Reckless Ranger

“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Chuckles, folding the pajama onesie up fondly.] That’s what you said last time too, you know. And who went looking for it in the middle of the movie? ♪ I’m going to have to come up with an even better hiding place, you know.

[A particularly wicked thought crosses his mind, he exhales, then shakes his head. No. Don’t go there.] I’m sure I’ll manage to think of something. And find an exceptionally scary movie, as well. ♪

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[She fixes her hat back onto her head, a pout appearing onto her features as he recalls the last movie they watched.] I mean it this time! You’ll have to come up with a really great spot that even I won’t be able to get it! Even if you have to leave it at someone else’s house!

[Nods her head, pout quickly dissolving into a smile] Alright, sounds good then. You text me when you’ve got the time and the movie, and I’ll make sure to have all the snacks and everything. 

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

Whenever I’m free. [He echoes the thought, his mind sped up and buzzing a million miles away. Or, more accurately, just across the plaza.] That certainly gives me a lot of privilege I’m not necessarily sure I deserve. ♪ … To pick the day, I mean. 

Perhaps I’ll text you when I’m free? [He’s all wicked smiles now.] Maybe I’ll bring a movie? Something scary we haven’t seen yet. ♪

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Nods her head a few times] Yes, whenever you’re free! I mean-it works out better in case you might have plans, you know?

[She finally stops bouncing up and down, managing to catch her hat before it falls off her head.] Something really scary; I mean it too! And we’ll hide the remote so we don’t skip the scary parts, too!

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Mistel pauses.]

[Slowly, slowly, he raises his eyes to her face. For a moment, Mistel wears the sort of expression that he might if a majestic, beautiful, wild deer had walked directly into his shop. Any sudden movements and it might be frightened off, darting out the door and out of his life forever.]

… [And just as slowly, his mouth curls into a very pleasant smile.]

I think that sounds wonderful, Ms. Agate. I would absolutely love to do exactly that. When were you thinking, exactly? ♪

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[She keeps a pleasant smile on her face, watching as he looks from his gift up to her. They’re silent for a few moments, and when Mistel agrees, her pleasant smile grows tenfold as excitement overtakes her.]

Gah- yay! Gosh, I can’t wait, it’ll be super duper fun! [She claps her hands together, bouncing up and down excitedly.] Oh it can be whenever you’re free! I don’t really have any plans any time soon.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[He leans in to see the picture on her phone as she calls it up, then catches himself still staring at it several seconds later, his cheeks rosy with fondness. He has to force a laugh to wrench his eyes off the screen, turning them back to the onesie. Yes. Focus on the onesie, the ridiculous thing that it is.]

How— nice. We’ll have to wear them matching, sometime. [He chuckles.] Think there’ll be a pajama party any time soon? ♪

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Once he’s finished looking, she locks the phone screen and tucks it away.] Well, I was thinking we could have a movie slumber party night whenever you’d like. We could wear them then and make some yummy snacks and watch a bunch of movies until the sun comes up...or fall asleep, I guess.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Blinks. He’s really got to start watching his mouth around Agate. There’s not many people in this world he feels guilty for teasing, but that twisting in his stomach definitely proves to him that she’s one of them.] … No, I was only teasing. You’re just clumsy, I think, Ms. Agate.

[He helps her up, smiling gently even as he chides her. Said smile falls in favor of a look of surprise when he notices the box for the first time, however.] Ah— you remembered? That’s very kind of you, Ms. Agate, you didn’t have to—

[But he’s slipped the ribbon off to look inside and has to stop mid-sentence as he catches a glimpse of what’s in it. He lifts the garment out, and his mouth falls open in incredulous delight.] 

… Are you kidding me? Is this— a onesie?

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Oh. [She breathes a sigh of relief; she’d much rather be called clumsy than to be told there were ghosts haunting the building.] Well I don’t suppose I could say I’ve never been called that; Angela says it at least three times a week. 

[Her smile widens as he opens and reveals the gift, clapping her hands together excitedly and nodding her head.] Yup, yup! I saw it and thought it would be super perfect for you! Especially considering that- [She reaches into her pocket to pull out her phone. She swipes her finger across the screen a few times before turning it towards him to show him a photo.] I bought a pair for myself to match. 

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Tuts.] Perhaps this old building is haunted, after all. 

[He heaves a heavy sigh, before offering her a hand to help her stand up.] And what have I told you about being sneaky? I distinctly remember mentioning that it’s pointedly disturbing, and I know you remember my saying so, because I’ve said it on at least four separate occasions now. Come, now, take my hand Ms. Agate—

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Her eyes widen as he mentions it’s haunted.] Nu uh...{she glances around quickly before whispering to him] Is it really??

