as_damaged | ☎ voicemail

the world is christmas crazy the day after thanksgiving. where?

point taken. your place or mine?

how do you know my place isn't christmas crazy? i could have decorated.

i don't mind the decorations, as long as you're not playing canned carols and fighting me for the last box of candy.

then you're welcome to come see the tree. i've had more than enough of the candy.

does thursday sound good? i checked your schedule, you're not busy.

how thoughtful of you. well if i'm not busy then i suppose i'm not busy.

it's on the chart next to my schedule, cameron. thursday night?

all yours. i don't have any other plans. we could order something in?

is it your turn to pick?

japanese maybe?

i'll call you before i put in the order.

works for me.

[He's not usually nervous about seeing Cameron, although perhaps that's foolhardiness on his part, considering how quickly the simplest of things can fracture between them. Tonight though, he takes a couple of grounding breaths for himself, hand turning over a small box in his jacket pocket, before knocking on her door. The food order is bagged up, and he should be expected.]

[For once she isn't particularly nervous. They've got plans, she's not cursed, it's been a while since anything too hideously horrifying happened. Troubling, yes-- but it wouldn't be a day in the City without trouble, and sooner or later (she knows) everyone adapts, psychologically. So she's half-smiling when she opens the door.]

[He's smiling too, and pleased to see her, don't mistake that. Even when they're on the outs, there's usually some part of him pleased to see her, enough that he's given it up to fate by now.]

Hey.

[The smile warms as he moves in, past her.]

I had to substitute the beef teriyaki with salmon, they were all out.

I'm sure we'll survive in spite of it.

[She shuts the door behind him, doing up the locks before heading in towards the kitchen.]

I should have picked up a bottle of sake.

Luckily...

[Reaching into the bag, he pulls out the bottle first, holding it up as he joins her at the kitchen counter.]

Somebody else thought of that. I thought you were going to be piping in christmas carols for me?

It's a Christmas miracle.

[She fishes two small ceramic cups from a cabinet and steps back, folding her arms across her stomach.]

I figured I'd leave the carols for dinner.

[There are no carols, but there is a tree in the living room; it's a fairly dignified affair with white lights and classy ornaments, though scattered in among them are smaller, handmade ones. From last year, of course.]

Are you going to sing them to me?

[His tone is lightly teasing, though he focuses a little more than he needs to on getting the pouring of the sake right, rather than the usual preference of watching her reactions. Any effect he has on her is worth noting and keeping.]

Of course not, I want us to have a pleasant evening.

[Cameron knows her limits, and singing is beyond them.]

[He laughs and ducks his head.]

Me, too.

[So does he bring up what he needs to now, or later? Chase has always been a chicken when it comes to facing up to things - he serves the food and settles on later.]

So are we having this on the couch, tonight?

[Cameron's guilty herself of a hundred, but she dislikes lies of omission as much as any other sort. Of course, for as long as she doesn't know something, what she doesn't know can't hurt her.]

Why not? It seems more festive.

Quicker than laying a table, too.

[This time he flashes the smile back at her, scooping the plates into alignment along one arm like a seasoned waiter, and passing over her glass.]

Have you made any plans for the day itself, yet?

Actually, Mindy invited me ice skating.

[As ever her fun's scheduled in advance. Bottle in tow she heads for the sofa.]

Certainly seasonal.

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→ ACTION | if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid

→ if you're offering me diamonds and rust i've already paid