WHO: Greed & Zoe w/Jonah WHEN: Saturday WHERE: Store, Tree lot, Jonah/Zoe's apartment WHAT: Getting a tree! WARNING: Big mouthed Sin has no voice
Sex for once was a quiet affair with the Sin and Zoe couldn't help but make some noise which was normally drowned out by him but it wasn't too much so Jonah would have had a peaceful night. In the morning, after breakfast and tea, Zoe was curled up on the couch with Greed, who still had no voice. The couch was big enough for them to spread out but they were bundled together in one corner watching a movie and sneaking kisses. ___________________________________ Greed had finally gotten to that cup of soup she'd tried to give him the night before. He'd managed to get through a quarter of it during the movie until cuddling and kissing seemed so much better. The sex had been fantastic, it always was, but this was something much warmer and needed. He was still depressed over losing his voice and still piped up from time to time to speak but words the words were lost. He couldn't even make snide comments on the movie, so his interest in it died and went straight to Zoe. ___________________________________ Zoe kissed his adam's apple and then touched his cheek as she looked in his eyes, "It'll get better soon." she gave him several small kisses inbetween asking, "Do you wanna do anything today to get your mind off of it?" ___________________________________ Greed gave her a deadpanned look. Nothing could take his mind off it. Even sex which made him voiceless and Greed like being obnoxiously loud during sex. He'd heard her loud and clear though, which he supposed was the only thing he could revel in. At least someone could be loud. ___________________________________ She was trying not to laugh but he looked so grumpy, it was comical. They could have sex since Jonah was home and Greed was quiet but now that they had the option to have it, they didn't need to. Besides, it only distracted him for a moment and he still got pouty that he couldn't curse and moan. She thought about it and then smooched his lips as she looked like she had an idea, "I know! How about we buy a christmas tree for your place?" she had a feeling he missed being in his own space while he was sick. They were only at hers cause of Jonah but since that was out the window... ___________________________________ It was an odd thing for the Sin to get used to, to even realize that he liked cuddling and kissing about as damn much as sex itself. Sometimes with her he preferred the whole snuggling scene. Like this. He wanted more of it when he didn't have it. Sex didn't always fix everything with this relationship as it often did with Lust. But, it was temporary, the real problems still always lurked in a dark corner. Here, the more they uncovered and worked with the more there was time for happier moments. More moments that he wanted to have over all the fuck-ups.
Greed gave her a confused look. Trees? With all those needles his apartment would be a mess. She really meant a real one? ___________________________________ Zoe looked pretty excited by the idea and put her hand on his chest as she explained, "When I was a kid, we used to get a tree every year and decorate it. After my parents died, my grandma stopped celebrating everything,... but when we used to have Christmas, it would be so much fun." she smiled brightly but then it started to fade and she asked, "Don't you celebrate Christmas..?" he was from the Church... but she never thought to ask before. ___________________________________ He shook his head. Sins didn't celebrate things like that. Well, he hadn't before. This year was all different now. He had a birthday, Thanksgiving, now Christmas? Zoe was giving him all sorts of holidays. Christmas as she called it wasn't just a Christian holiday, it was secular, so while Greed saw trees inside churches over the years, the story of Jesus, all of it was not always put together. Christmas seemed like the kind of holiday he should have banked in on years ago, he just never had a reason to. ___________________________________ "Really?" She squeaked out, "You'd think you'd love it. Everyone's greedy as hell. We've never been religious but it's just fun with presents and food. There are lots of gifts and decorating." she shook him lightly, "Don't you wanna try it at least once to see if you like it? We didn't really get a Christmas last year..." since he'd kidnapped her to Kansas and it was a mess. ___________________________________ He opened his mouth to speak. Last Christmas had been a disaster. His eyes shifted to the side as if she had thrown that net out and caught him, he had nothing he could say to retort against it. It had been a big mess.
