2080/Double Date

Double Date
Date of Scene:	19 November 2024
Location:	Korma Chameleon
Synopsis:	Shiori meets Hinoiri at Korma Chameleon for a low-key dinner date, and who should be their waitress but Rashmi? As soon as she gets off the clock she joins them to hear the story of how the couple met. One thing leads to another and it gets Double Trouble worrying a bit more about the future.
Cast of Characters:	Double Trouble, Rashmi Terios, Hinoiri Kirara

---

Double Trouble has posed:
Getting their heart crystal shot out had set Double Trouble to re-evaluating a lot of their priorities. They knew one thing for certain. They didn't show Hinoiri how much she meant to them enough, and especially not in small ways. Normal ways. Their lives were always so dramatic, and Double Trouble loved it, but they suspected that a nice quiet dinner at their favorite restaurant would be a nice way to bolster their relationship in the aftermath of the recital.

Of course, they'd been unable to shift all their priorities, and had to come from work. But they arrived, as Shiori, with flowers in hand. The bright red carnations and white baby's breath a stark contrast to her pale skin and goth attire. Hopeful that she arrived first, she stepped just inside to get out of the cold.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Living at school means the amount of time one can feasibly be called on to cover is drastically reduced, but the Terios household seems to be all right with that. With one of the waitstaff taking an early day due to family concerns, Rashmi's more than happy to make up the last hour of her shift. Thus, when the host takes Shiori to her table, it's Rashmi in the Korma's be-mascotted green apron who comes up to provide waters -- two, after a look at the flowers -- and favors Shiori with a sunny smile. "Welcome to the Korma Chameleon! Can I start you off with anything, or did you want to wait for your date to get here?"

It's not *exactly* the most difficult cold read, after all. Flowers tend to stand out to anyone with customer service experience.

Double Trouble has posed:
Nothing about Shiori's disposition could be mistaken for sunny. When the hostess had asked how many, she'd lifted two fingers rather than saying anything. She'd followed along behind silently slipping into the booth. So these would be the first words to pass her lips since she'd stepped inside. She lifted her eyes up to fix on Rashmi and her smile and just looked at her for a moment as if that was a difficult question to answer.

Because it was. Shiori was tempted to just order for Hinoiri. It's not as if she didn't know what her girlfriend liked. But finally she shrugged. "I'll wait." She twisted her lips and then added, "Some pakora would be good though, too, please." A snack, and a vegetarian snack at that, so Hinoiri could have some when she got there.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"One order of pakora coming up!" Rashmi says, scribbling down on her notepad and apparently immune to Shiori's long, silent stare. Once she's finished jotting the note down, she bobs a quick, shallow bow and swings about to head back to the kitchen. While the waitstaff is generally cheerful -- good working conditions and good bosses do a lot for morale -- the Customer Service Face is a skill, one this bespectacled redhead seems to have mastered.

And it's not terribly long before she returns, a plate piled with vegetable fritters and surrounded in dipping sauce set at the center of the table, and two smaller, empty plates set out. "Here you go! I'll just keep an eye out, when I see two people at the table I'll come back, okay?"

With that, she sweeps off to attend another set of diners, as promised.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was running late, but they'd hear the bike... and the skidding of tires. Followed by the 'And get off the road you oversized tortoise!'

Ahhh, the angry lady was here. And she was in a mood. She came in a few moments later, slightly wet from the weather, jacket undone, hair... a bit messy. Running her fingers through her hair, trying to straighten it. Her eyes then fell on Shiori and well...

Rashmi would be greeted by what she'd long expected. Hinoiri's eyes softening, that frown turning to a smile. The slight skip to her step when Hinoiri walked over and slid in besides Shiori. And that kiss that seemed to go on for farrrrr longer than was necessary. Also, did that kiss somehow *fix* Hinoiri's messy hair?! It seemed to. Like magic.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori was hungry, so of course she immediately snatched a pakora and dipped it in the tamarind sauce before popping it in her mouth. She loved the tangy sweetness of the sauce with the savory vegetable flavor of the pakora. She took a bite, and it had a nice crunch.

