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[sommer_tobi]

The date hadn't escaped Tobi's attention. He'd known the day before, too and the week before that. It wasn't exactly something someone his age could forget even in a place like this, a place that wasn't home and seemed to have a calender all its own

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[pere_noel]

"Now that's no way to look on a day like today," said Nick, coming across the forlorn looking young man in the lounge of the chalet known as the compound. It did hurt him in a way to see children look so sad. "Perhaps this will help to cheer you up," he said, handing him a bit of ribbon candy from his pocket.

[sommer_tobi]

It took a moment for Tobi to realize someone was speaking to him, so far wrapped up in his thoughts and memories to really pay much attention to anything else going on around him.

When he looked up, there was a man smiling down at him and Tobi's brow creased as his arms loosened from where they were tightly wrapped around his knees. There was something about him that made Tobi pause, the white hair and bright smile, something that made him feel instantly just a little bit better.

"What...?" he asked, but he was already reaching for what the man was offering him.

[pere_noel]

"Candy," said Nick as Tobi took the homemade treat from his hand. Then a moment later he repeated it in Hungarian, German and Dutch, for a start. "You look like you've been a good boy."

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi knew it was candy, even before he heard the word repeated in German and... was that Dutch? Close, anyway.

One corner of his mouth twitched into a smile as he held the small piece of candy in his hand. "How do you know?" he asked, staring up at the man with slightly wide eyes. Suddenly, he felt like he was eight and he couldn't say why.

[little_moons]

Less than a week in the fucking snow, and I've almost forgotten what it was like to walk around not weighted down by ten fucking layers of clothes. Long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, no shoes, and I feel about twenty pounds lighter, at least. I probably am. Max padding around at my heels, I wander into the rec room, looking for something to read or... whatever. Just to stay outta the cold for a little while.

I stand with one hand on the shelf, fingers brushing over the rows of books, and glance at the kid curled up in front of the fireplace, looking like he just watched somebody mutilate a fucking puppy or something. Seems like the first person I've seen not jumping for fucking joy about the goddamn snow.

It's almost comforting.

[sommer_tobi]

There was a breeze from somewhere behind him and Tobi shivered a little, wrapping his arms tighter around his legs, chin resting on his knees. It was an interesting contrast, his legs, arms and face warmed by the fire while his back stayed cold, but only in a way that made him realize he should've probably grabbed a blanket or something.

A moment later, he became aware that he wasn't alone anymore and he looked over, noticing a guy looking at the bookshelf and then the dog he had with him. Tobi's family had never had a dog, but he'd always liked them and his head tilted a bit, watching him curiously.

[little_moons]

As soon as he notices he's got an audience, Max trots over, sniffing at the kid's feet and wagging his tail. That fucking love me look in his eyes. So fucking easy. Hasn't figured out that he's cute enough, people'll come to him.

"Hey," I murmur, looking at the kid over my shoulder and crooking a faint smirk.

[sommer_tobi]

As the dog approached, Tobi held out one hand, letting him sniff it, legs still pressed up tight against him.

"Hallo," he replied, not catching himself in time, but not caring enough to correct it. He figured it was easy enough to figure out, even for someone who didn't know the least bit of German.

[alex_kerner]

"Hey, wessie," Alex said, coming up from behind and sitting down next to Tobi without much of a warning. "What's the matter? Find something unpleasant in your shoe? Or are you waiting for Knecht Ruprecht to drag you off? Except you Bavarians have a big devil thing too, don't you?" He nudged Tobi with his elbow.

[sommer_tobi]

"Krampus," Tobi corrected him, his voice dull, flatter than it'd probably ever been when talking to Alex before. But, at least Alex knew what day it was, too, though it didn't seem to be bothering him nearly as much. Maybe that came with being older.

He tightened his hold on his legs, frown still firmly in place as he continued to stare into the fire.

[alex_kerner]

Alex looked over at the younger boy. Oh. So that was what was bugging him. He leaned on Tobi's shoulder and spoke almost conspiratorially. "You know... I've heard that he sometimes comes a day late. Or more. Especially if people are hard to find. And the fucking mystery island is pretty out of the way. Don't worry." Alex poked him again. "He knows you've been horrible and he's coming to get you. Maybe he'll feed you to the sharks"

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi could tell that Alex was trying to cheer him up and small part of him of was grateful for it.

Unfortunately, the part that was brooding and content to be miserable was heavily outweighing it at the moment and his frown deepened as he pulled his arm back, his eyes never leaving the fire.

"He's not coming," he replied, completely sure of that. "Everything here is English, haven't you noticed? English or American. And I'm old enough to know that St. Nicholas isn't real, I'm not a kid."

Except he kind of felt like one right in that moment. A kid without a family.

[jdick]

"Hey, kid," Joe said when he came into the rec room and spotted Tobi sitting on the couch, looking pretty fucking miserable, if Joe was honest. "You missed class."

Not that he really gave a fuck, he kind of hated having to grade them and make them on their fucking attendance. If they wanted to learn, they'd show up and if they didn't... well, then they wouldn't.

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi recognized the voice, but he didn't make any move to acknowledge it, his arms still tightly wrapped around his legs as he stared at the fire, watching the flicker and spark and remembering the fireplace they'd had back home. It hadn't been as big as this one, but it'd been better. Everything back home was better.

Finally, he shrugged, but he still didn't say a word, something like guilt tugging at his stomach, but the self-pity overpowered it.

[jdick]

"You too busy pouting to even say hi back?" Joe asked, figuring the snow and the change in the Compound had probably sent Tobi into a bit of a funk. He could understand that, it'd done it to Joe the first time it had snowed and only stuck around for a week.

"I should give you fucking detention or something," he murmured, knowing full well that they'd both know he had no intention of doing that.

[sommer_tobi]

He had no idea what detention was, but he could guess that it wasn't good, his frown deepening as he looked over his shoulder at Joe.

"I will be there Monday," he promised, his voice low and quiet and he lifted a hand to scratch at his jaw before he looked at the fire again. Maybe by Monday, he wouldn't miss things anymore. Maybe by Monday the snow would be gone.

[irish_airman]

Danny was soaking wet when he came into the rec room, snow still melting on his shoulders, grinning like a kid with his hair messy across his forehead. He toned it down when he saw Tobi, though, and carefully hung his gloves over the fire to dry.

"Hey," he said, giving him concerned smile. "Haven't seen you around, man. Been out in the snow yet?"

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi's attention was diverted from the fire when he heard Danny come in, though he didn't know it was him until Danny started taking his coat off, his cheeks red from cold, it looked like.

He shook his head and frowned at the fire again. "Not today," he said, his voice quiet

[irish_airman]

"You should," Danny suggested, still warming his hands by the fire, "It feels good. Bracing."

And then, more quietly, he asked, "You doing alright, Tobi?"

[sommer_tobi]

He wasn't quite sure what Danny meant by 'bracing,' but he couldn't say that he really cared right in that moment either.

Shrugging, he glanced up, a frown still curving his lips. "Bad day," he told him, not sure how much he wanted to admit to Danny or how much Danny would really want to hear.