InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Mindbottling, isn't it?"

Erato (passionburning) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2021-12-22 00:35:00

Current mood:	content
Entry tags:	asterion, erato

WHO: Erato and Asterion
WHEN: December 21st, afternoon
WHERE: Macy’s, NY
WHAT: Christmas shopping with a Minotaur! Delightful!
WARNINGS: Festooned with festive delights

Erato. Loved. Christmas.

Not that she was Christian by any stretch of the imagination. No, she disliked the whole Baby Jesus thing immensely. But the Nativity scenes were so cuuuute with their beautiful sculpted, hand-painted figurines, and she very nearly wanted one. And the garlands and ribbons and bells everywhere, everything smelling like fir, and wearing fur too, although the fake kind these days (although an antique mink stole was just exquisite if you could get your hands on one).

She’d had one coffee already while she went over her list (and checked it twice!) of people still to buy for. Should she get something for Apollo’s new family? Was it too soon? Maybe. Although- well if she saw something, maybe she would. They didn’t all do gifts anymore between immortals of course, because what could you buy that you hadn’t already a thousand times before, but the girls at the office all deserved a little something. She sucked on the end of a candy cane and checked her phone. Oh shoot, Asterion!

Getting up, Erato went to the window and peered out to see if she could see him coming. She did enjoy his company more than she’d expected that she would, considering he was often lost for words, but she privately hoped her influence might encourage a few more in the future. He had such a warm smile, though, and that always did cheer her up.

Oh, there he was! She could see him head and shoulders above everyone else, and she waved through the window at him so he’d see her.

(Post a new comment)

asterius
2021-12-21 11:42 am UTC (link)

Asterion had his plan in place, ready to take any photos of things Erato liked, so he could send them to Ariadne and she could purchase them. A Christmas surprise, for whatever that was worth!

The crowds though... Asterion hated crowds. They made him feel trapped, though he handled them better in the day. At least in the day he could see. At least in the day he wasn't relying on his other senses to navigate through crowds, because it meant he felt trapped and everyone around him smelled like food-

He was thankfully snapped out of that dreadful thought by catching sight of Erato through the window. She was waving to him, all red hair and festive cheer, and he couldn't help but smile. He made his way into the cafe, and over to where she was. "Hi, Erato," he said, trying to practice this talking thing. "You look very nice." He had learned that line from the movies!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	passionburning 2021-12-21 01:34 pm UTC (link)
	"Aww, thank you darling! Did you want to get moving? There are so many things to see!" Erato looped her arm through Asterion's, so they wouldn't get lost in the crowds together, and beamed up at him. "Are you are looking very dashing today too. Did you do your beard? it looks nice." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

asterius
2021-12-22 10:03 am UTC (link)

Did he look dashing? He had put an effort in, anyway. He had asked Ariadne to take him clothes shopping a while back, so he could have some nicer things for when he spent time with friends. And he had neatened himself up as well. He was pretty pleased she noticed, and he rewarded her with a bright smile. "I did it for you," he said, like that was normal conversation.

He loved the feeling of her arm through his, as it sent a little jolt of happiness straight to his belly. "I will be your protector."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2021-12-22 12:10 pm UTC (link)

"Yes you shall," Erato said fondly, her hand resting on the firmness of his muscle. Yes, he definitely would be. "And thank you, what an honour that you would do that just for li'l old me!" She wrinkled her nose cutely at him, and looked out into the street. "Shall we?" she asked, and then steered them out towards the department store, through the glowing doors and into the brightly-lit interior. Everything seemed like it was moving in here, people going where they wanted to be, the escalators whirring, the salespeople working.

"Isn't it grand?" she enthused, gesturing around at the entrance way. All the Christmas trees and the lights! "Come on, lets go to the food hall!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-22 12:43 pm UTC (link)
	It was very shiny, but Asterion figured she might want more than, 'yeah it's shiny'. "The lights are very pretty," he said, as they made their way into the store. Food sounded nice! Were they going to eat? "Are you hungry?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2021-12-22 01:26 pm UTC (link)

"Oh no, silly, it's for buying! I want a couple of gift hampers for my clients. Why, are you hungry?" Erato looked up at Asterion in curiosity as they headed for the escalator. "We can find the café if you are? I wouldn't let you waste away, honey." She patted his arm, hoping he was finding all the sights and sounds and smells interesting to take in. She did want him to be having a good time.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-22 01:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh for buying! No we can buy the hampers," he was quick to reassure her. Asterion was never not hungry, but he had just had a snack so he was perfectly fine. "No wasting away," he promised her. "It smells like a pinecone in here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2021-12-22 01:52 pm UTC (link)

"It does, isn't it lovely?"

