[Last time on Neo-Arcana...] [It was Christmas at the Andrews! In all of its odd forms. Food was had by all and the atmosphere is generally cozy with gaijin holiday cheer. Katie's dad does do some minor grumbling about the lack of good nog, but overall it's kept to a minimum.] [And now we're coming to the end of ornaments and presents time! Did Katie and Kyon hang up the ornaments on the mini tree? And who will give who what? You can't stop this kind of awkward.] [Mariko is doing some minor clearing of the table, but not ready to clear off the full load just yet. Just enough to have a nice place to gather.] [Session Start.] 06* Katie helps pile stuff up for her mother, then is off to the tree. "" She totally didn't notice. Honest. 06* Kyon follows her over to the ornaments. "" 06* Katie is already unwrapping them, and she holds the clay bird one to Kyon. "" 06* Kyon looks down at them. "" He takes the bird one carefully. [Dad goes to help Mariko with the table at least, giving her a kiss on the cheek. It gives the two of them some brief alone time before presents at least.] 06* Katie smiles. "It is." That was in Japanese. She picks up another one, this a little gingerbread ornament, and finds an empty place to hang it on the tree. 06* Kyon looks at the three, trying to find an appropriate place, and then sticks it on, frowning slightly. 06* Katie glances at him. "What's that frown about?" she asks quietly as she picks up another ornament. 06* Kyon glances at her, and smirks, as he replies. "Getting the ornaments right. Mine doesn't look right there, but I can't move anything." 06* Katie steps back and looks at the mini tree critically, then moves to the side and starts... adjusting the branches? Yeah, she's nudging branches about, a bit, so the ornaments end up more easily spaced. "How's that?" 06* Kyon looks at it as well, moving a bit to a different angle, and nods curtly. "Better, right?" 06* Katie nods to Kyon, her eyes twinkling. "Yeah." She hands him another ornament. There were only four, so they're almost done! 06* Kyon looks at the ornament, and then at the tree, and then tries to put it in the optimal place for it that's left. [Her mother comes out at that point and offers some more rolls as they put the ornaments on the tree, placing it on the small coffee table. "Katie? Would you mind being Santa this year?" She must have heard the Japanese.] 01 Sure. 06* Katie hangs up her ornament, putting some care into its placement, and then goes about setting presents in neat piles for each person. [The presents around, at least from the Andrews: There's one for Katie. One for the two of them. One for Mariko and one for John. Plus whatever Katie and Kyon brought.] [Whatever Katie may or may not have heard in her dad's pocket is definitely not amongst the piles.] 06* Katie has a present for her mother and a present for her father. Both packages are reasonably large. [Nothing that would fit in a pocket really there.] 06* Kyon has also brought presents for her parents, but they're not as large. He glances at Katie. "You're Santa?" 06* Katie sticks out her stomach importantly and gives her best belly laugh. "Ho ho ho!" It's awful, and she coughs between giggles. [Her mother smiles at Kyon's response. "It's a tradition. Whoever is the one to hand out presents is "Santa" for that year. It's usually her father. Though Katie did enjoy it when she was younger..." News flash: Katie was not spawned fully grown!] 06* Kyon smirks at Katie, and then almost smiles at her mom. "Yeah? She get to do it a lot back then?" [Her mother lets out a soft laugh. Gentle and pleasant. "Yes...well it isn't as if our family had much of a *rotation*. I do know that she tried to spy if she could see the real Santa Claus back then..." She gives Katie a half-look of 'And yes, I knew you were really awake when you were supposed to be asleep.'] 06* Katie puts a present in front of her mother and says, only half- defensively, "How else are you going to know if there's a Santa?" ["By not trying to see if you could spot the presents before they were wrapped?"] 01 That's just more evidence! 06* Kyon smirks at Katie again. "It would be. If they're there before anyone showed." 06* Katie nods at Kyon. "Right?" She looks at her mother. "" [Her mother calmly takes the package, not looking at Katie at all as she starts to unwrap it. "That excuse only works when they're not presents coming from us." She focuses on the paper. "At least it trained us to get better at hiding."] 