Sharing the Holidays: Part 3

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Sharing the Holidays 

Part 3: The First Snowfall

[Featuring characters by Andi Wamboldt]

Mia and Celes had started the day with no shortage of good cheer. The halls had been decked, the tree was well on its way, and the girls had the entirety of the forest all to themselves. 

But as the evening chill set in, so too did their jubilance cool off as well. Darkness was settling quickly all across Agnes, and the two girls had to scooch closer for warmth. As the girls crossed the blurry line between wilderness and civilization, the girls hurried their pace once again. 

It was only a matter of time until the dirt roads transitioned to cobblestone once more. Trees were replaced with sky-rises and factory spouts. 

"Hoo! Home sweet home..." Mia cheered as they entered the city limited. "C'les, my feet're achin', are we there yet?"

"You know we got a ways to go," Celes replied. "It's funny, we walked a long way just to get to Agnes the first time, but... I kinda forgot about the sore feet, and the fatigue..."

"Hehe. Brains are kinda wired like that." Mia smirked, tapping her noggin. "Gotta make room for all the good times. Like all the fishing we did!"

"And the view from the tree..." Celes nodded. "Lots of cute animals along the way. You don't see those kinds of things in the city. Remember the prairie dogs, Mia?"

"Heh, yeah. Dunno who called them 'dogs' in the first place. They're just little... mole, rat things." Mia tilted her head. 

"They're adorable, is what they are!" Celes bounced cheerily. "You warmed up to them in a right hurry. I remember the heebie jeebies you were gettin' when I told you about them."

"Oh, we're dredgin' that up again, huh?" Mia glanced to Celes, prodding her shoulder. "How about when you got spooked by a bunny in the bush?"

"W-We just got done with ghost stories by the campfire!" Celes hugged herself briefly. "I-I thought it was a murderer, o-or a spirit of some, some spurned ex-lover..."

"Hehe. I'm a seasoned vet with horror stories, like a right, um... story... teller, person..." Mia tilted her head. 

"You're a prolific bard." Celes leaned a little closer to Mia, taking her arm. 

The two girls walked together towards the industrialized core of Agnes. The stores flanking the road turned off their lights one by one. Celes glanced around anxiously, looking into the front window displays, now dark and uninviting. 

"Gosh, we really were out for a while. Everything's closing..." Celes murmured. 

"Well, it is Sunday. Everything closes early today." Mia shrugged. "Besides, they installed new streetlights all around Agnes. Gotta tell ya, it was real dicey back in the day..."

"You can see so clearly, even at night... oh, look! They're setting up the Solstice decorations early!" 

There were workers using raised platformers on both sides of the road, stringing along tinsel around the street lights, hanging stars, and wrapping the trees that lined the boulevard with strings of lights. 

"Huh. They're burning the midnight oil." Mia watched them work for a spell. "I feel sorry for 'em. Tonight's a real nipper."

"They look like they're bundled up, at least." Celes observed them. "A-And it's their job, so... they know what they're doing."

"It's funny to think about, but... cold nights like these, I'm glad I get a fur coat too." Mia mused with a slight bit of sarcasm. 

"Winter's coming. And in a week's time, the roads are gonna light up with solstice cheer... and if we're lucky, the locals will get a head start." Celes turned to Mia with a smile. "I love just walking around, enjoying all the light displays everyone puts up."

"Hehe. We should make a date of it soon, then!" Mia tugged Celes a little closer. "But... later. When my feet aren't quakin' with the achin'..."

"Of course, of course. After the snow settles... huh?"

Celes' eyes rose, focusing on a faint sparkle in the light of a nearby street light. She spotted a single snowflake, swaying gently in the breeze. And then another... one after another, they trickled down. 

"...Looks like you got your wish." Mia nudged Celes with a sly grin. "Solstice's coming early." 

"Wooow..." Celes watched with astonishment, before glancing to Mia. "W-Well, it might be a... a light snowfall." 

"Just means we gotta cozy up by the fire tonight~" Mia cooed. 

"Ah, I guess we have to move everything up now," Celes pondered, her eyes still staring upwards, towards the falling snowflakes. "It's a good thing we gave ourselves a head start."

"Heh. I kinda figured you were jumpin' the gun a bit, C'les, but... nowadays it seems like every year, the solstice season moves up a little more every year."  Mia wondered, glancing to the odd storefront off to the side. "Psh, that appliance store's already putting up sales..."

Mia stared for a spell, and then leaned closer, squinting her eyes. "...hello, six-chamber vacuum, cutting edge suction..."

"W-We'll visit them tomorrow, Mia." Celes tugged at Mia's sleeve and drew her away from the window. The two of them went back on their merry way. "...Actually, ooh, that reminds me, Barnyard Blitz is next week. Maybe we'll check out the deals then..."

"...Oh. Ohhh no." Mia slowly turned to Celes, a grim look on her face. "Yer not seriously thinking of doin' the Blitz live, are ya?"

