soul_logs | Special Delivery

Entry tags:

Special Delivery

Characters:

alphaspider
Location: 11F Corridor, Casualty Communal
Rating: G
Time: Midday, December 24
Description: Rhode is doing deliveries for Christmas presents, but things get entertaining when she stops by to see her first Death City friend.

It was absolutely freezing outside, but Rhode had bundled up in her warmest jacket and boots before venturing out into the snow and ice. She'd spent far too long on making all of these presents to let them sit around the apartment until after the holiday had passed. Her deliveries went one apartment at a time, setting them outside the door and ringing the bell before scurrying off.

At last, she reached the doorway to Kuroro and Kurapika's apartment (after far too many stairs; really, who lived on the eleventh floor of anything?) and ran to the door. Hitting the bell, she stood back, smiling and rocking back on her heels. Kuroro was going to be so happy to see her after all this time, and she was certain that he would love the presents that she had made for him and his partner.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rhode's beaming smile froze when the door opened to Kurapika, and for a long moment, she simply stood there.

Staring at him.

After that initial pause, she reacted to the instinctual drive that any girl would have when dropping off a gift for someone they absolutely despised talking to: She dropped the packages in her arms like they were burning her flesh, and took off down the hall like a coat-ladened gazelle with a cheetah on her tail.

That had been a big mistake, hadn't it? She should have just rung the bell and left like all the others', rather than risk running into Kuroro's awkward partner.

He was just slightly surprised to see Rhode--but only just; he knew how close she and Kuroro were and had resigned himself to the reality of seeing her regularly because of that acquaintance. He was even trying his hardest to get along with her, how about that? And between the girl and Nobunaga, he'd choose to be visited by Rhode any day of the week. His preference didn't mean that he'd be instantly welcoming if he had to find her on the other side of the doorway, however, and he spent as long as Rhode did, staring back at her and frantically fishing for something to say.

When she very suddenly dropped the packages in her arms, that was when he snapped out of it, arms shooting out in reflex to catch the boxes before they could crash to the floor.

This morning's skirmish between Nobunaga and Kurapika amused Kuroro above anything else. If they could get through a fight with no one dying (probably Kurapika), then there was a good chance as any that they could last through a conversation with the same result: excessive sniping but overall no casualty.

Kuroro had heard the bell from his place on the couch (as always) as he was mulling on this, and he had ambled to his feet to see who was at the door when Kurapika opened it. There was a flash of a familiar short head that he could see over Kurapika's shoulder, before... Rhode shot off.

Before Kuroro could even think about it, he'd squeezed past Kurapika (were those boxes?) and was in the corridor taking after the girl. "Hey, Rhode!" he called, easily catching up to her. Unceremoniously, he put two hands under her armpits and scooped her up. All the way up.

Edited 2011-11-01 06:39 (UTC)

Oh, no. Rhode tried to keep running for a few moments after Kuroro had gotten her, but it was futile. Years of being scooped up in the exact same manner by her adoptive mother had left her rather well-trained, so she simply let herself hang there, staring down at the ground with a quiet frown. Was this what her kitten felt like, when she picked her up beneath the front legs...?

"Hullo, Kuroro."

She wasn't really sure what else she could say, in this impressively uncomfortable situation. The tarts she'd made were probably all jumbled up from being thrown like that, and Kurapika was almost certainly going to ask what was going on with her attempt to flee before handing off the presents like a decent guest.

"Hello, Rhode," Kuroro repeated, not budging from where he'd scooped Rhode up to. This was such an entertainingly awkward moment, wasn't it? Rhode was obviously up to something. Instead, Kuroro turned around to look at Kurapika and deposited Rhode to sit on his shoulder, tossing her just enough to get his hands on her waist.

"Look, Kurapika. I seem to have caught a kitten wandering our hallway. What have you got there?"

"I caught... boxes," he replied in a hesitant, slightly strained tone of voice, wooden face frozen in an expression caught between fascinated horror and morbid amusement and hands hefting the aforementioned boxes demonstratively. He hadn't moved that far from the doorway, and was watching Kuroro and Rhode as if he wasn't sure if they were real or if he was having a nightmare still.