She was sitting there holding half a pakora in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other when Hinoiri burst onto the scene outside. The goth's lips curled up into the first smile she'd worn all day. That was Hinoiri alright. Definitely never the problem. She giggled at 'oversized tortoise'.

The kiss took exactly as long as necessary. Indeed, it was perhaps a little too brief. But when they broke away Shiori just brought up the other half of her pakora and held it up to Hinoiri's mouth for her to eat. She also held out the flowers. Her cheeks were rosy with blush and dimpled from her smile. "Hello, beautiful."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
One of the nice things about working as a server in a restaurant is the people on dates. Not the ones trying to impress their poor date with their ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY, and the ruined dates are kind of heartbreaking... But seeing two people in love *greet* each other like two people in love, it's *always* warming to witness.

But the fact that the date in question is *Hinoiri,* and brief puzzlement blooms into blinding joy. Eureka!

But she's not so crass as to show up *before* Hinoiri is sat, and the 'folks in love' moment has given way to 'time to eat.' but the *moment* it would be polite for a server to show up, a server shows up!

"Hi, you two!" she chirps. "I'm Rashmi, I'll be your waitress, how can I start you off?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was, admittedly, enjoying this attention. She took a small bite of the Pakora, grinning and then glancing down towards the flowers, a look of confusion on her face for a moment. "Huh? But they don't serve--" And then stops. Blinks. Blushes. Grinned.

"Hi, my little dramatic troublemaker," she said in a playful, affectionate tone...

And then eeped, sitting up a little straighter when Rashmi was there.

"Err, right, umm, food, yes, food sounds good. What were we getting? Oh. Right. Rashmi, this is Shiori Ishii. The girl I was telling you about before. Swept me off my feet. Shiorii, this is Rashmi, local waitress and busy body," she said that, at least, with an obvious teasing tone.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii popped the rest of the pakora into her mouth and grinned and set the flowers down on the table. They would end up in a vase later, but for now, she didn't want to hold them any more. She smirked as she chewed and swallowed, Hinoiri's reaction to Rashmi's re-appearance amusing her.

"We met earlier," she says, deadpan, turning her attention up to Rashmi with a flat expression on her face for a moment. Then it breaks into the slightest smile. She sounds more genuine when she says, "But now it's different. A pleasure, Rashmi." Then she wrinkles her nose. "A shame you're working, or I'd invite you to join us."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The redhead's cheeks color at the 'busybody' tease, but she's clearly taking it in the spirit it was intended, and she bows deeper. "Oh I'm not gonna intrude on a *date,* anyway. ...Not for another half hour or so anyway... I'm just filling in so Papi doesn't have to call anyone in before they're scheduled," she says with a chuckle.

"But it's nice to meet the theyfriend, an *absolute pleasure* Shiori-san! D'you want me to give you a bit more, or can I get your order started so you can have some 'you' time?"

Unlike the inveterate actor, Rashmi's face is so open a book it's practically a pop-up; happy to see Hinoiri, happier still to meet Shiori, and absolutely *ecstatic* to see that Shiori really *is* the 'good' influence Rashmi had imagined.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara leaned against Shiori with a small smile, giving a nod. "She knows about my... affections towards Trouble," Hinoiri said, without much subtlety. "And I certainly know better than to cheat on you." Choosing Hinoiri's favorite place to dine, well... okay, it wasn't like Shiori was their most 'subtle' disguise. Though it might amuse Shiori to hear Hinoiri knew better than to cheat on them.

But the other cheating didn't count. Dee grabbed THEM, not the other way around.

And oh, the idea of Shiori being a 'good' influence would have likely made them both break into laughter. "So, I'm thinking... how about... just hot today. Not extra hot, just hot. A little kick. How about you, Shiori?" She then moved in a little, nestling with a hand moving to stroke Shiori's back affectionately. "I hope work hasn't been too bad lately..."

Double Trouble has posed:
On the one hand, Shiori always liked the extra spicy. On the other hand, Hinoiri did not want the extra spicy today. The raven-haired girl looked from her girlfriend to her new friend and said, "I'll have the lamb vindaloo. Regular spicy." It might, in fact, have been the first time she'd tried it regular spicy.

