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storypaint) wrote2015-01-27 12:12 pm
storypaint) wrote2015-01-27 12:12 pm
[Animorphs] the holly and the ivy (Ax gen)
Title: the holly and the ivy
Fandom: Animorphs
Length: 795 words
Prompt: Animorphs! Aximili is taken to a Christmas party and is confused about what the hanging plants in doorways mean - until he's shown by another guest.
Pairing: Ax gen with some Jake/Cassie
Other: n/a
Excerpt: There are all kinds of greenery draped around Rachel's house, along with bells and red ribbons and all the other trappings of the holiday (which is very fun to say, actually, Ax has been practicing). There are some poisonous berries tacked up above the living room door, and he notices everyone avoiding them. At first he thinks they are simply being sensible, but there are more giggles than he expects when the other kids take a look.
As the local climate cools, a different greenery begins to appear in the public streets. Most of it smells fake, but the pieces that aren't are still bright and vibrant, unlike the rest of the plants that have shed their leaves. It had worried Ax at first when all the plants began dying, but he'd soon been reassured that they would return. Cassie brings him all kinds of biology books on it. They have a bit of panic figuring out what he would eat, but luckily he can eat in morph, which makes it easier. He does miss grass, though, and snow is his least favorite part of the winter season.
The Animorphs decide to have a Christmas party -- just a small one, at Rachel's house when she knows her parents will be out at a party of their own. Ax senses a sort of tired thrill in the decision that has become more and more common over the past months. He remembers it from his short-lived service with his own people. This has been a long war, even if it hasn't been on this planet for very long.
There are all kinds of greenery draped around Rachel's house, along with bells and red ribbons and all the other trappings of the holiday (which is very fun to say, actually, Ax has been practicing). There are some poisonous berries tacked up above the living room door, and he notices everyone avoiding them. At first he thinks they are simply being sensible, but there are more giggles than he expects when the other kids take a look.
It's a short party -- the two-hour timeframe is always a concern, but in-between the gifts and the desperate attempt to relax Ax manages to corner Marco under the plant. Marco is usually his best source of non-technical knowledge, although his tendency to share sarcastic responses sometimes causes confusion.
"What is the significance of this plant?" Ax asks, pointing upwards, and Marco groans. Ax has been working on his expressions, so he lets his forehead wrinkle in confusion.
"Are we not supposed to acknowledge it? Is that part of the game? No one has been succeeding very well at that."
"No, no... the opposite, in fact. Here, I'll show you what it's for. And not by demonstration, either. Get out of the doorframe, Ax-man."
Ax follows Marco's command and sits down on the couch to observe. Marco darts back into the kitchen, where Jake is grabbing another can of soda. When they emerge again together, chatting casually, Marco calls out, "Hey, Cassie! Come settle an argument!" He stops moving, a hand propped on the wall.
It's always interesting to watch Marco at work. When he isn't desperate for a plan, he can be relentlessly casual. He waits until Jake and Cassie are both standing under the doorway, engrossed in a discussion about a movie they'd seen, to make his move. A broad grin crosses his face and he points upward. Jake and Cassie's eyes slide up and then they both glance quickly away from each other.
"Come on, you know the rule," Marco says, and after a bit of prodding, Cassie turns her cheek and Jake puts his mouth to it. A kiss, Ax recognizes the gesture. He isn't sure how the plant led to the kiss, though. In any case, the pair quickly separate, Cassie crossing the room to sit by Rachel, Jake ribbing at Marco for the deception.
He asks Tobias about it later in the scoop. After the party is over, they have a real meeting to discuss further guerilla activity in the upcoming month. They have to work around a lot of different parties and events spurred on by the season, it seems.
This is more human interaction than Tobias usually enjoys, but he is Ax's shorm, and spending time with a shorm is different than spending time in a group of people. Ax is good at being quiet, but present.
Tobias is cleaning his feathers, resetting them carefully, when Ax asks, <What is the significance of the plant in the doorframe? Marco showed me how it works, but he didn't explain why.>
Tobias laughs. <Should have guessed. It's called mistletoe. It's a Christmas tradition. When two people end up underneath it together, they're supposed to kiss. I'm not sure who came up with it.>
Ax considers a moment. <I see. It seems that Marco misunderstood, then, as we both stood underneath it but neglected to do so.>
Tobias doesn't laugh often, but he does so again, and strongly. <I want to be there when you tell him that, Ax. Make sure you do. After all, it's good to experience Earth traditions.>
<I certainly shall,> Ax agrees, and outside it again begins to snow.
