2893/Boxes of Warmth and Buckets of Wings

Boxes of Warmth and Buckets of Wings
Date of Scene:	26 December 2025
Location:	Sarek
Synopsis:	Veronica and Laisa's wonderful and warm Christmas time across December.
Cast of Characters:	Veronica Perenna, Laisa Samuiko

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Veronica Perenna has posed:
3rd of December

With the month turning around, Veronica has started to get in the festive mood herself, and with the search for the fairy of Sarek still underway (it wasn't a search she was very engrossed with, admittedly, since she didn't have much to go on; more something she kept in the back of her mind while out on her heists), she and Laisa are effectively the only ones who have a say in what is being done with the island, so she is in the big mood for decorating the hideout with all sorts of winter decorations.

For the occasion, she has decided to wear <<this will be edited with a description of Veronica's outfit>>. It was a choice she had tried to be quite thorough on since it happened to coincide with Laisa's birthday too, so she wanted to be at her best for it. Right after that, she had picked all the decorations she thought they could possibly want, and gradually moved the boxes over to the hideout. This too, was supposed to be a surprise, after all.

<PHONE> Veronica Perenna texts Laisa Samuiko: Hello, Laisa!
<PHONE> Veronica Perenna texts Laisa Samuiko: Got a bit of free time?
<PHONE> Veronica Perenna texts Laisa Samuiko: I have something fun in mind :3
<PHONE> Veronica Perenna texts Laisa Samuiko: You can find me at the hideout of Sarek
<PHONE> Veronica Perenna texts Laisa Samuiko: You can bring any decoration you would enjoy using.

Sure, she had just given her game away, but she really wanted to make sure Laisa had decorations she enjoyed, and regardless, she was quite excited herself of doing this together with her. So, once she has sent her messages, she has decided to sit down on the grassy patch in front of the lake's hideout, and fiddles with the blades of grass while she waits for her girlfriend.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
<PHONE> Laisa Samuiko texts Veronica Perenna: For you? Always~.
<PHONE> Laisa Samuiko texts Veronica Perenna: Oh? Hehehe, sounds fun.
<PHONE> Laisa Samuiko texts Veronica Perenna: I'll be right there, my kitten.

    It takes Laisa a little bit of time to get ready. She wants to look her best, but she doesn't want to make her sweetheart wait too long. Fortunately she does have an outfit picked out for this occasion that she's been keeping kind of a secret.

    The comment about decorations does kinda give away some of Veronica's intentions, but that just makes Laisa smile even more. There's fun in the quiet anticipation of things, in suspecting but not knowing. Especially since the surprise is coming from someone she trusts and feels safe around. Laisa actually does have a few decorations she likes, though her dorm room is small so they aren't many. That said, one of the benefits of being an artist is being able to make your own things.

    When she does arrive, Laisa is dressed in a manner that might remind one of a Christmas elf. She's wearing the red and wooly white Santa hat on top of her purple hair, and a long sleeveless halter-cut silky red dress that goes down to her knees. The light pink of her arm warmers and lipstick bridges the color gap between the purple of her hair and the red of her dress, and the minty green used for her eyeshadow and stockings serves as its compliment.

    There are a few more adornments on her outfit. Around her waist is a solid white sash, and she's wearing a pair of christmas tree earrings. Speaking of her ears, they are a bit pointier than usual. She's got some of those fake elf ears on.

    In her arms is a cardboard box full of tinsel, ornaments, lights, and a wreath. As she approaches her kitten with a smile, she calls out, "I wasn't sure if you meant decorations for a Christmas Tree, or a house. Then again, considering the locale..."

    Her red eyes glance towards the hideout for a moment before flickering back to Veronica.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
When Laisa shows up, Veronica immediately stands up, with eyes glistening towards her, with a warmth that radiates out of her smile as well. Her usual balance is proven absent at the time, as she stumbles on her feet, almost falling in her haste to get to Laisa.

She blushes a bit at the gaffe, but she immediately going forward, ready to greet her beloved with all the joy she deserved.

"Hi, my snowsweet", she replies softly, reaching out to caress her arm, and stepping to her side so Laisa can step forward. She looks at the outfit Laisa has worn for the occasion, and the shine in her eyes only glows. She could go on and on about the wonder of her choices, and the harmony provided by her lipstick and eyeshadow really would just make Veronica regard her choices as divinely inspired.

(There was something to be said about the way the lipstick emphasized her beloved's lips too. But now is not the time for kisses.)

"You are really so beautiful, you know that?" she says with a chime in her voice. "You choose marvelously." Her hand traces the fake ears and she adds. "Are you working for Santa now then? Guess us saving him has done some good", she jokes. "I better watch out so I stay out of his naughty list."

"There would have been no wrong choice, Laisa-chan", Veronica comments warmly, and looks towards the hideout. With everything she has brought, she is sure they could have managed anything. "Do you want me to help you carry that?", Veronica asks her more seriously, eyeing the stone path ahead of them.

Not really the most ideal thing to cross when carrying a burden, and not everyone had access to a water-ready form. Then again, she is sure Laisa could just freeze the path forward, if she really wanted.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa slows her step down a notch when Veronica starts rushing towards her in such a hurry. As eager as she is to get close to her beloved painter, she doesn't want to cause a collision with her arms full of stuff. So she waits for her darling to approach with a smile and a blush, because someone she cares so much for is so happy to see her. Laisa's blush gets more intense as Veronica embraces her arm, and she smiles and leans against her for a moment.

    "You're quite lovely yourself, you know. Such a cute outfit suits you nicely. I love all the little details. The bows look so cute." Her eyes also go to the heart-shape broach, and she can't help but think for a moment that her girlfriend's outfit looks like a magical girl.

    Well, the Princess of Sarek is a magical girl, but like... a different kind.

    She giggles as Veronica says there would have been no wrong choice, and then when offered a bit of help carrying it the last little ways, Laisa winks. "Oh? Is this how you're keeping yourself on the nice list?" Then she considers before saying, "Hm... the wreath maybe? It would make things a bit lighter. Honestly, what might actually help would be if you could get the door." The gothy girl meekly smiles and says, "I guess I get a bit enthusiastic around this time of year."

