Ben Dubay (painlingers) wrote in tukiparadise, @ 2022-04-24 16:23:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | benjamin dubay, rex appleton |
Chocolate and Eggs and Surprises, oh my!!
Who: Ben and Rex
What: Egg Hunt
When: Easter Sunday morning
Where: Lobby and Ben's Room
Rating: Low
’If you aren’t busy, come down to the lobby and bring something with you that can carry things.’</i> It may not be a traditional Easter event but he hoped it would be good all the same.
Then, the man hid himself behind a pillar so as not to be seen but where he could also view the event as it unfolded. Inside the plastic eggs were candy, small tokens of good fortune, and a single, plastic golden egg had a gift voucher in it.
Ben's brows furrowed a bit when the text came through from Rex. Bring something that could carry things? He got up from the armchair and looked through his closet, finding one of his larger backpacks. After taking the hydration pack and a few other things out of it, Ben then quickly changed into boardshorts and a shirt before heading down to the lobby.
There was a gasp as he saw all the plastic eggs scattered around the place. Some on the floor while others weren't exactly hiding on furniture or in the trees that added some color to the lobby. Taking the backpack off his shoulder, Ben proceeded to start picking them up. Opening one he saw the little slip of paper and read the words of encouragement written on them. With a wider smile he continued on his hunt for them all.
During the hunt, Rex only observed.
Every egg chosen had a prize. He hoped each would be as exciting as the last. He’d spent most of the evening before trying to iron out every detail in an effort to bring some hope and normalcy to the island. What better and more suitable than an egg hunt?
Sometimes the island did things for certain holidays. Sometimes they didn’t. This seemed to be one of the off years and he didn’t mind. No one had put Reginald Appleton in charge of the holiday planning and so he had defaulted to what he knew.
Ben hadn't had an egg hunt since he was a kid, he had forgotten the excitement of it, of looking in every little nook and cranny to see if there was anything hiding there. Egg after egg went into his pack, he didn't open them all, he wanted something to enjoy after it was all done, he could spend the afternoon reading the little notes of encouragement, or save them for the days when he most needed them.
He was totally oblivious to the fact that Rex was watching him, his focus solely on his hunt.
Then he came across a little golden egg. This one he had to stop and open. A twist of the wrist and the two halves came apart, revealing a piece of paper inside. Only after opening it did he read that it was a gift voucher. A string of muttered French followed before he lifted his head. "You are wonderful Rex." He said to the seemingly empty lobby.
Around the pillar he peered. He wasn’t exactly good at hiding or being stealthy unless he was pouncing. And even then he needed grass to conceal himself in.
Most of the prizes had been taken by now. Rex slid around the pillar, “You’re too kind.” Setting a small event up for his friend was nothing. He was happy to bring a bit of home to the island if it made his friend smile for a little bit.
Ben's head turned when he heard Rex's unmistakable voice behind him, surprised that Rex had been watching him the whole time he had been searching for the eggs.
He dropped his bag, turned and gave his friend a bear hug. "Merci Rex, merci beaucoup." He said softly, still holding onto Rex firmly and the smile never leaving his face.
Rex could only laugh at the embrace. “You’re welcome, my friend!” His own arms would slip around Ben and he roared, spinning his friend around in his arms. He set Ben down and let go.
“I wanted to bring a bit of the holiday to you. I hope that’s alright.” Some didn’t celebrate but it seemed that Ben was fine with it.
Ben wasn't religious, he didn't celebrate Easter or Christmas for the whole Jesus aspect, he did enjoy the gifts and the chocolate though, and Rex's little surprise had brightened his day more than he realised it would.
He looked up at his friend. "I loved it." Which was the truth, he loved every moment of the hunt and the little surprises inside them. "I got you a chocolate rabbit, but it doesn't seem enough after what you did for me. So..." Stretching up he gave Rex a quick kiss. "Thank you."
