Sakura and the Festive Season (and Strange Cards.)

[keystaff]

WHO: Sakura Kinomoto, OPEN
WHERE: Out & About.
WHEN: Throughout December
WHAT: Ice Skating, Christmas times, figuring how to use her Clow Cards like the Magical Girl she is.
WARNINGS: None off the top of my head?



Ice Skating:

I haven't been ice skating before, but it looks fun!

[She exclaims, as she initially watches everyone else on the ice, not yet having put on her own skates. It seems similar enough to her using her own (normal) skates in getting to and from school, so she figures it won't be too difficult to pick up on? Probably. If one factors in her natural athleticism, and her clumsiness at times. Still, she smiles as she watches the others, possibly wincing if one might fall, but seems relieved when they are fine.]

Christmas Shopping:

Let's see....I was going to make some treats with Fai-san, but with taste being....an issue lately. I'm sure I can come up with something else too though.

[She already has some idea? Mostly. There's just the items to get to make the things she wants to figure doing for some of her friends, or 'family', now. So she wanders the local mall, keeping an eye out for ideas as she grabs some things too. Some yarn, knitting needles to make Xiaolang a scarf, and to make her brother one too, in a different colour. Some nice gloves for Fai, a pattern for making a cute soft toy of some candy for Iwai. Among others.

Depending on who she encounters she might get flustered and try hide evidence of what their present might be, or she might simply inquire on how their own shopping is going.]

Clow Cards:

[The park seems a safe enough space. Open, while the trees also provide some measure of cover for what she wants to try. She closes her eyes, trying to focus, just like in the memories she had experienced. First, to activate her staff. Then to try out the cards. To see them in action and if she really can handle this. How it might help at some point against whatever Retrospec throws at them. At her. As she speaks, a plea for the staff to activate, her necklace enlongates, extending until it becomes a staff.]

The key that holds the power of darkness. Reveal your true form to me. I, Sakura, command thee under convert. Release!

[That seems to be the easier part. She raises a hand to grip the staff, twirling it as she then throws up one of the cards she has. Windy.]

Windy!

[It almost looks like a woman. Briefly, sort of, as a gust of wind is summoned under Sakura's control. Nothing too major to potentially create a hurricane or something. Everyone would notice that. But it does seem to give Sakura more confidence. So she tries another card. The Fly. Activating the cards, a magic circle appears at her feet, and the Fly card seems to transform her staff itself, the wings at the ends becoming longer. Long enough for her to use to actually fly, as if like a witch on her broomstick. Sakura stares, wide-eyed before seeming to give in to her curiosity in seeing if it might actually work. Seating herself on the staff, one leg either side as she initially sort of hovers above the ground astride it for a moment.]

Comments

Cards!

[chaoticwhimsy]

[It's maybe thirty seconds after Sakura manages to get on her staff and is floating there when this friendly fellow comes bounding across the park towards her, claws tearing into the snow and dirt, every step a kind of breathless growl.]

[He's nearly on top of her before there's a shrill whistle from behind and he hauls himself up short, sliding to a stop a couple feet away, head turned slightly to fix an eye on the floating teen.]

[Thirty seconds after that Luna comes running into view, panting, and her head twists around until she spots the monster dog and stalks towards him.]

I told you to stop running off and-

[And her monster dog had found a floating girl? That certainly brings the thirteen year old up short, and she stares up at her for a few seconds before she recovers.]

...Nice trick.

[keystaff]

H-hoeeeee?!

[What....kind of dog is this?! Sakura has no idea but she certainly does get distracted enough to almost fall off her staff when the creature comes bounding over. Thankfully, Luna manages to distract him before he could actually pounce or something. Sakura seems relieved at that, if then immediately sheepish.]

Trick? Uh, this is.....um. Well. I got these cards in the mail the other month and I was just. Trying them.

[chaoticwhimsy]

[It's a monster dog, clearly. Said monster dog prowls back to Luna and flops down on the ground behind her as Luna steps closer, examining the floating staff and the girl.]

That's pretty cool. Can't say I've gotten anything like that.

[Just her monster dog.]

...Does it wear off or anything?

[keystaff]

Wear off? I don't think so?

[Sakura blinks, watching the dog for a moment before turning her attention back to Luna.]

I'm still figuring it out, actually. These cards. But I don't think I've seen a dog like that before either.

