December 24th. Christmas Eve. Approaching 4PM. The day's first flakes of snow have started to fall from the darkening sky above, joining the already impressive snow cover on the ground. Plows are in the streets of Freedom Falls, clearing the way for the town's denizens. With a majority human population, there are many windows alight with Christmas decorations across town, and more than a few outdoor lights as well. There are celebrations
#FreedomFalls – October 20, 2020
all over, with people visiting friends and family, or, in the case of many of those who's loved ones are off-world or non-existent, celebrating in establishments like the Miner's Respite or in the market.
Halisi is standing outside her apartment building, awaiting the arrival of the shuttle. She's wearing her usual winter clothes - red coat, brown fur-lined leather boots and matching leather gloves, but she's switched her usual knit hat for a nice, fluffy Christmas hat in classic red and white, and a white scarf has been added to ward against the cold. She also seems to have traded her pants for black leggings and a gray above-knee skirt.
Her black hair rests carefully styled on her shoulders and she's gone all out on the holiday makeup - the dark-red lipstick and smoky emerald eyeshadow only keeps from being overbearing thanks to expert application. Aside from her purse she has a shopping bag full of presents looped around each arm, and a stack of even more that she's holding - Santa Halisi is ready to roll.
The shuttle is heard before it's seen, the old shuttle hovering overhead for a moment before the orientation shifts and it sets down in the road.
Jasper is stood in the opening when the door opens. As usual he's dressed in a pair of old coveralls that have a few additional stains on them, perhaps giving away the fact that he's spent the morning working in the hangar when he wasn't assisting Vasquez with Christmas decorations. He dips his head and a tap of the bill of his old beat up cap in a friendly greeting and offers a small smile. "Evenin', Doc." he greets, already
stepping out of the Kodiak to assist her with her bags. "Hope I didn't keep ya waitin'. Had a few projects I was tryin' ta wrap up."
((Hope I didn't keep ya waitin'. Like I was jus' tellin' Ilyna-..." he gestures back over his shoulder, "...Had a few projects I was tryin' ta wrap up 'fore I left the office."*))
Ilyna has spent most of the day so far cleaning her own apartment and putting up a few decorations in the windows that she picked up at the market yesterday, and the afternoon has been mostly about preparing her and Li for the party they're attending. Ilyna is wearing her black winter coat, and what looks like the dress she wore at the wedding beneath the coat. She has stowed a not very full plastic bag
underneath the seats for her and Li. The bag has not been closely guarded, but Li would not find a gift addressed to her within.
remains seated as she looks up at Halisi. "Hey, Halisi," she says with a smile. "You're looking good." Ilyna hasn't put as much much effort into her own makeup, just enough to even out the violet tone in her face and crests.
Halisi takes a couple of steps back as the shuttle sets down, and a couple of nearby pedestrians keep a cautious distance. She gains a big, bright smile once the shuttle doors open. "Not at all, Jasper. As always, your services are greatly appreciated. I'm frankly not sure how I would have managed to bring these with me on my own." she says, lifting the stack of presents in her arms for emphasis and laughing a little.
Li has been quite excited about the upcoming holiday after all the hyping-up from the people around her - primarily Jason. It seems to have brought some of that previously irrepressible spark back to her. More than a few Christmas-related questions probably beyond Ilyna's ability to answer have been thrown the poor asari's way, and she's been disappointed to find her search for those mythical presents she's heard so much about fruitless
so far. In fact it's made her pout on the way over, but the sight of Halisi once the shuttle doors open makes her face light up as she waves enthusiastically. She's wearing her usual winter clothes, although underneath is her favorite green dress.
Halisi steps onto the shuttle, unable to return Li's wave, but she returns Ilyna's greeting with a smile, the words that follow making her let out a slightly flustered chuckle, her gaze darting away from the asari. "Flatterer." she teases through the still-lingering smile.
Halisi briefly struggles to set down the stack of presents in her arms, but as soon as they're down on the floor she sets the bags down as well and drops to a knee, gesturing Li over.