[As he gently scolds her, she throws him a pout of course, lightly huffing but of course taking his hand.] I have no idea what you’re talking about. [She stands with his aid, before bending over to pick up the gift box. She adjusts the ribbon, before pushing it towards him.] Happy happy birthday to youuu~ ♫

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Leans down and whispers out of the side of his mouth.] What is that on Agate's sweater? Is that some sort of new Christmas character--?

[Smiles.] …

[Swallows hard, trying to press out his smile.] …

[Unable to contain it any longer, he bursts into loud laughter, doubling over and shaking with the exertion of his amusement.] S— stop— Mr. Klaus, please—

[klausentrated-blog]

… … I–? … alright.

… [Clears his throat.] –w-well, whatever cartoon that is.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Meanwhile is still trying to dance like Drake, humming Hotline Bling]

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Dances like Drake tbh]

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Birthday! || Mistel & Agate

@vintage-vendor

[Maybe it’s the ghost of a floor board? Mistel might need to see if he can find someone who doubles as a carpenter and a priest for this particular problem.]

[He winces at the sound of the thud, leaning over to see his friend sprawled out on the floor.] … You alright? [A quick glance at the surrounding area at least shows him that nothing of his is broken. Good. He can get straight to nagging her, then.]

Really, Ms. Agate, you ought to be more careful—

Mm, yes I think so! [Moves to a sitting position. Rubs her chin which had managed to bump against the floor, she looks up at him before throwing him a small pout.] I was careful, though; you have to be careful when you’re being super, extra sneaky!

[She pats the floor beside her] I just think your shop likes to see me trip. 

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[He’s weaved quite the web of self-defensive explanation, here— and when Agate finally smiles at him, having accepted the lot of his lies as having any merit whatsoever, he doesn’t feel any better than he did when he’d started weaving them. Mistel blinks, his smile wide and toothy and a little manic, his face falling slightly pale with realization.]

.. [Mistel clears his throat, puts his hand gently on his dear friend’s forearm, and kisses her just as gently on the cheek.]

Merry Christmas, Ms. Agate. [He sighs, shaking his head— allowing his smile to relax into something a little more apologetic.] And many happy returns.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[She keeps her smile on full display, waiting for a response from Mistel. She notices his own grin, though unaware of anything else it may be displaying. As he begins to move, she can’t help but to wait with bated breath and-]

...

[She blinks in surprise, as his lips meet with her cheek, a very mild wave of something coming over her as she wonders if the wrong expectation had come to her mind. Nevertheless, just as it comes, it goes, and as her smile returns to her face once again, she nods, a touch of a flush highlights her cheeks.]

Merry Christmas to you too, Mistel! [And returns the favor by mimicking him as she leans in to kiss his cheek as well.]

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Animals Galore! || Gwen & Agate

[gwennowandthen]

*The more she heard of it, the more she liked the idea. It took a lot of willpower to not hurry over there right now.* I’m glad to here this. You’ll definitely be seeing me some time soon. When someone tells me about animals, I’m usually zooming there the same day I just… have a lot of work to do…

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Claps her hands together excitedly] Yay! I can’t wait to tell the animals they’ll be getting a new visitor soon, goodness, they get so excited and it makes me happy to see them happy as well!

[Gives her a sympathetic smile, nodding in understanding] Work is very important! But no worries at all, the safari will still very much be there when you’re done!

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Oh, wait, there’s that guilt again. Mistel had thought for a moment that he might have finally discarded it, but nope. There it is. In all its glory.] Well..

[He blinks. Rubs the back of his neck. Looks to the ceiling, then back to Agate. Then puts on the sort of pout one resorts to when the guilt is too thick to disperse with anything except defensiveness.] I suppose that’s true, but— where’s the sense of adventure in that? Where’s the spontaneity— the intrigue? Doesn’t it feel somehow more, well—

[He’s navigating a sea of words he shouldn’t use, right now— “victorious” among them.] … Well, surely you must know what I’m talking about, Ms. Agate. There’s a sort of charm to traditions like mistletoe that cannot be captured in any other season, don’t you agree?

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Continues to press her finger tips together, glancing up to the ceiling at the mistletoe once again just as he does. Adventure? Spontaneity? Intrigue? Surely she understood what he was saying; after all, these were things she experienced in her field of work. But with a game of mistletoe kissing? of course it wasn’t something she objected to, but it wasn’t exactly something she had actually had the courtesy of experiencing before. She sighs, slightly resigning from her last statement.] I guess so...

[Falling silent for a few more moments, she finally smiles at him]...well, how should we do this then? 

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Enters through the ice rink opening]

[Steps onto the ice]

[Immediately falls onto her butt]

Owwwweeeee- guess I better go grab that chair...

