Let It Snow

[DrStein]

Let It Snow (closed)

OOC: Didn't get to make a Halloween thread, so I figured I'd make a Christmas thread. I'm closing this thread to Maid of Marvels and I, since she and I haven't worked together in a while.

IC:

Rex walked down the street, wondering why he had opted to wear his short-cut jacket instead of the floor-length duster. Oh yeah, because it wasn't supposed to snow today. He wasn't one to complain about the temperature, whether it be extremely hot or extremely cold, but that didn't mean he wasn't losing feeling below his waist due to the snowy winds. Hopefully it would calm down soon and go back to light snow flurries. A white Christmas was always nice, but a blizzard wouldn't be.

Rex spotted one of his favorite haunts, the Cunningham Bakery, up ahead. Most of the businesses in this part of town were family-run, and it was where he preferred to do most of his Christmas shopping. He quickly ducked inside, pulled out the band holding his blond hair in a ponytail and shook out his mane of hair like a dog to get the snow out of it.

"Mornin' Rex," said James, the owner of the bakery. He ran the place with his wife, brother, and youngest daughter. "The usual?"

"Please," Rex muttered as he shook his legs to get some feeling back into them. Whenever the snow rolled in, Rex came here at least once a week for a cup of hot chocolate. He took a seat and let the smell of gingerbread, cookies, muffins, and cakes relax him.

A couple minutes later, James come out with the hot chocolate. "How's the Christmas shopping coming along?" he asked conversationally.

"I'm almost done. Just need to get something for my nieces and nephew." Rex took a sip of the hot liquid and let it warm his insides as it slid down to the bottom of his stomach. "I was on my way in fact when the snow started."

"You wanted to enjoy the scenery, eh?" James ribbed him with a friendly punch in the shoulder. "You've always had a soft spot for pageantry."

"What can I tell ya?" Rex replied with a smirk. "I'm an artist."

Rex sighed and sat quietly to enjoy his drink. Though he always looked forward to the holidays, he certainly wasn't looking forward to spending them alone again. He had broken up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago, and didn't have a lot of time to go out and meet women due to the pressure he was under to finish all of his projects before the deadline hit. He would of course be seeing his brother's family for Christmas, but he certainly wasn't looking forward to the awkward looks of blatant disapproval Vincent's wife was always giving him.

Oh well. Sometimes these things just happen.

 

[valentina]

......

 

[Maid of Marvels]

The bell over the door jingled to announce her arrival as Nikki Giordano pulled her hood down and stepped into the welcome warmth and the wonderful scents of Cunningham's. "My heat's out -- again," she grumbled, pulling off a mitten and blowing into her hand. "Hot coffee and a pastry, James. Something decadent and creamy."

"Sure thing," he smiled. "Did you call the landlord?"

Nikki nodded. "I really love the apartment but I should have known that the rent was so low for a reason." She chuckled and shrugged, looking around for a place to sit. Even with the snow coming down, three of the little tables were full-up, the only empty seat across from a man who was sitting alone.

"Think he'd mind?" she asked James quietly.

"Nah. He's a good 'un. His name's... Well, he can tell you that himself. I'll bring your coffee in a minute. Pot's just finishing."

"Hiya," Nikki said with a crooked grin, pulling off her other glove and extending her hand. "Nikki. Nikki Giordano. Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," he replied, shaking her hand gently. "I'm Rex."

He watched as she unbundled, hanging her things on a coat stand... coat, scarves (one under one over), a sweater buttoned over a sweat shirt. She even had leggings on over her jeans. "My heat went out," Nikki said by way of explanation. "I swear it was warm in there when I went to look it over two weeks ago. I moved in last week. A converted loft over on Maple," she added, pushing back a wet tendril of hair before sitting.

"Thanks!" Nikki grinned up at James who had brought her coffee and a luscious looking eclair. "Want some?" She asked Rex, pushing her plate toward him. "Soo... If I haven't given you a nosebleed yet, and you don't mind talking... Are you from this neighborhood? I just moved here," she repeated. "I teach. Kindergarteners. You?"

 

[DrStein]

Rex smirked. "Haven't given me a nosebleed yet? You certainly have a high opinion of yourself," he teased. "And no thanks. I quit coffee a year ago after I went through caffeine withdrawal courtesy of Starbucks."