Li is out of her seat almost immediately, giggling as Halisi wraps her up in a hug that she's quick to return.
Halisi lets out a quiet laugh. "Merry Christmas, Li sweetie! It's so good to see you. Are you excited?"
Jasper gives another polite dip of his head, sheepish smile spreading across his features as Halisi expresses her appreciation. "Happy to help." he assures her, dropping to a knee once they're inside to secure Halisi's things beneath the seats.
Ilyna doesn't give a verbal response as she watches Li run over to Halisi. Li's excitement about the holiday has brought a very persistent smile on her face. She has been very secretive about the status of Li's present; and even its existence beyond the promise she made a few night ago that she was going to get her something.
Halisi goes to stow her things away after standing back up, only to realize that Jasper is already well underway on that task. "Oh. Thank you again, Jasper." she offers with a sheepish laugh, before recalling something and grabbing hold of a particular present before it can be put away. It's a fairly flat, neatly wrapped box with red paper and golden string - much like the one Steve and Renala got. The sticker on top of it reads 'Merry
Christmas, To: Jasper, From: Dr. Halisi'. "This one is actually for you." she explains, holding it out for Jasper. "I'm a little embarrassed, if I'm honest - I meant to give it to you the other day, but with all the holiday preparations I plain forgot. Regardless, here it is. Merry Christmas, Jasper."
Li eyes the various presents being put away with no shortage of curiosity. Unfortunately for her she can't read the labels, so whether any are for her remains unknown. Darn!
Ilyna follows Li's gaze, and lets out a soft chuckle. "Please, come sit down, Li," she says gently. "We'll look for your gifts when we get there." She tries to read a few labels from where she's sitting, looking for Li's name.
Jasper glances up from his task when he's addressed, gaze turning from Halisi to the outstretched gift in her hand. Furrowing his brow, his hand instinctively turns to his cap, adjusting the brim as he tends to do habitually. "Oh..." he says softly, studying the box curiously. "I-..." he swallows, clearly caught a little off guard. Looking back to the doctor he gives a small nod as he brings one hand to the seat to assist in
standing back up as he reaches out with his other to accept the present. "Thank you, Doc." he offers sincerely, the small gesture seeming to leave a big impact with the old engineer. "Merry Christmas to you, too." He lingers for a moment before seeming to grow a little embarrassed, as if perhaps Halisi might notice how rough of a Christmas this has been for him, and he clears his throat. "I-... uhh-... I didn't really do
much Christmas shoppin' of my own." he admits as he steps around the good doctor, hurrying back towards the cockpit. "But I did manage ta-..." he mutters, remaining in the doorway to the cockpit, leaning forward as he fusses over something in the co-pilot's seat and sets the gift down. After a moment, he turns back with a trio of colorful little Christmas bags, each one dangling off of a finger. They each depict a festive
scene. A cheerful snowman on one. A red-nosed reindeer at the head of a pack, zipping through the night sky in another. A Christmas tree bustling with decorations beside a warm fireplace in the third. "...throw these together. It's nothin' special." he warns, "Just a lil' somethin' for the holidays." Scampering back over, he passes the three bags out. Christmas tree for Halisi. Snowman for Ilyna. And reindeer for Li. Li's
is noticeably larger. Each is filled with candy canes and other assorted treats. If one were to look in the cockpit, they'd see a few more of the like on the co-pilot's seat.
Halisi offers a soft smile at Jasper's reaction, spinning around and studying him with silver eyes as he hurries back to the cockpit. When he returns she accepts the bag of treats with a small chuckle and a gracious nod. "Thank you, Jasper." she says after giving it a look over, smiling warmly.
Li looks up at Ilyna when she's addressed, but seems satisfied with her assurance, climbing back into her seat next to the asari. She looks surprised when Jasper hands her the bag of treats, her attention immediately diverted to it as soon as she's received it. It would appear candy has superseded manners.
Even a cursory glance at the various labels on Halisi's presents reveals several with Li's name on them, maybe about half in total.