Jonah came out about from his cave. He'd at least been able to get some shut eye last night. It hurt to see, he had to admit because of his growing like for Zoe. She seemed ridiculously happy with Greed which was a sting. It would always be a sting, and the competitive side he hadn't even known was there was starting to come out and make itself known. Or maybe that was just the age old war of Virtues and Sins. Temperance wanted balance, but right now it was all a little off kilter. ___________________________________ She sighed a little when Greed still didn't seem convinced and she kissed the side of his mouth, "At least think about it?" she turned her head to look over the sofa at Jonah, "Good morning.." she said with a smile, "I'm trying to convince Chance that we should go tree shopping." but her tone suggested she wasn't doing a good job. ___________________________________ "Sins celebrate things?" He said it at first that sad jab coming from the lowest of Jonah's jealousy which he wouldn't declare just yet was actual jealousy. "It's right up your ally Greed. Busting bodies of greedy people. Presents even go under them." As if Greed didn't know what the tree was actually for. At least he and Zoe could agree that it was something that should be of interest to the Sin. Greed wasn't convinced yet because he didn't want to dirty up his apartment with all those filthy needles. ___________________________________ She frowned at Jonah as she put an unconscious protective arm across Greed's stomach and asked the virtue, "Do you celebrate things?" ___________________________________ "Sometimes I do. It's more about just being with people that you care for. The world has tainted the meaning of holidays by making them commercial." There was a beauty in Christmas, it was a magical time when people generally tried to be more considerate of those less fortunate. He was talking about Greed here though, there was nothing he did that seemed to help someone else unless it helped him first. ___________________________________ Zoe gave him a look, "If you celebrate things then so can Sins. Who doesn't like gifts and being with fun company?" she smooched Greed on the cheek and looked at Jonah, "Did you want to get a tree for the apartment?" ___________________________________ Greed didn't like that with Jonah around it was as if he was just this infectious slug that needed to be obliterated. And now with the lack of vocals he couldn't even throw some amazing quip back to shut the Virtue up. This was pathetic. Jonah really didn't know what it was like to be a Sin, and out of all of them who was he to say that Greed was evil? Greed rode a fine line, and it wasn't always a bad one.
"We could?" He'd helped his sister Kindness last year as Maddy. He just wasn't sure how comfortable he was at having traditions like that in this apartment with Zoe and a Sin. It almost felt like they were breaking moral code. ___________________________________ Zoe frowned immediately, staring at Jonah for a few moments before shaking her head and saying, "No, the apartment's too small." she seemed disappointed and gave a helpless smile to Greed, "Gabe and I always got a tiny one for the table, it was all we could afford space and money wise." this year Zoe was without her best friend even to celebrate with. No family except for a skittish grandfather and no friends really outside of her boyfriend whom she was getting back together with. And the Virtue who hated him. ___________________________________ Greed reached out for a strand of her hair which he curled against his finger and let it spring back out. Jonah made her sad. Greed climbed off the couch to put on his coat. If Jonah wasnt gonna get her one he sure as hell was going to get one to make her smile. ___________________________________ She looked at Greed confused as he suddenly got up and put on his coat, "Are you leaving...?" she asked, of course disappointed. ___________________________________ He tossed her coat and scarf at her once he had his shoes on. He motioned with his hands for her to get up already. He couldn't even tell her to get moving. ___________________________________ The coat landed on her head and she stood up with a frown, "Okay, apparently we're leaving." she put on the coat over her warm outfit and shiny earrings that Greed had stuck in her ears that morning when he found them in her jewelry box, they had belonged to her mother. She pulled on her brown boots and then waved at Jonah, "See ya!" as her hand slipped into Greed's so they could go where he wanted. ___________________________________ Once he had her just outside the door he grabbed her in a heated kiss. He might be leaving but no reason he couldn't take full advantage of the virtue. He liked making Zoe's toes tingle. ___________________________________ He took her by surprise but she wasn't complaining. She loved his ninja kisses, it