9328/Gift Exchange

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Gift Exchange
Date of Scene: 28 December 2021
Location: Starling City Coffee
Synopsis: Alex and Thea exchange gifts, an arrowhead for Thea and a bow for Alexander!
Cast of Characters: Alexander Aaron, Thea Queen




Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Christmas Day.
    The evening of is often so quiet. The streets are clear, very few people are out and about, and this year the sky and the snow lend a subtle feeling of seclusion to the world for those who venture out into the chilly night. Snow had fallen on Starling city overnight during Santa's trip across the night sky. But the morn and the rays of the sun through the overcast had turned a good amount of it into slush, making it so each car that wandered by on its way softly whisked through the puddles and rivulets of water.
    Few may well venture out, among that number of those few one was the young Olympian Alexander Aaron. Christmas Eve he had spent with his father and his father's friends, a small get together with drinking and laughing, playing poker with old movies playing in the background. Then in the morning there had been a brief exchange of gifts as well as a solstice hunting trip that was unsuccessful this year once again but it was still a fine time to spend between father and son.
    But during the day, Alexander had looked forward to the evening. After he had sent a text message to Thea Queen...

    << Hey. Did you want to meet today? I got you a thing. >> Oh so eloquently put.

Thea Queen has posed:
Winter in Starling may not be as cold as New York but there's still a chilly ambience to it all, specially now after it snowed, giving the whole city an ethereal look. Thea loves it. The cold, the quiet. It reminds her this is still her city, no matter the past.

And now Christmas. It had been spent with family, and Felicity. An awkward Christmas eve for certain but they had managed, even having survived her draconian mother. Night was coming to Starling until she noticed that message from Alexander. A meet-up? She smiles.

<<You got me a thing? How did you know that's exactly what I wanted for christmas?>> Nothing like some sarcasm to start the eve!

But then she sends another one, <<Come to Starling City Caffee>>

And with the coordinates given it isn't hard of a place to reach. Thea is already inside, dressed in elegant black pants and turtleneck sweater. A fluffy grey coat is around her form, the whole ensemble looking more out of a modeling session than actual clothing. The woes of being rich!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The wind's picked up enough to cause some of the snow to catch on the breeze, creating some wisps of flakes that swirl through the air and across the street. If the wind was stronger, or there was more snow it might almost look like a blizzard, though as it is now it's more a hint of ghosts dancing and the Winter celebrating. It also makes those walking up and down the street look all the more colder when someone sits in a coffee shop and watches them from within.
    The handful of people walking about in the city seem to be moving fairly quickly, likely wanting to return home and get hunkered down under covers before the night grows too long. But when he finally comes into view when Thea finally catches sight of Alexander, he's walking along with an easy step and a half-smile on his features as if he didn't have a care in the world. And where he wanted to be was right here.
    That smile broadened when the door opened, the bell in the archway jangling even as Alexander stepped under the mistletoe decoration and the blinking lights that create a beautiful Christmas pathway along the book shelves and paintings. He's wearing a black pea coat, similar to the one she saw him wear last. Nothing too terribly fashionable for him. Blue jeans, black leather boots. And as he hung up his coat in the door she'd see he had a heavy gray sweater as well as a loose scarf over his shoulder.
    As soon as he caught sight of her he grinned, lifting a hand to wave upon his arrival. And once he hung up his coat he crossed the distance to her chair to lean in for a gentle kiss of greeting and a murmured, "Hey."
    Before he's pulling out his own chair to take a seat. "You're in luck, the stores had 'things' on sale."

Thea Queen has posed:
There's some movement at the place even at such a day and hour. Maybe others with the same idea? What's true is that there's a few couples here and there sitting down. It does seem like it's a typical place in Starling for young couples to go meet after their time with family. The bell announcing a new arrival has Thea look up from her phone, sharp eyes taking in Alexander and she smiling faintly in his direction.

"They always do. Did you get me socks?" She asks, reaching for a kiss, half-smirk on her expression. "I am joking. I am the one that got you socks. But we can continue calling them things so they sound more glamorous..." someone dialed up on the sarcasm today! But that's what you get when you spend too much time with one Moira Queen, her mother. Still, her tone is a jesting one at least!

What's true is that she has a box with her, at least a meter long. Maybe it's a lot of socks in there!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Sooo many socks," He says as he takes a seat and smiles across the way at her. Though those pale hazel eyes drift to the box that is set beside her and his eyebrows raise. Then his eyes widen a little, playful as his smile opens a bit further his lips parting with that wry grin. He bites his lip then gestures, "Is that... for me?"
    Clear hint of glee, but he suppresses it and slides his chair over to the side so he can sit beside her. "I want to go first though, alright?" As he says that he shifts his posture a little, rising up on one hip so he can dig a hand into the pocket of his jeans. From within he produces a small box, barely three inches by three inches and perhaps an inch in height. It has red wrapping paper around it with small Santa faces and candy canes along it, and a green ribbon that is partially wrapped around it. He sets it on the table, then looks to her.
    "So alright, there's a small story to go with this."

