glare at Roxy. Her makeup was smeared, dark eyeliner smudged around her eyes like a raccoon.
"Because I'm the only one in the house not drunk and when that's happening you know we've got a problem," Roxy said loudly.
"You're always some part drunk, Roxy," Rose mumbled, turning over and stuffing her face in the pillow. Her words came out muffled and Roxy had to strain to hear them. "And I'm not drunk, I'm hungover. There's a difference."
"Damn right you're hungover. I couldn't tell who drank more last night, you or Mom. Enough to make make both of you puke your guts up, that's for sure. Normally I'd have more sympathy, but maybe this'll teach ya not to do it again."
"That," Rose said, peeking up at Roxy, "is one the most hypocritical things I've ever heard. You are constantly drinking and yet," she groaned again "when I do it you treat me like some sort of criminal."
Roxy squinted at her younger sister. "Don't pull that," she said. "I've been trying to quit, and yeah, I slip up, but that's not the problem. I don't mind a martini every once and awhile, or getting smashed at a party, but you were at a fricken' violin recital last night. Did Mom pull a few drinks to celebrate or what? I don't even remember, I was in bed."
"No- I mean yes, but it wasn't celebratory. Ugh," Rose sat up in bed, rubbing her head. Her blonde hair was a mess and it irritated her. Her room may have been a mess, as were many of her relationships, but if there was one thing Rose Lalonde never let go awry it was her hair. "My head's pounding, but I guess it's good that you woke me up when you did."
"I'll get you some Advil." Roxy offered. "Trust me, I'm an expert at hangovers. I could write a paper on this stuff. Greasy food settles your stomach, for starters, so I'll make you some bacon and we can-"
"No time." Rose climbed from bed, pulling off her knee-high black socks and tossing them on another pile of clothes. "I've got to get changed."
"Where are you going?"
"I promised Jade I would go shopping with her today." Rose replied, searching the floor for some clean clothes. After the previous night she really was looking forward to seeing the other girl- Jade could pick up on emotions, yes, but she was also sensitive enough to know when Rose didn't want to talk. And to be honest, if Rose wasn't going to be in bed all day, nursing a headache, then looking at scarves and gaming consoles with Jade, and discussing their Secret Santas would be next on the list. Although her head really did hurt. She would have to take up Roxy's suggestion and pop a couple Advil.
"Rose, you like hell." Roxy stated bluntly. "And as the de facto parent in the house, with Mom drinking her ass off like usual, Imma have to put down both metaphorical feet on this shopping-"
"Roxy." Rose looked up her sister, holding a lavender skirt and matching scarf and giving her the most pleading look she could manage. "Please just let me go. I don't want to let Jade down."
Roxy hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply. She leaned down and picked up a stick of eyeliner from where it lay amongst Rose's other cosmetics and tossed it at her. "Just make sure to redo your makeup, 'cause I am not letting you out in public like that."
With a victorious smile, Rose caught it.
ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 14:15 P.M.
EB: hey dave are you there?
EB: i need to talk to you.
EB: well, actually i need to talk to your bro. what's his chumhandle?
EB: crap, i guess i could've just asked jane. that can be option no. 2.
EB: dave?
TG: chill out john i'm here
TG: all ready to answer your inquiries or whatever
TG: except i've got to ask
TG: why do you want bro's chumhandle
TG: are you guys having an illicit affair or something
TG: because this would be a pretty terrible way to go about it, asking me for his chumhandle out of the blue
TG: if you want to hit on my bro you've got to cover your tracks better john
TG: i swear it's always the dorky bespectacled move-nerds with him
TG: or some equally horse-obsessed freak or whatnot not that i can really fault him for these tastes but damn doesn't he know jakes gonna cry when he finds out that he's cheating on him
EB: dave what are you even saying anymore!
EB: i'm not hitting on dirk, that would be weird.
EB: like really weird.
EB: i need to ask him for advice concerning the Secret Santa thing.
TG: you didn't get him did you
EB: no, but i still need his help.
TG: you know what, why don't you just come over
TG: jakes here and they were going to go out or something so maybe dirk can take you to one of his weird anime stores
EB: actually if that's okay with him that would be really great. might as well get it done now,.
TG: cool
TG: oh and if you want to know its timaeusTestified
EB: what?
TG: his chumhandle
TG: in case you need more privacy to talk about your hidden feelings
EB: good bye dave.
TG: hahaha
ectoBiologist [EB] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 14:21 P.M.
"Rose! Rose!" The blonde was not the only one to look up; Jade's voice was so loud that it caused several other people in the coffee shop to look away from their drinks. Rose smiled and set her book down, getting up to greet her friend.
Jade's cheeks were flushed and she was bundled heavily against the cold, with a large jade green jacket (because with her name, what other choice of green did she have), matching mittens, and a flower-patterned scarf Rose had knitted for her the year before. "I'm here!" she managed to gasp out.
Picking up her coffee and purse, the two of them started walking. "Did you run all the way here?" Rose asked.
"Well, I thought I was going to be late…" Jade looked slightly sheepish as she pulled off her mittens and tucked them into her bag. "I was working a new project and got sidetracked. Also, it's so cold! I don't see how you can walk all the way to the mall."
"It would be a waste to drive, given how I live so close." Rose sipped her coffee; she wasn't sure if it was good for hangovers, but her stomach was still churning and couldn't handle food, so coffee it was. Although maybe tea would've been a better choice. Sometimes she delved too far into cliches for her own good. Thankfully she had managed to clean herself up and down more Advil than was advisable, making her the picture of sophistication and put-togetherness, and punctual to boot.