Unfortunately, getting to the food section required passing the cosmetics. Almost as soon as they were off the escalator, they were assaulted with a wide variety of smells, and sales assistants coming forwards offering samples. Erato had been about to wave them away, but one scent caught her attention and she just had to stop and investigate. "Ohhh what's this one? It's divine!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-22 01:54 pm UTC (link)
	Oh! An idea! As long as Erato didn't buy it for herself that is. He leaned in to sniff it and nodded, "it smells really nice," he agreed. He was glad he knew Erato was okay with people approaching them, because he'd been about to shove them all out of the way for daring. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2021-12-23 04:05 am UTC (link)

The salesperson informed Erato of the name and price, and she lingered on it for a long moment before shaking her head and setting it down. "Ohhhh I shouldn't. I'm buying for other people today. Other people, not me! Come on Aster, before the temptation becomes too much!" She gripped Asterion's arm and towed him away, throwing a longing look over her shoulder as they went.

She was going to loop back for the jewellery, but first, the food section, filled with multicoloured bottles of cordial and syrups, artisan pickles and preserves, pretty little baskets filled with jams and chutneys, and then, beyond that, the specialty alcohols. The real good stuff. "Oh look," Erato cooed over a pretty little hamper with a variety of snacks and dips in it. "This would be just right!"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

asterius
2021-12-23 09:45 am UTC (link)

No one would ever call Asterion sneaky. He was huge and he had lived in the dark for so long, so it hardly mattered what he did because no one could see. He wasn't subtle about taking out his phone and texting the name of the perfume to Ariadne, even though he hoped he was. He pocketed his phone again and paid closer attention to her.

"They look good," Asterion said, appraisingly. "Who are they for?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2021-12-23 11:13 am UTC (link)

"Oh, the authors whose work I shepherd into all its beautiful smutty glory," Erato said, choosing a few different ones. What was Asterion doing- oh, his phone was out. With a shrug, she held her chosen delights out to Asterion to carry. That was, in fact, why he was here. "I want a couple more things for my fellow editors. Maybe some infused alcohol, those people know how to drink." She moved on towards the alcohol, beckoning Asterion to follow.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-23 11:16 am UTC (link)
	Asterion loaded up his arms and followed on. He chuckled a little bit as she spoke about drinking. "Never tried an infused alcohol. What do they infuse it with?" What the fuck did 'infuse' mean? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	passionburning 2021-12-23 11:36 am UTC (link)
	"Ooohh, apple, lemon, cinnamon, things like that." Erato looked along the rows, wondering if she should go for a gin or a vodka. Or tequila? Hmmmm... "What do you like best?" she asked, pointing to the bottles. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-23 11:41 am UTC (link)
	Oh, it meant flavours! Well that was easy. "Apples are so nice," he said with a smile. "Though lemon gin would be good." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	passionburning 2021-12-24 11:34 am UTC (link)
	Erato glanced up at Asterion, appraising that suggestion and finding it satisfactory. "Good choice," she said, grabbing a bottle of the same off the shelf. "So what have you put on your letter to Santa then?" she asked, looking at the label on a bottle of a rosy hued liquid. "Anything your heart is set on?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-24 11:40 am UTC (link)
	Asterion was about to ask why he would write a letter to Santa, because he didn't always get metaphors, but he figured it out. "Oh. I've never gotten a present. Haven't thought about it." He hadn't had anyone in his life who would get him anything. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	passionburning 2021-12-24 12:10 pm UTC (link)
	"What???" Erato stopped in shock and stared at Asterion. "Never!?" That wouldn't do! Not at all! Sure, she didn't usually buy for immortals but she would make an exception today. And luckily for her, she was far more subtle than he was at following up on gift ideas. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	asterius 2021-12-26 09:36 am UTC (link)
	Asterion was always shocked that people were surprised he hadn't had some normal 'human' experiences. He wasn't human and for the majority of his existence, no one wanted anything to do with him. "Never," he said, shrugging. "'sokay, I just like being around my friends." (Reply to this) (Parent)