avalononline | 04; Video; UN: Roseofdawn

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04; Video; UN: Roseofdawn

[Aurora is humming softly, weaving sprigs of evergreen together, a little bird handing her berries or plants, several squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks holding twigs or pinecones but she's honestly surrounded by all sorts of animals in her home. A giant fire is going in her fireplace, the whole room gives off a feeling of warmth.]

Al...most.... done. [She held out her hand for a pinecone, the chipmunk handing it to her.] Aaand there.

[She held up the wreath.]

It may not be a traditional Evergreen Yule Wreath, but it is rather lovely.

The dried oranges were an excellent idea. [She said as she turned to look at the giant Eurasian Eagle-owl perched on the back of her chair.] Thank you for the suggestion, Vivek.

If anyone else would like, I have plenty enough to make more wreaths, especially as the solstice is almost here! Thought they may be much more traditional than this. Or, if you would like to imbue it with your own home's warmth and protection, I can show you how to make one.

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[Gokudera closes the eye closest to the temple she kisses and keeps his pout in place.]

[She’s right to have warned him, but why couldn’t she have gone easier on him? He feels like he got steamrolled by affection and he’s at a loss for how to actually respond.]

[He looks down at his own hot chocolate and considers drinking more, but then he’s invited to help with the wreath he’d been excited about. Honestly, he’d just been excited to be around Rose. They could watch paint dry and he’d probably just be content in her company. Gokudera gets up and moves to the table with her, looking over the supplies with hesitation.]

I’ve never made a wreath before…

[He’s also never been totaled by endearments before, either. Wow, a day of firsts for both of them!]

Then I will teach you. I certainly wasn't born knowing. [She selected several long strands of the pine and then moved to sit next to him, resting her hands atop his.]

First, we need to weave the pines together.

Could you imagine if you were?

[That would be ridiculous. Gokudera lets out a little huff of a laugh at the idea of that being the developed skill since birth. What use could wreath-weaving be for a baby?]

You’ll show me how to do that, too, right?

[He looks on at the supplies, then his hands, and hers, then over at her. If she weaves, he can probably follow along beside her.]

That is my intent, yes. I want to share this with you. It's a tradition that was passed down to me by my aunts. I... I like being able to share this with you, with friends and loved ones. Traditions are meant to be shared.

[He looks down at the pine and twists some of it idly between the fingers of his free hand before looking up at her.]

Thank you, Rose…

[Gokudera moves to take a sip of his hot chocolate, then goes back to the wreath, where he just stares at it and then goes back to the pine.]

Is it a braid, or a twist? How do you keep it from fraying around?

Both would work. I prefer a braid because I feel it will last longer in harder weather but sometimes I like to do a braid for the core and a twist above it as twists allow are easier to put decorations in. [As evident by the initial wreath she made.] But, let's start with a nice simple braid. Don't focus on it fraying. When you near the end of one sprig, you will simply weave in another like you might with hair.

I’ve never braided before…

[Gokudera says and looks at the mess of pine he’s created in just a minute. It was fast work, and does not look good, and he’s pouting at it. Gokudera can’t even peel a potato or roll clay into a ball without messing up, so he’s going to need more involvement from Aurora.]

Well, we'll simply have to fix that. [She got up and came over to sit next to him, undoing what he did and pulling out three long sprigs before tying them together at the top in a knot.]

You are merely without practice or teacher. [She rested her hands above his and showed him the motions of how to weave a simple plait.] There now, see? A rhythm in and of itself, and I know how skillfully you play.

Do I have to tie a knot like that each time?

[What’s that knot for? Wait! Should he take notes?! Gokudera’s feeling a bit caught off guard realizing he knows nothing about what they’re doing. Okay… crap… uh…]

Both.

This isn’t anything like piano, Rose…

[He follows the motion she started, but then starts to knot them up slightly. Wait, but if he doesn’t, won’t they all go all over the place? Fray out like crazy? Should they bind it with something?]

No, but a knot helps when you're first starting, it's an anchor point. The more skilled you become, and I know you shall, eventually, you won't need the knot at all and the wreath will end as it began, seamless.

But I started my first wreathes with endless knots.

[She pressed a kiss to his temple.] Relax, darling, this is meant to be enjoyable. There is no consequence for needing to start over.

How big should we make it?

[He doesn’t know if he has the patience to make it a respectable size.]

Didn’t it take a while if it was endless knots?

