T42 - Thursday

[hernando_fuentes]

The store had decorated itself in green, black, and red. Hernando eyed the streamers of plants until he realized they were holly and not mistletoe boughs. Candles flickered in glass-covered sconces, themed in the same colors.

The pastry selection was different. Mango-glazed poundcake, coconut cake with a creamy frosting, individual ambrosia cups topped with slices of exotic fruit, sweet potato pecan bars were laid out amidst festive strands of gold tinsel cord.

The sign read:
SPECIALS
Spiced Hibiscus Tea
Honey-infused Sahara
Mango Green Tea
Free baked good with purchase!

Hernando was a little confused with the decorations but after he hung the sign, he googled the day to see if it was a holiday. "Oh!" he exclaimed, patting the counter. "Kwanzaa! That is very nice of you!"

He was in a very good mood anyway but felt a rush of affection that the store was taking other winter holidays into consideration.

[Open]

Comments

[mages_suck]

The snow was melting but the air was still a bit chill. Fjord had disappeared somewhere and Fenris was left without anyone to complain to.

He went for tea. Wearing his crocheted yellow ducky hat in a completely unironic fashion. Almost daring anyone to say something about it.

"Hernando," he greeted, pausing to step around and over some playful quokka, "How was your holiday thing? If it was a holiday thing for you?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando looked up and smiled. The smile became slightly fixed when he took in the duck hat and tried not to laugh. Fenris did not look in a laughing mood. "Fenris, welcome back! It was good, thank you for asking. I had some friends over and a nice quiet evening. How was yours? May I get you some tea?"

[mages_suck]

"I would like some hot tea, yes," Fenris agreed. He couldn't read the sign, "Whatever you think is good will be fine." He chose a seat and sat down. "It was not my holiday. My roommate and I quite enjoyed the snowmen, though not the cold. That was unpleasant. It almost froze poor Tickles but we rescued him and brought him back to the hotel with us. He perked up once he was warm again."

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando was a little lost in the conversation. "Tickles?" he inquired, "Is that a, hm, resident?" He set about making Fenris some spiced Hibiscus tea.

[mages_suck]

"It's Peter's pet at the store," Fenris said, "A little kittenwillow. Which Fjord was thankfully not allergic to." After a moment, he explained, "Fjord's badly allergic to cats. Even saying the word 'cat' will sometimes cause him to sneeze."

Fenris tested this every so often.

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando blinked, "It's still alive?" He realized he had to explain so he gestured at the very happy pussy willow plants in the back of the store. "The plants had kittens. Peter took one, the others all grew roots and turned into the smaller plants you see at the base there by the next day."

[mages_suck]

"Yes," Fenris said tightly, "He's still alive. I brought him back to the store once the cold blew back out again." He gave the plants a thoughtful look once Hernando had explained. "Do you think they might again?"

[hernando_fuentes]

Hernando shrugged with both palms. He brought Fenris' tea to his table and then parked himself in a comfortable chair nearby. "I suppose they might. Peter said he had never seen them do that before but he also does not usually have them long-term. The kittens were cute. I was almost a little sad when they had turned back into plants."