The birds were arranged on each branch of the over sized, lightly flocked bonsai by type. This was no willy nilly mess of handmade or heirloom ornaments. It was a carefully crafted display. With a plan. She was impressed by the thought behind it. Tucked in each tuft of greenery glittering white lights glowed, highlighting the brightly colored birds. It was color coordinated and marvelous. Something that should be on the pages of a magazine. She held one of the golden lanterns in her fingers as she decided where it should be placed.

"Here?" She asked the magician seated on the floor.

::click:: ::clank:: The cuffs fell for the fifth time to the floor and he looked up.

"Just a little higher, babe."

Selene had been trusted to bring his decorative vision to life on the tree. With guidance of course. The cuffs circled his wrists yet again. Lifting the ornament just a bit higher she placed it on the tree and took a step back. Eyes wandered over the branches, bringing a smile to her lips.

"How is that?"

He did not respond. With a hand on her hip she peeked out from around the Christmas creation, her eyes falling to where he was sitting cross legged in the middle of the living room. She had no idea what it was he was doing as he stared silently at the manacles. Could he see how the device worked or was a matter of feeling?

The noise repeated. ::click:: ::clank:: And the cuffs fell from his hands again. When he lifted his eyes this time he would find he had an audience. She smiled when his cheeks flushed with color. Tommy cleared his throat, toying with the restraints as he examined her handy work.

"Perfect."

Walking around to the front of the tree she picked up the box of red glass orbs. They were more of a heart shape. Very interesting. Nothing about the tree was common in the least. She could not help but wonder if this was something he did every year.

"What about these?"

Again he was in the process of cuffing himself. When they were in place he lifted his shackled hands and picked up the paper from the edge of the table.

"Start at the top, hook 'em on the underside of the branches, want 'em to sort of swirl around the tree, ya know?" She was leaning over him, intently examining his blue print of their tree. Which was really just an elaborate drawing, complete with notes jotted in the margins. That paper she would have to keep, because this was absolutely adorable and a hundred years from now she wanted to remember it. Nodding her head she chuckled and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "I think I can manage."

If I came with a warning label, what would it say?

magic_fratboy was used with NO permission at all but disgusting amounts of love.

"Shit!" When she heard the door start to open Selene jumped up from where she was sitting on the living room floor. Tommy's living room floor. There was a roll of beautifully embossed paper beside her. Invisible tape. A bow. A tag. A card that she had gotten lost in writing, words were never her forte. It all had been so distracting that she ignored the clock and the dimming light outside.

Selene should have gone to meet him, to see him home from work. She could not protect him from the Darkness, an idea that left her feeling insecure and inferior, but she could protect him from everything else.

Instead he was on the other side of the door. Jumping up she bolted for the door, stumbling on her own foot like a new born deer. She got there just in time to slam the barely open door in his face. For a moment she fumbled with the chain lock at the top but got it in place.

"Selene! What the hell?"
( DO NOT DARE OPEN THAT DOOR! )

No love. No notifications. LAME.

I am not getting ANY notifications, so if I owe you, poke me. Cause a girl can only refresh so many times before she gets a cramp.