    Freezing the path forward is certainly an option, but she'd have to be in henshin for that. For now she chooses to simply be careful. She knows this path pretty well by now. "So... were you thinking of decorating the inside first, or the outside? I might actually need to use magic if we get too far high up."

    After a moment she says, "Oh, I brought lights but there's no electricity here, is there? I wonder if we could bring batteries..."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
A happy blush replaces the previous one over Veronica's cheeks. "Why, thank you very much, my love", she replies with a wink, and then allows herself a peck on her love's cheek. She can probably do that much without getting in the way of Laisa's balance, and her heart can only beat faster when the purple-haired girl leans against her, gifting Veronica with her warmth. "It really means a lot everytime you say it."

And she is quite glad her efforts have turned out well. After all, she is using this everytime they celebrate together, especially since they are leading up to her birthday. That has to be the most special day ever. "Maybe?", she giggles too, at Laisa's quip. "But I feel Santa might put on the naughty list just because he too knows I really don't need another gift with you by my side", she looks at her softly.

She doesn't hesitate to fish the wreath out of the box, and hangs in on her elbow, shaking her arm a bit to show the dangling wreath. "But we are not even at the door and we have already started decorating", she smiles mischievously, and goes ahead, hopping from stone to stone to reach the door.

"The prettiest and kindest first", Veronica looks up from a bow she just went it, holding the door open for Laisa. Once she is inside, she closes the door behind them, and lowers the wreath on a table.

"Yeah, there really isn't electricity", she hums, once she realised Laisa brought light too. All the light comes from the magic of the realm itself. They really can't turn out their decorations with that. Do you want me to go get batteries quickly?", she suggests.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    As Laisa is kissed on the cheek, she considers herself to be the luckiest girl ever. Veronica really is precious to her, and she's someone that Laisa could catch herself thinking about all day if she let her mind wander.

    "Then I'll say it all the time, because it's true. You are wonderful and I adore you," says Laisa, with a lightness and a warmth in her voice that is reserved only for her kitten. "... and if Santa puts you on the naughty list I'll just have to make up the difference myself, dear," she adds with a wink.

    The joke about already decorating gets Laisa to laugh, as she follows after her girlfriend on the way to the door. She's careful about her step, though she is questioning a little bit her choice to attempt this out of henshin, and in the end she manages to get through. At the door, she giggles at Veronica's compliment. "Actually, I believe you win on both accounts, but my arms are a little too full for me to argue!" Once past the threshold, she makes sure to leave room for Veronica to follow behind her, and she finds a table to gently set the box down on.

    Laisa steps back and crosses her arms, tilting her head to consider. "Hm. No. Let's wait for later to worry about the batteries. The lights can be a finishing touch. Besides, the light coming off of the crystals is already very pretty."

    Once Laisa's arms are free, and she notices that Veronica's are as well, she steps closer to hold her in her arms for a moment. "It's good to see you. Thanks for inviting me. This is going to be so much fun!"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Can she be greedy and ask for that much from her beloved, that gives to her so freely and bountifully? Everything Laisa does never fails to light up one more star in the sky of Veronica's life, and she is ever so glad to her for just how lovely Laisa is.

"You really are spoiling me. Careful, because every time I hear the sound of your voice, I just fall for you more and more", Veronica playfully warns her, and squeezes her arm. "I look forward to your wonderful surprises, and to giving you just as much back." As happy as Laisa is able to make Veronica feel, seeing her snowsweet's face light up is just as much a way to be really happy.

She giggles too in unison with Laisa, and her stomach makes a flip at the value her girlfriend gives her. Neither of them would be willing to let the other win, but that's something they don't actually need. Just as Veronica was attentive when Laisa crossed, so is Laisa to her, and they can both just maintain their wonderful balance day-to-day.

The brunette's gaze falls on the content of the box Laisa has brought, and then her own around the room with the widest grin. This is going to be so much fun, and she can't wait to see the way they will turn the room into a spectacle of colours with their own choices and little trinkets.

They slide so easily to the back of Veronica's mind when Laisa comes in for her hug, and just as easily Veronica's arms take in the smoothness of Laisa's presence. It's really just so easy to let herself be enveloped. "Can I go for a kiss?" she asks, and if she receives a positive reply, her lips approach hers, and taste the fullness of hers.

Either way, she enjoys that precious brevity, and with a caress to where Laisa's hair meets her forehead, Veronica steps back, and lifts one of her own boxes next to Laisa's. "Sorry, I need to stop now, or else I never will. You are just so comforting", the blue-eyed girl confesses with a warm whisper.

She looks at her lovingly and then takes out a snow globe with a little winged penguin in it. "What do you think? Isn't it cute?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa could very easily flirt with Veronica all day. There is so much that is wonderful about her kitten that she would never run out of nice things to say about her. Of course, she also knows this about herself and if she lets herself go she's going to completely forget about decorations.

    "You're spoiling me right back, you know. Always so kind. Always so good to me," coos Laisa. She's glad that she came here today, as she often is, because now she gets to spend so much time with her favorite person. The gentle affection in Veronica's presence soothes her, and Laisa can't help but feel relaxed.

    When they embrace, and her kitten asks for permission to kiss, Laisa says, "You may, but just once. Otherwise nothing else will get done."

    Then the kiss comes, and Laisa is silent as she presses her lips back. Her arms squeeze a little bit tighter, and a thought crosses her mind that forgetting about decoration to cuddle her girlfriend wouldn't really be that bad... Though to be honest, they will both get tired eventually, and there may be some time to cuddle then.

    It's with a slight hesitation that Laisa pulls away. She is caught in her beloved's gravity, and always feels the pull, but also she meant what they said. Besides, sometimes romance is best if there's time to anticipate it beforehand.

