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oo29 [ voice // action ]
... oh, that's just n-n-not fair.
[ In the woods bordering the western lake, this one, having just come to only a moment ago. Her tone may be a little irritated, but, well, she sounds okay, not hurt or anything. That's a plus, right?
Well, except for the fact that she's ... not very well dressed for the weather. She's stuck in the same training outfit her older self showed up in, a black ensemble that shows her midriff... only now there is a scar. A long scar, so long it vanishes into her clothing, extending fully from her left breast to her right hip. Of course, only the long slice of it across her belly is visible.
It's a scar, by the way, that her older self did not possess when she turned up in the same clothes. Curious.
Xion's not thinking about that right now, though. What she's thinking about is that it's freezing -- her luck to show up in the middle of a cold snap! And she's a little bothered that the scar is on display, but... well, what can she do about it? With a sigh that comes out on a violent shiver, she climbs to her feet. (At least she's got shoes.)
This has happened to her so many times now she's getting sort of used to it, and it's a nice change to at least not come back feeling sick/hurt/terrified/some combination therein. She'll flip through the journal a bit, fighting off more shivers, before speaking. Her speech is a little garbled, unfortunately, by her chattering teeth. ]
D-D-D-Does anyone know w-w-w-what day it is? I wonder if I m-m-m-m-missed Christmas. [ a beat, then ] D-D-Did they really have t-t-to drop me off so f-f-f-f-far out?
[ Walking all the way back, dressed like this, in this weather? ... send halp. ]
(ooc; OKAY SO. for once I am going to obey the rules of time and space. Luke got there first, so he's gonna pick her up. if you want to poke her at the lake in an action tag, that's totally cool, but just know it's only Luke taking her home. easier on my poor brain for once.)
[ In the woods bordering the western lake, this one, having just come to only a moment ago. Her tone may be a little irritated, but, well, she sounds okay, not hurt or anything. That's a plus, right?
Well, except for the fact that she's ... not very well dressed for the weather. She's stuck in the same training outfit her older self showed up in, a black ensemble that shows her midriff... only now there is a scar. A long scar, so long it vanishes into her clothing, extending fully from her left breast to her right hip. Of course, only the long slice of it across her belly is visible.
It's a scar, by the way, that her older self did not possess when she turned up in the same clothes. Curious.
Xion's not thinking about that right now, though. What she's thinking about is that it's freezing -- her luck to show up in the middle of a cold snap! And she's a little bothered that the scar is on display, but... well, what can she do about it? With a sigh that comes out on a violent shiver, she climbs to her feet. (At least she's got shoes.)
This has happened to her so many times now she's getting sort of used to it, and it's a nice change to at least not come back feeling sick/hurt/terrified/some combination therein. She'll flip through the journal a bit, fighting off more shivers, before speaking. Her speech is a little garbled, unfortunately, by her chattering teeth. ]
D-D-D-Does anyone know w-w-w-what day it is? I wonder if I m-m-m-m-missed Christmas. [ a beat, then ] D-D-Did they really have t-t-to drop me off so f-f-f-f-far out?
[ Walking all the way back, dressed like this, in this weather? ... send halp. ]
(ooc; OKAY SO. for once I am going to obey the rules of time and space. Luke got there first, so he's gonna pick her up. if you want to poke her at the lake in an action tag, that's totally cool, but just know it's only Luke taking her home. easier on my poor brain for once.)
[Action]
[ With a little giggle. But she quiets down while he leads her in, walking a little carefully. Thankfully it's not far, though it's just far enough for her excitement and curiosity to build. And then he says she can open her eyes...
... and she does, slowly, not sure what she'll see. But this ... this .... little Christmas ... wasn't what she was expecting at all.
That is what this is, right? A miniature little Christmas... all her own. And Luke's. He's spent the last few hours putting all of this together, going to all this effort, with the tree, the cocoa, and then... that little gift.
The shock and wonderment are written large across her face. Her mouth is even hanging open a little. It's clear she's having a little trouble even processing what he's done for her with ... all of this. Then, just as she feels tears starting to sting at her eyes, a huge, watery grin breaks across her face, and she turns to face him. Overwhelmed with emotion, she impulsively hugs him, throwing her arms around his neck. ]
Luke, it's beautiful. Thank you.