Looking back to Hinoiri she just shrugged and and made a big sigh. "Honestly, I'm trying to figure out just what work is going to be now," she said. But even if her other alter-ego had been compromised, she always had the good work of being a bad influence on bad kids. Keep them on the dark and descending path. "But I've been keeping busy. Causing just the right amount of Trouble."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Lamb vindaloo, two star," Rashmi repeats, eyebrow raised, then looks to Hinoiri. "And your usual, Hino-chan, but a little more spicy? I'll make sure you have extra naan and lassi, what flavors am I getting you?"

Talk about 'work' is studiously overlooked, and once Hinoiri confirms her order and drinks, she snaps the notebook shut. "Okay! I'll be back as soon as it's ready, and when my relief comes in I'll bring some desserts, my treat!"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small snicker, glancing up at the girl. "You know, you don't have to be easy on yourself just because I'm going easy today." She tended to fluctuate. In fact, it was why her lassi was mint today. See was in a type of mood, it seemed.

"Ah, yes. I will... say that was always one of my problems working there." Aside from them trying to kill her. "So many times, the people, even the business... felt almost... directionless. Like they wanted you to work and do things, but they didn't give much direction in the how and where. Then there were people like Namekelder who just kind of lazed about."

"... I'd go mad trying to live like that. Probably good I left." Left, got kicked out, same thing, really. "... You seem more the 'causing problems where I'm needed' type. Do you have much trouble trying to pick when and were you cause problems?" Hinoiri asked with a small smile, a hand moving down to stroke Shiori's arm. She was... touchy today, it seemed.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii always just let her mouth stay on fire, but the suggestion of a lassi had her nodding. She wanted mango. It was a classic for a reason. She smiled and nodded when Rashmi said she'd bring dessert and then turned her attention back to Hinoiri.

"You know me all too well, baby," Shiori practically purred, giving Hinoiri a smoldering look. "I've got license do do whatever I need to, mostly. It's honestly better than being attached to any of the divisions. But my primary project is winding down now, for the obvious reasons." Are the reasons really all that obvious?

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara cocked her head to the side. "Primary project? I wasn't aware you were a part of a primary project? It... oh. Dianora," she said, giving a light snicker. "Ahhhhh. You should file a complaint with HR over that. I've been thinking of how to get back at her for it... I was thinking about sending her some romantic notes from a secret admirer, raving about her beauty... and then stop, after a week... and start sending them to one of the other girls."

... See, things like this was why they got along so well. "So, what do you think you'll do now? I hope you're not intending to spy on me, because by now I'd hope they know I can't tell you everything."

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii stifles a laugh and shakes her head. "I'm not spying on you. I'm not spying on anybody not really. Not now. It won't be long before everyone knows these faces are me. So I've got to figure out what's next," she says.

She reaches for another pakora and drags it through the mint chutney before popping the whole thing in her mouth. Om nom nom. "You do realize," she says, around the last of her bite. Terrible manners. "I am Human Resources. I could complain to Yuuhi-san, but really, I love Dianora, but she has not gotten the results I wanted. Maybe that witch did me a favor."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Dinner is served~!" Rashmi's voice chirps as she carries a full tray in one hand, a fold-out stand in the other, and starts setting out plates of rich, warm food -- perhaps with an extra sharp edge, due to the increased amount of chili. "Now, this is two-star out of five, because Mami has *very* specific ideas about what is too hot to allow for any other flavor. So to her, it's an acceptable medium. It shouldn't be *too* hot, but if it's uncomfortable?"

Mango lassi for Shiori, and mint for Hinoiri, and a plate of steaming, slightly charred naan that smells powerfully of garlic and herbs. "Fat and bread do *really* good at making spicy more bearable."

Once all the food is delivered, the redhead tucks her tray under her arm. "My relief's here, so would you like a few more moments by yourselves? Or should I go back and bring roshgulla for a bribe?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small shrug. "Yeah... I guess, technically, you are. Huh. Actually dating someone in HR... maybe I should have tried to use that when they were all trying to kill me. Not sure how effective it would have been, though," Hinoiri mumbled, a thoughtful look on her face. "And... no. I guess it hasn't, has it?"

