Christmas down under.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:39 am

"Sometimes he's really not dumb." Jess said, getting up and giving her father an affectionate hug. "Thank you Daddy."

"Remind me to remind you of that sometime." her father replied, returning the hug.

Looking over her shoulder at Nina he added. "You're welcome. I thought it might be nice for the two of you to be able to take a break a little closer to home sometime."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:41 pm

"That would be nice. Thanks," Nina says with a cheerful smile.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:48 pm

Nina's father smiled. "Send me a picture of the two of you with Minnie."

Jess grinned. "Yes Daddy." she said as she reached over to get one of the two gifts she'd brought, handing it to him.

"This is for you." she said before moving over and passing the other one to Nina. "And this is for you. Happy Christmas."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:51 pm

"Thanks, Jess," Nina says, accepting the present graciously before starting to carefully unwrap it.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:05 pm

Inside the wrapping paper was a flat rectangular box, obviously a jewellery presentation case, although it was unmarked.

Inside was a plain black satin choker adorned with a silver sabertooth's head, two pink stones acting as eyes. Suspended below was a large baguette cut white stone embedded in which was one of Jess' feathers.

Also in the box was a thick card, about the size of a business card but of rather more expensive stock, with a handwritten message.

A little piece of me to carry with you. Jess.

((Technical info for the jeweller in the house. The two pink stones are Morganite, the large white one is lab grown Moissanite, color grade I.))
.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:17 pm

Nina's eyes glitter, "It's beautiful. Thank you, Jess."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:21 pm

Jess flushed. "You like it? I wasn't sure you would."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:24 pm

Nina nods, carefully putting it on, "How does it look?"

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:26 pm

"It's perfect." Jess replied, her voice catching slightly as her eyes misted.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:38 pm

Nina beams at Jess before handing her the small box and the thermos, "These are both for you."

Nina slides a slightly larger box over to Jess' dad, "I wasn't sure what you wanted. Sorry."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:52 pm

Jess took the two gifts, one in each hand, before setting down the small box and unwrapping the other.

Her father meanwhile gave Nina a smile as he started to unwrap the box she'd given him. "Sometimes it's more fun that way."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:07 pm

The thermos was...well, it looked like a thermos, though the lid had been welded shut. It was metal, airtight, and had a biohazard sticker on it.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:09 pm

Jess turned the canister over in her hands, examining it.

"I'm sure you're not giving me toxic waste. I have no idea what you are giving me though."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:10 pm

Nina smiles, "I've been working with strains of Escherichia. I made my own species and I'm gonna name it after you."

"That's a sample. Just...don't open it, 'kay?"

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:14 pm

"Escha-what?" Jess asked, giving Nina a bemused look whilst her father looked has if he'd very definitely clamped down on his tongue.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:17 pm

"Basically, it's sort of related to E. Coli," Nina says, "Kinda like a cousin of it."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:19 pm

"It's bacteria?" Jess asked, treating the flask a little more gingerly.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:23 pm

Nina nods, "The canister is airtight. And steel. So don't worry, it won't break."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:29 pm

Jess' father, who'd known what Escherichia was, piped up.

"Leaving aside the question of how you got that through customs. why is Jessica getting a bacterium named after her?"

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:31 pm

Nina looked confused, "It's my first real breakthrough....I might even get published for it."

"...I thought it was kind of romantic."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:32 pm

Jess, knowing Nina rather better, gave a more direct answer.

"Because she loves me, Daddy."

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:44 pm

Nina smiles at Jess.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 8:50 pm

John Temple raised his hands in defeat, smiling at the pair of them. "I suppose I spend too much time worrying about bacteria spoiling the crop or.. well, you get the idea.

If it works for the two of you, that's what matters."

Jess meanwhile had given Nina's hand a gentle squeeze before setting the flask down and opening the other present.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:18 pm

Inside was a beautiful red diamond pendant in black gold. The diamond had been cut into a simple pear shape. Nina smiles softly at Jess.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:25 pm

There was a soft whistle from across the room as Jess gently lifted the pendant out of the box, wrapping it around her fingers, light sparking off the stone as it spun slowly.

"It's beautiful Nina." she said softly.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:27 pm

"My dad gave it to my mom when they were dating," Nina says, "My mom gave it to me to give to someone."

Nina smiles, "I'm glad you like it."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:29 pm

Jess looked up sharply.

"It was your mother's?"

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:32 pm

Nina nods, "Sorry. I know it's kind of stupid to regift something...I just really wanted you to have it."

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:33 pm

"Oh Nina.." Jess said, flinging her arms around the other girl. This time, tears did come and her father slipped quietly out of the room.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:35 pm

Nina hugs Jess gently, looking happy.

by **Jessica Temple** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:54 pm

"Thank you." Jess half whispered, her mouth close to Nina's ear.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:57 pm

"It's no problem," Nina says, giving Jess a quick kiss.

by **Jessica Temple** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:00 am

Jess shifted her arms, pulling Nina in for a rather longer kiss before placing the pendant carefully in one of Nina's hands.

Shiifting up into Nina's lap, she pulled back her hair, twisting her neck to give Nina a smile.

"Would you?"

by **Nina Madaraki** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:02 am

Nina carefully put it on Jess, "There you go. Does it fit alright?"

by **Jessica Temple** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:03 am

"I think so." Jess replied, turning around so Nina could see.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:06 am

Nina smiles, "It looks good on you."

by **Jessica Temple** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:29 am

"Tell me that again when it's all I'm wearing." Jess said before stealing another kiss.

by **Nina Madaraki** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:32 am

Nina returns the kiss with enthusiasm, "Soon, I hope."

by **Jessica Temple** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:46 am

Jess grinned, reaching over to grab two of the champagne glasses and handing one to Nina.

"We've only just got dressed. You want to get me naked again already?"

by **Nina Madaraki** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:46 am

"I'm an insatiable seductress," Nina says with a giggle.

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