(open)

[jemerite]

Characters: Zinc & Anyone who wants to stop by
Date: Any day from December 5th until the 15th
Summary: There is mistletoe growing above Zinc's gate... How troublesome...
Warnings: Cuteness, zombie kisses.

She hadn't noticed the sprig of green hanging from the tree branches above the protective gate which blocked off her little home. It was just another plant, one of many, hardly worth anyone's notice in a place as lush and green as this. Zinc had been busy besides. She had been gone for months now, it seemed, at the food she'd left behind in her refrigerator was far beyond rotten.

Perhaps not inedible to the likes of her, already dead and disease ridden as it was, but she had enough human dignity and a sensitive enough sense of smell that she determined to be rid of it, and to make her home suitable for guests once more. She is eager to see all of her friends, and maybe to talk to some of these new faces which appear in the mirror. So she bustles around, full of joy just to be busy and to have something to do.

The fridge is removed by the boon of unholy zombie strength and replaced again with magic dirt. She wipes down the windows, dusts all the surfaces, and washes the floors. She even ventures just far enough outside of her house to pick some flowers.

She is satisfied the house is ready and is brave enough to open her gates to any visitors.

come at me bro.

Comments

[variabledge]

"Hey there." She dropped her hand, but left it in sight. She adopted the lazy smile she used to greet new people, aiming to appear as harmless as possible.

"This your place, then? It was empty for a while, good to see it being fixed up."

[jemerite]

"Hm," Zinc made a small little sound, dismissive, exasperated, amused. "If she wants things, she should just say."

She found the Queen to be a really very irritating presence. Zinc had no particular reason to obey her, a crazy monarch did not compare to Barbet at all, and yet she still found ways to make a nuisance of herself.

"Come inside, I cleaned," she decided after a moment, might have taken one of Gavril's hands and lead her along if there wasn't the box of tasty meats to be considered.

[jemerite]

She nodded quietly, glancing over her shoulder at the white house, it's strange strange shape and geometric angles.

"I was away, but I'm cleaning."

It was incredibly intoxicating to be able to clean, to take care of her own little home. Barbet didn't like when she cleaned the studio, he had a very precise way that he liked things organized. It looked like clutter to her eyes, but he would have a fit if she did anything about it. He was such a fussy bastard.

[body-horrible.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I imagine just straight up saying "I want all you girls to start making out with each other" would be easier then trapping us like fucking mimes." Gavril spoke as she began walking towards Zinc's home, the box of monstrous meat tucked firmly under one arm. "Let's get this stuff in your fridge, I don't want it going bad after all."

[variabledge]

"Away, is it? Didn't know they allowed vacations in this place."

She winks, leaning on the gatepost. She could offer to help clean, but...laziness is a potent demotivator, and with her it usually trumps politeness.

[esoteric_rose.livejournal.com]

Grell looked at the key curiously before using it to unlock the gate. Why lock from the outside? Had it accidentally been put in backwards? She could understand a desire for security, but she'd chalk it up to yet another interesting thing about Zinc until she knew better.

"How have you been recently?" she asked, trying for small talk again. Maybe she should have brought tea or something like that. Did Zinc even drink tea? Another thing to inquire after.

[jemerite]

Zinc stared at her for a moment, taking a few seconds to process the winking. No one had done that to her in a long time, and she had generally made it her missions to dominate them completely in response. Maybe not such a good option right now though, and instead her voice was just a bit wry when she answered,

"Me neither. But the Queen sent me home, and here I am again."

[jemerite]

"Busy, busy cleaning."

Zinc smiled, happy to small-talk and eager to invite in a new guest, show off her clean home. No more dust, no more rancid smelling meat in the kitchen. As she turned, however, she felt an imposition in her path. At least this time she managed not to bash her face against it, but she did go very suddenly still, frowning.

"Hhh," an annoyed little noise as she pressed on the invisible barrier. "So stupid..."

[jemerite]

Zinc laughed lightly, clearly not too bothered about the kissing even if it was irritating. She held the front door open for Gavril in her box, but then moved on to take it herself, bringing it over to the fridge. Storing it away neatly and stealing off a little chunk with her strong fingers, like a child who couldn't resist tasting the cookie dough.

"Thank you, Gavril," she murmured, nibbling the little pieces off her fingertips. "It will be delicious."

[body-horrible.livejournal.com]

While following Zinc, Gavril flashed a toothy grin as she witnessed Zinc's reaction to possessing the meat she had taken so much care to collect, though she had her own ideas about the pair's kiss buried in her mind.

