Work Text:
“Do you believe in astrology?” Chris asked her with a very serious look on his face.
“Not really, I mean maybe, whatever.” Mariska waved her hand without even looking at him, and went back to putzing with some of her wardrobe. They were finished shooting for the day and just decompressing in her dressing room before they went home for the long weekend. “Why?”
“Oh, nothing.” Chris stowed something in his pocket quickly and prayed that the bulge in his pants wasn’t too noticeable.
He went to help her with her jewelry. By now he knew where she kept all her Olivia pieces when they weren’t in costume, that is unless she decided to take something home. She did this sometimes to feel closer to her character. He didn’t really operate like this; for Chris it was more of a “be in the body” kind of thing. Mariska needed to put on more than her own skin when she was really trying to work out a feeling.
Several weeks later Chris was pacing around outside her door. He had that familiar box in his pocket again. He was nervous and just before he went to knock she opened the door, crutches in hand.
He gasped.
“I’m sorry! Did I surprise you?” Her voice was loud and strong as ever, even though her shirt said it hurt.
Chris moved toward her side right away to help her.
“It’s ok. I got this.” She was always trying to put on a brave face.
“Look, it’s just me. I know it hurts.” Chris stared at her, and she stared back for a second. Then he continued, “Can we go in for a minute?”
She nodded and turned around to hop back to the pink couch.
“What’s up?” Mariska said over her shoulder, as Chris prayed she didn’t trip on her own feet yet again.
“I–I got you something.”
Mariska looked surprised. Not that he’d give her a gift; that was nothing unusual for him. But it was the way he said it that gave away his nerves.
Chris hurried to fill the silence. “I know you said you’re not really into astrology… but I saw it and it just seemed so you. I knew you needed to have it before I even read the description.”
He pulled the square box out of his pocket and handed it to her, standing in front of her as she sat on the edge of the couch, propping up her leg on a small sunshine yellow ottoman pouf.
Mariska opened the box just a crack and peered inside. It was a gorgeous black and gold necklace. She gave it everything in herself to sound as genuine as possible - and not mocking - when she asked, “What is it?” She was actually curious; it wasn’t an act.
“It’s a Tarot Card. The Star. For hope and renewal and positivity. It’s perfect for you. It shows us the light in times of darkness.” He was such a cheeseball sometimes, and she loved him for it.
“I love it.” She clasped the box to her chest and just smiled at him. A few seconds later she said, “Help me put it on?”
As he stooped and sat on the edge of the couch, grazing her hip with his legs, she turned and held her hair up. He barely breathed as he clasped it around her neck. Chris had another card to complete the set, but he’d have to wait for a very special time to gift that one to her.