06* Katie sticks her tongue out at her mother. 06* Kyon looks at her mother interestedly. "Where'd you hide things? Did you manage to get it to work?" [Mariko smiles knowingly at Kyon as her father comes to join the party and says, just a hint teasingly, "Looking for hints?"] 06* Katie smiles at her dad and pushes his presents to him. Gifting time! 06* Kyon shrugs quickly, but he does look actually interested. "Can't hurt, right?" [Her mother lets out a small laugh. "Ah. But if I let out the hints here, she'll overhear. It wouldn't do you much good, now would it?" Then she winks. "*Some* of them worked."] 06* Kyon nods curtly. "Good point. Maybe some other time." 01 [Mariko finishes opening the present, which is from Katie: It's a beautifully done, medium-sized watercolor painting of the Appalachians during the day, with flora in full bloom. Two small figures are backpacking along a trail, and they're reminiscent of Mariko and John Andrews.] [The teasing expression disappears from Mariko's face as her mouth thins, looking it over carefully and she goes so very quiet. She doesn't look displeased though. After a few moments, she responds in a soft, sincere voice. "...Katie, it's beautiful." Dad's stopped to look at it too from behind the couch.] 06* Katie smiles tentatively. "You like it?" 06* Kyon watches them both for their reactions. He's seen it before, but it's a pretty impressive piece. [Her mother isn't paying much attention to looking at Katie, fingers going tentatively to touch the artwork, almost scared to touch it. "I...I really don't know what to say. I mean...I know you've been practicing but..." Her dad breaks the semi-silence a bit with a louder, but thoughtful. ""] 06* Katie nods. "" She shifts a little. "" She trails off. [Her dad goes and wanders around the couch while her mom continues to hold it in one hand and stare at it. Dad puts a hand on her mother's shoulder and looks at the painting as well, then looks at Katie, kneeling down and opening up for a hug. ""] 06* Katie blinks, then moves over, almost timid, before falling into her dad and giving him a hug. 06* Kyon sits in his seat and watches this, before looking at the painting from where he is again. [Dad does give her the dadliest of hugs. Complete with a gentle little noogie to compliment it. He then looks at the rest of the presents. There's not many, but it's still nice for a small gathering.] 06* Katie laughs. "" She squirms away at the noogie. 06* Kyon nudges his small boxes. "Since you're already opening things." [Dad grins a little then goes over to open Kyon and Katie's gifts, handing another one for Mariko to open as well.] [Both of them are wrapped up pretty nicely in dark green paper! And both the boxes are on the small side. The one for her dad turns out to have a Burberry wallet in it; the one for her mom a blue and silver checked United Arrows scarf.] [Both of them look a little surprised at the gift, giving a momentary look at Kyon, then at each other. They don't say much of anything just yet.] 06* Kyon doesn't look too concerned. But he does say, "I got gift receipts stuck in there, underneath. If they're not your taste." 06* Katie watches her parents with concern disguised as interest. Really, Kyon did get them something, and they can't expect him to know them super well. Right? [His mom breaks the ice with a small smile and a gentle. "It's fine, dear. Thank you." She does glance at Katie apologetically. They know he's trying!] 06* Kyon nods quickly. "You're welcome." 06* Katie gives her mother a smile that almost mirrors hers and nods a little. [Meanwhile, Katie's dad opens his bag and lets out a little loud hoot to break the ice. ""] [Katie's dad really did get a nice new little business tote from her after all!] 06* Kyon rests back in his chair now, and watches the bag removal. 06* Katie grins at her dad. "" [The rest of the gifts are also opened and passed out. John got Mariko a nice royal blue morning gown. Katie's dad got a new pair of work shoes. As for Katie, there's a nice new paint and art set for her! Not top of the line, but sensible and pretty decent! Kyon and Katie together got a small spider houseplant. Late housewarming gift maybe?] [There's a little small talk here and there, then Katie's mom asks her if she can help with the cleaning.] 06* Katie gets up and helps her mom with the cleaning, then! [Katie’s father grips Kyon’s shoulder and leans in to whisper "Ready to talk?" Then heads over to the study.] 