The idea of a chocolate rabbit tickled him. It was thoughtful. He was glad to be considered by his friend and while it may have seemed like a smaller thing in comparison, it was the thought that counted. Maybe it was silly to celebrate a holiday designed for children but that was alright.
He had not been expecting the kiss and so when it came he blinked with surprise. Then Rex smiled and nodded. “You’re welcome! A chocolate rabbit sounds delightful!”
When he had lived on the mainland, Ben would often overindulge on chocolate at Easter, more than once he ended up with a belly ache from eating way too many eggs or other chocolate creatures. Chocolate was one of his weaknesses.
Be smiled up at Rex, the thoughtfulness that had been put into this touched him and he couldn't keep the happiness off his face. "Would you like to help me find the rest of the eggs and then you can come up for your rabbit."
Rex smiled at the offer. “That would be cheating since I know where I hid them all.” But he nodded anyway. Of course he would help. And with a prize waiting for him at the end of it, he knew it would be worth the hunt to locate the rest of the eggs. Their time for the lobby reservation was ticking away quickly - perhaps help was a blessing for speed.
“Ah, you missed one over there!” He pointed at a pink, plastic egg hiding in a bush.
Ben didn't want Rex to get into trouble for having the lobby closed for longer than it should, he'd feel guilty about it even though it was not his fault. He smiled when Rex pointed out one, it was picked up and added to the pack, along with a few more he had missed the first look.
It didn't take too long until he thought he had them all. "Is there any more hiding?" He asked Rex, the pack was a bit heavier than usual with all the plastic eggs in it. Ben couldn't argue that he hadn't had fun with the impromptu hunt.
Rex took a sniff of the air. He shook his head a moment later. Even inside of plastic eggs he could smell the chocolate. “I don’t think so. Even if there were, let someone else have a delightful surprise!” One or two stray eggs wouldn’t hurt anyone and Ben got the golden one anyway.
Once he was satisfied, Rex smiled. “Would you like me to carry that for you?” It was possibly heavy considering all of the eggs in it.
Ben nodded his head, finding a stray egg might make someone's day, just as reading that first little note of encouragement had helped boost his own mood.
"I think I'll be okay with it, carrying it up can be my Easter workout." He gave Rex a wink as he put one of the straps over his shoulder, it wasn't that heavy compared to what he usually carried when he went for a hike, his half gallon hydration pack would often feel a lot heavier after a few hours on his back. "Your Easter treat awaits." Ben said with a wide smile.
With a nod and a smile, Rex walked alongside Ben. It wouldn’t take long to get to the right place. While there wasn’t exactly a directory of the residents he usually just followed the smells of any he was searching for. Fox had been staying in his room lately, too, which could get a little bit confusing.
“You didn’t have to get me anything, you know.” It was a kind gesture, though.
Ben was sure he could find the way to his room in pitch darkness, while he wasn't sure where most of his clients lived, he had at least knew how to get home if he had a few too many drinks, not that it was common for him to drink at all.
"I know that I didn't. But I wanted to." He said, opening his door and stepping back to allow Rex entry to his room. Although he had put up a few personal pictures and had some colorful cushions scattered on the bed and couch, the room was just like the rest of them. "Would you like a drink after our hunt?"
“Water, please.” Rex liked to stay hydrated. He didn’t drink often if at all, though not for any particular reason. It just wasn’t a go to beverage like water was. He also wasn’t the kind to reach for a soda or anything sweet.
He couldn’t recall ever being inside of Ben’s room so he took a moment to observe the things he’d placed around. “How nice it is in here!”
Ben walked to the small bar fridge and pulled out two small glass carafes that were filled with water. Instead of using plastic bottles he liked filtering the water and chilling it in the glass bottles, saving the environment and all.
The blinds were open and the beautiful view from his window on full display as he walked over to Rex and handed him a carafe. "Merci. I'm trying to make it my own, I am most proud of my pictures." They were different geological landscape photographs that he had taken over the years and had them blown up and framed. Something to remind him of the life he once had.
When the carafe was presented, Rex turned to look for a cup or something to pour it in. He didn’t want to drink directly out of the container, that was rude and they weren’t his. “They’re very lovely photographs.” Setting the carafe of water down, Rex wiped his hand on his shirt and then went to look at the framed photos.
Ben usually drank straight from the carafe, well the one that he was holding at least. He could see that Rex was looking around and he went to grab a glass. "They are some of my favorite places. If I can't visit them in person anymore, at least I can remember and dream." He placed the glass down next to Rex's carafe.
"That one is the Canadian Badlands, it helped build my love of geology." He spoke about the picture that Rex was currently standing in front of.
“These are stunning.” He’d not seen anything like it in person. Once in a while he’d catch a nature program and there would be some picturesque place on display, but that was really all of true nature he could remember seeing that wasn’t on the island already. “You have a great eye for scenery.”
The compliment made Ben blush a little, he wasn't used to getting many of them and they almost always made a bit of color rise on his cheeks. "Thank you Rex, I don't think anyone's told me that before." He admitted. Pouring some of the water from Rex's carafe into the glass he then handed his friend the glass. "You are too kind."
“Ah, thank you,” Rex said, accepting the glass. He took a sip, and then another, letting his gaze comb across the photograph again. “I feel as if I am standing in this exact place,” he confessed. His smile blossomed. “That’s how evoking the photograph is.” He could almost smell the place. His brain manifested what he thought the scents would be and it made him feel humbled and small. Earth was so vast and he was only one man, yet he found such beauty in almost everything.
Ben stood beside Rex, looking at the picture and remembering his many times there. "You would've loved it mon amie. All the vast areas to run and climb, the hoodoos jutting up from the ground and worn down over millennia." He let out a happy little sigh. "To feel the ground under your feet and know that millions of years of history are below you. If we can ever go back to the mainland, I would like to take you there." Though Ben knew that with the state of humanity, that they may never leave the island again, while he did miss the landscapes he loved, he had found reasons to enjoy the island.
Listening to the description of the area, Rex tilted his head. He knew he wanted to visit. The offer only made him smile humbly. “I would love to visit with you, my friend. I’m looking forward to it!” If they ever got off of the island, that was. He wouldn’t hold his breath but the idea of having a plan in place when that time came gave him hope.
It wasn't an offer he made to many people, mainly Mario and now Rex, he wanted to show those he cared about the things that he loved and had shaped him to be the man he was. "I cannot remember if I have ever thanked you for our friendship." Ben said, looking up at his taller friend. "I always look forward to seeing you at the gym for our sessions. I should have invited you back to my room long before now."
The first comment had Rex’s attention. The lion shifter turned to behold his friend. “You don’t have to thank me for that, Ben,” he remarked. Kindness was free and what came of it was a natural step. Being a friend to someone was something he was proud of. “Had I known these wonderful pictures were here I would’ve loved to have had the chance to see them sooner.”
While Ben was friendly to a lot of people, he didn't really have too many he called true friends. Really he was a shy guy, not wearing his heart on his sleeve, it broke his heart too much. "I should find some of the pictures I took when I was on assignments, I'm sure you'd love them." Then again Rex also knew what his ability was and just how much he felt at one with the earth.
Rex nodded. “I would be honored to see more of your pictures.” He truly did want to know, he was curious, and he knew he wouldn’t be disappointed. He finished the last of the water. “I should probably go. Let you get back on with your day. I appreciate the chocolate rabbit!”
Ben nodded, leaving Rex's side he walked over to where the chocolate rabbit stood and picked it up. "I don't have any other plans for the day, maybe open some of these eggs, so you are not interrupting anything." If the few he had opened was any indication, he'd have a fantastic rest of the day exploring the contents. "Enjoy the rabbit."
He set the cup aside when it was empty and then approached his friend for the rabbit. Rex accepted the gift, “You know me far too well!” He laughed and then nodded. “I hope you find great things in those eggs!” With that, Rex turned and wandered out through the door, heading back toward his own place.