She squeaked as he hoisted her up onto his shoulder, reaching out to put an arm around his head to steady herself. Her cheeks turned a bit red when she saw the way Kurapika was gawking at her - This was a bit undignified, wasn't it? The whole purpose had been to get away from the awkward conversation that was sure to ensue with the judgmental Weapon, and despite Kuroro's bright attitude, she didn't seem terribly happy to be going back to their apartment.

"Christmas gifts," Rhode mumbled, digging her nails into Kuroro's hair ever so gently. "They're for... you." Both of you, she meant to say, but it wasn't very easy to choke out.

"For us?" Kuroro echoed innocently, deliberately using 'us' instead of 'me' because two boxes couldn't all be for him, could it? He began walking over to Kurapika, back to their apartment, so he could put Rhode down where the girl couldn't run from them. Not that she would have managed to outrun them now that she was a weapon...

For them? Even him? Kurapika looked down at the boxes--plural; he wouldn't have been surprised or offended if both had been for Kuroro, but if there was something in there for him, as well, then it explained Rhode's odd behavior, so different from the sassy manner he'd come to expect from her.

He didn't say anything, perhaps mercifully sensing that staying quiet and letting Kuroro handle things for now was the best way of dealing with Rhode's uncharacteristic embarrassment--although half of his silence was still bemusement. He pushed the door closed behind them with a foot and followed the other two deeper into the living room.

Rhode didn't say a word to clarify his question, just nodding and silently ruing the second she had decided to stick around instead of leave the presents and run. Kuroro wasn't going to let her forget this, and Kurapika was going to try and read something into it, and she would be annoyed for weeks over some silly attempt to be polite for the sake of the holidays.

"I don't have to be here for you to open it. You're supposed to wait until tomorrow, anyways..." It wasn't going to work, of course, but trying was better than resigning herself to this awkward encounter.

"Are we? We're not really from this world, you know," he teased, bending forward to deposit Rhode properly on the floor. There, not a hair out of place if a little frazzled and embarrassed.

But she was right, Kuroro wasn't going to let her forget this. She can expect Kuroro asking her to do all sorts of nice and friendly things for Kurapika in the future.

"We don't even celebrate Christmas," Kurapika murmured vaguely, the first words he said since finding Rhode at their doorstep--and the realization, slow-forming, that because he wasn't used to it and wasn't really expecting to be getting any of those presents people over the network were panicking about, he had nothing to give to Rhode in return.

It was still mostly a private thought, though. Outwardly he was trying to be unobtrusive as possible, standing with boxes still in hand within Kuroro's reach.

"You have to have some kind of winter holiday. It's just not sensible if you don't." She humphed as she finally reached the ground, taking a moment to brush off her furry little jacket and straighten her fluffy gloves. "My Family doesn't even believe in the god they attribute it to, but we still give presents. It's only polite."

Glancing in Kurapika's direction, she started tugging the zipper down on her coat; it was getting a bit warm, after all. Perhaps they'd just set them down... Wouldn't that be nice?

"You can put them down, you know. Just don't let Kuroro stack anything on top of them."

“Some parts of the world do,” Kuroro said agreeably, “But not where I came from.” He resisted the urge to say that maybe Kurapika’s tribe had one, but that would be a terrible gaffe and besides, Kuroro didn’t actually study that far into the Kuruta culture. He’d mostly only been interested in the eyes.

But he picked up on her hint of presents and chuckled, helping her with the coat like a proper(ly handsome) gentleman. “I’ll get you something later,” he promised.

“Now!” Coat gotten rid of, Kuroro went back to staring gleefully at the boxes. “Which one is mine so I can open it?”

A winter holiday, yes. A small festival to mark the winter solstice, rather. A community feast, prayers to thank their deities for a bountiful harvest, prayers to wish for an easy winter, and gifts given, but usually only for the children. The Kuruta weren't materialistic, and their winter holiday was very different from the Christmas he was seeing now.

