oo29 [ voice // action ]

[fourteen]

... 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.)

Comments

[Action]

[fabrecation]

[Luke had only heard through grapevine what Christmas was about, so he wasn't entirely sure, either. He'd woken up extra early to fix Guy breakfast (toast and juice, since anything else would taste... "unique"), promised himself to find Natalia something once she got back, and... couldn't think of anything for Asch. He's pretty sure Asch would just toss whatever it was aside, anyway. And he could barely think of things for his other friends, much to his dismay...

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]

[fourteen]

[ there's a word for what she's feeling, she knows it, but it escapes her. it's like light is filling her whole heart, warming her body from her very core right down to her fingertips and toes. like someone's filled a balloon in her chest and the whole thing is trying to lift her right up off the floor. it's... it's... ]

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]

[fabrecation]

Oh-

[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]

[fourteen]

[ Something about the way he's looking at her...

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]

[fabrecation]

[... Yeah, Luke looks away about the same time that she moves. That warm feeling in his chest is slightly familiar, sort of; sometimes he'd feel it around Tear. But... it's also different. It's overwhelming and confusing and quite frankly kind of scary, even if it is in that good way, so looking away and finding another focus - the hot chocolate, with little marshmallows inside - is probably a good thing.

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.