24th slide

[freeslider]

[Wade has wandered up into one of the towers, clad in a warm red sweater and jeans and carrying a plate of cookies under one arm. She slides into the seat of the grand piano in the study, then places her cookies and journal down on the top, next to the bouquet of poinsetta. The piano itself is trimmed with gold tinsel.]

I can't believe it's that time of year again. Second Christmas in Paradisa. Too bad I can't ask Santa too see my friends from home.

[Idly she plays the first few notes of this familiar tune, then chuckles to herself.]

Well, at least I'm not stuck in tights and elf ears this time.

Also, I made cookies if anyone wants any. Guaranteed to be castle-influence free.

[And then she'll go back to playing, and starts to sing along. She's more than passable at both, if not exactly a prodigy.]

((ooc: open to kisses!))

Comments

[voice]

[inmylight_commander]

You could ask him for pictures. It's not the same thing, but ... it's something.

[freeslider]

Hm. I guess it would be. You know, now that I think of it, the only picture I know of with all four of us in it, was taken the Christmas before I came here.

[inmylight_commander]

Well then, there you go. I get what you mean, though; it'd be nice to have then physically here with us.

[freeslider]

Especially for the holidays. It's not quite the same.

[She laughs, softly] But listen to me, though. Complaining like it's the first time I've been through this.

[inmylight_commander]

Better that than complacency.

[freeslider]

I guess. I mean, I try not to worry too much about what's coming around the corner, you know. It's not a nice way to live. Best to keep your eyes open and keep going.

Dicated

[teenagebadboy]

Huh, this is my second Christmas at the Castle. I've been here for a bit more than a year. Time sure flies. I'm actually starting to miss my family.

[freeslider]

[Softly teasing] Only starting to?

[teenagebadboy]

Yeah. Just starting. It has been nice to be away from all the craze in the village.

[freeslider]

You're from a small town, I take it?

[teenagebadboy]

Yeah. I'm from a place called Emmerdale. Even though it's small, lots of things happens there.

[freeslider]

How long have you live there?

[teenagebadboy]

3 years and a few months. I grew up with me dad in Hotten before moving in with me mum in Emmerdale.

[freeslider]

And do you get along with your family okay?

[teenagebadboy]

I haven't been in touch with me dad or his side of the family for years. I get along with me mum's side of the family tho.

[freeslider]

Well, that's something at least. I can tell you for sure that you never realize how much you miss family until you don't see them for years.

[teenagebadboy]

But I don't care. I hate him for chucking me out in the cold.

[freeslider]

Even after you've been here so long?

[teenagebadboy]

Look, he chucked me out onto the street years ago, before I came here. He didn't make any effort to contact me, not even a birthday card. He doesn't care about me so why should I care about him?

[freeslider]

Ok. Maybe not. But sometimes it's just because they're family and it's something you'll regret after awhile. But that's the kind of thing that needs more than a few years to heal. If it ever does.

[teenagebadboy]

It's up to him, not me.

Family's only good when they care about you. Me mum left me and all but once she had to take me on again she tried to make amends. We're a lot closer now. I know I made a few bad things but we worked it out. Me dad on the other hand doesn't care.

[Dictated]

[therealrisette]

[There's another voice over the journal, intermittently humming along with the melody. She might be a little better at hitting the notes properly, being a professional, but it's only a slight difference at most. She'd had to train in singing, dancing... all kinds of skills. And like the saying goes, she's not a master at any one of them.

Wade can probably recognize her voice the whole time, but Rise doesn't actually properly speak until it seems Wade is finished with the song.]

I didn't know you could play piano! Kirijo-san was going to teach me, but... she didn't stay for long...

[The regret is obvious in her tone. She wishes she had gotten a chance to learn, and maybe perform a little more for people in her time here.

Oh, well, that's not important now. Maybe she'll drop by for a visit? Wade did say something about cookies, didn't she...?]

[freeslider]

[Cookies are better for sharing after all!]

Oh! Kind of. I'm not a master or anything. I just ended up teaching myself out of boredom a few years back. It's been awhile since I touched a keyboard, though.

[She haltingly plays a few keys of another Christmas tune]

Want to try a few carols?

[therealrisette]

Sure! You're in the music room, right?

[Except it's not called the music room anymore, but Rise's familiar with it. It's one of her favorite places to visit, so naturally she's kept up with where it is no matter how much the castle changes! In fact, she's already picked up her journal and is on her way.]

[freeslider]

Yeah. In the tower.

In the very least, you can stop me from eating all these cookies by myself.

[therealrisette]

Of course! You can always count on me~!

[As Wade's former fake daughter and current friend, she takes protecting her from poor dietary decisions very seriously! Friends don't let friends ruin their figures. Or something like that.]

I'm almost there now.

[Sure enough, it's not even another minute before she walks through the door. If Wade looks towards her as she approaches, she'll give a cheery wave.]

[freeslider]

[Wade waves back]

Hey!

[She has a book of christmas music in her hand, trying to decide which one to play next]

[therealrisette]

[As long as there's room (and why wouldn't there be?), she'll just slide right in next to Wade on the bench. Just for the heck of it, she reaches out and pokes at a random key, sounding the note through the hall.]

I haven't done this in a while! Kirijo-san left a long time ago...

[She takes a quick peek over at the book, curious.]

Are you playing from sheet music? Or do you know the songs?