SMV - Teruko - Starlight and a Kidnapping??

Smiling, Teruko thought back to the night previous, when it had snowed inside and outside of the tower.  Snow still lay fresh and soft on the ground, the best kind of snow.

Shaking herself out of her reverie, Teurko reached into the front pocket of her bag and took out her shopping list.  Eggs, sugar, vanilla, icing, ginger... spices.  Each item checked off.  Each item nestled into her bag.  She had the rest of the ingredients at home.

"Teruko!"

Startled, Teruko turned on her heel.  Out from a small coffee shop came her band mates and friends - Algieba, Katharina, Bellatrix, Elation, and Maeve bringing up the rear.  Al was in the front, fabulous as always, pink earmuffs almost glowing in the moonlight.

"Hon, you look fabulous!" Al cooed as she sidled up, her heels clicking on the pavement. The already tall woman towered over Teruko in those heels. Teruko looked down at herself.  Her old pea coat had been ruined, so she had found a new one.  This one was in a soft slate blue, and flared dramatically at her hips.  The cuffs were turned up and lined in white piping.  Underneath the flared hem, the folds of her royal purple skirt could be seen. Soft gray leggings lead down to brown leather boots with low heels.  Her hair was parted as usual, but pulled up on the side of her head in a high ponytail, the curls cascading down to her shoulder. A Christmas-themed red and gold ribbon with a multiple-looped bow at a jaunty angle tied her fringe away from her face. "You look like a Christmas present. <3"

The clothes were fashionable and high quality; Al had taken her shopping, helping her find more clothes that were lovely, yet affordable on her part-time budget.

"I have you to thank for that," Teruko responded, giggling softly. "I'm sorry I missed band practice today."

"Aw, it's fine," Bell piped in, stepping up to sling an arm around Al's shoulders. "We didn't get much done. Ended up spending more time gossping and making holiday plans than practicing." Bell winked then leaned forward, trying to look into Teruko's bag.  Al shifted to help Bell maintain her balance, working seamlessly with her as a unit. "What were you shopping for?"

Teurko shifted the bag toward her Bell, opening it a little.

"Ingredients for making cookies.  I'm going to make cookies with Nick and Keri tonight, and decorate for Christmas. Nick was curous about the holiday so I offered to teach him about it, or how we celebrate it in Japan."

"Ooh, what kind of cookies?" Al purred, leaning forward to look herself. Bell leaned back simultaneously, keeping the balnace between the two fo them.  

"Oh, um, sugar and gingerbread. I have cookie cutters in the apartment - they came with it apparnetly - and... Um... What's wrong?"

Bell and Al were looking at each other now and not at Teurko. Their smiles were catlike.  In unison they turned toward Teruko and swooped forward. Al linked one arm in Teruko's, and Bell took the other. 

"All right, hear that ladies? Party at Teruko's tonight!" Bell crowed, laughing raucously. 

"I'll bring the vodka!" Al chimed, a cheshire grin accentuating her lovely features.

Kath and Elation followed behind, laughing. 

"I have to run home first, but I'll be right over!" Kath chuckled, teasing, watcing as Teruko was essentially lifted off the sidewalk and carried backwards by the two other women.  

"B-but.. I didn't say I was having a party!"

"Party? I got th' black stuff 'n' some faerie cakes back home!" Maeve said, jogging up next to Algieba. "I jus' gotta run back fer a tick!"

"It's settled! We'll meet at Teruko's place around, say, five!"

Teruko's distressed wail drifted off into the distance as she was carried away.

The stars above seemed to shimmer with laughter at Teruko's "plight".