Thea Queen has posed:
"Might be. Or it might be for the second boyfriend I have an appointment with a bit later." Thea teases, sitting back on her seat once again and crossing one leg over the other. Elegant. Still, her eyes continue to play amusedly, chuckling when she notes the glee on Alexander's expression. "Hopefully it won't disappoint too much.."

A waitress comes by the table at that time, asking for their orders. Thea just goes with a coffee and glances to Alexander to wait for his own order before departing. It's when the heiress notes the gift that's come out of the man's jeans and she quirks a brow in curiosity at it.

"Is this a story you want to tell before or after I tear through the paper?" she inquires. " ... or during?" she reaches over for the gift!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I'm sure it'll be great," The Olympian tells her even as he looks up and gives a nod to the waitress as she wanders by to take their order.
    "Just some orange juice, please." What kind of guy gets OJ on Christmas? A thirsty guy is who.
    But when she's gone Alexander's smile returns as Thea leeeeans over and snatches the gift, drawing the small package toward herself. It has a little heft to it, and if she shakes it there's no rattle, but perhaps a subtle shift of weight from within, very subtle.
    "It is a story I can tell while you're ripping it apart." He says as he leans to the side as if to give her room to do her worst!
    "But, I was trying to think for a bit what would be a good gift. And I had a few ideas, I poked around at your apartment while we were there and all those... really neat things you had on the walls. And I thought what might be a nice thing for... I dunno, if you wanted to keep something around to remind you of me."
    And once she makes it through that wrapping paper? She'll find a white thin jewelry box with some tissue paper. Under that tissue paper is a silver chain that is connected to... a shiny metal arrowhead.

Thea Queen has posed:
Picking up the wrapped-up gift Thea takes her time with it, delicate fingertips turning it to one side, then the other, eyes narrowed just so. Perhaps trying to determine what is inside! "Mmmm, a little shift within ..." she concludes. And yes, she shakes it. Not too hard. "Hope it wasn't a frail thing.." she says after shaking it, a teasing grin on her lips.

It's only after Alexander starts going through his story that she begins to unwrap it, and she doesn't tear the paper, instead being careful with it. Dainty almost! A Queen is always in perfect poise. Ugh, she can hear her mother in her head again...

"You poked around my apartment?" Yes, that's what she picks up from that story, laughing briefly and then eyeing the gift again. "This is too small for a sword." she then tells him. Because there were quite a few of those on the walls of her place!

But eventually she is done with the paper. Eyes go wide when she notes what it is. "This will sort of make it awkward when you see my gift but it's lovely." she tells Alexander, smile blooming as she hangs the silver chain in both hands. "Do you want to put it on me?" she then suggests, handing the chain over to Alexander and turning her back, hair sweeped aside.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Still smiling, Alexander lowers his eyes and rubs at the tip of his nose with his thumb, perhaps a little embarrassed to be called out for snooping. Which, to be fair, he was. But more for gift ideas and slightly less for curiousity. Though ok curiousity was still an important part of it.
    "It was respectful poking, looking at all your tchotchkes, and knick knacks, and what have yous." Though those 'knick knacks' were rather expensive and beautiful. And deadly. "And I was totally thinking like, mebbe a sword... or a knife, or something equivalent. But I also noticed some of the bows." As he says that he uncurls a hand toward the necklace now revealed.
    Then she turns and draws her hair to the side, baring her neck. He accepts the necklace from her hand and slides his chair over to get behind her. For a brief moment he leans in to touch a very small kiss to the nape of her neck, then he undoes the clasp of the necklace and draws it gently along her shoulders and behind her neck.
    The small arrowhead points downward. It has a lovely curve to the edge and that curve continues to the ear making it look almost like a dangerous heart shape. The neck is circular and set to accept the shaft of an arrow, but there is a hole along that neck that allows the chain to be threaded through. The point still has a little bit of an edge to it, but the sides are unsharpened.
    As he closes the clasp he tells her, "I thought it would be good to find one that... had significance. A connection with us." Then his lip twists up as he gets the necklace settled and shifts in his seat to the side a little to look at her directly.
    "So I reached out to my half-brother. Cupid. Or Eros, depending on his attitude at the time. And this is..." He extends a hand gently to hold up the arrowhead briefly, before leaning against the table. "Is one of his arrowheads."

Thea Queen has posed:
Oh yes, Thea continues in that 'festive' sarcastic mood when Alexander speaks of having gone through her knick knacks and so. "My what? My knickers?" she asks, a raised brow on her expression. "Aren't you the naughty type.." another brief chuckle and a shake of her head. But then she is turning around to receive the necklace, head bent forward a touch and closing her eyes at the brief kiss placed on the nape. She remains quiet while it's placed around the neck, blue eyes on the tip, curious.

