snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be ☆

[heaaarts]

[ Things are a little different this Christmas Eve. It's the first holiday season in years that many residents will be able to spend outdoors, and whatever drives the place has gone all out to make things festive. There are white lights and ruby garland strung up around lamp posts, red bows and wreathes adorning buildings. Even the trams are decorated, lit up on the outside and warm and cozy inside. There's a chill in the air, but for the most part it isn't too uncomfortable. Trees stripped bare of leaves by the change in seasons have had their leaves replaced by lights, and the occasional tree in the park bears large, shining baubles.

The ball this year is held in a new building, something that's popped up on the outskirts of the residential area overnight. (Of course, no one will be able to get inside until much later in the evening.) The park's a little smaller and crowded as a result, but not by much. It, like much of the outdoors, is covered in white. A light snow has been falling since early afternoon, resulting in a glistening bed of frost over the ground, the trees, and every rooftop. Much of it stretches out past the area, giving a wintery cover to most worlds. The fountains in Radiant Garden have frozen over into chaotic ice sculptures, and enough snow for a snowman (or snowmouse) can be found in Traverse Town, while the sound of carols comes from nowhere in particular in Disney Town. Hopefully no one tries to take the tram to Halloween Town for purposes of sneaking into Christmas Town. That world is barred off from entry no matter how hard anyone tries.

Somewhere around six in the evening, the doors to the ballroom open and remain so. Large wreathes decorated with red ribbon and crystal clear baubles hang on the doors. The building itself is decorated simply and tastefully, with red ribbons and streamers, dimmed lights and soft, instrumental music, perfect for the pristine dance floor. The ceiling, a true highlight of the room, is made of framed glass and gives a perfect, pristine view of the stars and snowfall outside. The tree this year is decorated with red, pale green, white, and more clear glass ornaments. Strangely enough, each is marked with a small tag. Just a simple old strip of paper, blank until someone gets close enough to see their name appear on one special ornament, in swirling red script. There are birds, hearts, stars... all kinds of simple, precious ornaments there to take. Maybe they mean something.

Like any good party in the DR, there's plenty of food. In the back room, separated from the ballroom by frosted glass walls, there are tables with glass tops and sheer white tablecloths, the largest of which is rectangular and has a placement of ham, roast birds, casseroles and vegetables, with nuts, popcorn, pretzels and cheeses further down. There are two smaller, round tables, one with drinks (non-alcoholic eggnog, ciders, and hot cocoa), and one with sweets like pudding, cookies, fudge, and sugared fruits. A group of much smaller, more cozy and personal tables are scattered in the corner near the food, with delicate placements decorated with classic red poinsettias. ]

{ ooc: LiveJournal mirror here. Happy Holidays, everyone! }

Comments

[f1re0nthesun]

[what, is she planning on sex for EVERYONE she knows? no i'm kidding ilu. he holds the box out to her, only a tiny bit pink across his nose.]

Yeah, I found one for everyone I know, and then made some alterations myself after a little research.

[read: this isn't just some crap he picked up somewhere and thought she'd like. research means library, and he doesn't go there for just any old thing. :Db]

[dawnrise]

[f u She takes it, looking a little startled and unsure of what to say herself.]

... Thanks, Axel.

[f1re0nthesun]

Go on, open it. No sense waiting for tomorrow morning for it.

[he's beaming now, lit up like the big tree nearby, and bouncing on his heels a tiny bit. inside the box, when she opens it, will be a pendant on a black leather cord. on the back of the pendant is the kanji for fire, with some microscopic other symbols around the edges of it. there's a card in the box that explains the symbolism of the animal on the front.]

[dawnrise]

[She raises an eyebrow, but does go about opening it, almost obnoxiously neat about taking off the bow and opening the box. When she sees what's inside she pauses, then maneuvers the box lid around so she can have one hand free to pull out the pendant, and then the card to read it.]

[f1re0nthesun]

It's um. It's linked to one I made for myself, so that if you get in trouble, real trouble, like when Hachibi got out, or like what happened to Riku and Roxas, mine'll let me know, so that help can come from me or whoever I can reach promptly, like Kai or Red. I would've done a wolf one for you but that didn't quite seem right.