[He pouts at her before she kisses his temple, then looks a bit lost. Oh well it would suck to have to do it all over, but not a waste of time because that would mean he gets to spend more time with Rose.

Either way, no matter how this will look, it’s probably going to be a memory he will cherish.]

Right… right.

For now, let's say at least 5 long sprigs?

My first few, absolutely. My very first two were little more than a ring of tied-up sprigs, no berries, no flowers, nothing but a wobbly wreath of a single circle of sprigs.

Oh, but how my aunts were so proud of me. [She smiled at the memory, her hands working through the wreath with ease and skill.] They hung it up in a place of honor, right above the hearth. They went on and on about how beautiful it was. I was little and couldn't have felt giddier at the way my aunts went on about my wreath, where they hung it. They refused to put any other wreath there, we just put the other ones all over the house.

[She looked over to him.]

Five?

[He’s got them and he’s looking at them, watching her to show him how to weave them about. He’s watching closely, and sure her message is wonderful but she’s not really teaching him. He’s actively struggling to copy her and pouting at his. It’s not going to stay together at all!

But… he has to get better! He’s going to make the best wreath he can!]

I want to make one for the Tenth… I think I’m going to need a lot more of your help, if uh… if you wouldn’t mind.

Three, then. [She gets up and pulls her seat closer to his, resting her hands on top of his to stop him, to calm him.]

Please forgive me, I have never taught this, I only learned it. If you will allow, I will show you how I was taught. Rest your hands atop mine, follow where they go, then, I shall rest yours underneath my own, and stay there to guide you until you find your confidence.

I would love to help you make this to give to your Lord.

[He feels a bit embarrassed for how much he's floundering, and then appreciative with how patient she's being with him. Then embarrassed again for how much help he needs.]

No forgiveness is necessary, Rose. I... I'm not very skilled and I think maybe I just set my sights too high. I'll follow along.

[Hands on her own, gentle, warm, not trying to push, pull, or direct. He's watching, absorbing the motions as best he can when he's distracted by how close she is. Crap.]

I like having you this close...

[He sounds rather shy admitting that.]

You are ambitious, there is nothing wrong with that.

[She eventually moves her hands atop his, gently correcting his hands whenever he's about to stray from the pattern of the weave.]

I like being this close. [She responded, gently rubbing the back of his hand with the tips of her fingers.]

It’s really a skill, even though it looks so easy!

[Gokudera hadn’t expected to trip up so much. The weaving is nice, the touching even more so and he leans against her as she helps him.]

Do we add more to it while we weave, or just complete this as the base for more?

[Maybe he’s making things needlessly complicated.]

Skills come with practice. [She hummed softly.] Even my singing needed to be learned, dancing too.

[She moves her cheek to rest on his shoulder.]

As this is your first wreath, we shall add them after the base is completed. With time, you shall be able to weave in the flowers and adornments as you go.

I know… but I want it as a gift, so I need to develop it…

[He gives a little sigh, but it’s of comfort. Gokudera nods softly.]

So I’ll attempt to weave flowers into the second one.

As a gift? Oh! You wish to bestow it as a gift, I see. [She smiled.]

If you feel comfortable enough with it, certainly. But there is no shame had in trying again and again. An unadorned evergreen wreath has as much dignity as one with flowers.

I do.

[He admits, but without seeming actually too embarrassed about it.]

I just hope it will be good enough for him…

[Handmade gifts are the best, so he’s going to do his best and not stop until he at least think he’s improved enough to give it away.]

Well I’d still like it adorned with something. [Maybe he’s getting a little ahead of himself.]

Unless your Lord is a cruel one, I do not see how he could miss how deeply your creation runs with love. He will know, and he will be touched if he is even a quarter of the man you say he is.

Let us finish one first.

[Gokudera is blinking surprise and pausing for a moment to look at her with honest disbelief before his hands start weaving again. The loop is almost finished and he’s blushing softly at her words.]

Alright…

[They finish the wreath, and Aurora ties off the last knot before she pulls her hands away, his own hands the only thing on the wreath.]

Well, are you satisfied with your wreath, my dear?

I am.

[But is it good enough for the Tenth? Gokudera looks over the supplies, wondering if he has anything he could use at his home to make one in order to practice some more.]

I think I’ll try making one on my own at home, too. Then I can show you, and if there’s anything I need to work on, you’ll let me know?

[The wreath he’s still holding is good, and definitely looks like it could hang on a door, or just up on any of the walls in his space.]

I want to keep this one for myself…

04; Video; UN: Roseofdawn

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