    "Even in this we are on the same page, my dear," admits Laisa, agreeing with Veronica that they should stop. With a slight frown, she reaches up to touch the Rime Rosary around her neck for a moment, just to stop her from getting too caught up. Then she looks at the snow globe that her sweetheart is showing her and giggles. "Oh, that's adorable. I love it!"

    Reaching into her own box, she pulls out various colors of tinsel, reds and blues and greens. She takes one garland of it and holds it up for Veronica to see. "I was thinking we could decorate the doorways or line the walls with this. What do you think?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
There certainly isn't a time or space where Veronica wouldn't feel the pull her beloved exherts on her, and even when Laisa isn't her, just her mere thought is enough to feel Veronica with a spark of vitality, even when she is feeling tired due to the effect of her curse. Perhaps that's why she has learnt to know her limits, and focus when it's needed.

"I am happy you like it, my snowsweet. I have a lot more like it. Pick any you like", Veronica smiles encouragingly. Then she is hit by a thought. "This could be like a fairy of its own. Do you think something like it exists out there?" she expresses as she focuses on the falling white coming to adorn the head of the penguin and its wings.

And the decorations certainly won't hang themselves now, won't they? They are here for this, to gain the enjoyment of seeing what they both like all over the hideout. And it will certainly much more pleasant then, to cuddle with the harmony of their work all around them.

"I think you have a beautiful idea", Veronica squeezes her free hand, and reaches out for the a similar tinsel to the one the holder of her heart has taken out, and lifts one end, resting it over the top end of her bed, and then doing the same with the rest.

"Then you will just have it really easy to appear in my dreams now", she comments, and takes out stylised wooden icicles from her box, starting to slide them in the tinsel one by one, until she has a sample line of four of them. "What do you think? Do we use this setup?"

Still, words slip out of her mouth while she looks at the decorations she brought. "I was not kidding, you know? Just thinking of you is enough to make any tiredness fade", she says while putting the snowglobe on a wardrobe close by.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    A fairy? Who is a penguin? Laisa tries to imagine what's that like. Would a penguin fairy wear a navy crew uniform and a matching hat, maybe? No, that's a silly idea. Laisa has never heard of such a thing. Smiling softly, she shrugs and says, "I mean... there are all kinds of mascots and fairies out there. Who can say?" She admires the snowglobe for a moment before she pauses and blinks. "You know... if anyone out there would have a penguin mascot, it'd be an ice user like me. Right?" Yes, that makes perfect sense to her.

    Laisa giggles at her girlfriend's tease about the dreams. "Good idea! A shared dream with you is one of my favorite places to be. Then again, 'with you' describes a lot of my favorite places to be."

    As she watches the wooden icicles slide onto the tinsel, Laisa covers her mouth for a moment and says, "Ooh, I like that. Especially for ones that we hang over windows. We'd want to make sure that the doors don't hit them, but I suppose that's already the case." Though that also depends upon which way the door opens.

    Veronica says that she isn't kidding. Laisa looks into the box of things she brought and starts unpacking them, one by one. "I'm not kidding you, either. I mean... I may be flirting or teasing sometimes, but nothing I'm saying is false. You are very dear to me."

    She then takes a few of her ball ornaments and holds them up to watch them shine. She goes up to the tinsel with a sample line and starts placing the ornaments in between each wooden icicle, so that they have an alternating pattern. Laisa holds it up to show Veronica. "How about something like this? I bet we could make it look really nice."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica nods at Laisa's thoughts. That idea makes sense to her. "I think you would be right. Maybe some water user could have a penguin fairy, but... They live in the Antarctic, right?", she hums, taking sticky light-up cat silhouettes out of her box and starting to attach them to windows. "Makes sense to me they would be drawn to you, or someone like you. Really, it's their loss they haven't already." She adds a smile to her consideration.

Did her penguin lose its way somehow? Maybe they will find one around Tokyo in a beachside hotel. How hard could it possibly be?

A soft red covers her cheek as her eyes shine at the same time. "Maybe we could try it, once this Subsy deal is over. Just ask Emi to let us into the world of dreams, and see where that takes us. I am expecting mine to have at least a Laisa constellation and a Mou one", she says with a crystalline giggle.

She then takes out a pot of white lilies and places it on the center table. "I took this from my room. I will only be leaving it here when we are in it, but I think it adds a nice touch to the place."

She nods at the cats sticking to windows under the tinsels with the icicles. "I think those look good too", she tells her, having gone back to focus on the matter of decorations. "What would you like to add?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    A water user with a penguin fairy? Laisa hms. "I mean maybe. It'd be a pretty long swim away, but some fairies and mascots are from other planets so who knows?" Though really, Laisa knows well enough that magical beings don't always follow simple rules. Yet at the same time they seem to follow some kind of logic, right?

    Laisa blushes lightly at the thought of wandering their actual dream worlds with each other. Oh my, that would be quite a date, she thinks. Hearing the sound of her beloved's giggle amplifies the feeling. "That actually sounds nice. Sharing a dream with you. If we run across something a cat wearing a lily behind her ear it's probably because of me."

    Speaking of, Veronica's favorite flowers are added to the room, and Laisa softly smiles. "Oh, those look lovely. I think that's a great place for them."

    Laisa watches Veronica attack the cat silhouettes to the windows, and once she sees them she smiles widely. "Oh, that's so pretty! Maybe I should find something like that but for snowflakes. That might have to wait until next time, though. Unless you happen to have some?" Laisa looks curiously at the boxes that Veronica has moved over here already.

    Reaching down into the box she brought with her, Laisa pulls out another smaller box and starts unpacking the contents. It's a set of ceramic decorations: a tree, a gingerbread man, a few snowmen. She reaches up to the top of the wardrobe and starts placing them around the snowglobe. "I think these look nice. What do you think?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"Yeah, we do", Veronica stares up at the ceiling, never really having thought about that angle. "It must have been an awfully long trip for Luna. And she must have a ship cats can operate then." Then she exhales in a quick burst. "Intelligent cats of course", she corrects herself with a smile. She is not sure Anko would be able to use technology, let alone a normal cat.