He took a sip of his chocolate, feeling it warm his chest up all the way down to his stomach. "I'm from the suburbs next to here. Lived in this town most of my life. As for what I do, I'm an international secret agent on a mission to break up a ninja drug cartel. But I act as a graphic artist to cover my identity."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pull rank on you. I'm with the Mattress Police. We saw you pull the tags off."

"If you shoot me, you're gonna have guilt."

"Maybe, but I'm Italian. I'm used to it. By the way," Nikki continued in a serious tone, her fingers finally warming as she wrapped them around her mug. "What are the odds of the Russians attacking on Thursday night?"

"We'd better make a plan."

Nikki grinned. "I'd like that," she said with a wink, taking a sip of her coffee. "You know, I make a point of not listening to the weather... Not much we can do about it when it happens anyhow." She shrugged. "It's coming down pretty good out there. Are we supposed to get a lot?"

Rex's answer was interrupted by the sound of her cel ringing. "Excuse me a minute," she said, holding her finger up. "Hello?" Landlord, she mouthed. "I see. So now what?" She rolled her eyes. "Okay, cool." Nikki paused again. "Erm... thanks. I think."

"So... " Nikki said, putting her phone back into her bag. "Good news and bad news. The guy was there to check the heat out. The furnace is shot. Like I didn't know that without having that whole butt crack thing going. They might get it put in by this evening." She leaned back in her seat. "I suppose I could head for the mall. You know... " She leaned back up and looked into Rex's eyes, nodding. "This is God's way of punishing me for not doing my Christmas shopping in July like my mother does."

"Sure you don't want a bite?" she asked, lifting the creampuff and taking one herself. "Okay... this almost makes up for it."

 

[DrStein]

"No, I plan to practice eating in the days leading up to Christmas. My brother has once again been gracious enough to invite me over for dinner. He and his wife are wizards of the kitchen."

Rex glanced back outside and the heavy snowfall. "Damn. I think it's coming down harder than before." He shook his head and looked back at Nikki. "I need to finish up shopping in this weather, too. Seems God is laughing at us both."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Nikki glanced up at the clock on the wall. "I've got a few hours to kill while they're fixing my heat. Assuming they get around to it today. Any chance you might like to trek to the mall with me?" She finished the last of her coffee. "I have a car, but the busses are still running." She'd seen one pass just a few minutes before. "Could take a taxi back. Shopping might be more than enough stress without actually trying to drive in this." She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "And I promise I left my axe at home. You're safe with me."

Rex seemed to ponder her proposal for a minute before accepting, much to Nikki's surprise and pleasure. She didn't know a lot of folks in town and making a new friend was always a delight to her.

"Ladies room first," she shrugged, gesturing in the general direction with her thumb. "Be right back."

Grabbing her purse, she hurried off. If he was going to slip out, now was the perfect time to do it and she couldn't blame him. She'd come on like a whirling dervish and he was probably too scared to decline her offer of shopping together.

Five minutes later Nikki was back, her hair brushed and clipped out of the way to avoid any further tangles under her layers of clothing. The fact that Rex was still there made her grin broadly. "I'm so glad you didn't run off," she enthused. "Just have to get my things on."

 

[DrStein]

"It's only fair to warn you that my Christmas shopping is going to be a little... unusual." Rex said with a grin. "By the time we leave, you're going to see me carrying a couple bags with a bizarre assortment of chachkis and other various and sundry odds and ends."

He zipped up his jacket and shrugged against the cold as he opened the door. "Taxi might be a good idea. Though if the snow keeps up like this much longer, I may as well just walk back home, lash my dog Capone to a toboggan, and we can mush our way to the mall... On second thought, scratch that. Knowing Capone, he'd just look outside once and tell me to pull my own damn sled."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

"Considering that I think shopping itself is equal to corporal punishment or at the least, an abomination, weird chachkis might just make this venture a bit more interesting," Nikki commented as she pulled up her hood and wound her scarf around her neck. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

Their timing was impeccable. A cab was just creating a path through the snow-laden street as they stepped out onto the sidewalk and Rex quickly hailed it.

"Where ya headin'?" the driver asked as they climbed in.

"Westgate Mall," Nikki replied with a grin. "We're doing away with tradition this year."

"Oh? How's that?" The cabbie flipped on the meter and slowly eased the taxi back out onto the road.

"You know," she shrugged. "Following shoppers around as they come out so that you can take their parking spot almost before they pull all the way out."

"I hadn't thought of that," Rex said.

