2019-12-27 - Hot Chocolate Delivery

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : How was your Christmas?

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : Hey mama. It was pretty good, low key. How about yours?

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : It was pretty quiet. I've got a present for you at some point, just sorry it's a little late. 🙂

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : It's all good. You didn't need to get me a present at all. Now I'm gonna feel bad 😉

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : Do not feel bad. It's not like I got you something big and grand. :p You working New Years?

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : Nah, I took it off. You? You got big plans?

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to be at the bar, but, I would not be opposed to sneaking off to see a certain someone.

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : I mean, I'm just saying, it's been a while since I had someone to kiss on New Year's Eve so I was kinda looking forward to it 😉

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : I will make it a point to be out of the bar by 11pm and then I can be at your place or mine for some New Year's smooching?

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : Sounds good. Come over here and I'll even have something cooked for you.

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : Dinner and smooches? Sold! 😉

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : :* :*

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : You doing okay in all this snow? Don't need a bulldog and a blonde to drop by any supplies like a sled dog team?

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : I wouldn't say no to it, just don't get stuck in a drift or something.

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : I'm too old to mount a rescue 😉

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : I don't think my dog is getting off the couch to save even me, but I could bet that my jeep will get through the snow pretty easily. Any special requests?

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : Hot chocolate and marshmallows 😉

(TXT to Lalo) Mariah : I will grab that and be over. Probably about 30 minutes if things go well. <3

(TXT to Mariah) Lalo : I'll be here.

It's about forty minutes after the last text that there's a knock on Lalo's door and a rather happy looking blonde on the porch. She's holding two grocery bags in her hands. She's bundled up against the cold in a big black jacket that wraps around her body and is tied at the waist, gloves, a red hat with a black fuzzy ball on it and snow boots. She is sans her dog because trying to get him to move was not happening.

Lalo is, like many people who are not used to the cold weather, wearing much too much clothing -- definitely a hoodie and something long-sleeved under it -- even though his house is not that cold. At least from what she can feel just from the open door. "Hey," he says as he leans in to kiss her briefly, pulling her inside quickly so that he can shut the door. "It's good to see you."

Mariah gives a look up when the door is opened and there's a warm smile to the man, "Hey there handsome." she states. His kiss is returned quickly and there's another grin as she's pulled inside. "It's good to see you as well." she tells him warmly. "So I got hot chocolate, marshmallows, Nutella and a few little things to snack on." she grins to that. "You ever had hot chocolate with Nutella in it? It's amazing." she tells him. "And your presents are in here." she adds.

"Presents?" Lalo echoes as he pulls back, his eyes widening a little but. "More than one? Damn, now I really feel bad." He lets out a little laugh as he takes the backs from her, shaking his head. "I never have," he admits, "but I'm looking forward to it. How you been?" He sets them down on the coffee table, opening them enough to take out the hot chocolate -- presents later. Chocolate first.

"Don't look like that, it's nothing huge. I didn't really know what to get you so..." Mariah opens up the bag and pulls out a big envelope and hands it to him. "Merry Christmas." she tells him as she gives him a smile. "I figured since you take your brother out sometimes that you could use what I got you and there's some stuff in there for you to use while you're working." she admits. "It's...I mean...I didn't know what to get you." she looks embarrassed for a moment.

Lalo accepts the envelope, his smile softening a little bit as he takes it from her. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's great," he says. "As long as it's cruelty-free 'cause you know how I'm a vegan." He can't contain his laughter with that, though -- since she knows very well he's not a vegan at all, in any way, shape, or form. "It's nice you thought of me." He turns over the envelope then to open it, and it's pretty obvious he's curious about it.

In the envelope there's a trio of gift cards, one is for the local movie theatre in the amount of 75 dollars, a gift card to the local pizza shop for 50 and there is a Visa gift card for 100 dollars. The card has 'Merry Christmas' in gold on a silver background. Inside the note is simple: 'I hope you find a good use for these! - Mariah"

"I wasn't sure if you took your brother to movies or if he enjoyed them, so...hopefully you can use it." she smiles to that. "And I know that pizza isn't the most nutritious, but, sometimes pizza on night shift is amazing." she grins. "Want me to start the hot chocolate or do you want to man your stove?" she teases him quietly.

Lalo pulls out the gift cards, and his eyebrows raise. "Wow," he says, before he pulls out the note to read it. His expression softens a little bit as he does, and he looks up at her again when he's through. "Thank you," he says. "This is really nice. Yeah, we go to movies sometimes. He wants to see the new Star Wars, so this'l be perfect." He returns the grin, and replies, "Go ahead, I trust you. I'm gonna put these in a safe place or I'm gonna lose 'em." With that, he turns toward the hall, presumably to put them away.

Mariah leans in and kisses his cheek, "You're welcome and I think they'll be put to good use." she tells him as she heads for the kitchen. "I see your brother is a man of good taste. The new movie looks like it's going to be really good." she admits. She finds a pot and then goes about making the hot chocolate, "Do you want a lot of marshmallows or a little?" she calls as she stirs in a spoonful of Nutella.