Christmas shopping

[hairstroke]

[Likewise, Leon also happened to be at the local in an attempt to finish up his own Christmas shopping. As he was in the middle of checking off his list, he happened to glance to the side and notices a familiar face from afar. Oh. It was Xiaolang's friend ... er, classmate. Or 'maybe friend' as she was called by Xiaolang the one time Leon made a joke about them being connected by destiny. His cousin's denial of their friendship had to be one of the most amusing things.

He wasn't about ready to admit it because the cousins are two peas in the same pod but he was worried about Sakura being all alone at the mall during a busy season like this. Leon figured that she was doing Christmas shopping, but he still wanted to make sure she was safe.]

Kinomoto? [He calls out her name and casually approaches her with a few bags in his arms.] How's your Christmas shopping going?

[keystaff]

Hm? Ah! Leon-san! Hello. I know, I'm a little more behind than I'd like, but since my original gift ideas haven't worked out.....

[Food, baking doesn't seem like the most ideal gift, given the issue around taste right now. At least for the Retrospec users anyway. Still, she does recognize him from having been over to study with Xiaolang once or twice already during their school classes together and all. So he gets a smile and wave of sorts in greeting, even if she might be a little sheepish at her baking idea being moot now.]

[hairstroke]

That's a shame that your original idea didn't pan out for you. That must be quite frustrating.

[At that, he wonders if it was food? If that was the case, he totally felt bad for her. Of all the times for people to lose their sense of taste, it had to be during this time of the year. Likewise, he had also thought about giving food but it definitely seemed pointless now.]

Have you had any ideas for alternatives? [He quickly pauses at that, not forgetting to add:] I promise I won't say a word to Xiaolang about any of this.

Shopping

[geckoman]

[Now is as good a time as ever to be doing some shopping for people. He's got Fai sorted out but Sakura and her brother are two that he figures maybe he should get presents for since they're Fai's kids. And he's been getting to know them better soooo yeah. Of course he's never purchased anything for kids before so it's been a lot of...wandering.

Then he spots Sakura herself and wanders over. She's independent for a girl her age. Responsible too. That's probably the main reason why he's not surprised to see her in the mall alone.]

Hey.

[keystaff]

Hm? Ah! Iwai-san! Hello! You're here looking for some presents too?

[Or so she assumes. It's easy enough to ask, to figure, given the time of year and all, at least. Maybe she could help him choose? Well, that is, assuming he wasn't looking for her, anyway. Though even then she might inadvertently end up helping with her bias showing through regardless.]

[geckoman]

Yeah. That's what you're out here for right?

[He gives her a little smile and glances at the bags she has.]

Looks like you've already got some stuff. That's some good progress you've managed.

ice skating

[matchbreaker]

Oh, it is! My boy's really talented at it.

[ . . . Said the 5' forty-one year old woman who has sunglasses on despite being either indoors or wherever this ice skating place is. She doesn't have her skates on either, and given her thick coat is presumably here to watch someone else. ]

[keystaff]

Oh, your son? Is he the one you're here watching?

[Or. She assumes. Since the other has no skates on. Or at least not yet if she has some she is intending to wear to join the skating. Sakura might be wrong. But she does then seem curious which one on the ice is her son now.]

[matchbreaker]

[ No she doesn't. Doesn't even have a pair near her (yet) that's visible, but then there's also a big bag she has there so that might have a pair in there? Who knows. She smiles and nods vigorously, pointing out an NPC an exceptionally small fifteen year old with black hair out there on the rink.

... The boy doesn't look that much like her other than them both being short. ]

That's right! He's right there!

clow cards!

[cardcaptured]

[Meanwhile, on a path not too far from where Sakura was practicing, Xiaolang was on his way back from karate practice, taking the long way home despite the chill in the air. The class had been a welcome distraction, but now that it was done, his thoughts were beginning to wander back into... less welcome territory. Territory he has been so intent on squashing with schoolwork, cleaning and other activities, with varying degrees of success.

Gaze slightly unfocused, his hand presses against his lips as he zones out, wandering over to his cheek as he stares ahead. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get that incident out of his head. The dark alleyway, the weird plant bats, his kiss, her kiss--

He shakes his head vigorously, in a vain attempt to dispel the memory from his mind, cheeks a rosy pink.]

No. It was to help, it was only to help, it meant nothing--

[Maybe if he said it out loud, he'd stop focusing so much on it? At least there was no one around to judge him for talking to himself, anyway.

So when the sound of Sakura's voice filters through the trees, startlingly close, Xiaolang's heart nearly bursts out of his chest. Did she hear that?? Wait-- no, she seems to be saying something else. 'Release'?