"Maybe you should try pretending to be a sparkle next. Figure out a way to use magic, without having to use dark energy. Get close and then... bam. When they least expect it? Suddenly you're there with them, saving the world from whatever apocalypse has shown its head. Maybe you can even shoot rainbow unicorns at people," she said with a teasing tone.

And then, delicious food... mmmmmm...

She glanced towards Rashmi and smirked. "You can come, but yes, bribes are often accepted and always welcomed. Our presence is worth quite a bit, after all, and we hope you understand just how fortunate you are that we allow you to bask in it for such a low price." She managed to sound... almost genuine.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii couldn't help but laugh at the notion of them shooting rainbow unicorns at people. "You know as well as I do that I--" she started to say and then stopped abruptly as Rashmi arrived with their food. She did still have some discretion after all. But she'd told Hinoiri. Without dark energy, she was forced to live like a feral beast in the woods. Never again.

Her eyes panned from Hinoiri up to Rashmi as her girlfriend tried to sound like a mean girl. "It's the same words you'd say before, but without the dark energy, it just sounds ridiculous, babe," she says, finally turning back to look at Hinoiri. She places a kiss on her cheek. "I think I like the kind you better."

Then she turns to Rashmi and smiles. "Yes, please join us. Your tribute is welcome."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Well if I'm *so fortunate,*" Rashmi parries, echoing Hinoiri's tone, "then I'll be right back!" Rashmi chirps, and takes the tray and stand back to the kitchen... and emerges bare minutes later, sans apron, with a wide, shallow bowl filled with... syrup-soaked balls of something. "Sorry I lied a little," she says, setting her tribute down on the table, and taking an unoccupied seat. "It's not roshogolla, it's rajbhog. Because Japanese people *love* their filled desserts," she chuckles. "These are saffron and pistachio paste, and it's not dough; it's all fresh cheese."

With the dessert introduced, she leans back in her chair, watching the two for a moment. "So... dare I ask how you met?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara snickered and the moment Rashmi was gone, she whispered to Shiori. "That's why I said try to *find* a way to do it. There's too much magic on this rock for there to not be something."

Once She was teased, Hinoiri let out a gasp. "I can be pretentious and arrogant even WITHOUT dark energy, thank you very much. I took a class in it." No. No she did not.

Then, slowly, the tribute was brought and she hmmed. "Interesting. I'll let my beautiful partner here tell you... and once she's finished, I'll tell you the true way we met," Hinoiri said, before picking up one of the balls and popping it into her mouth... and waiting for Shiori to finish her side of the tale... before picking one up to pop in HER mouth.

Double Trouble has posed:
The smirk on Shiori's face said everything that needed to be said about Hinoiri's ability to be pretentious and arrogant without dark energy. Indignance was really the unicorn's specialty. It was so easy to draw her into it too. Like a verbal matador. The creases at the corner's of the goth's eyes said everything that needed to be said about how much she loved her fiery girlfriend. That and the flowers. They said it too.

"Honestly, babe, I don't even need to embellish it to make it a good story. That's why I love you so much," she says, leaning in to place a kiss on Hinoiri's cheek. It's a spicy kiss. She's been eating her vindaloo.

Looking back to Rashmi, she lifts up her hands with the thumbs and forefingers extended like a movie director. "Imagine the scene, it's the break room at Obsidian Tower. One of many, all the same. It's really a dreary place, but it was where I was living because I couldn't go out in public. Not until I settled on an identity. I was eating the only thing I'd eaten since that witch brought me to Tokyo: frozen burritos. And she walks in, in her leather jacket with the biggest chip on her shoulder. I knew she'd be a constant source of entertainment, so I settled on Dianora, and manipulated the room assignments to get us assigned as roommates."

Shiori picks up her mango lassi and takes a sip as she smiles, looking across the table at Rashmi.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Whatever her failings in the eye of such an inveterate dramaturge, one thing Rashmi *is,* is a good audience. Even before the story proper starts, there's a tiny 'awww' from across the table as the two make squishy faces at each other. But then... the tale begins.