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[Ah, this is the sort of magic that holiday traditions are made out of. This, this right here is truly what people are referring to when they refer to Christmas miracles. Mistel smiles pleasantly as he absorbs the entirety of her reaction, savoring it in steps as it progresses. Majestic.] 

My goodness, now that you mention it— I am, aren’t I? [He glances to the ceiling, wearing the sort of face one wears when they are a human being who is actually, genuinely surprised at a coincidence— or perhaps the sort of a face that an evil spider-creature wears as a mask as they feel a tug at a corner of their web.] 

Well, would you look at that. You do know what happens when two people meet under the mistletoe, don’t you, Ms. Agate? ♪

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[There is nothing magical about playing games Mistel, gosh you’re such a weird spider gosh. How’s about you savor that hot insult, yeah, yeah!]

[Her lips compress a moment at his reaction, expression falling to one the ever so mildly hints that maybe she doesn’t quite believe the genuinity he offers.] Uh huh, of course I know what it means!

[ Hands resting against her body, she presses her index finger tips together as she speaks again.] I mean, if you wanted a Christmas kiss, Mistel, all you had to do was ask..

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

Oh, gladly. Gladly. This weekend, certainly. I’ll be free.

[He smiles, pressing a finger to his lips, a gesture for a secret he’s keeping. Conscience be damned, conscience be damned, conscience be damned.] But I don’t think I’d have been able to accept your help in return, actually. You see, I’ve put up three sprigs of mistletoe thus far, and their locations are very much meant to be kept secret until they’re accidentally found. It’s no fun if anyone knows where they’ve been put up until they’re standing under them.

[Pauses for emphasis, before continuing matter-of-factly:] Like you just so happen to be right now, actually.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Claps her hands excitedly.] Perfect! You’ll have to dress for the occasion, too, I always put my decorations up wearing my favorite Santa hat.

[She blinks at his motion, slight confusion coming across her features as she tries to figure out what he means; thankful he begins to explain. She nods her head slowly in partial understanding of why he could not accept her help.] 

Oh. [She responds, looking up to the ceiling and taking note of the mistletoe. She glances back down to him and smiles, nodding her head as though she now completely understood...It takes her a few moments, however, to process his final statement of her location, Agate, looking up once more and noting that she, indeed, was standing just under one of the sprigs of mistletoe. She blinks, wide eyed as she looks back to him once again.] Oh! That’s-[Her index finger points up to the decoration] that’s mistletoe...............huh.............[Is all that she can manage to say on the subject as she bites onto her bottom lip and casts her gaze to the side. After another moment, she finally whispers]

...okay, but you’re standing under it too, Mistel.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Pouts for a few more seconds, then giving him a nod of her head and humming in response. You’re damn right it’s neat, Mistel.]

Well, I’m still going to crush it up anyways…[Thinks for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders. She turns her head towards his counter, taking a couple steps towards it to set down the box on top, before coming back over to him. It is then that she realizes he had done some decorating.]

Oh! Golly gee, Mistel, you got your decorating started quickly-I haven’t had a chance to pull mine out yet!

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[He watches her take a few steps away from him, opening his mouth to comment— and shutting it again. It’s fortunate for his guilt-riddled conscience that she does him the honor of noticing his decorations as she walks back. The fly traps itself on the web, after all. The spider only picks up the pieces.]

Mhm. I’ve been much more on top of it this year, haven’t I? [He smiles, letting his gaze trail up to the ceiling. Staring. He continues, as though talking to the mistletoe itself:] I do so love Christmas. ♪ [He glances back to her.] … You’ll let me know if you need any help with your decorations, won’t you?

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mmhm, for sure! [She keeps looking around the shop, head turning in every direction as she takes in the level of decorating he's done, clearly impressed. As she looks back to him she sees him looking up, and she too takes a glance, admiring what she believes to be holly along the ceiling rafters.]

Oh of course! In fact, I was planning on doing some decorating this weekend if you'd like to keep me company...though I feel bad I didn't get to help you here...

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

Mistel’s Web || Mistel & Agate

[pechvogeltje-blog]

[He watches this display, a little too amused by her pouting— so much so that it chases the scolding look off his features. Just like that, his smile is back. Conscience be damned.]

No, you’re right. It is “neat”. It’s perhaps a little inconvenient, yes. And a little silly, definitely. But there’s no arguing that it is “neat”.

[unseen-beneath-the-trees]

[Pouts for a few more seconds, then giving him a nod of her head and humming in response. You’re damn right it’s neat, Mistel.]

Well, I’m still going to crush it up anyways...[Thinks for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders. She turns her head towards his counter, taking a couple steps towards it to set down the box on top, before coming back over to him. It is then that she realizes he had done some decorating.]

Oh! Golly gee, Mistel, you got your decorating started quickly-I haven't had a chance to pull mine out yet!