Curiosity and concern getting the better of him, he begins to pick through the trees in her direction. The sudden gust of wind that batters him shortly after only makes him quicken his pace, his worry fueling his stride. He was attempting to avoid her, to get his head sorted through all this mistlebat nonsense, but if something was endangering her--

Bursting through the small thicket, Xiaolang's eyes finally find Sakura, slightly breathless from the run.]

Sunny...! Are you--

[--'alright,', is what he wanted to say, but the sight in front of him steals the words from his lips. His sports bag slipped from his shoulder and onto the ground with a small plop, as he gapes. There are questions. SO MANY QUESTIONS.]

W-wha-- What IS that?!

[keystaff]

L--Li-kun?!

[She wasn't necessarily expecting an audience. So naturally she's startled, which leads to her slipping with her grip and pose astride the staff. Causing her to start to fall, as she turns to hearing his voice, green eyes wide in surprise.

But well. Maybe it was for the better if he was there. To help figure the cards. She just hadn't anticipated him seeing her while she tried to use them for the first time.]

[cardcaptured]

Ah--!

[He hadn't intended to startle her (but with that sort of entrance, what was he even expecting--), but despite all the questions swarming in his mind right now, he pushes them aside the moment he sees her lose her balance. Without even bothering to catch his breath, he dashes towards Sakura, feet slightly slipping in the snow, hoping to catch her or at least steady her before she wound up hurting herself.

The moment he reaches her, his arms dart out, quickly trying to wrap one under her own arm and another around her waist. Their close proximity was nowhere in his thoughts at the moment, too concerned about keeping her safe and hopefully upright than being flustered about her possibly falling against him.]

Ice Skating

[burlyheart]

[Peter looks over into rink, another member of the audience to the skaters. At a distance where each one looks small, they twirl and move in circular paths, spinning like leaves over a water surface. There's a natural order to it, Peter thinks.

Peter looks down and to his side, to make eye contact with the girl. He also stands on boots and not skates, but he responds to that.]

Do you want to take lessons?

[keystaff]

Lessons? Ah, I hadn't really thought on it. It'd depend on when the lessons would be, I guess. And how much.

[If her part time work could cover it or if she were to ask Fai if she did get curious enough to try lessons. If Fai would allow it and be okay with helping pay depending on how much it would cost. And where the rink might be, getting there as well.]

[burlyheart]

I wouldn't expect them to charge too much for that. Or you could just ask someone to teach you.

I know how to skate. I remember the lessons from years ago.

[Even though he hasn't especially intended to go skating, to the point of not putting the skates on, he seems extremely confident in himself.]

Ice Skating

[flowrite]

Ah, it's not that tough. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly I bet. Especially since you're good at skating anyway!

[Fai's sitting on a bench near where Sakura's watching the other skaters, just lacing up his second skate. As soon as she looks over he pats the bench next to him.]

Come on, get your skates on and we can go out together! Maybe we can keep each other from falling, huh?

[He's... mostly joking. While he was a dancer and he's pretty graceful, he's not especially talented at skating. He's... passable.]

[keystaff]

I'd hope neither of us would fall. But you're right! We should get our skates on too!

[She should actually get her skates on and not get too distracted watching everyone else. Sakura shifts over to the bench in joining him, taking off her shoes and fitting on her skates, lacing them up. Though she might seem a little tentative in then getting to her feet with them on.]

[flowrite]

[He finishes up with his second skate and then stands, alternating his weight from one foot to the other to make sure his laces are tight enough, and when Sakura seems to be just about finished he extends a hand down to her to help her back up.]

All right, ready? We should probably take it easy around the edges at first, since you're new and I haven't done this in a while!

so late but christmas shopping;

[complementing]

Sakura-chan!

[Here's Minako waving in the distance! She trots over as quickly as she can, loaded down with her own bags as she is, and beams in greeting.]

Hi! How's your present shopping going?

Not that late!

[keystaff]

Ah, you're here too? Probably doing the same thing I am. I'm....getting there. Just one or two more, I think. I was going to be more organized but since my original idea of baking hasn't worked out...

[Given the issues around tasting. So she's thus trying to figure alternate ideas. And mostly managing, more or less. Sakura seems a little sheepish at that, but does give a smile and wave in greeting herself.]

♥

[complementing]

[She nods sympathetically.]

I know what you mean, baking Christmas cookies has been almost impossible. But! I got around it by making a kind of fruit tart, and mini mince pies. They turned out pretty good~