Her mouth widely stretches when she hears about the cat, and she abandons the decorations to warmly hug her snowsweet. "That sounds so adorable. I just love it so much, my love", Veronica says, and lightly kisses the side of her face. But it has a hard time competing with the sight of Laisa's blush, which has her heart in a squeeze.

Veronica slowly shakes her head when she is asked about the figures. "I tried, but no luck. They did have the icicles, so I went ahead and got those, but I intend to look again some other time. They can't evade me forever", she promises to Laisa.

The brunette leans forward when Laisa starts rummaging through her box, curious about what she will bring out next. "Ohhhh." She looks enchanted by the snowglobe Laisa has taken out, and peers closely at all the different details. "I think so. Definitely so. It's so intricate and pretty."

She then goes to her box again, and takes a big 'Merry Christmas' sign, with decorations as if it is snowing, and right on top of the 'C' the snow has accumulated into a pile. "I never really thought about how pretty snowglobes art, but I find this pretty cute all the same."

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa hms as Luna is discussed. "Intelligent cats? So... you'd probably do just fine them." After a moment she hms. "Well, unless it was cramped. Do you think a cat spaceship would be roomy enough for a human?" As interesting as it is that Anko can talk, Laisa would probably not trust her to run anything as complicated as a space ship.

    Seeing Veronica close in for a hug, Laisa sets down what she's holding to embrace her kitten. She blushes more and holds her close as she's kissed, then settles into the hug to peck Veronica's cheek.

    Regarding the figures, Laisa shrugs. "Ah, well. Still, I think the cat silhouettes are very pretty. You have good taste, my dear. We'll have to keep a look out. I'm sure someone has cute snowflake art pieces around this time of year."

    Laisa giggles and says, "I'm glad you like them." Then she looks at the sign and says, "Aww, I like that. Hehehe. Well, I think we're heading in a good direction, at least. Thanks for inviting me to this. Decorating the hideout together is such a sweet idea."

    Laisa takes a wreath and places it on the door, and then starts setting up the tinsel lines above the windows. A lot of care and focus is put onto how things are placed, how symmetrical it is, and a few minor details are sorted out. She stands back for a moment to look at her handiwork to see how she feels about it.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica belts out a tune slowly while she considers her girlfriend's scenario. She guesses it could be, especially if you consider the Sailor Senshi, but she doesn't really know. "Could be either, but I am not sure the Senshi would appreciate being stuck in a tiny spaceship against each other for the duration of the trip. Luna's ears wouldn't appreciate it either, I think."

She winces and presses with both hands on top of her head, to give Laisa an idea, but the winces passes instantly, as she is hugged too, and she happily leans into the embrace, enjoy the warmth of her beloved and of her affection. "I wonder if Luna would have shown me if I had asked while I was still a cat."

She ignores the feeling in her heart asking for time after a few seconds, and steps away from Laisa. "Thank you, thank you. I think you have great taste too. We will find them. With a pair like us, they stand no chance", she happily winks at Laisa.

She is having a great time too, and probably the lightness of her steps, the warm light in her eyes, the ease of her smile... There are a lot of signs she is enjoying herself, a lot more than she would have had doing it by herself. "The pleasure is all mine, really. I think we are making it look so much more lively."

She takes out little snow angel figures, and takes a moment to find out especially empty corners, or corners that could use a touch of white, and soon those spaces have the small angels hanging out, providing their own harmony to the room.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa tries to imagine all of the poor senshi crammed into a tiny spaceship made for cats, and even watches Veronica's demonstration. She giggles and says, "Ah, perhaps they wouldn't. Sounds terribly uncomfortable."

    The snow angel thinks that she could likely hug Veronica all day long if she let herself. In fact, she knows she could, but then they still wouldn't have the house decorated. Well, they could always rest with each other later. As Laisa hears Veronica's singing and watches the various signs of enjoyment she gives off, she admires her girlfriend when she thinks the other isn't watching her. Laisa really did pick a cute one. One might think it'd be some kind of paradox to be adorable and heroic at the same time, but somehow Veronica manages to pull it off.

    "So pretty..." says Laisa, and then blushes when she realizes she said that out loud. "I mean... the snow angels. I really like them."

    Turning her mind more towards decorations, her eyes look at all that they've covered so far. "We have a lot for the walls, windows and furniture... Should we do something about the floor or ceiling? I admit I don't have any christmas themed rugs, but...

    Laisa reaches into her box and starts pulling out little snowflake ornaments. They shine and twinkle almost like stars. She looks up at the ceiling and holds one up to see how it looks. "These are pretty light. I bet a few of these up here would complete the look." Then she giggles and says, "We're creating quite the busy scene, aren't we?"

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica does feel she is being watched (blame it on instincts honed during her capers), but she is just happy to let the moment be. She gets it too, being with Laisa just feels right, and she cannot help but admire her either.

A few minutes pass while she places the snow angels and occasionally hangs an extra tinsel, and she starts staring in front of herself when she hears Laisa's remark. Her heart skips a beat at the compliment brought on by the purple-haired girl's sweet voice, even if her trying to pass it off on the snow angels does get her to tilt her head slightly. She would have thought they had been past coyness.

She quietly steps over, and leans towards Laisa's side, admiring their handiwork. "I really like snow angels too. Soft, pretty, calm... Lots of qualities, don't you think?", Veronica asks, turning her head towards Laisa with a catlike smile.

She turns back to look at the room. They really have put a lot, and besides the ceiling, she doesn't think they could add much more. Luckily for her, Laisa has got both of them covered. "That's a smart idea, and pretty too."

She starts using chairs, and everything they have around to help reach that high up, even offering Laisa to sit on her shoulders if she wants. At one point she is in henshin too, for extra jumping power. But the lights are in place then, and the house can enjoy the twinkling of the snow that the hideout is normally not privy to.

