Fixer-Uppers (Is Closed!), Thursday!!

[the_merriest]

The store was closed today. You could tell by the big sign on the door, the one that said

CLOSED

But Rikku was still here, at least, very early in the morning. She was waiting for a certain little sib to pop in, so they could head out on their trip. She was already packed, and she even had something special to give Momoko. Call it an early Christmas gift from someone who didn't celebrate.

(As noted, the store is closed, although one is expected to stop by, and anyone else is welcome so long as it's before the bouncy twins head off on their trip!)

Comments

[heromaniac]

Momoko bounced up and down in front of the door, trying to look over the sign to see if Rikku was actually inside. Ah! SHE WAS, SHE WAS!

She shifted the box in her arms and tested the door, opening it with great excitement. "Rikku! We're really going, right? I can come with you?"

[the_merriest]

"Wellll, I don't knooooow," Rikku said, standing behind the counter and pretending to think it over very seriously. "I guess we can go. But only if I get to give you your gift early."

She couldn't hold back from cracking up any longer. It was a wonder she'd made it that far.

[heromaniac]

"You got me a present?!" Momoko beamed at her and bounced over, setting the box on the counter and dropping a small duffel-bag on the floor. Momoko had, of course, gotten Rikku and Reno presents- hence the box. "You totally didn't have to! I know you don't celebrate Christmas!"

[the_merriest]

"Oh, that doesn't matter," Rikku laughed. "I love any excuse to get things for people. Ooooh, is this for me?"

Rikku had to pick the box up and shake it. Gently. And then realize that was a bad idea, and set it down again. No breaking the gift before she'd even opened it.

"And besides, your gift is important," she added. She reached under the counter and produced an arm brace. It wasn't wrapped, except for the ribbon wrapped around it. That gave it a festive sort of air, didn't it?

[heromaniac]

The box would have made a weird clunky sound, but they probably wouldn't break?

At least Momoko hoped so, because she was feeling really bad about her choice for the two of them, now. "Ah! This is mine? Thank you!" Her jaw dropped in awe. "It's SO pretty! It totally looks like armor, too!"

[the_merriest]

"That's because it is armor," Rikku said, laughing at her friend's excitement. "This arm brace gives you immunity from poison, increased magic defense, and a little something that kicks in if you're injured. A protective shell, to cut way down on damage you take from magic."

Okay and maybe she was bouncing a little, on her toes. It was nerve-wracking, making armor for people. You had to hope they liked it.

[heromaniac]

Like it? LIKE it?

"Ah! For ME?! Really real armor? Put it on! Put it on!" She was practically buzzing with excitement as she held the armor and her arm across the counter. "Please! How does it work? This is so AWESOME! Do I have to do anything? So I won't be hurt by magic if I wear it, right? Will the magic shell stop me from using my yo-yo? It's really for me?"

She liked it.

[the_merriest]

"It's totally real," Rikku grinned, bouncing again. This was the happy wriggle of HOORAY, SHE LIKED IT! which was totally different from the bounce of nervous excitement. They were distinct.

She slipped the brace on over her friend's forearm, carefully adjusting the straps to fit her.

"You don't have to do anything, it's all automatic," she explained. "But you're not immune to magic. That's important to note. Even the shell that comes on, that just absorbs about half of whatever tries to get through. So a really bad magic spell only does half as much damage as it would, otherwise. The shell doesn't stop offensive magic going out, or weapons, either, but if you cast healing magic on yourself, that gets absorbed, too. Potions are okay. Okay, swing your arm around, see if the fastenings are going to hold."

[heromaniac]

"I can't cast magic, silly! That's part of the whole problem." Momoko waved her arm excitedly before attempting an awkward MASSIVE HUG OF YAY across the counter. "This is so so so so so awesome! Thank you!! Now I feel totally bad about yours!"

[the_merriest]

Hugs of yay were always welcome, and Momoko got a tight squeeze from her big sib.

"Oh, don't, please," she said. "I like making these, and I haven't had a chance in a while! And besides, you're going to need it."

Which also made her wriggle, excitedly. And now, she needed to let go so she could investigate the package.

"It's for both of us," she said solemnly. "Should I wait? I can wait."

[heromaniac]

Momoko hummmed happily as she dropped to her dufflebag and fiddled for a moment. "You totally have to open it now!" She popped up, beaming and holding a roll of tape. "We can reseal it for later! Reno never has to know!"

Someone had experience with Christmas, you see.

[the_merriest]

"Oh, you are good at this," Rikku giggled, tearing happily into her present. She opened the box, and ...

"Oh, dude," she laughed, pulling one of the snowball launchers out of the box. "This is so freaking cool. Oh, wow, are there two of them? We can have wars! Snowball fight! I can totally practice with this and then kick his sorry butt!"

Now? Now was totally the time for another awkward, moving-the-presents-out-of-the-way hug.

"Thank you! I can't wait to try this bad boy out!!!"

[heromaniac]

"Yay! You like them!" Huuuuuug! "I had to find some way to get you to like snow and it's a gun! Not armor, but good, right?"

"I'm sorry it's something you have to wait to use, though." Momoko pulled away to run her fingers over the arm brace and grin happily at Rikku.