well, don't you look festive!
@beaureguarde | winter themed
Katie's hoop wreath earrings offer a soft jingle as she reaches over for a thermos proclaiming Delphi Strawberry Fields, but pauses when hearing Silena speaking to her. The thermos has rich and creamy hot chocolate -- complete with mini marshmallows and whipped cream that somehow hasn't melted yet -- and Katie's delighted that it has stayed hot, even if that means that she has to take tiny sips to avoid burning her tongue a few hours later.
Bundled up with a distinctly festive Christmas sweatshirt with embroderied animals on it (with their own holiday getup), warm knitted leggings underneath a skirt, warm boots with fuzzy boot socks, winter jacket complete with hat to keep her from being too cold, Katie applies an extra layer of cranberry red to her lips to prevent them being chapped. Although Katie was initially concerned it might be a bit much to wear up to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, Katie is warm, and will stay warm, when the winter solstice “field trip” ends with the Head Counselors returning to the hustle and bustle of the mortal world.
There should be only a few more that the group is waiting for, but in the mean time, Katie is grateful that this offer is presented as a gift, because Katie feels like some of it is. For starters, this means seeing her mother in person (assuming that is, she isn’t too engulfed in her grief for her other daughter’s semi-annual descent into the Underworld). It means seeing the other Head Counselors — but more importantly, her friends — outside of the usual summertime meetings and camp activities. It means seeing her camp friends and maybe exploring the city that has nothing to do with a deadly quest or fending off monsters (though some of the group glances over their shoulders, as if expecting monsters to be clad in a Santa suit or overly chipper and costumed elf).
Katie thinks it might be a way for her father to get a head start on wrapping the gifts he has gotten her, but she can’t complain, really. Katie’s own gifts to her father are hidden in her clothing drawers where he somehow hasn’t figured out her hiding spaces. And she has her gifts to her friends and half siblings safe with her.
If it were someone else, Katie would not be sure whether the words are complimentary or insulting...but it's Silena. Katie has never felt as if Silena is the type to be deceitful, so there is no need to question motives or look for any backhanded compliments with Silena’s words.
“Well, thank you!” Katie beams as bright as the garland of lights around them before giving a soft huff between her gloved fingers in attempt to stay warm. “I really love your outfit too, Silena! Those colors look so lovely on you! —by the way, this is where all of us agreed to meet, right? Sometimes I get left and right mixed up.”