"Oh, I think it'll be a wonderful opportunity to get ahead of my holiday shopping. Besides, after the lease, I have to make due with less." Celes rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Besides that... I must say, I've been looking forward to it all year."

"Ehh? You??" Mia cocked her head to the side. "But it's so... rowdy! Everyone piling up around the store entrances, shoving each other to get in..."

"It's amazing!" Celes looked up. "The thrill of the hunt for the right deal, to seize one's prize and herald it as your own... Mama says that kind of go-getting attitude's what built the Empire!"

"But, but, but people get trampled!" Mia sputtered. "A few folk've died over the years!"

"Ohhh, that's an unsubstantiated rumour." Celes turned her head. "They never found any bodies."

"That's even worse!" Mia exclaimed, waving her arms in the air. 

"Miaaa, it'll be fine! What's the worst they could do to me?" Celes laughed. 

"..." Mia had to pause to think. Celes' form was pretty sturdy to physical trauma, even if she was prone to the odd fit of crying. Mia lowered her finger.

"...I-I mean... if you got trampled, it'd ruin your dress, or somethin'..." Mia muttered. 

"Me? Trampled? Never." Celes tilted her chin up. "I'm miles ahead of the game. And I got a few tricks up my sleeve this year..."

Mia watched with a sideways glance as Celes rubbed her palms together, giggling to herself. The cat girl tugged anxiously at her collar, and tried to ignore it. 

Mia had her own thoughts on this particular holiday tradition, and silence hung heavily in the air as Mia quietly wondered whether or not she should air her opinion on the matter. After going back and forth a few times, Mia let it go with a haggard sigh. 

"I-If you think you got it covered, well... t-try to come back in one piece." Mia turned to Celes with a beleaguered smile. "It sounds like you've been planning for this..."

"Mama and I took me out a few times when I was a kid. I know what to expect." Celes turned to Mia with a smile. "If you're nervous, you don't have to come... I could just call you at home if I need you."

"W-Well, I dunno, I'd be okay with the crowds! I just..." 

Mia trailed off, her eyes lowering towards Celes' petite form. She grimaced to herself, again stifling a thought. Mia really did make a habit of babying Celes, even when Celes was as strong as resourceful as she was. 

Mia reached over to grab Celes' shoulder, and pulled her closer, all buddy-buddy like. 

"I just like spendin' time with you, C'les." Mia smiled. "And I'm gettin' to see a side of you I never knew about. You're teaching me a lot~" 

Celes stared for a moment, her cheeks flushing with a darker tinge. She studied Mia's demeanour, and then smiled in response. 

"I hope I don't come along too strong about stuff like this..." Celes cozied up against Mia. "I just want our solstice to be perfect."

"Yeah... I feel ya." Mia nodded. "I think things are gonna turn out all right. We already got so much done, right?"

"Mmhm. And, aaand..." Celes pointed forward, whispering in a hushed tone. "Look, Mia."

Mia turned ahead, and her eyes widened in wonder. They had finally arrived back at Celes' new place; the lights strewn up along the roof, the decks and the gutters, were all so bright and colourful—an illuminating backdrop against the cold, breezy night, and a welcoming sight after such a long trip. 

"Oh my gosh..." Mia cooed. "It's... it's really pretty... we did that, didn't we?"

"Mmhm! The perfect solstice is already underway~" Celes chuckled. "And tomorrow, we'll pick up the tree back at the hangar!"

"Yeah, Wren'll be happy to see us again. She tries to act cool, but she's pleased as punch t' be knee-deep in elbow grease back in a real hangar again." Mia grinned. "You should hear her singing along to herself when she thinks nobody's around-"

"Maybe we should get inside?" Celes interrupted Mia gently. "I can put on a pot of tea, and you can tell me aaall about Wren's dirty little secrets~"

"...O-Oh, right, good call," Mia grinned bashfully. "Sheesh, but I didn't take you for a gossipy housewife sort, C'les."

"You had a fun little yarn going there!" Celes beamed. "I wanna hear the end of it! I also wanna rest my tushy..."

"Haha! I feel ya there!" Mia guffawed, patting Celes on the shoulder. Her curious eyes drifted up to the lights one more time, her expression settling into a pleasant smile.

"S'going to be nice coming home to this kinda display every night." Mia said, staring for a spell. "Really does make the cold chill seem a lil' less bleak." 

"That's what Solstice is all about." Celes explained. "Bringing out a little bit of warmth across the community. Adding a little colour..."

"I like it." Mia nodded, before turning to Celes once more. "...Alright, 'nuff gawking. s'freezing out here."

"Amen..." Celes agreed with a friendly chuckle.

The two girls, sticking close together, travelled up the walkway and up to the front door, after taking a moment to admire their work. Tomorrow would be another day, and both of them had to unwind after today's saga.

They were tired, but it was a good kind of exhaustion. One that left a feeling of fulfillment behind. After spending a quiet evening unwinding, it was early to bed for the days that would come. Solstice was on its way...