She nodded and shivered. Sometimes it could be an all day outing just to get within five miles of the stores. The cab had been a great idea. Maybe this shopping trip could be downgraded to something more like menial labor.

"You get all yours done yet?" she asked the driver.

"All except my wife. Seems like every year I end up waiting til the last minute for hers. Was gonna do it tonight, but... " He leaned forward, looking at the road through the swish squeak of the windshield wipers. "Maybe tomorrow. If not... " He left his sentence hanging and shuddered.

Both Rex and Nikki commiserated with the guy though neither of them would be out on the street with just what they were wearing if they didn't shop. Okay, Nikki would be disowned by her mother and made to feel guilty for the rest of her life, but even so...

The fifteen minute ride took forty-five, but at last they were there, their lives enriched by a little too much information on the driver's personal family life. "Split the bill?" she asked Rex as the cab pulled up to a curb.

"I'll get it this time. You can catch the ride back."

"Fair deal," Nikki replied, opening the door on her side. "Merry Christmas!" She waved to the cabbie while Rex paid. "C'mon, Santa," she said to Rex as she hooked her hand through his arm. "I can't wait to see what you're gonna buy."

"Bizarre chachkis."

"Yeah, I know. But just how bizarre?"

 

[DrStein]

"Well, to start with, I need to stop off at Claire's. From there, I'll be heading over to all of the art supply stores. After that, I need to make a trip to the various world goods gifts shops. This will promptly be followed by an expedition to Spencer Gifts right before I head off to all the big-name department stores. I'll then need to purchase a sackful of various sweet, nothing too fancy mind you, and I'll end it with a trip to the bookstore."

Rex mentally checked everything off in his head. "Yup. That about covers it. Unless you want me to stop in at Victoria's Secret and pick you up something nice."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Nikki lowered her hood and pulled her gloves off as they eased into the garrulously manic flow of last minute shoppers. Closing her eyes for a moment, she nodded brusquely and began to unbutton her coat. They'd not been inside two minutes and already the streaming Christmas carols were too loud and the heat was way too high.

"Victoria's Secret?" How about Sears or JCPenneys for long johns and... Ooh... You said Spencer's? Battery operated thermal socks. My heater -- or lack of." Nikki shrugged.

Rex nodded. "Well, Claire's it is then. Mush!"

The boutique was glitzy and loaded with teens. Rex rolled his eyes, but Nikki only smiled, her eyes falling on several displays of chichi earrings and bangles. "Gods, I love trashy!" she exclaimed, pushing back her hair to flaunt the beaded gewgaws that dangled from her ears.

To his credit, Rex barely raised an eyebrow, though Nikki still shoved against his arm playfully eliciting a not-so-innocent "Whut??"

"Shop!" she grumbled. "I'm gonna see if they have anything I like. And maybe some toe socks for my mother. She needs to cut loose a bit."

 

[DrStein]

Rex gathered up a small number of trinkets and odds and ends that amount to little more than a few dollars and fit in one tiny bag. It took him all of 5 minutes with the crowds.

"Okay, I'm good. Unless there's anything you need to get here, I need to head to the nearest art supply shop."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Nikki cashed out quickly. Pleased with her own little treasure trove of doodads, she began to wonder if she was going to slow Rex down. "I thought I was the all time fastest shopper, but I'm beginning to... " she said to his back as he preceded her out the door back into the wash of people.

Jonathan's provided her with a beginner's needlepoint kit for her niece Francine and a watercolor pad, brushes and acrylics for her nephew Joe. They'd hate her for not buying the latest CD or the hottest DVD, but they'd get over it and she'd toss them a couple bucks to do their own shopping.

"Set," she said to Rex who was just finishing up at the register. "It's a race to the finish! And they're off... A man after my own heart."

 

[DrStein]

"How can I be sure you're not after my heart?" Rex teased.

The art supply store was a bit more involved. He picked up two sketchbooks, a fresh supply of acrylic paints, several brushes and sponges, a couple cans of spray paint, and refills for a hot glue gun.

"Let me tell you something," he said as he dropped the glue sticks onto the counter for the cashier to scan. "Nothing, and I mean nothing... would ruin Christmas like a repeat of an accident in my freshman year at college when I accidentally squirted a heaping, boiling dollop of molten glue right into the palm of my left hand. My screams reached notes high enough to impress Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, and my agonized jumping and rioting could possibly have been mistaken for a mental episode." He told the little narrative in an overly melodramatic way complete with goofy facial expressions and gestures.