06* Katie acts like she didn't hear that, talking to her mom about something or nothing. 06* Kyon looks up from the plant, and nods curtly, before unfolding himself from the chair and following off that way. [The study is well off. If Kyon knows, this was Katie's old room. It has a bookshelf in it now and a couple of pictures, but is largely set up with a decent running computer. Not top of the line, but it's a business computer. It doesn't need to be.] [If Kyon cares to look, on the side of the computer is one of Katie's graduation pictures.] 06* Kyon will look around a bit when he goes in, getting a sense of the surroundings. [Katie's dad comes in shortly after and then puts his arm around his shoulder, digging in his pockets. He hands Kyon a small envelope as he enters. "" Then he goes back behind the desk to the computer chair and flops in it with a sigh, taking off the new hat his wife got him and plopping it on the desk.] [""] 06* Kyon turns from perusing the shelf when he comes in. He stiffens at the man's touch, but tries to tamp it down, and takes the envelope when he's handed it. "" [The man's lips thin at the question and he just gestures for Kyon to open it.] 06* Kyon goes ahead and opens it up, then. [It's most definitely cash. A quick count of it would show it to be about six hundred thousand yen. In large denominations, of course.] 06* Kyon riffles the stack of money, and then looks up at Katie's dad quizzically, one eyebrow raised. "" [Her dad looks up at Kyon with a tired, but no less sharp expression as he looks him over. Then shakes his head. ""] 06* Kyon doesn't put the envelope on the desk, but he doesn't put it away, either. "" [John frowns at that and looks up at Kyon. "" He suddenly clams up and looks a little tenser than before.] 06* Kyon cocks his head, and regards him. "" [Her dad watches the regard for a moment and seems hesitant to speak then sighs a little. ""] 06* Kyon still doesn't pocket the envelope, but says evenly, "" He smirks a little. "" [Her dad lets out another sigh and flumps back in his chair, but doesn't look too pleased with Kyon at that. ""] 06* Kyon shrugs quickly. "" [Her dad rubs his head and breathes. ""] 06* Kyon nods curtly, and takes a step closer to the desk, looking down at him. "" His smirk crooks up a bit more. "" [The man looks at Kyon for a moment and snorts. "" He then eyes Kyon very carefully.] 06* Kyon watches him back for a beat, and then says, "" [John wonders for a second, looking as if he wants to counter that, then deflates, breathing out. "" His fist tenses up a little bit.] 06* Kyon nods quickly. "" [Half of the man looks relieved as he sinks into the chair. He really looks like he wants a brandy again. "<...thank you for honoring the request of this foolish father...>" It sounds like he's forcing it. Even if it's in English, the intonation is *very* Japanese...] 06* Kyon looks through the envelope, and takes out half, putting it back on the desk, and tucking the rest of the envelope in his pants pocket. "" [John doesn't go for the money. "" He seems to be thinking of the words. Chewing them over. Mulling them over. "" 06* Kyon looks down at him, face even, but his eyes are definitely interested. "" [John almost *lunges* at him, pointing his finger in his general direction, almost angrily, but keeps his voice down to a hiss so others in the household don't hear. Supposedly. ""] 06* Kyon raises his eyebrows, surprised at the sudden vehemence, and says, trying to match his volume, "" [John looks at him for a moment. He looks confused, hurt, maybe a little scared. But the confusion soon wins out. "<...your *people*? What'dya mean by that, hmm?>"] [John pauses as he considers those words and then gives Kyon a steady look. "<...okay. Yeah. Sure.>" His eyes tilt up to watch Kyon's eyes. ""] 06* Kyon looks faintly puzzled. "" [John looks guilty for a second for putting him on the spot, then shakes his head. "" He deflates again and looks aside. ""] 06* Kyon nods slightly. "" [John looks up at him and then shakes his head. "" He punctuates the last with a point. ""] 06* Kyon nods again, but he doesn't say anything in response. [John nods and gestures Kyon away. ""] 06* Kyon nods back to him curtly. "" [Mr. Andrews lets him go! He is excused!] 06* Kyon makes his way out from the study, then! [And the rest of the visit continued uneventfully! With general pleasantries and well wishes had by all! And overall Christmas shenanigans! And yet still there was no good nog.] [BUT AT LEAST THERE WAS TURKEY!] [Session End.]