capeandcowllogs | (no subject)

WHO: Sort of open. This is for of Themyscira-Zatara Family & friends.
WHERE: Diana and Zee's place and elsewhere.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: Enough of them.
SUMMARY: Cute winter holiday stuff. Please specify in the subject line if your threads are open or closed (and if they are closed, to which people).
FORMAT: Whatever you feel like.

[Come December first, Zatanna's already done a number on the house. Mostly in that she has finally relinquished her death-grip on the spooky Halloween mansion that it had been for Halloween (that had morphed into Thankschilling Day).

By the eighth, she has given up on normalcy and forced snow upon the house itself and the front and backyards; it is natural and cold and wet to the touch. More importantly, it's clean. It doesn't melt much or get sloshy and muddy. The forest she'd created for Halloween remains, though not overgrown. The air is sweet with the smell of pine, but not thickly so. She's cleared it out a little, made it easier to navigate. There is now plenty of room for building snow people and snow forts, in addition to the occasional snowball fight.

The inside of the house no longer (quite as) spooky. The fireplace in the living room seems to permanently be full of logs and remains lit even when no one is home. Halfway through the month, a pine tree also appears, growing through some dimensional wormhole so it remains real without having to cut one down. The dining room has a warm glow from candles and wall sconces and the kitchen seems to always have some wonderful smell wafting from it.

There is a fat orange Persian walking around, dressed as a reindeer. It doesn't seem perturbed by its costume and appears quite content, although trying to curl up and sleep almost anywhere in between desired pettings. Hermes has become more mellowed out since Halloween (and much larger, too) and only wears antlers on his head. Teekl and Gabranth declined to join the festivities.

This holiday season is going to be good. Or, hopefully at least much better than last year's.]

► OPEN: COOKIES FOR ME, COOKIES FOR FREE (ZATANNA).
► CLOSED: VESPER & ZATANNA.
► OPEN: ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS (APRIL).
► OPEN: AWKWARD SOCIALIZATION (GIL).
► OPEN: EXTREME MANLINESS CHALLENGE (JAMES)!!!
► OPEN: S'NO PROBLEM (TEREZI).
► OPEN: CUTE CHRISTMAS SWEATER PART II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO (MOLLY).
► OPEN: HOW DO I SECRET IDENTITY? LOL (WALLY).
► OPEN: PRETTY MUCH JUST A FUN-HATER (MITCH).
► OPEN: SNEAKY SANTA (HAN).
► OPEN: A LOT LESS OF A FUN-HATER, APPARENTLY (BRADBURY).
► OPEN: THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR PIE (NED).

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Diana spots Gil the moment he enters the house, but she thinks to give him a little space before she approaches him. She eyes the cake with a smile and makes a note to ask him if that's his specialty -- she doesn't think she's ever mentioned that cake is her favorite delicacy.

When things have quieted down a little, she makes her way towards him.]

I tried your cake -- it was delicious.

[ At first he's surprised, which eventually fades and he's overtaken by a pleased feeling. He may not be a four star chef or whatever they labeled it in this world, but he knows how to bake and what makes something sweet and delicious. ]

Did you really? I'm glad to hear.

I'm pleased that you came, as well. [Taking a closer look into the Thunderdome incident, Diana now knows why Gil's mood has taken a turn for the morose lately.] Are you enjoying yourself?

[ It's difficult to push aside those fresh and vivid memories. Or forget with the scar on his neck hidden beneath his tight collar. He still wonders about Lenalee each passing day. But this is supposed to be a joyous celebration and it would be inappropriate for him to bring a dampening mood into their home. Diana and Zatanna have been so kind to him; he wants to pay that back somehow. ]

Ah, yes, it's been alright. [ He doesn't know many people here, so he's been keeping to himself. ] Oh, I forgot--

Hm? [She raises a curious eyebrow, waiting for him to finish his sentence.]

Um, I brought... [ Flowers... that he seems to have put elsewhere. How on earth has he done that twice now? ] A small gift. Flowers.

I wasn't sure what to bring, really.

Flowers are perfect, Gil. I'm sure they look beautiful. [She places a hand on his arm lightly.] Where are they? I have some empty vases in the kitchen we can put them in.

I must have left them in the other room... [ He didn't want to stand around with flowers in his hands if Diana and Zatanna were busy tending to guests, but now that he thinks about it he should have sought them out when he arrived.

He takes a step toward the next room and glances over his shoulder quickly to see if Diana is following. Sure enough, he did leave the small bouquet of pink roses. He didn't know the language of flowers like Elliot had, but the florist had ensured him both agrimony and pink roses represented thanks and gratitude. ]

Sorry about that.

Don't worry about it.

[She clasps her hands in delight when she sees the flowers. She's familiar with their meaning, and Diana is touched that Gil took the time to get some that had a message.] Oh, they're lovely. I'll just go put them in water.

[She starts walking to the kitchen, assuming that he would follow her into the room.]

[ He does! And he looks a little pleased that she likes them. ]

I know it's not much. I wanted to say... thank you for everything so far.

[She's quiet for a moment, the only sound the gentle flow of water from the faucet as it filled a glass vase.]

There's nothing to thank me for, Gil. I'm your friend, and I'm just glad to be able to help you in what little way I can.

[ Friend.

A shy smile emerges. Does Diana only see good in people? Or perhaps she can see both. He's been so frightened with what people have seen and everything he's done, despite regretting it and beating himself up everyday. ]

Then... I hope to do the same.