Is it matching the twinkling in Veronica's eyes when they reach the 25th, and she gets to call over her beloved to celebrate both Christmas and her birthday? Not a chance. She is so very excited, and on the table rest a big bucket of KFC as is Japanese tradition, and a sponge cake she bought with white frosting and snowy trees made of sugar paste on top, replacing the usual candies (she has prepared a 16 candle if she wants to blow on it, though she is keeping it aside for the moment.)

At the bottom of the cake, lie two packages. One red and purple, the other azure.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    They might be past coyness, but the girl who turns her emotions off half the time isn't necessarily past shyness. Plus they were trying to contain themselves long enough to set everything up, and showering her girlfriend with (well deserved) compliments might lead to things that get in the way of that.

    Not that Laisa could really contain herself for too long.

    Now it's the day of, and Laisa gets to spend both her birthday and Christmas with her beloved. This might very well be the best birthday she's ever had, really. On the way she brought a bag that she carries with both hands, and when she gets to Sarek's hideout she sets it down on the table. The first thing she pulls out is a blue and white wrapped present, clearly something soft and light with the way that it doesn't even make a noise when she sets it on the table. Then she pulls out four thermoses, each one set down on turn.

    "The first two are hot chocolate," she explains. "The third and fourth are ice cream." Then she points at the giftwrapped present and says, "That is for you. I hope you enjoy it."

    Once she's settled in she notices the cake and gets a good look at it. "Oh, that looks so pretty!" Then she also notices the fried chicken and giggles. "Ah, of course. Christmas is a time for romance, is it not?"

    Laisa walks over to Veronica and holds her closely. "Thank you. How did I get such a wonderful girlfriend? I'm so lucky."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
There is a moment where Veronica has picked up her gift and is lightly shaking it, feeling the weight, and admiring the wrappings from all sides. The first two instances, she really wanted to feel what it was like, and didn't really want to open the package yet, so she is calming down her desire to know what's inside. The last, well, it is some good wrapping. Laisa picked well.

Which is also why she doesn't deserve any lesser, and considering that this day is home to two happy moments for Laisa, then she of course would get to go first. "Thank you, my snowsweet", Veronica says, putting her hands over her back and pulling her close.

"It's so pretty, thank you lots, my love", Veronica remarks, and then lets her go to address the table. "Of course, Christmas is, and there is nobody more than I want to spend it with than you, Laisa", Veronica comments earnestly. "You light me up every time, so I really want to show you what you mean to me", she says, and points towards the presents, the KFC and the cake, then gets out spoon and knives for the cake and two pairs of plates for both it and the KFC.

She sets the thermoses closer to the cake, and puts her package together with Laisa's taking on her phone and then snap a picture of all the elements, and then putting herself in front. "Let's take a picture first!", she explains excitedly.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Under normal conditions Laisa might be a bit less eager, but this is her birthday and so she allows herself to be a little bit selfish. She takes a moment to look over everything they've set up and especially the cake. She listens to Veronica's sweet words with a soft smile and sparkles in her eyes. "You mean a lot to me, too. You're always so kind and attentive. Everything about you is wonderful, and you always make me happy."

    Laisa takes one of the packages, the red and purple one, and admires the wrapping for a moment when Veronica mentions taking a picture. "Oh! Yeah, we really should." She sets the package aside for a moment and helps rearrange the table so that all the important bits get into the frame in a photogenic way.

    Once they're done with set up, she takes the first package in hand and poses with it, smiling at the camera. Everything here looks so pretty, especially the company, so she thinks the picture will come out really nicely.

    "Send me a copy too, okay?" she asks.

    After the camera she reaches out with one arm to hug Veronica for a moment. "Merry Christmas, my kitten~."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Her heart goes 'squeeze' at all those wonderful words in a row, and she just has to now. The atmosphere feels just too perfect for it, even if she feels like It would be "unwrapping" her present early. Keep calm, you can do it later, she urges herself, even as she looks at Laisa lovingly.

She watches Laisa pick up and rearrange one of her presents, finger trepidantly hovering over the snap button, wanting to see those photos herself. "Of course I will send them to you, my precious snowsweet", she replies happily. "Merry Christmas."

"Hey, Laisa", the brunette whispers, looking at her playfully. "Kiss me~" She smiles widely as she says, hoping to have this moment before they actually get to opening their gifts, and eating all the delicious food they have prepared. It's mostly sweets, but still a wonderful meal she looks forward to.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa waits with a smile as Veronica takes the picture. She picks up that her kitten might be feeling like she is, and really they have been calm long enough. After the picture is taken, and Veronica approaches her with a request, Laisa says, "Oh, gladly my dear."

    The sculptor sets the present down, approaches Veronica, cups the painter's cheek in her hand and draws closer with sparkles in her eyes. Softly, gently, she brushes her lips against her darling's while her other arm wraps around her girlfriend's back.

    Of course, the food looks delicious, and she's curious about the presents, but at the forefront of Laisa's mind in this situation is always going to be Veronica. After taking the time to savor the closeness, Laisa smiles softly and kisses Veronica again a bit more firmly.

    "Such a sweet kitten I have right here. I'm the happiest little snow angel."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
When Veronica feels Laisa's hands on her cheeks, she feel brighter, and she laughs a little at the sensation of Laisa's hands. The brunette rubs her nose against hers in the seconds before Laisa goes in for the kiss, and Veronica presses her lips slightly too, giving as much warmth as she can to that kiss.

"I love you, and I am really happy to be with you", she says with a smile after the kiss ends, and goes to pick up the present Laisa set down. The red/purple one is a cup she found with a snowflake theme, and the blue one is a purple and ice blue scarf she made.

"I hope you like them", she remarks, giving her the gift in her hands. "Though, there is one I would be happy to make some little additions to, if you want them", she says brightly. She is not saying anything more than that.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    "I love you too," says Laisa, her heart fluttering as she enjoys this moment of closeness. She giggles at the fact that she got to share a kiss with her sweetheart on Christmas. Such cute sentiment is a core part of romance, she thinks. "There's no one I'd rather spend time with than you."