made her feel wanted and loved. She held on to his coat as he kissed her senseless. She still held on when the kiss ended, her lashes lowered, "Okay.. you might need to carry me down.." she was surprised she wasn't a puddle on the floor. ___________________________________ He claimed her bottom lip with a little tug between his teeth as he let go. He smirked as he felt her go weak in his arms. She was mere putty thst he had to reshape to get down the stairs. He might not have the voice but he still had the touch. Once she could stand he carried her down the stairs anyway, feeling pretty macho thst he could. One of her neighbors was coming up as they were leaving giving her a nod and asking if she was okay. ___________________________________ She kissed his smirk, "Don't look so smug just because-- oh!" she didn't get to finish as he had her in his arms and she squealed with a laugh, "You're unwell!" but she held onto him as he carted her down. She was embarrassed when they ran into her neighbor, blushing as she greeted them and her feet swung a little but she held onto Greed. She was more than okay for the first time in ages. ___________________________________ He felt a little better once he got them to the car, having his manhood restored at playing the heroic boyfriend. Inside the car he typed in Christmas tree lot to see where the closest was. Then the chore was getting it to his apartment. Those bastards better know how to deliver. ___________________________________ She looked over at what he was typing into the GPS and her face brightened, "Really?" she leaned across her seat and hugged him around the neck and kissed him on the lips. "I promise, if you don't have fun getting it and decorating it, we can throw it right out." but it did mean he'd get to go shopping for ornaments which he'd never done before. ___________________________________ Greed had gotten good at miming himself over the last evening. He held up a finger. They'd have to find the biggest tree skirt known to man because he was not going to walk into a million needles every day and if she didn't water it he'd probably let it die a horrible Christmas tree death before the holiday ever got there.
Turn left. Destination to your right. The GPS spoke as he turned into the little cubby hole of a lot which had lights streaming across the lot with what looked like a million trees. They were supposed to pick one? ___________________________________ Zoe got out of the car once he parked and bounded over to his side, looping her arms around his, "This'll be fun! And if you get bored, you can grab my butt once." she raised her brows, thinking it was a very fair deal. ___________________________________ What had he gotten himself into? They all smelled of wood and pine, making his nose itch. Bundling his coat around his neck he didn't even know what he was looking for. Some of them were short and stumpy, others scraggly and so full it was a wonder a squirrel could even squeeze his nose in it. He looked to the ones that literally couldn't even fit through the front door of his apartment building. ___________________________________ She tugged on his arm to get him away from the super sized tree and pointed down a row that had trees that looked like they could actually fit into his apartment. She stuck close to him as they walked and talked about her childhood, "When I was a kid, I loved Christmas cause my dad would be home for the holidays and he'd always pick the best tree." ___________________________________ She was speaking but nothing that he could actually respond to. Christmases had passed for years by him but Greed always saw it as an opportunity for booze, partying and stealing things (expensive things) that people bought. That commercialism that Jonah talked about was actually what Greed thrived on during these times of the year. The other part was all warm and fuzzy. Something Greed had never had until now. It was a cold winter, but not as warm as Zoe had made it.
He didn't know the differences between the blue spruce or the Douglas Fir. Some were scratchier than others, some fluffy and rigid. He hadn't found anything yet, he just liked hearing her talk. ___________________________________ She kept her arm tucked in his and said with a shake of her head, "Our neighbors were like Jonah, said we celebrated 'commercial christmas' because we never went to church or anything and my parents weren't religious but that didnt mean we didnt want to have a tree and presents." she laughed. "Why miss out on the fun just because we're not doing it in the name of a baby?" she touched certain trees as they walked by. ___________________________________ It was the first time in a long time that Greed took time to focus on her. Knowing that making her happy, making her smile gave him more pleasure than he ever expected. The payoff was exciting because she gave him more in return.