It's when he finishes with his tale that she finally understands it all. "This is a cupid's arrow?" she asks, perhaps just a touch alarmed for a moment there. And making sure not to graze her fingertips on the arrowhead.

"You know, most people would just laugh at that tale but for some reason it's sounding like it happened.." she murmurs, "I didn't know Eros was your brother." she has never been one to study mythology much. In fact she'd laugh at most of those if she wasn't actually dating one!

"It's still a lovely gift. Did you steal this one from him?" she then asks, a twinkle in her eye before she leans over to place a kiss on the man's lips.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "All through the knickers, like every one, you were in the shower for a long time." Alexander just goes with her mood, jousting right back at her as his smile twists up crookedly.
    "It's not enchanted though," Alexander says as he catches that alarm in her voice, but his smile is roguish and amused. "So there's that." He offers, his hand gently finding hers and fingers interlacing as he looks in her eyes and tells her the tale. "But yes, he's my half-brother, it's from his quiver."
    He takes a deep breath and tells her, "I had to call him to a meeting, we met on neutral ground. Diana and my cousin were there to witness. I asked him for the arrowhead, and what he would want in exchange for it. We settled on I'd owe him a favor down the line."
    Their eyes meet and he leans closer ever so slightly, meeting her easing in for that kiss. "So I didn't steal it, no."
    But then whatever else he might say is lost for the moment as their lips touch. A lovely gentle kiss that lingers a few moments. Just enough for perhaps a glance or two to be sent their way before it ends from a smirking onlooker or two. Though when they part from that kiss he squeezes her hand affectionately.

Thea Queen has posed:
"You do realize I got cameras at my place, right?" Deadpan delivery too. Eyebrow lift as well. Just so Alexander understands Thea may very well go through those tapes! She also might be joking. Who knows! The info that the arrow isn't enchanted has her grin, and perhaps be a bit more relieved, "Not enchanted, that's good, right?" she watches the arrowhead a bit more attentively. "It's still an exquisite design." she says of the angles on that tip, "Thank you.."

Yet as Alexander speaks of owing his half-brother a favor that makes her mmmm, "You got yourself indebted for the arrow?" she isn't too sure about that. "Isn't that a dangerous prospect?" even if further concerns are smothered with the kiss they share, quiet and gentle.

"Go ahead, open your gift." she then sliding the box towards him. "No big story behind this one. Besides being something I made myself." she informs.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "If you do have cameras, you should understand that I only sing in the shower while I'm happy." Since that may perhaps be the most embarrassing thing she might have captured. But then perhaps he's just teasing her right back!
    "I'm glad you like it," He says softly when she thanks him, his eyes lowering a bit and his smile looking a little goofy as he looks back up into her eyes.
    Then he nods about being indebted, "It's a favor of the lowest order. He can't ask me to betray an oath, a loyalty, nor law of man nor god. Still, I'm sure he'll figure out a way to give me grief down the line." But then his attention is drawn to the gift box she places on the table and he slides it over, "You made it yourself?"
    A quirked eyebrow is aimed in her direction, then he adds, "Is it booby-trapped?" Since the new Thea is /Dangerous/ Thea.
    Yet it's with a crooked grin that he starts to undo the packaging, not quite as perfectly so as Thea was able to, but he's not a savage tearing and ripping his way through it.

Thea Queen has posed:
"Well, at least assembled it together." Thea states, watching Alexander go through the giftwrap. As it comes off what's inside is a box, and within that box one will find a bow. It's a touch smaller than the usual, and it's collapsed too, so even smaller at the moment. "Thought you could use one considering you are always using those swords. It's a touch smaller than the norm too." she tells him. "Perfect to use in a pinch and quick too, but without the same reach as the more normal ones."

It's also perfect for newbies, but she doesn't say that part! "It also means I will have to teach you how to properly use one."

See? Bonus lessons with the bow too!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Once the paper is off, and then when the box is revealed, Alexander's smile is a bright thing as he looks at it and then starts to run his nail along the sides of the cardboard, looking or places of tape to undo so he can open the box itself. It takes a bit but as he goes about it he tilts his head toward Thea. "This is awesome, thank you. It's been... a good bit of time since I've practiced."
    It's true, Alexander usually focuses on blades and fists and feet, but a bow is usually something outside of his wheelhouse. He gets enough of the box open so he can lift the top off and reveal the bow within. He takes a moment or two to smile at the weapon and lightly runs a finger along the haft.
    "Collapsible too, that's pretty cool." He closes the lid and sets the box on the table, but then leans over and touches the tip of his nose to hers, "Thank you, Thea." He says with affectionate formality before turning his head slightly to the side for another welcome kiss.
    Just a shared moment of breath and sensation threatening to wander toward the passionate but then breaking as he murmurs with a faint growl to his tone. "Merry Christmas."