[now he's blushing full-force, and ducking his head.]

[dawnrise]

[She looks even more startled at that, placing the card back in the box so she can look at the pendant closer. Particularly the back, which gets her eyebrows raising again.]

No... This is perfect. How are they linked?

[f1re0nthesun]

I did a jutsu on them – that's kind of like a spell, I guess – so that when your energy reaches a certain level of distress it'll activate and mine will get hot to let me know. You can also activate it manually by pressing your thumb to the back of it, in case you want help before it gets too ugly. I made them for Kai and Nami and Riku, too, and um. I actually have one for Red, if you wouldn't mind giving it to him for me. I'm hoping it'll be an acceptable offering, if he isn't just offended that I think he'd ever need help.

[which he very well might be, even though Axel included a note explaining himself. :|;;]

[dawnrise]

[Riku's expression is kind of like a visual record scratch, just a little disbelieving. She has to repeat it, as if that will give her some better understanding.]

You got Red something.

[f1re0nthesun]

Yeah. I don't care what he thinks of me at this point, he makes you happy, and you care about him, and get really down when something happens to him, and I want to try and keep anything like what happened to him this summer from happening ever again. For your sake, if nothing else.

[dawnrise]

[She looks really taken aback by this, lacking proper words for a response. She wouldn't say anything really heartfelt even if she had the words, because Riku just doesn't roll that way, but... She does step forward after taking a moment to reflect on that so she can hug him.]

[f1re0nthesun]

[eeee. he gladly wraps his arms around her and gives her one of those good hugs in return, where she gets lifted slightly off her feet. he understands, anyway, and knows she doesn't roll that way.]

[dawnrise]

[That's good, because she's got her arms around his neck and shoulders and she's giving him a good squeezing hug. Probably the best one she's given him since before all the chaos with Hachibi a couple months back.]

[f1re0nthesun]

Oof. Is this my Christmas present? Even if it wasn't supposed to be, I'm declaring it now.

[he likes hugs, especially hugs from people who don't just hand them out like candy (like he does).]

[dawnrise]

[She snorts, but doesn't try to pull out of it yet.]

If you want. I have something else in mind I want to give you, but it's not a Christmas present.

[f1re0nthesun]

Oh really. If it's a noogie or a punch to the face, please warn me, I'd like to prepare for it.

[well in that case, he's going to spin them once, just for lulz.]

[dawnrise]

No, it's--

[It's shrieking, apparently, because that's what Riku does when he spins them.]

[f1re0nthesun]

[no really, it was for lulz. he's laughing as he sets her back on her feet, and grinning like a doofus.]

Sorry, you were saying?

[dawnrise]

[She sways a little, then gives him a shove.]

Maybe I won't tell you now.

[f1re0nthesun]

Aw, come on, I only twirled you once. Here's Red's present, anyway, whenever you see him next.

[he gets a similar box out of his other pocket and hands it to her, still grinning.]

[dawnrise]

[She steps back further so there's room for her to take it, and looks terribly amused by the gift box.]

Is it alright if I give it to him here?

[f1re0nthesun]

Of course, it's not like it's big or flashy or explosive or anything.

[what, it's just a plain box with a red ribbon, like hers. :U]

[dawnrise]

I get that.

[Well, now her hands are full. Wat do. Maybe she'll go snatch a bag from somewhere.]

[f1re0nthesun]

[oh right, she doesn't have pockets right now. that sucks. girls' clothing is so weird.]

I'd give it to him myself, but uh. Yeah.

[dawnrise]

[It is. She likes having pockets.]

I don't think he'd take it if you did.

[f1re0nthesun]

I know, and you'll probably have to make him even open the box. I did include a note explaining what it is and why I'm even giving him a gift. And if he doesn't want it, make sure he doesn't throw it out or something, I don't want some random person getting it.

[this is quite serious, actually. if someone like Larx or one of the bad Marluxias or ninja Zexion got it, they could conceivably figure out what it was for and call Axel right into a trap. Zexion could, quite certainly.]