"...Frozen burritos," Rashmi whispers, horrified. Well, a Double Trouble tale definitely doesn't take long to get to the thrills!

One can practically *feel* a shifting in her aura; Shiori is telling the tale, and Rashmi is simply *drinking it in.*

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara saw Rashmi's eyes and just... "I know, right?! Frozen. Burritoes. Like, that is a punishment, right there. Almost as bad as 'it's food' stuff. But she left out a few other things. This con artist, this huckster? I find out that the burritoes are *a treat* to her. A TREAT. Imagine what kind of hell her mouth had been through," Hinoiri said with an over dramatic shudder. "So I dragged her off to get real food. Well. Pastries."

"Imagine my surprise when, later, I find out despite my bullying of the guy setting our rooms, I had a roommate. I was about ready to kill the guy, then bam. I find out it's *her*. Oh, I knew exactly what she was up to. Obsidian? Filled with cut throats and monsters? Yeah, she was so going to betray me. But I knew I could handle *them*."

Then, her haughty smirk... turned actually genuine and soft. "Then, later? They claimed me as theirs. Never been claimed before, to be honest. I uhhhh... may have locked up a bit, was kind of shocked. And we started dating, more or less, ever since."

"... But seriously, frozen. Burritoes. Who. Who would *do that* to themselves? Willingly? I saved them..."

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori Ishii ate the sweet cheeseball that Hinoiri fed her and then listened to her fill in a few more details. As she listened she reached over to get a naan, and tore off a piece, dragging it through her curry before bringing it up for a bite, followed quickly by another. Om nom nom.

"It caught me by surprise, honestly," Shiori says, and she sounds genuine. "She started seeing Sayaka and I got jealous. I--" she just turns and looks at Hinoiri, smiling and shaking her head. "I had a moment of clarity. I realized she'd become the most important person in my life. So yeah. That's actually when I was born."

Shiori brings up her hands, both of them a bit messy with curry and garlic salt from eating to swoosh down in front of her. "Shiori Ishii, Hinoiri's badass girlfriend that nobody wants to mess with." She leans in and bumps shoulders with Hinoiri. "Never thought I'd find this. And maybe I never would have if I'd never come to this awful rock. You make it not awful, babe."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...Actually the treat part makes the most sense," Rashmi points out. "I've talked to Catra-san. Like, a lot. I know the difference between the brown paste and the grey paste. Trust me, Hino-chan, frozen burritos *would* be way better. I'd even eat squid chips with a *smile* before I tried the grey stuff."

As the tale winds on, Rashmi's eyes manage to get bigger and, if possible, more sparkly. Maybe it's a trick of the overhead lighting on her glasses...?

"I mean," she says after a bit. "I get how this place isn't so great for people used to having *all* the magic they need. But it looks like you two are really, really good for each other!"

Oh god no wonder Double Trouble has been leaning into the sap, they know how to read an audience.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara snickered and took a small bite of her curry, reveling in hearing that. Jealous. She made Shiori *jealous*. "Admittedly... I can't deny it. I'd never made someone jealous before. The closest I ever got to even being asked out back home was when this colt who... actually, not important," she said dismissively, waving a hand. "And awww, babe. You make being human tolerable too. If I have to be stuck like this, I'm happy it's with you." Pause. "Every bit of offense, Rashmi. Being human sucks. You people can't even do basic telekinesis. But you do cook an amazing curry. And they are. I told them when this is all over, I'm taking her home with me. If... I can go back home. And she even betrayed me in the end."

"Putting my own geode on me when I was being all destroying the world and stuff... such a good theyfriend," Hinoiri said, voice filled with adoration. Before taking a sip of her lassi and tearing off a piece of naan for herself. "Seriously, the number of foods I've had to introduce her to. Sadly, I've never managed to quite reproduce the beetles she loved most back home, and I've tried. I got some from Alaska, Africa, Australia..." Yes, she DID hunt for those beetles... putting waaaaaaay too much effort into it.