    As Veronica goes over to get the presents, Laisa takes each one in hand and opens them one at a time. The cup is first, and when she reveals it she smiles. "Ohh! It's so cute. I love this. I might have to use it for the hot chocolate," she says with a wink.

    Then she opens up the package containing the scarf and she holds it out to look at the design. "You made this? For me?" Laisa looks at it for a moment before wrapping it around her neck. "Feels cozy. Thank you, my kitten. I really like it."

    Then Laisa walks over to the present she brought, and hands it to Veronica. "For you, my love."

    Inside is a tan plush kitten with a lily in her hair. After it's revealed, Laisa clears her throat and says, "I um... I couldn't find the exact thing that I wanted, so I kinda... took a cute kitten plush and a suitable fake lily and attached them. I'm not quite at the same level of seamstress as you are, but... I was able to get some advice on how to sew them together. I hope you like it."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
She eyes Laisa with warmth as her beloved opens the presents. She has been looking forward to this day for all of December, to see the joy on her girlfriend's face, and that had vastly boosted her motivation when making the scarf.

She was a bit indecisive at first over whether to make two presents herself, or buy one and make the other, but finding such a cute cup is what settled her on making one great present instead of two good ones.

"Hehe, I think it would go really well with it", Veronica replies with softly red cheeks at Laisa's happiness. "And I wanted you be as safe out of henshin as you are in henshin, and I think you make the scarf look good too." Because it's obviously Laisa's beauty improving the scarf.

"Thank you, Laisa", Veronica adds while taking her gift, and she carefully removes the ribbon first. It's a pretty ribbon, she is sure she could use it for something equally pretty. "What pretty little cat!", she shouts, giving it a pet right next to the lily. Her eyes are wide and twinkling. "It's so nice, my love. I can't believe you would find something so pretty."

She hums pensively, and gets out of the door. "I will be right back", she promises, and a few minutes later, she has her usual white lily hairpin on. "What do you think? Do we match?", she asks, putting the kitten plush right next to her face.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa adjusts the scarf around her neck, then takes out her phone to get a picture of herself in it. She coos, "Aww, how could I not feel safe when I have such a sweetheart looking out for me?" After a giggle she looks at her picture and says, "I really like it. I'm sure I'll get a lot of good use out of it this winter... and knowing me, maybe a bit in the summer too."

    Of course, she enjoys Veronica's reaction to the kitten as well. When she leaves and comes back with a lily hairpin, Laisa can't help but think she made the right choice. "Oh, you look absolutely adorable. More than usual, even. I think it really suits you."

    Seeing her girlfriend looking so adorable, Laisa walks up to her and throws her arms around her and gives her a big squeeze. "Oooh, you're so cute! Everything about you makes my heart melt." She sways back and forth a couple times before pulling away to say, "Ah, but we should probably eat some of that delicious looking food. Should we start with the KFC? It smells delicious, and I can't wait to share it with you."

    She goes back to the table and fishes a few napkins out of her bag, then gets one of the plates to start looking into the big bucket. "Do you have any strong preference when it comes to wings or legs? I personally don't mind either way."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
"Hehe, that's right, that will hopefully help", Veronica agrees with a grin. They have both ended up relatively well since their curses can be mitigated by items present in everyday life. They just need to be a bit careful, and Veronica is always up to paying attention to her beloved's needs.

She does a bow, and lifts an imaginary hat when Laisa compliments her. "I know, I know, I am positively adorable. I hear being in love helps a lot with that." She tilts her head with a faux innocent expression.

She giggles happily when she is squeezed by Laisa, and since Veronica's arms are currently blocked by hers, she resorts to leaning her head against her to reciprocate, and her heart starts beating slightly faster. "You really are so affectionate, my beloved. I am so happy my heart might burst", she murmurs quietly into her ear.

When she is let go, Veronica approaches the KFC bucket too, and grabs her own plate and napkins. "I like solid food more. It feels nicer to me." That is followed by her grabbing a leg however, and offering it to Laisa's mouth. "Want to have a bite?"

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Watching Veronica confirm her own adorability makes Laisa happy enough to giggle. The hat tilt and the giggle remind her of what charmed her about Veronica to begin with. "You really are~. My adorable little kitten whom I love so much," she coos. For a moment she reflects upon this being the best birthday Christmas ever.

    "I can't help but be affectionate. Not when you're so loveable."

    As they start getting ready to share their meal, in the secret hideaway they decorated themselves, Laisa pauses her search when she recognizes what Veronica is offering her. Ah, of course. Feeding each other is almost a tradition on its own at this point.

    "Oh I'd love too, dear." With a smile, Laisa leans forward and opens her mouth enough to accept the chicken leg. Bit by bit she tears meat from the bone with her teeth, and then when she's done she takes a leg and offers it to Veronica.

    "How about you? Would you like some too?" She waves it in front of her girlfriend.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica watches Laisa accept the chicken leg with a fond, amused smile, clearly pleased by how natural the gesture feels between them, and by the mixing of their giggles. The atmosphere is so much warmer: how else could it be? She feels it's only normal that the air would concede to their affection.

The brunette's eyes shine when the leg is offered at her, briefly turning her gaze to it with a soft laugh before meeting Laisa's again.

"Mmh... yes, I am your pretty kitten" she says, leaning in to take a neat bite, careful not to rush it. She slowly savours it, sitting relaxed and enjoying the intimate experience. "Sharing like this always makes things taste better", Veronica adds lightly, her shoulder nudging against Laisa's as she swallows.

She lightly taps the corner of the lips with a napkin, removing a bit of the stuck grease, then takes another bite, going more in deep. What a weird thing, she thinks happily as she gets it all down. She has no rush to leave the current moment, and yet she wants to be the one offering food to her beloved too. She is so adorable and sweet both giving and taking, but...