"He is," Lalo agrees, his voice getting a little bit fainter as he heads down the hall. The house isn't that big, though, so he can still hear and be heard. "A lot!" he calls back, the disembodied voice carrying a note of amusement in it.

When he comes back, the amusement is still there in his expression, and there's also a wrapped box in his hands. It's small and long, and he comes over to her slowly, handing it to her as his smile widens. "Merry Christmas," he says.

Mariah stirs the hot chocolate as it heats up and then it's poured into mugs with a ridiculous amount of marshmallows. When he comes back she gives him a curious look, "You didn't have to get me anything..." she tells him as she accepts the box. She hands him his hot chocolate and then goes about carefully unwrapping the box.

"Please. Of course I was gonna get you something. I'm not that terrible." It's Lalo's turn for teasing now -- not that he's almost ever not that way. But still. "I'm kinda glad you really thought I didn't, though. Keep your expectations low."

When she opens the box, she will find a bracelet that is silver and turquoise. It doesn't look like it was super expensive or anything -- but it's very well-made, the small beads set in a delicate setting with a little clasp on the end. "Sometimes people say when in doubt, go with jewelry," he says, "but I don't know if it's your style so I won't be offended if you don't like it. Just took a shot."

Mariah gives him a little playful swat, "You take care of your brother and you've got a full plate, I wasn't going to be upset either way." she tells him. "I think my expectations most of my life have been low, but I've been pretty lucky when it comes to you." she tells him with a grin. Then she's opening the box and there's a warm smile as she does it. "This is so pretty, thank you!" she tells him as she leans up to kiss his cheek. "I love silver. I'm not a big fan of gold." she admits as she's taking the bracelet out to put it on.

Lalo shrugs, though he's clearly pleased with her reaction to it. "Well, I had some time," he says. "Been exploring downtown, and I saw it in that antique shop. Reminded me of stuff my mom had in pictures when she was young. Always liked that stuff, you know?" He slips an arm around her for a hug, watching her put it on. "Glad it worked out." When he can, he pulls her closer to him so that he can kiss her properly.

Mariah looks as pleased as punch really, "I like antiques, so it's a good fit." she admits to him. "Did you call your family for Christmas?" she asks him curiously since he mentions his mom. The pull in for the kiss is not met with resistance and she raises her hand to stroke her fingers over his jaw as she returns his kiss. Shutting up for the moment.

Lalo is not inclined to answer the question for several moments, because he is doing much more enjoyable things. A little satisfied sound escapes him at the touch as he leans into her, drawing the kiss out. Eventually, though, he does pull back, reaching up to brush some hair back from her face. "Nah," he says, shaking his head. "I haven't talked to them in a minute."

Mariah's cheeks are flushed when he pulls back, but her body managed to snuggle up to his during the kiss. And she seems fine not to move. She gives him a soft smile and there's a nod at his answer, "Sore subject and don't want to talk on it?" she asks with a quirk of an eyebrow. "I'm perfectly fine not dredging up bad memories or opening up old wounds." she admits.

There's another shrug, and Lalo glances away briefly, but he doesn't make too big a deal about it. "It's all good," he says after a moment. "Old wounds are already scarred over, right? So it's fine." His smile tips a little crookedly as he says it, like he doesn't actually believe that, but he does go on a moment later.

"Haven't talked to them since the first time they put my brother in an institution," he says. "They didn't come visit, and after he got out I didn't reach out again. I'm not mad about it anymore but there's just too much water under the bridge now, you know? Better to leave it."

Mariah gives him a squeeze and she looks up to him, "Scar tissue has a funny way of being tough, but sometimes things get through." she admits. Though she gives an understanding look to what he tells her, "I don't blame you for not talking to them." she tells him. "You take good care of your brother and it's pretty amazing to be honest." she states. "And I mean...I'm not the authority on families so I'm not going to offer advice on things. If that doesn't sound...too weird?" she asks.

"Yeah," Lalo concedes, "you're right." He nods, though, and he doesn't dwell on it further, whether because he's really let it go, or because, as she's guessed, he doesn't really want to talk about it. "Thanks," he says, and a bit of a smile returns to his face. "And you can offer advice if you want, mama. I'm not gonna claim I'm an expert about it, either. Doesn't sound weird, though." After a moment's hesitation, he adds, "You can talk about that, too, if you want. But if you want to leave it, I get that." Obviously.

"I'm sometimes right. It's fascinating." Mariah teases him gently as she leans up to kiss his cheek. Then she's smiling, "I might in like...six or seven months maybe? But I don't want to get all therapist when I don't know everything." she chuckles. "Not a lot to talk about with my family. Mom called at about one in the morning the day after Christmas drunk. So we can see where their heads were." she shrugs. "How about we finish hot chocolate and then I can keep you warm tonight? Bruce has a baby sister tonight." she gives a grin.

"Oh, well, that's fun," Lalo says lightly, the tease hiding the more seriousness of the statement. He lets that be as well, though, when she suggests the next thing that they could do, and he nods. "I like the sound of that," he murmurs, before he pulls her into another kiss.