6th Broken Illusion [Backdated to Christmas Morning]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Phone : Drone Filter ]
After all the tricks, does this place really expect me to open a box sitting innocently under the Christmas tree I didn't even help set up, just because it has my name on it?

[ There is a pause as he considers it. ] Right. I didn't think so.


((OOC: Action open to housemates and/or any guests for that morning, or anyone who would reasonably stop by 840 Hastings.))

Comments

[abovelions]

It is not unlike them. [she eyes the presents, clearly concerned now.]

What choice is left, I wonder...

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

We open them.

Or... I'll open mine first, and you just get ready to call someone if somehing happens to me. Deal?

[abovelions]

[it's not very surprising that he volunteered. she doesn't like the idea of leaving him to go first, but really this is probably a more practical way to do it.

she nods and tries to look ready.]

If you are sure.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ A nod. ] I'm sure.

[ He slides over to the tree and brings the box with his name on it forward. Touma takes a deep breath, hooks his fingers into the wrapping and tears off the top. Once everything is sufficiently unwrapped he loosens the lid and, after swallowing a breath, pops it off and recoils.

...nothing happens, so he sloooowly peers in. ]

Huh. It's a card? [ Touma picks it up and carefully opens it. ]

[abovelions]

[she too was ready for the worst- and is not quite sure if she should let herself breathe again or not! could a card be dangerous?

she will at least edge close enough to peek.]

What for?

1/2

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

It says...[ There are words, but they don't last past when he passes his gaze over them. ]

The hell? [ He turns the card over, opens it, closes it to check the back, opens it again, looks in the box, looks under the lid. ]

Damn it, I didn't even get to really read it. [ Touma mouths the letters that he thought he saw and then, after a moment, it hits him. ]

2/2

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ He brings his right hand up an stares into his palm. ] That? [ Touma never thought he'd get that back, at this rate. ]

[abovelions]

[she jumps back needlessly, as a reflex. a card he couldn't read? did he get a paper cut?

what on earth was that...]

Touma?

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Touma flexes his hand and then runs it through his hair as if there's nothing at all wrong. He then drops the card into the box and shuts it. ] It's nothing. Some kind of gag gift, probably. That's just great. [ How is he supposed to explain something like that, anyhow? ]

[abovelions]

I see. [morgiana hesitates. so it is nothing after all? she'd been expecting the worst- though she could feel relieved now.] It's good you've come out unharmed, at least.

My gift might also be nothing, then.... [she picks up her own box, considering just leaving it if it is not so important.]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ A nervous laugh. ] Yeah, haha. I was really worried there for a while. But I guess there was no point?

[ He nods and scoots closer. ] Maybe. Don't worry. If anything happens, I'm right here for you.

[abovelions]

Supposedly not. To think they would play a prank...

[she nods again, reassured! there's no reason for them to have very different gifts, probably. it is likely a gag as well, considering how light the gift felt. she unwraps it carefully enough and remembers to hold it away as she gets the lid off.

and she waits.

after a moment of nothing happening, she brings it back towards herself.]

It's not a card.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Touma doesn't hold his breath, but he does brace himself. He shifts from sitting into a crouch, one hand on the floor, his right hand out to the side and ready to push or punch or snap at whatever might pop out of it.

He blinks owlishly at her when she says that. ] Oh? What is it?

[abovelions]

[no crazy nuns to punch today touma.

she pulls out a plain, worn looking hair tie made out of a long strip of fabric wound together.]

Nothing dangerous. It resembles what I would use in my world, I think.

What a strange gag. [though she doesn't look displeased to have it!]

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Touma sighs heavily and lilts to the side a bit. ] That's it? A hair-tie?

[abovelions]

[whatever bro she is already tying up her hair with it. best present ever.]

Are you disappointed?

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Scratching his head, he slumps back into a sitting position. ] I didn't say that. Just seems like a waste of a box.

[ He waits until she's done and tilts his head. ] It looks nice, that way.

[abovelions]

[she looks pleased! it's pretty nice to have something that reminds her of home.] Thank you. Ah, I'm sorry about your gift being like it is.

Are hair ties not a normal gift for Christmas?

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ He shrugged a shoulder. ] Eh, it's okay. Like I told someone else, it'd be weird to have things from home just randomly show up. I mean, if this town wants us to settle in so badly, why bring in reminders like that? Seems pretty stupid to me. [ Even if it CAN be handy.

Get it? Handy? ]

Do I look like a guy who worries about hair-ties? [ Running hand through his spikey, short black hair emphatically. ]

[abovelions]

You do have a point. [she touches her pulled back hair- now that she thinks about it, it is pretty strange to have something from home when home is still so far away.]

Then what do you normally want? For this holiday, I mean.

[punch_illusions_get_harem]

[ Ah crud. Time for the questions he only has vague answers to because he honestly has no clue.

Though it's not like she can figure that out, on her own, if she had a conversation with others from home, it could be awkward for him. What to do; what to say...? ]

I lived by myself in the dorms the past couple of years, so I didn't really think much about it. [ Touma stood up and stretched his arms out above his head. ] Didn't plan on making a big deal out of it here, either, to tell you the truth.