xp_logs | Alex & Alani | Christmas Shopping! For Kids (Backdated)

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Alex and Alani hit the mall to buy things for kids in the Mutant Underground.

The mall had been chosen because the stores sold almost all of the children's toys that had been requested by children in the Underground that year. Or maybe they had most of them. Alani hadn't expected the mall to be as packed as it was because it was November, didn't most people wait until the last minute then rush to the nearest department store to make their purchases? Turning to Alex, and narrowly avoiding being taken down by a determined looking woman rushing by, she couldn't help but laugh. "Please tell me this is how you also planned to meet your end? A city mall, trampled by people so far in their own heads that they wouldn't even notice."

Alex made a show of rolling his sleeves up and bouncing a little like he was about to run into the Danger Room. "Heck yeah. We'll find all new ways to defy death today. Or die. For a good cause either way." He grinned.

She snorted in response, but the grin was infectious and she did nothing to fight it. “That’s the spirit! It is for a good cause, and I already cut out any relevant coupons before we came, because I'm not a silly suburban parent. I came to win." It might have been funny that this was where her competitive side came out, but she did take the task at hand very seriously. Steering them towards a somewhat populated store, she passed him the list they'd been given. "You and Lorna have any fun plans for the holidays?"

"And I've got the list!" Alex added, then patted his pockets. "Okay yeah, got the list." He sighed at the mention of his wife. "Trying to get her out of the office? I swear she hasn't been home in months. She thinks she runs the place herself or something."

"That's how much I trust you," Alani joked before cocking her head at the statement and humming loudly in thought. "I can't imagine the stress you real adults are under. The agency is in her name? I know it's not all resting just on her shoulders, but it might feel like that to her especially if the answer to that question was 'yes.' But, also, if you need help or someone to water the plants in her office or anything, you know I'd be down. You guys deserve a nice little break together."

"She's the only one with a PI license and I think Worthington signed it over to her." The way he'd left had been ten kinds of messy, and Alex tried not to think too much about it. "I'm still working on a gift for her, it's gotta be something really perfect, ya know? So maybe she'll come home."

"Ah, that makes sense. It seems like a straight helluva lot, especially with the world being a wacky and wild time, but-" With that she turned, making finger guns at him. "Despite sounding cheesy as fuck, anything you'll do from the heart will be good for her, I think, because you guys are like the best married couple I know. It's almost the end of the year, so just having some you guys time will be good after work stuff. Or see about taking her on an all inclusive vacation away from things that will also pamper both of you. Just sayin'."

"I was thinking maybe something for New Years," Alex said, looking around. "Little cottage or something. We could go hiking during the day and have a nice fire at night. Get some snow if we get want to get really stereotypical."

"Oh that'd be good!" Alani clapped him on the back before passing him a 'metal chick' doll that she'd found to be crossed off their list. "You'll be just like a hallmark winter time film! Or whatever people make nowadays. I am sadly out of the loop on hallmark films, but their ads look hilarious."

"I have no idea what's going on over at Hallmark," Alex said as he scanned the shelves and compared it to what he saw on the list. "I think they just make the same movie over and over and use different actors each time."

"Well, damn, Alex, what the heck," she chuckled a little before she stood on her tip-toes to peek over others around them and narrow in on items. "I saw a compilation image of all their film posters or whatever they're called, and it might actually be that they just pick random blond or brunette people off the street to act in their films."

"Random blonde, you say?" Alex perked up as explored a row of video games. "Does that mean I have a chance?"

"Oh, god, yes," she full on cackled at the notion, much too pleased with it. "You would do amazing in a holiday movie, I just know it. Or maybe any of those cheesy romcom-dromedy features someone out there keeps making."

"I was thinking fake dating. You know, poor woman doesn't want to face her parents being single still, I'm the hapless friend who agrees to be her fake boyfriend." He chuckled. "I think I could pull it off."

"Oh my god, Alex, you'd be a great face for the fake dating trope," Alani laughed again, reaching out to snatch a toy off the shelf and firmly hold it under her arm. "I mean, and if not friend, guy who responds to the advert for a free meal and an offer to fight the relative of their choice... if you're feeling saucy."

"Unreasonably attractive guy who inexplicably has nowhere to go for the holidays?" He thought it over for a moment. "All right, yeah, I'm down."

"See, I just think that'd keep 'em wanting more." She grinned, eyeing an assortment of stuffed animals. "I could even be your manager if you wanted. Get you the biggest trailer."

"Good deal. I can get cast in every shitty Halmark movie and make bank. Retire at forty. Good life."

"Would absolutely love that for you. And, as your manager, I wouldn't even take all your money and then go to some non-extradition country." She patted his arm with a laugh. "Now, let's finish this up, so you can get home to your dog and lovely wife."