Fandom: Animorphs
Length: 795 words
Prompt: Animorphs! Aximili is taken to a Christmas party and is confused about what the hanging plants in doorways mean - until he's shown by another guest.
Pairing: Ax gen with some Jake/Cassie
Other: n/a
Excerpt: There are all kinds of greenery draped around Rachel's house, along with bells and red ribbons and all the other trappings of the holiday (which is very fun to say, actually, Ax has been practicing). There are some poisonous berries tacked up above the living room door, and he notices everyone avoiding them. At first he thinks they are simply being sensible, but there are more giggles than he expects when the other kids take a look.
As the local climate cools, a different greenery begins to appear in the public streets. Most of it smells fake, but the pieces that aren't are still bright and vibrant, unlike the rest of the plants that have shed their leaves. It had worried Ax at first when all the plants began dying, but he'd soon been reassured that they would return. Cassie brings him all kinds of biology books on it. They have a bit of panic figuring out what he would eat, but luckily he can eat in morph, which makes it easier. He does miss grass, though, and snow is his least favorite part of the winter season.
The Animorphs decide to have a Christmas party -- just a small one, at Rachel's house when she knows her parents will be out at a party of their own. Ax senses a sort of tired thrill in the decision that has become more and more common over the past months. He remembers it from his short-lived service with his own people. This has been a long war, even if it hasn't been on this planet for very long.
There are all kinds of greenery draped around Rachel's house, along with bells and red ribbons and all the other trappings of the holiday (which is very fun to say, actually, Ax has been practicing). There are some poisonous berries tacked up above the living room door, and he notices everyone avoiding them. At first he thinks they are simply being sensible, but there are more giggles than he expects when the other kids take a look.
It's a short party -- the two-hour timeframe is always a concern, but in-between the gifts and the desperate attempt to relax Ax manages to corner Marco under the plant. Marco is usually his best source of non-technical knowledge, although his tendency to share sarcastic responses sometimes causes confusion.
"What is the significance of this plant?" Ax asks, pointing upwards, and Marco groans. Ax has been working on his expressions, so he lets his forehead wrinkle in confusion.
"Are we not supposed to acknowledge it? Is that part of the game? No one has been succeeding very well at that."
"No, no... the opposite, in fact. Here, I'll show you what it's for. And not by demonstration, either. Get out of the doorframe, Ax-man."
Ax follows Marco's command and sits down on the couch to observe. Marco darts back into the kitchen, where Jake is grabbing another can of soda. When they emerge again together, chatting casually, Marco calls out, "Hey, Cassie! Come settle an argument!" He stops moving, a hand propped on the wall.
It's always interesting to watch Marco at work. When he isn't desperate for a plan, he can be relentlessly casual. He waits until Jake and Cassie are both standing under the doorway, engrossed in a discussion about a movie they'd seen, to make his move. A broad grin crosses his face and he points upward. Jake and Cassie's eyes slide up and then they both glance quickly away from each other.
"Come on, you know the rule," Marco says, and after a bit of prodding, Cassie turns her cheek and Jake puts his mouth to it. A kiss, Ax recognizes the gesture. He isn't sure how the plant led to the kiss, though. In any case, the pair quickly separate, Cassie crossing the room to sit by Rachel, Jake ribbing at Marco for the deception.
He asks Tobias about it later in the scoop. After the party is over, they have a real meeting to discuss further guerilla activity in the upcoming month. They have to work around a lot of different parties and events spurred on by the season, it seems.
This is more human interaction than Tobias usually enjoys, but he is Ax's shorm, and spending time with a shorm is different than spending time in a group of people. Ax is good at being quiet, but present.
Tobias is cleaning his feathers, resetting them carefully, when Ax asks, <What is the significance of the plant in the doorframe? Marco showed me how it works, but he didn't explain why.>
Tobias laughs. <Should have guessed. It's called mistletoe. It's a Christmas tradition. When two people end up underneath it together, they're supposed to kiss. I'm not sure who came up with it.>
Ax considers a moment. <I see. It seems that Marco misunderstood, then, as we both stood underneath it but neglected to do so.>
Tobias doesn't laugh often, but he does so again, and strongly. <I want to be there when you tell him that, Ax. Make sure you do. After all, it's good to experience Earth traditions.>
<I certainly shall,> Ax agrees, and outside it again begins to snow.