Ilyna raises her brow at the amount of gifts with Li's name on them. It makes the expectations of her weigh even more, though she tries to shake those thoughts. They share one goal, after all: making Li's first christmas great. She looks up at Jasper as she takes the bag with a hint of embarrassment behind her smile as she has nothing to give in return. "Thank you, Jasper," she says. She puts it on the free seat
Jasper snickers to himself as Li looks through the bag, dismissing the others' thanks with a small wave of his hand. "Might wanna wait 'til after dinner 'fore you go eatin' yer way through all that." he suggests to Li, shooting a knowing glance Ilyna's way. "Ya don't wanna go ruinin' yer supper."
Halisi snickers quietly at Li going immediately for the candies - despite the upcoming dinner, and without thanking Jasper - but leaves that for Ilyna to handle as she goes to take the seat next to the asari. She notices the bag on the seat just in time, making sure it's secure between them instead of crushed under her.
Li freezes in the middle of bringing a piece of candy up to her mouth when Jasper addresses her, reluctantly shooting Ilyna a sidelong look for confirmation.
Ilyna gives a gentle shake of her head to Li, and places a hand on top of Li's to bring the piece down a bit. "Linda has been working hard to make a great Christmas dinner, Li," she says. "Let's save the candy for after, okay?" She briefly looks over her shoulder when Halisi sits down besode her, about to move her candy bag out of the way, but returns her attention to Li when Halisi pre-empts her..
Jasper's smile remains as Ilyna intervenes. The mention of Vasquez prompts a nod from him. "She put a whole lotta work into today..." he confirms, having had a hand in some of it himself. "We prolly shouldn't keep her waitin'." he continues, shuffling back a step, "So how 'bout ya'll jus' go ahead an' get strapped in an' I'll have ya there in two shakes of a leopard's tail."
Li frowns and reluctantly returns the piece of candy to the bag, sulking a little as she's fully buckled in.
Halisi offers Jasper a nod, reaching up to buckle herself in, but then she stops, hesitating for a moment and looking over to Ilyna in the seat next to her. She taps the asari's shoulder to get her attention and opens her arms with a small smile, signaling her intent to hug her clearly, but she waits, watching her face to see if she seems alright with it.
Ilyna offers a smile at Li, but her attention is drawn by Halisi before she has had time to decide whether to hold onto the bag or not. She sits back up in her seat with a questioning hum before realizing why Halisi drew her attention. There is a slightly hesitant look on her face at first, but she doesn't wait long before she winds her arms around Halisi and hugs her tightly, her smile returning shortly after.
Jasper's smile pulls back as he does his best to temper it, not wanting to embarrass the pair. "I'll get to it, then." he hums as he starts back towards the cockpit, reaching out to shut the door on his way before disappearing through the cockpit door and dropping into his seat, though the door remains open.
Halisi lets out a soft, surprised laugh and returns the hug, her chin resting on Ilyna's shoulder for a moment. She smells of a vanilla and oranges. Perfume. A rarity, since her work usually precludes such things. "Merry Christmas, Ilyna." she says quietly before pulling back, a warm smile on her face, which fades a little with her next words. "And... thank you for inviting me. It means a lot to spend the holidays with-... with people I
care about, instead of at work or... cooped up in my apartment." A bit of sadness, and a bit of awkwardness, accompanies the admission, silver eyes lingering briefly on Ilyna before falling to her own gloved hands that have withdrawn to her lap.
Li briefly considers covertly consuming some candy while Ilyna is distracted, but at least for now she decides to behave, leaning back in her far-too-large seat.
Ilyna is reluctant to let go of the hug, but she returns the smile. "Merry Christmas, Halisi," she replies in turn, having nailed down the pronounciation of it by now. "I'm glad you wanted to spend it with us." She returns her attention forward when Halisi averts her eyes, and starts to strap herself in while keeping Li (and the candy bag) in the corner of her eye.
Jasper goes through his standard check and, soon enough, the shuttle begins its soft rumble as it lifts off.
Halisi shoots Ilyna another brief smile at her comment, leaning back in her seat and starting to buckle up as the shuttle begins to rumble to life again.