[Action]
Only to suck in that breath of air when she hugs him around the neck, and he half lifts his arm more out of surprise as he blinks and stares at the wall ahead. Wait, so... she liked it? Even though it looked so... bad, compared to what everyone else had done for Christmas? He'd passed by and seen the Christmas trees in the window with lights and stars, and he knew this was nothing compared to that, so... But it wasn't his fault that he couldn't find any lights, that the store didn't have any last time he checked.
Even though it was his first attempt at celebrating a holiday that he never knew about, that he still didn't really know about... She liked it?
Slowly, he sets his arms down on her back to return the hug, though it's still light out of surprise and some additional worry.]
... Really?
[Action]
Yeah. Really. This was just... [ a laugh, and she has to lift a hand to rub at one of her eyes. ] I don't even really know what to say. You really did all this just for me?
[Action]
W-Well, you were talking about missing Christmas, so I thought... you know. You'd want one, even if it's late.
[Action]
as it is, she laughs, and gives him a little space so she can go over to the little tree, gently running her fingers over the paper decorations. ]
... I did. [ smiling so hard her face hurts. she rubs at her eyes again -- they're not wet! -- and leans over to pick up the present. then she turns back to face him, with a look that's a mix of incredulity, amusement, and fondness. but she can't really chide him for getting her a gift now after he went to all the trouble. instead, she asks simply ]
So ... can I see what's in it?
[Action]
... No, he thinks to himself with a wince. Don't think like that. Do it and the tree might just spite him and fall over on Xion or something.
So, he just shoves that thought aside as best as he can and moves to kneel beside the table, near one of the mugs. He's smiling, too - maybe not as hard as Xion, but he does look happy that this is actually going right.]
Sure you can. Isn't that what Christmas is about? [... It is, right?]
[Action]
okay, no, not really. she just laughs quietly and moves to join him, settling herself down on the floor in front of him. ]
You know... I'm not really sure. But I know presents are part of it.
[ with that, she'll open it up.
it's once again to her shock and amazement that she pulls out a beautifully bound tome of 43 fairytales. the book's cover is a rich, dark leather, with the words of the title engraved in gold, and all the pages are edged in gold. it's beautiful.
she's only stunned for a moment, before another quavery smile comes over her face. it's such a perfect gift she's honestly lost for words. instead, she flips through it, literally just ... beaming, like she couldn't be happier if she tried, as she skims the words. ]
It's perfect. [ she doesn't realize she's said it aloud. ]
[Action]
It was through luck that he found the book and thought it'd be perfect for Xion. As she unwraps the gift, though, he starts to have second thoughts. What if it was too childish? They were just fairy tales... even though he loved them. Growing up, fairy tales allowed him to take his mind away, to get away from the manor in his imagination. What if she didn't understand...
But when she smiles, all of his worries go away, and he lets out the breath that he didn't realize he was holding in.]
... You think so? [He asks quietly, hesitantly.]
[Action]
You know... last year, I read about the holidays a little. And I remember reading that Christmas isn't just about presents. It's about... spending time with your family. With the people you love and care about. And just... being with them, and being happy together...
[ with that, she looks up from her gift and takes one of his hands, lacing their fingers together. the smile on her face is one of the gentlest, and most genuine, she's ever given. ]
So... I think that makes this one of the best Christmases ever. [ yes, Luke. she does think so. ]
[Action]
[He had been answering her musings on Christmas, because he'd heard a little about that, but not extensively. It's why he gave Guy a hug when he least expected it, would've given one to Asch if he didn't know how badly that would turn out.
But he's cut off when she holds his hand... In the way that Natalia used to do it, when they were younger and she'd excitedly tell him about all the things they'd do when they were married, and he'd just roll his eyes and disagree. He never remembered his proposal, after all... because it wasn't his. It was...
... This is different, too, the way she's holding his hand. He's different, and this isn't some wild fantasy that he never remembered nor had any interest in. This doesn't make him cringe and yank his hands away. This makes him feel warm all over, and he lowers his fingers to return that hold, his smile more confident, and hers the most gentle he's ever seen on anyone.]
Then it's mine, too.
[Action]
Xion feels like she's got to move, or she'll just burst from this feeling that's familiar and foreign at the same time. So she does, setting her book on the table and picking up her cup of cocoa. Then, carefully, she'll shift so that they're sitting side by side.
She doesn't let go of his hand. ]
Merry Christmas, Luke.
[Action]
But he doesn't let go of her hand, either. And he smiles into his mug as he takes a sip of the delicious drink.]
Mm- same to you, Xion.