"And if that wasn't bad enough... peeling off the congealing glue with several layers of skin still attached to it left me in a personal, festering hell of anguish and torment that had me reflexively confessing the location of the non-existent family fortune to an empty room."

He let silence settle in as he handed his debit card to the cashier. "But enough of my emo kid memories. There's still work to be done."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

With over one hundred stores on three levels, not to mention restaurants and a multiplex theater, Nikki began to feel as though she was on a hiking expedition rather than a shopping spree. Macy's, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lord & Taylor... She was too hot and running out of arms and hands to carry things. If it wasn't for the company, she'd have blown the joint after picking up moneycards to stuff with gift certificates.

"This is definitely not my favorite sport," she mumbled. "Next year, if I don't have everything bought by July, shoot me."

Rex nodded as he led the way to an escalator that would take them to yet another level. "I thought you said that was against the law. Or maybe I read it somewhere. Face it, Nikki, you're not going to shop early next year either. And neither am I."

"Uh huh," she reluctantly agreed. "But I can dream, can't I? No. Wait!"

"What?" He looked down at her as they approached the top.

"My mother always said to be careful what you wish for," Nikki sighed. "I'm doomed, I tell you. Doomed."

"Oh." Rex turned to step off. "I thought it was something important."

"Brat!" She swatted at his arm and missed. He was already moving toward their next destination. At least that was something positive. He wasn't a dawdler.

 

[DrStein]

At last, everything was finished. The only delay they had was when Rex stopped at the international goods store to covet some of the Indonesian skeleton cabinets. He remarked how he hoped to find one of those under the tree this year.

As they were headed out, Rex puffed a lock of his blonde hair from his eyes. "Well, our little trek is at an end. But I'll tell you what. If you say please, I my be convinced to let you come home with me."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

"Color me lucky," Nikki quipped. "But I have a condition also."

"And that is?"

"Wrapping paper, Scotch tape and hot chocolate. Please?"

Rex shrugged nonchalantly. "That's a tall order. I dunno... "

"Well, while you're considering my terms... " She pulled out her cel and dialed the number of the cab company they'd used to get there. "We'll be outside," she said after making her request. "Yeah, we're going local. Address?" Nikki looked at Rex and grinned. "I'm just the hostage, fella. He'll tell you where we're going when you get here."

Flipping her phone closed, she considered calling her landlord to see how the heat situation was going -- or not -- and decided not to spoil her mood. "They'll be here as soon as the roads allow," Nikki informed Rex. "Have you decided whether you will accept my counter offer or not?"

 

[DrStein]

"Well, I've given it considerable thought," Rex said slowly. "And I've decided that I can only accept your conditions if one of my own is met. Specifically, you have to stay for dinner."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Nikki started to rebundle herself against the weather, her eye on the doors that led outside the mall. "I'm game. Do we need to stop at a grocery store on the way?"

"Nope."

Rex's terse reply made her smile. Again. She was starting to look like a grinning fool but that wasn't really so bad, was it? Truth, Nikki was enjoying his company, she just hoped he didn't turn out to be one of "them". Only time would tell.

"I'd love to, Rex. It's been a while since I've had peanut butter and jam." And there I go grinning, Nikki thought as the cab pulled up outside. "Our coach... "

 

[DrStein]

"Don't forget your side of potato chips and a glass of chocolate milk."

Rex gave directions to the cab driver and paid the fee once they arrived. His house was a nice Victorian home with a large yard with no fence. The porch was bare of the usual deck furniture due to the season, and whatever landscaping he had done was already covered up by about 4 inches of snow. It was accumulating faster than he had expected.

As Rex fished out his keys to the front door, a loud, booming barking emanated from inside the house. He opened to door to reveal a huge, mottled brown Great Dane who immediately began jumping and down in excitement and rubbing his huge, basketball-sized head against Rex's hip. After a moment, the dog seemed to finally realize there was a visitor and started walking circles around Nikki trying to sniff her and her shopping bags.

Rex whistled sharply as he stepped into the house. "Capone. Come on in and give our lovely guest some breathing room."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

"Your're gorgeous!" Nikki exclaimed, offering her hand palm up to Capone for snuffling and general checking out. It was true. His gently discerning eyes regarded her (she hoped with approval) as the nearly three foot tall giant circled her one last time and went to lay down.