Kurapika didn't give voice to any of his thoughts, but wordlessly complied with Rhode's suggestion to put the boxes down (not stacked) on the coffee table as Kuroro took her coat. He didn't mind taking a backseat, as he always did whenever Rhode was around, but this time he left his disapproval at the door. Quiet curiosity, maybe puzzlement, like he was only realizing now that there might actually be someone amiable under that disagreeable exterior.

"But..." Rhode started to protest, a bit of a whine, but trailed off as she realized she really wasn't going to get her way about this. And maybe if Kuroro opened his, Kurapika would wait until later so he wouldn't have to deal with Kuroro's curiosity.

"The lighter one. It should have a little tag on the top, too."

She'd worked awfully hard on making all these presents for people. She wasn't sure if he'd actually use the things she'd made, but he did go to cold places for missions, and it was cold around the city these days. It would keep him comfortable, even if he never really got sick on his own.

Except Kuroro was never one for doing as other people planned, and handed Kurapika his box after Kuroro had determined which one was his.

He sat down on the couch and unwrapped the package (messily, naturally), ripping off paper to get to the box underneath, and mercilessly snapping the tape off. Kuroro hadn't expected anything in particular, and he blinked at the scarf and the mittens with some surprise.

"Where did you get these?" he asked, sounding pleased as he lifted the scarf out because they were pretty handsome things. He didn't remember the mall stocking these at all -- apparently, black wasn't such a common color here, unlike purple and orange.

He was curious, in spite of himself, and he watched Kuroro make short work of the packaging of his gift. What kind of gift would Rhode give someone she liked? And somehow he wasn't surprised when he saw the pure black mittens and the lush scarf.

"Knitted?" he asked, remembering a conversation where he ended up arguing with her about her sewing skills.

Rhode couldn't help smiling at Kuroro's reaction, ducking her head slightly hide her blush. Kurapika's interjection made her pause, but being outed wasn't much of a problem. She wanted Kuroro to know that she'd taken time to make the perfect gifts for him.

"Mm-hm. I made them. I thought you'd like something soft. And it would match your hair and eyes."

“How lovely, Rhode, thank you,” Kuroro said, smile wide as he reached over and whisked Rhode right onto his lap (was she getting heavier? It’s been a while), all enchanting charm and sweetness. “These are so very well-made, aren’t they? And I would look so handsome with them on. Care to put it on me?” he added, handing the scarf over to her because he knew she would love to do it. What a flashy pair they made.

“What do you think, Kurapika?” he asked devilishly. “And do open yours.”

"What do I think?" he echoed with the tone of one unused to being placed in a situation where he needed to be syrupy for the sake of being polite, but didn't want to. Perhaps they were expecting him to say how black suited Kuroro very well, that black mittens and a black scarf would add to that mysterious charisma he could see and ponder on but never accept.

"They look very well-made," the blond offered instead, in deference to Rhode's efforts, as he bent at the waist to start picking at the tape that held his gift closed.

"Oh!"

She squeaked as he picked her up, arms wrapping around his neck to steady herself. It's a bit odd, for a moment- Really, it has been too long since they've played like this- but as he put the scarf in her hands, she finally blinked, blue eyes shifting from confusion to delight.

"They are made well. I spent hours on them. All the stitches are nice and tight, so they're thick and warm like a blanket would be!" Rhode looped the scarf over Kuroro's head, turning it and tugging at the ends until it was arranged in a very gentlemanly fashion. "See, if you get too warm, you just pull at the front here to get some air, and you pull on the ends to make it closer to keep you warmer!"

Kuroro laughed, and laughed again, rubbing the end of the material against his cheek as if to test the scarf's softness. "That sounds very pleasant. I've never had a proper scarf before."

For a moment, after hearing her vouch for the warmth of the scarf, Kuroro was tempted to mention that maybe Kurapika would like that -- the blond was always so terribly cold, after all, and the weather wasn't getting any better. But the two of them didn't like each other very much and Kuroro wasn't about to push it when they were in what appeared to be a truce.