"I'm glad you like it, not many people appreciate the taste of raw meat"

[variabledge]

"Ahh, that explains it." Interesting and useful information, too, so she files it away, all the while maintaining her nonchalant pose and expression. As if this is nothing new. "Just like that, no warning? No time ta put your things in order? That's no way to treat a guest."

[jemerite]

She made a short little noise of amusement, clipped and quiet.

"I do not think she knows better." Zinc remained of the opinion that the Queen was simply batshit crazy. She treated all her 'guests' that way, interfering with their lives whenever it suited her to. "And my name is Zinc."

Not just 'another guest.'

[variabledge]

She grinned at that, putting a hand to her chest and performing a little bow.

"The great Raven, at yer service. And I've heard...things about this Queen of ours here, but I can't say much for sure until I see her for myself."

[jemerite]

Raven. Once upon a time, Zinc might have wondered if that was the woman's real name, but she knows perfectly well that there are all sorts of strange names in the Garden.

"She does not show herself, much." Zinc had been here for months and never seen her, only heard her voice on the vine from time to time.

[esoteric_rose.livejournal.com]

"Right, I suppose the birds didn't bother with it being empty and all." Which made sense, but still struck Grell as a bit rude. Maybe it was her habit of keeping everything clean whether there was a guest or not, if only because you never knew.

She blinked in surprise at Zinc stopping, curious as to what was there. "What's stupid?"

[variabledge]

If she wondered, however, she'd have been right to.

"Heard that too. Doesn't do for royalty to be shy. Then the people start to doubt 'em. But I guess it's too late for that." She shrugs, straightening.

"Well, don't let me keep you from keeping busy."

[jemerite]

Zinc knocked her fist on the wall, it didn't make any noise, but there was obviously something stopping her hand from going through.

"This keeps happening," she frowned at it, sulking.

[existwithoutme.livejournal.com]

"Excellent. I was sure there would be no difficulty. I'm pleased you followed my advice." Because obviously, it was all due to Kuja's good advice that things turned out so well.

"And I'm pleased there's no lingering stench." She watches the girl and the dragon commune for a moment or two. "Are you going to invite me in?"

[jemerite]

"It was nice, to meet you," Zinc offered. She wasn't always the most polite of women, but it was true that it hadn't been unpleasant, and also true that she very much liked to have visitors.

She stood where she was to see the other woman off, but... was unfortunately also watching to see if another of the Queen's stupid barriers was going to stop her.

[jemerite]

She looked up with a soft expression, amused.

"You're always invited." She was a dutiful minion, and while she would not say always wanted to Kuja around, she certainly knew better than to turn her away. That seemed like a recipe for a huff.

She turned to lead the way, fully expecting to go unimpeded, but her nose bumped into the barrier instead. She had thought this was a one-time-trick played by the Queen, maybe just wanting to force zombies to kiss. She hadn't expected it to return, and she presses both hands against it, palms flat.

"But first the Queen does stupid things..." grumble grumble grumble.

[existwithoutme.livejournal.com]

"Excellent." Kuja, fortunately, liked to spend a great deal of time alone, so she was unlikely to take up too much of anyone's time. Her life had made her accustomed to solitude; the sociability the Gardens encouraged was something she ignored, for the most part. Now and again, she did have a desire for companionship, though she would not have been likely to admit it.

"Stupid things?" Kuja frowned at this, putting a hand on her hip. She'd seen Zinc's sudden halt, and she didn't like the looks of it. "What do you mean by that? What has she done now?"

[jemerite]

"She blocks the way back..." Zinc explained. She gave the barrier a cursory sort of investigation, but she had found last time that it went and well beyond her means to climb.

"When Gavril came too."

[variabledge]

"Well, aren't you kind." Raven was proud of her perception and reflexes, but nothing really prepared her for walking face-first into an invisible wall. She let out a startled and very undignified noise, jumping back and rubbing her nose.

"What's this about!?"

[jemerite]

"Hm," Zinc frowned palming it thoughtfully. "The Queen has... done something stupid, to my gate."

She turned, hands crossed at the small of her back. "Sorry, but it only leaves with kisses."

Zinc didn't sound particularly happy about it, definitely a bit irritated, especially about the Queen messing with her little house, but she was resigned to it. The sooner it was over with, the sooner it was over with.

[existwithoutme.livejournal.com]

"Blocks the way? What do you mean?" Kuja doesn't like the sound of this at all. She tries to make her own way forward, but she finds herself blocked as well, her outstretched hand brushing an invisible barrier. She frowns. She could attempt to attack the barrier with magic, but with Zinc enclosed in this small area with her, that would probably not be the wisest idea. "Ridiculous! What's the purpose of caging us in like animals?"