"Do you take him for gallops?" she asked, unbuttoning her coat after setting her bags down beside a coat rack that was positioned beside the door. "I know," Nikki sighed. "Everyone must ask that same question, but... " She looked around the house. "At least you have a yard. And your house is... lovely. My apartment is in one of these," she chuckled. "Even if it is more like a glorified deep freeze right now."

Nikki hung her coat and followed Rex as he walked toward the interior of the house. "I really appreciate this, Rex. You have no idea. I just wasn't in the mood to go home and bundle up even more than I did to go outside."

 

[DrStein]

"What can I tell ya, I'm a soft-hearted old sap. Make yourself at home, I'll be right back." With that, Rex took his bags and retreated upstairs.

The living room, and most of the house it seemed, was decorated in all the trappings of what seemed to be Rex's unique style. The decor strongly revolved around ethnic themes, each room seeming to embody a different region of the world. The living room was distinctively Japanese. Wall scrolls, dragon and landscape painting of obvious Japanese style, home-made shelves with samurai figurines, and even Japanese lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

The kitchen had more an eclectic Tiki look. Plastic vines, pirate paraphernelia, Indonesian artwork, plastic crabs and snakes. The ceiling lamp over the kitchen table was even surrounded by a painted-on sun.

The dining room had a continental Europen look to it, including a wine bottle candleabra in the center of the table and plastic gargoyles guarding the china cabinet like it was a cathedral.

It seemed Rex had gone to great lengths and undoubtedly great pains to turn the house into his own little world.

"I'm going to fix some dinner," he called out as he began descending the stairs. "Anything you in the mood for?"

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Nikki tilted her head and took a good look at the man she'd become acquainted with only a few hours before. Disregarding the fact that he was a nice bit of eye candy, she knew there was a lot more to him besides looks. His home alone was testament to that. "Surprise me. There's little I don't eat and it's not likely that you'd be serving it."

"Great! A Surprise it is then," Rex smiled and she crossed her fingers behind her back. A girl couldn't be too sure. Especially with a guy who seemed to be jam-packed with surprising revelations about himself.

"Do you need any help?"

"Nope. Just make yourself comfortable. I'll holler if I change my mind."

"Okay." She turned as he walked into the kitchen, her eyes taking in the living room once more. In a way she was sorry she didn't have a kimono to put on... the decor almost demanded it. Nikki smiled and sighed, settling down onto one of the large floor pillows beside Capone. "Your human is an intriguing sort of guy," she said, giggling when the Great Dane raised his brows as if to say "Of course he is, you stupid twit. Why else do you think I keep him?"

 

[DrStein]

Rex grinned as he set to work quickly. As he got all the ingredients out, he turned on the CD player in the kitchen. It immediately kicked in one of his favorite songs, which he proceded to sing along to.

"Anything is what she is
Anywhere is where she's from
Anything is what she'll be
Anything as long as it's mine

And the door it opens is the way back in
Or is it the way back out?

Anyplace is where she'll be
Anyplace, she'll see you from
Lies and secrets become your world
Anytime, anywhere she takes me away"

Rex like to play this song when he had company over, especially when they had never heard The Misfits before

"And death climbs up the steps one by one
To give you the rose that's been burnt by her son"

By now, he knew Nikki would be getting a weird vibe about the song. At first it seems like a heavy rock love song, then it goes on about death...

"Point me to the sky above
I can't get there on my own
Walk me to the graveyard
Dig up her bones"

...And then there was the chorus.

"Dinner tonight will be something to take our minds off the miserable weather," Rex called out from the kitchen. "To go with the decor of my kitchen, we'll be starting with an appetizer of crab dip. For the main course, we have Hawaiian chicken and cumin potatoes. And for dessert, tropical fruit paste."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Forget the kimono, where's the grass skirt and coconut shell bra? No surprise that she was grinning again, but she resisted the temptation to ask about getting 'lei'd'. "Sounds pretty ambitious for spur of the moment," Nikki added. "Isn't there something I can do to help?"

Nikki knew from experience that some folks found another person in the kitchen more of a pain than a help, especially if they got in the way, but she felt that she should ask out of politeness if nothing else. "Tell you what," she finally offered. "I'll do cleanup. It's the least I can do if you won't accept my help now."

She'd gotten up and leaned against the jamb of the door as he moved around, as completely at ease in his kitchen a way that other guys in her life had been with a remote and a television set. "Full of surprises," she murmured, her thoughts going back to that song by the Misfits and wondering why he'd chosen it.