Kurapika was fine with his jackets and sweaters. Besides, getting something handmade from Rhode would feel vaguely like getting nice presents from the Ryodan--it would be extremely awkward and it would seriously mess with his worldview. He ignored Kuroro and Rhode being cute on the couch and worked on his gift, carefully undoing the packaging in contrast to his partner's messy unwrapping, and finally lifted the lid.

"... Tarts?" He had a feeling that it would be pastries.

"Mm-hm!"

Rhode nodded, leaning back against Kuroro and wrapping one end of the scarf around the bottom of her own face. It was a convenient pose; she came off as just being cute and enjoying the product of her own work, while she was really hiding any inconvenient blushes or facial expressions that would betray how uncomfortable it was for her to buy a gift for Kurapika in the first place.

"I bought them fresh for you. If you want them warm, they said you can just put them in the microwave oven for about fifteen seconds!"

Kuroro knew, he just knew this was a good opportunity to tease Rhode to death. He contemplated on doing it more than he already was and relented to temptation.

"That's so awfully sweet of you, Rhode," he cooed, wrapping an arm securely about her -- she was so small, it was so easy -- and squeezing mercilessly, pressing his cheek against hers.

"Yes... thank you," Kurapika agreed, and barely just managed to keep any hint of awkwardness or disbelief out of his voice, despite the fact that watching Rhode acting like a cute little girl and Kuroro acting like a completely besotted, doting uncle was actually quite uncomfortable for him. Were the two people in front of him putting on an act, or was the affection a real part of their personalities? His instincts, honed after years and years of training to hunt criminals were insisting that it was all fake--that killers and thieves would be accomplished actors and liars, as well, but what if it was all genuine? Wouldn't that mean that he'd been an ass for acting like a... well, an ass, to the both of them?

The blond picked up the box of tarts and turned around for the kitchen, like someone looking for something to do just so he won't have to watch the source of his discomfort. "I'll heat these up so we can all have some now, is that all right?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Kuroro!" Rhode let out a squeaky protest, closing her eyes and clutching the scarf ever so tightly to keep her blush from showing. Being hugged was nice, though she struggled just a bit for the sake of her own pride before leaning back against him, tilting her head up to rest on his shoulder. She didn't really notice Kurapika's discomfort, a bit too absorbed in her own sense of awkwardness in the situation. "They're your tarts now, Kurapika. You can do whatever you'd like with them."

"Isn't Kurapika a nice guy, offering to share?" he said, leering at Kurapika's back but wiping the expression off his face when the blond looked back. He had a strange sense of humour, but it made sense that this was funny, right? Definitely.

He squeezed Rhode some more, like a particularly squishable and spiky little teddy bear. Had Rhode gotten bigger? It felt like there was more flesh for him to squeeze now, quite unlike before.

More like he didn't have much of a sweet tooth and couldn't really see himself finishing the entire box. He wasn't a pig like Kuroro--he looked over his shoulder at the older man, eyes narrowed in suspicion, but all he saw was his partner playing an odd game of squeeze Rhode to death. He turned back to the microwave and started moving tarts from box to plate.

"Mm-hm," she nodded, not even thinking to follow it with a snide remark. Kuroro's cozy hug was becoming just a bit too tight for her comfort, and she let out a soft whine of protest, pinching at his arm with her little nails to try and make him loosen his grip. "You're going to smother me! I can't suffocate before my first Christmas with Mukuro!"

Rhode definitely had more flesh now than half a year ago. He let up on the squeezing -- but just a little bit, and swayed her from side to side instead.

"I can't help it," he protested. "You're too cute, and I'm sure Mukuro will say the same thing. Besides, my partner doesn't let me do this to him."

Damn right he doesn't. The glossy black front of the microwave oven reflected the face Kurapika made as he pressed buttons and set the timer--fifteen seconds, according to Rhode. He punched the start button and watched the turntable inside, listened to the hum of the device.