Even if she hasn't finished eating, Veronica's fingers lift another piece, and bring it towards Laisa again with an inviting tilt of her head, clearly pleased with how comfortable and domestic everything feels.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa doesn't seem at all bothered by the warmer atmosphere. Quite the opposite, a burst of warmth in the middle of an otherwise cold day could actually feel quite nice. The shining in Veronica's eyes makes the sculptor's heart melt a little bit more, and her feelings settle within her like a blanket of peacefulness on her soul.

    When Veronica declares herself to be Laisa's kitten, she still can't help but blush. Maybe they are past the stage of coyness, but that just makes it intense in a different way. Laisa knows that Veronica means it. "It does," she says with a softness in her voice. "Sharing things with you makes everything better."

    Laisa smiles at the shoulder nudge, and then playfully nudges right back. She watches her catgirlfriend eat another bite and something about it feels strange but also... nice? It feels nice to be this vulnerable with someone so sweet.

    When Veronica decides it's her turn to eat, Laisa takes the unfinished leg and places it on a plate. It'll be there for them later. With a smile, the Christmas-themed goth girl leans forward to take a bite of the offered food. After swallowing, she coos, "You've got me eating out of your hand, my dear~."

    It's a very comfortable feeling, and very domestic. They share this space a lot, so it wouldn't be wrong to think of this as almost a second home. Laisa can't believe how lucky she is to have such a partner.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica can't help the soft, breathy laugh that escapes her when Laisa coos those words. Eating out of your hand... The phrasing settles warmly in her chest, sending a pleased little thrill through her that she doesn't bother hiding. Were she in henshin, her ears would surely be flicking with it, and it wouldn't be inaccurate to imagine it right now, even if only in spirit.

"And is that a bad thing?" Veronica replies, eyes half-lidded with affection and playful pride. It's deeply satisfying about seeing Laisa like this, comfortable, receptive, and being able to let herself be just as vulnerable. It makes her chest feel full in a way that could be called quiet and intent on just letting the emotions of the moment flow.

The painter keeps her hand there for maybe just a heartbeat longer than necessary, fingers relaxed, enjoying the closeness and the trust they have no trouble in giving to each other. Finally withdrawing after a moment, she rests it relaxedly to her side, still feeling the heartwarming closeness of that moment on her fingertips.

The blush on Laisa's face gets a matching one to appear on her cheeks, born from the happiness that her favourite person is giving her with that soft agreement.

She shifts her chair closer, their sides touching again and reaches for the plate to reclaim the chicken leg Laisa was eating, taking another small bite now that the moment has settled. The taste is still good, but it's secondary.

Swallowing, Veronica nudges the plate subtly back within reach between them, clearly unhurried. Her gaze lingers on Laisa with fond certainty, the thought blooming softly in her mind: This is exactly where I want to be.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    "Not at all, my dear~," says Laisa with a lilt in her voice, looking dreamy eyed up at Veronica. No one but her girlfriend could make her feel this way. The sound of her laugh is so pleasant to listen to, as is her thrilled reaction. Laisa can't help but admire and spoil her.

    When she notices Veronica's hand linger for a moment longer, Laisa is very still. Wondering what her girlfriend has in mind next. After she withdraws, the sculptor affectionately leans against her for a moment, then watches her girlfriend finish off the leg from earlier.

    Leaning forward to pull another piece out of the bucket, she produces a breaded wing. With her fingernails she tears off a piece of the meat and offers it to Veronica. "Want to try eating it like this?" she offers, and if Veronica goes along with it she repeats the process, giving her kitten bitesized chunks until the wing is gone.

    "Hm. There's something fitting about a cat eating a bird," she teases, then leans a little bit closer. "Hm. I bet our lips taste just like chicken." As Laisa's face draws closer to Veronica's, she whispers, "Want to find out?"

    It may seem silly be such a tease over something like a kiss, but anticipation can be its own type of flirting.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Eating specifically the leg Laisa had eaten from was a more interesting experience than taking her own. But Laisa's dreamy lilt sends a soft ripple through her chest, with a sweetness that is all the stronger with her girlfriend's openly adoring gaze: a little unreal with the leap it gives Veronica's heart, but yet perfectly right.

At her proposal, a wide smile forms on Veronica's lips, and the brunette leans closer to the offered strip, accepting being fed like that with a twinkle shining through her half-lidded eyes, only briefly stopping to kiss Laisa's fingertips the first time around, fluttering her eyelashes at her. "This is dangerous," she murmurs lightly after she swallows, with a quietness that if it weren't for her parting lips it would be hard to say it happened at all. "You might spoil me too much like this."

The rest of the feeding proceeds without interruption, and Veronica gives delighted hums the whole time in appreciation of the food. It's a bit more intimate that what they were doing moments earlier, and it shows on Veronica's face, particularly through her softened cheekbones.

At the teasing remark, Veronica's shoulders lifting in mock innocence, and she flashes Laisa a catlike smile. "Hey... birds should know better than to be that tasty. I am just a poor little starving cat", she replies, eyes glinting with playful mischief. "But you never leave me starving for love, and I adore you, my snowsweet", she adds sincerely.

A thrill-like laugh comes out of Veronica's mouth as Laisa points out the taste of their lips. "You are right, we need to check. It would be a shame to leave some of our meal behind." The brunette gently cups Laisa's face, and with a deliberate slowness, she leans in, gazing directly into the beautiful crimson pools of her beloved. Her lips press gently against Laisa's own, enjoying the warmth they give her, savouring their tenderness as Veronica's hands move to grip her shoulders.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    The feeling of Veronica's lips kissing her fingers sends pleasant sparks through Laisa's spine. Her back straightens a little more, because no matter how much of Veronica's love she receives, it's always so amazing to her.

    "I live for danger," says Laisa in a lower voice, "and you deserve to be spoiled, my dearest kitten~."

    It certainly is intimate, and very sweet. Laisa doesn't think she would have been this bold with Veronica before now, but such closeness is nice and they are both enjoying themselves. At Veronica's mock innocence, Laisa chuckles. "Well, such a skillful huntress needn't go hungry for long. Nor should such a beloved and adored kitten~."