He didn't let the branches touch his fingers. All that sap. Yuck. ___________________________________ She chuckled, "I can tell you remain unconvinced." she slid her hand down his arm and took his hands as she walked them over to a big beautiful tree, "But you have to use your imagination." she stood in front of him, her back to his chest as she wrapped his arms around her, "Picture it in your living room, with lights, and ornaments. You can get superhero ornaments and zombie ornaments." she turned her head to the side and raised a brow as her voice lowered, "You can even get.. naughty ornaments." since this was the guy who baked her a valentine's day cake in a penis cake pan after all. ___________________________________ He would rain that damn tree with so many yellow lights that it would be a beacon from his living room. He thought for a moment. Maybe this tree business wasn't so bad. Maybe it would sparkle like the stars in the sky. He looked up remembering a time in the old ages when that's all one could see was the lights of the sky. Man had not yet invented planes, cars, and tall sky scraper buildings. Christmas was stories and Santa han't yet been designed. This was all incredibly new to him as everything else had been at one point in time. ___________________________________ She turned to look at him over her shoulder, "So what do you think? This one?" it was big but not toooo big, it would reach maybe a foot before his ceiling. ___________________________________ He looked from the door in the sky back to the tee she had pointed out. It was a boastful tree. Full branches, a tall but firm top, and a wide bottom. It shimmered under the lights a blue-green hue. It was pretty in the sense of trees he guessed. Maybe it would change his opinion once it was fluttered with stuff and had giant ass presents under it. He looked like a kid dazed in his own fantasies of what it would look like. ___________________________________ She nuzzled him, "I don't feel your hand on my butt so I know you're not bored.. you wanna keep looking...?" she wasn't sure what was going on inside that gorgeous but insane head of his. ___________________________________ He reached out to touch this tree, giving it a chance. It's needles were fresh so they didn't drop off all in his hands, but it was still stiff. He'd smelled fake trees for the last few decades or so, so he wasn't even sure what a real one really did smell like anymore. He leaned in making a face. No, didn't like that one. If he was going to have something with arms out in his living room it better be soft to touch and smell decent. ___________________________________ She wrinkled her nose at his face, "Okay, okay... let's try another one." she went with him down the aisle of trees and confessed, "I don't really know the different types.. I haven't had a real tree since I was a kid. But normally you just know the right one when you feel it." and they stopped at another big one that wasn't a monster but had soft needles. ___________________________________ He reluctantly put a hand out to this one but liked the feel of it in his fingers. It was soft, smelled better than the last one. He stepped back, blocking it out with his hands and envisioning the million yellow lights. That one could work. He pointed at her now. See what she thought. If she didn't feel it what was the point. It wa her tree too. Since Jonah was a dick. ___________________________________ She watched him with a smile on her face, he was so serious about ridiculous things. She raised her brows and pointed at herself, "Me?" she looked at the tree and felt it up, "I like it. I think it'd look perfect at your place." ___________________________________ He threw his hands up and mage a thumbs up. She would have to make the deals and he's hand over the credit card. He pointed to the car make a no motion. He wanted her to have them deliver it and they could scour the city for decorations which he could really splurge on. ___________________________________ She looked at his charades and then said, "You know, you could be a really good mime." she flagged down the guy so sshe could tell him which tree they wanted. "And my boyfriend wants delivery, that's okay?" the guy nodded, it was extra but she nodded, "He'd kill me if his car got scratched or dirty so it's fine." she gave them the address and waited for Greed to hand over his credit card. She was excited, she hadn't gotten to do tree trimming in years. ___________________________________ Greed grumbled worth a flat brow. He made a choking motion with his hands in the air at her. It was horrible, she had no idea how horrible it was too have a million thoughts in his head with no way to get it out. As he handed over the card he grabbed her butt. Not because he was bored buggy because she was being mean and he wanted to pout. Shopping for the decorations was gonna be interesting. He'd have to get creative. ___________________________________ She narrowed her eyes at his pantomime and teased, "You.... want to get me a scarf? You already got me one!" she knew he was frustrated but this was one of those 'time' things. She jumped with a blush, "oh!" when he grabbed