"I've always been cute, but Mukuro doesn't try to crush me!"

Despite her protests, Rhode's little pout was fading into an expression of absolute bliss as she relaxed into his grip. She did adore this sort of attention, and it had been ages since anyone had truly smothered her with affection. Physical contact was the main way she bonded with people, after all, and Kuroro swinging her around like a stuffed animal was doing a splendid job of soothing her gift-giving nerves.

"... But if you're nice about it, I suppose it's alright."

"Mukuro's not as cuddly as I am, and besides, he's a pineapple," Kuroro pointed out, continuing with his smothering like it was commonplace to see two such evil masterminds such as themselves in this sort of situation. As long as no one had a heart attack at the scene, why not? Or hey, wouldn't it be wonderful if Kanda had an apoplexy?

"I'm always nice about it. You should ask Kurapika how nice I am all the time." Nevermind that time when he'd nearly gotten the both of them frozen to death by trolling Kurapika with images of them in bed together.

Kurapika might be close to having an apoplexy, actually. This was rather disgusting to watch--of the disgustingly sweet variety. Well, it was good that Rhode was enjoying herself, but where did that leave him? It was always difficult to reconcile the Kuroro in Death City with the Kuroro who'd beaten him to near death two years ago.

"I'm not going to answer if she asks." Or rather, he wasn't going to lie about this.

"He's cuddly when he's sleeping," she protested, resting her head on her chest for a moment and letting her hair fall forward as she was rocked about. When she looked up again, she flipped it back, so it was sticking up- But it wasn't quite as effective as it had been when it was shorter, only some of the top bits really staying up while the rest fell around her shoulders. "And when he's not walking around. You just don't know him well enough to judge."

"When he's sleeping," Kuroro echoed with incredulity. "And of course I know him well enough. We're similar, aren't we?" In all the integral things, at any rate, but Kuroro suspected that he was far more easygoing than the other meister. He glanced at Kurapika. And leered.

Kurapika at this point had turned around with the larger plate of heated tarts in one hand and three sets of saucers and forks in the other hand, so he saw the leer Kuroro threw at him quite clearly.

"Stop looking at me like that," he said flatly.

"You're happier."

It was a rather odd observation, but Rhode didn't quite know how to verbalize that major difference between her own Meister and Kuroro. Even after all this time, she was still quite aware of the cool distance that Mukuro put between himself and everyone else, even her, though it had gotten better over the past few months. Kuroro was playful and overtly affectionate, while Mukuro was subtle, smooth and quiet.

She liked them both, of course, but sometimes she wanted to be absolutely fawned over, and Kuroro was the best solution for that; he was like a puppy, and it made her feel terribly special.

"Looking like what?" Rhode tried to look over her shoulder to get a glimpse of what Kuroro was doing, curious.

Kuroro could match his outward behavior with the person he was with and didn't think anything about making the effort to do so. That was probably the main difference between them, if he thought about it. Kuroro could murder hundreds without losing his pleasant smile and come home to dinner and a drink with the Ryodan twelve hours later.

He could also fuss and play and cuddle with someone without denting his reputation, yes. It was a skill.

"Like I'm going to eat him, I guess," he answered in return, because Kuroro was safe from any thwacks Kurapika could give while Rhode was in the room.

Indeed, he couldn't get at Kuroro without going through Rhode, and so he was left with the option of giving the older man a disgusted look. How was it that Kuroro could ply Rhode with affection like it was nothing on one hand and troll other people as effectively at the same time on the other hand?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Special Delivery

no subject

LMAO

Hahahahjashkjasda

no subject

HAH, THAT ICON.

no subject

Rhodegrabbing is canon... for people who don't fear her bratty evilness. Like her mom. XD

And half the city.

Too bad Kurapika will never be tall enough to pick her up like that.

I feel like most of the city would just punt her if given the opportunity... and lmao, kurapika!

I'm sure the feeling is mutual on her end!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject