Where your favorite blogs come alive
sweet was hardly a word one would use to describe lili but maybe the christmas season had made her into a new person — at least until the carols stopped being sung. (or maybe she was trying to prevent a coal addition in her stocking this year, who really knew what went on inside that gorgeous head of hers)
with a satisfied grin, lili picks up another box — lifting its top to make sure the contents inside matched up with what had been on their lists before starting again with its corners crisp, edges ironed out and ribbons tied; it was a wrapper’s trifecta. something that obviously came with much well-earned practice from all the ‘i’m sorry, please forgive me for being a bitch’ gifts; surely such a thing had put her to work on perfecting her craft.
lili couldn’t agree more — and that was saying something as someone who usually loved spending hours on end in the practice room; thinking the youth center could be her solace had never crossed her mind and yet, here she was — enjoying her time at the youth center. “yeah, it’s definitely a nice change of pace?” lili wasn’t burnt out but there wasn’t any harm in doing something different every now and then; was she evolving — the girl who loathed change? “how is practice going for you, anyways? you’re performing something for the concert, right?”
“you flatter me. it’s hardly professional,” the pristine bow says otherwise but the words are almost automatic — a false sense of humility that never really suited lili falls from her lips and even though she, emi and the world probably know she’s the furthest thing from humble, lili relishes in the compliment. “just a little extra, sure, but it’s christmas. and i’m kind of in a giving mood.”
and lili leaves the reasoning at that.
once she’s secured the ribbon to the box, she makes quick work on pulling the bow into it’s shape and finishing it by curling its ends for the final spiral. “and it’s done!” probably her best accomplishment of the year, but who was really counting.
placing the gift with the rest, she looks to emi and at her own array of dressed up gifts and smiles, “and you were saying i was professional — yours are exactly like the ones i pick up at the department stores for the holidays all crisp corners and all.” the kids probably wouldn't care for the effort — already imagining them ripping the pretty wrapping to shreds — but lili had always appreciated anything pretty, especially when they were gifts.
“you flatter me. it’s hardly professional,” the pristine bow says otherwise but the words are almost automatic — a false sense of humility that never really suited lili falls from her lips and even though she, emi and the world probably know she’s the furthest thing from humble, lili relishes in the compliment. “just a little extra, sure, but it’s christmas. and i’m kind of in a giving mood.”
and lili leaves the reasoning at that.
once she’s secured the ribbon to the box, she makes quick work on pulling the bow into it’s shape and finishing it by curling its ends for the final spiral. “and it’s done!” probably her best accomplishment of the year, but who was really counting.
placing the gift with the rest, she looks to emi and at her own array of dressed up gifts and smiles, “and you were saying i was professional — yours are exactly like the ones i pick up at the department stores for the holidays all crisp corners and all.” the kids probably wouldn't care for the effort — already imagining them ripping the pretty wrapping to shreds — but lili had always appreciated anything pretty, especially when they were gifts.
something about christmas was frankly, just magical. the whole holiday season somehow made her feel better-- despite the chilling cold that seeped into the bones, and the sometimes loneliness that came with not getting to spend it back home, depending on funds and how busy they were. this though, this seemed to re-ignite her spirit just a bit. it was nice, getting to get together and make things look pretty-- now that she was good at.
she's just adjusting some frills of her own when lili gets her attention, dark eyes looking over and meeting her eyes, before they're casting down to see her tiny dilemma. she offers a chuckle, nodding as she's leaning to offer her finger, holding the piece in place. "wow, this looks really good. you must have spend a while on it. i like doing this, but that looks professional!"she comments.
wrap me up — @lgcxmimi
as someone who’s love language was giving and receiving gifts, when given the chance — and truly, there were not many — lili practically jumped at the opportunity to wrap presents. unfortunately, these gifts lacked her certain aesthetic taste for ribbon and wrappers but she would make do — anything to keep her away from the children and their little grubby hands.
so, she with each wrapped box and toy; her artistic pursuits soared when it came to decorating them with ribbon. all she needed was an extra —
“emi? do you mind lending a finger, i just need one so i can tighten this bow.”
extending the box towards the other girl, lili appears far more excited at the aspect of bows and wrapping than she has been since the day had started — and it may or may not be because she was out of earshot of those screaming gremlins but we don’t judge — smile dazzling and all as she steps towards emi’s side.
any other day, one where the sun wasn’t in her eyes or the wind wasn’t messing up her hair — or where lili wasn’t paranoid that chicken shit had gotten underneath her fingernails — maybe lili would have tickled her competitive bone. but no, apparently that day was not today. and lili knew a losing game when it’s been had and from the get go — soap? was no winning contender in anyone’s book.
it wasn’t as if the people around here went through soaps as quickly as they would water — they couldn’t be that dirty, could they? she sniffs, trying not to appear too miffed by the idea before turning back to emi.
“surprised — why?” she feigns her own little raised brow in confusion, a smile playing on her lips as she looks at the juice cups. her finger dances in the air around them as she tries to choose, “which do you recommend, you’ve been here all day — which has been selling the most?”
she swore, just when she thought she had legacy figured out, they wanted to throw another curveball-- like sending them out into the country, having them feign for themselves, or at least it felt that way sometimes. really though, all mimi could do was cackle at the different shenanigans they had been put through. it was all in a good fun, and honestly, she hadn't realized how sick of the practice room she was until they were heading far far away from it.
fresh air would do her some good anyway, it had been a rough couple of weeks.
and she liked competing. it was fun, it lit a fire under her, even more so when she realized she was losing. so to say this weekend had been... eventful was an understatement. it was nice to get closer to the trainees and unnies, though.
sometimes, this makes it easier to feel like she fits in.
juice selling was going well, and the team was excited, hushed whispers around their future spoils of vicotry when the voice rings through and emi turns, blinks a bit at lili as she tries to hide her snort. she takes the bill with ease, moving to get change, and gestures to the juices. "take your pick, take your pick. i am a little surprised you wanted to get one from us, though." she admits with a chuckle.
ON ENEMY LINES. soapsuds will never quench her taste buds — @lgcxmimi
part of her wonders where the hell was this soap when she was surrounded by nothing but chicken shit. ugh, talk about timing — the stench of the herbal suds were giving her a headache, a migraine, whatever that now seemed to cease the further she got away from the numerous boxes that were currently hoarding the unsold bars.
what was more aggravating than the overwhelming smell was how unfair the sales were. how the fuck were they supposed to even sell soaps? if these village hicks couldn’t sell it, did they think some city dwellers who spent their days dancing hours on end in the basement could?
she frowns, they really must have hit the rock bottom of variety television.
chancing upon one of the younger girls, she reaches out with her own bill to them. not caring if she was aiding the ‘enemy’ — she needed a drink, and at least theirs would give her a temporary quench to whatever ailment she was suffering from.
“can i get one?” her head tilts to the jug at the side.