her butt and sheepishly shook her head to indicate nothing when the tree man raised a brow at her. She elbowed Greed lightly with a look, now time for the fun stuff. ___________________________________ He made a cutting motion against his neck with his finger. He was going to throw her into a porn shop for decorations just for this. They had to have something. That would be last even she had no way of wiggling out. ___________________________________ She batted her eyelashes at him, "You want to get me a necklace? So sweet." then she cackled as they got in the car and she leaned over to kiss his cheek, her hand resting on his thigh with a squeeze... and for the first time staying there even when she sat back in her seat. ___________________________________ That touch to his thigh was well missed. He wasn't sure why he just knew that when she put it there he felt his tummy flutter. Damn that girl. It wasn't even sexual but he liked all those little things he took for granted. ___________________________________ Zoe kinda didn't even realize that she was doing something she used to do all the time and then stopped. She felt like they were becoming closer, the cracks were finally being mended and making them stronger. "We should get something special for the top of the tree." she lifted her hands up, "Normally it's a star or an angel but I don't think you're crazy about either one." her hand dropped back down right on his thigh. ___________________________________ He stopped at the light putting his arms out in a staggering motion. They could put a zombie on the top. That's the only way an angel would make it up there...if it were a flesh-eating diseased one. ___________________________________ She laughed and wrinkled her nose, "Okay, maybe we'll find something else other than a star or a zombie or an angel." she pointed down the street, "There's a big Christmas decorations place down that road. They always used to have... unique ornaments. Wanna try there?" ___________________________________ This was all new to him, she had to understand. He'd never grown up. He'd never done things like this because his family didn't exactly get together for sit down dinners and occasions.
He went towards the direction she rooks him not at all knowing what he was looking for. ___________________________________ After they parked and got out of the car, she took his hand and waked to the store, it was a huge crafts and everything store but with the Christmas season, it specialized in decorations and ornaments, a ton of stuff you'd never even think of. ___________________________________ He was a kid in a candy store. Amazed by all the lights and shiny balls and other ornaments. He immediately was attracted to all the bright yellow lights. He needed about five boxes. Or more. Greed wasn't beyond stringing up the rest of the apartment. ___________________________________ Zoe showed him the different KINDS of yellow lights. There were big bulbs, little bulbs, twinkling ones, one that even looked like icicles. Christmas was all about MORE, it was why she was so surprised he wasn't balls out into it. ___________________________________ He wanted them ALL. The icicles, the big ones, little ones, he wanted everything!!!! Every yellow ornament he could find. He even found some Sin ornaments! And an array of zombie themed ornaments! He still had no idea what to put on the top of the tree, but it had to be big and gaughty and ridiculous.
He was adding to their stash when he picked something not so grotesque and morbid which he handed to Zoe. That was her ornament. ___________________________________ She kept laughing because he was running around like he was hopped up on sugar, she kept losing sight of him. "Okay keep in mind it's a big tree but it's not that big." since he was dumping a lot in the cart. When he handed her the dolphin ornament, she was surprised, "This?" she was obviously charmed by it but said, "It isn't gross or bloody or anything.. you sure?" ___________________________________ He was like a chipmunk storing away for the winter with that stash in his arms. He practically had every nook in his arm crammed with things. He was excited about this, a lot like when she took him to the grocery store for food. He was doing something new and diving in head first. "Yes?" he gave her a quizzical look, his mouth moving even if nothing but squeaks still came out. He tried again and there was some sounds rubbing together against his vocal chords, just not a lot, enough to sound pitiful. "That's you on my tree." Zoe was part of him now and his stash, so she had a spot on it too. ___________________________________ She smiled brightly and put her arm around his neck to give him a sweet kiss, "Save your voice." she said and smooched him again. She gestured at the cart, "You know you can put that stuff inside, no one will take it." since his arms were overflowing. He was ridiculously cute. ___________________________________ There wad a theme going on with the stuff in his arms, still the undead zombies and gingerbread men, but also things that reminded him of her. He looked suspicious as he dropped each thing down in the cart only to fill