25. No one wants to be alone at Christmas time

[pompous_today]

[When Katniss Everdeen, River Tam and Malcolm Reynolds awake this morning, they will find gifts outside their doors.

Katniss will find a lightweight hunting jacket, along with a cake Simon baked himself. It's chocolate and very messy-looking, but still tastes pretty good.

River will find a box containing a beautiful new red dress, another box containing new boots, and another messy chocolate cake.

Mal will find a fine brown leather jacket- not his beloved battle-worn browncoat, but fairly close- and a box of cookies, also baked by Simon.]

[Filtered to Katniss, River and Mal]

I have left gifts for all of you, my closest and dearest here. All of you make me feel a lot less alone in the world, and they are but small tokens of my appreciation.

[/Filter]

Paradisa is not really my home, and yet... I find it comforting to stick to the familiar rituals like holidays and gift-giving. I have resisted thinking of this place as "home"... but now I am wondering if it would be so terrible to call it so.

Comments

Simon

[the_effect_she_has]

Oh good. That means me getting you that present isn't weird.

[eaglet]

For the time being, it is our home. But you still must not forget where you come from as well.

Katniss

[pompous_today]

I was not expecting anything from you.

[pompous_today]

I think I like that way of looking at it. It would take a lot for me to forget where I came from, too- especially when there is still someone very important to me left there.

Re: Katniss

[the_effect_she_has]

Well that was just silly of you, now wasn't it?

[pompous_today]

Perhaps! Still, you do so much for me already.

[the_effect_she_has]

I do, but you do the same for me. So present for present?

[eaglet]

Is that so? Then you are fortunate. There are many people who do not know anyone here from their homes.

[pompous_today]

I was that way for a while- and this is the third time my sister has been here. Still, right now I am able to watch over her. I do feel very lucky.

[pompous_today]

An equal exchange. Deal.

[the_effect_she_has]

You're absolutely marvelous.

[pompous_today]

I try my best.

[eaglet]

[Oh no -- his tone instantly becomes extremely sympathetic.] Three times? I am sorry. That must be difficult for you.

[pompous_today]

It was... the second time she was here, she did not remember me- I was her loss.

[eaglet]

I imagine that must have been the most difficult time of all.

[pompous_today]

It was. She trusted that I was telling the truth about our relationship... but it was not the same as it should have been.

She does remember me this time around, at least, so that helps. We have always been very close.

[eaglet]

I am glad for you, then. I hope this time you and she will stay together or leave together.

[pompous_today]

Thank you. I hope the same thing- I have been told that time freezes back home when we are brought here, but that does not make me miss her or worry about her any less when we are separated.

[eaglet]

I have heard this as well. [He's not too sure if it's 100% accurate, but he probably shouldn't say that.]

[pompous_today]

A friend of mine, who has since departed, told me that she was here for several years, and several of her family members came and went, but never knew she was missing back home. To be fair, it may not be true for everyone, but I would like to hope it is.

[eaglet]

It is worrying to think that the alternative is true. I would hope that this is so as well.

[pompous_today]

Thus far I have no reason to believe it is not, at least. The thought that nobody back home will have even been aware I was gone is one of the things that keeps me going here.

[eaglet]

[Connor is quiet for a moment, considering that. There is so much to be done back home, for him -- the idea that the world spins on in his absence is chilling. How much would he miss? What changes would he not be able to prevent?]

That is as good a reason as any to press on.

[pompous_today]

It is- that, and the thought that I am still needed here. I am a doctor, and it seems that no matter where I end up, my services are inevitably required.

[eaglet]

[A thoughtful hum.] Even in a magic world such as this, I suppose.

[pompous_today]

Even here, yes. I am glad of the chance to work together with magic; even by my time there is only so much a surgeon may accomplish on his own.