    The comment about their lips gets an affirmative response, and as her girlfriend cups her warm cheeks Laisa draws closer ever so slowly. Red stares longingly into blue as their lips meet, and even the motion of Laisa's kisses is almost methodically slow. Partly to be even more of a tease, and partly to savor each moment.

    As Laisa feels Veronica's hands move to her shoulders, the snow angel's own hands move to rest on her girlfriend's hips. She scoots a little bit closer, so as to embrace her kitten a little more closely as she shares long, lingering kisses with her darling.

    Her eyes sparkle the whole time. One might imagine that her eyes have little hearts in them.

Veronica Perenna has posed:
At the settling of Laisa's grasp on her hips, Veronica can feel an even deeper warmth spreading through her body, and she feels her eyes fluttering with pleased joy. The certainty of it all is steady and grounding, and she can only think about how loved she feels, and how loved she wants to make Laisa feel. Eager fingers rest more firmly on the other girl's shoulders, and her thumbs brush small, absent-minded arcs there, enjoying the way their bodies fit together so naturally.

"You make me so happy", Veronica breathes out mere moment before the kiss. "You are my comfort, my center, my dream come true. Let me spoil you back."

The slow, deliberate pace set by her snowsweet makes Veronica's heart thrum a little louder than before. She doesn't rush to deepen it: she trusts Laisa's decisions, and she too wants to savour the moment, and each motion and curve in her beloved's lips. She is still staring deeply, pressing against Laisa, only focusing on following that purposeful rhythm that makes her warm up. She lets each kiss land and linger with the knowledge that right now, there is nowhere else to be, nothing else that matters.

Laisa has playfully called her a skilled huntress, but right now, drawn so close by the the hands on her hips, Veronica feels more like she in ensnared by a trap she doesn't want to get away from. She is much too busy seeking out all of Laisa's affection, and giving her all of the love her heart contains in return.

When they part just enough, Veronica keeps her forehead close, with noses nearly touching. There is a soft smile on her lips, fond and crowned by eyes more than a little dazed, accompanying cheeks still warm in a way Laisa's face can probably perceive. "You look at me like that," she murmurs quietly, voice low and full, "and I forget the rest of the world exists."

She leans in again, pressing more and more gentle kisses: her pace is unhurried, affectionate, and yet, the longing behind Veronica's intention is transparent, and she kisses her beloved deeper, appreciating the lull of the warmth.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    Laisa most certainly feels loved, especially by her favorite person. She really could not be happier or more at peace than she is right now, even if she also finds the closeness a bit exciting. The way that Veronica is touching her shoulders feels so nice, adding to the mood that the snow angel is already settling into.

    The painter's words just before the kiss make it difficult for the sculptor to hold back, but Laisa holds those feelings inside for just a bit longer. Long enough to build up just a little bit more. Each shared kiss between them is like balm to her soul and a snare around her heart.

    In between kisses, Laisa whispers back, "You're my love, my one and only. Never am I happier than I am with you."

    Laisa's arms slide further around Veronica's waist as she presses against her. She holds her closely and tightly in a needful way. When her kitten comments on how she's looking at her, Laisa smiles and feigns innocence in a soft voice, "Is there anything else to the world but this? All I can think about right now is you and me."

    As they share each loving kiss, Laisa lets her feelings well up inside her. The food, delicious as it is, is forgotten for a moment while Laisa embraces Veronica. Holding her soft, sweet little kitten so close while kissing her so tenderly makes her feel at home in a way that she hasn't before.

    One of Laisa's hands moves up Veronica's back to cradle the back of her head, rubbing it gently as she lets the romantic mood settle between them. Everything feels right in the world. Veronica's longing is noticed, and Laisa can't help but feel happy about that too. To be so wanted, especially by someone she finds so charming and oh so pretty.

    When their lips break again, Laisa whispers, "You really are the best, my love."

Veronica Perenna has posed:
Veronica literally cannot overstate how much Laisa makes her feel right. All the love that her snowsweet makes her feel can be felt in every part of her, a melodious symphony that makes the brunette looks at Laisa with deep affection from within the blue pools of her eyes. It really is as if it's only the two of them in the whole world to Veronica, while her heart makes happy little flips with all the loving kisses they share and give freely.

Soon enough, she takes a step back, and give Laisa one more look full of her fondness for her. There is a hint of reluctance on her face as she moves over to her own chair. She really doesn't want her time with her beloved to end here. It's not even that late into the afternoon, and have really honoured the romance of Christmas if they leave just like this?

Her gaze falls on the food. She is feeling like she has eaten enough already, and while she *could* eat more (and their mutual feeding was definitely one of the day's romantic highlights), she doesn't really want to do that right now. There are enough decorations are in place too, and she cannot think they would be able to out anymore without causing an overabundance of them.

She turns up towards the front door, humming a short melody, and then turns towards Laisa, giving her a full smile, and moving her hand to squeeze hers. "Would you like to accompany me on a walk, my snowsweet? We have done it a lot, but I don't think I can get tired of the vistas. Either one", she adds with a crystalline giggle.

Laisa Samuiko has posed:
    As Veronica pulls away, Laisa leans forward for a moment before realizing that her kitten would like to do something else now. She releases her from her embrace and watches her for a moment, trying to read her expression. As cute as feeding each other was, Laisa has to admit that she also isn't terribly hungry right now, and it might be more fun to wait until they are both a bit more hungry.

    Then her beloved is inviting her on a walk, and Laisa smiles in response. "A pleasant walk on a private island with a beautiful girl? Now how could I ever turn down an invitation like that?" She stands up, adjusts the scarf that Veronica gifted her, and happily accepts the handhold.

    "Personally I don't think I'll ever tire of the view, and far be it from me to turn down sweet company," she coos. As Laisa thinks to herself, she wonders if there's a part of the island she hasn't been to yet? Well, whether there is or not, newness isn't always the point. A bit of exercise after a meal never hurt anyone, and it's a chance to do something fun with her girlfriend.

    Laisa, in a singsong voice, says, "I'll follow you anywhere, my dear."