up his arms with more. ___________________________________ "I will guard this cart with my life, okay?" she bumped his hip with hers when he seemed unsure. "Hey look..." there were ornaments of super heroes. Iron man, captain america, superman, batman, even the villains. But her eye was drawn to some of the sweeter looking ornaments. Especially a pair of beautiful turtle doves whose wings overlapped each other. ___________________________________ Greed's mouth formed the perfect o-shape as he excitedly started pulling every superhero ornament he could fit into the full cart---except wonder woman---he left her hanging. He hadn't noticed she was entranced elsewhere. ___________________________________ Zoe traced a finger over one of the wings but left the pretty ornament to go rejoin his side and she had to smile when she noticed that every figure except wonder woman was in the cart, she was going to make a comment but decided not to. She was glad Wonder Woman was not part of their lives. ___________________________________ Something was missing. He had a cart load of everything including tinsel but something was missing. He looked down into his cart confused, tapping his chin. ___________________________________ She leaned on the handlebar of the cart and looked at him in deep thought, "I think this is enough for two trees... what could you have forgotten?" ___________________________________ He was very serious in thought he couldn't putt his finger on it. He pointed at her as if she had the answer. What had she been looking at? ___________________________________ She held up her hands with a bewildered look, "What did I do?" ___________________________________ This miming was starting to get in his nerves. He looked around at a nearby stack of cards, the singing kind but all they said were Christmas lyrics. That wasn't helpful. He gripped looking around before just typing in his phone something's missing..., ___________________________________ She leaned over to read on his phone and then looked in the cart, "Well you got half the store in here. You don't have anything for the top of the tree yet but we can go someplace else to find that." ___________________________________ He noticed his wrist then which he hasn't been covering with his watch as much anymore. He thought in his raid he'd seen them. He pointed at his wrist. She should have known! ___________________________________ She looked at his wrist with the tattoo and then blushed as it occurred to her what he was getting at. "I was just looking at them..." it was mushy romantic stuff, too much for him even. A pair of turtledoves whose outstretched wings overlapped and would hug the top of the tree. ___________________________________ He motioned for her to show him already. Was she mental? Something's was missing from their tree! ___________________________________ She widened her eyes at him and made a face, "Ugh, you brat, calm down..!" since he was being all impatient. She guided them several aisles back and there, behind the stars and angels and gaudy tops, were the turtledoves looking peaceful and symbolizing love. She huffed a little and gestured at them, crossing her arms over her chest. It wasn't his thing. ___________________________________ It wasn't his thing. It was her thing. And if she wanted it he wanted it because then she'd be happy and at his place for once. He reached up to grab them turning it over in his hands where some of the glitter shredded off into his hands. They might be pretty but they were gaughty and Greed liked gaughty. ___________________________________ She twisted her lips to the side and still had her arms crossed over her chest as she watched him with the birds. They weren't dainty or gorgeous, she just liked that they reminded her of her family... and now of her and Greed. ___________________________________ Now they could go. He pushed the buggy toward her to push to the register so he could pay. She could keep the glitter too as he erupted it off on her coat. ___________________________________ She pushed the buggy and gave him an incredulous look, "Really? You want that for the top of the tree? It doesn't have blood or anything on it.." she finished as they stood in line. ___________________________________ He looked over his shoulder with a flattened expression. Why was she questioning him? He handed her one of the zombie ornaments since she kept bringing it up. If she wanted blood and beheaded tree trimmings she could hold it for now. That's what she got for taking his voice from him. ___________________________________ She scoffed a short laugh when he handed her the zombie. She looked at it and put it back in the cart. Her arms looped around his, "Hey Grumpy.." she said near his ear before she kissed his cheek, "Thanks.." and she rested her head on his shoulder while they waited. ___________________________________ They finally walked out of the store with at least ten bags full of merchandise. There was something else he'd found in there that reminded him of her. Once they were in the car he dug through the bags until he found it and passed it over to her. It was followed by a zombiefied look as if he'd eat it.