☀ 03

[hispalette]

[there are a lot of things Red would like to do right now, all of which involve a hefty amount of screaming and would no doubt be very healthy at all in the long run, though he has neither the energy nor motivation for such things. "drained" is as close as one can get to describing what he's feeling right now; "small", too. from the beginning of

Comments

[updollsdresses]

[I-It's not like he was in the park looking to kill Santa Claus or anything.

He's just holding a box of coal because he feels like it, okay.]

It's far too cold to be sitting outside, Red.

[hispalette]

[there's someone he wasn't expecting to see. the other's presence catches him by surprise enough to elicit a moderately lengthy stare. after about a minute of this (most of it envy for that sweet box of coal because hot damn is that a fine box of coal) he goes back to turning his gaze onto the ground as if nothing had happened.]

I didn't notice.

[updollsdresses]

[damn straight this is a fine box of coal]

There's snow on the ground. ["Dumbass."]

[hispalette]

Not that much. It doesn't bother me; I'm used to it.

[that much is true. one of the perks to living on Mt. Silver. going alone with his expression, his voice is rather...curt.]

[updollsdresses]

[He looks pointedly at the paper.] Was that your Hogswatch gift? [because mine is better]

[hispalette]

...Hogswatch? You mean Christmas?

[updollsdresses]

Same difference, really. They're both just solar festivals. Hogswatch is just the one from my world.

[hispalette]

[yeah, he...likes the sound of Christmas better. anything with the word hog in it is bound to remind him of pigs. the idea of a Santa Claus-esque icon in the shape of one is a funny picture, though, and for a moment he forgets himself and smiles lightly, shakily.]

Just solar? That's kind of a jaded way of looking at it. [the smile fades as soon as he turns his attention back to the article folded in his hands and he grows pensive] Wouldn't blame you, though. I'm used to...better holidays.

[updollsdresses]

I've never really been able to get into the... spirit of the thing. [Coal is pretty much the best-- and only-- gift he's ever gotten.]

[He extends his hand.] May I see it, Red?

[hispalette]

Helps if you have people to celebrate it with you.

[there's clear hesitation in his silence, but his face betrays another emotion - resignation. at length - and seemingly averting his eyes from meeting Teatime's - he offers the man the slip of paper. the edges are crinkled but it isn't yellowed or anything, giving one the impression that it's pretty new.

two things about it stand out immediately: the headline (SEARCH FOR MISSING CHAMPION DECLARED FUTILE) and the lone testimony from the so-called missing boy's mother: "Good riddance."]

[updollsdresses]

[He reads the paper silently. Ah. This is the part where he's supposed to give out sagely fatherly advice, right? After all, this is a topic he knows quite a bit about.]

This is hardly something to get upset over. [aw yeah, best]

[hispalette]

And why is that.

[don't get him wrong, it's reason alone for him to get angry, though he's also genuinely curious to hear an adult's point of view. this might be your chance for redemption, Teatime.]

[updollsdresses]

[redemption what is that a kind of fish]

It's just not very surprising-- for me, at least. It's better that you learn now, while you're young. [Like he did.]

[hispalette]

[he's quick to shake his head, stubborn.] My mom isn't like that. She doesn't give up on anybody.

[even if the person in question hasn't written home or visited in years.]

[updollsdresses]

[He laughs lightly.] How can you be so sure? No one stays with you forever. Especially... [He frowns slightly.] those types.

[hispalette]

[it might not be visible in their dim surroundings, but his eyes narrow. his voice is kept controlled, though.]

How would you know that?