Double Trouble has posed:
This is where they'd usually open their mouth and catch a fly with their tongue. If they were in their usual body. But Shiori can't do those things, so she just wets her lips as if the mere discussion of beetles is making her even hungrier. "You have tried so hard to find me the best things to eat. Hopefully the portal will open up again soon, so we can go back to Pastry Patty's." Because of course that's the thing she remembers most. The best pastries she's ever eaten.

She looks back to Rashmi. "Hinoiri is the best part of my life, hands down. It's my job to keep the bad kids on the bad path, but I just couldn't. Not with her." She sighs and shakes her head, then looks at Hinoiri and says, adoringly, "No I had to fix her instead."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...Beetles... huh...?" Rashmi is trying so very, very hard to smile as if nothing was wrong. Nothing at all. Not her imagining a bowl of curry, with little bugs in bobbing up and down screaming 'Help me! Help me!'

Nope. Not *at all.*

"That sounds... wonderful for you..."

Shaking her head, she draws in a breath and starts to speak further, when a couple things Double Trouble says register.

'Open again' 'Go back'

At these words, her eyes flick to Hinoiri, one eyebrow rising. But just a few moments later, she seems to work it out, and nods. "Maybe! And I mean... There's a better than even chance that if the impossible happens, *I* might go to space after I graduate, so... I honestly, really hope if you to want to go back to Hino-chan's world for good, you can. ...Though I hope you don't mind if I hope it takes a bit. Anyone who can make Hino-chan smile like that is someone worth getting to know."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, grinning to them, before glancing back to Rashmi. "'Fix me' she says. Apparently I'm the repaired model. Alas, and here I thought I was oh so perfect for them. But I still needed 'fixing'," she said, in a playful tone.

"... Go to space? Why would... oh. Right. This world. And... yeah. It's.,.. not that I don't love it here. I really do. It's... nice. I actually feel wanted. But... once the fade hits? I'll lose almost my entire life. So much of who I was. And... I think Shiori would too. I don't think either of us want that. Well... it'd be that, or turn back to dark energy. The fact the fade doesn't hit dark energy users always struck me as kind of annoying and ridiculous. I wonder if whatever causes it is why you only have dark energy to transform, Shiori. Maybe if there was no fade, you could turn back as you wanted."

"... They're definitely worth getting to know, though. Over the top, incredibly dramatic. You should see them perform, it's a work of art. The roles, the attention to detail. Even unconscious she manages to collapse in the most dramatic of fashion. Commitment to role is just... magnificent." You could almost SEE the hearts over her head as she says it.

Double Trouble has posed:
Shiori takes the moments where she's not talking to eat the rest of her curry. It's her favorite. She gets it every time. It doesn't matter which her it is. As Hinoiri is heaping on the praise she's draining the last of her mango lassi. She smiles and says, "It feels good to be appreciated. Thanks, babe."

To Rashmi she says, "You know, I've been in space. It's only as good as the people you're with. Other than that it's mostly just empty anyway." Then they pause to consider. "Mostly."

Catra came here right after the portal incident, and now so had Adora. Hopefully that didn't mean that the Etherian end of whatever brought them here was converging on that point in time. Because they knew the real Etherian threat didn't need some magic portal to get to Earth.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Well if I do end up going there," Rashmi says, "it'll be like you two going *back* to magical unicorn land."

Is she a little salty about being told she can't go? Maybe. But it's the kind of salt that won't last, because the reasons are good ones.

"...So I can at least be reasonably sure I'll enjoy the company.

The pause trips Rashmi's attention, and for a moment her head tilts... But if Hino-chan's theyfriend isn't gonna speak up about it, Rashmi isn't gonna be the one to push.

Instead, she turns to singing Hinoiri's praises herself; since DT said she liked the kinder version, Rashmi can actually tell *stories* of that kindness. She still has the broach, after all!

And by the time the food is gone, the dishes cleared away, and the trio breaks for the evening, Rashmi is... very glad to have come in to work today.

If for absolutely no other reason -- and there have been many, even still -- Hinoiri provided her with a *lot* of good fodder for an upcoming Christmas present.