Gift from an Archangel

[Teeramus]

Christmas. Such a wonderful time of year. The memories of childhood, the glee of opening presents and the wonder and excitement of getting something you had your heart set on, or something unexpected that you didn't even know you wanted but found that once you'd seen it you didn't know how you lived without it. Striker's Christmases always had a tense undertone, but it had still been the best time of year for him and it had been a long time since he'd had someone to share it with.

Striker had told Faye to come over though he hadn't given her an exact time, these things didn't need to be specific. The gate was already open for when the enchanter arrived, but he was too excited to just wait around and was out the front of the Archangels sanctum practicing maneuvering on his mountain bike. It was no bmx and holding only one handle bar made it harder, but you had to learn new skills somehow. He pushed on the pedals and pulled back on the grip, managing to ride on one wheel for a meter or so before he dropped back down. Not a bad start. He thought as he hoped Faye would show soon.

  1 suxx to Pop a wheelie

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-12-21 09:37:08		Striker rolls 5 to Pop a wheelie (Dex+Ath) (10 Again)		9, 3, 5, 4, 4		1 success

Check the Archangels page for Sanctum layout

[Aurora]

Faye arrived as most Enchantress’s do, at the time she is supposed to. She had no trouble finding the address, and parks her car on the road. As she approaches the building, she was in awe of its beauty.

Her eyes quickly settle on Striker messing around on his bike and she strolls over. Curious as to why he wanted to meet here.

Smiling, “Hey there,” she says with a quick wave. “Nice trick.” She compliments. Her outfit for the day was casual, slim fit jeans with a green t-shirt. An off white sweater coat was over the shirt and she had on knee high boots. She left her hair down and let it air dry naturally.

[Teeramus]

"Faye!" Striker exclaimed as she strolled over. "Thanks. I'm workin' on it." he said as he rolled over and jumped off his push bike, leaving it on the ground. "Hey you look great with your hair out." he compliments her, his eyes lighting up.

He cocked his head towards the house. "You're present's in the workshop." he explained with a big grin as he headed eagerly, a spring in his step, toward the building to the right of the main entrance facing them. He waited, hand on the door handle to make sure she was ready to go in.

[Aurora]

She was taken aback momentarily, her present?! The thought had never crossed her mind, and she immediately felt like an ass.

But seeing his grin made her smile and she follows him. “This is such a beautiful building!” she then pauses, “Is it ok for me to go in? No one is going to be upset about it are they?” she wasn’t sure how the others felt about someone from a different Cabal entering.

[Teeramus]

He looked around at the building when she mentioned it. "Oooohh yeah. It's a real beauty ay. You should see the pool out the back. My place is down that path to the right there," he said letting go of the door handle of the workshop to point down to the right. "Real nice little buildings we've got. Ummm. The others should be ok with it. We should really talk about that sorta stuff some time. We're a bit unorganized what with Leo going missing just after pullin' us together, but we're getting there ay. Anyway I'll vouch for ya for now, come on through."he said smiling and he took the handle and opened the door, leading the way through.

Inside the workshop was well lit with incandescent lighting, having only a small window off to one side which was cracked open despite the cool American weather. Along one wall a bench ran with a steel frame and wooden top on top of which various power tools and hand tools were neatly put away near the wall, leaving the bulk of the surface free for work. Towards one end a vice held a small block of wood, which didn't seem to have had much done to it. A hook and pulley system hung from the ceiling and it wasn't to hard to imagine it was use to hoist up Striker's bicycle to work on it easily. The floor was clean, a broom and dustpan leaning against a wall next to a small dusty looking bin.

On the back wall leaned a light blue ladies mountain bike with a pink, black and white helmet hanging from the handle bars and a small dark blue bow stuck to the seat. It wasn't an expensive model, but it was still a quality brand and had front suspension and 18 gears. Good enough to go off road with a reasonable amount of confidence. Striker looked at it, confirming that it was just as he'd left it the day before looking back to Faye to see her reaction. "There ya. Merry Christmas." he said to her with a genuine smile.

[Aurora]

She nods at his words and continues to follow him into the building.

As they enter the workshop, her eyes wander over the room, taking in as much as she can. And considering it was a workshop, she was pleased to see how clean and neat it was. Not many people were organized.

When her eyes find the bike with the bow, and Striker says merry Christmas, her eyes widen in surprise. She was momentarily at a loss for words, it had been years since she last received a Christmas gift. Walking up to the bike, she reaches out and runs a hand along it. Turning her head, she flashes Striker a wide smile,

“I don’t know what to say,” she says looking back to the bike, “I wasn’t expecting to get anything this year, being new and all.” She laughs. “But thank you soo much Striker! This is so thoughtful.” She says, clearly excited and grateful. “So when are we going riding?” she asks eagerly.

[Teeramus]

Striker's grin widened as Faye showed her surprise and excitement. Somewhere in the back of his mind the thought So do I not expect anything either? fired off, but her eagerness to try it distracted him.

"You wanna take it out for a quick spin now? I'll show you round Folsom a little?" he asked enthusiastically before looking at her jeans. She looked great in them of course, but they probably weren't the best for serious riding. "Just a short ride and we can take it easy for now."

Ready to wrap this one?

[Aurora]

As she looked back to him, a perfect gift idea formed in her mind. It would take tweaking Fate and maybe Time a little, but it would so be worth it to see the smile on his face! She would just need to find the perfect location.
A sly smile formed on her lips as the idea came together, it was perfect!

“Now?!” she asked eagerly. “You bet!” she said with enthusiasm before walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

When she released him, “Thank you again, it means a lot to me.” She said with a smile. “And your gift, is a surprise and should be ready for this weekend.”

Sure

[Teeramus]

Striker returned the hug, holding Faye with his one arm. "Sweet! Can't wait!" he said, obviously surprised. He wondered what it might be, but that was half the fun of Christmas. The not-knowing, and the anticipation and finally excitement of finding out what your gift was.

He led Faye back outside and retrieved his own bike from the driveway before taking the enchantress on a meandering tour of his new neighbourhood.

The tour

Down past Hazel McFarland Park, then the Empire Ranch Golf Club. Then up to Folsom lake to ride along the edge past Folsom point and across the river to turn South at Folsom-Auburn Road. Back across the river on Greenbank Lane going past the Commonwealth Square Shopping Centre to ride down E Bidwell Street. Left at Scholar Way was the shortcut that took them back to Broadstone Parkway and a few more turns brought them back to the Archangels Sanctum.

Thanks for this short Christmas scene.