Holiday Hassle [Marty James]

[Every]

She had waited until the last minute again.

Maybe it was because the line had gotten quiet, or because only so few had come to see her when she and Micah had died, but Every hadn’t been entirely family orientated outside of her direct line for the past few months. So few of her siblings had expressed anything for the entire situation, or even bothered to go to events that were planned, that it had put a damper onto an already touchy mood that it was easier for her to focus on her childer, sires, and now, the large amount of grandchilder that Nishaa had created.

With her christmas list in hand, or more particularly the names that would be receiving a gift from her that year, the brunette entered the mall with her head down and focused on her cellphone. There were some that she had absolutely no idea what to get them, and with others, she knew exactly what to get them. And then, as she found were plentiful enough, there were those that she had an idea but was unsure if it was what she’d go with.

To her right, she could hear Christmas carols and the brunette began walking away from them despite the fact she knew she’d be able to hear them wherever she went. To her left, people were still lined up for a picture with Santa Claus, something that surprised her as she paused by a wall to kick some of the snow that remained stuck to her suede boots. With one arm outstretched, she balanced easily and hit her foot carefully against the wall and then switched, repeating the action.

Afterwards, she lifted her head and searched. Where to go, first? There were several stores that she wanted to visit. Instead, she began to just walk - if something looked interesting, Every would head inside. That was simple enough, right?

[Marty James]

Shopping, it was not something he disliked overall, it was just the modernized malls that held little interest for him. Marty had been all over the world, and by far an open market in an exotic country was far more entertaining to shop in. Through the mall served well for what he needed. He was suddenly apart of something again, and it felt nice. Marty had never had much family before, his grandmother, an aunt and a few cousins were all he had left back in his old life. His grandmother was missed a great deal, especially around this time of year. He could just hear her, nagging at him in her Jersey accent. Marty, don't be such a stranger sweetheart. The very thought of her words, or the way she would pinch his cheeks, made him smile now.

That had been his focus as of late, thinking of the good things from his past, paired with having an hopeful outlook for the new hand life had dealt him. So here he was now, at the mall shopping for a short list of people he didn't feel he knew too well. Already Marty had wandered the many shops, and only now carried a decorative shop bag. Dressed simple, though still wore layers, to at least make it look as if the cold still bothered him.

The man had been on his way out, when something caught his eye, a familiar face. Instead of heading for the exit, he would walk up beside her. ”Why hello Every. Doing some last minutes shopping as well? By the sight of the crowds here today, I don't think I'm the only one.” His words were shared with the play of a smile. He might not have known Eve well, but she was certainly one he had spoke with more. She was his sire’s sire, whatever that meant. Well, he got the gist of it but didn't quite understand what that meant.

[Every]

It was official. She had absolutely no clue where to start.

As Every’s hazel eyes took in the other shoppers in the mall, the woman kept to her wall for the time being and tried to think. This person would like that, there was no way in hell she would get that even just to see their shocked expression… Three years before, she wouldn’t have stepped foot in the place because her shadow hadn’t been projected, yet. Her christmas shopping had been done early and online. “Well, I have really let the ball drop.” The woman spoke out loud and shook her head.

When she heard a familiar voice, however, the woman turned slightly enough to make sure that it was actually her grandchilde as she tracked his aura and was proven correct - a paranoid trait she’d picked up over the years. “I am, I’m afraid.” Every offered the male a small smile. “How have you been, Marty?”

A series of emails had been exchanged between sire and childe discussing the male when he had been first turned, and because of them and a need to become more commutative with her family, Every had reached out to the young man as well as the rest of her grandchilder. It was a step in a good direction, she thought, even if she backtracked sometimes. “Everything going well?”