"It's too cold," Jade complained. She was a warm-weather girl and dislike the cold weather that winter brought, although Rose had never seen her object to playing around in the snow all the years that they had known each other. "And the garden starts dying too and… well, you know. Seasons and all that."
"I know," Rose responded, because she did know how Jade hated when the flowers went away and the nights turned dark and how it was so hard for her to keep cheerful, even though she somehow managed it. Ease came from their long friendship, and Rose was able to take the statement as it was, and let it rest comfortably between them. "Well then, where do you want to go first?"
"Not the bookshop," Jade said, giving Rose a playful poke. "You always spend way too much time there."
"And you spend far too much looking through gardening supplies," Rose replied, smiling slightly. "I say we compromise. Have thought of your Secret Santa shopping yet?"
Jade shook her hair, her long, dark hair falling over her shoulders. "I haven't even really thought about that yet!"
"Understandable." Rose checked her watch, trying to determine how much time they had to shop. "Well, my case is exceptionally easy- I got Karkat, and I know exactly where to find the most enticing, trashiest romance novels in the bookstore. So we'll need to make a stop by there at some point, but until then, we can just window shop. Unless you had something in mind?"
Jade shook her head. "I just kind of like browsing with you." she said, flashing Rose a buck-toothed grin. Rose smiled back.
The mall was busy with people, so Jade and Rose wove in and out of the crowds. Really, it was just as fun looking at the mall itself as it was looking at the products- every store was decked out in some lights or some Christmas-y style, and there were ornaments and candy canes everywhere. There was even a mall Santa and several elves set up, and they contemplated on visiting him before deciding against it. Dave often did it for either the sake of irony or some sort of dare, and neither of them were quite as good as freaking out the mall Santas as he was.
So instead the two of them spent a good hour or so, looking through various stores. Their styles of dressing were quite different- Jade leaned more towards cuter things in general, while Rose liked dressing in a more sleek way. Or something like that- both of them had a mild interest in fashion, but Kanaya was the one who was in love with it, and had taken no time to inform the two of them of their own personal styles. Rose just went with her girlfriend's obsession with all things style; God knows Kanaya had to put up with just as much weird stuff from her.
Together, the two of them proved to be an effective shopping team. They advised each other on what to buy, but Jade wasted no time in telling Rose that she didn't need to buy anymore clothes at the moment, given that her floor was covered in them, and Rose made sure to drag Jade away from the video games that she was ogling, because she hadn't even finished her Pokemon games yet so why did she think she needed more? It was moments like those that reminded Rose just why she went wandering aimlessly around the mall with Jade so often.
By the time they were finishing up (Jade had suggested going to the food court to which Rose had quickly declined, her stomach not quite yet settled) Rose was fully prepared to immerse herself in books, as the bookshop was last on their way. However, just as they were only a few paces away from it, Jade got distracted.
"Rose, Rose, look! Oh my God, they're so cute?"
"What?" Rose turned around to see Jade was crouching in front of a pet store, looking at a litter of puppies displayed up front. A handwritten sign declared that they were open to petting, and Jade gave Rose a look that perfectly matched the puppies'.
"All right, we can pet them." Rose said. Jade let out a happy cheer and the two of them went into the shop. Rose could feel the bookstore calling to her, but convinced herself it wasn't that bad. The small animals were adorable, and there might've even been cats there. She'd always been partial to cats, after all.
The two girls were crouching down to pet puppies when a loud voice proclaiming, "Jade! Rose!" rang throughout the tiny shop and one arm was thrown over each of them.
"Hey, Feferi!" Jade said, halting the scratching of the puppy's belly for a moment to smile up at their friend. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down the back of her work uniform, and her grin was large as usual.
"Hello, Feferi." Rose said. "I didn't know that you worked here?" To be honest, she didn't know that Feferi worked at all- the Peixes family was easily one of the richest in town, and with her and her sister being set to inherit the whole operation, Rose knew for a fact that Feferi was not in want of spending money.
Feferi seemed to pick up on that, and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I just got a job here recently! Mostly because I love working with the fish, but the puppies are cute too, aren't they?" She picked up the one that Jade had been petting and gave it a quick nuzzle. The dog seemed completely used to her, and even gave her a lick on the cheek.
"Do they have names?" Jade asked, staring at Feferi with bright eyes. The other girl set the puppy down and put a finger on her chin, thinking.
"Well, we let the customers name them when they buy them, but sometimes we give them unofficial names." Feferi gave a friendly pat to a black-and-white spotted puppy. "Do you want to name one?"
"Can I?" Jade asked, gasping in excitement. She had an affinity for naming things; something she and Rose shared. When they were younger they would get together and name their Squiddles, the naming process taking up most of the time. "Hm, let me think for a moment…"
Rose watched the two of them talking. Jade and Feferi had always gotten along splendidly, possibly because of their friendliness and easily compatible personalities and interests. However, recently Rose had been noticing a change in their mannerisms that indicated something more than friendship, at least on Jade's side. Rose couldn't analyze Feferi as well, given that they weren't as close, but watching the two of them fuss over the puppies, she decided maybe it she should leave them alone.
"Jade," Rose said, bringing the other girl's attention from the dogs furiously licking at her hands. "I think I'm going to head over to the bookstore now, if that's okay with you?"
"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Feferi asked, looking up as well.
"I can tell that you're suffering from book withdrawal, so go on then." Jade said, smiling. "I'll meet you there later, okay?"
"Of course. Have fun." Both Feferi and Jade called out good-byes as Rose exited the store.
Somehow she felt as though her headache had lightened.
