From Riandra: Packages
Merry Christmas everyone!
"We do not need that there."
"Keep the garland out of my tobacco."
"You know candles will just light the tree on fire."
I released a loud sigh into the branches, torn between building irritation and laughing disregard. I had long grown accustomed to Holmes' constant—though only partially sincere—griping about everything related to the Christmas season, but the weather had announced this my last and only chance to make our rooms look even somewhat festive. The fun of Christmas' approach would fade quickly if I had to argue with him about every item.
"You told me I could decorate. Are you going back on your word?"
His ears flushed, then he hid his face behind his paper in a grudging but clear no. He would no more do that than he would stop paying rent.
Though he also would not stop trying to postpone—at minimum—the "Christmas debris" scattering across the sitting room. His silence lasted only until I pulled out the next box.
"You can leave that in its package."
No, I could not leave the tinsel in the package. The tinsel belonged on the tree, placed after the garland and before the ornaments. I made no reply.
"Watson, save the tinsel for later."
Also no. I had already left the candles and several wreaths for "later." Leaving the tree for later left nothing else to do.
Which Holmes probably wanted. His concession of last week had not specified when he would let me decorate, after all, only that he would. I continued draping tinsel over some branches and winding it around others. Mrs. Hudson's tinsel had a silver shine that caught the candlelight wonderfully.
"Did you not mention something about snowflakes on the windows?"
Those went up with the wreaths. I stretched to reach some of the higher branches.
"Watson, are you ignoring me?"
Yes. If he wanted to act like Scrooge, he could do so unacknowledged. I would finish the tree, and I might have enough time to hang the wreaths before my leg made me take a break. Another clump of tinsel draped over three different branches.
But the next grab met something hard. What was—
Half-amused exasperation silenced as delicate nudges moved hair-fine strips of metal to either side. A large, round dome sat directly in the middle of the tinsel box, and understanding bloomed—followed by a fair amount of anger. This was why he had wanted me to wait. I hesitated for only a moment before gathering the package in one arm.
A frown turned his mouth as that keen gaze tracked my uneven gait across the room. Before he could do more than turn to ask why I had stopped behind him, I upended the box over his head. Only his quick reaction prevented a bleached skull from hitting the rug amidst a few fluttering strands of tinsel.
"Where is the rest of it?"
A tinsel-covered glare met my growl. "Why did you do that?"
"Do you really need to ask?" I stepped closer, purposely towering over him. "Skeletons do not belong in the Christmas decorations, Holmes. You know this. Where is the rest of it? The candles, the wreaths, anywhere else?"
"Mr. Holmes!"
Mrs. Hudson's decorations. He flinched at the echoing call, apparently failing to note just how much of my anger had drained away at seeing my friend covered in shining, glittering tinsel. For the first time since we had met, he looked festive.
Focus. Effort maintained my frown.
"I might have…mixed up a few boxes," he finally admitted, the words quiet.
"More than a few." The box landed on his head for good measure. "You get to help me finish."
The grumble as he pushed the box away said he did not agree, but Mrs. Hudson nearly stomped up every stair to throw open the door before he could say as much. Surprise abruptly erased a large part of the lecture she had intended.
"Well then." She stopped several feet away, arms crossed though her mouth twitched at the many strands of tinsel clumped on Holmes' head and slowly falling to land on the floor. "It's about time you got into the Christmas spirit, Mr. Holmes."
Displeasure blended with continued remorse, but he decided not to comment. I plucked a single strand from the back of his chair.
"Holmes decided he wanted to look festive," I told her, barely preventing my smile from coloring my tone, "while he helped me hang the rest of the decorations. Do you want him downstairs when we're done?"
"A perfect idea." A pointed look halted his protest. "I expect you to find every bone of that skeleton, Mr. Holmes. If you finish up here and cannot locate the remainder, you will help me until you do. Understood?"
He pulled a face but nodded once, eyes downcast like a naughty child caught in the act. She spun on one heel to return to her rooms as I moved a larger clump from his armrest to the top of his head.
"Do you want to start with the tree or the windows?"
"Neither." A halfhearted scowl swiped the shimmering metal into the box he positioned on his lap. "We will only have to take it down again."
Of course, though probably not when he thought we would. That hardly mattered today.
"So you will never wear another disguise because you will only have to remove it later?"
"Disguises have a purpose." Rapid movements dropped most of the tinsel from his head, shoulders, and lap into the box. "Decorations simply occupy space."
"They do more than that," I countered as he stood to shake the rest to the floor. "They liven a dreary room and provide a reminder that the coldest, darkest time of year still has its own light. And I should not have to sift through your additions to hang the Christmas decorations. Now," I added when he finally stopped using the tinsel as an excuse to avoid my gaze, "tree or window?"
He made no reply, but he did carry the box to stand in front of the tree. Deciding not to tell him about the tinsel still stuck to his hair and back, I followed with the ornaments, and several minutes finally drew him into a truer conversation. Holmes may not enjoy the "Christmas debris," but I enjoyed the company. My childhood Christmases had always included everyone helping with decorations.
Maybe he would make the same "mistake" again next year.
Anyone else laughing at the image of a tinsel-covered Holmes? XD
Hope you enjoyed, and thank you to those who reviewed :)